What’s the Deal With Google’s New Helpful Content Algorithm Update?
Back in August, Google announced a new ‘helpful content’ algorithm update. This attracted a lot of attention at the time. On the face of it, justifiably so…
Why Writing Like You Talk Is No Bad Thing
People in writing circles still seem to get uptight about the insight that ‘you should write like you speak’. You do wonder why it generates so much controversy. Perhaps it’s based on a misunderstanding of what’s being proposed here.
The Irresistible Power of Case Studies
Case studies are the gift that keeps on giving. Yet few small businesses bother with them. Or even know what they are. This is a shame as they’re a powerful tool in your marketing arsenal. Demonstrating the value that you provide to your customers. And why you’re the right choice for them.
Inhabiting the Words
Writing about the composition of an early piano suite, composer and pianist Erik Satie said that: “‘The beautiful and limpid Aperçus désagréables... are written in the most superior style and enable us to understand why the subtle composer is justified in declaring: 'Before writing a work I go round it several times accompanied by myself'”.
Why You Need to Take Notes (and Take Note)
Are you a jotter, one who jots? Do you use a jot-book? Do you ever refer back to your random jottings for inspiration? If you do, you’re in good company. If you don’t, maybe you ought to give it a try.
Binding Words (And Letters) Together
It’s always struck me as odd that the word ‘ampersand’ is so much longer than the word ‘and’. After all, it’s the descriptive name for the character ‘&’. Which is a shortened form of ‘and’. But I’ve only just found out why.
Should You Use Parentheses in Your Writing (or Not)?
Do you ever find yourself wanting to make a short aside to your readers? Maybe you need to add some additional information or clarify a point? Perhaps you are in the mood for a short digression?
To Split or Not to Split, That Is the Question
Fans of Star Trek will instantly recognise Captain James T. Kirk’s introduction to each episode: “Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no man has gone before!”
Let’s Celebrate Our County on Sussex Day!
It's 16th June. Which means it’s Sussex Day. A celebration of all things Sussex…
Copywriting and the Art of Simplicity
Why do many people prefer complicated explanations to simple ones? Seeing complexity in things that are really quite straightforward. Why do some things appear to be more complicated than necessary?
Coming Out of Lockdown: Is Your Business Ready?
Businesses forced to either close or reduce trading as a result of the latest Covid-19 lockdown are looking forward to the opportunity to reopen in the weeks ahead as restrictions ease. The Government’s roadmap provides hope that those businesses affected can resume trading, re-engage with their customers and return to some sort of normality. But this begs the question: are you ready?
Lurking in the Ellipses
You know that moment. Your thought has trailed off. You leave the sentence open-ended. It might suggest an idea not fully formed. Or imply an awkward silence. On the other hand…
Why Your Business Should Start Blogging (And How to Do It)
Blogging has been around since the 1990s. And, perhaps inevitably, grand claims are periodically made about ‘the death of the blog’. But, to paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of their death are premature.
It’s a Funny Thing, Copywriting
“A comedian does funny things,” Buster Keaton said. “A good comedian does things funny.” This might appear a bit opaque on first reading. But it’s an interesting distinction.
Why Your Charity Should Start Blogging (And How to Do It)
Blogging has been around since the 1990s. And, perhaps inevitably, grand claims are periodically made about ‘the death of the blog’. But, to paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of their death are premature.
How a Specialist Bid Writer Can Help With Your Grant Application
Covid-19 has presented charities and voluntary organisations with a huge challenge. They have faced a perfect storm as traditional sources of income have dried up while demand for their services has soared. Smaller charities are particularly exposed to the crisis, especially those working to tackle poor health, poverty and domestic violence.
The Art of Slow Copywriting
Advocates of the Slow Movement have been popping up all over the place in recent years. Slow Travel. Slow Reading. Slow Radio. Slow Parenting. Slow Cities. The list is endless. It might seem a bit on the faddish side. But I must confess a sneaking admiration for these attempts to slow life down.
What I See, What I See…
It feels like everyone’s blogging these days. What started in the late ‘90s as a way of sharing the often random thoughts that characterise a daily journal with a wider, online audience, soon morphed into thematically-based personal blogs, professional blogs, business blogs and niche blogs.
The Apostrophe Is Dead. Long Live the Apostrophe!
“The apostrophe,” according to R.L. Trask, author of The Penguin Guide to Punctuation, “is the most troublesome punctuation mark in English, and perhaps also the least useful. No other punctuation mark causes so much bewilderment, or is so often misused.”
The Evolution of Communication in the Charity Sector
Charities play a vital role in society. They make a difference to millions of lives in the UK and the wider world. If you run a charity, you’ll know this. But you’ll also know that you can only make the difference you do because of the money you raise to support your activities, the work your volunteers do and the campaigns you organise. This means that telling people about your work is essential if you want to inspire them to make a donation, join your band of volunteers and spread the word.