Author: WritingByCapri

Learning in Today’s Business World

Posted on by WritingByCapri

As Some of You Know

Improving one’s skills is or at least should be, at the top of our business goals.  Not only will these new or improved skills raise our worth in our companies and businesses, but it gives each of us a personal feeling of self-worth rarely achieved in other areas of our lives.  Learning in today’s business world is not as it was…

As some of you know, I completed yet another degree this past January (2019), which was a contributing factor to being quiet here (no posts), as well as on the Facebook/LinkedIn pages for Writing by Capri.  As I pushed through this degree (not my hardest learning-wise, but time-wise, very debilitating!), I not only judged my professors and academic contacts, but also the material I was asked to learn and master.  Have I stepped into the ‘senior snottiness’ of actually thinking I know it all?  Does reaching a certain place in one’s career give us the unconscious right to criticize others in their knowledge and abilities? 

I relayed this thought to one of my colleagues, a person I have worked side by side with for almost ten years.  He is a knowledgable visionary who not only sees today, but where today is leading us, and how we can prepare to take advantage of that knowledge.  He laughed,” Do you honestly think by aging you have developed a sense of superiority?”  “No,” I said,” but what I worry about is that I am judging others whereas I never used to judge anyone.  I either took them for what they were, as well as their abilities and skills, and either found that to be enough or searched elsewhere.  Now, it seems I am consistently finding laziness and claims of achievement where perhaps none is due.  And I feel justified in doing it!”

He looked me straight in the eye and spoke from the place where I admire him most …

“In today’s world, it is easy to become an expert.  The internet has given us millions of them.  Just check Amazon books.  I would say for every ten books you see listed under one of your searches, you will find perhaps one, maybe two, with new information you haven’t heard before.  Most are regurgitating the same ideas and putting their own label on it, calling it ‘new’.  What gives us credence in our search is when we meet these ‘experts’ face to face.  On the fly, do they actually know what they are talking about, or do you see through their facade?  Even when you don’t know the right answer, often you know the wrong one.”

And with these thoughts tucked neatly under my wing, I offer you this: don’t’ get sucked into the ploy of spending money, and worse, your time doing something which doesn’t feel right.  LIfe’s too short.  And so is your business day.  Getting my degree was well worth it, though I didn’t see this until the final capstone semester of my work.  I had a mentor who was incredible at helping me assemble what I had learned (from the online information, not from my professors) and present a new research study which not only fascinated my curiosity and gave me more information to continue further research, but also gave me a satisfaction that I was doing a great job, that I had mastered what I set out to master, and in the end, called the shots when others wouldn’t even hand me the gun.  He also gave me the confidence to step into the new area of knowledge with the tools I needed to succeed.

So, what did I do wrong?  Plenty, as far as being a student.  I didn’t ask questions but expected to have the information handed to me and I was to absorb it.  Today’s teaching has changed, due to the internet, and as learners, we need to embrace our own power.  in acknowledging this however, teachers also need to learn to bridge this process with questions to lead learners down a road of curiosity and give them a desire to learn.  It is more of a team effort now than ever, and everyone will benefit from acquiring the process.  Teachers don’t teach ‘classrooms’, they teach individuals, and you can’t treat the whole if we connect as just one.  And just as we will master this, we will have the opportunity to learn it all over again when the next ‘internet’ comes into our lives.

So, with this regurgitated mind-bend, I ask you this … have you figured out what I received my degree in … ????  

Have a great day… ;p

Capri

 

 

 

 

Solitary Confinement or boredom at work

Posted on by WritingByCapri

Solitary Confinement

or boredom at work …

In high school, teachers called it ‘spring fever’.  Last year, I called it ‘yard work’.  Right this minute, I’m ready to call it ‘quits’ …

Winter took its toll this year.  Even trips to Florida and southern Utah didn’t help me; it was grey there also.  Coupled with the visits were conversations with close friends, which only compounded the greyness when I returned home.  Another grey sky and another cup of coffee.  Just let the sun come out for 10 minutes and I promise I’ll get on those updates, I’ll rewrite the header, and I’ll organize those taxes.  My head knows better than to take these false statements as truth.

I am a victim of SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder.  I can get up easy enough in the morning, but when the sun does rise and you can’t even tell where it is, well, that’s when I begin to look at property in St. Croix and scan the cupboards for chocolate.  And if you haven’t tried these methods when you feel trapped, you have no credence to read this blog during business hours.

My question is simple.  What do you do when you feel like you’ve hit a wall?  When you feel the hours in the day won’t pass fast enough and there isn’t anything which will distract your eyes from the windows?  Try these little distractions –

 

  • Take a Walk – changing your surroundings makes a world of difference, even if it’s just going to the elevator and back a few times.  Okay, more than a few times.  There’s a reason suggested breaktimes are 15 minutes!
  • Check in with an app that has appealing pictures – I go to Pinterest.  No, this isn’t a plug for them, it just seems I find the shots I’m looking for easier than on a search.  You can always go to your Instagram boards too, and revisit items you’ve saved in the past.  Or anywhere else you can find new content to view and ‘escape’. Any option which isn’t something you may tie other emotions with, like your photo album or a past vacation.  That’s not a break, that’s a ‘to do’ list.
  • Put your earphones on and do a 5-minute meditation – I know, this may sound a bit hokey, but trust me, even if you close your eyes and take some deep breaths, you will feel rejuvenated and ready to tackle the rest of the afternoon.  

If you have a routine you go to when you are feeling chained to your desk or routine, please post it below.  We’re always looking for better and improved ways to overcome boredom.  Now, I’m going to go back and read my own remedies and get my train back on its tracks!

Thank you everyone, and don’t forget to post your escapes!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capri Bailey

Freelance Copywriter

 

 

Writing as a Job … Start a Game Plan

Posted on by WritingByCapri

 

 

  • First and foremost, Have Faith in Yourself When you Start a Game Plan
  • Secondly, Do Something. Anything
  • Thirdly, Make a Plan, If You Need To
  • Fourth, Polish and Present

LET ME TELL YOU A THING OR 2

 

   I just finished ghostwriting and editing a 40 chapter book for a client in Savannah, Georgia.  I live in the desert of Salt Lake City, so needless to say, reaching for the ‘feel’ of the South, with its gorgeous sunrises and the dripping Spanish Moss, was a bit of a reach.  And nope, I never traveled to Savannah to write this.  The author said it was spot on, so much so she could smell the buttery grits and crispy  fried chicken.  

  My point being … if you have a dream, but you don’t know how to get there, just jump in.  It’s like riding a bike or swimming after 20 years land-locked.  Your natural instincts take over and you succeed.  And if you don’t?  Well, you know more than you did when you started.

  Start again.

When I began writing professionally, it was for an ad agency.  It was easy, as I wasn’t the only one responsible for the success of the campaign.  I just wrote the words and the profits rolled in.  I wrote from the heart, even in business.  the words were sincere and true.  It worked. 

Years passed.  Along the way, many complimented me on a well-written email or a letter that brought tears to the eyes.  Ever so often, I’d even look back on something I had written and thought ‘hey, that’s pretty good!’

Then came the day when I thought I could write for money.  Alone.  No one to bounce ideas off of, no one to blame if the  piece stunk, and no one to pay the bills if I didn’t nail the article or rank in the top three in SEO.  The words I wrote all of a sudden, carried more weight, and the weight of those words fell heavily on my shoulders.

Did this stop me?  Nope.  I kept it up.  Morning, noon, and night.  Heavy on the morning.  By the time night hits, my computer screen goes fuzzy.  But the point is this …

If it’s your dream

If you have a passion which keeps on haunting you 

If the one thing you imagine saying on your death bed is ‘I wish I’d tried ….’

THEN YOU NEED TO DO IT.  

Like my favorite Yoda quote … “There is no try, only do”

So, go out there and do it.  And let me know what it is you’re doing … I’d love to hear your dreams and accomplishments!

  1. Never think your dream isn’t worth doing – Pay no mind to the Nay-Sayers or the comments of dismay.  And yes, you’ll probably get them.       HINT: Take a look at what they’ve accomplished, then pat yourself on the back for even dreaming!
  2. Take action, even if it means you walk around the block to clear some thoughts up or think about the direction of your next move.  But MOVE!  If it’s a plan on paper, and you don’t do anything, then it’s just scribbles.
  3. After you’ve taken action, weigh what worked, and what didn’t.  This gives you direction and a bit of control.  You’ll see how important the action is, and you’ll plan more of it.  This makes you feel good!
  4. Move forward, keep trying new things until it feels right.  Then, there is nothing stopping you!

 

Ah, Summer Solstice – Time to Consider Social Media for Your Business

Posted on by WritingByCapri

Not a Time to relax

Summer … it brings thoughts of hammocks, Bar-B-Q’s, getting together with friends, and outside adventures.  If you are a business owner, it can also take on a feeling of ease; distributors are updating with new products, people are on vacation putting meetings and progress on hold, and yourself, feeling a bit of the lazy days with excuses to ‘do it tomorrow’ and enjoy a bit of downtime.

With the slowing of outside contenders, however, a bit of anxiety can emerge along with the idleness.  Perhaps it is a good time to review your marketing tactics and update your website with a fresh look and current copy.

A newsletter sent to your established customers will give you a sense of connection. Initializing one in the summer will also put you on a more social and personal level. 

If you haven’t ventured into social media for your business yet, this might be a good time to discuss the advantages and find out exactly what all the ‘talk’ is about.  Is your business selling to younger generations, the famous millennials?  It is a must you establish a presence in social media.

Just a few ideas to get you started:

 

  • Post a blog on your site
  • Create a Facebook page for your business
  • Take some pictures for Instagram
  • Find interests or new ideas on Pinterest
  • Tell about your latest achievement on Twitter
  • Write an article for LinkedIn which excites you

AND create business growth – 25% of all online users connect through their mobile devices only.  Not having this presence will eventually, hand all your business to your competitors.

Because these mobile devices are the way of now and the future, make sure your website functions with accurate speed and information display on the smaller screens.  As everyone moves to more convenient and reliable sources for their information, if yours isn’t loading properly or quickly, they will move on to someone’s site which does! 

Summertime does bring a certain amount of sublime ease to our lives. Give your business a bit of a check-up while you have a few extra minutes on your hands and update the necessities.  Come September when everyone hits the ground running again, you’ll be thankful you are already ahead of the game with your business plan and image.

 

 

 

“It is a must you establish a presence in social media; 25% of all online users connect through their mobile devices only.”

What is Your Time Worth? Freelance Work in Today’s World

Posted on by WritingByCapri

 

Never Sell Yourself Short

 

“By dedicating ourselves to quality, we hope to set our business apart from the status quo.  But at what price?  Can we stay true to our personal self-worth and still get customers? “

       

  Capri Bailey

         Copywriter

Haven’t we all been down this path, rating your self-worth in the marketplace?  We want the customer, we want to offer a fair price market price to that customer.  But we also don’t want to low-ball our rates in order to get the customer. Especially when it comes to our own self-worth,  there is always someone bidding a lower rate. 

So, what is your time worth?

Never sell yourself short – Many industries are wrestling with this push and pull dilemma, as we are all faced with making a profit and doing good by our customers. As a writer, I’ve experienced this more times than I would care to admit. You need the work, the pay won’t even cover the electricity it will cost to turn on your computer, but …

 

The secret lies in showing value to the customer and proving our talents are worth the higher cost.  Or, perhaps even just a decent cost.  I hate to say this though, more companies are betting on the low-ball production cost than risking the high pay for an unknown outcome.  Let’s run with this for just a moment – so we bid the job low because we need the work and also, we want to get our foot in the door for future work.  But what then?  

We get the job, find we are barely making any money on it, but the quality is great, the customer is happy, and we have put ourselves in a great position for the next job.  What is the expectation of the customer?  He will want the same quality job for, yet again, a low-ball price.  Hmmm…

Okay, what started this whole rant is I got burned.  Yup, been in the business writing and designing for great clients who pay your invoices and come back because they love your work.  Went on board without getting a rate up front (there were deadlines and I never miss a deadline) and their site was well-written.  I assumed (don’t even go there!) the money would be comparable.  But, as you guessed, the other writers are doing it for pennies.  How do these people work at $4.50 an hour?

I learned my lesson.  Contract, signed and sealed, before any words are written.  Got it.

K, I realize, I’m just blowing off steam here.  I  am tired of people using others for their own gain, even in business.  By either ‘taking them’ or saying the rate was posted when it was not, a hiring firm shows little integrity, but is probably feeling pretty good when their boss commends them on their production. 

Low pay for high quality or quantity of work is rampant nowadays, and I get it, we all have bills to pay. If you can’t work for breadcrumbs, there is always someone to take your place.  This ruthlessness apparently has no boundaries and it leaves the small businessman and freelance entrepreneur struggling.  But if you can find someone to do the work for pennies, why not?  I get it.  It isn’t right, but I get it.  I’m such a dinosaur … I really like living by the Golden Rule …

Sorry for the rant … but thanks for the listen! 

Please, share your thoughts and comments on this subject.  I need perspective and a bit of reality in the matter.

 

Comments

 

For more great reading on this subject  

http://blog.creativelive.com/how-to-calculate-freelance-hourly-rate-infographic/

 

Tell A Story …

Posted on by WritingByCapri

The Art of the Written word

Writing is an art form.  As you read through amazing works from authors such as A.S. Byatt (Possession), Richard Russo (Empire Falls), or Chris Van Allsburg (Jumanji), it is apparent how important storytelling has been in man’s evolution and community.  How easy is it for us to picture a group of people, huddled around a fire, exchanging tales, both true and fictional?  Pretty easy!

Now, let me ask you this, when I said ‘people, huddled around a fire, exchanging tales’, did you picture cowboys sitting on rocks in the desert telling tales of Billy the Kid?  Or perhaps you pictured cavemen and women, jostling little ones with wide-eyed anticipation, telling of the huge saber-toothed tiger they saw that morning?  Or just maybe, did you picture yourself with a bunch of your friends, babysitting marshmallows during the latest version of an urban legend? 

Each one of us have been participants of storytelling in one way or another, and use it to fall back on when we read, listen, and watch others tell stories of their own.  We paint pictures in our minds of the words spoken.  Everyone’s picture is unique and different.  Our history, experiences, dreams, and desires (or fears!) play part in painting those pictures, and thus, the story comes to life.  The more vivid the words, the more vivid the mind movie.

Which brings me to the most powerful concept in copy writing today, though obviously it’s been a part of our lives since dawn – tell a story.  We see it in everything we do, simply because, it is an effective, enjoyable, and, when it’s done right, compelling way of delivering a message to any audience.  Grab the readers attention with a compelling story, and you’re on your way to writing a great piece of copy.

I’ll leave you with this thought as you move through your upcoming week … if you want to make a point to anyone, be it your neighbor to be wary of his dog barking or your boss to the overload of work you’ve been dealt, think of a story to tell it by.  Compare and conclude.  The message will be solidified in your listeners mind, and perhaps, they just may follow through with a call-to-action!

Good luck, and have a great week!

Capri

PS for more on telling a story and it’s importance when defining an idea, please click on the link below.

 

Tell A Story …

Copywriter

Capri Bailey

“Grab the readers attention with a compelling story, and you’re on your way to writing a great piece of copy.”

 

Words, Words, Words

Posted on by WritingByCapri

It’s about time …

clock

 

Well …

Trying to launch a website?  We have been updating ours, and finally, here it is!  Whew!  Keeping a business going, having no identity on the internet, and spinning new copy for all these pages has kept us all on the bike, pedaling uphill, flying downhill, and sometimes, even wondering if we are on the bike at all!!

Lo and behold, though, here we are.  Please let us know what you think, what information we missed which you are looking for, and perhaps if you have the time, some suggestions for improvement.

Also, if you have something of interest, please contact us for posting articles or thoughts.  This is meant to be a tool for everyone.  We are all learners!!!

We are all busy, which actually, is why Writing By Capri is here, to save you time!  If, however, there are a few moments you could spare to comment, please post us a word or two.  Our love for communication and conversation rules our existence, so chatter away!!!

Thank you for your patience while we have been under construction.  I’m sure you’ll see updates, tweaks, and edits, but all in all, the scaffolding has been removed and the curtain is up!

Sincerely,

Capri

 

 

 

Tips For Better Writing

Posted on by WritingByCapri

Plan Your Content

laptop

If you’re considering a blog  on your site might add to its richness and substance, you’ll want to have a plan beforehand.  Planning your blog will help your subject matter remain consistent over time. It will also help you determine whether or not there’s enough material to maintain a steady stream of posts and vital information.  Blogs which contain redundancy are boring and will only bog down your potential.

One pitfall many new bloggers frequently face is a lack of posting once the magic has worn off. A shortage of recent posts can give your visitors a bad impression of your business. One may think “I wonder if they’re still in business” or “they may want to hire a writer.”

A blog, like any other customer-facing aspect of your business, communicates your brand. If it isn’t maintained and given proper attention, people will notice. Post regularly and keep your content fresh. Give your audience a reason to visit often.  If you think of your blog as a casual conversation you may have on the morning news, you will speak to your audience every time.

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