“Content” is what you have to say, however you say it. Whenever we communicate we rely on content to convey our message. It’s how we package our thoughts and observations. In turn, content is wrapped in context — which is only partly determined by your intention behind the message you’re sending. Ultimately, you have surprisingly limited influence over the meaning someone receives from your content. This makes trying to accomplish goals, connect with others, and express yourself a tricky business… (NOTE: This posting is part of am ongoing series on content strategy.)
I am surprised and pleased that my first post on this topic yesterday received such a thoughtful and diverse response. Thanks to everyone who read and commented on that article for making me think harder. I realize that blogs (or any type of media) are not one-size-fits-all. There is, after all, a reason why my title for yesterday’s article included the word “usually.” My goal was not to say daily blogging or heavy reliance on the link-only posting format are always counterproductive for every blog. That said, I honestly do believe that in most cases these practices tend to harm the overall appeal, quality, and usefulness of the blogosphere. Worse, they just tend to make the act of blogging much less fun. Here’s why…
One of the sharpest minds in the online content business, Nick Usborne, has just published a free 35-page guide to copywriting for the web. This basic primer is a must-read for marketing, PR, and advertising professionals…
This week I’m too swamped to focus on writing for CONTENTIOUS, so I thought I’d highlight an article I wrote last year: “Finding Content Pearls Within Your Organization.” It explains why creating online content for your organization needn’t be torture. If you approach this task with the right mindset, it can be more like harvesting pearls. I’m drawing your attention to this piece because so many organizations are blogging these days – much more so than when I wrote that article last August…
April 11, 2005 – 12:06 pm
If you’re struggling to tighten up a flabby or unruly sentence, where do you start? Generally, I get the best — and fastest — results by focusing on the verb…
On Dec. 1, 2004, The Kitchen: How to Cook a Weblog posted an intriguing open question: Why Do You Blog? Several bloggers have already answered that question. I promised myself I wouldn’t respond until I could think of something more meaningful than “Because I can’t shut up.” Well, here goes my attempt: I blog to explore, and to enhance and share my explorations…
Need to overcome “Blogger’s block?” Try Michael Pollock’s “Book Meme 123.5″ method: 1) Grab the nearest book. 2) Open the book to page 123. 3) Find the fifth sentence. 4) Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions. 5) Don’t search around and look for the “coolestâ€? book you can find. Do what’s actually next to you. …OK, here goes my attempt…
March 22, 2005 – 12:21 pm
I’ve long thought that traditional journalism primarily reflects a predominantly male approach to interaction and communication. So I’m wondering, what might journalism look like if it was more evenly tempered with female communication style?…
The Editorial Freelancer’s Assoc. (EFA) is offering several courses for writers and editors this spring. Most of these are traditional classroom courses held in New York City, but some are offered online. All courses are open to members and non-members (non-members pay a higher fee). More info…
February 16, 2005 – 10:26 am
By nature, I enjoy being helpful. I get jazzed whenever I can share knowledge, skills, or insight, or help someone with a difficult task or decision. I don’t always want to recognize that I am human and have limits of time, energy, and attention. Yet, if I don’t recognize and honor my own limits, I end up getting burned out. Therefore, out of a sense of sheer self-preservation I’ve learned to recognize online leeches and scrape them off promptly… (NOTE: This is an installment in my “Online Vermin” series…)
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