VOLUME 22, ISSUE 11 – NOVEMBER 2023
THIS MONTH’S MENU:
I. KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM CONTENT BYTE SUMMIT
Ed Gandia’s Podcast Delivers Gems for All Working Copywriters
II. HOW TO COMBINE AI & EI
Copywriting Pro: Here’s How to Go from “Describer” to “Storyteller”
III. SUCCESS STORY & TIP
Kenya-Based Writer Just Says Yes—Experience or Not!
I. KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM CONTENT BYTE SUMMIT
Ed Gandia’s Podcast Delivers Gems for All Working Copywriters
My friend, colleague, “business-building coach for writers and copywriters” and E-PUB regular, Ed Gandia, had the distinction of keynoting The Content Byte Summit in Sydney, Australia, with colleague Jennifer Goforth Gregory.
Ed and Jennifer quickly determined they needed to chronicle the biggest takeaways from the two-day, info-rich event, including:
- The importance of defining your ideal client
- Why charging for your insights and ideas is so critical today
- New perspectives on AI and its role in our work as writers and marketers
- Why you must get clear on your business non-negotiables
- The importance of asking clients and prospects tough questions
Needless to say, most of us didn’t make it Down Under in person, but here’s the next best thing—and well worth a listen. Check out the full podcast and show notes here.
II. HOW TO COMBINE AI & EI
Copywriting Pro: Here’s How to Go from “Describer” to “Storyteller”
This adapted excerpt from a solid piece on how to marry AI with Emotional Intelligence to launch your copy WAY above what AI can muster, comes from seasoned copywriting veteran Nick Usborne. PLUS, Nick offers a sweet deal for E-PUB subscribers.
I can give you a detailed description of how to change a bike-tire’s inner tube.
But so can Chat-GPT.
To set your own copy apart, don’t just explain a process. Talk about how it feels.
It’s a pain to get a bike-tire puncture far from home. You’re frustrated, angry, but then realize it’s not the end of the world. You hope you have everything you need to fix it. You have to find a safe, comfortable spot to set up the bike, pry off the tire (without pinching your fingers!), and hope it doesn’t start raining.
It’s an emotional experience for a human being,
but not for AI describing the process.
We can make our content far more interesting to read by telling a human story filled with emotion. Doing that separates us from anything written by AI.
Now, let’s formalize this process with Emotional Intelligence. When writing, whenever possible, I try to get first-hand experience.
If that’s not possible, I try to research my audience, read their stories and reviews, and put myself in their shoes.
Personal experience breathes life into your copy and content. And that instantly makes your writing more relatable.
AI can’t do emotion. It can’t fall in love, feel loss, or stub its toe.
Read the full article here.
III. SUCCESS STORY & TIP
Kenya-Based Writer Just Says Yes—Experience or Not!
Who knew I had subscribers in Kenya? So cool to get this inspiring piece from Ellie Matama, a Kenya-based freelance ghostwriter with 12 years of content marketing experience.
Ellie’s work has been featured in: Writing Queensland Online, Home Business Magazine, FIERCE Healthcare, Finance Blog Zone, and many others.
As Long as You Can Write, It Never Hurts to Try
After my internship at a local college, my supervisor told me the door would always be open for me later. So, once I graduated, I went back.
That supervisor overheard me telling someone I felt unprepared because I had minimal work experience.
He made it clear that my attitude was terrible, and advised me to never sell myself short, especially in front of potential employers, adding that, as long as I was qualified, then gaining experience was only a matter of time.
After choosing freelance writing as a full-time career, I started out as a content-mill writer, then ventured out on my own after a few years.
My former supervisor’s advice has been inspirational, allowing me to acquire expertise in topics about which I knew nothing.
I’ve lost count of the number of times I accepted jobs for which I was inexperienced—including a well-paying newsletter-ghostwriting job, and four content-marketing agency jobs that collectively lasted about five years.
These paid a lot of bills.
Whenever a new client asked me to tackle an unfamiliar topic, I’d accept the assignment as long as it was interesting.
I’d remind myself I was a writer, that research was part of the writing process, then I’d hit Google and learn all about it.
As long as you can write, just try. Who cares how much experience you have if you can deliver what the client wants? What’s the worst that could happen?