Category: Writing

Clearing Up 4 Common Misperceptions About Writers

Clearing-Up-4-Common-Misperceptions-About-WritersI was sitting in the dog park, my scared little pooch glued to my side instead of playing with the bigger (and meaner) dogs, when a woman turned to me and asked, “what do you do for a living?”

 

I hate this question.

 

It’s not because I’m not proud of being a Chicago freelance writer. I used to dream of the day when I could answer the question with one simple phrase, “I’m a writer.”

 

Truthfully, I never thought I’d actually be able to say that and have it be true.

 

Why?

 

Because I had the exact same misconception that many people seem to have about professional writers.…

Copywriting is the Key to Successful Business Branding

copywriting-is-the-key-to-successful-business-brandingI realize this headline might come off as a bit controversial. There is so much that goes into branding, how can copywriting be the key to success? I’ll tell you why. Without a message, you have no brand at all. If you aren’t able to write down your message and define it, then you aren’t able to get across who your company is and what you offer.

When most businesses brand, they focus on the logo, color scheme, and tagline. I argue that a well-crafted brand is all of the above plus a website and the marketing materials that go along with it, which is where the copywrting comes into play.…

5 Ways Case Studies Can Make You Money

5-ways-case-studies-can-make-you-moneyCase studies are in high demand. With ROI being the important acronym on the market today, a case study is a sales tool that companies cannot be without.

Simply defined a case study is: “a detailed account of a company, industry, person, or project over a given amount of time. The content within a case study may include information about company objectives, strategies, challenges, results, recommendations, and more.”

Case Study Formats

I write case studies two different ways. The first is in as an article and follows this format:

1. A problem is identified. The customer looks for a solution.

2.…

The Benefits of A Relationship With A Copywriter: The Secret to Successful Sales

why-you-should-hire-a-copywriterHiring a professional copywriter means you will have more time and energy, and you’ll make more money. Not a bad deal, is it?

Most businesses don’t realize the importance of strong writing. Nor do they understand how a copywriter makes the difficult job of selling a product or service easier. Or how using a copywriter frees up time and energy for other aspects of the business. In case you are one of those people, I am going to use this post to explain why hiring a copywriter could be the best decision you will ever make. I will go so far to even suggest it can be the difference between success and failure.…

A Week of Opinions: You Need to Hire a Professional Writer

why-you-need-to-hire-a-professional-writerHiring a writer is one of the smartest moves any small business can make.

I’m not just saying that because it’s what I do. I’m saying it because I have seen the toll that bad writing can have on a small business, and I’ve seen the effect of good writing.

For all you out there who know your website needs updating and are thinking about doing it yourself, please read the following analogy.

You need a new computer. You’re not sure what to get. (Although if you have half a brain, you should get a mac and I’m only saying this because it’s opinion week.…

What to do When Your Brain is on Empty

what-to-do-when-your-brain-is-on-emptyTwo nights ago, I was woken up at 1:30am and again at 5:30am. The culprit?  Water was leaking into my apartment, setting off my carbon monoxide detector and potentially taking years off my life with that horrible noise. Is there anything worse than an alarm going off in the middle of the night? Yes, there are millions of things, I’m aware. I do read the newspaper. But somehow, in the moment, an alarm going off in the middle of the night really rates with the worse possible thing to happen in a long time.

Once the beeping stopped and I got another 30 minutes of sleep, I dragged myself out of bed at 7am to wait for the plumber. …

The Power of the Comma

the-power-of-the-comma

Do you know why the comma is so powerful? It makes your words readable. With out it you wouldn’t know when to pause and when to take a breath.

Simply: A comma is a punctuation mark that reads like a pause when speaking.

However, the use of the comma isn’t 100% black and white. There are times when it is 100% necessary and other times when it is a matter of taste and style.

For example, an introductory phrase is a matter of preference:

On October 31st I wore a Halloween costume.

On October 31st, I wore a Halloween costume.

The rest of the time, around 70%, you need to know when and where to use it.…