Give it away? Nah. Why it's not okay to ask writers for a sample
Hi there. Quick survey. How many of you like to give away your product, service, or talent for free? I mean do work for nothing? No? I...
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Blog
- 2 min
Copywriter. Content writer. What's the difference?
I am a copywriter. I am also a content writer. Confused? You won't be after this week's episode of Soap. (Okay, okay, dated reference, I...
- 3 min
What is the best writing advice I ever got?
A long time ago, when I was a fresh-faced kid earning an English degree, I had an interesting professor. He was well versed in all things...
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What is good copywriting worth?
See that? That is an actual job posting on LinkedIn. Yup. The company is offering writers eight cents a word (USD) provided they can...
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Empathy - The key to great writing
There are many things that I think distinguish great copywriting, or great copywriters. Good grammar. An ability to make complex subject...
- 2 min
Furious backpedaling: the Peloton ad controversy
'Wow, that was fast.' That was the initial reaction to the Peloton ad that 'resurrected' Chris Noth, or more accurately Mr. Big, after...
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White washing - sending the wrong message about diversity, equity & Inclusion
As a copywriter (or content writer, depending on what I am doing), I think a lot about messaging. Not just what we actually say or want...
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Artificial Intelligence and Copywriting
This week, I received an email asking if I wished there was an easier way to produce content every day. Indeed I do. I write content...
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Happy anniversary to me: A copywriter reflects on lessons learned
Hey peeps, this month is my anniversary! Uh, I should clarify that. It's my work anniversary. That's what LinkedIn tells me, anyway, or...
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Writing a Land Acknowledgment
If you purchased Fiona Apple's Fetch the Bolt Cutters on vinyl, you probably noted that the lyric booklet featured the following short...
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And now for something completely different... poetry
Poetry. I write it. And have for many years. Yes, I am a copywriter. Yes, I write ad taglines and press releases and other marketing and...
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All apologies - how to write an apology. And mean it.
Sorry. Elton John once said it seemed to be the hardest word, and he was on to something, at least based on the way that organizations...
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Commercial break: Lou Reed - unlikely ad star
Lou Reed was many things. An innovator. A transgressive rock and roll poet. But a pitchman? Yes. If you have more than a passing...
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Not normal - Unilever removes 'normal' from its packaging
Words are powerful. They have an impact. Particularly in how we see ourselves in the world. For example, think about how Crayola had a...
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I say, I said - says versus said in articles
When you read a news story on AP, The New York Times, or The Guardian, you may notice that when sources are quoted, writers use 'said.'...
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Oh no, typos! Avoiding mistakes in your content
Photo by George Becker from Pexels Typos. They are embarrassing. I speak from experience on that. Years ago, I wrote an article I was...
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All Write Now: How to Find a Great Copywriter
So you need to have something written and you need a copywriter to do it. Simple, right? It can be. But if you want to be sure that you...
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Writing Tip of the Day – Names and Ledes
An editor/mentor advised me once that when you are writing an article lede, never start with a person's name...
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Quite Content – 5 Easy Ideas for Generating Compelling Blog Posts
Struggling to come up with content for your blog to position yourself as a thought leader? Here are a few quick tips...
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Lay it on the Line – 9 Tips for Writing Amazing Headlines
Writing great blog posts is hard. Writing headlines that compel people to read your posts is even harder.
If you are struggling...
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