ideas and tips for busy business owners… like you!
A glowing white screen can be mesmerizing in its utter emptiness, taunting you to type something… but not just anything. It’s got to be useful or interesting to your blog and newsletter readers. It’s got to be better than the last article you wrote. It’s … Keep reading…
If your ideal client has finally found you – your website, your blog, your social profiles – you want to be strong and confident with your calls-to-action. I’ve written before about ‘just’ and ‘feel free’ and other wishy-washy language. It doesn’t serve you well. Here’s … Keep reading…
You’ve just finished editing (and proofing!) your latest blog post. You pause for a mental happy dance, then you click Publish. Ahh. And now the rest of the work starts. Because, of course, you need to let people know about this new useful and interesting … Keep reading…
But all of our marketing words are not important in every context. We have to pick and choose. When I first started my business almost 15 years ago, I remember struggling with the distinction between features and benefits, and with talking about my potential clients’ … Keep reading…
We often use the words editing and proofing interchangeably but there is a significant difference. If you’re not aware of it, you could be failing at both. Editing is big picture or ‘zoomed out’; proofing is detailed or ‘zoomed in’. Editing is about the overall … Keep reading…
If you are looking for a quick and certain way of giving your words more impact, look no further than your purse or wallet. Take a look at the last thing you wrote. It doesn’t matter if it’s a letter, email, report, newsletter, web content … Keep reading…
Ever since I wrote this article — Where Do You Get Stuck? — a couple of years ago, I’ve been on a mission to come up with solutions to content creation obstacles. coming up with ideas adapting your ideas for writing starting to write finishing … Keep reading…
You just had an a-ha moment – by thinking, researching, reading, discussing, learning, teaching, experimenting, or problem-solving. And now you’re anxious to share that new insight with your readers who will also benefit from it. Not sure how to organize your ideas and get writing? Download … Keep reading…
The one truly unique type of content you can create contains your opinions. Certainly, there are other unique types of content that will work for some… but not for everyone. If you are an expert, an influencer, a salesperson… you have opinions. Opinions make for … Keep reading…
Stuck, uninspired, unmotivated, feeling stale – anyone who blogs regularly is going to experience those things from time to time. Especially when we’re busy, it’s hard to take time to get inspired. Sometimes I don’t need inspiration so much as a new angle – a … Keep reading…
Consider how likely you would be to open/read articles with these titles: How to Be a Politician Small Business Marketing Healthy Foods for Everyone Dressing for Work The Benefits of Travel How to Find Any Job How to Be a Millionaire Nothing much exciting… been … Keep reading…
I like to joke that I’m a great example of how someone who can’t write can still have success with a blog. The fact is, in my past career I did a lot of writing: job descriptions, standard operating procedures, workflows, and reports of all … Keep reading…
You can tell when you read a headline that lets you get to know the writer a little better. It often contains an opinion, or perhaps a turn of phrase that is unique to them. If your business is all about selling you, it’s worth … Keep reading…
Buried in a blog post by iContact about the importance of relevant content, I found an interesting little segment about the impact of creative isolation. It’s hard to imagine being isolated when we can be online and connected whenever we want. When it comes to … Keep reading…
“Which is better?” I asked. “‘I need to capitalize on the time I’ve invested in writing.’ or ‘I need to leverage the time I’ve invested in writing.’” Danielle said, “‘I need people to read my stuff.’” Two lessons here, one obvious and one not so … Keep reading…
Content templates can simplify your content development time by providing structure – sort of like filling in blanks. That means you can be done and onto your next task in no time. The purpose of this template is to create an awesome resource for beginners … Keep reading…
Using a content template is sort of like filling in the blanks on a form. It will get you started and make your writing time more productive. The purpose of this content template is to help people learn something new… and the best way to … Keep reading…
Every part of your business needs some type of content. And you need to develop content consistently to reap the benefits. There’s a content creation trick that can speed up the process by providing structure. Using a content template is sort of like filling in … Keep reading…
These three phrases come up repeatedly in newsletter content – I’ve edited them out many times. I bet you’re familiar with them, too. “I want to tell you about…” This is similar to the verbal, “All I’m saying is…” which my husband has adopted lately, … Keep reading…
We can all get writer’s block. I’ve found 3 tools that help me get past it. I may not use the exact suggestions that result, but the suggestions trigger more ideas and before long I’m off and writing. Hubspot’s Blog Topic Generator Fill in the … Keep reading…