8/28/2007
Get It In Writing & Allison Nazarian featured in INC Magazine as "The Packager"
| Read the article in the September 2007 issue of INC Magazine (the INC 5,000 issue) in which Get It In Writing 's Allison Nazarian discusses packaging services as a way to better benefit clients and take the focus off money and back on results. Labels: publicity, small business, small business marketing |
8/25/2007
We Are All Experts At Something
| I'm not going to lie...this has been a heady week for me! It started on Monday morning when I learned that Get It In Writing was featured in a Wall Street Journal article. (I knew the article was running, but I had been told it would be 10 days later.) The whole experience of being covered by a "big-time" media outlet, even for me as a former journalist, was exciting and surreal. (My husband wants to know when he can quit his job. I told him not quite yet). Even better, I thought the article was interesting and really informative, especially for small business people looking to know more about blogs and blogging. (It was in the Small Business section. Click here to read a pdf of the article). What did this experience teach me? First, we are all experts at something or at a couple somethings. Don't ever underestimate that expertise. There are always others out there who are seeking out and will benefit from what you have to say. Second, savor the moment for about a second and then try to build on it. My goal is to speak more, at venues and to audiences throughout the U.S. I believe that my experience and expertise in blogging is one area that will get me there faster. Third, have your book ready for sale before your Wall Street Journal mention comes out! |
8/21/2007
Top 3 Sins of Blogging
Since blogging seems to be the Get It In Writing theme of the week (see the Wall Street Journal article featuring Allison Nazarian and Get It In Writing!), here are my Top 3 Sins of Blogging:
Labels: blog, blogging, web traffic |
8/20/2007
The next frontier in Web 2.0?
| I recently read an article about something being called "e-venge." Basically, we all have the power to say, well, anything about any one person or any entity and then blast it, via the WWW/Internet/online world, to just about every human in the world. Scary? I think so! Just as we can use this power for good, it can also be used for not-so-good. Burned by an ex? Mad at your boss? Looking to bury your competition? No problem...just tell the world that they're jerks, unfair, cheaters, nasty, whatever floats your boat. While most of us do live life under the rules of the "honor system," there are those who don't, won't and/or can't. And if you cross or threaten or anger one of them, watch out! When I was an undergrad at the University of Pennsylvania, I wrote a newspaper column about what was being called the "Wall of Shame." Basically, in a ladies' room stall in the library, I once saw a graffiti message that named so-called campus date rapists and asked women to list male students' names who fit the bill. One name was listed when I first saw the writing. I happened to know of this guy and he didn't have the best reputation. Regardless of his reputation, though, it had never been proven or even alleged in any legal way that he was more than just a jerk. I have and had no idea what the truth was, but I was sure the bathroom wall was not the place for the debate or for the legal system to kick in. Today, we have the Internet (that was back in 1991). The medium has changed but the message hasn't: words are powerful, yes. A public forum is also powerful. But just because it's in print or on your computer screen doesn't make it the truth! Labels: e-venge, Web 2.0, web content |
8/10/2007
What's an author?
| It wasn't easy and it's not the Great American Novel, but it's mine. When I was growing up, I wanted to be a couple of things. Not one, but not too many, either. I wanted to be a sports reporter (I was and am a huge NFL fan, go Redskins!), an attorney and an author of nonfiction books. Once in college, I decided the best route to writing and business was through reporting and journalism. I was still certain that writing nonfiction books was in my future. While in journalism school, I decided that the world of sports of reporting was a bit unpredictable for me schedule-wise (I wanted to be a Mom, too!) and that business journalism was the way to go. I also felt this would be a great way to get to my ultimate goal of writing books. Lots of 'em. Now, through some great twists and turns, I am an entrepreneur in the business of copywriting and marketing. And while I have written and edited tens of thousands of pages of websites, brochures, articles, blogs and books (electronic and hard copy) for other businesses, I hadn't until now actually become that author I've always known I was meant to be. I did imagine my first book would be more of a memoir based on the life of my grandmother or on the working mother debate or on one of the other great ideas and passions I have, but my first book is actually simpler in topic and, at the end of the day, probably the most fitting of all - at least to start. So...stay tuned for Copywriting 101 for Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs, Coaches & Consultants. It's coming this month! (And if you want to review it on your website or blog, let me know and I will send you a copy!) |
8/09/2007
Business Writing 101, Part 1
| People ask me all the time for a couple of quick writing tips that everyone in business needs. Here are a couple: Write how you speak. Do your emails and letters sound like you? Effective business writing doesn’t need to be formal to read well. In fact, most readers understand what you’re saying much better when you speak as you would in a normal conversation. Out with it! Make your point early, because if you make people wade through continuous paragraphs of copy before getting to what you’re trying to say, you’re a goner. Don't use words you don't know. Using impressive words occasionally is fine, but if you use one of those big important sounding words the wrong way, readers will see right through it and you. This applies to slang words as well. Look for 3 more Quick Business Writing Tips soon. |
8/05/2007
Blog Ghostwriting: My first Wikipedia entry!
| As a copywriter, I get asked about all sorts of marketing-, sales- and advertising-related writing assignments and projects. Lately, I have been approached a couple of times about writing for Wikipedia, the online free encyclopedia that is open to all for writing and editing. This kind of writing is not salesy or full of hype (in fact, that kind of writing will get you banished to a Wikipedia Timeout!). This kind of writing is longer form, informative, newsworthy and factual, just like the encyclopedias that used to be found only in libraries or in the 26-volume set on your parents' (or your) bookshelves. I did some searching and found that there was no entry for "Blog Ghostwriting," which happens to be a service we at Get It In Writing offer. I took some time to write a short (three paragraph) informative entry (with no sales pitch copy whatsoever)on the topic and now am just trying to figure out if I categorized it correctly and if so, when it will actually post to the Wikipedia pages. If you see it or if you have any insight, let me know! Labels: blog, blog ghostwriting, blogging |