Writing

70% use words that undermine their authority. Especially in work emails. 9 phrases I'm retiring from my emails: (and what I plan to use instead) “So sorry for the delay” → “Thanks for your patience” “What works best for you?” → “Could you do…?” “No problem/no worries” → “Always happy to help” “I was just wondering if we…” → “I propose we…” “I hope this looks ok” → “I look forward to your feedback” “Hopefully that makes sense?” → “Let me know if you have questions” “Just wanted to check in” → “When can I expect an update” “Ahhh sorry my bad, totally missed that” → “Thanks for letting me know” ”So sorry to bother you but…” → “I wanted to discuss…” —- Most don’t realize this, Our words shape perceptions. The key is recognizing ones that diminish authority. Then replace them with clear, confident language. Small changes can make a big impact. Start communicating confidently today! Do you find yourself using any of these phrases? Let me know. --- Reshare ♻ to help others communicate more confidently. And follow me for more posts like this.

I get 1M+ Impressions every week. 💥 My most underrated strategy? Pattern Interrupt. 🚨 Pattern Interrupt is all about: ~ Kicking off with a similarity ✅ ~ But then, disrupting the expected patterns 🤯 ~ Breaking norms that users are accustomed to seeing on their feeds. 💥 But how do you do it? By presenting something novel, counterintuitive or provocative, you essentially "interrupt" their mindless scrolling habits. 🧠 An Example of Pattern Interrupt content for LinkedIn: >>Contrarian Perspectives 💯 Instead of posting the typical motivational quote or vanilla career advice, share a bold, controversial opinion that challenges conventional wisdom in your industry. Ex: "Personal Branding is only for CEOs, right? Wrong." 😲 Actionable: ~ Make a list of common beliefs or practices in your field. ✍️ ~ Craft an eyebrow-raising hot take to spark discussion. 🔥 ~ Support with your logic. 📈 The key with Pattern Interrupt is balancing thought-provocation with relevance and value. Don't just say outrageous things for shock value. ❌ Provide a fresh, insightful perspective that ACTUALLY enriches your audience's lives/work while giving them HOOK to pay attention. 🎣

Keep replaying a challenging event in your mind? Or overthinking something that’s already happened? What if you could turn that mental loop into a tool for growth… and even better health? Dr. James Pennebaker’s ‘Writing Protocol’ is a simple, science-backed way to do just that. In fact, hundreds of scientific studies show that it significantly improves immediate and long-term health. Here’s how it works: 1. Write for 15 minutes, once a week
↳ Tip: Focus on the same emotionally challenging event every time. 2. Keep it raw and unfiltered
↳ Tip: Don’t worry about grammar or structure (this is just for you). 3. Stick with it for 4 weeks
↳ Tip: Make it a ritual. Same time, same place. Over 200 peer-reviewed scientific studies show this practice (which is essentially expressive writing) improves mental clarity, emotional resilience, and even physical health. No gimmicks, no cost. Just you, a pen, and some paper. P.S. Do you ever find yourself overthinking about something negative that happened?

I constantly get recruiter reachouts from big tech companies and top AI startups- even when I’m not actively job hunting or listed as “Open to Work.” That’s because over the years, I’ve consciously put in the effort to build a clear and consistent presence on LinkedIn- one that reflects what I do, what I care about, and the kind of work I want to be known for. And the best part? It’s something anyone can do- with the right strategy and a bit of consistency. If you’re tired of applying to dozens of jobs with no reply, here are 5 powerful LinkedIn upgrades that will make recruiters come to you: 1. Quietly activate “Open to Work” Even if you’re not searching, turning this on boosts your visibility in recruiter filters. → Turn it on under your profile → “Open to” → “Finding a new job” → Choose “Recruiters only” visibility → Specify target titles and locations clearly (e.g., “Machine Learning Engineer – Computer Vision, Remote”) Why it works: Recruiters rely on this filter to find passive yet qualified candidates. 2. Treat your headline like SEO + your elevator pitch Your headline is key real estate- use it to clearly communicate role, expertise, and value. Weak example: “Software Developer at XYZ Company” → Generic and not searchable. Strong example: “ML Engineer | Computer Vision for Autonomous Systems | PyTorch, TensorRT Specialist” → Role: ML Engineer → Niche: computer vision in autonomous systems → Tools: PyTorch, TensorRT This structure reflects best practices from experts who recommend combining role, specialization, technical skills, and context to stand out. 3. Upgrade your visuals to build trust → Use a crisp headshot: natural light, simple background, friendly expression → Add a banner that reinforces your brand: you working, speaking, or a tagline with tools/logos Why it works: Clean visuals increase profile views and instantly project credibility. 4. Rewrite your “About” section as a human story Skip the bullet list, tell a narrative in three parts: → Intro: “I’m an ML engineer specializing in computer vision models for autonomous systems.” → Expertise: “I build end‑to‑end pipelines using PyTorch and TensorRT, optimizing real‑time inference for edge deployment.” → Motivation: “I’m passionate about enabling safer autonomy through efficient vision AI, let’s connect if you’re building in that space.” Why it works: Authentic storytelling creates memorability and emotional resonance . 5. Be the advocate for your work Make your profile act like a portfolio, not just a resume. → Under each role, add 2–4 bullet points with measurable outcomes and tools (e.g., “Reduced inference latency by 35% using INT8 quantization in TensorRT”) → In the Featured section, highlight demos, whitepapers, GitHub repos, or tech talks Give yourself five intentional profile upgrades this week. Then sit back and watch recruiters start reaching you, even in today’s competitive market.

Parents share over 60 photos of their kids every month. AI needs as few as 15–20 images to generate a realistic deepfake face. What rules do you follow before posting photos of your kids online? And once something is online, it can be copied, scraped, indexed, and stored forever. The Pause Before You Post campaign from Data Protection Commission Ireland highlights a reality many families still underestimate: We are raising children in the first generation where their digital identity exists before they understand what privacy means. Some numbers that should make every parent think: + Parents post on average 63 photos of their child per month + Research shows AI models can recreate a face with 20 or fewer images + Over 70% of parents share kids’ photos publicly at least once a week + Billions of images are scraped online to train AI systems every year + Studies found ~50% of child images on criminal forums originated from public social media posts + Over 80% of photos contain metadata or visual clues about location or routine + By age 13, many kids already have thousands of images of themselves online The campaign shows how small details become data points: A school logo → location A birthday cake → date of birth A sports uniform → schedule A street sign → home area A group photo → social circle With modern AI, these are not random details. They are structured data. Face recognition, generative AI, and large-scale scraping systems can now connect identity, location, habits, and relationships in seconds. We are entering a world where: 🔹 Every photo can train an AI model 🔹 Every face can be cloned 🔹 Every post can be archived forever 🔹 Every detail can be cross-referenced 🔹 Every child can have a digital footprint before adulthood What should parents do today? ✔ Make accounts private ✔ Avoid posting school names, uniforms, and routines ✔ Disable location tagging ✔ Don’t post full names + birthdays together ✔ Ask kids before posting their photos ✔ Assume anything public can be reused by AI This isn’t paranoia. This is parenting in the AI era. #Innvation #Ai #ChildSafety #Privacy #Deepfakes #GenerativeAI #DataAwareness #TechEthics #SocialMediaSafety #ParentingInTheAIera #OnlineSafety #CyberSecurity #ProtectKidsOnline

🌎 Designing Cross-Cultural And Multi-Lingual UX. Guidelines on how to stress test our designs, how to define a localization strategy and how to deal with currencies, dates, word order, pluralization, colors and gender pronouns. ⦿ Translation: “We adapt our message to resonate in other markets”. ⦿ Localization: “We adapt user experience to local expectations”. ⦿ Internationalization: “We adapt our codebase to work in other markets”. ✅ English-language users make up about 26% of users. ✅ Top written languages: Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese. ✅ Most users prefer content in their native language(s). ✅ French texts are on average 20% longer than English ones. ✅ Japanese texts are on average 30–60% shorter. 🚫 Flags aren’t languages: avoid them for language selection. 🚫 Language direction ≠ design direction (“F” vs. Zig-Zag pattern). 🚫 Not everybody has first/middle names: “Full name” is better. ✅ Always reserve at least 30% room for longer translations. ✅ Stress test your UI for translation with pseudolocalization. ✅ Plan for line wrap, truncation, very short and very long labels. ✅ Adjust numbers, dates, times, formats, units, addresses. ✅ Adjust currency, spelling, input masks, placeholders. ✅ Always conduct UX research with local users. When localizing an interface, we need to work beyond translation. We need to be respectful of cultural differences. E.g. in Arabic we would often need to increase the spacing between lines. For Chinese market, we need to increase the density of information. German sites require a vast amount of detail to communicate that a topic is well-thought-out. Stress test your design. Avoid assumptions. Work with local content designers. Spend time in the country to better understand the market. Have local help on the ground. And test repeatedly with local users as an ongoing part of the design process. You’ll be surprised by some findings, but you’ll also learn to adapt and scale to be effective — whatever market is going to come up next. Useful resources: UX Design Across Different Cultures, by Jenny Shen https://lnkd.in/eNiyVqiH UX Localization Handbook, by Phrase https://lnkd.in/eKN7usSA A Complete Guide To UX Localization, by Michal Kessel Shitrit 🎗️ https://lnkd.in/eaQJt-bU Designing Multi-Lingual UX, by yours truly https://lnkd.in/eR3GnwXQ Flags Are Not Languages, by James Offer https://lnkd.in/eaySNFGa IBM Globalization Checklists https://lnkd.in/ewNzysqv Books: ⦿ Cross-Cultural Design (https://lnkd.in/e8KswErf) by Senongo Akpem ⦿ The Culture Map (https://lnkd.in/edfyMqhN) by Erin Meyer ⦿ UX Writing & Microcopy (https://lnkd.in/e_ZFu374) by Kinneret Yifrah

The Olympics have nailed their marketing without us realising 🥊🏅 I thought it was strange that the Olympics were starting on Friday, but I’d seen very little advertised. Anyone else? And then it hit me, whilst watching Sprint (my third newly added sports documentary on Netflix this weekend) & finding myself googling the dates of the athletes’ events at Paris, that I’d been indirectly marketed to in the most genius way. Here’s why, and more importantly, here’s why it worked: 1️⃣ Meeting the Audience Where They Are The Olympics faced a challenge: how to engage a generation that doesn’t watch mainstream TV. So, they went straight to where their audience spends time – streaming platforms. 85% of Gen Z and millennials prefer streaming over traditional TV. By launching multiple compelling sports docuseries on Netflix, they met their audience exactly where they are. 2️⃣ No Ads, Just Stories Research shows that storytelling is the most powerful tool in marketing – it's 22 times more memorable than facts alone. When you tell a story, you engage your audience’s emotions, and that connection is invaluable. It's this emotional engagement that turns viewers into fans and casual watchers into passionate supporters. No CTAs, no tracked links, just pure wonderful emotional storytelling at its finest. 3️⃣ Creating Emotional Investment These docuseries pull you into the personal lives of top athletes. You follow their journeys, their struggles, and their triumphs, right up to the competition before the Paris Olympics. This emotional investment is powerful. Suddenly you’re not only aware of these athletes in various disciplines, you’re invested in their success. 4️⃣ Building Anticipation By ending these stories on a cliffhanger, they’ve done something brilliant – they’ve made you care. You’re not just a spectator anymore; you’re invested in seeing these athletes win. And the next episode? Well that will be streamed live from Paris on mainstream TV. I know I’m not alone in wanting to see how these stories end. 5️⃣ Perfect Timing Timing is everything in marketing, and the Olympics nailed it. By launching these docuseries right before the games, they’ve ensured the stories are fresh in our minds. This makes the athletes' journeys a cultural talking point and keeps the Olympics top of mind. Strategic timing like this makes the content memorable and maximises its impact. Here’s the lesson: To truly engage your audience, focus on storytelling. Create narratives so compelling, people can’t help but follow along. Make them care about the outcome. When your audience is emotionally invested, they’re not just watching – they’re rooting for you. This weekend reminded me why I love marketing. It's not just about selling a product; it's about creating connections, inspiring emotions, and telling stories that resonate. So, next time you’re crafting your strategy, ask yourself: are you telling a story your audience will care about? I’m sold. Who’s watching?

6 abandoned cart email templates that actually recover revenue: Each one covers a proven angle. Rotate them in a 3-email flow or test 1:1. 1. Simple Reminder Template Subject: Still thinking it over? Why it works: - Sometimes people just forget. This is a clean, non-intrusive nudge. Best for: Loyal customers or premium brands Send in: Email 1 (1–4 hrs after cart abandonment) Copy: - You left something in your cart - We saved it for you - Complete your order anytime CTA: Return to Cart 2. Discount/Incentive Template Subject: Here’s 10% off to complete your order Why it works: - Drives action from price-sensitive customers. Creates urgency with a deal. Best for: New customers, competitive markets Send in: Email 3 (48–72 hrs after abandonment) Copy: - Still on the fence? - Use code SAVE10 at checkout - Offer expires in 24 hours CTA: Claim My Discount 3. Social Proof Template Subject: A customer favorite is waiting for you Why it works: - Highlights reviews and popularity to build trust and reduce hesitation. - Best for: High-consideration purchases or new shoppers - Send in: Email 2 (12–24 hrs after abandonment) Copy: - This item is a customer favorite - Rated 4.8/5 by thousands of buyers - Get yours before it’s gone CTA: See Reviews 4. Urgency/Scarcity Template Subject: Almost gone—don’t miss out Why it works: - Taps into FOMO. Limited stock or time-sensitive offers push action. Best for: Popular items, limited editions Send in: Use in any email for urgency layering Copy: - We can’t guarantee it’ll be here later - Only a few left in stock - Secure yours now CTA: Complete My Order 5. Personalized Recommendation Template Subject: We saved your cart (plus a few things you might like) Why it works: - Cross-sells and personalization can increase AOV and relevancy. Best for: Repeat customers, larger catalogs, data-rich brands Send in: Email 2 or 3, depending on data depth Copy: - Here’s what you left behind - Plus, these go great with it - Let us know if you have questions CTA: Return to Cart 6. Problem-Solution Template Subject: Questions about your cart? We’ve got answers Why it works: - Handles common objections like shipping, returns, or product fit. Best for: Complex products, new brands Send in: Email 2 or 3 to educate and reassure Copy: - Not sure about sizing, delivery, or returns? - Here’s what you need to know - We’re here to make it easy CTA: Read FAQs You'll want to compile these into a multi-touch email flow. Here's an actual flow example: Email 1: Simple reminder (1–4 hrs) Email 2: Social proof or problem-solution (12–24 hrs) Email 3: Incentive or founder-style plain text (48–72 hrs) Optional Email 4: Follow-up 5–7 days later

Want to write like a CEO? Cut the fluff. The best leaders communicate with: ✅ Clarity ✅ Brevity ✅ Impact They don’t send long, rambling emails. They don’t hide behind corporate jargon. They get to the point fast. I have written four books and have advised 300+ CEOs on their communications. Here’s the 5-part writing framework top executives use: 1 – The Subject Line Should Say It All Before you write anything, ask: ➡️ What’s the ONE thing I need them to know? ➡️ What’s the ONE action I need them to take? If you can’t answer this, don’t send it yet. 2 – Lead with the Bottom Line Busy people don’t have time for long intros. 💡 Start with the main point, not the backstory. ❌ “Hope you’re doing well! I wanted to reach out because we’ve been working on…” ✅ “Here’s the update: [Key message in one line].” 3 – Cut the Fluff High-level executives don’t read wordy emails. They scan. ✂ Remove “just,” “I think,” and “wanted to.” ✅ “We should move forward.” ✅ “The results show a 20% increase.” 4 – Be Direct, Not Rude Great leaders are clear, not cold. 🚫 “Per our last discussion, I believe this approach might be beneficial.” ✅ “Let’s move forward with this approach. Thoughts?” 5 – Always End with a Clear Ask ❌ “Let me know what you think.” ✅ “Can you approve this by Thursday?” 6 – Add Warmth Charismatic people are both competent and warm. If you follow 1-5, you may come across as competent but it may be hard to connect. Therefore, add some warmth at the end. ❌ “Looking forward to your response.” ✅ “Appreciate your time on this—excited to hear your thoughts!” 📌 Follow me Oliver Aust for daily strategies on leadership communications.

In my 14yrs career in engineering working for Big Tech companies such as Google and Uber, there is no other skill I used more than writing. And no, I don’t mean writing code. I mean English writing. Emails, Design Docs, Presentations, Feedback, Code Reviews, you name it. Here's how I make my written communication clear, effective, and punchy. 👇 Written communication can sometimes be daunting, especially for non-native speakers—like me. That’s why I wanted to share  the 6 questions that I use when writing anything. This helps me communicate more effectively and connect with my audience better. 1. Who is my target audience? Identify the specific group or individuals you are speaking to. Knowing your audience assists you in customizing your writing to meet their requirements and interests. 2. What is my main objective or purpose? Clarify the primary goal of your writing. Whether it's to inform, persuade, entertain, or educate, knowing your objective guides your content. 3. What key points do I want to convey? Identify the main idea or key points you want to communicate. This will help you stay focused and make sure your message is clear and logical. 4. Why should the reader care about this? Consider the value or benefit your writing offers to the reader. Highlight how it addresses their needs or solves a problem. 5. Is my writing clear, concise, and organized? Make sure your content is clear and easy to understand. Keep the flow logical and avoid using complex language or jargon that might confuse the reader. 6. Can I make my writing shorter? The answer is always yes. So make sure to edit edit edit. Brevity saves time for both the writer and the reader. What else would you add to this list? How does your writing process look like? ♻️ Please repost if you found this useful