Category Archives: Small business

Business Blog Writing Tips for People Who Don’t Like to Write

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:

Bullet points
Numbered lists
Short phrases or sentences (like in this article)

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:

Remove extra words
Delete repetitious statements
Made sure your headline and main idea match what you wrote about
Check for words that sound the same but are spelled differently (allowed vs aloud)

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?

4 Reasons to Cozy Up to Coworking

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:

1. You’d rather pull your own tooth using dental floss and a frisky husky than attend a formal networking event.

[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.

2. You want to interact with living, breathing adults.

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.

3. You want a remote office space without the overhead & hassle of renting.

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.

4. Your work and home life don’t seep into each other…they bleed into each other.

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:-)

How to Write a Thank You Note

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:

The co-worker who helped you figure out why that stupid jerk file wouldn’t open
The office mate who brought you a desperately needed coffee
The first client you ever had—the one who took that leap of faith in your ability:-D
The friend who always makes you laugh
The neighbor who lets your kids run through her yard and never, ever complains about it
The high school teacher who said “You can do it”
The parent/sibling/cousin/friend who answers your texts, no matter how late you send them

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.

How to Research and Write Faster- 5 Quick Tips for Freelance Writers

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?

Blogging Tips for Non-Profits

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:

Develop an editorial calendar. Take a deep breath; I promise this isn’t as scary as it sounds. As blog writers, we all get busy. It’s not uncommon for an event or holiday to sneak up before we have a chance to blog about it. Take out your non-profit’s calendar and start planning ahead for blog topic ideas that center around events, fundraisers, and even holidays. It only takes a few minutes, but you’ll be rewarded when you’re not scrambling the day before the year’s biggest fundraiser to write a related blog entry.
Add the call to action. This tried-and-true marketing technique is a must for blogging 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.
Take a stance. One of the most powerful ways to generate online traffic and conversation is by stirring the pot a little. And, as a non-profit worker, you probably feel passionately about whatever it is you do. Don’t be afraid to use blog writing as a platform to argue against relevant potential legislation, fight for a new law, or tackle an issue that deserves attention.
Invite guest bloggers. Non-profits run on people power, so why not tap those folks to write guest blog entries? Consider a community leader familiar with the work your group does or one of the clients who has benefited from your services. Adding relevant “outside” voices to the blog will build online cred for the organization.
Get social. Chances are good that many of your stakeholders, from current volunteers to prospective donors, are already using social media. That makes websites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and even Pinterest ideal platforms for driving traffic to blogs. Here are 3 basic ways to promote your non-profit blog on social media:

Post a blog link on social media sites each time you upload a post.
Use social networks to post clips from blog entries that share video, whether it’s an interview with a client or footage from a fundraiser.
Ask your social network audience what type of blog content they’d like to read, and then write posts related to those topics.

What successful non-profit blog writing tips can you share?

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Blog Topic Ideas to Beat the Blank Page Blues

The blank page. Whether you’re writing as a freelancer or blogging for a small business, few things trigger a case of the sweats like a pure white word processing document. So if you need small business blog topic ideas to beat away those blank page blues, read on:

Get down to the business nitty gritty.

It doesn’t matter if you offer small business accounting services or kids’ birthday party venues, your readers expect to find relevant info regarding whatever it is you do:

Recap the most interesting tidbits from a recent study or report.
Ask readers what they want to you to blog about.
Compile a list of your 5 or 10 best blog posts.
Post a dictionary-type list of definitions for common industry terms or jargon.
Use a keyword tool (Google AdWords is free) to generate a list of related keywords—use those keywords as a basis for a post.
Share an infographic. (Check out this post about infographics from social media expert Ilona Olayan).
Share your industry predictions for the next 6 months or year.
Take a position on a hot-button issue.
Share a post-event recap after conferences or trade shows.
Write your unique take on a news item.
Profile an employee.
Interview a client or industry colleague.
Share a client case study.
Answer the most frequently asked questions about you, your product, or brand.
Post a list of your favorite blogs and websites.
Review a book.
Share a list of relevant resources, whether they’re website links, blogs, or books.

Let’s get video.

Who said great web content had to be in written form? Check out these video blog post topic ideas:

Upload a video tutorial that demonstrates how to use your product.
Video an interview with an employee, client, or industry colleague.
Give a behind-the-scenes tour of your office or facility.
Video blog your own reaction to industry news or trends.

Show ‘em your human side.

Don’t underestimate the power of building connections. I don’t know about you, but I find it easier to do business with someone I’ve started connecting with (I also find it harder to be cranky with them!). Showing your human side while blogging for a small business is a smart way to lay the foundation for those connections. Here are a few blog topic ideas to inspire you:

Tell the story of how your small business got its start.
Blog about why you love whatever it is you do in your business.
Share snippets about life in the office or workplace.
Blog about your favorite local charity or non-profit organization.
Post a list of your favorite local vendors, whether it’s the local coffee shop or your long-time accountant. Share why you love them, too. (“Dotty whips up lattes that would make a Seattle barista jealous!”)

Have fun!

All work, no play creates dull small business bloggers. Don’t be afraid to occasionally publish lighter blog content:

Have an exclusive contest (with a fun prize, of course!) for blog readers.
Compile a list of the funniest tweets related to your industry.
Share outtakes or bloopers from any video content you’ve published.
Write about a big game or favorite sports team.

Do you have business blog topic ideas to share?

Image courtesy of Flickr user Adi Respati.

Web Writing for Small Business – Pain-free Do's and Don'ts

Do you wrangle with writing content for your business? Whether you’re writing a small business blog or penning posts on Facebook, you could be one of the many professionals who would rather lose a toenail than start clicking on the keyboard. But the fact is that the written word is a necessary part of doing business in a world that’s increasingly virtual. Check out these 4 do’s and don’ts for making web writing for small business less painful:

Don’t write an essay. Is my thesis in the right spot? Have I used the thesaurus to insert as many 6-syllable words as possible? These were the kinds of conundrums that kept many of us up late into the night (in my case, plugged into a Walkman). But web writing for small businesses is not about writing a 5-paragraph essay. Keep writing clear, paragraphs short, and, for heaven’s sake, toss out the thesaurus.
Do write for human beings. We’ve all visited one of these sites: a well-meaning small business owner reads an article or two about the power of using keywords—and then goes crazy loco inserting them into web page or blog content. Using keywords as part of SEO is important but, ultimately, too many keywords will send a visitor clicking away to a competitor’s site. Keyword use is like eating ice cream: a little goes a long way. (Okay, at least theoretically a little ice cream goes a long way! You get the point…) For friendly reading, keep keyword density under 5%.
Don’t bore customers away. Long blocks of text is actually web-speak for bye-bye visitor. The web is a place to get information—the fast and dirty kind (no, not that kind of dirty!). Consumers and buyers want their info in easy-to-scan bites. When writing web content for small businesses, use visual cues to break up the page. Think bullet points, numbered lists, and sub-headings.
Do be yourself. When you’re writing a small business blog or posting an update on a social network, it’s tempting to mold yourself in the image of a competitor or an industry expert. But, ultimately, your value lies in your own experiences and personality. So write the same way you would speak to a long-time customer or a friendly business colleague.

As a busy small business owner or decision maker, you may not have the time (or desire) to tackle writing web content—but the web is often the first touch point for consumers ready to make a purchase decision. Don’t push those people to a competitor by populating your site or social media outposts with stuffy, long content. Now get out there and start writing the content that gets customers clicking!

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Slow Times for Small Business? Tips for Staying Busy (and Out of Trouble!)

How do you solve a problem like slow business? A few weeks ago, I was asking myself that question (and, yes, sometimes the query was torturously set to The Sound of Music tune.) And although I was seriously cranking out freelance writing proposals, I found myself with rather more time on my hands than I was used to. So rather than find myself parked on the couch midday with a bag of corn chips and a Doctor Oz obsession, I made it my mission to stay busy in ways that were healthy for my freelance writing business. Things are back on track, now, but I did discover a few slow business strategies for staying busy:

Start a business blog.

From building an online presence to generating leads, there are many reasons to start writing a business blog. And, as a freelance writer who ghostwrites several blogs, I know most of those reasons. But I recently read a blog entry that stuck with me. Top Rank’s Lee Odden shared some advice he’d given to a small business owner: writing just one blog entry each week gives Google 52 more reasons to insert your business into search results. That’s not all…

Websites with blogs get 55% more visitors. (HubSpot Blog)

Websites with blogs get 434% indexed pages than non-blogger sites. (HubSpot Blog)

Now it’s time to share communication and writing tips, resources, and news to promote my business and build my network. Hence, this writing blog. If you haven’t started blogging yet, use downtime to jumpstart a small business blog.

Find the answer to a lingering business question.

I’d never had the time or opportunity to learn some of the finer points of SEO writing, like meta tags and title tags. Downtime was the ideal time for me to catch up. Do you confuse the word hyperlink with hyperspace? Wondering if there’s an easier way to streamline accounts receivables? During fat times, it can be challenging to justify devoting time to getting answers for questions that don’t generate an immediate sale.

When business is sluggish, answer those lingering questions and put the knowledge to use. Learn more about outbound and inbound marketing tactics. Figure out a faster way to do the books. Decipher the terms that allow you to sound like a pro when speaking with colleagues or tweeting with clients.

Add a new word to your writing vocabulary.

Yes, even if you’re not a freelance content writer chances are you write to communicate with clients, co-workers, subordinates, or managers. And no matter how we connect, whether it’s an old-school paper memo or a direct reply on Twitter, the words we use matter. So when business is slow, learn how to use and spell a fun word. That’s right, fun.

Think of it this way: Many professionals use standard biz language with ease: maximize, boost, lift, profitability, connect, engage, monetize, etc. Those words have their place in business writing. But there are times when that writing could use a little pop. Here’s an example of a blog headline on Social Strategy1: Tweets Trigger Bacon Brouhaha for Chipotle.

Use slow time to identify a fun word you’ve heard recently, even if it was out of the mouth of your teenage son. Look up the spelling, learn the proper definition, and then keep it in your writer’s toolkit so you can unleash it at the right time. (It’s also good for boosting your Words with Friends score!)

How do you keep yourself out of trouble when business is slow?

Image courtesy Jason Hollinger, Flickr, Creative Commons