Toolbox
Make your creative self shine with helpful tidbits from the Wordsmithie Toolbox! Our pro tips give you ideas on how to be a stronger writer or editor, sharpen your content strategy skills, or get things done with topics like better brainstorming or working from home.
View by Category
Design
Enter description text here. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing. Quo incidunt ullamco.
Editorial
Enter description text here. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing. Quo incidunt ullamco.
Getting Things Done
Enter description text here. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing. Quo incidunt ullamco.
Strategy
Enter description text here. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing. Quo incidunt ullamco.
And if you have helpful nuggets of your own you’d like to share with the world, send them here. If we use your tip we’ll be sure to give you the credit you deserve.
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Thanks for your contribution, Heidi L. Have a Toolbox Tip of your own? Submit your idea here, and we may just put your name up in lights!
Get ’em interested enough to read on
The first paragraph of your press release should include the whos, whats, whens, wheres, and hows of your announcement. Then take a deeper dive in the second paragraph.
Just the facts up-front!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Use your “mental scissors”
When you finish your next piece, make one more pass. Look for any word over eight letters, and cut it in two. Every time we swap a long word for a short one, we make our message twice as easy for the reader.
Shorter and simpler for the win!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Revisit your brand every once in awhile
Keep your brand up-to-date by staying in touch with what’s happening in your field — the latest technologies, techniques, trends, and styles.
Keep it fresh!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
You’re a storyteller. Sing it!
You don’t have to tell your whole life story to the world, but if you were to describe your public persona as a character, what would she or he be like? Resonate with others.
Get a little personal!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Headlines: One rule you should break.
When it comes to headlines, use numerals instead of spelling out numbers. This better grabs the reader’s attention, even though it makes your 7th-grade English teacher wince if the number is under 11.
Digits for the win!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Bullets: Aim for consistency.
When crafting a bulleted list, make sure your items follow the same structure, such as starting each with a (different) verb or making each item a question.
The goal? Clean, consistent, and clear!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Be a thoughtful guest.
When pitching guest blogs to other websites, they probably won’t be interested in more of the same stuff that their own writers produce. Aim to give them unique-but-related expertise that’s also within their editorial standards.
Balance blending in and standing out!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Question me an answer.
When crafting content for your product or service, think about the questions your customers might be asking, and make sure your value props answer them. Search engines will also reward you with better results.
Keep it conversational!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
The ears have it.
More searches, shopping, and content consumption are happening with voice commands over car and home smart speakers, smart phones, and earbuds. Make sure your content is voice-ready by doing things like writing your FAQ pages in conversational language or structuring your SEO content to answer the who, what, where, or how that people want to know.
Make your content heard!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Change the subject.
Ever started searching frantically through your email inbox to find that critical message as your client waits on the other end of the line? The longer an email thread becomes, the easier it is to lose important emails in the vortex. If the content changes as the conversation thread gets longer, go ahead and change the subject before you hit “Reply”.
If want to keep a key message on top of your mountain of emails, give it a new subject line!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Thanks for your contribution, Heidi L. Have a Toolbox Tip of your own? Submit your idea here, and we may just put your name up in lights!
Get ’em interested enough to read on
The first paragraph of your press release should include the whos, whats, whens, wheres, and hows of your announcement. Then take a deeper dive in the second paragraph.
Just the facts up-front!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Use your “mental scissors”
When you finish your next piece, make one more pass. Look for any word over eight letters, and cut it in two. Every time we swap a long word for a short one, we make our message twice as easy for the reader.
Shorter and simpler for the win!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Revisit your brand every once in awhile
Keep your brand up-to-date by staying in touch with what’s happening in your field — the latest technologies, techniques, trends, and styles.
Keep it fresh!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
You’re a storyteller. Sing it!
You don’t have to tell your whole life story to the world, but if you were to describe your public persona as a character, what would she or he be like? Resonate with others.
Get a little personal!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Headlines: One rule you should break.
When it comes to headlines, use numerals instead of spelling out numbers. This better grabs the reader’s attention, even though it makes your 7th-grade English teacher wince if the number is under 11.
Digits for the win!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Bullets: Aim for consistency.
When crafting a bulleted list, make sure your items follow the same structure, such as starting each with a (different) verb or making each item a question.
The goal? Clean, consistent, and clear!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Be a thoughtful guest.
When pitching guest blogs to other websites, they probably won’t be interested in more of the same stuff that their own writers produce. Aim to give them unique-but-related expertise that’s also within their editorial standards.
Balance blending in and standing out!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Question me an answer.
When crafting content for your product or service, think about the questions your customers might be asking, and make sure your value props answer them. Search engines will also reward you with better results.
Keep it conversational!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
The ears have it.
More searches, shopping, and content consumption are happening with voice commands over car and home smart speakers, smart phones, and earbuds. Make sure your content is voice-ready by doing things like writing your FAQ pages in conversational language or structuring your SEO content to answer the who, what, where, or how that people want to know.
Make your content heard!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Change the subject.
Ever started searching frantically through your email inbox to find that critical message as your client waits on the other end of the line? The longer an email thread becomes, the easier it is to lose important emails in the vortex. If the content changes as the conversation thread gets longer, go ahead and change the subject before you hit “Reply”.
If want to keep a key message on top of your mountain of emails, give it a new subject line!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Thanks for your contribution, Heidi L. Have a Toolbox Tip of your own? Submit your idea here, and we may just put your name up in lights!
Get ’em interested enough to read on
The first paragraph of your press release should include the whos, whats, whens, wheres, and hows of your announcement. Then take a deeper dive in the second paragraph.
Just the facts up-front!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Use your “mental scissors”
When you finish your next piece, make one more pass. Look for any word over eight letters, and cut it in two. Every time we swap a long word for a short one, we make our message twice as easy for the reader.
Shorter and simpler for the win!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Headlines: One rule you should break.
When it comes to headlines, use numerals instead of spelling out numbers. This better grabs the reader’s attention, even though it makes your 7th-grade English teacher wince if the number is under 11.
Digits for the win!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Bullets: Aim for consistency.
When crafting a bulleted list, make sure your items follow the same structure, such as starting each with a (different) verb or making each item a question.
The goal? Clean, consistent, and clear!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Be a thoughtful guest.
When pitching guest blogs to other websites, they probably won’t be interested in more of the same stuff that their own writers produce. Aim to give them unique-but-related expertise that’s also within their editorial standards.
Balance blending in and standing out!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Question me an answer.
When crafting content for your product or service, think about the questions your customers might be asking, and make sure your value props answer them. Search engines will also reward you with better results.
Keep it conversational!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Thanks for your contribution, Arris S. Have a Toolbox Tip of your own? Submit your idea here, and we may just put your name up in lights!
Make it personal
Draw your audience in by sharing personal accounts and anecdotes. When readers personally identify with content, it can actually lead to better site traffic and higher engagement. And If your platform permits it, encourage readers to share their own experiences.
Creating a sense of community goes a long way to fostering loyalty to your organization or brand.
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Establish credibility.
Did you ever see someone pull out big numbers and make bold statements without showing anything to back up their claims? Taking that extra time to cite your sources or add a hyperlink can mean the difference between being perceived as a thought leader and a sweet talker.
All information comes from somewhere—say where. It’s a simple practice that pays dividends.
Wordsmithie Toolbox
“This is the second blog in our series…”
Okay, but where is the first part?! Readers won’t bother going out of their way to try and find it – they expect you to lead them to it.
If a blog post is part of a series, link it to the prior piece and note when the next part will launch.
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Your snippet can make or break your content.
The number of “no-click” searches is on the rise. Although we’re all tempted to be quirky with our headlines and meta descriptions, sometimes keeping it simple drives more engagement.
It’s important to ensure your featured snippet is concise, yet highly descriptive. Use more long-tail keywords to target specific “How do I” questions, and let users know they can find the answer on your website.
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Change the subject.
Ever started searching frantically through your email inbox to find that critical message as your client waits on the other end of the line? The longer an email thread becomes, the easier it is to lose important emails in the vortex. If the content changes as the conversation thread gets longer, go ahead and change the subject before you hit “Reply”.
If want to keep a key message on top of your mountain of emails, give it a new subject line!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Every brainstorm idea deserves respect…
… but not every idea can make it to the next round.
One person can have an idea that just isn’t the right fit, while another can have a great idea that will discourage someone else from suggesting an even better one if the conversation goes on for too long.
As a brainstorming leader, make sure everyone feels heard and valued, and reserve drilling down into individual ideas after the brainstorm is over.
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Keep the brainstorm going after it’s over.
Sometimes, sleeping on things sparks up fresh ideas in the morning.
Create a shared, post-brainstorm file where your team can continue to add new ideas, sketches, pictures, and web content after the brainstorm is over.
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Plan meeting calls when the house is quiet.
Most work-from-home pros have gone through the embarrassment of a barking dog, fidgety child, or a neighbor’s at-home dance workout interrupting business calls.
When possible, schedule calls during what you know are low-activity times at home.
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Protect your body with good ergonomics.
To avoid neck and back pain, consider getting a laptop stand and Bluetooth keyboard/mouse so you can set yourself up for ergonomic success regardless of if you’re working at a desk or your dining room table.
General rule of thumb: your display should be directly at eye level and your elbows should sit at a relaxed 90-degree angle.
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Reach out virtually.
If your company operates remotely, check in on your colleagues via chat/Slack/Google Meet and encourage the same types of casual conversations you would normally have in the office.
Stay connected!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Revisit your brand every once in awhile
Keep your brand up-to-date by staying in touch with what’s happening in your field — the latest technologies, techniques, trends, and styles.
Keep it fresh!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
You’re a storyteller. Sing it!
You don’t have to tell your whole life story to the world, but if you were to describe your public persona as a character, what would she or he be like? Resonate with others.
Get a little personal!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
The ears have it.
More searches, shopping, and content consumption are happening with voice commands over car and home smart speakers, smart phones, and earbuds. Make sure your content is voice-ready by doing things like writing your FAQ pages in conversational language or structuring your SEO content to answer the who, what, where, or how that people want to know.
Make your content heard!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Keep asking. Fuggedabout the answer.
Keep the juices flowing with the starbursting technique by asking more questions instead of seeking the answer. A statement like “Our new smartphone should have the best low-light camera” could be followed with a question: “What does the customer for that look like?”
Just like your favorite two-year-old, keep the questions coming!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Let your customers teach you their voice.
You need to be able to relate to your customers in order to engage with them in a deeper way. Don’t invent a messaging strategy from scratch. Instead, invest your time into learning what your customers already resonate with.
Make an effort to learn who they are, where they are, and what they respond to, so you can join in on the conversation authentically.
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Brainstorm your brainstorm.
If you’re leading a brainstorming session, you should bring some inspiration from any existing strategy and research, but you can also gain inspiration from unexpected things that you may encounter.
So, keep an open mind, and let the world be your spark!
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Put a face to the name.
87% of remote workers feel more connected to their team with video conferencing. Texts and emails are great to keep the communication going, but seeing a smile and hearing a laugh every so often makes working at a home office feel much less lonely.
Choose software that’s easy to use. Google Meet is good for both client and team meetings as outside users can join without creating an account.
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Take the opportunity to link to other assets.
Whenever possible, direct your users to interact further with your brand instead of ending the conversation.
For example, include links to 1-3 other pages/content assets in the “thank you” message after someone completes a form.
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Pass the cocktail party test.
When thinking of a name for your business, make sure it can be easily found when recommended by word of mouth.
For example, if you register your business name as “Hony”, you’ll need to spell it out for people you meet at networking parties, otherwise they’ll likely end up googling “Honey”.
Wordsmithie Toolbox
Organize meetups with your remote team.
Video conferencing does a great job of building team spirit. However, meeting your co-workers in real life is an experience that technology has yet to replicate.
Think about quarterly regional get-togethers or annual global meetups to get staff together. Once people connect and build rapport in person, it can make remote work run more smoothly the rest of the year.