Ten Minute Writing Exercises - stimulate creativity. Are you looking at a blank page right now? I’ve been there too and I know what it’s like. But I also know how to get past it – by writing. Writing exercises are a great way to take you from the blank page and stuck feeling and on into your writing stride. If you truly want to write more productively and are willing to work towards this, then you are in the right place. I personally love writing and I hope I can inspire you to feel the same. Writing takes practice, lots and lots of practice. Ten-minute exercises are a great way to practice. Developing a regular writing exercise routine is the most useful thing you can do to improve your writing and increase your creativity. To start: Make a commitment.Do some writing exercises each week.Decide for yourself which days and times suit you best.Pick a number of exercises you intend to do. Make it realistic – if you can only do one that’s fine. Remember the golden hour – some people writer better at dawn and others late at night. 1. 2. 3. 1. 2. 3. 1.
The Definitive Guide To Engaging Content Marketing Content marketing is the process of creating valuable, relevant content for the purpose of attracting, acquiring and engaging your audience. While content marketing can be anything your organization creates to share its story, it only qualifies as content marketing if it aims to drive customer action. Today your buyers and customers are thrust into a crowded market filled with marketing messages – up to 2,900 per day. As a result, marketers are challenged by attention scarcity. So how does content marketing help? Done correctly, content marketing elevates your brand above the deluge of marketing messages, and becomes the fuel for engagement. By now, you can see that content marketing is important, but you might be thinking “how do I get started?” Here’s a little sneak peak on what you will learn in the guide: What is Engaging Content Marketing? What are The Benefits of Today’s Content Marketing? Traditionally marketers had to rent attention from other people’s media.
What you can learn from competitors' press releases | Articles | Writing & Editing Ugh, your competitor got yet another press release printed in your local newspaper. You’ve been trying to get one in for months to no avail. Even worse, you’re pretty sure you put out a press release much like the one that just got printed. What’s the deal? Rather than get mad, you should be closely inspecting each press release your competitors manage to get into print. Here are some things to look out for. What you're doing wrong Like it or not, there’s a reason your hated rival is smiling when she reads the morning newspaper, while you’re not. Each reporter wants something out of a press release. This is why it’s important to do research and put in the work ahead of time. Your competitors' campaign ideas Sometimes there’s a little bit more to a press release than just making an announcement. As an insider, you can probably ascertain things others can’t. It’s not by accident, and it’s worth paying attention to. Writing ideas What angle did they shoot for?
22 Facebook facts you should know Facebook recently turned in another strong quarter. Below is a summary of the most important parts of Facebook's earnings call, including my analysis and what the future of Facebook marketing looks like for business: Facebook brought in $3.2 billion in total revenue over the last three months. What do these statistics tell you? You must create relevant, high-quality content. Businesses will die if they post generic content that isn't relevant to their followers. The businesses that continue to get high engagement will be those that invest in telling personalized stories and creating deep fan experiences. [RELATED: Find out about our November event that has instruction for your entire communications team.] You must make your Facebook ads more effective. Facebook's ad prices increased 247 percent this year, which means businesses must clearly identify their ideal customers if they want a positive return on investment. What's next for Facebook? Facebook is on a mission to connect the world.
30 Challenging Apps that will Make You Smarter Nowadays you can have more than just fun with your apps – you can also use them to become smarter. Here are 30 apps you can use to help your memory, challenge your IQ, and help you to expand your brain. Tools To Lead A Smarter Life 1. Casual helps handle tasks and projects in a new way: the app is amazingly visual. 2. Why is it that good food looks so terrible and junk food looks so good? 3. Become a smart spender: get all of the software and web applications for your business and your personal life. 4. Do you love to astound your friends with oddball facts? 5. The Atlas by Collins lets you travel all around the world, with a flick of your finger. 6. iBooks Reading is a means of thinking with another person’s mind; it forces you to stretch your own. 7. Are you always the last to know what is going on in the world around you? 8. A smart home for smart people. Mind Games 9. 10. Train your brain to become smarter, and have a blast doing it! 11. Smart people can control their stress. 12. 13.
Police say 3 dead, including gunman, after raid ends Sydney hostage situation Now Playing Is there a terror connection to Man Haron Monis? Police say three people are dead -- including the gunman -- after authorities stormed a Sydney cafe early Tuesday, bringing to a dramatic end a 16-hour standoff in which a jihadist and murder suspect had held 17 hostages in a scene much of the world watched on television. A series of explosions, believed to be gunshots and flash grenades, came just before 2:30 a.m. local time as several more hostages fled Lindt Chocolat Cafe, where a man identified as Man Haron Monis, an Iranian also known for sending hate mail to the families of fallen soldiers, was holed up with the captives. A 34-year-old man and 38-year-old woman also were among the dead, police said. Several people were taken from the building on stretchers as an alarm rang and police in riot gear moved in and out of the shop, in the heart of Australia's largest city's business district. "Sydney siege is over. “We are strong together. "This is a one-off random individual.
5 tips for writing a perfect press release When you write a press release, remember the dos and don'ts. They determine whether busy reporters cover your story or toss it in the trash. The top ways to catch a reporter's eye and avoid the garbage pile: 1. Appeal to your audience. Like with all writing, consider your reader. 2. This is the first thing your audience will see, so don't overlook it. Lackluster subject line: Announcing Our New Cupcake Flavor Better subject line: Rich Buttercream Cupcakes Now Up for Grabs 3. Again, your audience should be in the back of your mind throughout your writing. Don't be unnecessary. 4. Reporters don't want to wade through fluff to get to the meat of the release, so don't bombard them with cheesy, descriptive words. Yes, you want to sell your story or product, but don't cross the line. Don't write this: "These deliciously succulent pillows of sugary bliss will tantalize your taste buds." The first sentence oversaturates the reader. 5. Keep the format simple. Tone is important. (Image via)
How writing affects your brain This infographic explains how writing helps your memory, how your brain reacts when it hears a story, why clichés are forgettable and more. By Kristin Piombino | Posted: December 12, 2014 Did you know writing affects your brain in a way similar to meditation? When you write, your breathing slows and you enter a "zone," which allows your words to flow more freely, an infographic from BestInfographics.co says. The infographic illustrates how writing affects the brain, and shares other interesting facts, like why stories are so memorable and clichés are not. Here are a few takeaways: 1. 2. [FREE white paper: How to Be a Brand Journalist—Tell compelling stories and take your story directly to your audience] 3. Take a look at the infographic for more: (View a larger image.) Popularity: This record has been viewed 10833 times.
10 components of a successful internal video Employees are inundated with internal communications, such as email, intranets, social media or, most recently, video. For the faces behind the camera, it's easier to create a bad video than a good one. So, what makes a video great, rather than abysmal? These 10 tips will help your organization's communicators hit the sweet spot: 1. Know your goals. "Were you looking for a behavior change or a cultural reinforcement? 2. "That's a message you would want to have some face-to-face conversations about and one that requires the opportunity for questions and dialogue," she says. At Mayo Clinic, one rule of thumb is to pick up the camera when the team wants to breathe life into stories that are otherwise flat. FREE white paper: How to reach and engage employees using video 3. "If you give employees a 35-minute video, they're going to lose interest pretty quickly," says Scott Kallstrand, senior manager of internal communications at Jones Lang LaSalle. 4. 5. 6. When L.A. 7. 8. 9. 10.