by Mignionette Fair, founder of Edita Services
Have you ever sat down in front of your computer to write a blog or newsletter and then… your mind goes blank! It’s a terrible feeling to watch that blinking cursor appear and reappear… like it’s taunting you. The good news is, it’s happened to the best of us. The better news is, there are certain principles, tips, and tricks you can apply to make your story shine brightly every time.
So, here we go! 5 Ways to make your story shine brightly:
1. Be authentic
You might have a passion for rock-climbing, but if you don’t own a rock-climbing gym, please don’t write or blog about it, unless it is on your personal blog. It will only confuse your audience. Stick to what you know and be creative in that space.
2. Become a hoarder
An idea hoarder, that is. Always be on the lookout for new and fresh ideas in your industry. Look on Pinterest, LinkedIn, Google… anywhere and everywhere. I’ve received ideas for stories or blogs from the radio, TV, and conversations with people. And once that idea sprouts, I write it down as quickly as possible, so I don’t forget. I pin interesting articles on my Pinterest boards and bookmark websites, blogs or articles that inspire me. Keep your idea file handy whenever you have to write, and you’ll never run out of ideas.
3. Borrow
Because stealing is frowned upon :). Look for blogs or writers who inspire you and who have many followers or likes. Look at what they are posting and borrow some ideas. What industry-specific content is out there? And how can you improve that content for your blog or website? You can use a combination of articles to give your readers a more comprehensive answer to their question. However, I’d also like to state that you must always give credit where credit is due. Plagiarism will not make your story shine brightly!
4. You have not because you ask not
Why not ask your clients or followers what they would like to see on your blog or in your newsletter? Most people will be happy to tell you what they’d like to see more or less of. You could gather this information through polls, questions on your social media or by posting on online forums. You might be surprised what creative ideas your clients come up with!
5. Ride ’em cowboy
There are certain topics, trends and events that already have a huge following. So, ride the wave they create instead of trying to create your own miniature wave. Why reinvent the wheel, right? Capitalise on those trends and newsworthy events! Valentine’s Day (coming up soon BTW), Easter, and Christmas are good examples and can be used to reach out to clients. Also, focus on industry-specific trends, which would be World Book Day, International Mother Language Day, and Authors’ Day in my case.
And there you have it… 5 ways to make your story shine brightly. You now have some tools, so go ahead and tell your story and keep shining brightly!
Mignionette Fair is the founder of editA, a one-stop language shop for anyone with a story to tell. Editing, copy-writing, translation… Mignionette and her team do it all! Whether you are a business owner, copy-writer, website developer, e-mail sender, newsletter distributor or love letter writer, editA helps you and your story shine brightly through excellent language and fantastic prices. editA has built in AI that ranks its wordsmiths against each other and into style categories. In this way, clients are ensured they get matched with the perfect wordsmith for their needs. editA’s turnaround times are also some of the best in the industry. To find out more, check out www.edita.online or email Mignionette direct at admin@edita.online
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