Tips for Writing Web Content with a Human Voice
January 20th, 2012
I read something the other day that went like this: “Being human is the new black.” I think it’s true. With all of the social experience we’re sharing online these days, communicating in a human way is almost the expectation.
This human-like approach made me think of Siri, the human-like voice that came with my new iPhone. Siri tries to answer whatever question I might have. Before she responds, she considers my voice query with a thoughtful phrase, such as “Let me check on that” or “Let me think about that”–something to give me confidence. If she can’t dig up an answer, Siri admits it by saying, “I can’t answer that,” and then dumps me into my browser so I can do my own searching. Technically, I know she’s relying on a huge database to help me out, but her friendly tone doesn’t give that away, and I appreciate the effort.
A Greater Attention to Dogs
January 13th, 2012
I live in Seattle, where there are twice as many dogs as kids. I don’t have kids, and I do have a well-loved dog, so this is good to hear–I’m not alone. As I look around, it makes sense that dogs are more popular than ever. Dog owners are devoted to their pets. Dogs demand love—they won’t let us ignore them.
Because we love them so much, dogs are good for business. While our economy has sagged, we are spending as much or more on our dogs. They have become a $50 billion business and an entrepreneur’s best friend. Popular products and services are promoted and sold by featuring dogs, some appearing in TV ads and some between the covers of dog magazines.
The pet market is consistently ranked in the top ten for business opportunities, and as more and more dog owners become “dog people,” things will only get better business-wise. According to the American Pet Products Association, dogs are found in 46.3 million homes across America. (By contrast, cats are in 38 million, freshwater fish in 11 million, birds in 5 million and saltwater fish are last, in just 700,000 homes.)
Pooches Provide Plots to TV Ads
December 27th, 2011
Have you noticed that dogs are appearing in more TV ads these days? They have become the stars of advertising campaigns. Their affable nature is selling all sorts of things—things related to dogs, such as dog food, but also things that have nothing to do with dogs, such as beer, cars, and insurance.
Dogs provide the right kind of personality for television commercials. They have a look that draws people in. For many people, simply seeing images of friendly dogs evokes warm feelings and in turn makes the advertisement more memorable. At a time when consumers are looking for a special connection with companies and brands, most people find dogs endearing and just plain irresistible.
Dogs featured in commercials can lend a storyline to sell the products. Viewers are more likely to watch the commercial from beginning to end, just to see how the story turns out.
Cloud Computing: A Feature or a Frustration?
December 11th, 2011
My recent interest in cloud computing has generated pages and pages of notes. As I spent days researching it, I looked for good examples of what the cloud does and will mean to me.
Cloud computing has actually been around in some shape or form since about 2006 (or longer), but it is now at the point where it has become part of our common vocabulary. I see advertisements for cloud companies all over the web.
When I got my new iPhone, I found the iCloud option right out of the box. The iCloud stores my music, photos, documents, and more, and wirelessly pushes them to all my devices. Rather than storing this information on local servers and on specific devices, it is stored in a way that I can access it from anywhere.
My Company, Working Words
December 7th, 2011
I just created the website for my new company, Working Words. The domain name is myworkingwords.com. The tagline for the company is Words that work for you. Working Words offers compelling content for websites and blogs, readable technical documentation, and resumes for all professions.
Here are some highlights of my site:
Welcome – You have a website that needs some compelling content, or you have a new product and need documentation to go along with it, or maybe you need a resume for an upcoming interview. If you hire me for any of these projects, I will make sure the text is tight and just right.
Pet Site Writer
October 6th, 2011
This article by me was published on the site Best Pet Jobs. Hopefully, it inspired others to take on the job of being a writer for pet-related sites.
I am and have been a writer and an editor for a number of websites and blogs. It’s not a great way to pull in continuous income, but the rewards are endless.
For example, as Chief Editor for Dogspired, I come into contact with all sorts of authors who have all sorts of stories to tell about their dogs. I edit them, apply social media strategies, and also write some of my own articles. Along with personal stories, I publish current news articles about dog rescue and adoption, and those that take a hard look at animal welfare. Mix that in with product and book reviews, tips for dog owners (such as how to deal with separation anxiety or how to give your dog a bath), fun doggy photos and dog events, and I’ve got almost a fulltime job trying to get it all published.