A Peek into This Copywriter’s Toolbox
September 16, 2010
In my freelance copywriting business, there are a few tools I use on a daily basis that I’d be lost without. Here are three I love:
- My Timer:
I couldn’t work effectively without my timer sitting faithfully by my laptop. BT (Before Timer), I used to glance at my laptop clock when I started a project but then always forget to look what time I finished. So I would guess at how long I worked on a specific project for that day. Now, I use my timer to track (to the minute) how long I work on each client project. What I like about this model (a Taylor purchased from Target) is that it has a pause button. I pause the timer constantly as I take a moment here or there to grab a snack, check an email, or answer the phone. My timer helps me to not only stick to my daily schedule, but also gives me indisputable evidence of how long it actually takes me to work on a dedicated piece of business. It’s useful for hourly billing, estimating costs and determining deliverable dates for future work. - Dropbox:
Dropbox is an awesome tool a friend told me about that is saving my life. Essentially, it transfers files back and forth between my netbook and laptop and automatically updates the files between the two. So if I spent the day working on my netbook, I’ll get home in the evening and turn on both machines. Dropbox will immediately and automatically sync and transfer the updated files. It’s magical. Without dropbox, I’d have to either email myself documents back and forth or copy them back and forth onto a thumb drive. That’s no fun. The best part about Dropbox – did I mention it’s FREE? - Snagit
Snagit is a tool a friend raved to me about. Now I in turn, rave to others about it. For $50 a year, Snagit is a deal. Snagit allows me to capture, edit and save any screenshot I want, online and offline. I capture snapshots of whole scrolling websites, text snipits, or images. This is useful for me when compiling market research, checking out competitors’ websites, showing specific before and afters to clients, and posting unique images on my blog.
Which tools would you be lost without in your daily business?
How Do You Improve Your Business Writing and Editing Skills?
September 8, 2010
I often get solicited for writing advice by friends and family. Specifically, they want to know how to improve their business writing and editing skills. There are many ways: take a local continuing education course (I took two good classes at Emory h
ere in Atlanta), read books on writing, get a writing mentor or join a critique group. Above all, to get better at writing you actually have to write. It’s like playing tennis. You can only study it so much before you actually have to just do it.
While at the Decatur Book Festival this past weekend, I realized that I was improving my business writing and I didn’t even know it. After two solid days of listening to fiction writers and novelists and taking a few writing workshops, I realized how easily fiction writing translates over to non-fiction. The fact is, all writing should tell a good story. And, you have to know your audience.
That’s one part I love about my job – even when I’m taking time out to enjoy my personal interests (reading), it carries over to my professional side.
I’d love to know – what do you do to improve your business writing?
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