Musings while I'm on the blog...
Why developing your brand voice is like laying Easter Eggs
I love the thrill of an Easter Egg hunt. And not just the chocolate kind. (That I love that kind goes without saying.) I'm talking about digital Easter eggs - the secret messages and subtle references that programmers and creatives hide in their work. Hidden gems that...
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How much does proofreading cost?
So, you’ve written a document – a report, proposal or manuscript, a press release, blog post or CV – and it needs to be perfect. Trouble is, you’re now so close to it that you can’t see the wood for the trees. However good your writing, when words represent your...
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How do copywriters write about unfamiliar topics?
A prospective client asked me this question the other day – and provided the inspiration for a blog post I thought many would find useful. “My area is quite specialised so I just wondering how you feel / what the process is for writing about topics which you...
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Paraprosdokians
We see them all the time in memes and 50's style e-cards - but did you know that the name for these thought-provoking little quips is 'paraprosdokians'? What an utterly fabulous word! A paraprosdokian is a phrase that's characterised by an ubrupt change of direction...
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Pablo – how to make eye-catching graphics in 30 seconds
Fed up of stock images? Here's how to make eye-catching social graphics in 30 seconds I may be a woman of words but I can't argue with the facts. When it comes to social media, images are 94% more likely to attract viewership than pure text-based content and 40 times...
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4 Reasons why blogging is like housework (and also why it’s not)
4 reasons why blogging is like housework (and also why it's not) As I was cleaning the bathroom today, it struck me that blogging is a bit like housework. You know it needs to be done, but you don’t like doing it. Am I right? Blogging may seem to you like...
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How to give your visitors a reason to subscribe to your list
Recently a client asked me for help with wording his website email opt-in form. This got me thinking “What will encourage visitors to subscribe to his list?” He wanted their permission to send them updates on his products. But is the promise of product updates enough...
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Email subscription overwhelm. How I took control
Anyone else suffer from unread email anxiety? My unread emails have been building up for quite a while and today it reached an all time high. When I looked at my phone, the prospect of 4,153 unread emails blinked up at me. How did this happen? Well, basically because...
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Is reading faster a good thing?
Is reading faster a good thing? Okay, so I was writing a blog post on the Comma when I came across something FAR more arresting. I’ve just heard about this new speed-reading app called Spritz that enables you to read up to 1,000 words a minute. (The average adult...
read moreWhy do People Buy?
Fear, desire & other motivators Knowing what motivates your customer is the key to success when it comes to selling. Though your target market might seem diverse, chances are they share similar dominant motivators. Understand these motivators and you can tailor...
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Boost your conversion rates with a realistic call-to-action
Boost your conversion rates with a realistic call-to-action (And don't ask for too much too soon!) I was proofreading a client’s newly launched website today when I saw that the web designer had included a bright and shiny BUY NOW button. WOAH! Hold off there a minute...
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Prices for copywriting website pages
So, you’re searching for copywriting costs. You want a ballpark figure, a guestimate, an approximation just to get you started. (And you’ve probably found that most copywriting websites won’t give you one - frustrating, right?) I get it. You think copywriters want to...
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How Storytelling Can Dramatically Improve Your Communications
How Storytelling Can Dramatically Improve Your Communications "She couldn’t believe it. It was as if she’d been living in a world of black and white that had just turned Technicolor. Why ever had she not realized this before? The writer’s block... The struggle to be...
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How to reduce refund and return requests
How to reduce refund and return requests Have you ever bought something and then thought that maybe you’ve made a huge mistake? I know I did – when I made my biggest purchase ever – my house. In fact when I bought my house, I experienced a roller coaster of emotional...
read morePimp My Product – 7 copywriting tips to give your product more punch!
Pimp My Product - 7 copywriting tips to give your product more punch! Sometimes what you think is fascinating and sexy about your product is as dry as dust to the average person. So how do you polish it up into a prize that’s worth it’s weight in gold? The answer is...
read moreEmail Marketing – 10 Ways to Increase Your Open Rates
Email Marketing - 10 Ways to Increase Your Open Rates 50 characters – that’s all that stands between your successful email campaign and the trash. When writing your email campaign your subject line plays a leading role, but if long-term and lucrative list...
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