Here we go again, another article about the death of blogging. These posts come around more regularly than news announcing that red wine is good for you and that sharks have been spotted off the English coast.
The headlines are usually the same. Google is suppressing organic search to boost advertising. So instead of frequent, short articles, you should be building up your newsletter email list, lead magnet content, or evergreen long-form articles.
Read MoreSo, to set the scene. I am an experienced Marketing Professional with over 20 years of experience in Strategic and Tactical marketing BUT I took a career break to have my 3 wonderful and slightly bonkers children. In the space of 4-5 years, the way in which businesses now reach out to potential clients has gone social in a VERY big way.
Social Media is this huge, big, daunting black hole in which all of us who are looking for business need to jump in and get involved. Even if we're not sure how to, or when to, we just somehow know we are supposed to. It's like watching a ship that has sailed and then realising you're not actually on it! You may have made it to the dock but you find yourself waving and frantically shouting "wait for me". But is it too late? No, not by a long shot. The digital world is only just getting started. The social media aspect of digital marketing is an embryo when it comes to its potential. However, what it won't do is stop or slow down for you and your business.
Read MoreSo, I don't know whether I should be sharing this with you once again, but as the Social Media rule books states, 'you must be authentic' and 'be brave'. Therefore, I want to share with you my views on nail polish.
When I say nail polish, I mean more specifically the application of, and my attempts at, trying to look polished and professional. Me? Yes, me.
I know, the idea of me looking "polished and professional" as I fling myself from playground pick-ups to mad dashes around Sainsbury's, whilst taking very important business calls and advising on marketing matters, is perhaps a difficult image to conjure up in your mind.
However, a few years ago I found myself in need of a spruce up for a meeting with a lovely new client. I admit I wanted to cover up the fact I was two stone overweight and needed my hair cutting badly (don’t we all right now?) but I really thought that putting red nail polish on would detract from all these little problem areas. Not to mention, the ever-so-slightly tight Boden dress I bought last year when I didn't have the extra two stones - I'm still not sure where it all came from - Doritos aren't unhealthy are they?
Read MoreA hit song reveals much about the importance of the demo, the draft, and why less is nearly always more.
What can we learn about copywriting from songwriting? Quite a lot it turns out. Songwriters suffer from the same pressures as writers. Ideas are blocked. The first draft is always ropey. The temptation to add superfluous ingredients is hard to resist.
Exhibit A: Losing My Religion. In the REM episode of Song Exploder (Netflix), the band discuss their most famous song including a clip where Michael Stipe’s face sinks as he listens to an early demo. Peter Buck, the guitarist, is much more phlegmatic. He doesn’t care. He knows that the sketch of a song is a crucial step on the journey to the polished, broadcast recording.
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