The Anatomy of a Newsletter Article
by Sara Lancaster @ No. 2 PenWe look at how to write an informative article for a newsletter by looking at the anatomy of the article.
Is Your Website Copy Too Excited?
by James @ Men with Pens writing for webThere are the exclamation-point addicts out there, you see. They’re the writers who feel they really can’t put across the excitement, immediacy, or sincerity without that little extra boost (!) to make it feel super-charged. They’re the writers who believe that they should slap an exclamation point at the end of a written sentence anytime they would allow their voice to lift at the end of spoken one.
They’re the writers who are just flat-out addicted, who punctuate nearly everything with a series of multiple exclamation points, getting progressively worse as the writing goes on.
You should get this product! It will change your life!! Seriously!!! Exclamation points, you see, are evil.
Sales Technique for Writing
by Laura @ Word Grrls sales copywriting techniques and stylesI’ve never liked being a salesperson, yet as a writer we are in fact, salespeople. You can’t get around it. We sell ourselves as credible sources for information. But, we also sell our ideas and our writing itself. If you’ve ever thought “Why should anyone read my stuff?” You can understand the relationship between sales and writing (even before publishing comes into it). We want readers to buy into our writing, to be believe what we write, take it seriously. So, we have to sell it.
Writing Emails – The Do’s and Don’ts
by Sarah Lam @ Writing Consultation emailWriting an email is not as easy as you think. There are many things to consider before you can press ’send’. Learn to write the perfect email by following these tips.
Query Letters
by Laura @ Word Grrls query lettersWe’re writers, we know the words, so why is it so tough to write a query letter? Why do we second guess every word on that page? Why do we agonize over the punctuation, the grammar and the spelling? Why do we “just die” when we realize a typo was missed in our proofreading of that all important query letter?
Letter Writing
by Laura @ Word Grrls freelancinglettersWhen was the last time you wrote a letter? A real letter to a friend or family with news and other idle chatter? Letter writing is a skill. These days it’s becoming quaint, old-fashioned as email and typed notes take over. There is a little formality to letter writing. You start with the date and then add a greeting. It’s easy to forget the date and it may not seem important when it’s a casual, personal letter. But, the date gives it relevance for when they read it later. Even now, it shows when you wrote the letter and how long it took to get through the mail.
What a Freelance Writer Will Not Do
by Sara Lancaster@ No2Pen freelancingGenerally speaking, freelance writers are a knowledgeable bunch with skills in a number of areas. However, there are a few tasks that fall outside of the realm of freelance writing. Here is a list of some of those items.
Why Outsourcing Your Writing is a Good Idea
by Sara Lancaster@ No2PenAt least two or three times a week, I have a client call me and say, “I wish I didn’t have to outsource my writing, but I’m just not a very good writer.” Usually, after this comment is made it is followed by a nervous laugh and then some sort of self-deprecating joke. After this sequence of events, I always disagree with sincerity saying “You don’t ever need to apologize for your writing skills. We all have strengths, and if you are truly a bad writer, then I believe its because you just don’t care to write.” And that’s ok!
Are You Ready to Blog for Business?
by Karri Flatla @ Snap VAThere are a lot of benefits to “blogging for business.” And if you have what it takes to blog about things your target market will enjoy or otherwise find useful, then a business blog can be a great addition to your online marketing strategy. But blogging isn’t for everyone. It takes time. It takes dedication. And it won’t do much at all for your business if no one reads it. If you can honestly answer “Yes” to most of the questions on the following checklist, then you’re probably a good candidate for creating the next great business blog:
Five Items for a Newsworthy Press Release
by Sara Lancaster@ No2Pen press releasesA simple Google search will reveal hundreds of tips on press release writing, but determining what tips to follow can be hard to decipher. To make it easier for you, I’ve compiled these five tips to help you write a newsworthy press release.
Write Articles, Market Smarter
by Karri Flatla @ Snap VA article ideasmarketingIf you’re an entrepreneur with a literary flare, writing articles is an affordable, highly effective marketing tool. You can revise and rewrite as many times as it takes to present your shiniest, smartest, most confident self. Too bad you don’t have a gargantuan subscriber list yet for your new Ezine! Or maybe you have articles sitting in a folder somewhere on your computer waiting to see the light of day (gasp!). Your written work can be the dangling carrot that converts prospects into clients, and marketing it as such is less work than you may realize. Here are five simple tactics for leveraging your writer savvy:
The Digital Age of Press Releases
by Sara Lancaster@ No2Pen press releasesToday’s press releases are just as important (if not more important) for your online presence as they are for creating awareness for you business within traditional media. With the evolution of the digital age, it’s time to rethink how you distribute press releases.
5 Ways to Write Web Copy That Sells
by Karri Flatla @ Snap VA writing for webBy far, the most requested service I provide is website copywriting, and it is no mystery why this is. Most people loathe writing, cannot write, do not have time to write (well), or all of the above. Factor in things like SEO, usability, and the need to say a lot with a little, and you have a frustrated author with a shortage of clients. Fortunately, common sense rules on the Internet. The guidelines for writing good web copy are no exception.
To Market to Market: How to Make Your Website Content Sing
by Karri Flatla @ Snap VA marketingwriting for webThere is a common denominator amongst all people buying something on the net: they want relevant, timely information and they want it now. When a searcher lands on one of your business pages, it is because he either a) typed in your URL with a purpose in mind (to seek relevant information in a quick, efficient manner) or b) clicked over to your URL with a purpose in mind (to seek relevant information in a quick, efficient manner).
It really is easy to Podcast your writing
by George @ Tumblemoose podcastingI had been wanting to podcast my writing and blog posts for a long time. I didn’t do it because I thought it would be complicated. I thought I needed mics and headphones and mixers and de-essers and aural exciters and fancy software and a Barry White voice (although that couldn’t hurt – hehe). Well as it turns out, you don’t “need” most of those things and if you have a WordPress site, it’s stupid easy. So easy that even a writer can podcast.
Freelance Writing Niche: web content/website promotion
by Chesley @ Daily Freelance Writing Tips freelancingnichewriting for webWeb content writing and website promotion is the first niche that I started breaking into. I am still learning about writing different types of web pages and I have experience in writing SEO articles and article marketing. Here is an overview of this niche and some tips regarding how to get started with this type of writing and how to do it well.
How to Write a Business Letter
by Brad Shorr @ Word Sell lettersDear Blog Reader: The purpose of this letter is to share business letter writing tips. Perhaps the most important point of all is to begin by stating your business clearly and concisely.
Resume Right: 5 Q’s With a Recruiter: Katie
by Jesaka Long @ a.k.a writer resumeThrough your emails, clicks and comments (including those offline conversations), you’ve told me that the “Resume Right” tips are educational and helpful. So, lucky you, I am giving you a bonus with this new feature: “Resume Right: 5 Q’s With a Recruiter.” These tips come directly from professionals who are weeding through resumes on a daily basis.
How to Make E-Newsletters Work
by Brad Shorr @ Word Sell newsletterswriting for webWhy are you sending out e-newsletters?
A Matter of Form Letters
by Brad Shorr @ Word Sell lettersMost companies have an array of form letters for various situations. Some even have form emails. Topics often include-
How To Write Your Way Into the Best Darn Jobs Ever
by Steph Auteri @ Freelancedom lettersresumeWhether you’re applying to a staff job, pitching newspaper and magazine stories, or attempting to net new clients, the ability to write good letter is key. After the jump, all the building blocks of the perfect letter, plus all the eensy weensy details you should always double check:
Resume Right: Font 101
by Jesaka Long @ a.k.a writer resumeOne of my coworker’s favorite interview questions is “what is your favorite font?” She’s serious. While you don’t have to be a font savant to pick the right resume typeface, there a few things you must know.