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Articles

In the business world there's a nugget of wisdom that suggests we should be able to explain our work "to our grandparents." Now, I know many brilliant individuals with grandchildren who do not need things dumbed-down, so phrased in a less insulting way, let's say you're doing well if you can explain your work to anyone who isn't in your same exact business. The layperson, if you will. So, for the non-marketer, what is content , exactly. Well, you know A Christmas Story ? You know how Ralphie's favorite thing in the world, besides that Red Ryder BB Gun, is the Little Orphan Annie radio program? Well, the Little Orphan Annie radio program is content . Every marketer, every brand and every media publisher generating content wants all of us to be as engaged with their content as Ralphie is with the Little Orphan Annie radio program...with the express goal of selling more Ovaltine, of course. Or what-have-you. Content, Technically Speaking By today...

The Art of Telling a Joke: Using Humor Wisely

Recently I was asked to punch up a job post for a high tech company. The CEO said he was trying to entice quality applicants, but he'd been informed that the tone of his job post made a fun workplace sound like a total drag. It did. We fixed it, and we did it with humor. Does Humor Belong In Business Writing? I know there's a ton of advice online sternly advising against using any humor at all, ever, in business writing, whether it's a job posting or a client email. I say, why not use humor? When done right, you can add some spark to those dreary-sounding job descriptions, make an employee handbook more enjoyable to read, or you can break the ice with a pun in a client welcome letter. You can certainly open with a joke in your quarterly presentation, in fact, there's a tradition about that...but make no mistake: you do need to be careful with humor in business writing. Joking is Serious Business Few things in life are as fundamentally subjective as our own s...

#HireaWriter

I'm an expert wordsmith with decades of precision-honed skills in persuasive, informative writing. I'm experienced in business, personal, academic and technical writing. I know how to write quickly, and write well, on a wide range of topics, in almost any style. Marketing Web Content Web In-page Walkthrough (for UX) Blog Posts Direct Mail Copy eBooks, Flipbooks & Slide Deck Content Product Descriptions Service Descriptions Brochures Newsletters Start-Up & Sole Proprietor Crowdfunding Campaigns Company Overviews Executive Profiles Website Content Blog Posts eBooks, Flipbooks & Slide Deck Content User Guides Enterprise (Back Office, HR & Operations) Job Postings Job Descriptions Company Overviews (“About Us”) Executive Profiles (for the web, LinkedIn, About.me etc) Mission Statements New Hire Welcome Letters Employee Handbooks Training Materials Work Instructions (ISO-ready) Procedures (ISO-re...