06.10.09: Who Ya Gonna Call?

Christine

Extract from an article on ghostwriting:

Who Ya Gonna Call?  A Beginner’s Guide to Ghosts

When you hear the word “ghostwriting”, what’s the first thing that springs to mind?  Celebrity life stories, detox diet and fitness books?  Yes, me, too.

But there’s more to it than writing “autobiographies” for the latest 19 year-old reality TV star.   Ghostwriters can help to make life easier for rest of us, mere mortals that we are, living down here in the real world.

Take a minute to think of all the writing you do in a day, a week or a month?  Letters, reports, quotes … but what else?  Do you contribute to your company newsletter?  Do you write a blog, articles, a Q&A column for a business magazine or website?

Each of these represents a chance to get your brand name out there, to reach existing and potential clients – so you need to make the most of every opportunity and produce your best piece of writing every time.

But whether you’re a famous television presenter or the MD of a small business, it can be hard to find (and justify) the time and resources to do this.

This is where a ghostwriter comes in.

Outsourcing to a ghostwriter does two things: one, it makes sure that every article or blog has the right angle, is aimed at the right audience and acts as the perfect advert for your business; and, two, it frees up your time.

Ghostwriters do just what the name implies: they write as if they were you.   They take time to understand how you write, how you empathise, sympathise and work with people.   They will listen to your stories and anecdotes and ask questions.  Their job is to become you.   In a non-identity-theft kinda way.

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Christine …. in the shed

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01.09.09: The Power of the Press

Christine

Extract of an article published on the Million Impossible website in August 2009:

THE POWER OF THE PRESS

The power of the press has long been understood by big businesses, celebrity footballers and ex-Big Brother Housemates.  But just how do they do it?  How do they manage to stay front page news, racking up column inches, day after day?  And how can the rest of us do the same?

Companies such as British Airways, Microsoft and Newcastle United can turn to their mighty PR machines, ever ready to leap into action and scatter press releases like confetti ensuring the best possible media coverage for the latest service, new product or star signing.

But you don’t have to move in such illustrious circles to take advantage of this power.  Nor do you have to rely on big PR agencies.

Contrary to popular belief, DIY PR is relatively easy and straightforward – after all, who knows your business better than you?  And what is the most cost-effective weapon in your publicity armoury?  The humble press release.

No-Fear Press Releases

Press releases can be written for anything and everything: new product, record profits, sponsorship deal – anything that influences your business, interests your customers (existing and potential) and your competitors.

Press releases follow a simple set format (one well known to journalists) termed the ‘pyramid’.  That is, writing a story so the news – the point – is at the top with the subsequent paragraphs going on to develop the story, one point per paragraph, in order of importance.  Editors trim stories to size by cutting from the bottom up and the pyramid approach means nothing important is lost in the process.

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Christine ….. in the Shed

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