Everybody loves a classic combo.
Macaroni + cheese.
Ripped jeans + a white tee.
Harry + Ron.
Fast food drive-thrus and…ATMs?
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How to build a brand you love by looking outside your industry
Blog
8 foolproof ways to pull readers in with your intro
With dominos — as with writing — everything hinges on the start.
The first domino is your headline. If you can’t catch someone’s attention, you’re done before you begin.
The second domino is your introduction. And that’s the crucial domino we’re focusing on today.
Domino numero dos needs to pull readers in, piquing their interest juuuuust enough to keep their eyes moving down the page.
So how do you knock that second domino over?
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1 year of consistent blogging: how I did it
I’ve always had a thing for anniversaries.
I remember a classmate in high school whose parents, according to the Bridgewater mom gossip network, were still crazy in love like teenagers. And, according to the moms, the couple also took a decadent, lavish trip — sans children — every year on their anniversary.
I stopped listening when the mom squad shared their opinions on how this puppy-dog-style love affected their kids. They lost me at the “lavish anniversary trip” part.
I LOVE the idea of honoring milestones, both big and small. Taking time to reflect and celebrate an anniversary is an awesome idea, in my book.
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From Brilliantsburg to Shitetown: What to do when copy just doesn’t come together
I quit.
And I know they say that quitters never prosper. But I’m actually okay with it.
I just spent the past three hours writing and re-writing and re-writing some more, only to realize that the blog post I was working on was, to steal a phrase from my British boyfriend, utter shite.
At first, I thought it would be brill. It involved a great anecdote about runny egg yolks, leading into practical tips for capturing creative inspiration the moment it strikes.
But with every draft, it moved further from Brilliantsburg and closer to Shitetown.
…Until it eventually got cozy, dropped a 20% down payment on a condo, and opened its doors to the Shitetownian Welcoming Committee.
And you know what? That’s okay.
How to use subheads to improve your copy
Once you’ve grabbed a reader’s attention with a compelling headline, guess how long you’ve got to keep it?
No, seriously, though. Give it a think.
How long before the average reader clicks away from your email / blog post / sales page, off into the abyss that is the internet?
5 ways to make your emails more readable
In life, there are things we should do.
And things we actually do.
Like buying local squash. (Just go with me.)
In a perfect world, I’d shop at the farmers’ market every week. I’d write out a grocery list, pack up my reusable grocery bags, and ride my bike out to the cute little market down by the water.
Green. Local. Slow and simple. Pretty great, right?
Oh, but wait…
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9 Quick ‘n’ Dirty Tips for Conversational Copy
When it comes to talking, we don’t have to think too much.
Words and phrases move effortlessly from our brains to our mouths.
Heck, sometimes we don’t even use our brains at all — the words pop out faster than booties pop at a Beyoncé
concert.
But when it’s time to sit down and write? Total crickets.
Something just…happens when we stare at a blinking cursor.
That incessant blink!-blink!-blink pressures to say something brilliant, witty, powerful, brilliant, and meaningful. Also: witty. Keep Reading »
How to use Asana to make the most of low energy time
Throughout the work week, there are inevitably pockets of time where you don’t feel your best.
There’s no way to avoid those lethargic or uninspired moments. But you can recognize them and not let ‘em ruin your flow.
The system that works for me is to use Asana to track all my “low energy” tasks with a specific tag.
A low energy task is something that doesn’t require a ton of mental energy to complete. Aka the perfect tasks to make good use of my time when I’m not firing on all cylinders.
Like at 3:30pm after a day of client calls when my inner introvert is just ZONKED.
All I have to do is pull up my low energy task list in Asana and get to work. Keep Reading »
how to find out what visitors honestly think of your website
Ever heard of Theory of Mind?
It’s a concept back from my psych student days that explains how children develop their sense of perspective, usually when they’re around 3-5 years old.
It’s an understanding that our thoughts are separate from others’ — that we can have different knowledge, opinions, and realities.
That just because I’m obsessed with Harry Potter and Nordic culture and #allcozyeverything doesn’t mean Johnny is.
(I don’t know this Johnny kid’s deal. I heard he also hates puppies and America’s Sweetheart, Michael Cera. I’m not saying he’s a sociopath. But like, he is.)
Anyway.
Theory of Mind teaches us that we don’t come pre-programmed to understand another person’s perspective.
And as business owners, that can really fail us when it comes to understanding our customers. Especially when our websites are involved. Keep Reading »
6 Clever Ways to Use the P.S. Section of Your Emails
Have you seen the movie Inception?
You know, that Leonardo DiCaprio flick that twisted your brain and kept you up for HOURS afterwards, trying to figure out what level of the dream they were in inside each world?
Okay. Now, if I told you to think of ONE scene from that movie, what would it be?
I’m guessing you’re picturing the iconic final scene, with the top dancing maddeningly across the polished mahogany table.
Am I right?
BOOM. Clearly, I just proved I’m a mindreader. #endofblogpost
Okay, that actually wasn’t the point of this point aaaaaand I’m actually not a mindreader. (Although I would kill to know what my dog is thinking as he lies curled up on the floor as I write this!)
I just know an important psych principle about why that particular scene stands out. Keep Reading »
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