Content Marketing

November Update

By |2024-10-27T20:46:45-04:00October 27, 2024|Content Marketing, SEO, Web Content & Design|

I've been banging away at my keyboard on The Shop Shop website — having recently split off my social media accounts and separated my agency site from this one. I've been working on how to transition for a while — as side hustle became full-time freelancing and then became an agency with multiple people. It's taking a minute to get the brand together and I hadn't quite separated the accounts until this fall. I knew I wanted to have dedicated Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram accounts for the Shop Shop so my team members could showcase their work and ideas too. [...]

The Drop: A Twice-Yearly Newsletter from The Shop Shop

By |2024-05-21T13:07:06-04:00June 2, 2024|Content Marketing|

June 1 marked our first issue of The Drop — a twice-yearly newsletter from The Shop Shop. Staying inspired with marketing your business can sometimes feel like an uphill battle, especially in today's fast-paced and ever-changing landscape. However, maintaining a high level of creativity and enthusiasm is crucial for standing out in the competitive market. That's why we created The Drop. In The First Issue $500 Pinterest Giveaway New Lightroom Presets Keyword Checker Tool The Shop Shop's Articles from This Year Good Reads from Industry Leaders No sales pitches or PR recaps. Just tools to help you stay inspired. More [...]

The Drop June 2024

By |2024-07-16T15:20:53-04:00May 31, 2024|Content Marketing|

I don't believe in content for the sake of content (or writing as "we" when it's really, I - Danielle, who is talking). I've been writing on the web since long before content marketing was an industry and have always found inspiration online. Aspiring to publish similarly-valuable media pushes me to be selective in what I release and when I release it. Until now, I couldn't justify a round-up (even a twice-yearly one). What's changed? Consistency in both what I develop and what I reference. I find myself talking about the same topics (retail marketing inspiration) to the same kind [...]

  • Google Trends Mother's Day Gifts

Unlocking the Perfect Timing for Mother’s Day Gift Advertising

By |2024-04-24T14:39:55-04:00April 24, 2024|Content Marketing|

As the blossoms of spring begin to unfold, a very special day starts to draw near—a day dedicated to celebrating the incredible women in our lives who we call "Mom". Mother's Day, with its universal appeal, presents a golden opportunity for brands and businesses to showcase their appreciation and to help customers express their gratitude through gifts. But, in the bustling market where timing can be as crucial as the message itself, when is the best moment to kick off your Mother's Day advertising campaign? Let's dive in and discover the optimal strategy to capture hearts and drive sales. The [...]

Write 10% More Than You Need

By |2021-09-30T11:34:39-04:00December 30, 2022|Content Marketing, SEO, Web Content & Design|

Many writing projects come with a word count. Blog posts, articles, brochures, and websites typically leave room for an expected text length. If someone likes to write, they have no problem filling the space. If someone struggles to write long-form content, they may find themselves padding the space with less-than-stellar writing. As a web content editor, I challenge my clients to write 10% more than they need. Why? It's actually something I blame on teachers. Writing assignments in grade school often focus on the length of the content and not the quality of content. This tends to train people to [...]

You need a noun and a verb, period.

By |2021-09-30T11:18:35-04:00November 30, 2022|Content Marketing|

Proofreading is overwhelming. No matter the length of your text, it can be difficult to know where to start. Do you just read it through? Or maybe jump around and check for important sections? I'd suggest a simple place to start. Look for all your noun/verb combinations. As a Virginia copy writer and web content editor, I'm often correcting this for my clients. Grammar Basics Every sentence needs a noun and a verb (even if there is an implied imperative you). As you check over your text, simply start by finding all the nouns and verbs within your sentences. This [...]

You’re Two Tense

By |2021-09-30T11:03:07-04:00October 30, 2022|Content Marketing, SEO|

Whenever I'm proofreading for a VA website content client, I always check for consistency in how they use tenses. Often, writers switch between past, present, and future tense without even realizing it. It's easy to do by accident. The 12 Type of Tenses in English In the english language, there are actually 12 (yes, twelve types of tenses). Simple Present: I paint my room often. Present Progressive: I'm painting my room now. Simple Past: I painted my room last week. Past Progressive: I was painting my room all day. Present Perfect: I have just painted my room. Present Perfect Progressive: [...]

The Rule of Three

By |2021-09-30T09:25:22-04:00September 30, 2022|Communication Theory, Content Marketing|

Friends, Romans, Countryman, the rule of three will diminish your blood, sweat, and tears as you write through the good, the bad, and the ugly. The rule of three creates a powerful pattern that readers intuitively recognize. We're conditioned to find sets of three in the world around us. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness Faith, Hope, and Love Veni, Vidi, Vici Stop, Look and Listen Sex, lies, and videotape Government of the people, by the people, for the people Unwept, unhonored, unsung Duty – Honor – Country Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato Better, Faster, Stronger [...]

  • Desk of a VA Writer

Remove Everything That Isn’t Part of the Story

By |2021-10-01T14:22:46-04:00August 1, 2022|Content Marketing, SEO|

Cutting content is the most important part of writing. Most new writers struggle to create the objectivity needed to chop tangents and cull extra ideas. However, you can distance yourself during the editing process. Below are three methods I endorse as a VA writer. The Theming Method Your text should revolve around a main point. This can be a theme in creative works, a thesis in academic works, or a focus in non-fiction writing. When you're editing, write this as a single sentence on a post it note. Then, go through your document and highlight any areas where you state [...]

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