Janice Harayda’s Post

Three things to consider when writing headlines What the post is about. What is the message you're trying to get across? Who the article is for. Who specifically are you talking to? What is the promise of the article? What are they doing to leave with?

Need tips for writing compelling headlines? Consider these techniques: Use Numbers Ask Questions Keep It Simple

Don't overdo attribution. Not every sentence should end with "according to X," "X said," or an external link. Not even every other sentence. (Unless you're a journalist. And even then.) It's distracting and unnecessary. And it detracts from your credibility as the author of the article and expert on the topic at hand. When is attribution appropriate in web content? Here are the primary use cases: – Studies, statistics, and hard numbers you didn't come up with yourself – Opinions you don't necessarily hold or promote – Examples that are not yours If this gives you anxiety, remember this: Reserving attribution for really specific situations positions you as an expert source of information. (Given that you're actually providing expert information.) Give credit where it's due. But don't go overboard. #editing #writing #editingtips #writingtips

Writing Headlines tips: Transform negative into positive headlinese? E.g. You don't need degree to write persuasively, you just need to write more. What does this tell you?

The Importance of Terse Posts "One of my Eight Pillars of Technical Writing is Terseness. Being brief is particularly important in business communications and for anyone who is targeting an audience of busy professionals. "This demographic simply does not have the time to consume lengthy posts, regardless of their topical appeal or quality." > 🎧 Listen now: https://lnkd.in/g-CnVrd5 > Read now: https://lnkd.in/g7UvuzWt #TechnicalWriting #documentation

Sometimes you just have to do it yourself. I get it: → You've got no budget. → You're on a tight deadline. → You still want a quality blog post, newsletter, etc. When hiring an editor isn't an option, here's how to do it yourself. (When hiring an editor IS an option, I'm your guy. Book a call using the link in the article.) https://lnkd.in/ddHihhkd #blogging #smallbusiness #contentmarketing

Writing tip: Never ever start your article with: ‘This article is about X’ or even worse: ‘Today I’m writing about X’. Your subject matter should be clear from the strap and headline. Your first sentence should set the scene. Give the back story as to why this is interesting. This applies to both short and long-form content. Journalists spend literally hours thinking about their intro - they’ll dissect it, rewrite it and still think it’s not quite right. Sometimes I’ll have written a whole feature and will still be mulling that intro. Sometimes it comes to me late at night and I jot it down I’m just telling you this because the intro really matters. A lot. It’s pulling in your reader. Please do yourself a favour and speak to an experienced journalist. ‘Experienced’ is the key word here. I have had my copy dissected over and over again by some amazing editors, so I know what makes good copy. A strong opening line will make the difference between someone reading your content and chucking it in the ‘to read’ file. #contenttips #legalcontent #introsmatter

New resources coming your way soon, including a FREE GUIDE with the three most essential questions to ask yourself when editing your stories. These questions are ones I refer to frequently as a developmental editor. Excited to share them with you all soon! #developmentaleditor #editor #editing #resource

There’s an art to crafting a compelling op-ed and Eric Althoff, M.A.'s latest insights help. In his latest post, Eric shares valuable tips on identifying issues, finding unique angles, and avoiding common pitfalls. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, these guidelines will help you engage your audience and make your opinion heard. Check out his latest blog post: https://bit.ly/3VaFWMT. #OpEdWriting #ExpertAdvice #OpinionJournalism #WritingTips #GetPromova #GetNoticed #PRandBrandingAgency #CompellingWriting

The next time you read a blog post or news article, try this exercise. While reading a blog post/news article, get a sense of the tone of voice. Is it written in an urgent, informative or excited tone? And then ask how yourself how you feel after reading the article. When writing professional communications, it's important to understand your intended audience and how they may respond to your writing. Your tone matters because it could determine what your audience does with that information. For example, when sharing breaking news, it's vital that you remain clear and concise on what's happening. You don't want to create hysteria or other false narratives. #PRTips