Focus your subject line on the readers’ needs Marketers sent more than 838 billion emails in 2013. As HubSpot’s Niti Shaw points out, that's nearly three times the number of stars in the Milky Way. So how can we write subject lines that help our emails stand out from the crowd? Make them relevant, valuable and useful to your readers, suggest three Carnegie Mellon … [Read more...] about Change the subject
Archives for February 2014
Catch Your Readers
Learn to move people to act — in print and online In all economic times, the communicators who thrive — and those who help their organizations thrive — are the ones who know how to write copy that sells: not just products and services, but programs, plans and positions, as well. Let’s face it: Organizations can’t afford to communicate just to get the word out. They need … [Read more...] about Catch Your Readers
Rethink the resume
Use marketing writing best practices When my sister was looking for a new job, she and I worked together to rethink her resume. We applied best practices we already use in our marcomm writing, including: Focus on what the reader needs, not on you and your stuff. (That’s right: even in a resume. Especially in a resume!) Lift your ideas off the page with display … [Read more...] about Rethink the resume
Create Wordoids
Make up words with this cool naming tool I was working on a story today when a writerruption occurred: My brother sent me photos of The Cutest Kid In the World, aka my niece. I got distracted and missed my deadline. Not really. But don’t you love the word writerruption? I made it myself, with the cool tool Wordoid. This site is designed to help you find a catchy name … [Read more...] about Create Wordoids
Transform a name
'That was so Rob Fordian’ In the December issue, I asked you to transform a name into a descriptor. (One of my clients, I mentioned, had just asked me to "Wylie-ize" part of her website.) Here’s what you came up with: Rob Fordian adj., describing short-sighted decision-making or immature behaviour by a public official, often accompanied by childish outbursts, binge … [Read more...] about Transform a name