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Small Business Blogging: Your Third Post
Now that you’ve got a start with your first and second posts, let’s tackle a listicle (a list turned into an article). Grab a pen and notepad and we’ll get started. The “What You Need to Know” Article Listicles are my favourite blog posts to … Keep reading…
Small Business Blogging: Your Second Post
Following on from Small Business Blogging: Your First Post, this time you’ll be thinking about the future of your business. In fact, you’re going to do a brainstorming exercise to help potential customers find you by internet search. (If you haven’t done the first post … Keep reading…
Small Business Blogging: Your First Post
A recent comment on Twitter reminded me again that each person has their own challenges when it comes to creating marketing content. But if you run a business, there’s always something to say. Ideation, like writing, gets easier with practice. But if you really don’t … Keep reading…
Are You Blogging in Your Head Instead of on Your Website?
Received this message from a friend: “Why is it that we even bother to carry “writing” around in our heads? As soon as we sit down to do it, it is completely different than what we’ve been thinking about!” I know she wasn’t looking for … Keep reading…
If Starting to Write is What’s Causing You Pain…
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…
How to Avoid Iffy Language in Your Marketing Calls-to-action
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…
Social-Media-Friendly Blogging
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…
All of Your Words are Important
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…
The Difference Between Editing and Proofing
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…
Does Your Writing Pass the $1-A-Word Test?
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…
What’s Your Stumbling Block? Blogging Survey
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…
Editing Checklist for Your Marketing Content
Whenever you write something, it’s always a good idea to wait a while before editing – later the same day or the next day. You’ll have a fresh perspective and it’ll be easier to pick out what can be improved upon. Here are a few … Keep reading…
Content Template – Share a Concept
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…
Your Blogging Deadline is Looming
It’s time to write your next blog post. Or maybe the time has already passed. What do you think when your deadline is looming? My own lament is often, “What can I pull together fast that will be useful?” I talk to a lot of small … Keep reading…
Quality Control for Your Content
You’ve just finished an insightful new article for your blog. You’re anxious to publish it and find out what your readers think. Depending on the topic and type of article you’ve written, it might make sense to do a little research before publishing. Researching after … Keep reading…
Get Focused Before You Start to Write
If you want to be doing more content marketing but aren’t, do you know what’s stopping you? A few months ago I wrote this article – Where Do You Get Stuck? – and ever since I have been committed to developing solutions for these stumbling blocks: … Keep reading…
Unique Content: Do You Have an Opinion?
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…
Finding a New Angle for Your Best Information
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…
Pick a Topic Like You Would Pick an Apple
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…
How a Not-so-good Writer Can Be Successful at Blogging
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…
Here’s How Writing Content Turns You Into an Expert
There are many marketing benefits to regular blogging or writing a newsletter. But other – perhaps more important – benefits may not be clear until after you’ve been doing it a while. Regardless of how much you know, sooner or later you’re going to need … Keep reading…
Where Do You Get Stuck?
When it comes to writing articles for your blog or newsletter, what’s your stumbling block? Perhaps it’s… coming up with ideas adapting your ideas for writing starting to write finishing writing editing and proofing finding or creating graphics keywords and publishing If you can identify … Keep reading…
One Simple Test Will Change the Impact of Your Headlines
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…
The Consequences of Creative Isolation
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…