Writing & PR
Getting the marketing balance right
When you’re busy running your business, it can be easy to push marketing aside. You’re busy, you don’t have time and anyway, you don’t need it as you’ve got plenty of customers.
But when those customers dry up, what do you do?
Whatever you do, don’t go into panic mode and start bombarding your mailing list or social media community with offers, reminders, packages and promotions. They haven’t heard from you for a while, and all of a sudden you start SHOUTING at them … how rude!
Corporate Social Responsibility – is it for you?
Many large businesses now have a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy. But is it appropriate for small businesses? I think it is.
Cynics might say it’s just another public relations gimmick designed to make the business look ‘worthy’.
But my take on it is that it’s another way to help a business clearly define its values and objectives.
‘Don’t speak to me in that tone of voice’
Tone of voice is a term used term in marketing and advertising to describe the way in which your language comes across in your written materials. But why is it important?
Businesses spend hours, months or even years working on products and services, but potential customers decide at a glance whether they are interested or not.
Helping inspiration along
When you’ve got a presentation, a report or an article to write there’s nothing worse than staring at a blank screen, waiting for inspiration.
Even writing this, I’m guilty of doing what I always advise people NOT to do – starting at the top of the page and trying to fill it!
The best place to start is away from the computer.
What is active voice and why is it important?
In a nutshell, it’s a more positive way of writing and yes it is important!
Using active voice in your communications makes them more direct and engaging. Passive voice can be seen to be avoiding the issue somewhat. For instance compare the sentences:
1. Your invoice will be paid next month
2. Our accounts department will pay your invoice next month
The first one sounds like an exercise over which you have no control – the invoice will be paid. Somehow, it leaves room for doubt and you just have to hope that it will.
However, the second one sounds much more positive with a definitive action.
Press Release tips
While I’m not a PR specialist, I’ve had some success recently in getting press coverage and just thought I’d share some of the key factors of putting a press release together with you. PR is cost effective and a great way of getting publicity, but you have to remember a few things.
