So I just watched a short piece on Netflix’s informative, fun nerd show, “Explained” that delved into the nuances of the exclamation point. Those who work with me will confirm I’m always asking them to back away from unnecessary punctuation. It’s gotten to the point where clients, especially women (you know who you are), try to slip exclamati [...]
Many of us have been touched by something so powerful, we are moved to take action through fundraising and awareness. And, even though it’s built on personal passion, a non-profit is just like any other business–its success lies in thoughtful, strategic messaging.
Unlike a business plan, which requires hard data about funding and [...]
The ubiquitous healthcare stock photo. Overused buzzwords are as trite as this image. 1985 called. They want their X-Ray back.
Healthcare is like any other business, with words and catchphrases that are so overused, they’re meaningless. I run into these tired words consistently; their use is often mandated by the client because they are [...]
Writing is damn difficult. It means strapping yourself to your chair on a daily basis. It means absolutely rejecting words that don’t resonate. And boy howdy, that’s hard to do, no matter how adept you are with a pen.
Writing is damn difficult, even if you’ve been writing nearly every day for 30 years, like I have. And writi [...]
I just hung up from a long talk with my brother Dan about the value of good content. During a rambling 45-minute conversation about all things digital, I ranted on about the difference between really great content and content that just tries to manipulate Google’s latest algorithm.
His take, and it’s brilliant, is simple:
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It can be pretty tortuous to put pen to paper if you’re not someone who writes copy every day. Most people would rather do anything else. Yet copywriting remains one of those chores that’s difficult to outsource. After all, you took English in school. You can certainly write your own brand story. Easy, right?
I wish that were true [...]
I’ve been a creative partner in all kinds of finance environments, from investment bankers, to angel investors. They are all a little bit different, with their own set of buzzwords and government restrictions. Among competitive products, however, the differences are often very subtle. This means that it’s absolutely essential not [...]
Ah, the writer’s workspace. Scattered pencils, bits of paper, old take out and occasional fits of organization that swallow up the things you’re looking for so that you may never find them again. It’s a glorious place and in my case, in a wonderful room just at the bottom of the stairs.
I’d like to say I never get o [...]
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