Wouldn’t you just love to be able to grab the attention of your reader every time? Unlike in a verbal conversation, there is no second chance for the copywriter to achieve this. Your copy will need to instantly hook your reader and start pressing his or her buttons. Only then will you maximise the chance … Read more
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is a minefield, and it can be bewildering to the beginner. Whether you’re handling your own SEO or letting a company handle it for you, you will have to incorporate relevant keywords into your content. But how do you know which keywords to use? I suggest that you use the Google … Read more
Most of us have heard of antonyms; these are words that mean the opposite of another. For example, ‘hot’ is an antonym for ‘cold’. Contranyms, on the other hand, are not so well-known. These are words that can mean two opposite things, depending on the context in which they are used. Eh? OK, it’s time … Read more
If you thought that I spent all of my working days and nights sitting behind a keyboard writing content for the web you would be wrong. OK, so 90% of the time that would be a pretty good description of what I do, but on occasion I do get out and about talking to people … Read more
Does anybody remember the case of Derek Bentley? He was a British teenager hanged for his part in the murder of a police officer. When Bentley told his accomplice to ‘let him have it’, it was interpreted that this was an incitement to kill the policeman. In his defense, it was argued that Bentley may … Read more
Time management is one of those corporate clichés, something you find yourself jotting down on your empty piece of paper when brainstorming for a job application form or company appraisal. When you’re self-employed it becomes everything, because every minute of your time is either earning you money or costing you (even if it’s only those … Read more
A few weeks ago, I came across an article in ‘The Times’ magazine. The cover featured a naked male torso, altered by red markings, to create a frowning face. The heading invited me to look inside to discover why men were so unhappy. I was intrigued: I didn’t consider myself unhappy and it surprised me … Read more
A client asked me this question recently. And I told him yes. For those who have forgotten their school grammar lessons, coordinating conjunctions are those useful joining words: for, and, nor, but, or, yet and so. Many people have been taught that these words are used only to join clauses together. Yet, according to my … Read more
