Last week, I hosted a Thank You Note Lunch and Learn Workshop for The Candy Factory, a co-working space I use in Lancaster, PA. I’ll share more details later, but I’m now posting two handouts I used during the presentation. I’d intended to embed them, but apparently I need a plugin to do that–so that will have to wait for the recap post. In the meantime, here are the links:
What’s your freelancing or small biz fancy? Graphic design? Virtual assistance? Accounting? Well, if it’s *not* writing then sitting down to bang out that next blog entry might not be your favorite task. Yet if you’ve decided blogging is a sound strategy for promoting your business and connecting with customers, then you’ll need to get those fingers on the keyboard.
The good news is that even if you’re not a pen-monkey by trade, learning how to write a blog isn’t tough. No special literary genes required. No magic wands either. Heck, you don’t even need to have passed senior year English. Check out these simple tips for writing blog entries for your freelance business:
Write like you speak.
You’re blogging, not writing a college thesis. Resist the urge to use 5-syllable words or write sentences worthy of a Russian author. Imagine the ideal person you want to read that blog entry. How would you explain your point, share your tips, or relay that info to that specific person if you were speaking to them in person or on the phone? That’s the language and terminology you’ll use to write a blog entry. No more, no less.
Don’t fall for the SQUIRREL.
What’s your blog entry about? If you’re a photographer writing about how to coordinate outfits for a family photo shoot, then the article should include tips and tricks pertaining to that and only that. It can be easy to be distracted by a SQUIRREL!, and dive into a discussion of outdoor lighting conditions or add several paragraphs about what time of day is best to take infant pics. Stay focused, freelance-san!
Make it scannable.
Blog readers scan pages to pick out the relevant information rather than read word-for-word as they would from a piece of paper. Help your client or customer find what they need quickly–before they hit that back button–by breaking down your article with one of these:
Edit. Edit. Edit.
Spell check alone does not a blog-ready article make. Editing is about ensuring the entry is easy to read and understand, and–by default–portray yourself as a professional. After all, when a prospect reads an article lousy with mistakes, he or she is bound to ask: If this web designer is so sloppy with her own blog, how sloppy will her work be if I hire her?
As you re-read your blog draft:
Keep an idea list.
Ideas are all around you. Really! Blog ideas for freelance businesses can come from a conversation with a client or colleague. They can come from problems with your last project or something your 5-year-old says. Remember that tip above about sticking to your topic? Well, those thoughts about outdoor lighting or infant pics would be fantastic ideas for their own blog entries.
Carry a small notepad in your purse or car, keep lists on a note-taking app, or make voice notes into the smartphone—whatever works. Refer to the list when you’re scratching the noggin, saying “What the heck should I write about?”
If you’re not a pro writer, what is it about writing that makes you want to chuck your keyboard?
I am not a lawyer. This is not legal advice. Do not take it as such.
Over the years I’ve spoken with more than a few clients who’ve said some variation of the following:
I’m copying pictures from the web for my new website.
We just copied-and-pasted the content we found on a similar business’s website.
Don’t worry about a blog image–I’m going to use a pic I found on Google.
I don’t think these clients viewed what they were doing as stealing or copyright infringement. Instead, I think many of us don’t fully understand how copyright works. I don’t know about you, but I never had a copyright course in school. What’s more, the social sharing environment is so relatively new–if Twitter were human, it would be in elementary school–that lines regarding what’s appropriate and what’s not are still a bit blurry to some. So what’s a blogger or small business person to do?
Here’s a basic, not-legal-advice FAQ guide for using images you don’t own on your blog or website:
Short Answer: Probably not.
Long Answer: Just as Lord Voldemort descends on Hogwarts every school year, copyright is a magical cloud that descends the moment a person creates a work in a tangible form, whether it’s writing the first words of a novel on a bar napkin or taking a pic of a dog shredding a pillow. The person who created the work owns the copyright, unless he or she created it as part of their responsibilities as an employee–in that case the company usually owns it.
The copyright owner gets to choose when, where, and how the image is used. If I find a dog shaming pic of a pooch who poops Legos, I can’t use it on my blog unless:
No. Really, no. Frankly you or I usually haven’t the foggiest idea why a particular person posts a particular pic. If you want to use an image that’s not licensed for use or within public domain, the copyright holder is the boss of you.
No. A formal copyright notice isn’t required anymore (although it used to be). Remember, copyright is a magical cloud of protection that descends upon creation.
Yes, but it’s only applicable under specific circumstances. Fair use is generally limited to purposes like teaching, criticism, news reporting, etc. Think…
Using a photo owned by someone else to add visual pop to your blog, my blog, or anyone else’s is, in many cases, not fair use.
Don’t use random photos off the web–each one belongs to somebody. Choose pics licensed specifically for use on websites or blogs. I’ll post more blog pic resources and ideas soon, but in the meantime check out this fantastic list from Carly Spec on HubSpot Blog: 10 Sites for Free, Non-Cheesy Stock Photos.
Again, I am not a lawyer. This is not legal advice. Do not take it as such. For more detailed information, contact a copyright law attorney or visit these resources:
Cornell University Legal Information Institute
Social Media Today’s What Bloggers Should Know About Copyright
Working from home rocks. Except when it doesn’t.
For instance, sometimes you find yourself trying to plug up your toddler’s horror show nosebleed as you attempt to phone interview an Amish businessman you’ve been chasing for weeks–and you must do both simultaneously because the deadline for the article is tomorrow.
Although my toddler tending days are done, I’m feeling the need to sprawl out from the home office–and the challenges that come with it. Hence, I’ve taken baby steps into coworking by investing in a few day passes for Warehouse D at The Candy Factory. It’s been cool so far, even though actual candy has been inexplicably, and sadly, absent.**
Here are the reasons I’m considering making shared coworking space a regular to-do—and maybe they’re reasons to think about a coworking office for your small business too:
[Hi, welcome to the club. We should totally get t-shirts.] Whether the desire to seek the quiet of a bubble comes from anxiety or introversion, a coworking space provides social interaction minus the stress and the ohmigod-what-am-I-supposed-to-say-now quality of events like chamber mixers or networking meetings.
Freelancing or running a small business from home can be a bit isolating, especially if you’re bound by the schedule of tiny humans. And, as much as virtual tools have made collaboration with clients a breeze, they also have a tendency to sterilize interactions. For example, I worked with one West Coast client for several years, and we never–not once–spoke by phone, largely due to the logistics of our schedules. Coworking puts you in a room with actual in-the-flesh folks…laughs, jokes, chit-chat, etc. Bonus: they’re adults. If you’re a work-from-home parent who’s ever gotten stuck in the hell of a Cailliou marathon, you understand the supreme value of that.
From what I’ve seen, most coworking spaces seem to be plug-n-go affairs. The space takes care of utilities, building maintenance, and furniture, as well as some of the related day-to-day snags that would otherwise subtract from a small biz owner’s billable hours–and bottom line.
Many people struggle to find that elusive work-home balance. However, for those of us in the work-from-home trenches, particularly those with little ones, nosebleeds can happen every day…sometimes all day! A coworking space might give you extra cushion to build some of the boundaries that will keep you sane.
Have you considered coworking for your freelance or small business? Share your thoughts below or tweet them to @AmyGWrites.
**Candy has been found:-)
Quizzes to discover which Hobbit you’re most like…videos of grumpy Great Danes. Facebook can be a massive time and brain cell drain. But one Facebook activity making the rounds has users challenging each other to share a list of positive things in their lives or things they’re thankful for.
Lots of people in my Facebook circle took part over the last week, expressing gratitude or thankfulness for people or situations. It’s always good for any of us to take time to reflect on what brings us peace, joy, comfort, laughter, and so on.
And as cool as it is that so many are posting a gratitude list on Facebook, it’s also super-important to thank the people in our lives in a personal way. That’s where old-school handwritten notes come in.
Whether you’ve already posted a gratitude list on Facebook or not, I challenge you to stop what you’re doing and let someone know they’re important to you. Here’s how to write a thank you note:
1. Pick a person, any person.
Seriously, anyone. Maybe you already have someone specific in mind, but if you’re out of ideas, here are a few:
2. Get pen & paper.
If you only have time to shoot off a quick email thank you, that’s better than nothing…but there’s something to be said for handwriting a note and sending it snail mail. No need for frilly personalized stationery or special pens—I mostly use note cards and colored pens bought at Target or Walmart.
3. Write like you speak.
Sometimes folks don’t write because they stress out about their writing skills. Penning a thank you note has little to do with whether you know how to use a semicolon and everything to do with letting a person know that you value them.
Unless you’re a news producer sending thanks to The Royal Family for getting pregnant again, forget stuffy language. Imagine you’re speaking to that particular person face-to-face, and then write those words. That means if you have the kind of relationship where you can say “You’re awesomesauce because…” then that’s the perfect way to start. Just be you.
Don’t worry about writing a 5-paragraph essay either. Even 2-3 sentences will get your point across and make the recipient feel warm and fuzzy.
4. Do it today.
It’s easy to get tangled up in all the things we HAVE to do, whether your task is blog writing for clients or wrangling the kids into the car. But life is short–so take just a few minutes and tell a fellow human being that they matter.
Faster research + faster writing = more billable hours. I never learned that in math class, but it’s a gotta-know for freelance writers. The “faster” part isn’t permission to research badly or write sloppy content, of course, but it is a smart way to boost productivity and, by extension, your income. Try these 5 quick tips for researching and writing blog entries and web articles more efficiently:
1. Learn to love your browser’s Find feature.
Need to scan a science article for norepinephrine references? Want to find the sole quinoa dish in a list of 50 or 75 recipes? Hit Control + F or your browser’s Find button to search for terms. Using Find doesn’t mean you won’t need to read more for context, but it does speed up the scanning process so you can hone in on the needed info faster.
2. Block similar topics together.
Some freelance writers work in a niche. Others write across a variety of topics. No matter which particular animal you are, one way to streamline is to group similar topics together during research, when possible. If the freelancing gods are good, you may be able to use the same resources for those articles…or you might find that researching one article provides insight into writing the blog entry or article for the similar topic.
3. Tackle ugly topics first.
Procrastination won’t make a toughie go away—and it can make the task take longer because you boost the risk of last-minute snags that lead to flurried hassles, like fumbling through jargon you don’t yet understand or scrambling to find proper sources. Save time (and sanity) by placing tricky or unfamiliar content high on the to-do list.
4. Take a break.
Seriously. Research shows that taking regular breaks makes workers more productive and–this is a biggie, fellow writers–more creative. Find a regular work-break schedule that makes sense to you. I tap online timer e.ggtimer.com to use the Pomodoro productivity method—work intervals of 25 minutes followed by 5 minute breaks (h/t Jennifer Mattern who shared this technique on All Indie Writers). Try it out, or check out the many other apps available to keep yourself awesomely productive.
5. Go for a two-fer.
Monitors, that is. Stop flipping back and forth between a research tab and draft document. Stop squinting at squished-up windows on your single screen. Consider investing in a second computer monitor. When they’re placed side by side, you can use one for researching, the other for writing. I went dual-monitor about 3 years ago and it was a serious productivity boost.
Don’t ever try to take away my second screen. Ever. I *will* go bad-fairy Maleficent…and smote you.
What quick productivity hacks do you use while writing or researching content?
From an administrative assistant charged with writing up project memos to a freelance writer tackling a new website, grammar goofs, gaffes, and errs will make you, at best, look unprofessional and, at worst, worthy of a viral giggle. So check out this handy infographic from the writing gurus at Copyblogger:
Go directly to Copyblogger for a printable version—and while it’s probably not good office politics to leave a copy on your grammar-challenged office mate’s desk, don’t be afraid to print out a copy for yourself.
Whether you’re a dedicated volunteer or a nonprofit director, chances are your to-do list is packed. That can make it challenging to find time for blog writing that engages donors, volunteers, and other stakeholders. Never fear! Here are simple non-profit blog tips:
non-profits. According to social media expert Dan Zarrella, the most effective online calls to action contain specifics, convey urgency, and use concrete numbers. Think “Donate today” or “We fed 24 additional families last week—how many more will you help us feed this week?” If possible, make the call clickable by including a button or hyperlink that takes the reader to the next step, whether it’s an email to the volunteer coordinator or a form to submit a donation.What successful non-profit blog writing tips can you share?
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
Over the last few days, a thank you note written by a 4th grader has been making the viral rounds. It was penned by a kid, delightfully named Flint, expressing his appreciation to meteorologist Albert Ramon, who had visited his Texas classroom. I don’t want to dilute the note by paraphrasing it, so check it out for yourself:
This note makes me realize how much I love the creativity of young boys.
This note makes me want to write about jewel-encrusted thrones and cyborg unicorns.
This note makes me want to write copy using the term “pretty dang sweet.” (But I promise to avoid that urge, dear clients.)
Yes, some have questioned whether the writing is genuine, but as mom to a 6-year-old boy with a similarly active imagination I’m ready to believe in Flint. Keep writing, buddy!
And I am so asking for a unicorn servant for Mother’s Day.
My 6-year-old son makes up words. Sometimes he makes up words when he can’t come up with the correct word to use. Other times they come about because he’s delightfully unaware of the ponderous rules of English grammar and usage. His most recent creations include poink (“My brother poinked me with his fork.”) and saucering (“Will it ever snow? I want to go saucering down the hill?”)
I don’t discourage it. In fact, I use my own nonsense words when I’m with the little humans. A few conversations have taken on a Dr. Seuss-ish quality, minus the crazy-good poetic skills, of course, because if they were that good I would publish them and bask in the literary glory that would undoubtedly follow. (Excuse the slip into fantasy land…sounds like it’s time for my afternoon dose of caffeine.)
Do you use nonsense words? (And don’t you get a little irritated when you can’t use them on Words with Friends? Okay, maybe that’s just me…)
Happy Friday!
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.