Carol J. Alexander 🏡

Writers, Here's How to Keep Yourself And A.I. From Looking Stupid. Some of you saw the I ❤️ A.I. love letter I posted the other day (See link in the comments.) Why do I love it? -It saves me time so I can be more creative -It organizes me -It checks for accuracy -It keeps me on track ⭐ BUT you gotta be smart to get smart results. ⭐ (In other words, treat it like your 14-year-old nephew you just hired as an intern because you love your brother.) Tip #1: Be Specific The more detail you include in your request, the better. EXAMPLE 🚫 Too General: "Please generate an outline from this transcript." 👍 Much Better: "Please generate a 9-point outline for a fitness book geared toward busy executives that highlights values of ambition and efficiency. AND organize outline into the following order of progression: physical health, mental health, emotional health." Tip #2: Be Skeptical Strangely, A.I. misses things. For example, if I ask Chapt GPT to check for redundancies in my 250-page manuscript, guess what I do when it's done? I ask it again! And almost always, it catches a few more mistakes. Weird, huh? GOT SOMETHING HELPFUL TO SHARE ABOUT WORKING WITH A.I.? === -I'm the Ghostwriter's Ghostwriter -I care about high standards and strong community -Check out my FEATURED section to 1) Visit my website 2) See my latest book, featured in the NYT and on “The View” 3) Read my articles

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When your B2B brand outsources content strategy and creation, you can expect... ➫ A collaborative process. 🤝 ➫ A customized experience. 💯 ➫ Effective communication. 💬 ➫ A dependable extension of your team. 👥 ➫ Timely delivery. 📆 What questions do you have? 👇👇👇 #B2Bcopywriting #contentstrategy #juliejohnsonwritingservices

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Please don't DM your connections or followers - especially if they're recent - to ask them to support one of your posts (and then include a handy link to the post). It's...icky. It may not rise to the level of engagement pods, but it's darn close. I don't feel compelled to like, comment, or share posts simply because we're connected or following one another here. My rule for engaging with posts is the same as for creating one for my profile. I don't post (or comment) if I have nothing relevant to share or a meaningful way to add to the conversation. If you connect with me simply to engage in this behavior, I'll disconnect from you the minute you send the DM with the link to your post. Don't get me wrong. It's OK to support other professionals here. However, don't pressure people to engage with your posts to appease the algorithm and boost your visibility. People see right through that ish and it makes you part of the problem you're trying to correct.

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One of the biggest mistakes I see businesses make in their website copy is not being specific enough. Niching down helps you eliminate users who would be unqualified leads. Who cares if you get 1000 users to your website if what you do isn't applicable to any of them? Be specific. Google likes it too. #contentmarketing #seo #webcopy #websitecontent

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Your B2B clients are interested in how your products or services solve their problems. If your website copy focuses on features more than benefits, you're missing the boat. Here are some examples... what if I told you Julie Johnson Writing Services offers... ➣ Website copy — From sales copy for landing and new product pages to full websites ➣ Long-form content — White papers & ebooks ➣ Case studies — Customer success stories How interested would you be in the services? Now... what if I added what those same services could do for your brand? Like this... ➣ Website copy — From sales copy for landing and new product pages to full websites that attract the attention of your ideal clients, and turn prospects into customers. ➣ Long-form content — White papers & ebooks to showcase your company's expertise in your industry, building awareness and helping potential clients consider investing in your services. ➣ Case studies — Let your clients sell your products and services for you when you share their customer success story and convince readers your company is a trustworthy resource. See the difference? When you're creating copy, start with the features, and ask yourself what they can do to solve your customers' problems. Make it about your customer! When I worked in retail quite a few years ago, my supervisor taught me my job was all about serving the customer. Ditto for copywriting! Comment below to share one feature your services provide and the benefit it offers to your customers. 👇👇👇 #B2Bcopywriting #contentstrategy #juliejohnsonwritingservices

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I'm so proud of the new dslx blog layout. 🤗 Here's why: 1. Writers are front and center 🎉 2. Editors are right there with them 👏 3. Writers get a hefty by-line, profile photo, and links 🎬 4. Filter tabs now appeal to each of our readers ⤵ ▶ dslx hot takes ▶ freelance writers ▶ HR & business leaders 5. Read time indicators respect time & manage expectations ⏳ 6. Jump-to TOCs help busy readers find reading nuggets 🐸 7. Social & link sharing options are always on-hand for inspired readers 👍 8. Badges help identify our working relationship with the writer ⤵ ▶ dslx writer ▶ dslx intern ▶ guest post ▶ dslx academy student 9. Writers & editors now have dedicated bios & further reading pages 📚 10. The layout, font choice, and color palette is dyslexics-approved: meaning smoother, kinder reads for many in our neurodiverse community 💌 Everything in our new website has been considered and aligned with the dslx values & mission. I plan to continue evolving dslx just as intentionally in the future. 💫 📖 -> www.dslxcontent.com/blog #contentmarketing #blogs #blogwriting #contentmanagement

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The biggest mistake content creators make today. Ok, I'll tell you: your content page needs to be a mini-landing page for your business (by Mark Schaefer, Schaefer Marketing Solutions) https://buff.ly/3Lq2o0a #contentmarketing #associations

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There's a long-game investment you could be making... To bring more people to you... And get them to buy. How? 👉 SEO blogs Well-written and researched blogs can get you traffic for months...and years...when you keep up with them. These are blog articles on your site that... - Clearly speak to a specific audience - Address a current problem they have where they need a fast solution - And include the keyword phrases they're searching RIGHT NOW on Google 2 Years ago I was looking for a step-by-step guide on how to create SEO Blogs. I found lots of articles... But no guide. So I put one together. Want to start writing blogs that not only talk to an audience problem but are "findable" through the power of SEO? Get my free guide here: https://lnkd.in/g4EPU-5J Do you have blogs on your site? How's it going? Happy Monday! #seo #seotips #freelancewriter

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I'm looking to learn how to create video content and will be starting from scratch. I want to create content for my personal brand here on LinkedIn and also content related to my writing. Does anyone have recommendations or resources to get started? Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you to Jack Appleby and the entire Break An Egg community for inspiring this post. #VideoContent #ContentCreation #PersonalBranding #WritingCommunity #LinkedInContent #Storytelling #Inspiration #SocialMediaTips

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OK, freelance writers. I’m doing a (very limited) round of “pay what you can” group coaching. Who wants in? Here’s what it’s all about: ✅ You decide how much you want to pay for a 1-hour group coaching session with me ✅ Hop on a Zoom call (I’ll have dates and times available) ✅ Ask me (a freelance writer since 2006) anything you want about freelance writing ✅ Listen to the questions of your fellow freelancers I’m opening 3 sessions for this offer. Max 10 people per session. Spots are first come, first served. So…why am I doing this? I’m building out the group coaching arm of my business (in addition to 1-on-1s), and I’d *love* more testimonials from people who’ve been through a session with me. If you sign up, I’ll ask you to fill out a brief review form about the coaching. You answer and rate the call 100% honestly. --- If you're a freelance writer, it's a good bet you've got questions. Things you're stumped on in your business. Something you want a second opinion on. So, what’s the value of having someone answer *your* freelance writing questions for an hour? Comment, DM, or email "I'M IN" if you’re interested in snagging a spot.

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This is the last in a handful of posts that I’m creating based on long-tail keywords, or more specifically, the questions that come up as “snippets” when I type “content writer” into Google. I saw this one a few snippets down in my content writing search, but since this content is something I write regularly I thought I’d jump in here too. Benefits of thought leadership content Creating thought leadership content can be great for your profile and organization. Thought leadership helps to share your expertise and authority with your industry. Your contributions also push your field forward as they are the results of your reading and experience with the topic. Getting started with your TL To get started, think about a handful of areas that you can write about with confidence in your industry. Say brainstorm 10 and then choose the top three or four. For example, if I think of my top three thought leadership areas, they might be freelancing or running a business, content creation which is what I do in my business and teaching writing because that's another sideline. Then within those content areas, think about specific topics you could write about. Again, try to come up with 10 and then pick the best. To continue my example, if I thought about what thought leadership I could contribute around freelancing or business ownership, I might come up with how to create relationships with clients, find allies within your writing community, and seek out continuing education around business building. Then write! Then go and write your posts in whatever medium (LinkedIn posts, blog posts, Instagram) you choose. Edit and repeat. -- Hi, I'm Sue. I'm passionate about creating longform content, from blog posts to articles, where I use my 20+ years of journalistic experience to weave expert opinions and advice on big topics that help educate readers. Partner with me to develop your content strategy and create stories to help set a high standard in your industry. DM me, and let's chat. #contentmarketing #storytelling #longform

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Is every word in your copy pulling weight? In my experience, less is often more. It’s not about writing pages and pages. The rule I use is simple: ✔ Be concise, clear, and compelling. ✔ Avoid unnecessary jargon or filler words. ✔ Speak directly to your audience's needs. Too many words can lose your reader’s interest. Don't write just to fill space—write to add value. So, trim the fat and keep your message sharp! Your readers (and conversions) will thank you. #copywriting #marketing #azhariqbal #azharseoppc

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Pro writers and creators need a business model. Here are 5 popular models: 1. Freelancing Freelance writers spend most of their time creating content for *somebody else's business. That's ok when you're starting and need some money. But it's hard to scale a freelance writing business. And freelancers often find themselves chasing clients at the end of the month for payment or recurring work. With ChatGPT and dozens of other AI tools spitting out generic content at scale, it's a race to the bottom. 2. Paid newsletters Pick one niche. Write a weekly or daily newsletter. Turn parts of your newsletter into social content. Funnel social traffic to your list. Scale with ads. Growing a newsletter is easier than growing a website. You don't need to worry about SEO or publishing hundreds of articles. It's also more profitable than writing a book, as you can charge recurring subscriptions and add sponsors. 3. Authorship Writing a book is fun. I love holding something I wrote in my hands. And they're an amazing credibility builder. But it's hard to earn a living from writing books alone. The profit margin on a $10 or $20 ebook means authors need to sell thousands of copies. I did that with Amazon Ads for a while. Then publishing companies discovered ads... and my costs went up. It's hard to scale a single or even a few books into a full-time living. I've interviewed dozens of best-selling authors who write full-time. They all earn a living from a deep back catalog, think dozens of books. Or they use their book to sell a related service, like a course. 4. Course creation I've sold thousands of dollars of online courses. This model works well with the right amount of traffic from the right sources. However, selling online courses is more complex now than it was a few years ago. Most people don't want another video to scrub through on x2. Course completion rates are incredibly low. Instead, students and clients want access to the course creator through a cohort or community. That said, this model pairs neatly with writing a popular book. 5. Coaching and consulting Coaching and consulting is my preferred business model. I write in the mornings and coach in the afternoons. I work with a select group of clients who want to build their businesses. If you're an expert in a topic, you can easily coach someone in your niche. You don't even need to do sales calls. What's your preferred business model? Let me know in the comments!

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📌 Working with an editor has many more benefits than just fixing the spelling mistakes in your copy. An editor is a key partner you need to help your business grow. Here are three reasons why. #contentediting #contentmarketing #businessgrowth #ceo #cmo

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Copywriters, content writers, editors, writing coaches, listen up... Your About Page on your website is ESSENTIAL! If you're worried about sharing too much and are a private person, I get it. I think that's why we became writers. We're private and love serving, so we focus on the writing we do for everyone else. On my old About Page, I detailed my writing journey — three layoffs in the corporate world, starting a food blog, writing about being a busy working professional mom, and the nudges I received on my path that led me to want to become a freelance writer. It's changed over time with my business goals, but sharing those stories was powerful. My potential clients would get on calls with me and share that they loved my About Page so much. They'd often see parts of themselves in my story. They found me relatable. They weren't judging me. People want to work with people they know, like, and trust — and your About Page is where you can make this happen.   People also told me that they wanted their website to read like mine. They didn't want the exact words, of course (that'd be stealing), but what they noticed was my authenticity. They wanted their voice to sound like theirs — not like their competitors, coach, or anyone else. They wanted permission for their voice to shine through, so they reached out for my support. Where can you spiff up your About Page today? ✍️ Share a pivotal story ✍️ Outline an AHA moment ✍️ Tell a personal story ✍️ Write about your biggest life lesson ✍️ Communicate WHY you went into this business Tell your story as it relates to your reader and remember to close it out with a call to action (CTA), like "Book a call!" or "Sign up here!" P.S. As a solopreneur — write your about page in the FIRST PERSON. It's much more personal and powerful that way. And AUTHENTIC! 🙌 #aboutpage #writingtips #writingadvice #writingcoach

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Just encountered yet another scammer trying to get my information as a freelance writer. This one is posing as a Human Resources Vice President for the company Vastly.com, formerly thecompany.com, which does seem to be a legitimate company. The man, “Curtis Kibbey” requested an interview with me via Microsoft Teams, and sent me a full description of the proofreader job I would be doing for $35 an hour. (Why is it always $35?) I did my due diligence and everything seemed fine until the interview was conducted via messaging? Why not just hop on a call? And then the reassurance that I would be supplied with everything I needed to work from home. Why would I need special equipment to proofread documents? Then when I asked to hop on a call, I was met with rude and insulting language. Ding. Ding. Ding. Red flag. So, watch out all my fellow freelancers out there! Careful not to get scammed. #Vastly #scammers #fakejobs #freelancewriters #freelancejobs #proofreader #Editor

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“Do you blog for your business?” It’s a question I ask business owners and I get a mixed bag of answers. 🔹 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘆𝗲𝘀 They blog regularly and they’re seeing good results. 🔹 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁 They never understood how it could help their business, so it was never a priority for them. 🔹 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗼, 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 They were probably doing it wrong. 🔹🔸🔹🔸🔹 💡 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧: If you don’t understand how blogging is 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙙 to work for your business, you won’t have much chance of making it work for you. But if you’re interested to find out, this week’s blog post explains everything. https://lnkd.in/e-3ikaEq #BusinessBlogging #ContentWriting #SEOContentWriting

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