Writing Exercises – Do Something Entirely Different
August 7, 2009
I sometimes find it difficult to keep writing about the same topic day in and day out. Even if I inject some of my personality, it still seems stale. The best way I know to refresh your writing is to write something entirely different. And I don’t mean just a different topic. I mean a different format altogether!
For example, if you spend a lot of time writing for the Internet, like I do, use a pen and paper and just write a letter. Make it to a fictional person, or a famous person, and really get something off your chest. Maybe you want to write to your congressman about some boneheaded thing he did recently, or maybe you want to write a love letter to Brad Pitt. Whatever it is, make it entirely different.
Try poetry, fiction, short stories, or even a screenplay. Really try to stretch your writing skills. Who cares if it’s bad? You don’t have to show anyone. The important thing is to really push yourself to do something different. You may find you like it, or you have a knack for another writing style you did not know you have. Or maybe…you’ll find that you should stick with what you do best! Either way, you’ll have given yourself a break from writing the same thing, and that will refresh your approach. The most important thing – have fun! It’s not meant to be frustrating, but simply a way to break up your routine and keep your creative juices flowing.
Happy writing!
Good Content is About Your Customers
August 5, 2009
Writing content requires more than just good writing skills. The right questions need to be asked. Among those questions should be “Why is this important?”, “Who are we writing to?”, and most importantly “What would make it more meaningful?”
Content is not about what your reader wants, nor is it about your company. It’s about your customer. It must be relevant to your potential customers and delivered to them in a compelling way. The voice should be based on a strong understanding of your target market so they feel you relate to them. You can assist this process with an editorial style guide that provides guidelines and examples to help anyone craft content and messages in a similar style.
There are several criteria that you want your content to meet in order to ensure the highest of quality. This is beyond the typical marketing or sales writing. Not every page on your site is about selling to someone. Sometimes it is about providing information to educate that person on how your product or service is the best solution for their need. A balance of sales copy writing and education is needed.
The content should be more useful to search engines, so you want to not only utilize keywords and phrases appropriately, but also create relationships through cross-linking.
Content should be comprehensive and cover the requirements for the web site, as well as any third-party applications that are needed. Part of this process is a gap analysis between what exists and what needs to be written. Placing all pages in the site map and outlining their overall function within the site helps ensure that all topics are covered, as well as any new topics that should be considered for the future.
At the end of it all, though, it is important to remember what your customer wants from you. Then write it down in a way that they truly understand how you deliver on that desire. Your content is better and your customers are happier.
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- Fuzzy Writing … Bucky Katt Strikes Again!
- Writing Lessons from Bucky Katt
- Improve Your Headlines – Read Tabloids
- SEO Content – More than rankings
- Writing Exercises – Do Something Entirely Different
- Good Content is About Your Customers
- Writing Exercises – Ask for Help
- Good Web Site Content Starts With the Basics
- Content Equals Communication
