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lia-jones · 4 years ago

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Growing Pains - Chapter Twenty Five - The Ghosts of the Past

“You should move in with me.” Victor stated casually, while sipping his morning coffee.

I almost choked on my toast.

“W-what?” I stuttered. Where was this coming from, all of a sudden?

“Haven’t had enough coffee yet?” He teased, smiling, peeking inside my mug. “It’s only reasonable, you barely sleep at your apartment anyway, you spend all your time here, you might as well save the rent money and just come live here.”

“Well, if it’s the fiscally responsible thing to do.” I said, ironically. “Besides, the reason I sleep here all the time is because you keep insisting that I do. I wouldn’t mind spending a few nights at my apartment.” I argued back. “You probably could use the break.”

“I didn’t say I want you to spend more nights at your apartment, I was saying I want you to spend all nights here.” Victor sounded frustrated. “Do you really stay the night just because I insist?”

“I did not say that.” I answered softly while taking the dirty breakfast dishes away. I wanted to avoid that conversation so bad.

And Victor apparently caught up on that, seemingly dropping the subject altogether, his eyes trained on his phone. However, I could see his eyebrows slightly furrowed, and that usually meant he was churning some thought in that thick head of his. I sighed.

“Look, this is all very new and it’s a bit weird.” I tried to make him see my perspective. “There’s so much we haven’t even discussed yet… I mean, for now, it’s casual, if we get tired of each other we can go spend some time on our own. If I start living here, you’ll have me in your hair all the time. Besides, we don’t even really know that much about each other, never discussed how we will split the bills…”

“What bills?” He looked confused. “You mean utilities? We’re not roommates, and I don’t need you to pay for those.”

“Well, I want to contribute too. You shouldn’t be supporting me just because you’re rich. See, we really should be discussing these things before acting rashly.”

“Where do you see yourself two years from now?” Victor asked out of the blue, in all seriousness. I blinked at him.

“What, is this a job interview?” I joked. He didn’t laugh.

“Where do you see yourself two years from now?”

I couldn’t see why he was asking, but I was sure it was important. I tried my best to answer.

“I don’t know, honestly.” I said, softly, hoping I could calm some of the inner turmoil I could feel in him. “If someone told me two years ago that I would have gone through all of this… The abuse, the coma, coming to Loveland, my new job, my doctorate, you… I wouldn’t believe it.”

Victor watched me carefully, poker face in place. And for the first time in a long time, I couldn’t read his eyes.

“Alright.” He said, getting up and walking to the door. “Do you need a ride to the University?”

“Thanks, I’m taking my car, I need to-” And with that, I heard the door close behind him, leaving me talking to myself. And I wondered if we had actually been fighting. I simply couldn’t tell.

My routine at the university was a very simple one. During most mornings I would teach, and the afternoons were reserved for the research and occasional meetings with partners. I was thankful for the quiet morning, because I couldn’t focus at all, remembering every single sentence of our discussion, trying to see where things could have gone sour. Eventually, not able to find an answer, I stopped altogether.

After lunch, I went to my office to make a few phone calls regarding the new partnerships we were having at the moment. Unexpectedly, there was a knock on my door. It was Olive Carson, the Dean.

“Andrea, may we have a word?” She said, peeking from the door.

“Of course, come in, sit down.” I said, putting my phone down. “How can I help?”

“We have to discuss this new media exposure you’ve been having, regarding your relationship with Victor Lee.” She started, choosing her words carefully.

“Media exposure?” I frowned.

“Look, I know this is a very sensitive issue, and evidently you are not to blame for what happened to you, but no matter how unfair that exposure is, it is still exposure. And since your name is connected to the University’s now, it is our duty to make sure your exposure doesn’t reflect badly on us. As you understand, sooner or later we’ll have to make our professional relationship official and look for patrons to invest in your research, and any bad publicity will be prejudicial.”

“I’m sorry, Olive, I really don’t follow. What exactly are you talking about?” By that time, I was more than confused, I was starting to get scared.

“You haven’t seen it yet?” Olive asked. “That gossip magazine, Loveland’s Juiciest, published a whole article about you and your boyfriend. Apparently, you caught their attention at that fashion show. I personally choose to steer clear from that kind of literature, but when one of my researchers is involved… I have to pay attention.”

“Wait, Loveland’s…” My mind was reeling. “Ok, yes, me and Victor are in a relationship. Why would the patrons care for that?”

“Well, Mr. Lee spoke on your behalf when you defended your thesis. Some people may think his opinion was… biased.”

“And the results may be discredited.” I concluded, rubbing my forehead in distress. This was not happening. It simply couldn’t be happening.

“And affect our funding exponentially.” She added. “The abuse story is not helping either. I know your boyfriend is a very influential person, and he’s known to be extremely protective of his privacy… Maybe you can talk to him, see if you can make this matter go away, or at least contain it.”

I froze at her words. Did she say abuse? Did that magazine do a background check on me, and shared my abuse with the world? I got up in a hurry, preparing to leave.

“I’ll see what I can do.” I said, quickly gathering my things. “Do you mind if we finish this conversation later? I need to leave urgently. Please close the door behind you.”

Not waiting for her reply, I bolted to the closest magazine stand and bought a copy of the damn magazine. I held it with shaky hands, in my car, too scared to find out what was written.

I should have realized that the moment the paparazzi saw me with Victor, I would be a person of interest. After all, he was known to be the most desirable bachelor in Loveland that never gave any woman a second look. Obviously, they would be all over us. I was bound to end up under the limelight.

The article was titled Ice King or King of Hearts, and it spoke of how honorable and romantic Victor was, choosing to give his heart to true love, disregarding social status or background. And, to make it even more compelling and thorough, there was an entire page dedicated to me, with incredibly accurate facts. The author knew everything about me, my parents, my hobbies, and wrote a tear-jerking story about my abuse, including a picture of Daniel and the exposure it all had in the media back in Portugal, since he was the son of one of the most notorious bankers in Portugal.

My trauma, my darkest part of my life was right in front of me, printed in an elegant font, with pretty pictures to illustrate it. All that I had run from when I left Portugal had followed me to Loveland.

Unsure of what to do, I decided to go to my apartment to try and calm myself down before I did anything else. I couldn’t stay in that parking lot, making a scene. But I still had to fix this mess, and only one person could help me. But before I even considered talking to him, I needed to ground myself.

Victor seemed to have sensed my trouble, because as I drove home, he called me. At the time I was still a bit shaken, so I silenced my phone and dropped it on the passenger seat, deciding I would talk to him when I got home.

By the time I left the car, although a bit shaky, I had a plan. I would calm myself down, try and talk to my mother, and then call Victor and see what could be done. I had achieved so much already, I just needed to face this. Maybe now the world wouldn’t see me as just a victim. I just needed to be strong. I just needed a plan.

But no plan in the world could prepare me for what was coming next.

As I got to my floor, I saw a very familiar silhouette leaning on my door. And when that voice spoke to me in Portuguese, I knew my nightmare was far from being over.

“Hello, doll. Long time no see.” It was Daniel.

I went to my purse to get my phone. Shit! I had left it in the passenger seat. In my car. Downstairs.

Ok, Andrea. Calm down. Be smart.

“What are you doing here?” I asked in English, hoping someone would overhear me. “I don’t want you here.”

“Yet you speak English, our love language.” He answered in English. Daniel always insisted that I spoke English with him when we dated, it gave him a sense of… status. I hated that. “I told you, love, I had to see you. I missed you.”

“I have no interest in seeing you.” I tried to assert, although my heart was tight with fear. “Go away, Daniel.”

“Why? Why deny something so beautiful? Our love is cosmical, karmical, Andrea! No one can get in between us. Not even that boyfriend of yours.”

“So that’s how you found me?” I asked, my voice hoarse. “Some reporter told you where I was?” I paused, taking a deep breath. Still, I couldn’t help but grit my teeth hard in anger. “Our cosmic love, as you say, ended the moment you beat me to a pulp and left me in a coma.”

“No, no.” He laughed, shaking his head. “You’re not being fair, my love.” His sweet voice, his Let me patch you up after I beat you voice made me sick to my stomach. “You were trying to end it long before that, and you know it. I know I made a mistake, and no day goes by that I don’t think about it. But I couldn’t bear to lose you.”

I remained silent, trying to calculate my next move. I couldn’t go to my apartment, risking Daniel coming inside and hurting me in the secrecy of closed doors. I couldn’t run away either. No. Running away was not an option.

“My love for you is so big, can’t you see that?” He continued. “I sacrificed myself, I set you free. I gave you what you wanted, a chance to see how life would be without me. But I always knew you’d come back. When that reporter came to talk to me about our past, I knew that was your way of coming closer, you still want me. Why else would you send for me like that?” Daniel took a step closer. I reacted, taking a step back. “Come on, love, you know you missed me.”

“Are you high on something?” I laughed bitterly, not believing what I was hearing. This was another taste of crazy. “Listen to me carefully, Daniel, I don’t want you here. In fact, if you were living in another galaxy, you’d still be too close to me for my liking. Get out of here, before I call the police.”

Daniel’s sweet expression dissolved into an angry one. That was the real Daniel I knew, the one he only showed to the people he wanted to subdue. He gave me a snarly smile.

“Go ahead. It isn’t a crime to visit a friend. You’ll just make me want to come back for more.” Suddenly he was a lot closer, grabbing my arm. “You’re mine, Andrea.” He had a threatening look. “You belong to me. Don’t think you can run away from me just like that.” He whispered in my ear. “Wherever you go, I will always find you.”

“Do not touch me!” I yanked my arm from Daniel’s grip, but he was faster. Before I had any time to react, he grabbed me by the throat and slammed me against my door hard. I lost my breath for a moment.

“Now, why don’t we go inside? Be a good pussy and serve me some coffee, maybe with some ass on the side.” He whispered in my ear, his disgusting breath and maniacal voice making something break inside me.

“I said.” I threatened, calmly. “Let. Go. Of. Me.”

“And what if I don’t? What’s a weak pussy like you going to do to stop me?”

Back in the day, his words would make me shrink, and act in repulse or disgust. But I was flooded with a sudden clarity I had never felt before. Not wasting any time, I punched him hard on the jaw, slamming my foot hard on his chest afterward, making him fly back and slam against the floor hard. He instinctively assumed a fetal position on the floor, trying hard to catch a breath. My kick must’ve cracked a couple of ribs, at least.

Suddenly, my vision was blocked by someone else’s body. Strong steady hands held my shoulders. And suddenly I realized that, when I was smacking Daniel, I had heard someone call my name.

“Did he hurt you?” Familiar grey eyes met mine. What was Victor doing here?

“I’m fine.” I said, releasing myself from his protection. “Daniel was just leaving, weren’t you sweetheart?” I asked, my voice dripping sarcasm.

“Just remember, doll.” Daniel threatened again, as he wiped some blood from his lip. “I broke you once. I can do that again.”

Victor turned to face him, his expression one I had never seen before. He looked like he was about to commit murder, his eyes fiery with anger. I grabbed his arm, squeezing it gently. He looked at me, and seeing me calm, he relaxed a little as well.

“You know, I thought you did break me. And I hated you for that.” I paused, and noticed the smirk Daniel gave me, pleased to have had such an effect on me. “But it turns out, I was wrong. You didn’t break me. I started over again.” I came a little closer, feeling Victor’s watchful eyes on me. “And I overcame all that you did to me. I created a bigger and better life for myself, and discovered I am stronger than I think and wiser than I look. But most important of all, I realized you can’t break me, not really. The only power you have over me is the one that I give you.”

Daniel’s expression was both of surprise and anger. He wanted to see me scared and helpless. He would find none of that in me. Thanks to my friends, my family, and Victor, I was strong again. More than I ever was. I felt unbreakable.

“I used to be terrified of you. You used to haunt my dreams, make me wake up in a cold sweat. And now that I can see you, the real you… You’re not scary anymore. You are pathetic. Trying to make people love you by using torture, because you don’t feel worthy of love. Trying to break them because you feel inferior, because, deep down, you know how pitiful you are.”

Daniel was a pathetic mess on the floor, blood mixing with tears of rage. I walked to my door, getting the key from my purse to open it. “Go back to Portugal. We’re done here.”

“I decide that! I decide when it’s over!” I heard his voice coming towards me. I turned back to defend myself if necessary, but saw nothing but Victor’s back, who had come between us.

“Listen to me carefully.” Victor warned. Daniel and Victor were about the same height, and still Victor towered over him dangerously. His eyes were menacing and full of rage, his expression feral, his tone clearly indicating he was not one to mess with. “You should be very careful. You may think your deeds will go unpunished, but I am watching you. I have been watching you for a while. And I know exactly what kind of scum you are.”

Victor paused, watching Daniel’s reaction. Daniel immediately shrunk another two inches under his hostile stare.

“If you come near her, if you even dare to be in the same city as her, I will make sure that your existence is pure torture, to say the least. I will find out about all your crimes, and I will make sure you pay dearly for them, bringing you agony ten times worse than what you caused. I will be your judge and executioner. I will make sure that, after I’m done to you, you are simply too weak, too helpless to hurt anyone else. That is my promise to you. And I always keep my promises.”

Daniel’s face was bright red, tears rolling down his face, his fists clenched in anger. But Daniel was a coward, so he would not dare face someone that would actually fight back. He slowly backed away, mumbling some empty threats, leaving us alone.

Without a second look back, I opened the door to my apartment and went in, Victor following me. As soon as I heard the click of the door closing, I found myself caught in a tight and warm embrace.

“He didn’t hurt me.” I whispered. “I’m fine.”

“I will be the judge of that.” I heard Victor’s hoarse voice close to my ear.

“Thanks for being here.” I released myself from his embrace, my hand running through his tie. “What are you doing here?”

“You didn’t answer any of my calls. I went to the university looking for you. Something happened.” Victor hesitated.

“The article about us. I already know. That’s why I came home.”

“I will take care of this.” Victor’s hands held my shoulders tight, as if to steady me. “This reporter… She’s out of a job, I guarantee.” The fury in his eyes almost made me feel sorry for those who would meet it. I almost feared for that reporter.

“The Dean says that this may hurt my research. The exposure… The fact that you and I are dating… may discredit my work.” I said, my voice hoarse.

“It won’t happen.” He looked me in the eyes, silently making the promise. “They are going to collect all the unsold magazines tonight. And we’ll take legal action against the publisher. We have a meeting with the lawyers tomorrow.” He looked at me, taking me in his arms again. “This won’t hurt you any more than it already has, I promise you. You can tell the Dean it has been taken care of. I’ll call her if you want to.”

“No…” I said, rubbing my forehead in distress. “I’ll talk to her. Thank you.”

Victor grabbed my hand and put it down, leaning his forehead against mine instead.

“We’ll get through this. Don’t worry.” He looked at me with soft eyes. “I’m here.”

I ran my hand over his cheek lovingly. Yes, he was here. I just couldn’t muster the happiness for it at that moment. I felt tired and numb. Victor looked at me with worried eyes.

“Let’s go home.” He said, holding me closer. “You need to rest. This was a stressful day.”

“I…” I sighed. “I prefer sleeping here today, if you don’t mind.”

Victor looked at me with a pained and confused expression.

“I’m not rejecting you.” I said, placing my hands on his chest, like I could somehow placate him. “I need this time to myself. I need to gather my thoughts. I am so thankful for your help, and I love you, but I need to be alone. I can think better when I’m alone.”

Victor seemed to relax slightly, although he didn’t look exactly pleased. He clearly didn’t understand it, but he was trying. He took my face in his hands and kissed me gently.

“Just remember, you don’t need to do things alone. I’m right here. I will always be here.”

#Growing Pains - Series #growingpains #victor x oc #mlqc victor #mlqc li zeyan #mlqc fanfic #love and producer #mister love queens choice

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epochxp · 4 years ago

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Wargaming the 1940 Campaign in the West. Part 1, the Board Games

coldsteel.org

Just over 81 years ago this week, the Germans invaded the nations of France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Facing them were their respective armies backed by a British Expeditionary Force of 390,000 men. The French had 2.2 million under arms in the north, and the Belgians and Dutch another 1.05 million men combined. The Germans had only 3 million and were outnumbered in tanks and airplanes. Yet, within a month, Germany had conquered Belgium and the Netherlands, 2/3rds of France and had sent the British army reeling back across the channel. It was the ultimate expression of Blitzkrieg and it left us with the legend of a decadent France that collapsed like a house of cards. But is that impression accurate? Recent scholarship is calling that into question, and with that, how we game out this campaign is changing.

I’m going to do a quick whistle stop tour to show some of the resources available to game out some aspects of the campaign or the entire thing, should you choose. I won’t get all the games or miniatures rules out there, but I’ll try to pick the big ones, as well as some ones that have caught my interest. The truth is, it’s a very wargamable period. The German victory was more of a near-run thing than many people realized for quite a few years, and it’s only been recent scholarship that has been setting the record straight.

Keep in mind, even though the Germans won, they still lost 157,621 dead and wounded in a period of six weeks. That is not the act of a nation that didn’t fight.

Board Games

Sadly, the pickings on operational level board games are a bit light, as for some reason, games about the tactical aspects (platoon level and below) are more common with this campaign, which I cannot understand. To me, the campaign is crying out for a good operational level game in a hex and counter format. I am sure there is one I’m missing, but to be honest, I have yet to find it.

Hey GMT, Compass, MMP, are you listening?

Board Game Geek

This is an “oldie but goodie” that introduced an entire generation to the campaign. A Dunningan and Simonsen design, it was first put out by SPI as a magazine game in Strategy and Tactics Magazine, but soon the rights were purchased by Avalon Hill and republished by them as an improved second edition. There’s a lot of love or hate for this game, hence it’s rating on BGG. I’ve never played it myself, but people still play even if, as one poster on the BGG forums opines, the French are fated to lose. Happily, the game has a VASSAL module, so you can also find players online for this old girl. The game itself is available for reasonable, even cheap prices on Geekmarket, but I have to say, there are other games I would recommend over this one.

Board Game Geek

The Operational Combat Series (OCS) is a bit on the more complicated side for MMP, and this game is no less of a challenge. With almost 2,000 counters and three map sheets, you’re a getting a monster. You get the fighting in Holland, Belgium, and France, and you can play seven offered scenarios covering all aspects of the battles from Holland to Sedan. Sadly, you don’t get the campaign after Dunkirk - and yes, there was one, which is an aspect also worth gaming out. The game is out of print, so you’re going to pay a pretty penny for a copy on Board Game Geek or eBay. But if you have the time and space, give this game a try. I haven’t played it, but I have played some OCS titles, and loved every minute. The game also has a VASSAL module, and thus, can be played online.

Board Game Geek

I really like the Lock N’ Load series. You get a simpler game than Advanced Squad Leader that’s playable in a few hours and it plays very close to what I’d expect for a squad-level game. And Heroes in Defiance is no exception. I’ve played the computer version of this, but you get the same experience there that you would in the board game, and I’ve had a challenging game in the three scenarios I have played thus far. Every scenario was down to the wire and had me engaged to the end. The production values are glorious, and the best part, it’s a core game, so you don’t need to hunt down any additional games if you don’t want to (trust me, you want to). For a simple game, it gets the period flavor and tactics right and does it with a simple and intuitive system. In short, if you’re not giving this a try, you’re missing out. The game is available through Lock N’ Load Publishing, or can be found on Board Game Geek.

Board Game Geek

GMT’s entry into the fray has been out of print for several years. This is unfortunate, as it appears to be far more manageable than MMP’s The Blitzkrieg Option. I personally think out of the two, if I wanted to play the entire campaign, I’d probably want this one, and just play MMP for the smaller scenarios. The game has two games in one - one on Guderian’s drive to the English Channel and the other being the British defense and withdrawal from the Dunkirk perimeter. A small flaw is that while you can link the maps, there’s no combined scenario, but I suppose you could come up with that yourself. The big issue? The game is not cheap to procure a copy of as it’s out of print. But there is a VASSAL module available if you manage to find a copy of the game!

Conclusion

There are a lot more games out there about the 1940 French campaign, but the fact is, most of them, as I said, concentrate on the tactical level of the campaign as I feel there’s still a sense that, at the operational and strategic levels, the Allies can’t win. I disagree, and so does recent scholarship. I think the average wargamer isn’t going to make the same mistakes the French high command made in 1940, and a well-written game on these topics would be a lot more challenging than people realize. Again, I put it out there to the game companies. There’s tons of books out there, so why not use them?

As always, Good Gaming, Everyone!

Further Reading

The Blitzkrieg Legend – The 1940 Campaign in the West – by Karl Heinz Frieser, Naval Institute Press, 2013

This is the book to get on the campaign. I am working my way through it and Mr. Frieser makes a good case for his premise that the German victory was not inevitable. That the German victory was as much luck, fog of war, and friction playing a big role. Many German generals weren’t sure the thrust through the Ardennes was going to work as well as it did, and there were as many reasons on why it should not have worked. It also addresses many of the myths about Blitzkrieg and in my mind, is a great historical study of the campaign.

Case Red: The Collapse of France – by Robert Forczyk, Osprey Publishing, 2017

I’ve reviewed this book, and it should be read in conjunction with The Blitzkrieg Legend, it does a very good job of stating that the French Army and her soldiers did not fail France in the end, it was her generals and her politicians who lost their nerve in the final three weeks of the campaign when options to continue resistance were still available.

France 1940: Defending the Republic – by Phillip Nord, Yale University Press, 2015

I am also working my way through this book and he also attacks the idea that a decadent France that was not prepared for war with Germany was the reason France well. He supports the case made by the book Case Red on a more detailed level, that the military and political leaders abandoned France to her fate through indecision and in some cases, outright betrayal. The book makes an excellent case for this, and I am impressed by its scholarship thus far.

At Epoch Xperience, we specialize in creating compelling narratives and provide research to give your game the kind of details that engage your players and create a resonant world they want to spend time in. If you are interested in learning more about our gaming research services, you can browse Epoch Xperience’s service on our parent site, SJR Research.

(This article is credited to Jason Weiser. Jason is a long-time wargamer with published works in the Journal of the Society of Twentieth Century Wargamers; Miniature Wargames Magazine; and Wargames, Strategy, and Soldier.)

#Wargame Battles #wargaming #wargames #historical games

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avackan · 4 years ago

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Second Entry: Blair Imani

This week I will be analyzing the author, educator, historian, and social media influencer Blair Imani. Imani is a black muslim woman who identifies as bisexual and eagerly takes to the several platforms to teach about the different communities she is a part of and more. Originally from Los Angeles, California, Imani studied at Louisiana State University where “in 2014, she founded Equality for HER, a non-profit organization that provided resources and a forum for women and nonbinary people to feel empowered” (Blairimani.com). This was the start of her activist work which has continuously expanded since.

(Picture From Blair Imani’s Instagram)

I first found Blair Imani on Instagram through an Instagram Reel that popped up in my suggested posts. The video was one of Imani’s “Smarter In Seconds” videos which she is very well known for. As described in an article published in the New York Times, the “Smarter in Second” videos are “a series of bite-size tutorials that nimbly address such subjects as consent, cultural appropriation and gender expression for her audience of more than 300,000 followers” (Jackson). Here is an example of one of Imani’s “Smarter In Seconds” videos: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CMLfBvSJLNj/ These quick videos which range in topics from The Civil Rights Movement to abortion talk about important issues in a quick digestible way. But Imani also has longer youtube videos that go into depth about important subjects such as this video about intersectionality: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CLryAapplz9/?hl=en. She is also the author of “two historical books Modern HERstory: Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History (2018) and Making Our Way Home: The Great Migration and the Black American Dream (2020)” (Blairimani.com).

(Picture from Blair Imani’s Instagram).

Imani is big about encouraging people to take the time to learn about history saying that history “doesn’t have to be boring. It’s actually very exciting, if you approach it the right way” (Jackson). I admire this about Imani but I also think her ability to challenge her followers and recognize her own shortcomings is really impressive and something not very common on social media. For example, on a recent post Imani wrote a caption which said:

“I made a mistake this week! I perpetuated colorism by taking up space in the conversation around colorism. I let my ego get ahead of my intentions and I’m sorry. I even had my ego justifying my bad behavior. “It’s my page! Of course I’m centering myself.” WRONG! Not every conversation needs MY voice. Sometimes the work is elevating other more directly impacted and insightful people. I commit to doing better in the future and I have sent my ad revenue from the time of posting until today to the advocate that initially called me out. I have also sent support to @darkest.hue who has an excellent breakdown of why what I did was problematic and how we can all learn from it. Accountability is a blessing! As @toliveunchained says!I’ll also be working to further check myself before I insert myself inappropriately into conversations. Just because I have something to say doesn’t mean I need to be the one that says it.And you know what? I’ve been pressed all week. My soul wasn’t right. I was running away from doing the right thing and one of my mentors set me back on the good path.”

(Picture From Blair Imani’s Website: Blairimani.com)

By recognizing her mistake and taking action to make amends for any damages she caused Imani sets a great example for people who are unsure how to respond to past errors they’ve made in conversations about race. By showing it’s okay to admit when you’re wrong and by responding so kindly to being “called out” Imani also displays the importance of learning and growing. Her colorful and inviting social media presence is welcoming to many people and her bubbly but strong personality is wonderful for communicating the importance of the many topics she discusses. I have learned a lot from her page and have found many resources that, similar to Imani, encourage people to gain more knowledge about race, sexuality, and religion, and history as a whole.

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unixcommerce · 5 years ago

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In The News: Resources for Small Businesses in Troubling Times

The news of COVID-19 is all-encompassing, but the impact it is having on unemployment is unprecedented in recent history.

For small businesses, it is even more distressing which is why it is critically important to find the right resources. This week’s roundup covers the different challenges small businesses are facing caused by the pandemic as well as other topics.

When it comes to resources, there are many public and private organizations offering small businesses help. And the appropriately titled,” COVID-19 Info Small Business Owners Might Not Know They Need” gives you information on everyone from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to the Department of Labor, CDC, IRS, Mayo Clinic and others.

And if you are one of the tens of millions of Americans working from home, make sure to protect yourself from Zoom-bombing. Uninvited guests in meetings and personal conversations are committing truly ugly behavior at a difficult time. This article shows you how to protect you and the guests on your video chat.

Take a look at the rest of this week’s roundup for more on the pandemic and all things small business.

Finance

How High-tech Marketplaces Deliver Relief Funds Faster and Easier. It’s no secret that times are tough for small businesses. Revenues have taken a nosedive, if not flat-lined. Unemployment has skyrocketed as restaurants, salons, gyms and other businesses have had to shut their doors. And possibly most disconcerting of all, is the uncertainty of when it will end. The good news, however, is that help and relief are on the way.

Small Business News

COVID-19 Info Small Business Owners Might Not Know They Need. As a small business owner, you’re probably simultaneously reeling from the effects of the coronavirus on your business and the economy and already strategizing your recovery plan. Here are over 25 resources to help you stay informed and get sound advice to keep your business going. Help from the Government World Health Organization (WHO).

Etsy Connecting Makers with Suppliers for Facemasks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommends wearing of cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. As a result, the Etsy marketplace announced a concerted effort to put sellers on the fast-track to meet demand for fabric, non-medical face masks.

Tax Compliance Costs Generally Higher for Small Businesses. Small businesses pay higher costs when it comes to regulations and compliances compared to their larger counterparts. How much more do they pay? When it comes to taxes, a new infographic from SCORE says tax compliance costs are 67% higher for small businesses than for big businesses.

Technology Trends

How to Protect Your Online Meetings from Zoom Bombing. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently sent a warning about video-teleconferencing (VTC) hijacking, also called Zoom bombing. The FBI said it received reports of conferences being disrupted by threatening language as well as pornographic and/or hate images.

OneDine Makes a Free Offer to Keep Restaurants Going. The impact of the coronavirus on the restaurant industry has been devastating. This has mobilized individuals and companies in and out of the industry to come up with innovative solutions to keep restaurants going. And innovate is what OneDine has done with its platform. OneDine is going to allow restaurants to turn their parking lots into a touch-free order, pay and pick-up venue.

The History of Backup and Computer Storage. Storing just 3.75 megabytes, yes megabytes, took a hard drive that weighed over a ton and was 16 feet tall. Today you can hold terabytes of data in the palm of your hands, which makes them extremely vulnerable to theft or just losing them.

Employment

OK Boomer: Survey Says 39% Plan to Leave their Jobs Soon. More than a third or 39% of baby boomers say they plan to leave their job within the next six months. The number is exactly at a third or 33% for millennials. The data comes from the Olivet 2020 Employee Survey, which looked to find out just how these two demographics feel about each other. And of course, this is in part brought on by the catchphrase ‘OK Boomer.

5 Great Video Recruiting Examples for Getting Top Employees. Are you missing out on one of the easiest, most effective ways to get top employees? Employers are using video recruiting to attract top candidates. Video recruiting introduces your company, and its open position or positions, in a manner more friendly, informative and engaging than any word-filled advertisement. If you’re thinking that making a video is too expensive, think again.

Management

Employee Retention Strategies That Work for Small Businesses. Whether you are the boss of one or many, each employee is important to your small business. Would you rather work on retention, or retraining? According to statistics, more than 3 million people quit their jobs every month, with one-third of those quitting during the first month of employment.

Marketing Tips

Influencers More Engaged Than Ever During Coronavirus Pandemic. If you are thinking about roping in influencers to stay afloat in the coronavirus pandemic, you should go ahead with your plan. Influencers During the Coronavirus Pandemic According to the latest survey from Influence Central, influencers are seeing a surge in social media impressions and engagement across platforms during the coronavirus pandemic.

Research

How Epidemics Spur Innovation. Innovation comes from environments where ideas can connect. So, what kind of environment does an epidemic create when it comes to spurring innovation. This is the very question a new infographic from Top Masters in Public Health Degrees developed by NowSourcing looks to answer.

Startup

61 Persistence Quotes for Entrepreneurs. Persistence is key to succeeding, entrepreneurs often say. Whether you just need a little boost, or feel the weight of the world on your shoulders, persistence quotes can provide the spark to get your mojo back. Everyone experiences setbacks, delays and obstacles. But many famous entrepreneurs point to one thing that made a difference in their careers. They kept going.

10 Tips for Avoiding Small Business Missteps or Recovering from Them. Mistakes are a natural part of running a small business. But if you can avoid the obvious missteps, your business should be better positioned to make it through tough times that are unavoidable. Below, read tips from members of the online small business community for avoiding or managing some common entrepreneurial missteps.

Image: Depositphotos.com

This article, “In The News: Resources for Small Businesses in Troubling Times” was first published on Small Business Trends

https://smallbiztrends.com/

The post In The News: Resources for Small Businesses in Troubling Times appeared first on Unix Commerce.

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businessreviewguidenow · 5 years ago

Text

In The News: Resources for Small Businesses in Troubling Times

The news of COVID-19 is all-encompassing, but the impact it is having on unemployment is unprecedented in recent history.

Take a look at the rest of this week’s roundup for more on the pandemic and all things small business.

Finance

Small Business News

Technology Trends

Employment

Management

Marketing Tips

Research

Startup

Image: Depositphotos.com

This article, “In The News: Resources for Small Businesses in Troubling Times” was first published on Small Business Trends

source https://smallbiztrends.com/2020/04/in-the-news-resources-for-small-businesses-in-troubling-times.html

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squidinkwriting · 6 years ago

Text

Essay writing

Common mistakes

1. Doesn’t keep to title

2. Poor structure

3. Too descriptive

4. Not enough critical writing

5. Not concise

Stages of essay writing

1. Think about title/question

2. Gather & organise info/ideas

3. Get something down

4. Write a first draft

5. Review after feedback/reflection

6. Produce a final draft

title

1. Split into 3 sections

2. Topic

3. Focus point- specific “what about” broad topic, key terms, perspective

4. Instructional verbs- what should you do in essay

What are you being asked to do?

1. Discuss – investigate/examine argument, sift through evidence, give reasons for/against

2. Assess – decide on importance of + give reasons for

3. Evaluate- make an appraisal of worth of something

essay question

What advantages + disadvantages does social media present to modern writer

Topic- social media

Focus Point- modern writer

Instructional verbs- identify advantages + disadvantages

Gathering ideas

Brainstorming- gather ideas, no particular order

Outline plan- rate ideas 3* for key ideas, 2* for important points, 1* for background points

Use your plan to guide your research

Research

Find wall street journal article on pewdiepie

Bbc article on shane dawson jake paul video series

Efficient reading

Make intelligent decisions, based on initial planning, which sources to target

Read with a purpose

Systematic note taking- record important info, with referencing (page numbers, direct quotes)

First draft

focus is on title/question, how you’ve interpreted it

Core ideas

From research identify any points missed + include them

Delete anything that now seems unimportant

Write out central idea + main line of reasoning

Headings

List headings + sub-headings

Devise an order of key points

Ideas

Add content + develop topic idea of each paragraph

For each main topic/argument note main information to include + examples / other supporting details

big picture

Use your plan

Keep referring back to big picture + links you made between your ideas

Make sure you answer question

Drafting

Start with body if you are struggling with intro

Take each main idea + write a paragraph about it

Don’t worry about style/spelling at this stage – let ideas flow

For each paragraph include a topic sentence that makes it clear what that paragraph is about. rest of paragraph will include information + evidence related to that topic

Leave space for editing

Write conclusion, summing up content of body

Go back to question periodically

Write introduction – it is easier to say what your essay sets out to do once you have d1 it

Print off a hard copy – help’s with editing

Put draft aside for a day or so – come back to it with a fresh pair of eyes

Structure

1. Introduction 5%

2. Body 80%

3. Conclusion 15%

Introduction

Tells reader how you will answer question:

comment on title or topic of essay

define or explain any difficult or ambiguous terms in title

direct reader by stating which aspects of topic you intend to cover + why

Body

Each paragraph should contain 1 big idea

Paragraph 1

intro idea

define concepts

give an argument

discuss and give evidence

make a final point

Paragraph 2 + other paragraphs

first sentence links paragraph to previous paragraph then

Each paragraph should have:

A topic sentence

An argument- explanation of your point

Evidence. Most of time, your point should be supported by some form of evidence from your reading, or by an example drawn from subject area.

Discussion. Don't just leave evidence hanging there, analyse it. Comment on any implication/significance/impact.

Concluding sentence. Finish with critical conclusion you have drawn from evidence.

Critical Writing

Being analytical is about breaking things (situations, practices, problems, statements, ideas, theories, arguments) down into their comp1nt parts.

Being critical is about not accepting things at face value, but evaluating them i.e. making reas1d judgements about how valid, effective, important, relevant, useful + worthwhile they are.

Ask lots of questions of everything you read, observe, hear, experience + do to probe beneath surface, looking for reasons, explanations + motives.

Argumentative + evaluative writing styles.

Argumentative Writing

To argue a case/point of view, to influence reader’s thoughts/actions

State your position clearly + concisely.

Use a clear line of reasoning to support your position.

Give reliable, relevant, valid + convincing evidence/examples to support your reasons.

Consider + respond to possible arguments against.

Try not to sit on fence – show there are different arguments but make clear which you find most convincing.

Evaluative Writing

Comparing - finding points of similarity.

Contrasting – finding points of difference.

Evaluating significance of similarities + differences. Do they matter? Do they have important implications for which model should be used? How did you decide what was significant?

Making a judgement - Give reasons for your opinion, based on evidence.

Showing your criteria. Show what criteria you used to arrive at your opinion – e.g. data, research evidence

Get balance right – compare like with like + give equal information + evidence to both.

Using personal experience

Do not use as your main evidence unless you’re specifically asked to do so.

Points to consider when including personal experience:

How typical is your experience? (Any research d1? Any relevant reports or articles?)

How does your experience compare with other people’s?

How relevant is it?

How does it link to theories you have studied?

How does it support or contradict theories + views you have studied?

Can any lessons be drawn from it?

Can any valid generalisations be drawn from it?

Personal writing uses different language:

“I found that” rather than “It was found that”

(More emotional, subjective, intuitive + anecdotal)

Conclusion (15%)

Draw everything together

Summarise main themes

State your general conclusions

Make it clear why those conclusions are important / significant

prove that you have answered whole question

make recommendations if applicable

Do not introduce new material

In last sentence, sum up your argument very briefly, linking it to title

Editing

Structure + content:

Does main body do what introduction says it will do?

Is it clear what each paragraph is about? (Highlight topic sentence, sum up topic in margin)

Is every paragraph relevant to question?

Is everything in paragraph relevant to main “topic”?

Is there enough in each paragraph to support “topic”?

Is anything repeated/superfluous?

Is everything in right place?

Are sentences in each paragraph in right order?

Does every paragraph relate clearly to others? (see useful linking words h+out)

Submit your piece in canvas

You will be assessed according to following:

ability to clearly articulate ideas using technically accurate prose

Attention to detail (spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc)

ability to draw upon at least four examples of secondary reading to support ideas

An awareness of contemporary issues + arguments surrounding social media

ability to present a balanced argument supported by secondary reading that offers a reas1d conclusion

Final Polish

Check again

Check you have conformed to required presentation standards

Give yourself time between finishing essay and submitting online

What advantages + disadvantages does social media present to the modern writer?

Advantages

· Spread word about your work (marketing)

· Provide a creative outlet

· Interact with fans

· Get feedback

· Humanises you

Disadvantages

· Interact with haters- easy for people to judge you

· Self worth is linked to numbers

· you put your personality online as well as your work- hard to separate what you do with who you are, could make you seem unprofessional if you post certain things that companies you want to work with might not want to associate with

· Harassment/non-constructive criticism

· Plagiarism

· Might be harder to rebrand/move into other ventures if you are known for doing one genre/one field of work- everything stays on the internet, can lead to consequences later on

· Highlights reel- might feel pressured to post when behind the scenes you just want time off/you don’t want to interact with anyone that day

· Not getting on with work because you’re distracted by social media

Find wall street journal article on pewdiepie

Bbc article on shane dawson jake paul video series

Books about the publishing industry- also article on Zoella ghostwriting

Articles on the james gunn incident- #cancelled movements

JK Rowling twitter

Brooklyn 99 social media, promoting their content

Blake lively changing her Instagram to fit with her latest movie- follows only people with her character’s name

Social media of a particular author/content creator/blogger- to talk about branding e.g. megan ellaby, mdwap

Twitter trending page

Meaning in the age of social media by Ganaele Langlois

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friedloverexpert-blog · 6 years ago

Text

Tips On How To Better Your Reputation

Sometimes it can seem like you work so hard to build a business only to feel one sting from an unfortunate incident really uproot everything. It's difficult staring business reputation management in the face because the reality of business can sometimes be so cruel. Consider the following facts about what you can do to help you out with reputation management for your business.

To help build your company's reputation, you need to claim your name. The name of your company or your product is essential to brand recognition. There are several websites that allow you to check your product's or company's name to ensure that it is not used by someone else.

If you make a mistake, apologize quickly. Most people realize that everyone is human and mistakes do happen. If you are able to rectify the mistake do so quickly and address it on your website or social media site. If you are unable to rectify the mistake, apologize and go on with your business.

Watch social networks. Most customers will expect companies to answer questions on social media websites. Try to do so quickly. The more responsive you are, the better you'll appear in comparison to the competition.

If you make a public snafu, show the world that you are mature and apologize. Everyone makes mistakes, but it takes a big person to acknowledge that. If people see that you are truly apologetic for the wrongs you have done, it will make it more likely that they will work with you in the future.

To improve your online business reputation, make sure you publish a lot of content. Although it is almost impossible to remove negative content completely from the internet, it's possible to have negative content pushed to search engine result pages that are used less. Therefore, if your company's negative comments get pushed back to the fifth or sixth page of results, then they won't be read as often.

Try looking into reputation management services. These services do cost a bit of money, but they can help you start a reputation, repair a reputation, or maintain a reputation. These are professionals. They can watch online activity for you, and they can help you both avoid and fight a negative reputation.

Check online for false information about your business. Usually, sites owners will get rid of it if you can prove that the information is false.

Keep your current customers happy while recruiting new customers. Many companies use flashy media to reel in new customers and do nothing for their current customers. This can backfire and cause a decrease in your overall profits. Instead, offer returning customers incentives that aren't offered to new customers. This will let your customers know that you appreciate their business.

You should place a complaint form on your site and encourage customers to use them if they are not happy with your products and services. This will give them the idea that it is best to talk things out with you instead of leaving negative feedback all over the Web. Make sure that you try your best to address all of the issues that are presented to you.

Have a plan available to deal with individuals who post numerous poor reviews with the intent of harming your business. It is better to have a plan and never need it than to find yourself the victim of such an attack and be unaware of your rights with no idea on how to manage the situation.

Talk to your friends to make sure that they are not doing anything that can make you look bad. For example, if there are pictures of you drunk and acting silly, make sure that your friend does not post them anywhere online. While it may seem like a joke, it can definitely do a number on you.

Good reputation management is not about saying good things about your own company. It is about your company's positive actions. Consumers judge a company by what it actually does, not by the things it says. When verbal promises are not backed by actions, the customer loses trust in the company and the reputation suffers.

As you finished up this article, you should have been thinking about what you are going to start doing right away to ensure your business continues flowing smoothly. You don't want any bumps in the road making things difficult for you. It's time to learn how to be the best professional and manage your business reputation properly.

0 notes

anseladams03 · 8 years ago

Text

8 Techniques That Helped Me Improve My Writing During Ten Years of Blogging

Epic copywriting is an integral part of driving traffic and making conversions.

Smashing Magazine even states that “it’s not uncommon for proper copywriting to increase search traffic by 50 percent and conversion rates by 30 percent.”

But being a great copywriter requires more than simply being great at writing.

You need to have a fundamental understanding of human psychology to be able to persuade readers to buy your product/service—you need to know what motivates people to purchase.

Plus, there are several other variables that will impact your approach, including your audience, overall aim, and desired customer reaction.

This graphic from ABC Copywriting offers a nice visual breakdown of the specific elements of great copy:

But how can you become a world-class copywriter in a short period of time if you have only minimal experience?

It took me 10 years to improve, figuring out these techniques. By practicing them, you’ll be able to improve a lot faster.

1. Learn from the best

If you’re just starting out, I suggest diving in head first and absorbing as much information as you can about the process.

Unlike other forms of content writing, copywriting is a highly specialized field and requires a unique approach of its own.

I’m a proponent of reading books from some of the brightest minds to get their take on things.

They’ve been there, done that, and can get you to where you need to be.

Some specific authors to check out include David Ogilvy, known as The Father of Advertising, and Bob Bly.

This list of 50 attributes of a great copywriter from Jeff Bullas can be helpful too.

I also recommend checking out this list of 75 resources from Kissmetrics specifically designed for those who want to become great copywriters.

This covers the entire spectrum and is ideal if you’re just getting your feet wet.

2. Get in the habit of practicing your craft

There’s a definite possibility that you’ll suck at your first attempt at copywriting. Don’t take it personally.

But you would be amazed at what can happen with enough continual practice.

Even in as little as a week, you can make tremendous strides.

You’ll learn to be more efficient and will develop hacks for streamlining the process. You’ll also discover what works for YOU.

That’s why I recommend practicing on a daily basis if possible.

3. Study the psychology behind purchasing decisions

As I mentioned earlier, psychology is a key element in copywriting.

In order to persuade someone to buy something, you need to understand their thought process and behavioral patterns.

Copyblogger has an interesting article that highlights seven psychologically-backed copywriting tips.

In it, you’ll read about the concept of mirror neurons—neurons in the brain that “activate when you ‘observe’ something happening, and then transfer some of the feeling on you.”

I think a good example of it is the Allstate’s “Mayhem” ad campaign.

You know, where they say “mayhem is everywhere” and show disastrous scenarios like a tree branch falling on your car?

These commercials are good at making you envision and feel what it would be like if it happened to you. In turn, you’re more inclined to buy their insurance.

The point I’m trying to make is that your copywriting should resonate with readers and make them feel something.

You need to get in their heads and truly understand what makes them tick.

In turn, this should guide your copywriting and help you create more potent copy.

4. Do your research

Effective copywriting isn’t just clever wordplay. A big part of it is great research.

Why is research so important?

For one thing, it makes your content more authoritative.

By including relevant statistics, case studies, and quotes from experts, you back up your argument.

It shows that your copywriting is based on objective facts and not merely an opinion.

Anyone can make a claim, but when that claim is backed up by data, it becomes credible.

It also adds a layer of depth to your content.

When you take the time to research, you’ll inevitably gain a deeper understanding of a topic.

You’re more likely to see the big picture rather than just bits and pieces, and this should be reflected in your writing.

When you put all this together, it’s going to be helpful in building trust with readers.

Trust is obviously important because it’s going to make it easier to persuade your prospects to buy.

Even if you really know your stuff, I still suggest you get in the habit of performing some preliminary research because it’s going to add a new dimension to your copy.

5. Work on your headlines

Quite frankly, it doesn’t matter how great your overall content is if the headline sucks.

In fact, “on the average, five times as many people read the headlines as read the body copy.”

If your headline isn’t captivating, very few readers will make it to your call to action (CTA).

While it may seem easy enough on paper, creating a great headline can be pretty tricky.

But I’ve come up with a formula for streamlining the process to ensure you create attention-grabbing headlines.

In one of my previous articles, I talk about “the four u’s of headline writing:”

Your headline should be unique.

Your headline should be ultra-specific.

Your headline should convey a sense of urgency.

Your headline should be useful.

Here’s an example of a great headline. It’s quick and to the point:

6. Master the art of the opening sentence

Just one rung below headlines on the importance scale is your opening sentence.

Once you’ve caught the reader’s attention with an awesome headline, you want to motivate them to read through the rest of your content until they ultimately reach the CTA.

And this always begins with a well-written opening sentence.

What do I mean by well-written?

It needs to be short, engaging, and able to reel in the reader immediately.

Here’s a perfect example from Chartbeat:

If you look at the opening sentence, it meets all three of the criteria mentioned above.

It simply says, “It’s not enough to just count clicks and page views anymore.”

This is obviously short and to the point. It’s engaging because it gets readers wondering what they should be assessing if clicks and page views aren’t enough. And it also makes them want to read on to find out what solutions Chartbeat offers.

What’s the takeaway?

Work diligently at perfecting your headline and opener.

If you’re able to do this, you’ve already won half the battle, and you’re in a position to capitalize on the maximum percentage of leads.

7. Use the AIDA formula

AIDA is an acronym created by copywriter Gary Halbert.

It stands for:

Here’s a breakdown of how it works…

You start by grabbing the reader’s attention with an awesome headline and opener like we just discussed.

You build interest by touching on their needs, wants, and pain points as well as ways your product/service can solve their problems, improve their lives, etc.

You create a desire to buy your product/service by clearly explaining its benefits.

Finally, you insert your CTA to encourage your readers to take action right away.

I’ve found this simple formula to be incredibly helpful for guiding my copywriting.

While the specific details will vary depending on your audience, industry, and product/service, the AIDA formula always works and will keep you on track.

8. Be meticulous about spelling and grammar

Did you know that “poor grammar on websites scares 59 percent of people away?”

Spelling and grammar mistakes can be the kiss of death for your business because it makes you look unprofessional and diminishes your credibility.

After all, would someone trust and want to buy from a company that doesn’t know the difference between your and you’re?

A study was even done to determine the biggest mistakes a company can make.

According to the findings, the overwhelming number of respondents (42.5 percent) said they were most influenced by spelling and grammatical errors.

As you can clearly see, poor spelling and grammar can be a real deal breaker, and your conversion rate is going to take a big blow.

This is why it’s so important to be incredibly thorough and even borderline obsessive about proofreading your copy before it’s published.

I also recommend using a tool such as Grammarly to help you catch grammar errors.

It’s a free Chrome plugin, and it will greatly reduce your mistakes.

Conclusion

There are countless people who are great writers but lousy copywriters.

Mastering this craft demands a unique approach and a specific skillset.

Fortunately, it’s possible to learn how to become a world-class copywriter in a fairly short period of time if you’re willing to put in the effort.

Even if you’re just starting out, following these tips and techniques should put you on the fast track to quality copywriting, which means two important things.

You can convert more of your leads AND increase your profitability.

What do you think the most important aspect of copywriting is?

from Quick Sprout http://ift.tt/2hYOIJf from Blogger http://ift.tt/2iYVMqX January 06, 2017 at 09:37PM

#Quick Sprout

0 notes

targetedseo1 · 8 years ago

Text

8 Techniques That Helped Me Improve My Writing During Ten Years of Blogging

Epic copywriting is an integral part of driving traffic and making conversions.

Smashing Magazine even states that “it's not uncommon for proper copywriting to increase search traffic by 50 percent and conversion rates by 30 percent.”

But being a great copywriter requires more than simply being great at writing.

You need to have a fundamental understanding of human psychology to be able to persuade readers to buy your product/service-you need to know what motivates people to purchase.

Plus, there are several other variables that will impact your approach, including your audience, overall aim, and desired customer reaction.

This graphic from ABC Copywriting offers a nice visual breakdown of the specific elements of great copy:

But how can you become a world-class copywriter in a short period of time if you have only minimal experience?

It took me 10 years to improve, figuring out these techniques. By practicing them, you'll be able to improve a lot faster.

1. Learn from the best

If you're just starting out, I suggest diving in head first and absorbing as much information as you can about the process.

Unlike other forms of content writing, copywriting is a highly specialized field and requires a unique approach of its own.

I'm a proponent of reading books from some of the brightest minds to get their take on things.

They've been there, done that, and can get you to where you need to be.

Some specific authors to check out include David Ogilvy, known as The Father of Advertising, and Bob Bly.

This list of 50 attributes of a great copywriter from Jeff Bullas can be helpful too.

I also recommend checking out this list of 75 resources from Kissmetrics specifically designed for those who want to become great copywriters.

This covers the entire spectrum and is ideal if you're just getting your feet wet.

2. Get in the habit of practicing your craft

There's a definite possibility that you'll suck at your first attempt at copywriting. Don't take it personally.

But you would be amazed at what can happen with enough continual practice.

Even in as little as a week, you can make tremendous strides.

You'll learn to be more efficient and will develop hacks for streamlining the process. You'll also discover what works for YOU.

That's why I recommend practicing on a daily basis if possible.

3. Study the psychology behind purchasing decisions

As I mentioned earlier, psychology is a key element in copywriting.

In order to persuade someone to buy something, you need to understand their thought process and behavioral patterns.

Copyblogger has an interesting article that highlights seven psychologically-backed copywriting tips.

In it, you'll read about the concept of mirror neurons-neurons in the brain that “activate when you 'observe' something happening, and then transfer some of the feeling on you.”

I think a good example of it is the Allstate's “Mayhem” ad campaign.

You know, where they say “mayhem is everywhere” and show disastrous scenarios like a tree branch falling on your car?

These commercials are good at making you envision and feel what it would be like if it happened to you. In turn, you're more inclined to buy their insurance.

The point I'm trying to make is that your copywriting should resonate with readers and make them feel something.

You need to get in their heads and truly understand what makes them tick.

In turn, this should guide your copywriting and help you create more potent copy.

4. Do your research

Effective copywriting isn't just clever wordplay. A big part of it is great research.

Why is research so important?

For one thing, it makes your content more authoritative.

By including relevant statistics, case studies, and quotes from experts, you back up your argument.

It shows that your copywriting is based on objective facts and not merely an opinion.

Anyone can make a claim, but when that claim is backed up by data, it becomes credible.

It also adds a layer of depth to your content.

When you take the time to research, you'll inevitably gain a deeper understanding of a topic.

You're more likely to see the big picture rather than just bits and pieces, and this should be reflected in your writing.

When you put all this together, it's going to be helpful in building trust with readers.

Trust is obviously important because it's going to make it easier to persuade your prospects to buy.

Even if you really know your stuff, I still suggest you get in the habit of performing some preliminary research because it's going to add a new dimension to your copy.

5. Work on your headlines

Quite frankly, it doesn't matter how great your overall content is if the headline sucks.

In fact, “on the average, five times as many people read the headlines as read the body copy.”

If your headline isn't captivating, very few readers will make it to your call to action (CTA).

While it may seem easy enough on paper, creating a great headline can be pretty tricky.

But I've come up with a formula for streamlining the process to ensure you create attention-grabbing headlines.

In one of my previous articles, I talk about “the four u's of headline writing:”

Your headline should be unique.

Your headline should be ultra-specific.

Your headline should convey a sense of urgency.

Your headline should be useful.

Here's an example of a great headline. It's quick and to the point:

6. Master the art of the opening sentence

Just one rung below headlines on the importance scale is your opening sentence.

Once you've caught the reader's attention with an awesome headline, you want to motivate them to read through the rest of your content until they ultimately reach the CTA.

And this always begins with a well-written opening sentence.

What do I mean by well-written?

It needs to be short, engaging, and able to reel in the reader immediately.

Here's a perfect example from Chartbeat:

If you look at the opening sentence, it meets all three of the criteria mentioned above.

It simply says, “It's not enough to just count clicks and page views anymore.”

This is obviously short and to the point. It's engaging because it gets readers wondering what they should be assessing if clicks and page views aren't enough. And it also makes them want to read on to find out what solutions Chartbeat offers.

What's the takeaway?

Work diligently at perfecting your headline and opener.

If you're able to do this, you've already won half the battle, and you're in a position to capitalize on the maximum percentage of leads.

7. Use the AIDA formula

AIDA is an acronym created by copywriter Gary Halbert.

It stands for:

Here's a breakdown of how it works…

You start by grabbing the reader's attention with an awesome headline and opener like we just discussed.

You build interest by touching on their needs, wants, and pain points as well as ways your product/service can solve their problems, improve their lives, etc.

You create a desire to buy your product/service by clearly explaining its benefits.

Finally, you insert your CTA to encourage your readers to take action right away.

I've found this simple formula to be incredibly helpful for guiding my copywriting.

While the specific details will vary depending on your audience, industry, and product/service, the AIDA formula always works and will keep you on track.

8. Be meticulous about spelling and grammar

Did you know that “poor grammar on websites scares 59 percent of people away?”

Spelling and grammar mistakes can be the kiss of death for your business because it makes you look unprofessional and diminishes your credibility.

After all, would someone trust and want to buy from a company that doesn't know the difference between your and you're?

A study was even done to determine the biggest mistakes a company can make.

According to the findings, the overwhelming number of respondents (42.5 percent) said they were most influenced by spelling and grammatical errors.

As you can clearly see, poor spelling and grammar can be a real deal breaker, and your conversion rate is going to take a big blow.

This is why it's so important to be incredibly thorough and even borderline obsessive about proofreading your copy before it's published.

I also recommend using a tool such as Grammarly to help you catch grammar errors.

It's a free Chrome plugin, and it will greatly reduce your mistakes.

Conclusion

There are countless people who are great writers but lousy copywriters.

Mastering this craft demands a unique approach and a specific skillset.

Fortunately, it's possible to learn how to become a world-class copywriter in a fairly short period of time if you're willing to put in the effort.

Even if you're just starting out, following these tips and techniques should put you on the fast track to quality copywriting, which means two important things.

You can convert more of your leads AND increase your profitability.

What do you think the most important aspect of copywriting is?

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unixcommerce · 5 years ago

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In The News: Resources for Small Businesses in Troubling Times

The news of COVID-19 is all-encompassing, but the impact it is having on unemployment is unprecedented in recent history.

Take a look at the rest of this week’s roundup for more on the pandemic and all things small business.

Finance

Small Business News

Technology Trends

Employment

Management

Marketing Tips

Research

Startup

Image: Depositphotos.com

This article, “In The News: Resources for Small Businesses in Troubling Times” was first published on Small Business Trends

https://smallbiztrends.com/

The post In The News: Resources for Small Businesses in Troubling Times appeared first on Unix Commerce.

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