Tag: writing

Writing Copy: Sing the Right Tune

Cherith AndesBlog, Copy Cat, Marketing, Public Relations, Social Media + Influencer Engagement, , , Leave a Comment on Writing Copy: Sing the Right Tune

We always say that we love good copy, and we’re highly invested in ensuring that our messages carry the right tune. With the refinement of mobile apps and online notifications, brevity with clarity becomes vital to effective communication.

I love me some Pandora. (Pardon the grammar of that phrase—artistic license for effect.) This industry mogul has arguably dominated the internet radio landscape by connecting ground-level consumers with a hitherto restricted product: tunes. Gone is the barrier of cost with Pandora’s streaming music; every genre and ilk of music is instantaneously available (minus a few commercials here and there). Pandora even curates customized playlists for a range of style preferences–from spa music to cumbia–that can function as the DJ at an event. Talk about a budget-saver!

Undoubtedly, Pandora wields clout to “bend the ear” of the public. But trust is as easily lost as gained with this generation of tech-savvy consumers. And hence, it becomes all the more important that mobile app notifications provide accurate information—and copy—every time.

Pandora Mobile Alert

Take a peek at this recent mobile alert I received from my beloved Pandora. Although they haven’t lost my vote yet, Pandora should revisit one key to writing strong copy: there’s power in proofreading. Use this as a reminder to review your emails or documents one final time before pushing “send.”

 

Read More

How to Write Convincing Calls-to-Action Copy

Josephine ButlerBlog, Marketing, Public Relations, , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment on How to Write Convincing Calls-to-Action Copy

Like we’ve mentioned before, one of the ways that Clairemont team members work on professional development is by reading. We’re constantly seeking the latest and greatest when it comes to social media and public relations. Without further ado, here’s a review of our most recent find: an e-book from Hubspot entitled, “Mastering the Design and Copy of Calls-to-Action.”

When it comes to click-through rates, lead conversions and sales, good writing practices are important. Public relations professionals must master the art of calls-to-action (CTAs), a website’s request for a visitor to take action (think of the copy that precedes a “Like us”).

While we’d really love to write the copy for you (seriously, contact us!), we’d also like to share a few tips on how to write your own compelling CTAs. They are:

  • Start with subjects and verbs. It helps readers to quickly understand the meaning of the sentence and what you’re asking them to do. Never forget to include a verb – if you do, you aren’t prompting any action!
  • Include numbers. This way, you can be specific about what you’re offering. Research proves that CTAs with numerical data have high view rates.
  • Use adverbs sparingly. They have no fixed position in a sentence and are the part of speech that gets the fewest number of shares on Twitter.
  • Keep your CTA between 90-150 characters. In true Twitter fashion, your CTAs should also stay within the 140-character limit. It’s always better to be short, concise and to the point!
  • Stay away from technical lingo. If you had to look it up, your reader probably will have to do the same. Instead, use words like “insights,” “analysis,” “answers,” etc. These words suggest that your content can help improve your reader in some way.
  • Be specific. Instead of the vague “click here” or “submit” button, try being more upfront about what it is that you want your reader to do (i.e. “browse,” “compare,” or “grab”).

We hope you found these tips helpful. Stay tuned as we continue to share more best practices in the weeks to come. In the meantime, be sure to share your questions and comments. We’d love to help!

Read More