They snooze, you lose
What’s the least important element in a release — less important even than the dateline or the boilerplate?
Quotes, say one in four reporters surveyed in a study by Greentarget.… Read the full article
research
How to conduct observational research
Try WBHA, or writing by hanging around
You’ve heard about MBWA, or management by walking around? Try WBHA, or writing by hanging around — going to the scene to observe.… Read the full article
How to research for blog posts, articles
Get good at getting the goods
You’ve heard the phrase “hog in, sausage out.” That means that what you get out of the grinder will be no better than what you put in it.… Read the full article
What is the writing process?
3 steps to writing better, easier & faster
While we talk a lot about what to write — More stories! Fewer words! Shorter sentences! — we don’t focus so much on how.… Read the full article
Redefine the way you define terms
5 ways to rethink definitions
When I was customizing an in-house writing workshop for a utility company, I wanted to see whether there was a better way to define kilowatt hour, or kWh, for consumers.… Read the full article
Make a scene
Description adds color to even the most drab story
Google: It may be the next best thing to being there.
The best way to get description is to go to the scene and observe.… Read the full article
Thank you for sharing
Features go viral more often, says Reuters Institute
While news stories make up the bulk of the content on three European news sites, most of the most-shared stories are features.… Read the full article
Ask the right questions
Find benefits in the interview
Having trouble finding reader benefits? Maybe you need to ask different questions.
Ask your subject matter experts:
- What happens if our customers buy this product or service?
Count what counts
How to get your piece of the ROI on communications
You don’t need to launch a formal survey or hold focus groups to measure your communications success.… Read the full article
Why clarity?
6 myths of complicated copy
Why make copy clearer and more readable?
In “Complex to Clear: Managing Clarity in Corporate Communication,” two researchers at the University of St.… Read the full article