Accessibility: Speak So Everyone Can Understand You. Breaking Down the 3 A's for Content Creation, Writing and Video
- isabelpapp2028
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Industry jargon signals expertise — but if no one outside your field can follow along, you’re only talking to yourself.
By: Isabel Papp, MMM Editorial Team
In every industry, there’s a place for jargon. It’s shorthand — a way to signal credibility and connect with peers who share the same language. But when your message depends on reaching beyond that circle — whether it’s new customers, investors, or national media — jargon quickly becomes a barrier instead of a badge.
At MMM, we often remind clients: when we talk about using accessible language, we’re not talking about oversimplifying your ideas. We’re talking about broadening your reach. The goal is to impress people inside your industry and engage those outside it — the mainstream audiences who may have never heard of your terminology but could benefit from what you do.
Related: Looking for an easy way to transform your messaging and connect with your audience faster? Our guidebook helps you polish your advertising, newsletter and web for clear copy that actually converts visitors.
As your brand grows and aims for bigger platforms like major national coverage, clarity becomes one of your strongest marketing tools. Journalists and editors, after all, write for the public. If your story can’t be easily explained to someone with no prior knowledge, it’s unlikely to resonate at scale.
In journalism, there’s a concept called the power ladder — something I learned early in my career. Every story should be written so that:
A child could learn something new from it,
A casual reader could find it interesting and understandable, and
An expert could still recognize its depth and value.
That’s the sweet spot of communication! What you should strive for is content that’s layered enough for insiders to appreciate, but clear enough for newcomers to grasp.
When we talk about accessibility, it’s not just a metaphor.
It’s about building ramps for everyone — creating entry points that welcome people into your world instead of keeping them at the door. Because the most powerful ideas aren’t the ones that sound the smartest; they’re the ones that connect the fastest.
Interested in bringing this clarity to your organization? Book our top-selling "Clarity that Converts" call, a 1-hr deep dive to transform your brand's voice and let us handle a full transformation of your messaging for you.
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