Tips & Inspo

Over the years, I’ve been on both ends of the press release process, as a representative for marketing clients and as a freelance writer. During that time, I have seen parallels between the press release process and our great blue earth. Press Releases: Stepping on Dry Land If social media is an ever-fluctuating ocean, publications and news outlets are stable islands. To gain the attention and trust of your prospective audience, you need to mix the organic, crowd-sourced power of social media with the more predictable, formal announcements from local publications. Make Some Waves Press releases usually evoke a specific [...]

By working with a freelance copy editor, you can elevate the quality of your creative elements. Whether you are working as an individual or managing a team, the extra set of eyes will make you feel more confident before you publish (unlike the $250,000 Metropolitan Transportation Authority gaffe). It’s easy to get tunnel vision when reviewing your own work. You can use a marketing freelancer for an outside perspective. Otherwise, you may find yourself publishing while weary and cross-eyed. Proofreading and Editing: See Straight A fascinating phenomenon, mirages have captured human eyes and imaginations from time eternal. According to Wikipedia, they [...]

“But he has nothing on!” said a little child. Writing a solid article takes time, connections, and experience.  When done correctly, your organization gains massive exposure through a legitimate news outlet. Working with a ghostwriter can help you put together a story that captures the attention and imagination of your target audience. A Tale of Two Weavers In the story of The Emperor’s New Clothes, two con artist weavers approach the insecure emperor of a fictional nation. Even though they have no fabric, they convince the emperor to pay them for a new royal outfit. How did they do it? They state that [...]

I must call Nana. That was my first thought when the editor-in-chief at Lynchburg Living sent me an assignment focused on how seniors can manage their medications. I knew she could give me insights from her daily life. As a Lynchburg writer, I'm always looking for a fresh angle on familiar topics. As I called her up, she was immediately amused. The 65+ audience is a huge demographic and senior care is a growing, profitable industry. So, the amount of information and advertising my Nana sees daily is shocking. Everyone is trying to get a chunk of that Baby Boomer [...]

Non-profits should look to the people in their network as the best way to share their story. That's the most cost effective marketing tip for non-profit organizations.  This includes guest posting on blogs, sharing in stories, tagging, brand ambassadors and so many other activities. It requires administration not ad spend. Most non-profit organizations can look to the people who are engaged with their mission, literal feet-on-the-ground, to inspire their content marketing strategy. These work best when the brands fit together naturally.  Interviews ⁠— especially ones that reinforce your brand’s message ⁠— are an effective co-promotion tool. Marketing Tip for Non-Profit [...]

When I took on this article about Lynchburg family activities, I was child-free and didn’t typically take on the mantle of telling parents what to do with their kids. As I started my research, I imagined what I might like to do with my potential future family. It helped me choose a tone that leaned toward helpful and away from naggy. Looking back, it’s a little ambitious to do all of these things with your kids in one summer.  Ultimately, I chose a list-focused format that divided the Lynchburg family activities into categories to keep the narrative of several interviews [...]

Special sections create highly-coveted opportunities for advertisers. They pull together helpful information for a niche audience alongside business listings and advertisements. Most magazines run a few of these each year. Some have a special section on a different topic in every issue. Whenever I accept an assignment to write a business profile for a special section, I challenge myself to mix punchy copy with powerful quotes. Blend Business Profiles into Shareable Articles Often, the interviewees for special sections are a mix of required business profiles and “writer’s choice.” I find myself talking to marketing directors, CEOS, or Public Relations coordinators [...]

When the American Association of Airport Executives approached me to review some of their internal safety documents, I was excited. The project allowed me to use my proofing skills to ensure consistency throughout several documents (and hundreds of pages) written by several authors. I kept the documents organized, reading all of them through once to determine the preferences of each author and correct any grammatical errors. Then, I worked with them to create a consistent formatting between authors. Between the two documents, I reviewed 500 pages in about 47 billable hours. Project Background The American Association of Airline Executives approached me based [...]