The Smarter Writer | Public figure

The Smarter Writer

Phone: +61 3 9010 6034

Add/Update information

Reviews

Tags

• Public figure
• Copywriting service
• Writer

25.01.2022 Must be the week of Go Lives because another of my wee web babes is out in the world. This website for a pre-fab home and building manufacturer was a straight SEO copywriting job via a marketing agency, writing to a wireframe. I love that collaborating with that team because they take my feedback on board and tweak the design where needed to better fit the intent of the content. ... PS I really REALLY want to build a home this way. Looks amazing. https://www.tbsaus.com.au

24.01.2022 I wrote a post last week about the perils of using FAQ pages on a website and how if a client has them, it's usually a signal that their information design is not working as well as it could. But I came up with a few scenarios where I think they're OK. 1. Shipping and returns type of info on an eCommerce store. ... 2. Events or conference type pages where people have a lot of genuine questions about the event. 3. Sales pages - they're great for countering a potential buyer's objections and you want to keep them on the sales page. Can you think of other situations where FAQs might be OK? https://sandralmuller.com/why-faqs-provide-a-poor-user-exp/

23.01.2022 Where and when to use ‘that’ or ‘which’ is a little complicated, so if you’re not sure if you’re using them correctly, you’re not alone. I work with a lot of professional writers and many of them use ‘which’ incorrectly. I see it used incorrectly in the media every day, which doesn’t set a good example for the rest of us. While I don't consider myself a grammar purist, I think this one is important because the terms can't be used interchangeably or it alters the meaning of th...e sentence. I'm not sure I've explained it 100% clearly. Let me know if it makes sense. https://sandralmuller.com/that-vs-which/

23.01.2022 It's always a thrill to see one of my babies go forth into the digital world. https://canberra.com.au The new Canberra site is the ACT Government's portal for students, businesses, workers and residents. It was a massive team effort between True North Content (hi Matt Fenwick) and the lovely folks at the ACT Government. ... The 'Do Business' section, in particular, is my baby What I loved most about this project is that the client invested in the groundwork. We had the budget, time and resources to gather and synthesise the evidence and data. We interviewed business people, migrants and agents, which is how the IA came about. I learnt that connection is a big part of doing business in Canberra and in a way that's different to other Australian capital cities, which filtered through the IA design for the 'Do Business' section. We user-tested and refined the IA to make it even better. By the time we assembled the content team, we knew we were coming from a solid base of evidence that underpinned our direction and writing decisions. We wrote to the friendly new Brand Canberra guidelines (hi Nicole Leedham, Amanda VanElderen and Emma Grey). I'm very proud of our results. It makes me want to relocate there :) https://canberra.com.au

17.01.2022 We're enjoying an unexpected flurry of snow today. Brrr! Not enough to build a snowman but it's a welcome distraction in an otherwise bleak time And to think we thought we gave up snow when we left Korea

15.01.2022 Have you read it? What did you think? I've heard lots of positive reviews. I started it tonight

14.01.2022 I adore young adult fiction. Always have, always will and I'm no longer embarrrased by my 'guilty' pleasure. Do you love it, too? And it's been a week of devouring YA and MG books. I finished reading Charlie and the Chocolate factory to The Monsta and he chose the Perilous Mansion book as his next read. I revisited Forever (what a classic and still so relevant today apart from the lack of mobile phones) and got sucked into One of us is Lying. Now I'm onto The Great Rodden b...y Meg Rosoff who wrote How I Live Now, one of my all-time fave books. It's good. Any recs?

14.01.2022 I love connecting people. It gives me the right kind of fuzzies. Yesterday I connected a former colleague's former colleague [ that wasn't a typo] with someone who had the skillset and expertise they needed. Looks like the project is going ahead. I don't know the person I recommended all that well, but they are an expert and I know others who have said glowing things about them. I recommended them to someone else once before and they were happy. If this person hadn't posi...tioned themselves as an expert in their space and didn't have the testimonials to back them up, I probably would have been scratching my head to think of someone who could help. I think it might be time to reach out for some more testimonials to lend more credibility to my writing and editing skills. How about you? What makes you recommend someone?

14.01.2022 Something's not quite right with my profile if I'm getting these kinds of tender notifications Copywriting, content strategy... satellite dish installation. Same same, right?... Have you experienced a serious mismatch between client expectations and what you actually can and do deliver? The role of a copywriter is often misunderstood. I've had people think I do signwriting or protect intellectual property rights. But I've not been confused with a satellite dish installer before.

13.01.2022 Ironic is when you write a blog about the evils of FAQs and then the following week an agency asks you to quote for writing a bunch of FAQs for their client. Do I stick to my principles or take the money?!? What would you do?... (For the record, I stuck my hand out for the cash. It's COVID, after all.) *looks down sheepishly* *kicks non-existent stone* *won't make eye contact*

11.01.2022 Libraries to the rescue! https://www.theguardian.com//when-covid-closed-the-library

07.01.2022 If you want an SEO kickstart or a boost, join Nat's FREE 5-day SEO Challenge. I've done it before and it's brilliant.

06.01.2022 These are hilarious! #13 WebMD is my favourite. How about you? https://digitalsynopsis.com/adve/honest-advertising-slogans

05.01.2022 The topic I'm writing about today: Should young children attend funerals? Gosh, us writers regularly have to dive into our jars of empathy. The first funeral I remember attending was my Nana's. I was 10, so it must have been around 1982. My memories are sketchy but I remember that I was wearing maroon velvet jeans and a pale pink top with a leopard on it. ... I held it together until her coffin was walked down the aisle and I heard the sad music which invoked choking sobs. I hated seeing grown-ups upset, especially my mum. It wasn't a 'normal' state for her to be in. I don't remember the burial. Maybe there wasn't one? Or maybe us kids didn't go? And I remember my oldest brother driving my siblings and I to her wake. He drove like a dickhead and I scolded him for it. And I ate little lamingtons at her wake, which was held at a neighbour's house. What do you think?

04.01.2022 I recently chatted with Bianca McKenzie on her New School of Marketing podcast about creating smart, evidence-based content. We had a good chat about all the things you need to do for better engagement before writing a single word. Take a listen and subscribe cos it's full of smart advice from savvy business owners (like me, ha!) :) https://www.biancamckenzie.com/smart-content-with-sandra-m/

02.01.2022 This is a great summary of ways to ensure you're creating accessible content.

02.01.2022 A style guide is fab for keeping track of style decisions and making sure content is presented consistently - this is especially important when working with a team of writers and editors to look like pros and keep the voice and style the same sitewide. Do you use a style guide? In this post, a share a few examples of style guides various brands and orgs have created and shared online. https://sandralmuller.com/copywriting-style-guide-examples/

01.01.2022 Ah, back in the good old days when we could hold face-to-face events... Those of you in Melbourne, would you be up for another blog-in day in 2021?

01.01.2022 Awww, I love that I'm one of my favourite copywriter's favourite copywriter Check out Jay's post on her fave copywriters and find some interesting folk to follow. Thanks, Jay Crisp Crow. I'm truly honoured.