“You need to interview key players for this story.” Few words strike more terror in the heart of an introverted, reclusive writer than an editor’s casual mention of interviews. “Why interview? Why me?” Interviews are crucial for feature articles and news coverage. They’re ... [Read More] [2 Comments. Please leave another.]
Archives for 2010
Discover 7 Ways Evernote Helps You Remember Everything
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Your brain is sloppy. It doesn’t think in lists and columns. It doesn’t arrange memories taxonomically by date, time or place. Humming along 24/7, your mind captures emotional and sensorial memories, thoughts, concepts, responsibilities and tasks. It stores all this data ... [Read More] [4 Comments. Please leave another.]
Nervous About Jumping Into Social Media Marketing?
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You stand on the platform sweating in the sun. The edge of the high dive feels like wet sandpaper under your tightly gripped toes. Waves of chlorine-scented air and children’s shouts waft from the shimmering aqua below. A voice rises above the rest. “Just do it,” ... [Read More] [18 Comments. Please leave another.]
The Betty White Guide to Small Business Marketing
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How’s your small business hanging these days? Is the sluggish economy killing off your competitors and helping you prosper? Or are you holding on by the skin of your teeth? Whether successful, struggling—or somewhere in between—entrepreneurs of every stripe can take a ... [Read More] [12 Comments. Please leave another.]
Once Upon a Time Small Business Didn’t Need Social Media
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Is social media a fad? Or the biggest shift since the industrial revolution? Social Media Revolution, Erik Qualman's updated video, below, makes no bones about it: The digitally social future is now. No surprise if you work or play in social media. Likely the video’s stats ... [Read More] [3 Comments. Please leave another.]
Discover 10 Ways to Mine Copywriting Gold From Twitter
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Want to brainstorm copywriting concepts more creatively? Write stronger copy? Instantly solve technical problems that derail your copywriting workflow? Start using Twitter as a copywriting tool. Now wait a minute, you say. Twitter is a time suck. A distraction. Dive into ... [Read More] [4 Comments. Please leave another.]
How to Put the Care Back in Your Healthcare Content
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Do you write healthcare content for “them”—demographic clusters defined by age, geography and medical condition? Or do you write for “you”—people you know and care about? Your answer has a huge impact on your healthcare copy’s power. In today’s cluttered, over-messaged ... [Read More] [2 Comments. Please leave another.]
The Marlon Brando Guide to Healthcare Copywriting
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Marlon Brando can teach you a lot about healthcare copywriting. Don’t believe me? Watch his performance in On the Waterfront: Suffering and redemption. Love and loss. Self-pity and personal triumph. All the stuff you need to write great healthcare copy. You don’t ... [Read More] [4 Comments. Please leave another.]
Copywriting Jargon Got You Confused? Here’s help.
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"Features, features, features,” the copy manager intoned. “I want you to pack the copy blocks with features.” I dabbed my upper lip as delicately as possible hoping he didn’t notice the sweat. What in God’s name was he talking about? Twenty years ago I was a green freelance ... [Read More] [7 Comments. Please leave another.]
Copywriters: Turn Out Fast First Draft Copy With These 8 Easy Steps
Last week's copywriting post described the advantages of writing rough-and-ready first drafts. But advice is easy to give—and often hard to follow. In a comment to my post, copywriter Cindy Bidar allowed she found speedy, imperfect first drafts "nearly impossible" to ... [Read More] [Leave a comment]