Unsure what to charge as a freelance writer? Or maybe you’re a marketer on the hunt for a good copywriter and don’t know the going rate. One year ago, ClearVoice collected data from freelancers and marketers, and produced a nifty infographic that breaks down pay rates and how projects are billed. It’s still quite relevant in 2017 and is a must-see for any writer struggling to determine a fair billing rate.
We’re losing our ability to focus. With the world at our fingertips, delayed gratification (a requirement for focus) feels like a foreign concept. At the same time, what’s wrong with a little indulgence? Distractions from day to day stresses can be a good thing. As is the case with most things, the issue is Read More
Unsure of what to do with your degree? While future employment options may not be obvious during a Classical Studies classroom debate, most industries are in need of employees with highly developed communication and analytical skills. To help get some ideas flowing, I spoke to eight professionals who’ve graduated with an English, Communications or Journalism degree. Read More
“Her English is too good. That clearly indicates that she is foreign. Whereas others are instructed in their native language, English people aren’t.”
– Zoltan Karpathy in My Fair Lady
The struggle is real. The lack of institutionalized English grammar training continues to evade Canadian schools. I recall learning very little about English grammar, whereas I learned a lot of French grammar. For the most part, we learn to speak and read through Read More
One of the best things I did for my writing career was become an editor. Being an editor is similar to being a voracious reader, but really, it’s more active than that. Reading exposes you to a variety of writing styles, but getting the opportunity to play with unedited words on a page can teach you the subtleties of impactful writing. Read More
Standing out in an inbox full of emails is tough. The window of opportunity to intrigue the recipient is small, but a quality subject line can capture attention and draw your audience in. It has to be snappy, succinct, clever and accurately represent the email’s content. Follow this guide to become a true connoisseur of this fine art.
Say What’s in it for Them.
One message that will always resonate with consumers is how a product or service will benefit them. People are busy, so be direct when explaining the value of the service or offer.
Ask Questions
Timely questions with the right target audience is a great way to elicit a response because people can’t help but want to answer them. Pair the question with the recipient’s first name to make the subject line extra-personalized and appealing.
Example: “Liz, do you need a vacation?”
Keep it Clean
The last place you want your beautifully-scripted email to wind up is in the trash bin. Emails that end up in a spam folder include words like sale, dollar, $, free and words written in CAPS. Hopefully the recipients have put you on their authorized email list, but play it safe and keep spammy words to a minimum.
Include Fear of Missing Out
There’s nothing quite like outlining a deadline to get people moving. Words like “Today Only” or “For the Next 48 Hours” attract attention because people fear missing out on great value. This tactic is best used sparingly because over-use can discredit you.
Example: Today Only: 25% Off All Sweaters
Incorporate Humour
If on brand, humour can liven up emails that may be getting stale. Groupon and Buzzfeed do a great job of keeping things fresh and conversational. Just be sure to test out the subject line on a few coworkers to make sure the humour is clear and invokes the right response.
Example: “Best of Groupon: The Deals That Make Us Proud (Unlike Our Nephew, Steve)”
Keep it Short
Regardless of what approach you take, try to keep the copy succinct; six to eight words is the sweet spot. More and more people use their mobile phones to check their email, so if the subject line can’t be read on a mobile screen, your email could get trashed. Remember, short and sweet can’t be beat.
BC Travel Writer and Editor 