Writing Tips Archives - Page 2 of 3

5 Ways to Develop your Brand Image with FAQs

September 5, 2019March 28, 2025 Joan Koehne Leave a comment

When creating content for a website, I often recommend that clients create a Frequently Asked Questions page or FAQs blog article. Why are FAQ pages so valuable?

Rich in Keywords

First, FAQ pages are rich in keywords. By asking and answering questions related to your business, you use keywords specific to your industry. These keywords help a website rank higher on Google and other search engine results pages.

Resonate with Your Audience

Second, FAQs let your brand speak for itself. By incorporating your company’s authentic personality and voice, you create messaging that resonates with the audience. Not every question/answer needs to be serious. People love a good laugh. Don’t be afraid to add a couple of fun or offbeat questions and answers, if you think your audience is open to them.

Build Credibility

Third, FAQs show the audience that you’re a knowledgeable authority in your industry. Credibility is important when clients make purchasing decisions.

Differentiate Your Brand

Fourth, FAQs differentiate your brand from your competition. By emphasizing what sets you apart, you describe the value of working with you, not someone else.

Save Time

Fifth, FAQs save you time. Once clients sign a contract, schedule an initial consultation, or register for your services, you can refer them to your FAQs page. Here they’ll learn more about you and what to expect as your client, thus saving you the time answering the same questions over and over.

FAQs in Action

Lastly, let me show you how this works – by creating an FAQ page about FAQs!

Q: How many FAQs to a page?

I suggest that clients pick 6 or 7 questions to answer. What do people really want to know about your business? Include questions that clients are actually asking.

Q: How do I arrange FAQs?

When arranging your questions, group similar topics together. This arrangement creates natural transitions between questions and improves the flow of information. As a result, readers are more likely to engage in the content, which is just what you want because engagement leads to action. You may even want to add subtitles to divide questions and answers into scannable content.

Q: How do I write FAQs?

Questions and answers should be written in language that your clients will understand, so avoid jargon or complex information that leads to more questions. Keep the FAQs simple and straight-forward, with answers written from your client’s perspective. Try to answer questions in a positive way, telling the audience what to do, not what to avoid. When feasible, add images to help explain your words.

Q: How do I format FAQs?

Make them reader-friendly. Don’t make your readers work to find the information they want by scrolling through long paragraphs. Instead, I recommend a jump feature or an accordion design. The questions are visible, and when a user clicks on a question, an answer appears. The FAQs expand and contract like an accordion. Additionally, questions can be formatted in bold or underlined to separate them from the answers.

Q: How do I promote engagement?

Promote engagement by linking the questions and answers to articles or web pages related to your topic. You’ll also want to end the page or post with a Call to Action that encourages visitors to take the next step. Be sure to update the page or post regularly to keep your content fresh and emphasize what’s new at your business.

Q: How can Writer to the Rescue help with FAQs?

By working with Writer to the Rescue, you receive professionally written and formatted FAQs that are ready for publication. FAQs are an important part of a comprehensive marketing strategy. Contact the Wonder Writer at 920-639-1865 to get started.

Bloggers’ Bible: 10 Tips to Get You Rolling

April 5, 2019March 28, 2025 Joan Koehne Leave a comment

First time blogger? Blogging is an effective way to define your niche and interact with others online. Blogging fosters your relationship with your audience and sets you apart as an industry expert. Bloggers who capture the attention of their audience reap the benefits, becoming well-respected sources of products and services.

Here are 10 tips to get you started as a blogger.

Brainstorm ideas. Consider what people want to know. I chose this topic after talking with a business owner at a banquet. He wanted to start blogging and didn’t know how. What questions did you answer today?
Consider your brand image. The content you create and share is a reflection of your company. Make sure your messaging style is consistent with your overall marketing plan.
Write an outline. Consider your key points and put them in order.
Share your expertise. You’d be surprised by how much knowledge you have of your industry.
Keep it interesting. Write in a conversational style that fits your audience. Use transition words (in addition, because, seems like, etc.) so people read it start to finish. Make it a readable length (300-350 words), and use subheadings, lists or bullet points to break up the copy.
Write an introduction and a conclusion. Begin with a sentence that draws people into the blog, and end with a sentence that leaves them satisfied.
Read it aloud, slowly. Look at every word individually and how it fits in a sentence. Remove or rework awkward phrases. Divide lengthy sentences (20 words or more) into shorter sentences.
Use spell check. Save yourself the embarrassment of typos and misspellings. If your blog is peppered with errors, you undermine your authority as an expert.
Create a list of headlines. Incorporate attention-getting phrases, like “How to…, Why you should…, The future of…, 5 ways to…” Take your time and write a winner.
Promote your blog. Share it on Facebook and LinkedIn. Link to it in your company’s eNewsletter. Send it to media outlets as a feature article or letter to the editor.

Every blogger begins somewhere. I hope you use these tips to start blogging.

If you’re still gun shy, contact Writer to the Rescue at 920-639-1865 to discuss how we can work together on blogs, website content, news releases, magazine articles, and more.

How to Write a Wicked Website Page

March 28, 2019March 28, 2025 Joan Koehne Leave a comment

In order to make a sale, the text on your website needs to written with purpose. It needs to punch through the online clutter and deliver a clear message to your audience. When writing a page of website content, I use a multi-step process. First, I contact a business owner to learn about his or her business. Second, I follow up with online research to learn more about the industry. Third, I identify keywords, key phrases, and key concepts. Finally, I begin writing. As you can see, a website page isn’t whipped together willy-nilly. It requires a clear strategy. Here’s my approach to writing a web page.

State your solutions to their pain points

I start by answering the question: “What challenges do your clients face?” I put myself in the shoes of the client and clearly state their pain points. Then I offer a solution that really makes sense Here’s an example from a Writer to the Rescue client: “I’d rather put my head in a blender than write a video script.” Writer to the Rescue is passionate about writing and content marketing. The Wonder Writer will take your vision and ideas and craft a video script that’s camera ready within a week.

Use keywords to improve SEO

I follow up with a product description, instructions for use, and examples of how it makes life better. To improve search engine optimization (SEO), I weave keywords into the website page. I also highlight keywords in subheadings to give the keywords more weight. When someone types in a query, Google or another search engine will index the Internet to find a suitable answer. I want my web page to rank as high as possible, so people are more likely to click-through to my website.

End with a call to action

Each web page ends with a recap of the main point and a call to action. Here’s an example: “Contact Writer to the Rescue today for a quote.” For better conversions, this call to action links to my contact page.

Write web pages with intention

To keep the reader engaged, a web page needs to have a tone that’s understandable and conversational. It should be free of grammatical and spelling errors that undermine your professional reputation.

To improve readability, I intentionally use:

Active voice
Transitions
Readable sentences
Short paragraphs

Increase traffic to website

A well-written website page increases traffic to a website and keeps visitors engaged longer. Bounce rates go down, and conversions go up. For strategically written website content, contact me for a free quote, 920-639-1865.

The Secret to Blogging Success

February 21, 2019March 28, 2025 Joan Koehne Leave a comment

As an experienced professional blogger, I have discovered the secret to blogging success. Commitment. Blogging isn’t a flash-in-the-pan experience. Instead, it’s an ongoing campaign that takes time, energy, and resources. Simply put, a successful blog takes work. That’s why it helps to partner with a professional like W riter to the Rescue. We are your accountability buddy, motivating you to stay on track.

Envisioning the outcome

There are lots of good reasons to blog. For example, blogging is a great way to express your brand’s identity through images and storytelling. Blogs help you separate yourself from the competition by explaining what’s uniquely you. Plus, you can share your company culture. Give readers insight into how and why you do what you do. This helps you attract good employees.

Increasing traffic

If your company is active on social media, it’s smart to amplify the reach of your blog by posting it to Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. You share your original content while building relationships with your social media fans. Fans go from your social media networks to your website. In this way, blogging increases traffic to your website where visitors are converted to customers.

Striking the right chord

You want fans to think: “How interesting.” “What a great read.” Then you’re hitting on the right cylinders. Your blogs are readable and informative. Plus, they demonstrate your authority on a topic of interest. Who doesn’t want to be known as an expert in their field? As a go-to resource when a person needs your product or service? In a blog, you can announce changes to your location or services, promote upcoming events, introduce new products, or celebrate milestones.

Getting noticed online

Surprisingly, blogs aren’t written just for the human eye. They also get the attention of search bots on the web. Blogs add depth to a website, further cementing your company’s authority and digital presence. If optimized properly, blogs can be rich in keywords, links, and images, thereby helping to improve a website’s organic ranking. Bottom line: Blogs help you get found on the internet as an essential part of SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

Trusting a blogging professional

Interested in learning more about blogging? Ready to sign on with the professional blogging services of Writer to the Rescue? Give us a call today, 920-639-1865.

Why Inbound Marketing Fits Today’s Advertising Landscape by Being Attuned to Your Clients

January 4, 2019March 28, 2025 Joan Koehne Leave a comment

At Writer to the Rescue I interact with a lot of savvy entrepreneurs who know how to generate leads and make sales. One of my newest clients mentioned “inbound marketing” when he contacted me about blog writing, e-newsletters, and website content. What exactly is inbound marketing, and how can it help me grow my business?

Inbound marketing is less about transactions and more about relationships.

Gone are the days of selling products by touting their advantages. People today shy away from the overt advertising and hard-sell techniques of outbound marketing. Instead of using direct tactics, you want to blend in. You don’t want to look salesy.

Inbound marketing relies on creating valuable experiences and making positive impressions.

The foundation of inbound marketing is content that provides value to customers, builds relationships, and forms connections. For example, when blogging for a wedding venue, my message needs to answer the questions the bride is asking. A blog about decorating explains who’s responsible for set up and clean up, what decorations come with the venue, when the venue is open for decorating, how many decorations are needed, and other information specific to the wedding. The bride isn’t looking for general tips–she’s probably pinned tons of ideas from Pinterest. She’s looking for a personalized guide to one, specific venue. You want a blog article geared to brides who are detail-oriented and motivated to organize as much as possible before their big day. When choosing a venue, the bride wants to know the venue is attuned to details large and small.

Inbound marketing can be modified to fit your business and target market.

So, now it’s time to consider your own business. What will provide value to the clients you serve? Do you have insider tips to share? Concepts that seem ordinary to you may be something new and interesting to your clients. They visited to your website or read your blog post because they have questions, and they leave with answers. More importantly, they leave with a fuller understanding of how you do business. Create content that addresses their questions, and you build credibility and trust for your company while attracting interested prospects.

Is your website content turning people away?

November 28, 2018March 28, 2025 Joan Koehne Leave a comment

If your website content is too short, too wordy, too repetitive, or lacks critical information, it may appear that you don’t want people’s business. Your text needs to show that you are the one to trust for your product or service. Quality website content can express your values, explain the benefits of working with you, and set a precedent

website content

of high expectations. Having clear, well-conceived content on your website is one indication of how well your business operates. The more readable the content, the more inviting it is for visitors to do business with you.

Website content needs to resonate with readers

When developing written content, consider how to make your message resonate with your readers. You want readers to have a comfortable experience. You want to give them the information they need, and make it easy for them to find. People aren’t going to your website for leisure reading; they’re looking for details about your brand. What are your hours? Your phone number? Your products and services? Most importantly, how do these products and services work for me?

Make a good first impression

Headings and subheadings contribute to a solid first impression. Website content also needs to impress returning visitors. Visitors gain confidence in you as a trusted source of information. They know they will be satisfied they have the information they need when they visit your site.

Foster relationships

You want to encourage visitors to stay connected. Building a relationship with readers improves their overall experience with your company. You want to create a positive experience they’ll remember. A visit to your website should lead to conversions like online orders, phone calls, or in-person consultations. Website content that is sparse (or long-winded), poorly written, or outdated casts a negative light on your business. The better your information, the more inviting it is to readers. Your readers will be confident that they’ll find what they need and the products and services they can rely on as well.

Is it time for fresh content on your website? Contact the Wonder Writer today.

5 Reasons why you should hire a ghostwriter

May 29, 2018September 13, 2019 Joan Koehne Leave a comment

Writer to the Rescue is a ghostwriter for blogs, website content, articles I often hear this comment from clients: “I’m not a writer. Can you help?” That’s when I become their ghostwriter. I take their thoughts and ideas, organize them, and write them down. Ghostwriting is a well-established and well-accepted practice in the age of digital marketing.

Why hire a ghostwriter?

Here are five reasons why you should hire a ghostwriter:

It saves you time. Managing a business requires time and attention, and outsourcing some of the work to a ghostwriter lets you focus on your core business. Businesses have hired marketing professionals for years, and today’s digital marketing material includes website content, blog articles, and social media posts.
You don’t have to be a talented writer. The business owners I write for are great communicators, but they don’t always have confidence in their writing. As a ghostwriter, I am the bridge between ideas and words.
You don’t have to be a techie. Clients rely on Writer to the Rescue to post their blogs, upload their website content, and do other techie work. I work with a “league of superheroes” at Packerland Websites who are digital media professionals helping you get found on the internet.
You have input from start to finish. Before I write for you, we will meet at your business (if possible) and have a long talk. Collaboration helps the content ring true. In my writing, I will try to convey your voice, attitude, and style, so the content is authentically yours. Before posting or distributing, I will send you a draft to review and revise.
No more procrastinating. A key to increasing business revenue is to create a compelling marketing message that addresses your prospects’ needs. Business owners know this, but they don’t always set aside the time for regular follow-through. When you work with a ghostwriter, your blog will get done. Your website content will get done. After years in journalism, I am good at meeting deadlines.

End goal is conversions

The job of a ghostwriter is to engage the audience, convey your brand, and build your authority and expertise in your industry. The end goal is conversions. Contact me to get started as your ghostwriter for articles, press releases, website content, blogs, and marketing materials.

Writing professionals and freelancers at Untitled Town

10 Tips for Freelancers: Writing Is A Lucrative Business

April 25, 2018September 13, 2019 Joan Koehne Leave a comment

At the Untitled Town Book and Author Festival last weekend I gained inspiration from the writing professionals who told their stories of success. Writing can be a lucrative business. Here’s what they recommended:

Have confidence in your writing abilities: Writers have a marketable skill. Everyone can write, but not everyone can write well.
Be inquisitive: Always be looking for good topic ideas to pitch to clients. Pitch ideas based on what you know, who you know, what’s trendy, and what deserves attention. Find something from your background that relates to the topic.
Match styles of writing: Read the blog or publication before you write your articles to get a feel for their content.
Value your time: Charge what you think you’re worth, not what you think the customer expects to pay.
Set your price: Narrow down the scope of the job and estimate the time it’s going to take before you set a price. Offer to revise your content twice before charging an additional fee.
Build your reputation: Pay-per-click ads on Facebook can be effective, but nothing compares to word-of-mouth referrals. When you complete a project, ask your customers to leave a review.
Meet deadlines: Writers who miss deadlines frustrate their clients. Plan ahead, set a schedule, and use your time wisely. Hit your deadlines every time.
Set goals: Have a target in mind to reach, like quarterly sales or the number of projects completed in a month. Goals give you something to work toward.
Develop an effective website: Your website is your storefront, so make sure it represents you well.
Get entrenched in a niche: By specializing, you can have a longstanding and profitable relationship with a client.

Try out some of these ideas to earn some money for your writing.

6 Writing Mistakes You Might Be Making

December 13, 2017September 13, 2019 Joan Koehne Leave a comment

Notebook showing Writing Mistakes Do-it-yourself writing for websites sounds like an easy process, but it’s fraught with pitfalls. Here are some common writing mistakes I see:

Mistake #1: Misspell Names of People and Places

You instantly lose credibility with your audience when you misspell the name of a person, product, company, or city. When readers come across a misspelling or another writing mistake, they wonder what else is inaccurate in your website content.
Tip: Double check the spelling of names with a trusted source. First names can be as tricky as last names, so be sure to check these, also.

Mistake #2: Fail to get a second opinion

Writing and editing go hand-in-hand. A good writer uses a process of writing, proofreading, fact checking, and rewriting, until a final draft is ready. The process doesn’t end there, because no work is finished until someone reads it.
Tip: Before posting a final draft, ask colleagues to read your work and provide feedback. Their fresh perspective can make your content even better.

Mistake #3: Skip a final read-through

Slowly and carefully read through your final draft before uploading it to your website.
Tip: Read it aloud. This helps you find hidden errors. For example, I edited a professional bio that mentioned Northeastern Wisconsin Technical College. Did you notice the error in that sentence? I am a 2017 graduate of NWTC, and I didn’t notice the Northeastern (instead of Northeast) in the bio until I read it aloud.

Mistake #4: Misuse bullet points

Bullet points are great for quick lists. The reader’s eye is drawn to indented words and bold dots, so lists are ideal for engagement. Bulleted items let readers grasp tidbits of information at a glance.
Tip: For optimal comprehension, no more than 7 bullet points allowed. Also, bullet points should be brief: 1-4 words or one sentence each.

Mistake #5: Make grammatical errors

Improve the readability of your website content by using proper grammar. Here’s an example of a grammatical error I came across recently: “We can special order anything your looking for.” The word “your” should be “you’re.”
Tip: Microsoft Word provides a helpful tool; be sure to use the Spelling and Grammar check.

Mistake #6: Not contracting with Writer to the Rescue

Writing is my specialty! As the “Wonder Writer” I deliver a one-two punch: Strong writing skills and compelling marketing strategies. Writer to the Rescue produces professionally written magazine and newspaper articles, website content, ad copy, and more.
Tip: Avoid this common writing mistake. Contact me today at joan@writertotherescue.com or 920-639-1865 to get started on your next writing or marketing project.

Why You Should Ask Clients to Leave a Review

October 11, 2017September 13, 2019 Joan Koehne Leave a comment

What to know a secret?

Satisfaction shows in client review I have discovered something that is super helpful in content marketing. To get to the heart of what makes a business tick, I read the reviews left by their clients. In just a few sentences, I learn what sets them apart from their competition.

My husband and I never book a resort without reading the reviews. People read reviews before purchasing all sorts of products and services. Everyone knows the power of word-of-mouth advertising, and an online review is word-of-mouth on a colossal scale. Reviews carry more credibility that advertisements because the reviewers are not on the payroll.

How is your business positioned?

Your best qualities come out in a review. Pretend you run a lawn care business. There are only so many ways to cut a lawn and apply fertilizer and weed killer. When your clients leave reviews saying you work fast and are affordable, you start to see why people like working with you. Price is important to these clients. When others say you’re reliable and answer their questions, then you know they appreciate your customer service.

In the world of marketing, this is known as positioning. The market perceives your business as a cheaper alternative to other lawn care services and perceives your staff as more approachable and quicker than others.
Sometimes your worst qualities come out in a review and knock you down, but bad reviews can provide valuable, albeit painful, feedback.

How can a review surprise you?

Reviews sometimes tell you what you don’t know about yourself. One of the reviewers said Writer to the Rescue cut through the clutter of the information he provided. I didn’t recognize this as one of my strengths. Now it has become a selling point.

Testimonials are useful because they can identify gaps in your branding. These gaps show up in reviews that leave you thinking: “That’s what they like about me? I really want them to like this instead!”

How can reviews improve your SEO?

When writing website content, I like to read through reviews to become familiar with the jargon of the industry. It is a great way to learn the keywords people use and can be worked into the content. These keywords are important to improving your Google ranking, otherwise known as Search Engine Optimization (SEO). The robots that index the internet pick these key words to add to their database. When someone types these keywords into a search bar, relevant websites rank higher on search results pages.

How should I ask for a review?

The best way to ask for a review is to email customers, thank them for their business, ask for a review, and provide a link to your Google account. It’s as simple as that.

So now you know one of my secrets to content writing. After reading reviews, I know the features that distinguish my clients from the competition and promote these features to their target market. Contact me to find out how to use this secret to your advantage. As the Wonder Writer at Writer to the Rescue, I write website content, blogs, news releases, and a wide range of marketing materials.