Why trees, roots, and birds in a post about being human? Not sure, other than that this image says "connection" to me in a way many with people just don't. The most important thing companies miss when it comes to marketing (especially content marketing, or inbound marketing if you prefer) is that it’s about making…
Category: Editing Advice
3 of the Most Common – and Simple to Avoid – Writing Missteps Spikey Katfish Sees That Prevent Your Marketing from Blasting Off
The most common mistake businesses make is writing like they're a business. While I've noticed a shift to a friendlier writing style in the past decade, partially thanks to social media and I'm sure influenced as well by Millennials entry into the working world in large numbers, there's still waaaaay too much bad business writing…
9 Tips to Knock Out Blogger’s Block
Writing is hard. There's no way around that. Everyone gets stuck at least once in a while and needs a little nudge to get them going. I'm going to share a few ideas that I use frequently to help bust through writer's block. But, first, why should you even care about blogging? Why Your Business…
Thinking Boxes and Bleeding Ears
Fingernails on a blackboard. That sound foam makes when it's just creaking and on the edge of snapping. Gum smackers. And anytime someone says "Let's think outside of the box." These are all things that make my ears want to bleed. Why people in business continue to use this idiotic expression eludes me. Maybe it's…
Fear of Writing – The Typo and the Typo Pointer-Outer
Typos (and grammar concerns) terrify folks into paralysis when it comes to writing. What if I make a mistake? Use the wrong word? I don't know where the commas go. Semi-colons?!?!? OMFG, kill me. This fear keeps many folks who would otherwise be fantastic contributors to blogs, social media sites, and elsewhere from sharing insights…
The Problem With Great Content
Nearly every piece of advice you read about content and inbound marketing includes the words “great” and “content” in sequence or at least in close proximity. I am all for great content – great content whether whimsical or serious or funny or informative or entertaining or whatever is, well, great. And great is good. It’s…
Keep Swimming Towards Content Marketing
Ignore the naysayers when it comes to content marketing, keep writing, keep swimming.
3 Things (2 That Bug Me) About Content Marketing
About 5 or 6 years ago, I had an idea to do a video series: 3 Things in 3 Minutes (yeah, rocket science, I know) to bring user-generated content in. While I might eventually pick back up on that idea again, started thinking to myself, "Self, why not do something like 3 things Thursday and…
Embrace White Space to Improve Your Content Marketing
A few thoughts on how using white space can help improve your content marketing efforts from an editor's point of view.
Lie To Me – The Essential Skill to Keep Your Content on Schedule
I tell my two girls all the time that, more than anything else, I hate a liar. That's a lie. Kinda. There is a time and place for lying in the workplace -- deadlines. I hate being lied to, but I encouraged every managing editor I ever worked with (and they learned to do this…