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Are you what they’re looking for? Content marketers reveal the kind of writers they like.
Content writers can get more work if they give content marketers what they’re looking for.
read more3 Efficiency-Boosting Tools for Writers and Journalists
Discover 3 Tools that can help you write faster, organize better and be more efficient.
read moreHow I Got Two New Writing Assignments
Freelance writer shares how to get writing gigs by taking action with previous and prospective clients
read morePost #3 Can You See What I’m Saying? Paint a Clear Picture with Strong, Precise Verbs
Have you ever read something and thought, “Wow, I wish I had written that?” I usually feel this way when I’ve read something where the writer used the precise, descriptive words to describe action, emotion, feelings, etc. And it’s usually the skillful use of powerful, pointed verbs that make the difference. Content that contains strong, precise verbs draw the reader into the story by representing the actions that describe a scene. “The sneer froze on William’s face and he paled.”—Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follett In this example, the writer could have used the words stayed and embarrassed instead of froze and paled. However, the verbs he chose paint a clearer picture and allows the reader to use his or her own imagination. Using impactful verbs in content marketing writing has the same effect of drawing readers in as it does in fiction. “Verbs are the most important words in a story, and the most important verbs are those that reflect the main theme. . . .” –Francis Flaherty, The Elements of Story Examples of strong, precise Verbs Verb Stronger/Specific Verb Run Bolt, hustle, flee, dart, storm, jog, race, gallop, sprint, dash, scurry, continue, hasten, drive, trot Laugh Chuckle, giggle, guffaw, snicker, cackle, chortle Go, went Roam, stride, roll, crawl, journey, amble, trudge, march, meander, creep Fall Plummet, tumble, coast, descend, plunge, glide See Stare, gawk, gape, snoop, seek, spot, gaze, witness, glare, spy Take Grapple, confiscate, snatch, capture, nab, seize, grasp, nab, steal, hijack Give Ration, donate, share, pass, deliver, proffer, hand Whether you’re writing a white paper, article or a blog post, use strong verbs that carry the precise feeling or image you want to convey. (Photo credit:...
read morePost # 2 Can You See What I’m Saying? Draw readers in by using metaphors
Metaphors, used judiciously, help to set the picture or emotion you want the reader to see or feel when they read your content.
read morePost #1 Can You See What I’m Saying? Draw readers in by making them feel something
Using the five senses in our content marketing brings depth to our “scenes” and helps the reader imagine being there.
read moreUnderdogs In Content
My favorite stories to write are human interest pieces about people who have overcome extreme odds and did something great with their lives. The woman who beat an otherwise fatal disease; the 17 year old who escaped from Ethiopia and now owns a large franchise in the U.S.; the bullied blind girl who survived high school. These are the kinds of stories I’d sniff out like a Beagle when I was a magazine editor. Now, as a content marketing writer, I’ve been thinking about how I can transfer my love for writing these bootstrap stories into valuable B2B and B2C content. I am convinced there is a place for this kind of storytelling in branding. Companies such as P&G and Unilver apparently think so too. “Thank You, Mom”/Olympics ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57e4t-fhXDs Dove Soap/Girls’ Self-Esteem http://www.dove.us/Our-Mission/Real-Beauty/default.aspx So here’s a few off-the-top applications I came up with for using underdog stories in content marketing writing: 1) Tell the rags to riches story of a brand’s CEO and how she/he is now giving back 2) Tell the story of a manufacturing company using their resources to help school-aged children in third-world countries 3) Showcase nonprofit volunteers who are giving back to the same organization that helped them 4) Highlight someone from an under represented group who has had success and exemplifies characteristics that mirror the brand’s mission 5) For baby boomer/health care-related brands, tell the stories of people who have medical issues but are “aging well in place” by incorporating good habits into their self-care routines I would enjoy hearing how you might add to this...
read moreGet It Right Before You Write: 6 Tips For Productive Interviewing
March 3, 2014 The best human interest stories start with strategic interviewing by the writer. And strategic interviews start long before you ask the first question. Preparation, well-crafted interview questions and intuition during the interview create the foundation for content people want to read. I want to show you six tactics that make the difference between writing an engaging article with depth versus one that lacks interest and insight. Take care of the nitty gritties ahead of time. Everyone is busy so whatever research you can complete ahead of time reserves precious minutes for more important questions. Don’t waste your interviewee’s time asking , “What is your title?” or “How long have you been with the company?” You can usually find these answers online or from an administrative assistant. If the interviewee works for a public entity, check the web for meeting minutes and other public documents which may provide basic information about the person’s job, activities and viewpoints. Linked In is also a helpful source of information. Spy the surroundings. If your interview is in person, look around the reception area or office for important clues. Does your interviewee have a collection of arrowheads or a stack of vintage comic books on display? Does the collection of auto enthusiast magazines say something contradictory about the chef or fashion enthusiast you are about to interview? The physical surroundings may tell you much about your interviewee and provide colorful material for the piece you’re writing. Have an idea of your angle ahead of time but be flexible. You may go into the interview with an idea about the angle or the hook of your piece, but be flexible and listen for other interesting options. For example, I interviewed a couple focusing on their travels around the world. During the interview, they mentioned learning that their daughter had anorexia while on one of their trips. I switched the focus of my story to how parents handle a child’s eating disorders which made for a more interesting piece. Let them have “talk”. Knowing when to control the flow of questions is a practiced art. Sometimes it’s best to keep a rambling interviewee on target by bringing them back to the original question or changing to a new one. But be flexible. If the flow of conversation reveals interesting information even though it’s beyond the scope of your question, you may want to follow him or her on that rabbit trail. However, don’t be afraid to keep the interview on track by steering the conversation in the direction you want it to go. Keep your ends open. You’ve heard it before but it’s an important point to repeat: Ask open ended questions. And ask questions that go beyond the facts. Ask questions that will help you to “show” and not just tell when you write the story: “How did you feel when________.” And, “Do you remember what you were wearing?” Or, “What was the weather like when you ________?” These questions will help you to write in a way that draws the reader into the scene or event. Empathize ...
read moreWhy You Need To Know About Content Marketing
One of the old ways of getting someone to know about your product or service was to assault them with intrusive ads. But viewers have grown weary. Every where they turn, ads are chasing them, tackling them to the ground and making them cry uncle. Customers have gotten smart and either ignore the intrusions, delete them or shut them out by fast forwarding their DVRs. Content marketing on the other hand attracts potential customers by offering targeted information they can use. It is the new way to market. Coca-Cola is a wonderful example of a company effectively using content marketing with their new Journey digital publication which has replaced their traditional home page http://www.coca-colacompany.com/ . You can also find a great article about how content marketing is critical to business marketing strategies on the Social Media website:...
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