• Content Collaboration Partner

    What's that mean?

    First, if you're a solo-preneur, sole proprietor or small business person, I can teach you to write it or write it for you: news releases, social media marketing (like blogs and email blasts), creative web copy, e-zines & newsletters, brochures, and articles.

    Second, if you want to learn how to make money as a freelance writer and content creator, I can teach you that, too.

  • Thanks!

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Are you a dream client?

Posted on April 23, 2013 by kelly koepke

Be a good clientWant to be a dream client for a writer? Any creative professional, actually? Know these four things when you talk to them:

  1. Know the benefits of your product or service. Specifically, what problem does your service or product solve. Why should someone buy something, anything, from you? That you’re a great person isn’t enough.
  2. Know the vehicle by which your message will be delivered. Is this message for an email campaign, a web site, an article in a business publication, or something else? The method of information presentation will often dictate the content and message length.
  3. Know your style. Do you want the message to be presented in a humorous way? Formally? With a cheeky tone or in a straightforward manner?
  4. Clarify language “dos” and “don’ts.” At the beginning of the project, be specific about words you need to include or exclude, either by regulation or out of sensitivity to your audience. YOU are the expert in your industry, so if there are hot button words – positive or negative – share them with the writer.

Keeping these things in mind will make your work with a writer go more smoothly. It will also clarify the intent and purpose of your communication.

Filed under: Blog, Brochures, Ghost Writing, Grammar, Newsletters, Press Releases, Social Media Marketing, Web Copy | Tagged: | Leave a Comment »

Quick Tip – Use a Checklist

Posted on April 20, 2013 by kelly koepke

Use a simple checklist before you send out any written communication to ensure that you’ve created the best piece possible, haven’t forgotten anything, and avoided the common mistakes people make. Create your own, or download mine, here, at no charge

Filed under: Blog, Newsletters, Press Releases, Social Media Marketing | 1 Comment »

Accentuate the Positive

Posted on March 28, 2013 by kelly koepke

Regular, consistent and POSITIVE communication is the key to getting your message out and noticed. Ditch the negative and accentuate the postive and you’ll go far. So says Johnny Mercer (click on Mr. Mercer for a treat).

Johnny Mercer

Filed under: Blog, Brochures, Ghost Writing, Newsletters, Press Releases, Social Media Marketing, Web Copy | Tagged: | Leave a Comment »

Time Saving Tip: Social Media Scheduling

Posted on March 21, 2013 by kelly koepke

Schedule FB postsScheduling social media posts in advance is a great way to save time and efficiently maintain a presence online. Facebook has a schedule post feature for personal and business accounts, and HootSuite is an effective tool for managing and pre-scheduling multiple social media updates. Because not everyone can be on their smart phone, tablet or computer all the time!

Filed under: Blog, Newsletters, Press Releases, Social Media Marketing, Web Copy | Leave a Comment »

Key Question To Ask When Writing Anything

Posted on March 18, 2013 by kelly koepke

One key question to answer when creating any written communication (email, newsletters, blogs, postcards, letters, press releases, websites):
What action do I want my readers to take? Do I offer them too much? What’s in it for them to act immediately? Then start writing.

Filed under: Blog, Brochures, Ghost Writing, Newsletters, Press Releases, Social Media Marketing, Web Copy | Tagged: | Leave a Comment »

Want a blog? I’ve got a package for that.

Posted on March 13, 2013 by kelly koepke

Want a blog but don’t have time to write it? I’ll do it for you. Introducing the official card for my blog package.

Blog package

Filed under: Blog | Tagged: | Leave a Comment »

Saying Thanks

Posted on March 11, 2013 by kelly koepke

thank you languagesWhen you get good press – a story in your local newspaper or magazine, or are interviewed on the radio or TV, thank the reporter or editor who made it happen. Your kind words in an email or handwritten note might lead to bigger opportunities – a column, regular show or follow up story.

Filed under: Blog, Newsletters, Press Releases, Web Copy | Tagged: , | Leave a Comment »

It’s Like She Read My Mind!

Posted on February 5, 2013 by kelly koepke

blog collageOMG! I’m like a giddy teenager!!!! It’s like this blogger read my mind when she listed the 10 secrets of professional writers every blogger should know. I’d even broaden the category to every writer, not just every blogger. Here they are, plus a link to the original post. Enjoy!

1. Avoid clichés. But you know that, don’t you? And yet clichés are more systemic and invasive than people imagine. A cliché is any idea or expression that has lost its force through overuse, to the point where it becomes meaningless and drab.

2. Write like you speak. Use a conversational tone. Really. And you don’t have to use complete sentences, either.

3. Talk to your reader like a friend. In real life you would use words like “you” and “I” so use them in your blog, just like you would if you were chatting at a barbeque.

4. Use anecdotes and case studies. These little stories are the spice of blogs. Facts only go so far and no one wants to read too many of them.

5. Parallelism. This sounds technical but means a balance within sentences that have the same grammatical structure.

6. Getting down and dirty. Use adjectives sparingly.

7. But there’s more. There is another part of speech that will make your readers want to put their head in a vice. The dreaded adverb.

8. Exclamation marks! OMG! I know I don’t need to tell you this but exclamation marks can give your writing a gushing, effusive quality! They are mostly used ironically these days so unless you are
an enthusiastic teenager, use with care.

9. Tighten up. Less is better.

10. Rant or reason? If you want people to take you seriously, back up your opinions with facts, research or statistics.

Read more at http://www.jeffbullas.com/2013/01/22/10-secrets-of-professional-writers-every-blogger-should-know/#F3W1r043tfj74Aw8.99

Filed under: Blog, Grammar, Social Media Marketing | 1 Comment »

5 Blogging Tips

Posted on August 6, 2012 by kelly koepke

Having trouble getting that blog post to write itself? Try these 5 tips to get the juices flowing:

1. Write What You Know. Pick a topic that you know about & you’ll find it much easier to write quality content quickly.

2. Let Perfection Go. Accept now that you’re going to make a typo, need to edit later, or even change your mind. You now have permission to do all of those things.

3. Think Short. Not every post needs to be a book. Sometimes short is better.

4. Use Templates. Try a “5 Tips” style post. Choosing a headline and format makes the content creation easier.

5. Be Inspired by Others. Reading other blogs, the newspaper or trade magazines. They’ll help you models posts and generate ideas.

Bonus tip: Hire someone to help you create your posts. You’ve got the ideas. Now let someone else put your brilliance on the page/screen.

 

Filed under: Blog, Ghost Writing, Social Media Marketing, Web Copy | Leave a Comment »

Fix Your Grammar, Please

Posted on July 10, 2012 by kelly koepke

Bad grammarI love it when respected national publications like the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times run stories about grammar. They, the stories, make my geeky little heart soar. Because (yes, I know I’m not supposed to begin a sentence with ‘because’), I think I might be among the last generation to have learned to diagram sentences in high school. Seriously. Thank you Mrs. Wankier (RIP). She was my 11th grade English teacher. She was marvelous. I loved every minute of her challenging class. Especially the diagramming section.

When the link to the WSJ article appeared on a friend’s Facebook page, he remarked that it was an amazing time when someone could make a living based on the ability to place a comma correctly. And yet.

So thank you Mrs. Wankier. Thank you, Mr. Harvey. Thank you Mr. Olbin. These teachers brought out the writer in me, and a geeky love of all things grammar. And now (yes, one shouldn’t start a sentence with ‘and’), I know which grammar rules are hard and fast, and which should be broken.

Filed under: Blog, Grammar | Leave a Comment »

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