My Articles

Are you lost for words?

Words. They’re everywhere. We hear them, speak them and read them all day long.
So why is it so hard to write them down sometimes? Read more

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But enough about me…what do you think of me?

As a business owner, it’s natural to want to tell the world who you are, what you
do and why you’re the best. So when it comes to writing marketing or advertising
copy, it’s easy to fall into the trap of only talking about “me, me, me”. Read more

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How to write an effective sales letter

If you run a business, chances are that you’ll have to produce a sales letter at some point in
time. Whether it’s to launch your business, a new product or to attract more sales, a well-
written sales letter can be an extremely effective tool in your marketing mix. Read more

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Is it acceptable to use smiley faces in business emails?

I have a problem.
I seem to be including smiley face characters in more and more of my emails these days.
Most times, it’s quite upbeat.
Other times, it’s just a cheeky wink. ;-) Read more

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7 reasons why people buy a product or service

What drives someone to buy something? The simple answer is that they either want it or
need it. But there’s more to it than that. Every purchasing decision has an underlying
motivation that we, as business owners, marketers or copywriters, need to identify. Read more

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Like to improve your productivity?

Well, exercise could be the answer! We all know the physical benefits of regular exercise. It’s good
for our heart, lungs, muscles…pretty much our whole body. But did you know that exercise can also
help maximise our productivity at work? Read more

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13 golden rules to writing effective web copy - Part 2

Last month, I looked at 7 essential rules to writing effective web copy. These can be viewed
under ‘November 2009’. I’ll now share my remaining 6 rules to help your web copy shine. Read more

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13 golden rules to writing effective web copy - Part 1

Writing website copy is a unique skill. It’s totally different to writing copy for brochures,
newsletters and reports. Why? Because your web copy needs to attract, engage and
persuade someone in a matter of seconds. After all, if a potential customer doesn’t like what
they see, they’re out of there with the simple click of a mouse button. And guess where
they’re heading? That’s right – straight to your competitor’s site. Read more

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The importance of a good client brief

Whether you’re a copywriter, designer or event planner, receiving a good brief
from your client is essential in delivering the best possible job for them.

Confusion often occurs when a poor brief is given at the start of a project. Valuable time can
be wasted because the work parameters weren’t agreed upon from the outset or you weren’t
clear on your client’s objectives. This inevitably has a negative impact on both the end result
and the relationship with your client. Read more

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5 tips to staying motivated

Working for myself and being able to do it from home is fantastic.

But there are some downsides of course, and one of them is a lack of motivation on the odd
occasion. The surf might be calling or the kids hollering, but you know you need to bunker
down and keep working. After all, that thing called ‘income’ is kind of important! Read more

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Do you de-brief?

Well, of course you do. We all need to shower and change our clothes.

But what I mean is, do you carry out de-briefs on your work?

If you’re like me, you probably finish a job and move quickly onto the next one.
This is fine because it means that business is good and the mortgage is getting paid. Read more

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Where do you do your best thinking?

Ok, I’ll admit it.

Some of my best ideas occur when I’m naked.

Yes that’s right – the shower is the place where I often do my best thinking. Read more

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