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Effective communication Language and ideas Leadership Uncategorized

How writing well translates in 2021

The way we communicate with one another has changed fundamentally since early 2020. Meetings that once occupied fluorescent-lit conference rooms now occur via Zoom. Collaboration and decision-making take place electronically. We depend more on email, chat, and even old-fashioned mail and phone calls. The emergence of new social platforms might lead us to believe that…

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Corporate storytelling

What’s your business narrative?

We believe in the power of the business narrative. If you tell a compelling story, chances are you’ll pique people’s curiosity and eventually win their trust. That’s why so many brands and businesses rely on stories to grow their audiences, build loyalty, and, yes, sell something. But how do you craft a narrative for your…

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content marketing

Where thought leadership and content marketing intersect

Thought leadership and content marketing are both marketing niches. Thought leadership refers to the contribution of new and innovative ideas to a public and/or industry dialogue. Content marketing is the strategic framework for creating and distributing content. The former is conceptual; the latter is extremely tactical. Because of this distinction, the two niches should not…

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Content creation

7 must-read books for content strategists

As content strategists, we breathe, eat, and sleep content. It’s hard to escape our vocation as content creators and analysts when the world is saturated with content. However, sometimes we need to step outside the ring and look critically at the art and science of content strategy, gathering inspiration from a variety of sources (and…

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Effective communication Language and ideas

Is writing a lost skill, or brands’ salvation?

It’s time for a confession. We hate writing. Too often, it’s slow, arduous, and painful. The pain is compounded by the pressure that comes with knowing someone else might see – and judge – what we’ve written. This confession may come as a surprise. At Consummate Prose Consulting, we’ve been writing (and editing) for decades.…

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Content strategy

How a content strategy helps build your brand and your bottom line

Most entrepreneurs and marketers understand what they need to do to increase their brand’s visibility. However, the why and how often get lost in the mix. An effective content strategy can help. Some commentators suggest that volume and frequency are the most important elements of successful content marketing. They overlook a number of crucial factors,…

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Content creation Language and ideas

7 strategies for defeating writer’s block

Writer’s block is real, and everyone has an opinion about it. Maybe that’s because even respected veteran writers battle it – to say nothing of the junior copywriter facing a deadline and a pissed-off manager. Potential solutions abound. But many of them boil down to personal accountability and initiative, and writer’s block strikes equally among…

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Brand growth Content creation

Are blogs dead? 5 things to think about

Are blogs dead? The short answer is “no.” Like Paul McCartney in 1969, blogs are very much alive, and they have a long and fruitful life ahead of them. However, skeptics love to question the value of various digital platforms in turn, which has the added benefit of keeping us all on our toes. Blogs…

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Language and ideas Staff development

Why writing workshops matter

“Clarity in business writing is not a luxury.” –Richard Branson Writing is an indispensable skill, but it’s one we all do battle with. It’s the bane of every college student’s existence — even those who have an aptitude for it. That dread doesn’t expire when they have degrees in hand. This anti-writing mindset has inevitably…

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Content creation

Creating great content in the 21st century

The nuts and bolts of producing great content—brainstorming, writing, editing, proofreading, and formatting, to say nothing of review and approval—rarely get the attention they deserve. Arguably, these steps are too far in the weeds for many who would rather focus on big ideas and finished products. Why is this the case? For starters, corporate culture…