New media: make the transition to digital media

There's a new blog about digital business that recently featured a post on becoming a digital agency. "One of the biggest challeges facing media companies today is how to transition from the 'offline world' to the Digital World. It can be an extremely difficult process, fraught with danger, overdevelopment and underperformance. Unfortunately, most legacy media companies find little success, despite big plans. What follows are five aspects that address the most common mistakes." Check out:
http://www.digitaltonto.com/.

Double readership with a simple tweak

That’s it. You just read the tweak. Write a headline that grabs interest. Offer a benefit, almost too good to be true and pay it off with fast-paced copy. With new media, a visitor decides in milliseconds whether to read your copy or click away. The noise level on the web is astronomical; to get read, you have to hook the reader, and fast. Then deliver or die.

Writing blog comments cause cancer

At least, that belief must be prevalent judging from the paucity (nice word) of comments posted on this site. ENGAGEMENT is part of using new media, and it involves increasing your web presence by posting comments, among other things. Other things like using Twitter, posting on your own blog, and voting on Digg. Using new media involves listening as well as talking, and posting comments is one way you show you're listening. So make your presence known, and practice media interaction: leave a comment.

SEO copywriting (Search Engine Optimization)

SEO involves (among other things) writing using targeted keywords with an ideal keyword density, and links as an indication of quality and relevance. This link takes you to a site that, like so many, teaches a little and tries to sell you more. Learn what you can for free and move on. There's a lot here.
http://www.seotrafficspider.com/seocopywriting.html

Another great tutorial on SEO:
http://www.copyblogger.com/seo-copywriting/

If new media isn't taking you somewhere different, why are you using it?

Because you think you should?
Because the competition is doing it?
Because your boss asked you?
Bad reasons. Words on a page are only that, but new media offers video, audio, photos, hyperlinks, and interactivity. Don't jump off the cliff of print media unless you're willing to spread your wings. Fly a little. It's fun.

Unknown blogger arrested - faces years of editing clinical trials

The Grammar Police snapped the cuffs on me for my last post about breaking the formal rules of usage. As part of a community-service plea bargain, I concede their major points:

1) Know your audience, and use an appropriate voice (persona). If you're writing for investors, keep your sense of humor to yourself and follow strict conventions. An annual report is still an annual report, even if it's online. And "wacky" is rarely appropriate.

2) Adapt your style to the medium. While all are new media, blog writing is less formal and more personal than the company web site, and Twitter is practically shorthand, demanding an open style to achieve economy (144 characters).

3) Write well. You can break rules to express personality, but do so consciously; don't be careless. Our writing will hang on the net for a long time, telling readers about you and your company with words you may never be able to change.

This said, be human in your writing. Authenticity is the currency of new media.

Am I still fired?

Forbidden secrets of writing for new media

That’s a joke, right? Because the essence of new media is that it’s a conversation, and we all do (or should) know how to talk. No jargon, please. And don’t be afraid to start a sentence with a conjunction, or use a sentence fragment. Or two. Break a few rules to write like real people talk. Be interesting, engage the reader, and make your point in clear, direct language.

Then shut up and listen.