Content Crimes: Writing Sins We Can’t Forgive

In the content marketing world, some crimes are considered especially heinous. These are their stories.

DUN DUN

Most Wanted Content Criminals

The Keyword Stufferer

Last seen forcing the phrase “best digital marketing agency Sydney” into every sentence like it’s going out of style. Approach with caution – known to make Google cry and readers click away faster than you can say “SEO optimisation.”

Sample evidence: “Our best digital marketing agency Sydney team at our best digital marketing agency Sydney location provides the best digital marketing agency Sydney services…”

Stop. Please. I just can’t.

The Jargon Junkie

Armed with dangerous buzzwords and considered highly contagious. Known to spread phrases like “synergize,” “paradigm shift,” and “leverage” faster than office gossip.

The Wall of Text Terrorist

Perpetrator of crimes against readability. Holds people hostage with paragraphs longer than the amazon and about as hard to get through.

Likely a big fan of Tolkein (who doesn’t love reading about a field for three pages?) or Tolstoy (who doesn’t love reading about sadness for 300 pages?).

Never witnessed fraternising with a readability assessor. (though in desperate need of one).

The Exclamation Point Enthusiast!!!

Dangerous suspect!!! Thinks every sentence deserves celebration!!! May cause reader fatigue and eye-rolling!!! Handle with extreme caution!!!

The Clickbait Offender

You won’t BELIEVE what this criminal does to innocent headlines! (#7 will SHOCK you!)

Crime Scene Evidence

Common traces left at content crime scenes:

• Walls of text denser than your ex’s playlist
• Mysterious abbreviations with no explanations (IYKYK… except we don’t)
• Links that lead nowhere (404: Evidence Not Found)
• Stock photos of people laughing at salads
• Sentences that just… end without

Prevention Tips (How to Keep Your Content Crime-Free)

• Use headers like this one (see what we did there?)
• Break up text like you’re dividing streaming subscriptions with your roommates
• Read your content aloud – if you run out of breath, your sentences are too long
• Ask yourself: Would a human actually say this? If not, rewrite
• Remember: The Oxford comma isn’t optional, it’s a lifestyle

Word to the wise

In the content justice system, the readers are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the writers who create the content, and the editors who prosecute the offenders.

We can help you as both.

For real: no judgement. We all commit (writing) crimes from time to time. But if you need help to stay on the right side of the (content) law, give us a buzz.

Great Scot! is here to help bring your stories to life – no crimes committed.

Let’s make something great together.

No keywords were stuffed in the making of this blog post.