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The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.
~Mark Twain-
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Author Archives: joebardin
An open challenge to web developers: deal with the content conundrum
There is much that makes sense in online marketing. Brand strategy makes sense. User experience considerations make sense. SEO sensibility makes sense. Social media even makes sense, when done right. One thing that does NOT make sense is designing and … Continue reading
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Tagged brand strategy, content writing, online marketing, SEO, social media, writing
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The advent of the non-writer writer
In this era of blogging, every one is a writer. Which is another way of saying there are a lot of frustrated people out there. Not to mention, some pretty shabby content. Because if you don’t have strong skills and … Continue reading
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Tagged blogging, entrepreneur, marketing writing, social media, writer, writing
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Branding innovation: the toaster approach
A friend recently sat down to pick my brain about an idea he’s got for a new business. He’s in the fitness sector and he’s got a truly new perspective related to training, strength and injury prevention. He spent about … Continue reading
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Tagged branding, copywriting, marketing, marketing writing, storytelling
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The long shot: taking the time to stand out in word and deed
In writing, briefer is often better, but there’s only so much you can leave out, before, in fact, you’ve left out everything. Like the truth of your life story, for example. Or the guts and glory of a real competitive … Continue reading
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Tagged blog post, book writing, case study, life story, tagline, twit, writing
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The inaccurate insult: how politics makes for idiotic word choices
During a break between observing focus groups for an unrelated project, with nothing but M&Ms for sustenance, I started researching an essay I was writing about former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano. The client happened to walk up, and, bored as … Continue reading
Sex and sleep: what’s the difference?
If an observer from another reality suddenly started reading American English, they could easily conclude that our culture holds the act of slumbering with others – thy neighbor’s wife, the enemy—as highly taboo. Indeed they would be led to believe, … Continue reading
Two stories within one: ghost writing that reveals both sides
Good book writing reveals that a story is never just about one thing. Ted Turner’s autobiography Call Me Ted tells a lot about Turner’s expansive business career. But the writing is personal enough to also convey the restlessness born out … Continue reading
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Tagged book writing, ghostwriting, marketing, marketing writing, storytelling, writing
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Owning the edge: signaling difference when claims all sound the same
I heard London Calling by the Clash playing on the Muzak in the frozen food aisle of Trader Joe’s recently. I quite enjoyed hearing it, but had to chuckle: If the Clash is playing on Muzak, where is the edge these … Continue reading
Writing into seashells
The Online Etymology Dictionary conjectures that the term niche, so relevant in all things marketing today, evolved from nicchio, an Italian term for “seashell”. That’s illuminating, because what is good copywriting or good writing in general if not the endeavor to draw … Continue reading
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Tagged copywriting, marketing writing, niche writing, writing
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Books and boredom in Las Vegas
If art is about invention, why are so many artists inventing themselves into a corner, where they have few options to thrive and particularly to earn? I recently attended the Las Vegas Book Fair, a weirdly sinless event for that … Continue reading
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Tagged author, book fair, book writing, copywriting, ghostwriting, grant writing, Las Vegas book fair, technical writing, writer, writing
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