[Copyblogger] New and Improved Prizes for the Twitter Writing Contest

New and Improved Prizes for the Twitter Writing Contest New and Improved Prizes for the Twitter Writing Contest The response to the Twitter writing contest has been phenomenal. It's looks like we've got well over 300 story submissions at exactly140 characters with just about 24 hours to go. Beyond the submissions, we've also gotten a great response from people offering additional prizes. In fact, the top prize is actually much better than originally offered. Here's how things break down for the three craftiest 140-character stories. 1st Prize Upgraded to an 8 GB iPod Touch thanks to the generosity of Start Cooking; plus… $100 iTunes gift certificate to get you rolling courtesy of John Cow (also check out his Cowpetition for a chance to win $3,000 in other prizes); plus… Three months access to Aaron Wall's SEO Training Program; plus… Full access pass to BlogWorld 2008. 2nd Prize 4 GB iPod Nano courtesy of the Ajax Whois domain name service; plus… $50 Amazon gift card courtesy of Planet Chiropractic; plus… One full year of Business Plan web hosting, one domain name, and one WordPress installation courtesy of eVentureBiz; plus… Better Business Blogging: The Simple 4 Step System to Attract, Sell and Profit through Smart Blogging (includes ebook, audio, transcripts and critiques of 6 business blogs). 3rd Prize Online Reputation Management ebook from Glen Allsopp; plus… A 1-hour phone consultation with Confidential Hollywood Script Consultant Blair Richwood (Pretty Woman, Beaches, What About Bob?, etc.) on any part of film/TV writing you might be interested in; plus… Landing Page Optimization ebook from Invesp Consulting; plus… Four life coaching sessions from Professional Life Coach Tim Brownson; plus… One month of First Blog Media’s professional podcasting service; plus… A 6-session course from Link to Your Education entitled “Overview of Online Business Networking;” plus… 50 individual custom postcards from PostcardPerfect. 24 Hours Left… There's still time to get your submission in. Everything you need to know to play is here. Judges for the contest are Darren Rowse, Chris Garrett and yours truly. I wouldn't mind a couple of female judges, so contact me fast if you're interested (and not trying to win). Questions? Drop 'em in the comments. • Email to a friend • Related • View comments • Track comments • •

---

Click here to safely unsubscribe now from "Copyblogger" or change subscription settings

---

---

Your requested content delivery powered by FeedBlitz, LLC, 9 Thoreau Way, Sudbury, MA 01776, USA. +1.978.776.9498

 

Notification

Dear Desarae,

Thank you for being a Marketing y Medios customer. Nielsen Business Media, Marketing y Medios's publisher, is committed to keeping its customers informed via email about products and services from third party advertisers that might be of interest to them. Each email will be preceded by the name of the company offering the product or service, so that you know the source and purpose of the message before opening it.

If you do not wish to receive these informative emails, please register your preference by following this link http://NielsenBusinessMedia.vn10.net/o/?ZXD=21.76542104.12497407

To read our privacy policy, please follow this link http://www.nielsenbusinessmedia.com/privacy-policy.html

Thank you,

Nielsen Business Media
770 Broadway
New York, NY 10003-9595

[Copyblogger] How to Lose 30 Pounds of Word Flab Overnight

How to Lose 30 Pounds of Word Flab Overnight How to Lose 30 Pounds of Word Flab Overnight I don’t necessarily recommend short copy. The best copywriters know that long copy sells. You need to give yourself enough room to actually make a convincing argument–the elevator pitch is all good and well, but the only thing it can ever do is to spark enough curiosity to continue the conversation. But I always recommend lean copy. And it’s twice as important online. Whipping copy into shape is an important skill for any writer, because all of us start with flabby first drafts. Fortunately, toning up your writing is a lot easier than curls, crunches and hover squats. I recently submitted a chapter to the group writing project, the Age of Conversation. My chapter will teach readers how to craft a persuasive message (in the traditional PR and marketing sense) using social media. The chapter needed to introduce my idea, hook the reader, explain the meat of my proposal, and convince the reader to take the action I wanted. Oh, and this was given 400 words–less space than I usually spend on a blog post about a toddler easter egg hunt. I love this sort of exercise, because it always pushes us to find the best in our work. Here are the most important skills I relied on to get my pudgy little chapter into peak condition. Look for junk words The downside to the conversational “write like you talk” blog style is that it introduces a lot of unnecessary words. Pruning needless words is some of the most basic writing advice around, but it’s still overlooked. To get started, just delete the word very. While you’re at it, get rid of cowardly qualifiers like “it seems” or “just might be” or “could be considered.” Wimpiness is for first drafts. If it helps you to visualize Hans and Franz at this point, feel free. Next, strip out as many adjectives and adverbs as you can. You don’t have to take them all out, but these modifiers are more powerful when they’re used sparingly. Whenever you can, make adjectives unnecessary by using a more specific noun or verb. Experiment to see how much you can cut and still keep your meaning. Before: The gleaming red motorcycle’s engine roared loudly as the bike raced down the street and turned the corner amazingly quickly. After: The Ducati snarled around the corner. Eliminate redundancy Once you’ve cleared away meaningless words, wimpy qualifiers and excess adjectives and adverbs, look for redundant expressions like “winter months” or “four-year-old child.” Beyond redundant expressions, look for redundant ideas. As I’m reviewing my own work, I always find whole sentences–and often whole paragraphs or subsections–that can go. Do all your testimonials address the same reader objection? Are you using three examples that make the same point? Find your strongest example, make it even stronger with concrete detail, then let it stand alone. Remember, Web readers skim. If you give them four examples, you have only yourself to blame if they read the weakest one. Do the work for your reader. Cut everything but your strongest story, then make it even stronger. The art of the spin-off Very often, copy outgrows its container because you’re working with too many ideas. For example, my Copyblogger post last week on using specific details was a little overstuffed–so I clipped out some musings on numbers and developed them into a post for my own blog. Whether you’re putting together a Web site, an email autoresponder or a blog, each message should carry one muscular idea. Pull any tangents out of your first draft and save them for another piece. Not only will your writing be leaner and more compelling, but you’ll always have a start on tomorrow’s post. What not to cut No matter how lean your writing, do anything you can to keep specific examples, vivid details and powerful stories. (Ideally, all three of these will come together in one sleek, sculpted paragraph of steel.) A narrowly focused idea with a great story to illustrate it will crush a wide-reaching article that lacks the punch of a strong example. There you have it: three simple techniques that will pummel your girlie-man copy into the best shape of its life. And you’ll hardly have to break a sweat. About the Author: Get more online marketing advice from Sonia Simone by subscribing to her blog today. • Email to a friend • Related • View comments • Track comments • •

---

Click here to safely unsubscribe now from "Copyblogger" or change subscription settings

---

---

Your requested content delivery powered by FeedBlitz, LLC, 9 Thoreau Way, Sudbury, MA 01776, USA. +1.978.776.9498

 

MyM Weekly Update

The Weekly Marketing y Medios Report is online.		May 21, 2008
Mun2 Mounts Branding Campaign May 21, 2008 - The youth entertainment network has launched a multiplatform effort via TV, radio, online and other media to showcase its widening distribution and burgeoning bicultural audience. Telemundo Promotes Barnet to New Post as VP, National Sales May 20, 2008 - He will work with the business development team to drive revenues, create group deals and improve sales service to the network affiliates. WXTV Bests Local N.Y. News May 19, 2008 - The 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts won the time period last week (May 12-16) among viewers, 18 to 49, the first time in nearly a year that the station has outpaced competitors in English and Spanish. AHAA Names Council to Review PPM Rollout May 19, 2008 - The panel of industry leaders has been formed to ensure the measurement system has a Hispanic sample that reflects the population, listening behavior. Univision Unveils Video on Demand May 19, 2008 - Some 1,000 hours of programming, including the 2010 FIFA Word Cup and other pro sports, news, movies and entertainment will be available in January. Yahoo! Telemundo Debuts 'Search' May 19, 2008 - The Web portal has launched Search Assist, an advanced assistance tool that will make it easier for users to conduct site searches, integrate video/photos. Entravision Completes Outdoor Sale May 19, 2008 - The Hispanic media company said today that the $100 million cash sale of its outdoor advertising operations to Lamar Advertising Co. has been finalized, effective May 16. Clios Honors Marcello Serpa for Lifetime Achievement May 16, 2008 - As creative director and co-CEO, the ad exec helped build AlmapBBDO into a powerhouse shop, winning Agency of the Year at Cannes in 2000 and 45 Clios. ESPN Deportes Unveils Multiplatform Offerings May 15, 2008 - The sports cable network delivered a knock-out event, showcasing its programming lineup via a live onsite broadcast of "Miercoles de Combate" ("Wednesday Night Boxing"). 'Ugly Betty' Moving to N.Y. May 15, 2008 - ABC's plan to move the hit series to the East Coast from Los Angeles shows the ugly side of California's production incentive mess. Univision Flexes Power of Hispanic Market; Reveals Branded Entertainment Deals May 15, 2008 - Network execs showcased Latino consumers' ever-growing economic clout and cultural influence, touting TV programming partnerships with Tecate, Target, Bud Light and others. 'Marie Claire' Sews Up Deal With Nina Garcia May 15, 2008 - The Project Runway judge will jump from Hachette Filipacchi Media's Elle, where she had the same fashion director title. TaylorMade Touts Garcia Victory May 15, 2008 - Following staff pro Sergio Garcia's playoff triumph in the PGA Tour's The Players championship, the golf equipment maker has rushed out a series of print ads to play up the victory. V-me Makes Competive Push May 15, 2008 - The upstart network delivers its first upfront pitch, boasting a wide programming lineup as "the new Hispanic option" to watch. GolTV Kicks Up Soccer Programming May 15, 2008 - The bilingual sports channel presented marketers with an enhanced lineup of programming, strong audience numbers and multiplatform opportunities. MTV Tr3s Talks to Marketers With Ratings Data; Youth Insights May 14, 2008 - The bilingual network introduces marketers, media buyers to the power and influence of young Hispanics, guaranteeing program ratings and offering consumer insights for connecting culturally with the 12 to 34 demo. FSE Touts NFL Show, Data, Multimedia Platform at Upfront May 13, 2008 - The sports network makes a push for its programming initiatives, marketing opportunities armed with consumer engagement metrics as it revamps its sales force to meet clients' needs. SBS' 'La Bronca' Signs on in L.A. May 13, 2008 - Radio jock Silvia Del Valle's show has moved to KLAZ 97.9 FM "La Raza." Her show debuted Monday in the 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. time period with a simulcast to "La Raza" stations in San Francisco and Miami. Telemundo Unveils Diverse Programming Lineup May 12, 2008 - The Hispanic network announces a slate of programs created via a "concept integration" strategy to connect marketers with consumers. FOR THESE NOTICIAS AND MORE CLICK HERE AT THE ROUNDTABLE Adweek Media, the Nielsen group that houses Adweek, Brandweek, Mediaweek and Marketing y Medios, invites you to join At The Roundtable, a new online community designed for professionals in the marketing, media and agency industries. Just click HERE to get started. At The Roundtable lets users build profiles, connect with others, look for new jobs and recruit new hires. Registration is free.
GET MORE HEADLINES @ MARKETINGYMEDIOS.COM
SUBSCRIBE | ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES | EMAIL ALERTS & NEWSLETTERS | CONTACT US You are currently subscribed to the Marketing y Medios newsletter as . To unsubscribe, click here. © Copyright Nielsen Business Media, 770 Broadway New York, NY 10003, 2008 - All Rights Reserved. Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy