Why spend money on advertising in low economic times?

Businesses small and large are being cautious with spending due to the sinking economy and worry of a Depression.  So why should you spend money on advertising?

Because advertising works and people are still spending!

Yes, people are still spending money; they’re just shifting the way they spend it. According to MediaWeek.com, “Though consumers modify their spending behaviors during recessions, actual spending patterns reveal a case of ‘spend different’ rather than ‘spend less.’”

For example, people are brewing their own cup of joe instead of stopping by the local café for a latte. They are buying fuel efficient cars, rather than large SUVs.

When your neighbor’s dishwasher breaks, they will still buy a new one; they’ll just make sure they get the best deal for their money.

So your job is to convince the public that you have what they need for the best price.

How?

With strong advertising! 

Studies by Harvard Business Review, McKinsey, Financial World and McGraw Hill looked into how the marketing/advertising practices of U.S. companies affect their sales during recessions. All four studies concluded that businesses that maintain and grow their marketing during recessions come out ahead. (Click here to read the full article.)

Here are 3 questions to ask yourself about your product or service:

1. What sets your product/service apart from the competition (why is it a better deal?)?
2. What about your product/service does the potential buyer need?
3. Why should they buy now?

Don’t skimp on your advertising budget. Make it a priority.

Email me today to see how I can help you convince the public they need your product/service!

info@premiereditor.com

Benefits of Outsourcing

When most people think of outsourcing, they picture foreign sweatshops and underpaid assembly-line workers.  But outsourcing doesn’t necessarily mean setting up a warehouse or phone center in China or Mumbai.

Put simply, it’s hiring an outside firm or expert to handle work normally done within your company.

This means hiring a graphic designer, who lives 100 miles from your business, to create your logo. Or it can be contracting a copywriter to design and write your company brochures or staff manual.

Outsourcing can be extremely beneficial to companies small and large, especially in today’s rough economy.

Here are 10 benefits of outsourcing:

1. Reduces labor costs by giving you professional work without paying a full-time salary.
2. Saves you from paying employee medical and unemployment.
3. Allows you to find a perfect fit for a specific job.
4. Freelancers are often able to start projects immediately.
5. Freelancers are great at meeting deadlines.
6. Increases efficiency by lowering your structural costs, such as marketing, research and development expenses.
7. Allows you to focus on core areas of your business.
8. Allows smaller companies to “act big” by giving them access to the same expertise and efficiency as large companies.
9. Levels out seasonal or reoccurring fluctuations.
10. Saves you money on man-power and training costs.

Are you ready to reap the benefits of outsourcing?  Email me today to discuss your project needs!

info@premiereditor.com

What is Copywriting?

When people ask me what I do for a living I say, “I’m a copywriter,” and generally get one response:  a blank stare, then a change of subject. Translation: “I don’t know what a copywriter is and don’t want to ask.”

On rare occasions, someone actually asks me to explain.

It got me thinking about the best way to define copywriting, and here’s what I came up with:

A conversational, persuasive type of writing that is printed, spoken, or displayed for advertising, marketing, sales or publicity.

The most frequent types of copy I write are:

1. Web content
2. Brochures
3. Advertorials (an ad that reads like an editorial)
4. Newspaper ads
5. Sales letters
6. Email campaigns
7. Direct mail packages
8. Press releases
9. Articles
10. Media kits

So the next time you need any of the above, you’ll know you need a copywriter. 

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to shoot me an email: info@premiereditor.com.

What good are brochures?

What would happen if you a potential client asked for more information about your product or service and you had nothing to give them?

You could refer them to your website, but then you’re putting the workload on them.

Sadly, it happens quite often.

So, it makes sense to have a tangible document to hand that potential client—a brochure.

I know…with today’s technology it’s easy to think “Well, they’ve looked at my website.  What do I need a brochure for?”   

The answer is simple:  A brochure is like static.

It stays with the person even when they’ve turned off the computer.  True, it may get shoved in a briefcase or drift to the bottom of a pile of paperwork.  But the difference is, it will eventually resurface without someone typing in your URL.  

And the repetition of seeing your brochure will build your brand identity.

Here’s what a great brochure can do for you:

1.    Build Credibility. People expect serious businesses to have printed sales information.

2.    Travel.  It gets handed around so more people see it.

3.    Give vivid, concrete details as though you were showing the product or service itself.

4.    Explain your business, showcase your benefits and persuade action, without wading through an entire website.

5.    Support and reinforce your overall sales and marketing plan.

Don’t rely on your website to do all your sales for you. Add a brochure to your marketing arsenal today!

Need help?  Email me today!  info@premiereditor.com

10 Mistakes to Avoid when Writing your Thesis or Dissertation

A Master’s Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation is the final research paper of your education and provides the opportunity for you to share your knowledge.  Writing your thesis or dissertation can be a daunting task, especially to those who aren’t big on writing papers in the first place.

As an editor, I see many mistakes in theses and dissertations that are easily avoidable. To help you write and strong paper and avoid common errors, I’ve compiled a list of 10 common mistakes students make when writing their final paper.

1.      Not Reading the Guidelines – Guidelines were written for a reason—use them! Each University has a specific set of guidelines by which you should write your thesis or dissertation.  Make sure you check with your university for the appropriate guidelines that you should use.

 

 

2.      Not Planning: Some people swear they can write a good paper without planning it first.  But planning first will help you write a great paper. By planning first your research will be easier, writing in sections will be more manageable, and your paper will be easier to read.

 

 

3.      Wrong Format – The style in which you write your paper (APA, MLA, and Chicago Manual) differs significantly by discipline. Make sure you know which one to use and follow it!

 

 

4.      Not being Critical – Your professor isn’t interested in reading redundant research.  They want to know your thoughts, comparisons, and analyses of previous research and your own.

 

 

5.      Forgetting the Abstract: The abstract is a brief, usually one page, overview of your paper.  It gives your readers an idea of what they can expect to find in your paper.

 

 

6.      Skipping Proofreading – This is a crucial part of the writing process!  The last thing you want to do is irritate your professor with unnecessary spelling errors and typos!

 

 

7.      Word Count – A common mistake is for students to write too much or too little.  Make sure you are within range if the required word count.

 

 

8.      Dedication/Acknowledgements are single-spaced – If you choose to write a dedication or acknowledgement for your thesis/dissertation, make sure it is double-spaced.

 

 

9.      First Page of each Chapter is missing a page number- Every page in the main body of your paper must include a page number.

 

10.  Contents Page doesn’t Match Body page Numbers:  It may seem irrelevant, but imagine how irritating it could be to flip through a paper for five minutes trying to find a certain section because the table of contents was incorrect.  Make sure your page numbers and titles match up.