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Sara Lancaster here. Thanks for visiting the No. 2 Pen blog where I share examples of sharp website content and other online marketing information.Follow No. 2 Pen
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How I Wasted $20 on Fiverr.com: A Review and Monkey Video
What if I were to tell you that for $5 someone would make a video for you? Draw an illustration? Write your message on their beer belly and take a photo? Yes, a giant beer belly.
There is a site where you can have all these things done and more, each for only $5. The site is called Fiverr.com, and it’s one of my favorite websites as of late. It’s an incredible resource if you are looking for something awesome and low quality.
You’re probably wondering why you would ever want something low quality. I’ll tell you why you might… (more…)
Almost Wordless Wednesday: 103 Ways to Create Sharp Blog Content
Download my free book, 103 Ways to Create Sharp Blog Content. No email required!
5 Email Newsletters for Better Web Copy
Over the last four years of being a website content writer I’ve subscribed to dozens of email newsletters from various writers and online marketing gurus. (Blek. I hate the word “guru,” but it fits here. Don’t it?) Only a handful of the 50+ subscriptions have stuck. They stuck because I feel they provide extraordinary value. The information helps me write better web copy.
Improve your web copy conversion rates through testing. The Which Test Won email shows you two pages of web content (usually landing pages) and let’s you vote on which one you think had the highest conversion in a test. Copy is typically different in each of the two options, so it’s a great way to exercise your web copy conversion know-how. (more…)
Web Content Example: Cupcakes and Clarity
When Sara Lancaster emailed me to swap guest blog posts I was super excited. I’d read No. 2 Pen, having come across it through the WordCount Blogathon, and thought the content was fantastic – very practical and easy to understand. So it is with great pleasure I share this website content review. Thanks for the opportunity, Sara!
Today’s website review focuses on Mister Nice Guy Cupcakes from Melbourne, Australia. Let me just say that I have tried the cupcakes and they are delicious, but back to the serious stuff. Three reasons I wanted to use this website as a copywriting example were: (more…)
The ABCs of Web Content Writing
ALWAYS be writing. Practice the skill.
Stop BORING yourself. Write content you would want to read.
CLARITY matters.
When you can’t make a piece of copy jive, DELETE it and start fresh.
Take a look at web content EXAMPLES to see how others write.
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So You Know About Iowa… (Video)
I spent the last week in Iowa with my family. I lived in Iowa for the first 15 years of my life, and even though I’ve spent more time in Colorado, Iowa still feels like the place that I’m from. It’s probably because my parents live there and because very few people can actually claim to be Colorado natives (whatever that means).
A lot of people poo-poo Iowa. They think Iowans are a bunch of hicks. They call Iowa the “fly over state.” While it’s true I don’t choose to live there, I will defend it to the end. That’s why when I saw this video I had to yell out a “hallelujah.” The video sums up my argument for Iowa perfectly. (Warning, there are a few bleeped out swear words.)
Not only do I like this video for personal reasons, I also like it from a marketing perspective. The “Iowa Nice” video is a great example of how you can take a topic you are passionate about and use it to get the word out about your brand.