Image via Wikipedia Thinking about starting a new Wikipedia article for yourself or your business – but you just don’t know where to start?  As we’ve mentioned before, not every article idea or subject is appropriate for Wikipedia (go here…

Part of protecting your brand, your business, and even your personal online reputation is making sure that others don’t claim your name or try to impersonate you.  So here’s a hint:  sign up your name, brand, and business on every…

It’s our last installment of our blog series on web writing, and we’re ending it by revisiting classic copywriting rules that still apply to creating great online content. 1. Be concise. Snip unnecessary items. To quote the infamous Strunk and…

In this third installment on writing web copy, we’re touching on some of the most important topics:  the most common mistakes we see (often) that kill websites.  Here’s what to look for (and what to avoid) to boost conversion rates…

Good copywriters know that there are lots of different online visitors, each with unique reading and learning styles.  In order to connect with the greatest number of visitors, your website should give your readers the information they need in the…

Web writing is a particular kind of beast unlike other types of copywriting – you didn’t learn how to write for the Web in school, and you won’t learn how to do it without some solid groundwork first. It actually…

Before you rush to start a new Wikipedia article, there are a couple of things to consider. Wikipedia has a huge gamut of guidelines for writing, uploading, and editing Wiki articles.  But before you begin any of those tasks, you…

Unsolicited marketing materials – direct mail and sales emails targeting new customers – generally have low conversion rates.  Your artfully crafted letters may end up in the trash unopened, andyour emails might go ignored for weeks. Image via Wikipedia Before…

It’s no secret that Facebook is a social networking tool that most of us use to keep up with personal contacts. And we’ve seen over and over again how businesses are using Facebook as a social media tool to successfully…

Is your business listed on Google Places? If not, you’re missing out on a free, easy marketing opportunity that can help drive customers to your door. A Google Places listing means that your business can show up in this familiar…

Image by Getty Images via Daylife Should businesses include prices on their marketing materials, landing pages, websites, etc? One school of thought says no – get customers in the door with free offers or discounted pricing, then, once they understand…

Since the very beginning of blogging (I’m talking Livejournal and DiaryLand days), writers have been using the web to showcase their talent and get their names out into the world. Then came socialnetworking: The now-obsolete Makeout Club and Friendster. Myspace.…

Good writers are generally voracious readers (feel free to challenge me on that claim if you want!). For a writer, reading is just like warming up and stretching your brain before you sprint into a new project. Here’s my favorite…

Image via Wikipedia A lot of marketers will tout the benefits of social media marketing for businesses: You’ve probably heard that businesses actually have two different reputations, online and offline. The same goes for individuals – everyone who’s a member…

Image by Getty Images via Daylife Make any resolutions this year? I’m going to propose you make one more: Polish your emails. Write flawless notes. Look smarter. Check out this hilarious cartoon on The Oatmeal’s site, Ten Words You Need…

Social media keeps getting better and better. These days, lots of retailers are jumping on the social media bandwagon to keep up with the times – and, to get consumers in their doors and to jumpstart sales, they’re offering some…

It’s sometimes hard for clients and copywriters alike to remember the writing process: It’s one part hard work (sweat on the keyboard), one part art. And sometimes, the “art” part can be hard to pin down. You’re blocked, distracted. You’ve…