Creative WordSource

Proofreading Tips

Leigh — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:20:42 +0000

Have you ever sat in a meeting with a client, and while stepping them through your well crafted proposal, you notice a glaring typo that you are sure wasn’t there before? It happens to the best of us and it is why a fresh eye is always needed to reread and proof documents. When we are reading over familiar content, our brains tend to read the words as they should appear and not necessarily as they do appear on the page.

Here are some tried and tested proofreading tips that might save you from another embarrassing typo scenario:

Read the content out loud

This will help you to check for grammatical errors and clumsy or stilted sentences.

Read the content backwards, start at the end and read to the beginning or start from the bottom of the page and read to the top.

This tricks your eyes into actually seeing the words as they are written and it will help you catch typos more readily.

Don’t only rely on spell-check

Make sure you go through the document content and check for words that have been inadvertently changed to something else. One teacher found herself in an unenviable position when her computer replaced the misspelled version of the word “tentacles” with the word “testicles”, on a Grade 8 exam paper.

Have someone unfamiliar with the project, read through your document

This helps catch potential miscommunications and under-developed ideas before you get in front of the client.

Do not leave proofreading to the last minute

Always build time into your project to proof and make changes to your documents.

If you simply don’t have the eye, or the time to ensure your documents are error free, contact a professional copywriter and editor. General editing rates are very affordable and the turnaround time is minimal. Contact Creative WordSource and let us assist you with all your proofreading and editing requirements.

Effective Writing Tips

Leigh — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:35:08 +0000

Have you ever tried to find some key information on a website or in a brochure, only to become increasingly frustrated as your eyes wade through all the verbiage?

The following writing tips may help to ensure your clients are able to quickly locate the information they need and your message is communicated effectively.

Keep it simple
This tip cannot be overstressed!

Remove unnecessary words and sentences.
Don’t use unusual vocabulary or technical terms.
Avoid abbreviations where possible.
Use clear, concise language.

Keep it focused
Know what you want to communicate.
Make the point.
Remove anything that doesn’t add clarity to your message.

Test it out
You may be convinced your message is as clear as it gets, but remember communication in any form is only effective if the message is properly received. Have someone read over your content or navigate through your website and provide feedback.

If the bounce rate on your website is high you may want to consider having an expert copywriter review your web content to trim and polish the text and make it more user friendly. Communication is an art and if it’s something you are having difficulty mastering, contact Creative WordSource for all your copywriting and creative content needs.

Blogging Basics

Leigh — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 01:18:32 +0000

Blogging Basics

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Copywriting Counts Toronto!

Leigh — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:13:20 +0000

Like the proverbial painter who does outstanding work but never has time to paint his own home, I have been so busy with clients’ projects that my own blog has been on hold. Finding enough time in the day to attend to all the pressing priorities is a challenge for most of us. It’s crucial therefore, to employ the most effective and efficient strategies and methods to maximize every moment of the work day.

We are all aware that in the current Canadian recession, marketing budgets are being severely trimmed in Toronto and many employees are taking on extra responsibilities, as staff numbers diminish. An effective strategy that some of my clients are using is to have their website content reviewed and reworked, tweaking the content instead of completely redoing it. It costs a fraction of what full content development would cost and the results are well worth the minimal effort required. I recently reworked some website copy for a very elegant and beautifully designed site. The text, however, was poorly written, and in a word, clumsy. Refining the copy was a relatively easy task and the difference was immediately apparent.

Blogging is another outstanding strategy to drive traffic to your site. Entrusting the development of the blog content to a professional copywriter frees you up to focus on other pressing business concerns.

Take a moment to read over your site content and marketing material. If it doesn’t effectively communicate the essence of what you’re about, think about having it rewritten or at the very least, professionally edited. Tighten up the wording, polish up the text and make every word count.

Expert Copywriters get you Results – even in a Recession!

Leigh — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 04:08:09 +0000

During difficult economic times, often the first things to be cut are the marketing and staffing budgets. The focus shifts from gaining new clients to retaining current ones, as customers become more conservative in their spending. Recessions cause clients to seriously re-evaluate and limit every expense and purchase. With all this in mind, hiring an expert copywriter or blogger at a time like this might not be your top priority, but that could be a mistake.

Think about hiring an outside consultant, writer, or copy editor to rewrite your current marketing material but do it on a project by project basis. This will give you the opportunity to improve your existing marketing ideas and at a lower price than hiring new staff. Have an expert copywriter rework your existing advertising material or web copy to make sure you are targeting your current audience effectively. Make it a priority to have your web content edited to include keywords and keyphrases and develop an SEO strategy if you don’t already have one.

Whether it is direct-mail copy, newsletters, blogs or web content, using the services of a copywriter, even in a period of recession, gets results. Contact us today to find out how we can assist you.

Being too busy to blog is costly!

Leigh — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 02:53:12 +0000

A common complaint among many business leaders is that they don’t have the time to commit to blogging. Time and resource constraints are real challenges. However, blogs are becoming more and more commonplace and attracting much wider audiences which means that if you do not have time to blog it could be costing you more than you realize. Blogging is a fast and easy way to interact with your target audience and get exposure for your business. Well written blogs can generate leads, increase your online profile and reputation, and get you noticed by search engines.

You don’t have to post lengthy blogs.
Just make them interesting.
Keep them concise and conversational.
Fresh content is vital, but that doesn’t mean you have to post daily.
Rather, post a relevant, informative blog at least once a week.
Have others contribute to your blog to share the load and keep it informative and useful.
Enlist the expert services of a ghost blogger.

Creative WordSource offers a variety of ghostwriting and blogging services tailored to meet your unique needs. Contact us today and let the blogging begin.

Effective Blogs Start Conversations

Leigh — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:36:38 +0000

An effective blog is much more than just a tool to communicate facts about your product or service. It is a powerful conversation starter and one of the most impactful and effective means of communication available. But, as in any conversation, if you use inappropriate vocabulary or make the conversation all about you, the dialogue will be short lived and forgettable. Blogging effectively draws your target audience in, opens the way for ongoing dialogue and results in positive exposure and a wider client base.

Know who you are talking to

In your blog, use vocabulary familiar to your target audience or market.

Tell them why they should join the conversation

Explain what’s in it for them. Communication is always two sided. An effective and interesting blog can engage the target audience with a fact or proposition, answer a question, offer a solution or make a keen observation.

Leave them wanting more

The best conversations are the ones you don’t want to end. Keep your blog relevant, engaging and informative. Leave your audience intrigued.

What if conversation makes you tongue-tied?

Let an expert writer blog on your behalf. Not everyone has the ability to communicate clearly and concisely. Blog conversations need to be fresh and updated regularly. You may not have the time or expertise required. Creative WordSource offers a variety of expert writing services including ghostblogging. Contact us and let the conversation begin!