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Questions and insights
From writing and grammar to publishing and marketing, we're constantly running into questions that need answers ... and we think insightful answers are the best. Send us your own questions via Inquiries and we'll try to provide some insight.
What is 'impact' in writing?
"Impact" refers to the level of reader engagement, emotion or response (such as action) created by the text. Optimizing impact involves decisions about word choice, sentence structure, clarity and brevity. Tone and style can also be a factor, as when they are useful to evoke emotion, reduce emotion or engage a specific audience.
How do keywords work?
Web pages and blog articles incorporate keywords for search engine optimization, or SEO. Effective keyword use improves SEO and drives traffic and visibility to your website. Keywords are signals of what a page or article is about, but they are also based on what a web user is likely to ask. Readers searching for information on Medicare might type "Medicare enrollment" or "Medicare options" in the search bar, so a plan provider might skillfully deploy these terms as keywords in their web content, headers and meta descriptions.
Why are press releases so bad?
Creating a press release to publicize a new product rollout, a major milestone, a civic initiative or other company news seems like a no-brainer. Yet our experience is 75% of them, even those written by agencies and professional press release writers, are ineffective or just plain boring. They often ooze with cliches and buzzwords, but the fundamental mistake is not understanding the target audience, which is news editors. We'll post soon on writing dynamic press releases and how you can use them to garner more earned media and bring more awareness to your brand, but here's a start.
Hasn't AI replaced writers and editors?
Probably just the ones who weren't very good in the first place. Seriously, AI is bringing powerful, high-quality research and writing tools to a variety of communication tasks. ChatGPT is a superb copywriter, but it's still going to need the help of a good editor for the forseeable future: its research is stuck in 2021, it's easily fooled by fake news and fake sources, it has no sense of ethics, and it can't troubleshoot a customer service problem, much less calm down the customer. We think 60 Minutes had it about right: AI can write
1 million short stories before Hemingway can finish one ... but would you really want to miss out on the Hemingway story?
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How do Editorial Dynamics Resource Guides work?
Editorial Dynamics Resource Guides provide original overviews of niche industry sectors and showcase Editorial Dynamics' services in content development, research, copywriting, marketing and publishing. It's a unique, cost-efficient channel for content marketing that allows you to deliver value to readers and showcase your expertise, all in a small, versatile package with unlimited distribution modalities.
Sponsor a guide! Use it with your logo on the cover as a value-added handout, download or fulfillment piece. Or help shape the content, serving as a featured expert or resource.
We have more guides in the works to fit the industries we study and the market needs we see—but we can also do a custom project built around your marketing objectives and content needs. Click on the image below to check out our new Investor Resource Guide.
Can I send you my copy in an email?
Yes, but it's not ideal. We can revise, edit and correct errors in email copy, and then email the revised text back to you, but you won't be able to see the changes we've made. Word docs, PDFs and Google Docs all include functions to record changes and suggestions, but there is no way to "mark up" the body of an email. Of course, we love clients who say, "I trust you completely," but some changes are meaning-sensitive and should be reviewed by the client.
How fast can you turn around my job?
For some editing and proofing jobs, literally in 1 hour. Turnaround time depends on length, scope and difficulty, but we offer 1-day turnaround for many small projects. For projects of more than 20 pages, we negotiate a deadline based on client priorities and the nature of the material. Rush jobs can be arranged for an increased fee.
Will I pay a fixed fee or an hourly rate?
We don't specify our hourly rates here because every client is unique, and we determine rates based on relationship, volume of work and frequency. Every project is also unique, and many are a mix of writing, editing and proofing. Based on those variables, we set an hourly rate or single-project fee for services, and we always provide that estimate before a contract is signed. Large projects (20 pages or more) are more likely to be estimated on a fixed-fee basis.