Are Press Releases Still Relevant as a Marketing Tool?

  There is a growing school of thought that questions the relevance or effectiveness of distributing press releases in 2021. Is it not more effective, not to mention faster, easier, and cheaper, to publish tweets, post on Facebook – or any other social media platform? How about blogging? Or email campaigns?       We would agree that all of these platforms have some validity – and most some drawbacks also, dependent on your target audience and the nature and location of your business. Ideally, press releases will be part of a coordinated marketing strategy that embraces multiple approaches. But are they really relevant today? Yes, absolutely, as long as you are fully aware of what your expectations are, and have something truly newsworthy to share.   So, what are th ...

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Clarity – Word Order Matters

We have said many times that one of the main purposes of grammar is clarity. If your meaning is not clear, then your message is lost. To this end, we look at the placing of one word and how it can change meaning or simply confuse.   Word order matters!   Consider the following – taken from a public health website that exists for booking appointments for COVID vaccines:   We will only be booking second dose appointments  at clinics during these three weeks.   Is that clear to you? It wasn’t for this reader. Did it mean there is only one three-week period when one could book a second vaccine dose appointment (the opportunity would not arise again)? Or, did it mean that – for that three-week period – first dose appointments could not be booked, just ...

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How is your garden growing?

Wait? Isn’t this a site for editing and copywriting services? Why are you talking about gardening?   Ah, well, it’s just that time of year… No, seriously, it’s a metaphor.   In south-west Ontario, if you want to enjoy a beautiful garden for the whole of our – shortish – summer, then May/June,  is prime gardening time. A great deal of effort and hard work is required: digging, adding compost, planting, watering, weeding, etc., during the late spring – the reward is a garden that’s flourishing and that will continue to delight, with comparatively minimal maintenance required, for the rest of the season.     Sound familiar? If you’re starting any new enterprise, a considerable amount of effort is required at the plannin ...

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