Writing and Speaking

How to Write Better Business Proposals

2009-10-22T19:50:00.000+01:00

Meaningfully differentiate yourself through business proposals that trump the competition in content and style. We live in a world of fierce competition that makes it more important that ever for your prospect to understand that working with you is the best choice.
Create an Outline. Having an outline is the best way to keep your thoughts organized. It is a logical framework on which to build your proposal. It also ensures you do not leave out anything important. An outline is the basis for a strong presentation.
Make the outline. Set it aside. Then go back to it the next day and review it. Consider showing it to others whose opinions you respect. They may have something to add.
Instill Visual Appeal. There's nothing that beats a great first impression. Your proposal packaging should beckon the reader to open it and dive in. Use high quality stationery with your logo and high quality paper. Add spot color to focus your prospect's attention on issues they might find of special appeal. You might choose a special theme to run throughout the presentation that complements what you offer. Don't hold back when it comes to being clever, but don't be so clever it overpowers your message.
Avoid Cookie Cutters. Cookie cutters are for cookies. Using a template for your presentation is a turn off. Everyone wants to feel important. A template into which you plug information is not professional and will not instill confidence that you can get the job done. Let your prospect know how you can help them in fresh, clear language based on information in your outline.
Write concisely with short sentences and short words.
Customize Your Proposal. Think about who will be receiving and reviewing the proposal and what might appeal to them. Consider their position in the company, culture, interests and anything else that may help you capture business.
Add Peripherals. You can increase your credibility by including testimonials and press clippings that are less than two years old. Ask clients you have already done work for if you may use them as a reference. High praise from others you have worked with can be very valuable. There's is nothing like a third party tooting you horn.
Follow Directions. Complete your proposals as directed -- even if it means not following some of the advice in this article! And above all, don't miss deadlines. If you can't get a proposal in on time, why would a client expect their work to get done on a timely basis?

Why to Avoid Humor in Business Writing

2009-10-22T19:44:00.000+01:00

Everyone loves to laugh. That's why you may be tempted to use humor in some of your business communications. You may want to start a speech with a joke, or break the ice at a meeting with a funny story. You have some new clients and you think throwing in a bit of humor could help you bod. It seems like a good idea, but it may backfire. That's because everyone does not find the same things funny. You may find a host of unexpected reactions which you never contemplated.
Here's the problem. You share a joke or humorous story and ...
Half the group already heard it.
Many attendees previously received it in e-mail.
No one gets it.
Someone in your group is offended.
It gets groans instead of laughs.
You find you are the only one laughing at it.
The upside of the telling is you get a good laugh. We all know that can be very satisfying and is your objective. People who know you may remember you shared the humor with them. They may be impressed with your ability to use humor, and your timing in telling the story. They may even think of you when they retell the anecdote.
The downside may be a steep slide that at best reflects poorly on your judgement. That should make you think twice about trying to be funny or get a laugh. My advice? Stick with human interest stories. They're a lot safer and everyone can identify with them.

Do We Still Keep Diaries and Journals?

2009-10-22T19:39:00.000+01:00

The value of keeping a personal diary is simply priceless; with all your thoughts, secrets, memories and emotions thrown in, it can be the best ever confidant!
The past generations, if you look at it, were very much keen on keeping diaries and journals, as they found it an interesting yet engaging way to keep account of the daily happenings. But this doesn't seem to be the case with the present generation who prefer to keep pace with the latest in the technology; now what is in is micro blogging, online diaries and the like. If truth is said, the power of keeping a diary and the satisfaction it gives is beyond words can express and is seldom matched by any of these new age mock-diaries or journals that makes your life so transparent to the world.
Why Should We Keep a Diary?
The very fact that there happen a hell lot of things in your life that is not meant for the public to be known or read is what makes diary writing so dear even now. If you have not thought of it ever before, keeping a diary is a simple yet effective way to bring some kind of coordination to ones life. The reason may vary why one write a diary; some may prefer it as a record of the day-to-day life and happenings of life, whereas some find it as a way of self analyzation and self development where the internal thought can be weighed and ideas may be examined.
Some even take up diary writing as a way to improve their calligraphy and there is also the fun lot, who do occasional diary writing as a means of mental relaxation and time pass.
How to Keep a Diary?
To start with diary writing, all you need is to choose a diary that you would feel like writing on. Some like to keep it plain and simple, but some want their diaries to be special just as the content it is going to have. Diaries these days come in a variety of makes, shapes, types etc; from designer diaries to embossed journals, refillable ones, locking diaries, quoted journals and even the latest eco-friendly diaries, there is a choice for everyone.
One you have your diary in hand then it's just about getting into the habit, rest all will fall in place. Whether it is poetical, normal, Shakespearian or flowery, you may write like nobody is reading. How often you write and what you write is all your liberty.
Remember, there is nothing close to keeping a personal diary or journal to speak your mind's voice, coz it will be and remain forever your best confidant for the days to come!

Online Article Writing

2009-10-19T19:35:00.000+01:00

Are you looking forward to earning a multi million 6 figure income writing articles online for your own business and marketing your products online? Would you want to discover the time tested methods of writing articles online that can help your traffic counters buzzing and cash registers jingling? The purpose of this article is to expose the secrets of writing high traffic, quality content articles online quickly and easily that helps you jump to a high regular monthly income in no time. Here are 3 simple steps to get you started.
Step 1 - Discover and develop your own niche.
Step 2 - Read and learn from others.
Step 3 - Don't be repetitive, be creative and unique.
Here are step by step details that you can apply quickly and easily.
Step 1 - Discover and develop your own niche -
There are hundreds of thousands of articles online available for anyone to read and follow. In this high competitive space, you should first carve out your own niche which has lesser competition but high traffic possibilities and target all your articles in this niche. If you are new to this field, it will help to read others who have already written before you.
Step 2 - Read and learn from others -
Always keep your self open to learn from others, be receptive to their ideas and thoughts. Reading the articles of other popular authors in your niche will expose you to different writing styles and thought processes which will in turn spark new ideas. But do not straight away lift from the articles and writings of other authors.
Step 3 - Don't be repetitive, be creative and unique -
Develop your own unique style of writing with which readers start associating you so that it becomes your hallmark. It's important to be unique and creative with different ideas so that your readers come to you every time.

Outsourcing Article Writing - What is the Need?

2009-10-19T19:23:00.000+01:00

Do you find it difficult to take time out for writing articles for your online business, blog, newsletters or sales letters? What if you discovered the effective way to focus your time on building your online business for greater revenue generation and not worrying about writing articles? The purpose of this article is to describe the benefits of outsourcing article writing for your business or blogging needs. Here are 3 simple reasons to get you started.
Step 1 - Free your time to focus on important business building activities.
Step 2 - Get good quality, content rich articles.
Step 3 - Professionally written articles on a variety of topics.
Here are step by step details that help explain the above reasons beautifully.
Step 1 - Free your time to focus on important business building activities -
This is the most important reason to outsource all your article writing needs. A person has only 24 hours available in a day and hence outsourcing writing to professional writers will help you channelize your energy and time to developing online business, products and services. The articles that are outsourced are of high quality that will help you build your business further.
Step 2 - Get good quality, content rich articles -
Focus on outsourcing your article writing needs to good writers that provide excellent quality content on time. The uniqueness and creativity of the article will add to your business and help you generate greater profits and immense cash flows. One also gets articles written on a wide variety of topics in a professional manner.
Step 3 - Professionally written articles on a variety of topics -
It is quite possible that your knowledge on writing is limited to only a selected few topics. Outsourcing your writing needs to a good writer will ensure greater variety of topics with in depth analysis and coverage.

Has Journalism Been Hit With an Ugly Stick?

2009-10-19T18:29:00.000+01:00

Journalists are trained to be objective - trained to report on the good, the bad, and the ugly. However, when it comes to our own profession, we often find it difficult to see anything but the good.
The truth is that there are many ugly aspects of the job, and as this industry continues to change rapidly, many ugly trends have evolved.
While reading through a few articles on 10,000 Words, a site devoted to multimedia tips for journalists, I came across "10 Ugly Truths About Modern Journalism." The article was insightful and blatantly honest.
It clearly shows how journalism has been hit with the ugly stick.
Among a few of the top 10:
Many stories are not copy edited
Some journalists are driven by awards
Some journalists use Wikipedia
The stories that are published are the stories that sell
Even though newspapers are downsizing, journalists' salaries royally stink, and the processes that used to lead to quality are dwindling, it doesn't mean that there aren't devoted journalists passionately working to seek the truth and report it amid these challenges.
These "chosen few" are hanging on to the past by demanding copy editing, producing investigative pieces, and prying open public records to deliver the news as watchdogs. These "chosen few" are inventing the future by embracing social media, multimedia, community journalism, and web publishing.
These chosen few are the beautiful creatures that expose the ugly. Ugly sticks and biased stones may break bones, but words can never hurt us.

Outsourcing Article Writing - What is the Need?

2009-10-18T19:11:00.000+01:00

Keywords Article Writing - Three Easy and Irresistible Tips

2009-10-18T19:01:00.001+01:00

What if you discovered three easy and simple tips that can help you to excel in your keywords article writing? Sounds excellent? Here are 3 simple steps to get you started.
Step 1 - Learn the common words.
Step 2 - Implementing the keywords.
Step 3 - Keywords-enriched title.
Here are step by step details that you can apply quickly and easily.
Step 1 - Learn the common words.
Every industry has their cultures different from others and also uses common terms within them, so if you are writing your article in a particular industry then you should know their common terms and words which they use in their languages. If you are new to that industry then take efforts to read some of the articles of that field and try to learn their common words and terms because this will help you to target the correct audience with your keywords. After finding the keywords you have to implement them in the article so read further to find out how to do it?
Step 2 - Implementing the keywords.
When you are writing the article be focused on the content and not on the keywords because when you are writing the keywords will naturally fall in its perfect place so don't worry about putting in the keywords while writing the article. After you complete writing the article then park yourself down with a piece of paper and a pen and make note of the keywords that you have found out during your research and then implement it at proper places. It's very unobvious that I am mentioning the headlines in the end but it's the right time to write your headline i.e. in the end.
Step 3 - Keywords-enriched title.
Writing headlines when you finished writing is very helpful because you can draft it by looking at your article and then pick out common keywords from it which can relate your headline directly to the content. Writing it in the last will also save you a lot of time that you spend in thinking the correct one and then ending up with the not so perfect headline.

Sports Article Writing - Power Packed Three Pronged Approach

2009-10-18T18:58:00.001+01:00

Are you apprehensive about writing articles on sports because of sports being a niche but a very popular field with numerous other writers? What if you discovered the joy in writing beautiful and interesting sports articles that capture the attention of one and all? This article will expose you to the simple but powerful tried and tested strategies to writing great sports articles that will make you immensely popular in your reading audience. Here are 3 simple steps to get you started.
Step 1 - Extensive know-how and deep understanding of the sports.
Step 2 - Learn by reading other sports articles.
Step 3 - Love the sports not the teams.
Here are step by step details that you can apply quickly and easily.
Step 1 - Extensive know-how and deep understanding of the sports -
Having a deep understanding and extensive know-how of the sports you want to write about is the first step to writing a good sports article. This includes knowing everything from the history, to the current teams, players, rules etc. Writing a good article is also about reading the articles written by others to understand different styles of writing.
Step 2 - Learn by reading other sports articles -
Reading the articles written by established sports authors and articles appearing in the sports section of major newspapers is a huge plus. This will help you in understanding the style of writing and the other nuances that help in capturing reader's attention. Sports learning and reading will not help unless one also loves the game and understands it fully.
Step 3 - Love the sports not the teams -
Genuine interest in the sports one is writing about and love for it helps in greater understanding and a sense of belonging. Also, it is important to sound neutral in your writing although you may be rooting for any specific team.

When to Use Storytelling For Business

2009-10-18T18:48:00.000+01:00

Storytelling for business is an interesting way to get an idea across. This strategy can be used in advertising campaigns, as well as to put a more human face on the company. Just like humans, a company has a history that suppliers and potential customers are interested in finding out more about.
When an advertising campaign includes a story, it immediately engages the reader or the person viewing it. They follow along and want to know what happens next. They can't help but think that the business using this technique is very creative and has something valuable to offer. Even when the product placement in the ad is at the very end of the story, the viewer or reader is likely to remember what it is and will want to learn more about it. That curiosity is what makes the story a good hook for bringing in new customers as well as making existing ones excited about what your company is doing.
Another way that you can incorporate a story into your business is on your company web site and other materials. Many visitors to the site will want to click on the "About Us" or "Our History" section of the web site to learn more about how the company was established. They will also be curious to find out more about how the business grew from its humble beginnings to the success it enjoys today.
Rather than put out a corporate face that is cold and unfeeling, sharing information about the company and the people who work there makes it more approachable. If customers have the impression that their business is valuable to the company and that their questions and concerns will be listened to and addressed appropriately, they are more likely to come back for their future needs. Tell them about the company's philosophy, the good it's doing in the community or other information that will help the customer feel comfortable.
There are many ways that storytelling for business can help to improve your company's corporate reputation. Using this technique will make it more appealing to customers. You will also notice the difference in your business's bottom line.

How to Tell a Story With Real Effectiveness

2009-10-18T18:21:00.000+01:00

When you want to tell a story effectively, it helps to put yourself in the shoes (or the seat) of the person who will be reading or listening to it. That way, you will be sure share it in such a way that you don't lose the other person's interest. You will want to start off by grabbing their attention so that they want to learn more.
The next step to communicating a story effectively is to make sure that the person you are sharing it with understands who all the characters are and why they are in the story in the first place. Fill in as much detail as you need so that they can picture who each person is without overwhelming the person. Once you are sure that the background has been presented in a clear manner, you can go on to reveal more about the story.
Start the action at the beginning and resist the urge to rush through the events leading up to the main idea that you are trying to get across. Make sure that there is enough material presented that if you were hearing or reading the tale for the first time that you would understand what is going on. Follow through step-by-step until you get to the turning point of the account.
If you are sharing the story with someone orally, be sure to pause every so often to give them a chance to catch up. That way, you can explain anything that may not be clear to them. When you are providing information in a written format, you can't stop and ask the reader whether they understand what you are trying to convey. You can go through your account carefully before you publish it and to see if it makes sense from the point of view of someone who has never seen the material before.
If you want to tell a story effectively, slow it down. Make sure that the person receiving this information has everything they need to understand it. Start at the beginning and build it step by step, and you will communicate your ideas effectively.

Uses For Personal Narrative Examples

2009-10-17T17:28:00.000+01:00

Storytelling is most effective when a series of sequential events are laid out before the reader. When writing about your own life events, it is best to give personal narrative examples to let your experience unfold before the individual reading what you are recounting.
Narrative storytelling is generally told through a series of events. When writing about your own experiences, you can begin your personal narrative with a particular state of mind and end your story with a completely different set of ideas. The meat within the sandwich, so to speak, contains what transpired in sequential order to bring you to the point of reckoning you arrived at when the story ends.
For example, while in college I wrote a personal narrative on a travel I had to Tijuana, Mexico. While there, I spent some time rolling up my sleeves and helping build a home for one of the many families in need in the impoverished city.
My personal narrative began with a retelling of the attitudes I had before I embarked on the journey. I realized, for instance, that I was an admittedly materialistic person who was probably far more concerned with aesthetics than I should have been. When I returned home from Tijuana, witnessing how natives were content with having few possessions, I had a different attitude and tried not to let commercialism overpower my thinking.
When sitting down and writing your personal narrative, the most important point to keep in mind throughout is to write with engaging language that will allow readers to live vicariously through your experience. The use of action and emotionally charged words will help in this process.
A good personal narrative will give readers a particular emotion. A good comedic personal story will have the reader laughing throughout; a dramatic writing, by contrast, will likely leave the reader teary-eyed. Introspective writing - compositions with depth and heart - will leave readers awe inspired.
There are a variety of methods a writer can use to share his or her personal narrative examples. While the straight-on chronological approach is one method, a writer also can tell their story through flashbacks or reflections. Whichever method is used, a mixture of structure and spontaneity will result in a well-blended story readers will enjoy.

Metaphor Examples For Storytelling

2009-10-17T17:23:00.000+01:00

One of the most effective ways of telling a story is through the use of metaphor examples. Metaphors, a common technique in modern storytelling, are the comparison of two objects within a sentence, saying one is the other. This attention-grabbing way of conveying a message is used to deliver a particular idea.
Metaphors are a common part of daily speech - so much, in fact, that most people do not even realize they are using one. For example, if I say coming up with a metaphor is like solving a first-grade math problem, I am implying it is an easy process - for an adult, at least.
For centuries, authors have frequently used metaphors to convey points they are attempting to deliver in their writings. William Shakespeare, for example, used this literary technique to compare the world to a stage in his 1623 comedy, "As You Like It."
There are numerous types of metaphors in the English language. One of the most common is the dead metaphor, meaning a physical item is being compared to an idea or thought. When a person says they are grasping a concept, for example, he or she is not actually grabbing ahold of the ideas included in that concept. The word "grasp" is merely being used to illustrate that the person has understood the message being conveyed. Dead metaphors are criticized by some in the literary community as being too cliché.
Another form used in storytelling is the mixed metaphor, where one object is compared to another inconsistent object to convey a particular point. If I were to say, "The Internet is like a never-ending highway," I am implying there is a large volume of information on it. But the comparison of an electronic program and a vast stretch of asphalt is inconsistent.
Absolute metaphors are commonly used in techniques used to describe feelings. Light, for example, is commonly used to infer thoughts of truthfulness and happiness. Dark, to the contrary, is used to convey the exact opposite sentiment.
Metaphors, like the art of storytelling itself, have been around for ages. When metaphor examples are used correctly, and sparingly, they can be an effective method for a writer to get a particular thought across to a reader.

4 Reasons Why You Should Hire Professional Blog Writers

2009-10-17T16:34:00.000+01:00

These days, any website that wants to survive has got to have two key elements:

- Exceptional Content
- Interactivity between users.

Thanks to the availability of blog platforms, the need for static websites is gradually fading out. The content on a website mostly determines the kind of interaction the website gets. Poor content is synonymous with limited interactivity.

Since writing high quality content is not something that easy, what should you do; particularly if you cannot come up with that quality every time? The best option would be to hire professional bloggers or copywriting experts to do it for you. Why would you want to do this?

1. Your Content Will Be Among the Best

There is a popular saying that states "may the best man win". This goes without saying that everything be tipped in favor of the best man. Your website content can only be among the best if you have professionals on your team.

These days every "guru" is advocating the use of articles to help keep your website visitors entertained. But as you know, there are times when you simply lack the inspiration to write excellent stuff. Hiring a professional content writer eliminates this headache completely.

2. Pro Bloggers Have a Ton of Experience

Most professional copywriters understand what makes the audience move. They understand how to work an audience more than you could ever do with the use of words. They know how to use this as their weapon. This is what you want present on your website.

Take a look at websites like problogger.com and about.com. What makes them different? You got it. It's the writers. And you can only increase the value you are offering when you have an expert in the house doing your content.

3. Website Interactivity Will Increase Based on Content Quality and Controversy

If the content on your website is just wishy washy content, no one is even going to take the time out to comment on posts or initiate arguments. Well, they might, but only to tell you how bad your website content is.

But a website with the kind of quality and content that appeals to people will do more in increasing the interaction. People are likely to talk about their experiences, contribute their own quota, give tips, make corrections and suggestions among all the many things they could do.

4. Advertising Costs are Reduced

Believe it or not, hiring creative copywriting experts and professional bloggers will help drastically reduce your ad spend. This is because after repeatedly offering great content, people are likely to talk about your website more often, tell their friends about the website, and generally spread the word about it.

While hiring professional bloggers may cost you a little, the returns are huge given that you can increase your profits, expand your readership and reach a larger audience who will see you as the expert in the field and eventually spread the word on your behalf without you spending a fortune.

Assisting Affiliates With Spelling and Grammar Check

2009-10-17T15:47:00.000+01:00

Assisting affiliates with spelling and grammar information before they write their articles as their main means of traffic generation, is intended to make them aware that just because they use the spell and grammar checker frequently and proof read their articles before submission, they need to be aware that they cannot rely on a spell and grammar checker to get the English correct.

The English language has so many bylaws and nuances to each word and to confuse matters even more, many words sound the same, are spelt totally differently and have totally different meanings. This at times gets confusing for people whose first language is English so it must be an absolute nightmare for any person who speaks English as a secondary language.

The reason you must not rely on a spell checker for correct spelling and grammar is because some words like "Gorge" and "George" are both totally correct but Gorge refers to a steep valley or deep cleft between mountains where George is a mans name. Both are spelt correctly so they won't show up on any spell checker.

If you misuse either of those words in a sentence or paragraph you could end up with some very peculiar articles. No woman would ever want to be married to a gorge and no man named George would like to be called Gorge.

As if that wasn't confusing enough let's throw in the third meaning of gorge. If someone overeats then they are said to gorge themselves. This is also spelt correctly but has a totally different meaning again.

Assisting affiliates through the English spelling and grammar conundrum will hopefully make life a bit easier for everyone.

2010 Trends Of Writing

2009-10-17T14:48:00.000+01:00

2010 will be an interesting year for the writing profession and for writing in general. We have many professional writers that were newspaper staff writers or staff writers for magazines that are out of work and will be hitting the freelance seen. Obviously, freelance writing is a competitive business, and it might be difficult for those who have excellent writing skills, lots of experience, but not a lot of business skills who are trying to break into the business.

We also see that there is a gap between the quality of writing, for instance those folks that learned how to write by posting on their blog, and those that have learned how to write from journalism college courses. Online writing has gotten completely interesting in that the articles you read, and the content that is available runs from atrocious to the superb quality you'd find in a literary writing contest.

Some say that the age of Twitter and text messaging is dummying down our population, and destroying the written word. Many believe that this may be the last era of fine literature. And whereas, that maybe true, it is good to see that the average citizen is getting at least some practice writing, even if it is only in their electronic journal or blog.

With so many writers competing for peanuts in online writing it is also taking its toll on the profession, as many new entrants which don't have near the writing skill are bidding on jobs and providing content. This aspect of writing is causing a price war, and driving many people out of the business.

One of the most unfortunate situations we see in writing profession is the use of artificial intelligence software that produces content. Interestingly enough, these AI software systems are getting better, and soon they will be able to produce creative works, or novels.

Eventually, the quality of that writing will improve, and a human reader will not be able to tell the difference between something created by a computer, or a writer. That is a scary thought for a freelance writer, although some do not believe this will ever happen. I have news for them however, it is happening right now; they just don't see it yet.

In the world of online article writing, we see that many folks are hiring people out of India who will write a 350 to 450 word article for $1-$2. You must remember that in India making two dollars a day it is a good amount of money for someone. So, if they know English and work real hard to produce two articles a day, they can live in the middle class. This makes things tough on writers who live in first world countries who must compete and wish to make $.10 a word minimum.

We also see that there is AI derivative software that can take one article and make it into five by rearranging the sentences and paragraphs. If a human writer is hired to write 10 articles at two dollars each, and then an Internet content provider runs those through an AI derivative software writing program they can turn those 10 articles into 50 articles. Thus their costs becomes only $.40 per article if they paid two dollars each for the originals from India.

It is not my intention to be an alarmist here, I am only telling you the trends that we see, while studying these issues in the market place at our think tank. And I hope you will please consider this.