Category Archives: Write Away Copywriting Blog

Writing According to Calvin & Hobbes

September 13, 2019 jslagell Leave a comment

I love Calvin & Hobbes! Their imagination, silly antics and exciting adventures are a great example of of living life to its fullest—even if some their ideas and supposed adventures may be a bit far fetched! Of course, it is the most outrageous adventures that often have the most profound comments.

It’s a lot like the life of a copywriter. We are often asked to write about products or processes that are unfamiliar and that results in an adventure in learning —and for me, that never gets old. I love it when I am approached by a new client as that means I will be learning about a new topic, and conversely, it is awesome when I am asked by an existing client if I would be willing to learn how to (fill in the blank) so they can take that particular job off their To Do list. In both situations, I get to learn something new, and that is part of what makes my job so much fun.

So to those who are already a part of the Write Away family, thanks for all the opportunities to learn. And, to those who are in need of a copywriter, be sure to drop me a line at jslagell@writeawaycopywriting.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

WAC Updates, Write Away Copywriting Blog

It’s All in Your Perspective

June 15, 2019 jslagell Leave a comment

Recently, I was watching a friend’s preschool-age boys. The oldest one was sitting at the table snacking as I ate a plate of spaghetti. He asked what I had and – just to get his reaction – I answered, “pasta”. He grinned, then promptly told me, “No, it’s ‘sketti!” We ‘argued’ a few minutes before he finally shook his head at me and proceeded to eat his snack of mini cupcakes.

After a bit, I asked him if they were good cupcakes. He grinned again, lifted his hand above the table then promptly smashed a cupcake. He then smirked and replied, “Nope, these are pancakes!”

What else could I do but chuckle? He had made a solid – if not somewhat messy- point. His snack definitely was more pancake than cupcake!

As I have thought about this incident, it has made me remember-again- that it is our perspective on a job that makes the difference. Not everyone loves to write, or work with numbers, or design websites or manage social media. Depending on your interests and perspective, any one of these activities can feel like varying levels of work – or perhaps enjoyment.

Fortunately, we don’t all have to like the same things and can often hire out those tasks we find less than fun. Other times, we might have to simply look for ways to turn that basic “cupcake” into a unique -though perhaps messy -pancake. But, if we can find the joy in the activity, then that positive perspective can make even the most mundane job pleasurable.

As spring turns into summer and you find yourself looking for ways to make those long work days feel a bit less be sure to keep your outlook positive! It might not make the work disappear, but it will make getting the tasks accomplished more enjoyable. Of course, for those writing tasks or social media jobs that might seem impossible to face, why not talk to Write Away and learn how you can simplify your To-Do list.

WAC Updates

15 Blogging Tips from around the Web

April 13, 2019 jslagell Leave a comment

Blogging is an important part of building a web presence, but it can be a bit intimidating. If staring at a blank screen seems to be more common than you would like, then use the tips below the next time yo are asked to write for the company blog.

Brainstorm and organize your ideas. Start with your concept as the anchor, create a brief outline and write 2- sentences for each point.
Include hard data such as facts and statistics, being sure to link to the original source.
Have a title that is eye-catching. Men are typically drawn to titles with numbers (7 Ways to…) while women are prone to titles with “How to” or “Why”.
Identify your audience, and determine what type of content appeals to them. This may take a bit of trial and error.
Write with authority. Establish yourself as an industry expert.
Check out other blogs within your industry and see what is trending.
Be consistent. Whether you publish on the same day of the month/week, use the same format every time, etc. don’t change things up every time you post something.
If you are part of a conference or webinar, blog about it.
Don’t be afraid to create controversy.
Write in your own voice.
Use Spellcheck programs. Proofread multiple times. If possible, have 1-2 others proof your work before posting.
Link to others, but never let someone pay you to do so.
Your blog should include the following info:
- Graphics that draw the eye. These can be images, infographics, bar graphs, etc. It is even better if the images are original to you.
- Offer specials (when appropriate)
- Answer questions
- Teach people how to use your product/services
- Have a point; don’t just ramble in order to reach a specific word count.
- Always have a Call to Action
Use keywords and phrases. Be sure to target the cities where you want to build a customer base.
Formatting is important!

Use short paragraphs – no more than 75 to 100 words or 6 lines long.
Having white space between paragraphs makes it easier to read.
Use subheadings in bold that include keywords.
Use an easy to read font.
Lists with bullet points or numbers make it easy for readers to scan information quickly.
Shorter sentences are better.
Align to the left, rather than the center.
Keep posts to no more than 300 to 1,000 words long.

Blogging is a part of being found on the Web; and, with bit of planning, it doesn’t have to be a stressful process. Of course, if you would rather have someone else write the blog posts for you, contact Write Away and explain the types of post you need, and a few other elements and you can mark “write a blog post” off of your To Do list.

WAC Updates

Are You Ready for Social Media?

March 13, 2019 jslagell Leave a comment

You don’t have to be an expert to maintain a presence on social media. However, you do need to have a strategy, a plan and a commitment to make your presence known. If you have never given any thought to what you want your social media platforms to look like, then there is no time like the present.

Here are a few things to keep in mind;

Determine who your audience is (or who want it to be).
Decide how often and when you will post.
Study the various platforms, paying special attention to the most popular- Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus , LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram. Keep in mind that not every business will work on every platform. For instance, while the first four will work great for nearly every business, Instagram and Pinterest might not.
Choose a cover photo and profile picture that expresses who your company is and what you do. Be sure to use the same images on every platform as this adds credibility and helps with branding.
In most cases, shorter posts are better than long ones.
As much as possible, include a picture as part of the post. Ideally, the picture should be original to you/your company. When it isn’t be sure to give credit to the source.
Be sure to check for spelling, punctuation or grammar errors.
Don’t be afraid to post something that might be controversial. This often encourages reader engagement.
In making a social media post, ask yourself the following: Is it educational? Is it entertaining? Is it encouraging? The more of these you can answer, “yes” to the better the post.
Consider linking back to your website whenever possible. This is referred to as signposting, and provides external links.
Don’t make every post about yourself. Ideally, only 20% of your posts should be about you. Otherwise, your followers will get bored with what you have to say.
Did you use #hashtags and keywords that go with your business?

These are but a few tips for developing a social media presence. Develop a plan that works for you and then commit to it. Need help? Contact Write Away to manage your social media platforms for you.

(image from imforza.com)

WAC Updates

Social Media: Try it – You Just Might Like It!

October 13, 2018 jslagell Leave a comment

Not long ago, I had the privilege of being a part of a educational event at a local university. It was my “job” to pretend to be suffering with pains similar to having a bladder or kidney problem. It was up to the students to ask enough questions to determine the cause. This was an activity far removed from my normal day, and one that I greeted with excitement, and even a bit of trepidation. After all, I am more of an observer, and prefer to avoid drama of any kind.

However, the day was actually quite enjoyable. I found that stepping outside of the box was more fun than anticipated and I got to meet some really great people. And, even better, I found that with each new “doctor” I met, the more comfortable and easier the acting became. I found I anticipated the questions, knew better how to answer and learned a bit about what it takes to train to be a physician.

My experience with acting is often how people feel about using social media or blogging about their company. Taking that first step and setting up a social media page might be intimidating. There are “all those” questions to answer, and the job of finding the right pictures. Then, you have to spend time each week posting things that are engaging and interesting. These tasks can seem daunting, so people often choose to merely observe other businesses on Facebook, Twitter or other platforms rather than get involved with the “drama” of social media.

But, just as I was a bit uncertain at the outset of my day of being a patient but later found it was actually a bit fun, those companies that take the plunge and set up a social media profile (or two….) usually find that while it may initially seem difficult, with practice it becomes a great way to engage with others. By using social media to promote who their company is and how others can benefit from using their products and services, they build up their customer base and develop a strong presence on the Web.

No, the first few social media updates may not go viral (chances are, they won’t!) but with practice and perseverance, a social media page can be a strong tool in your marketing toolbox. So, don’t just sit back observe the social media scene, get out there and give it a go. You might just find that you like it.

WAC Updates

16 Tips for Using Social Media to Build Your Business

July 13, 2018 jslagell Leave a comment

While there are many people out there who do not see the value of social media, as a business owner one cannot overlook its use. Of course, for social media to truly effective, knowing a few basics about how to make the most of it is important. These 16 tips will help make using social media easier and more effective.

Always be sure the content is interesting.
Don’t be afraid to post a controversial topic that is appropriate to your industry. Just be ready to defend/explain your position.
Remember that most people prefer pictures to lengthy text. In fact, 65% of people are visual learners.
While numbers are important on social media, keep in mind that engagement is even better.
Be sure to occasionally signpost (link back) to your website via your social media pages.
Ask questions and then listen to the answers.
Be sure that your company profile is completely filled out, and that you have used keywords in the description.
Don’t be afraid to try Pinterest – it’s not just a place for recipes, crafts and home decor ideas!
Don’t begin Tweets with @whoever as this limits who can see the tweet. Rather, type it as .@whoever (note the period) as this allows everyone to see the tweet.
Schedule posts on Twitter, just before or just after the hour.
Keep up with the changes on Facebook—especially those that pertain to business accounts.
Be sure that your full street address is on Facebook, so that people are able to check in.
Be careful about what you say to people, and don’t bad mouth competition, it’s just poor business.
Facebook and Pinterest, in addition to YouTube, are great venues for posting videos about what your company has to offer, be sure you are using them all.
Post coupons on your social sites—it builds interest and income.
Don’t over socialize…it is not necessary to be on every social media platform. Choose 3 or 4 that will suit your needs and put your efforts into those.

Social media is a great platform for business, so be sure you are not overlooking its power and potential. Do the posts yourself or hire someone to do it for you, but whatever you do, do not ignore it.

WAC Updates

Game Time! Playing with Words

February 13, 2018 jslagell Leave a comment

Some of my best memories of growing up involved word games–specifically, playing Scrabble with my dad. My dad is a pro at Scrabble and it was viewed much like a rite of passage to be able to beat him at this game. My dad plays Scrabble like he does everything he approaches- he plays it to win, preferably by a large margin. So, when playing Scrabble against my dad, it wasn’t just about having a good word, but about playing it in the spot that gets the maximum number of points. A score of less than 10 was scoffed – unless it was the end of the game and the goal then became, “Just get rid of the tiles!”

This passion for words was encourage through other word games such as Upwords, supplemented with books of word searches and solving scrambled word puzzles and in doing crossword puzzles. As I got older, I discovered the wonderful world of Roget’s Thesaurus and could be found reading the thesaurus or dictionary – just for fun.

But this love of words and wordplay was something I saw more as a hobby that fit well with my love of reading and writing. I never saw writing or words as being a career. However, a few years ago, I was taught how to join my love of words with the Web and the perfect job presented itself. And for that I will always be grateful!

Writing for the Web has taught me many things. It has opened up doors I never dreamed possible, It has allowed me to make many great friends and learn about topics and fields, I would- most likely- have never studied. Forming Write Away Copywriting and spending my days writing is an awesome journey and one I look forward to embarking upon every day.

So to those of you who have had a part in broadening my horizons and expanding my knowledge and skills, Thanks! I look forward to many more writing adventures in the future. If we haven’t met, drop me a line, I would love to help you build your Web presence – be it through text for a new website, making revisions to your existing site, crafting and writing your newsletter or perhaps managing your social media–just ask. If there is writing to be done, I am happy to do it.

And for now, perhaps it’s time to break out the Scrabble game–it’s been at least a week since the last time I played!

WAC Updates

Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone in 2018

January 5, 2018 jslagell Leave a comment

So what goals have you set for your business for the upcoming year?

Whether it is building a larger client base, starting a newsletter, learning more about social media or perhaps adding a new service, there is always something to learn and explore. And one of the best parts about being a business owner is that you can take the chance and try them.

Of course, that can also be overwhelming and frightening, too. However, if you have set goals for the year ahead, then here are some things to keep in mind.

I wish I could say I was brilliant, and came up with these points on my own, but it’s only right to give credit where it’s due. Hence, thanks to my pastor, Bud Wrenn – Integrity Church, Burlington, NC – for these reminders about on moving forward.

1. Be all in to be all out. Did you set goals for 2018? Then give them all you have and work towards achieving them.
2. Shake up the status quo. Doing what you have always done, or what everyone expects won’t bring about change. You will likely have to do something unconventional.
3. Have your eyes on the big picture and work daily to achieve it. Whether the goal is meeting new people, gaining more clients, better time management or something totally not work related, you have to focus on the goal and take action every day towards bringing to fruition.
4. Don’t give up! Ups and downs are the norm, but don’t let the lows hold you down.

Are you ready for the year ahead? Then now is the time to take the first step. Keep in mind that you don’t have to work alone to accomplish your goals. Surround yourself with people who want to help you succeed. Then hold your head high and take those steps. If you falter, there are people to catch you and help stay focussed.

And, if some of the goals include writing, then don’t hesitate to talk to someone at Write Away to learn more. After all, just because you want to do rewrite your web content, begin using social media or start a blog, it doesn’t mean you have to do it by yourself!

So, what do plan on accomplishing in the year ahead? Contact Write Away today to get started.

Write Away Copywriting

Category Archives: Write Away Copywriting Blog

Writing According to Calvin & Hobbes

Words Are Hard!

It’s All in Your Perspective

15 Blogging Tips from around the Web

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