Sat.Dec 02, 2023 - Fri.Dec 08, 2023

article thumbnail

Why should we bother to write?

Kayleigh Moore

I’ve been a long-time reader of the bi-monthly magazine Philosophy Now, but there was a piece in the most recent edition (written by George Sher, Professor of Philosophy at Rice University in Texas) that stood out to me as useful for fellow writers. In his article, he explains why one should bother to write about philosophy. But I think many of his ideas are applicable to any type of writing.

Writing 162
article thumbnail

Agents and Editors Aren’t Always Right About Market Potential

Jane Friedman

Whenever I teach on nonfiction book proposals, I open up the conversation by talking about market potential ($) and how to convince agents or editors that your project has it. Some of the things that don ’ t indicate market potential: The opinion of your family or friends (unless they’ve done the market research themselves) The opinion of the freelance editor you hired The opinion of your beta readers or critique partners The opinion of your colleagues And finally, the one that frustrates everyo

Marketing 137
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

SEO Writing: 8 Steps to Create Search-Optimized Content

Ahrefs

In this guide, you’ll learn how to create search-optimized content your readers and Google will love. If no one is searching for the topic you’re writing about, you won’t get search traffic no matter how high you rank.

Writing 121
article thumbnail

How to Get Past Pitch Anxiety: 5 Simple Mindset Reframes to Try

Make a Living Writing

Do you suffer from pitch anxiety? This is an all-too-real emotional state most (if not all) freelance writers find themselves in when thinking about approaching a potential client with an article or project idea. How to Get Past Pitch Anxiety Our sweaty fingers tap away at the keyboard before hitting backspace more times than we care to admit. We reread what we write, and the words on the page tangle with the what if’s in our mind.

Writer 93
article thumbnail

How to Leverage Behavioral Science Insights for Direct Mail Success

Speaker: Neal Boornazian, President and Nancy Harhut, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer - HBT Marketing

Direct mail has consistently remained a powerful tool in the marketer's arsenal, but in an age of digital dominance, its effectiveness hinges on the strategic integration of behavioral science. 💡 When you incorporate powerful behavioral science principles into your direct mail marketing strategies, you can prompt the hardwired decision-making shortcuts your audience relies on — and that automatically unlocks new avenues for engagement, conversion, and brand loyalty.

article thumbnail

The Art of Storytelling 101: Techniques for Creating Compelling Narratives

iWriter

Have you ever been completely enthralled by a story, unable to put the book down or tear your eyes away from the screen? We all have. There’s something magical about narratives that captivate and transport us to different worlds. Great storytelling can leave us spellbound. But what makes these stories so compelling? In this blog post, we will uncover the secrets behind creating captivating narratives and explore techniques to help you weave magic into your stories.

article thumbnail

IRS announces delay in Form 1099-K reporting threshold for third party platform payments in 2023; plans for a threshold of $5,000 for 2024 to phase in implementation

Freelance Union

IR-2023-221, Nov. 21, 2023 WASHINGTON — Following feedback from taxpayers, tax professionals and payment processors and to reduce taxpayer confusion, the Internal Revenue Service today released  Notice 2023-74  announcing a delay of the new $600 Form 1099-K reporting threshold for third party settlement organizations for calendar year 2023.

Agency 121

More Trending

article thumbnail

Key Trends in Content Marketing 2024: 67 Predictions

Content Marketing Institute

What’s ahead in content and marketing for 2024? AI gets a lot of attention in these predictions, but in surprising ways. Plus, these experts forecast the impact of social media and world turmoil and give a healthy dose of hope.

article thumbnail

What Is a Malapropism? Definition and Examples

Grammarly

Chances are you’ve used a malapropism at some point in your life, whether you substituted song lyrics you misheard, inserted your own word when another didn’t feel right, or fell back on language that was familiar and seemed to fit well enough (though maybe not perfectly). Here we’ll learn about malapropisms—what the word means and how to recognize a malapropism when you make one or hear others doing it (no shame; we’ve all been there!).

Banking 114
article thumbnail

How We Built Our Guest Posting Program

Buffer

Six months ago, we noticed an interesting phenomenon. Each week, we (the Content team) would receive overflowing inboxes filled with requests to post articles on the Buffer blog. This was everywhere, from our emails to our LinkedIn accounts.  Usually, we’d pay these messages no mind – guest posts just weren’t a part of our content strategy.

Post 113
article thumbnail

3 Ways to Find a Great Affiliate Niche (With Examples)

Ahrefs

In this article, I’ll show you three different methods that make it easier to find your perfect affiliate niche—and as a bonus—I’ll throw in some examples of tried and tested affiliate niches.

IT 118
article thumbnail

SME Relationships: Proven Solutions for Seamless Collaboration and Success

Speaker: Tim Buteyn, President of ThinkingKap Learning Solutions

💢 Do you find yourself stuck in never-ending review cycles? Are you wondering if your Subject Matter Expert actually got that last review request? Are you having trouble trying to decipher impractical or conflicting feedback? 💢 If any of these scenarios sounds familiar, you may benefit from a crash course on managing SME relationships!

article thumbnail

??How Does the LinkedIn Algorithm Work in 2024? (+ Top Tips) 

Smart Blogger

Navigating the LinkedIn algorithm can feel like a maze, right? You’re not alone. Understanding the LinkedIn algorithm is crucial for anyone looking to enhance their online presence and networking effectiveness. In this era of digital networking, knowing the ins and outs of this algorithm can be a game-changer. Whether you’re a job seeker, a business owner, or just looking to expand your professional network, grasping how this system works is key.

article thumbnail

Write a Farewell Message: 10 Ways to Say “Goodbye” to Colleagues

Grammarly

When you leave a job, you aren’t just leaving behind the daily duties and tasks associated with that role; you’re also leaving your colleagues and people who have been part of your life and routines. So it makes sense that you might want to send one final message to them before you move on. That’s where a farewell message comes in. Here’s what you need to know about these notes, including what to include (and exclude) and when to write one.

Writing 103
article thumbnail

Outsourcing SEO Services: Having Your Cake and Eating It, Too

The Hoth

Is your in-house marketing team constantly fighting to get everything done during the day? Or maybe you’re an independent site owner who doesn’t have a marketing team, meaning you’re spread even thinner (and are likely approaching burnout). Between social media marketing, managing paid ads, and engaging in email marketing campaigns – there’s not much time for anything else.

SEO 98
article thumbnail

SEO Trends You Can’t Ignore In 2024

Ahrefs

Let’s explore what those are and how to take advantage of them. If you give ChatGPT a title and ask it to write a blog post, it will—in seconds.

SEO 125
article thumbnail

The Resurgence of Direct Mail as a Growth Marketing Strategy

Speaker: Jeff Tarran, COO, Gunderson Direct & Margaret Pepe, Executive Director of Product Management, U.S. Postal Service

Learn the secrets to direct mail success for growth marketers! Industry veterans Jeff Tarran and Margaret Pepe are here to delve into how direct mail has completely evolved in recent years, and has rightfully earned a seat at the table alongside the email and digital marketing plans of SMBs, enterprise companies, and agencies as they look into strategy for 2024 and beyond.

article thumbnail

How to Trace a VoIP Call? You Can’t. Do This Instead.

Quick Sprout

Having trouble tracing an unknown or unwanted VoIP call? The hard truth is, in most cases, tracing VOIP calls is … How to Trace a VoIP Call? You Can’t. Do This Instead. Read More » The post How to Trace a VoIP Call? You Can’t. Do This Instead. appeared first on.

Post 97
article thumbnail

Grammarly Welcomes General Counsel

Grammarly

I shared the following message with Grammarly team members: I’m thrilled to share that Jennifer Miller has joined Grammarly as General Counsel! Jennifer will lead Grammarly’s legal function and join our Operating Team. The role of General Counsel at Grammarly is pivotal for our growth and continued innovation. It’s a role that will help us navigate business risks with precision, especially in areas like AI and privacy regulations and the work we do at Grammarly.

article thumbnail

What is a Synopsis? 5 Simple Steps to Crafting Your Masterpiece

Smart Blogger

Ever wondered: “What is a synopsis?” Well, you’ve come to the right place. A synopsis is more than just a summary; it’s the backbone of your story, capturing key characters, conflicts, and the story arc. Whether you’re looking to summarize novels, screenplays, or research, this ultimate guide delves into the intricacies of creating a compelling synopsis.

article thumbnail

Link Building Outreach for Noobs

Ahrefs

For example, here’s an outreach email we sent as part of a broken link building campaign: In this guide, you’ll learn how to get started with link outreach and how to get better results.

105
105
article thumbnail

Let's Get Physical: How to Blend Direct Mail Marketing with Your Digital Strategy

Speaker: Akeel Jabber, B2B SaaS Investor and Growth Marketer at Horizen Capital

⭐ Are you ready to boost campaign success? Consider the untapped potential of integrating direct mail marketing seamlessly with digital marketing strategies. Combining the physical, tangible impact of direct mail with the dynamic reach of digital marketing can be a game-changer, significantly increasing your ROI when done right. Direct mail grabs attention, making it great for reaching your target audience 📩 Digital marketing keeps the momentum going, driving action 📲 So.

article thumbnail

Steal Our Call Center Manager Job Description

Quick Sprout

Some things––like snowflakes, first dates, and fine art––need to be unique, but call center manager job descriptions do not. There … Steal Our Call Center Manager Job Description Read More » The post Steal Our Call Center Manager Job Description appeared first on.

article thumbnail

Before You Start an AI Strategy, Make the Case To Stop

Content Marketing Institute

Generative AI’s integration in your marketing usually doesn’t save your team time. It just adds new items to the workload. So, if you truly want to succeed, you must identify what you’ll stop doing to start the other thing.

article thumbnail

Gift books for word lovers

Grammar Underground

For certain nerdy types (you know the ones), language books make great gifts. Unlike mysteries and memoirs that are quickly devoured in e-book form — then forgotten — informative, fun grammar and writing guides double as reference books. You can wrap one up and put it under the tree knowing your recipient will reach for it again and again for years to come.

Concept 87
article thumbnail

Competitive Analysis: The Lean Guide (With Template)

Ahrefs

However, the problem is that “traditional” competitive analysis is overkill for most businesses — it requires impractical data and takes too long to complete (and it’s very expensive if you choose to outsource).

IT 99
article thumbnail

Is Training the Right Solution?

Speaker: Tim Buteyn

Let's set the scene: you’ve identified a critical performance gap in your organization and need to close that gap. A colleague suggests training, but you suspect there’s something going on that training can’t address. How can you determine if training is the right solution before you commit your budget and resources to a new training program? In this webinar, you will learn how to determine if training is the right solution using the Behavior Engineering Model.

article thumbnail

Self-Publishing A Cookery Photo Book With Jane Dixon-Smith

The Creative Penn

Do you want to publish an image-heavy book like a cookbook? How can you navigate the challenges of photography, book design, and publishing choices to make the best product possible? Jane Dixon-Smith shares her lessons learned from her first cookbook. In the intro, Brandon Sanderson's predictions about publishing [ Daniel Greene ]; Craig Mod talks about walking and beautiful books [ Long Form , Things Become Other Things ]; Writing the Shadow [ CreativePennBooks ; Other stores ].

article thumbnail

The Rise of Retail Media Networks in 2024: Why Marketers Should Care

Content Marketing Institute

To some surprise, digital advertising spending will jump in 2024. But the unexpected news for most is the rise in spending on retail media networks. Learn why B2C – and B2B – marketers should pay attention to them.

Retail 85
article thumbnail

The Hidden Downsides to Cloud Call Centers

Quick Sprout

Cloud call centers move the technology required for managing inbound and outbound communications to the cloud. The hosting and support … The Hidden Downsides to Cloud Call Centers Read More » The post The Hidden Downsides to Cloud Call Centers appeared first on.

article thumbnail

How Long Do Backlinks Take To Work?

BKA Content

How Long Do Backlinks Take To Work? Backlinks are an essential part of an organic search optimization strategy. While you can quickly generate these links, it may take weeks or months to see any effect on search engine results rankings. How long do backlinks take to work? Find out how long you should expect to wait to see the results of backlinks for organic SEO.

article thumbnail

Revitalizing Dry Content: A Lesson in Engagement

Speaker: Tim Buteyn, President of ThinkingKap Learning Solutions

We’ve all been there. You’ve been given a pile of dry content and asked to create a compelling eLearning course. You’re determined to create something more engaging than the same old course that learners quickly click through, but how do you take this “boring” content and create something relevant and engaging? Many instructional designers will say, “Boring in means boring out.

article thumbnail

Redesigning a Website The Right Way: A Holistic Guide To Getting Results

Brafton

When you designed your current website, you probably looked at it the way I look at every pop culture reference I put into marketing content — that is, with immeasurable […]

Website 82
article thumbnail

How This FORTUNE Brand Studio Exec Built a Content Business on Brainstorming, Budget Constraints, and White Glove Service

Content Marketing Institute

Megan Gilbert joined as editorial director to launch FORTUNE Brand Studio. Four years later, she's the vice president and has helped grow it to $16 million in revenue. Learn how she leads the agency and why she's a Content Marketer of the Year finalist.

Brand 84
article thumbnail

Watch cartoons to protect your digital life

Freelance Union

Ah, cybersecurity. The word that instantly makes us think of stock images of a lonely finger pressing a holographic sign of a lock on a black and blue background. The lock symbolizes protection, the colors – determination, and the hand would be… action? Even if people wanted to find out more about cybersecurity, a lot of resources would be just like this stock image: very serious, but way too abstract.

article thumbnail

VoIP Phone Systems: What Every First-Time Buyer Should Know

Quick Sprout

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a technology that allows you to make phone calls via the internet, rather than … VoIP Phone Systems: What Every First-Time Buyer Should Know Read More » The post VoIP Phone Systems: What Every First-Time Buyer Should Know appeared first on.

Post 78
article thumbnail

Brain Fog HQ: Memory Enhancement Techniques for Professional Development

Speaker: Chester Santos – Author, International Keynote Speaker, Executive Coach, Corporate Trainer, Memory Expert, U.S. Memory Champion

In October, scientists discovered that 75% of patients who experienced brain fog had a lower quality of life at work than those who did not. At best, brain fog makes you slower and less efficient. At worst, your performance and cognitive functions are impaired, resulting in memory, management, and task completion problems. In this entertaining and interactive presentation, Chester Santos, "The International Man of Memory," will assist you in developing life-changing skills that will greatly enha