Remember those milk commercials from the 80s where the awkward kid looks into a tall mirror and then their reflection turns into their future cooler selves, and the cool future-self tells the awkward younger-self that there’s a lot to look forward to if you drink your milk? Then the kid starts guzzling the milk. That was also around the time of the drug commercial where the dad finds his son’s drugs, and he says, “Who taught you to do this stuff?” And the son says, “You, alright? I learned it by watching you!” Then the grim-voiced narrator comes on and says, “Parents who use drugs have children who use drugs.” I wonder, if…
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If you don’t believe, no one else will. Telling a good story is a lot like telling a “good” lie. George Costanza once told Jerry, “It’s not a lie if you believe it.” (Jerry needed to pass a lie detector test regarding Melrose Place.) Writing a good story is very similar. You should appreciate the story (even if you don’t necessarily like what’s happening) and believe that it is happening – that you are merely writing what you see. If you believe it, the reader will believe it too. Nothing is interesting. Seinfeld episodes weren’t about something. There was no moral truth to be learned by watching the show. At the end of the 30…
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I love(d) What Not to Wear (WNTW). Clinton Kelly’s and Stacey London’s abilities to make anyone look good was undeniable. I always hoped that one day I would just be walking down the street and suddenly be asked questions about my “style” by someone with a microphone and a cameraman, only to find out later that it was part of the secret footage that the WNTW crew had gathered about me. Well, it didn’t happen, but you might expect, with as many episodes as I’ve seen of the show, I would have picked up some style wisdom and applied it to my own life. But nah, probably not as much as I like to…
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Writer's block is a common challenge that can hinder creativity and induce feelings of inadequacy. To overcome it, embrace free writing, change your environment to spark inspiration, and set smaller, manageable goals. Utilizing these techniques can help reclaim your creativity and transform writer's block into a productive experience.
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The brands people are loyal to aren’t always the best products. They’re the ones that made people feel something. There’s a coffee shop near me that always has a line. It’s not the cheapest. It’s not the most convenient place to leave. But you feel like more than just a customer when you pull up to the window. The barista knows the regulars. She’ll ask questions about what you mentioned last time – even if it’s been a week or two. There’s always a hand-written sign listing the seasonal drinks. Nobody told me to be loyal to that coffee shop. I just am. That’s the thing about loyalty – you…
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What’s the point of a brand? Why not just sell individual products on their own, not tied to any brand? The simple answer to that question is this: A brand creates recognition. Recognition sells the products. So it’s important to have a strong brand story representing all of your products and ideas. It gives you a firm foundation to build your empire. So often though, branding is seen as a logo, a slogan, and a tag line; and the power it holds is tossed aside. Why? Maybe it seems like a waste of time – focus on the products and let them build the brand. That is a one-in-a-million shot.…
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Why Clear Writing Builds Trust (Especially in Business) Have you ever landed on a website, read three sentences, and still had no idea what the business actually did? You probably didn’t bookmark it.You probably didn’t sign up.You probably didn’t trust it. Not because the brand was bad but because it wasn’t clear. Trying to sound smart or trendy could be costing a company sales, engagement, or even interest all together. Remember that Friends episode where Joey is writing a Letter of Recommendation to an adoption agency for Chandler and Monica? Monica: It doesn’t make any sense.Joey: Of course it does. It’s smart! I used a thesaurus!Chandler: On every word?Joey: Yep.Monica:…
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I’m going to give you three ways to humanize your brand. So what does that mean, exactly? First, let me say, if you have already written out your brand story, this will be easy-peasy. If not, I will be releasing my Brand Story Blueprint soon, and that will help simplify much of your marketing. But what we’re looking at today is some simple copy editing. These tweaks will exude the trust factor to your audience. They show a little more of the human side of your brand. Swap “we” language for “you” language. We talks about ourselves and what we can do. “We offer high-quality services.” “We have more than…
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Thanksgiving is next week! 📆 Just in case you forgot, here are a few last-minute Thanksgiving message tips. I said quick so let’s get right to it. Tie your Thanksgiving message into your origin story. But don’t bite off more than you can chew. You don’t need a book here. Just a one-liner should do the trick. Lay out something like this. Thanksgiving always reminds me of [moment from your early days], and I’m grateful for everyone who’s been a part of this journey. Examples: I started this brand at my kitchen table, and I’m thankful every day for the people who are gathered around the table with me. This…
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You have your website put together to attract clients and show off what you offer. Great! Then you come to what sounds like the easiest page to conquer – the About Me page. How wonderful to get to talk a little about yourself – the one who created the brand and built the products. Everyone wants to know more, and About Me is your chance to tell them. Well, not exactly. The About Me page is crucial. If you set it up right, the reader becomes a customer. But if your focus is misdirected, the reader might move on in search of a brand that gets them. But don’t worry.…
