Mary H.

I have a gripe about some common PR practices. I get that sources hire PR reps to get them publicity, vet and manage PR opportunities, and protect their privacy. However, when a PR rep says they won't have their source forward me their written response directly because it violates their agreement, it frustrates the heck out of me! I want to use your expert's commentary in my article because they are proven to be a frontrunner in their field. But I can't just cut and paste what you sent me because how do I know the words actually came from your source? I'm not accusing anyone in particular of ghostwriting for their clients, but I know it does happen. Based on the agreements I have with my editors (and my own sense of journalistic integrity), I need to make sure what I submit is well-written, well-researched, and contains expert commentary from the actual thought leader. I realize I can remedy this problem by conducting phone interviews, but the asynchronicity of email interviews often works well for both parties. Do other writers run into this? If so, does it bug you? What are your thoughts, PR professionals?

Orium’s been selected as a finalist for the 2024 Timmy Awards for Best Remote Tech Work Culture. Here’s why it matters to me: I’ve worked at places where remote work is viewed in a negative light. I’ve gone to offices feeling sick or with injuries, wishing I was able to work from home to get the same things achieved with the ability to take breaks. I’ve also left offices in the middle of the day feeling incredibly guilty for taking time to go to appointments for my well-being, helping a family member in need, or taking time to decompress after a long meeting or finishing a larger project (introverts will understand this one!) Being in an office 9-5 filling a seat and making every moment look productive, isn’t for me either. It adds to my anxiety and the feeling of having to be “on” every second of the day! Orium’s different. The positive remote work culture puts the responsibility on me to get the work done and contribute in a way that works for me. I’m not a morning person, and I don’t have to pretend I am just to fill a seat and half-heartedly get work done. I can take my time to settle in and work, and break up the work into the evening or night if that’s when the next spurt of creativity comes. I can take care of my well-being, be more present with my family, or run a quick errand in the middle of the day when it’s less hectic out there. And guess what… the work still gets done! I also get to participate in so many activities and organization-wide meetings set up by our Culture Team and Leadership Team. I've been connecting with coworkers, building meaningful relationships, and feeling a sense of belonging everyday. TL;DR: Vote for Orium to win because it has a great remote work culture. You can vote once every 24 hrs before August 15th! https://lnkd.in/gvKwFQ3P #TimmyAwards #TechInMotion #workingathome #culture #virtualteam #remotefirst

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Welcome back! We're taking a look into content audits and why your business needs to do one. We are covering: 🌿 What is a content audit (and why does it matter)? 🌿 What does a content audit include? 🌿 What happens after a content audit? Today we're diving deeper into what is included in a content audit. 1. First Steps: Inventory The audit begins by taking a full accounting of every single piece of content you have – from website pages, blog posts, and PDFs to videos, infographics, social posts, and more. Catalog everything in a spreadsheet or project management tool with columns to start capturing key data points. Depending on how much content your business has generated, this may be the longest step to complete but it is important. Don't skip it or try to find shortcuts. Not sure what to record in your inventory? I recommend starting with: ▶ Content Type (website, blog, landing pages, social media, email campaigns) ▶ URL ▶ Title ▶ Publish / Sent Date ▶ Word Count ▶ Target Keyword ▶ Target Audience ▶ Notes But you can customize your inventory to track any information that is important to you and your business objectives. 2. Gap Analysis With your inventory complete, perform a gap analysis to identify any holes, overlaps, or misalignments between your content offerings and current marketing initiatives or buyer journey maps. You may uncover valuable content getting buried or even campaigns that are completely missing the mark on targeted messaging and calls to action. Here are a few examples of a gap analysis with fairly common issues faced by small businesses: Webpages: ▶ Home page exists but is missing clear value proposition and calls-to-action. ▶ About page is just a brief bio, needs more details on company history, mission, testimonials, etc. Blog/Content: ▶ Blog exists but only has 5 posts from over a year ago. ▶ Topics seem random, not aligned with target keywords. ▶ Post lack calls-to-action, lead capture opportunities. Tomorrow we'll continue with evaluating your content metrics, messaging, and quality. __ 🌿 I'm a former web developer/client onboarding manager turned copywriter specializing in webcopy and content support (blogs, case studies) and am dabbling in educational email courses. I'm accepting new clients for June. Interested? Let's talk! (link in profile)

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⚡ ⚡ Attention Wordsmiths! Are you the kind of writer who can turn a simple sentence into a symphony of words? 🎶 Or craft content so compelling, readers can’t look away? 👀 Emitrr is on the hunt for 6 Freelance Content Writers who know their way around words like a pro and are ready to make an impact! 💥 ✨ What we’re looking for: - 3+ years of experience - Passion for storytelling and all things SaaS - Creativity, drive, and a little dash of quirkiness If you think you've got what it takes to help Emitrr shine brighter, shoot over your resume and samples to [email protected]! Let’s create content that speaks, sells, and stands out! 📝🚀 #Hiring #ContentWriters #Freelancers #Emitrr #WritingCommunity #ContentMarketing #job #hiringfreelancers #creative #content

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When I worked at my former company as an associate content writer, I didn’t fully understand what it meant to reject a piece of content. I disliked our content editor back then. He would ask me to rewrite the blog posts about three times until they were nearly perfect. He called them “substandard” To say the least; he was a near perfectionist. He would say: “Listen, I don’t care how long it’s gonna take you to write this article, but I will not publish it until it covers the story we want. Until it gives the audience what they’re looking for” Often, I would freak out when I opened the document— tons of comments and suggestions from my editor. Some days I felt like quitting because I’d run out of ideas and yet it amazed me how he provided us with solutions. Lol. I learned so much from him, and always I am grateful I had the opportunity to work with such a detailed and nearly a perfectionist. Now, as a CMO at a travel startup, I understand how much my editor had to endure while working with me. Each time I edit the content calendar, I am reminded of the days I had to rewrite. When I read a draft and something appears to be missing, I understand why my editor warned me about writing mediocre or substandard work. These experiences shaped me. Interestingly, I’ve become just as unrelenting, often asking for rewrites when necessary. Like my former editor, I’d rather delay an article going live than risk leave the wrong impression of the brand. Some of the lessons he left with me: 1. Every word you write should mean something. No word is meaningless in a sentence. If a word has no function in a sentence or article, take it out. 2. The first time I heard the word “flesh out”, I heard that from him. He insisted I exhaust my points and not leave the reader hanging. 3. He believes that if content—be it copy, article, script—is poorly written, it reflects poorly on the brand. Reasons why he would delay publication until all necessary changes were made. 4, He may not have been a perfectionist, but now that I am in his shoes, I understand the demands of leading a content team. 5. Have you had a similar experience like this one? Share it with us in the comments. #contentwriting #freelancewriter #editing #CMO #writing

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In content, some things are technically OK without being actually OK. An example: The AP Stylebook has weighed in on how to make "CMS" (content management system) plural. Answering an Ask the Editor question, they said it should be ... "CMSes" Yuck. Found that out on Monday, and it almost ruined my whole week. The editors on our team were similarly upset. Here are some of the responses this little factoid received: – "I will 100% edit everything such that we don't have to use the plural version."  – "Over my dead body." Just because it's technically OK doesn't mean it's really OK. Side note: I love working with a team that feels that strongly about nitpicky editing questions. I'm grateful for them and the discussions we have. #Editing #EditingTips #AP #Content

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Just because a word sounds cool doesn’t mean it should make it to your final draft. When you write, there’s room for: • rewriting • editing ( Developmental, content, line, and copy editing). • Proofreading. Use premium tools. I use Grammarly. Writing is one thing, editing is another thing. While writing involves generating ideas, drafting content, and developing the initial structure. Editing involves revising and improving the text for clarity, accuracy, and impact which is the main goal. Always give your work rounds of editing before turning it in to your editor. #contentwriting #editing #writer

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Anyone: What sets highly effective content strategists apart from the rest? Me: It's about habits, consistent actions that lead to sustained success. Here are seven habits I know for sure will make you stand out; 1. Stay curious ~When was the last time you learned something new that changed how you approach content? 2. Know your audience inside out ~Are you regularly gathering feedback and adjusting your content to meet their evolving needs? 3. Plan with purpose ~Do you have a clear roadmap that guides your content creation? 4. Collaborate and Communicate ~How often do you bring your team into the content planning process? 5. Measure and Adapt ~How quickly do you adapt when the data shows something isn’t working? 6. Focus on quality over quantity ~Are you focusing on creating content that adds real value to your audience? 7. Endless creativity ~How are you pushing the creative boundaries with your content? _______________ Which of these habits will you start adopting today? ________ ♻️ Repost if you find this helpful

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If your copy is just packed with information and not driving conversions, it’s time to rethink your approach! In today’s fast-paced digital world, writing to sell is what truly moves the needle. 💥 Here’s how to shift from writing for information to writing for action: FOCUS ON BENEFITS, NOT FEATURES: Your audience doesn't care about what your product does—they care about how it will improve their lives. Always highlight the benefits over the features. USE EMOTIONAL TRIGGERS: People make buying decisions based on emotion, not logic. Write copy that appeals to their pain points, desires, and fears. Tap into those emotions to persuade. CREATE URGENCY AND SCARCITY: Give your audience a reason to act NOW. Phrases like "limited-time offer" or "only a few spots left" can give your readers that extra push. STRONG CALL TO ACTION (CTA): Tell them exactly what to do next—whether it’s signing up, purchasing, or clicking a link. Make your CTA clear and actionable. Want to turn your content into a powerful sales tool? Let’s connect, and I’ll help you transform your copy from informative to irresistible! 😉 Learn the art of writing copy that converts—comment or DM me for personalized tips! 🔥 #CopywritingTips #ContentThatSells #ConversionCopywriting #DigitalMarketing #SalesFunnels #WriteToSell #MarketingStrategy

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When you plan your content, you get so many benefits. Sure, you know what you're publishing and when, but you get much more. We call it the 7Cs, and here they are: 1. Control Over what you publish Over your publishing schedule Over the message 2. Clarity Why you're publishing what you're publishing What you want it to do for you The message and the goals 3. Confidence Your content is working You're connecting with your audience What you're publishing 4. Calm You're no longer stressed about not knowing what to create You're no longer anxious about your content's performance You're no longer worried about "throwing darts in the dark" with your content 5. Connection With your audience 6. Conversion Your audience is converting into prospects 7. All this leads to Consistency And content becomes a priority again. We have an entire content planning and implementation program to help you obtain the 7Cs. Learn more about it here: https://lnkd.in/gDC6eYYz

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Remote work sounds great until you realize your family is your new coworker. Spoiler alert: They’re not great at keeping things professional.🙂 Struggling to stay focused when your office is your living room? You’re not alone. 🔹 42% of remote workers say they experience frequent interruptions from family members. 🔹 37% admit to working in their pajamas (we’ve all been there). 🔹 28% miss the office coffee machine more than their colleagues.(Including me) 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐬: ✅ Set Boundaries: Clearly mark your “work” and “home” time. ✅ Create a Workspace: Even if it’s just a corner, make it your productivity zone. ✅ Headphones On: Block out the noise with your go-to playlist. (My favorite) ✅ Take Breaks: Recharge to stay sharp and focused. P.S. Don’t forget to stretch! Sitting all day is the new smoking, after all. Video: loewhalay

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🤖✍️🧑‍💻 What sets AI writers apart from human writers? Dive into our latest infographic to discover the unique strengths and limitations of both. Whether it's the emotional depth of human writing or the data-driven precision of AI, each has its place in the landscape of content creation. Explore the full breakdown at aistaffingninja.com! #AIvsHuman #ContentCreation #WritingTips #AIWriter

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Advertisements are all around us. You’ve probably scrolled by a few before this post! If you’re an editor looking to level up your editing skills and attract more clients, learning to effectively edit marketing copy is the way to go. https://zurl.co/fUYS #Marketing #Business #Freelancing #Advertising #Editing #EditorTips #CopyEditing #RightTouchEditing 

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