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Words, ideas and the odd short story
Thoughts on writing and marketing, real client work, and occasional fiction for a change of pace.
I write about marketing, writing and small business life.
You’ll find practical advice, honest case studies, thoughtful guest posts and the occasional short story for when you’re ready for a break.
Why you need a human copywriter as well as AI
Yes, you read that right. I did say you need a human copywriter as well as AI, and not instead of it. You might think I’m opposed to AI, but I’m not. If you use it well, it’s a very useful tool, but it’s not a substitute for a real person. Here’s my guide to the pros…
Aligning your Voice and Visuals: The Secret to a Consistent Brand
Have you ever visited a site where the words felt warm, friendly, and full of personality – but the images looked stiff, generic, or completely mismatched? It creates confusion, even if the reader cannot pinpoint why, something just feels off. That’s because your…
How can a copywriter help you get organised?
I don’t do marketing strategy. Except, I kind of do. Sort of. Good copywriting is built on understanding who you’re talking to, where you’ll find them and what you want to achieve. We won’t get anywhere if the language I use to speak to your people misses the mark….
Do your marketing ideas feel messy?
If your head is full of jumbled thoughts and ideas, and your marketing ideas feel messy, you might wonder how you’ll ever turn them into content that makes sense to your future customers. I generally work with people who have a plan for their marketing, but I’ve…
Case study: the one with scope creep
If you’ve never heard the term scope creep before, you might still have experienced it. It’s what happens when a freelancer sends a client a quote and outlines the work it covers. Then, when you start work, the client begins adding bits. It’s never anything…
New Starts, Cheerleaders, and Facilitation in Business
Starting a business means taking a leap of faith—and I know, sometimes it feels like jumping off a cliff with nothing but a homemade parachute and a prayer! There’s an excitement that comes with every new beginning. When launching a business, the early days are…
How can a copywriter sound like you?
If you’re a one-person business and all your marketing is in your voice because you write it yourself, you might think you can’t hire a writer. I mean, you can’t outsource your writing when it has to sound like you, can you? The good news is, you can. Here’s how I…
What does your marketing voice sound like?
What does your marketing voice sound like? It might be a bit like your mum’s phone voice when you were a kid. You knew she was talking to someone important if her voice edged towards Lady Bracknell. The way you speak probably changes for different audiences, but how…
Planning your marketing when you’ve no time and too many ideas
Guest post by Ciaran Davison, Davison & Brain Digital Ltd Let’s skip the preamble: you know marketing matters, otherwise you wouldn’t be here. The challenge isn’t motivation for most small business owners, it’s too many ideas and a massive lack of bandwidth. You…
5 ways to reduce your content writing load
Have you ever felt as if there isn’t enough time to write all your marketing content? You might have lots to say or spend more time writing than you realistically have to spare if you want to get any work done. It doesn’t have to be that way. Here are my top five tips…
Have you ever got bored of marketing?
There are times when I can’t be bothered with my marketing. There might be other things going on, like the school holidays, when I’d rather spend time with my kids. Sometimes I feel as if I’ve said it all, and writing anything new feels like a tick-box exercise with…
How do you use AI?
You might think a copywriter like me will run away screaming when AI is mentioned. That might have been the case once, but I’m coming around to the idea that I can use AI as a tool to support my business and creativity. Here are four ways I use AI and another that I’m…