How to Prepare a Writer’s Assignment That Doesn’t Suck – Part 2
When you provide good direction to your writer, you’ll increase your chances of getting good content back. You know that preparing an assignment for your writer is a good idea. (For a refresher [...]
How to Prepare a Writer’s Assignment That Doesn’t Suck – Part 1
Why spend time on writers’ assignments? There are at least three very good reasons. You hired a writer. Problem solved, right? Not necessarily. That's because if you want to get good content from [...]
The Case for Content Marketing
Content is king. Photo: Thinkstock If you work in communications, you know that beautiful is not a metric. Clever headlines and great writing are nice, but they aren't measurable or quantifiable. When [...]
Key Components of a Technology Success Story
Do you know your audience for a technology success story? (Photo: Thinkstock) When you write about complicated topics like technology, success stories are an especially useful tool. That's because success stories are the [...]
When You Have to Write Right Now
Photo by Thinkstock One of my favorite television shows is Chopped. In this Food Network competition program, the contestant-chefs have a short period of time — no more than 30 minutes — to [...]
Checklist: Writing Patient Success Stories
A good success story goes a long way. This is especially true when you work in an industry rife with complexity like healthcare or technology. That's because success stories are perfect for showing (vs. telling) [...]
Blog Posts You’ll Want to Read
When I work with clients, I talk about why blogging is an important part of a content marketing plan. I also talk about the fact that I don't always set the best example. But my [...]
3 Ways to Get People to Read Your Copy
Life as a writer can be frustrating. You spend your days (and sometimes your nights, too) poring over your copy. You agonize over every word. You edit and rewrite and proofread. Then, you send your [...]
5 Tips for Writing Faster
If part of your job is writing, then there's a good chance you want to be able to write faster. I hear ya. Here are a few tricks I use to help me make the [...]
How to Instantly Improve Your CTAs
If you're a marketer, then you know that your job isn't just about producing beautiful materials. It's about producing materials that accomplish something. You're not successful unless a consumer picks up the phone or clicks [...]