Prematics. MRO. Abrasives. Predictive maintenance.
Would you use any of these terms outside of work? Of course not. Or, if you did, you would do so carefully, because they are industry jargon.
Oftentimes, the term “jargon” does not illicit positive emotions. The word implies that which is not easily understood; it is defined in part as “the vocabulary, peculiar to a particular trade, profession, or group.”
The use of uncommon terminology varies between companies and industries, and is used often enough to make jargon a part of the everyday lives of many professionals. At the same time, we are taught to avoid dropping jargon outside of work as much as possible, to prevent confusion about our messaging and the appearance of condescension toward anyone who is unfamiliar with the terms.
What you may not realize, however, is that jargon — though it may be confusing and even frustrating at times — is in some ways, a good thing. When utilized correctly, it can actually augment your content strategy.
Since a large part of a content strategy consists of various written materials, the practice of using jargon may give you a distinct advantage over your competitors. Placed judiciously in the proper context, both in printed and online documents, jargon can effectively establish your business as a trusted knowledge leader in the manufacturing industry.
Our company, ESP/SurgeX, often uses the electrical industry’s jargon to help us better communicate to current and potential clients about our premium energy management and power protection solutions. We incorporate this jargon into our content strategy. For example, we’ve found that social media sites and blogs provide convenient places to discuss some of these uncommon terms.
The manufacturing industry certainly has jargon of its own, and using it can be beneficial, especially when used in combination with social media sites and blogs. This post will discuss how jargon can assist with your content strategy and will provide a few tips on expanding your vocabulary so you can better incorporate jargon into your written material.