7 ways to trim and tone flabby writing
Ready to get that flabby writing in shape? Although most of my time is usually spent writing, I’ve had several proofreading and copy editing jobs lately. These are where I review a document for typos, jargon, wayward punctuation, grammar errors, the passive voice and...
How to choose newsletter content, in November Wordnerdery
I love newsletters. Preferably short, with a nugget or two of value each issue. A sense of humour is also welcome. But if you’re just launching one, where do you start? The November issue of my monthly newsletter suggests starting with your strategy and your intended...
Team up with others for growth (and fun!)
Working with other freelancers can help you bid on projects too big for one person. It’s a growth strategy when you can’t fit any more work into your day. And sometimes, it’s simply a way to work with people you enjoy. Here are some tips for...
Past clients aren’t ‘dead,’ they’re just resting
Don’t think of former clients as “dead” clients. They may just be “resting,” as the shopkeeper tried to say in the famous Monty Python parrot skit. If you had a good relationship with past clients once, you may be able to rekindle it or encourage a...
Networking? You (still) need a business card
Twice in the last two weeks, I ran into people I knew at a networking event. They were networking. Actively seeking work. Meeting new people. Neither one had a business card. Some people think that a printed business card is terribly old school. Yet it’s still...
Easy ways to market your small business on a shoestring
How do you market your small business when you have limited marketing bucks? Oakville’s Chamber of Commerce sponsored a panel discussion on the topic for last week’s Small Business Week, to which moderator and entrepreneur Michele Bailey graciously invited...
Writing for impatient readers (Wordnerdery)
Have you run across “TLDNR” yet? It stands for “Too long, did not read.” As the Urban Dictionary explains it, you respond with “TLDNR” when someone writes too much in a blog post and you can’t be bothered reading it all. Ouch. Everyone is...
How to set up your website for success
Visitors to your website are either on a mission to find information or they want to be entertained. Either way, it’s your job to make the site welcoming and easy to navigate. “Usability is the term for the art of making a site easy to use,” Andrea...