strategy and resources

3 Ways to Tap Customers for Content Ideas

04 December 2014

Successful businesses and organizations don’t create content that just talks about them. Sure, it’s important to let customers know about your products and services, company mission and history, news and events, etc. But it’s not all about you. It’s about them. A savvy content-marketing plan covers what customers need and want to know from your…

Trust and Native Advertising

14 November 2014

We’ve followed the controversy about native advertising with a lot of interest. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been scrutinizing—and may even attempt to regulate—the way that media and brands use native advertising. But what exactly is native advertising? Amazingly, there’s not a clear answer. Even the Interactive Advertising Bureau, which really ought to know,…

3 Things Never to Say to Your Agency

07 November 2014

Creating a strong case study, white paper or website requires a good working relationship between the client and agency. Communication must be honest and open. And, as in any relationship, there are a few things that you as the client absolutely don’t want to say. Utter them at your peril. “I’ll know it when I…

Writing in the Client’s Voice

30 October 2014

Everyone has something to say, but does everyone have a voice? Having collaborated on many projects with a wide range of professionals, Wordsmithie’s answer is “Yes!” The explosion of social media offers unprecedented opportunities for businesses to engage their audiences. A good ghostwriter can help them find their voices and fine-tune their messages. Here are…

Testing Your Brand Message

23 October 2014

There’s an art to telling the story of your brand. Whether you’re trying to convey your message through a brief slogan or a more in-depth communiqué, finding the right combination of words to drive customers to your door can sometimes feel like throwing darts against a board. What you say might stick. But how do…

Remember the Proverb — and Be Ready

02 October 2014

Your plan has a hole in it. It doesn’t matter what sort of plan it is. A launch plan. A marketing plan. A communications plan. Whatever it is, it has a vulnerability that you don’t know about yet. How can you be sure there’s a hole? Because there’s a plan. You might know the old…

Working Effectively With Your Graphic Designer

25 September 2014

Collaborating with a graphic designer on any project can take a leap of faith. Will your creative vision be carried through, your brand standards respected and your deadlines met? Here are a few guidelines from a designer’s perspective to help ensure success. Establish expectations, timeline and budget up front Communicate to your designer exactly what…

10 Tips for Conducting Interviews

18 September 2014

Whether writing bios for a company website, ghostblogging articles or gathering background info for a case study, writers often don the journalist’s hat and conduct interviews. We interview all kinds of people in marketing communications, from business executives to staff members to consumers. Regular Joes and Janes often make the best interviews, bringing heart and…

Collaborating with Wordsmithie

11 September 2014

At Wordsmithie, we’re always looking for ways to work more efficiently with each other and our clients. One way we communicate smoothly with clients—from our introductory call, through scoping the project, assigning a copywriter and delivering the finished work—is through Google Apps. Wordsmithie doesn’t have a dedicated IT department, so we need a solution that’s…

Working with Your Copywriter

04 September 2014

We know that some agencies keep a wall between you and your copywriter. Everything passes through your account exec, with no direct interaction between you and the person banging out your copy. Some clients probably prefer things that way. That’s not how we work at Wordsmithie, however. Oh, you’ll still have a good deal of…