Not all of us our Web Hemingways, and not all of us try to be either. But when we're responsible for our company's marketing initiatives, we must not only put together coherent sentences, but we must also drive consumers/users/readers to take action (e.g. click through, sign up, read more, etc.).
With that in mind, let's review a handful of resources on writing and style that can help turn a perpetually blank page into content marketing at its finest.
The Associated Press Stylebook
Considered the journalist's Bible, the AP Stylebook is handy for any digital enterprise, because it can create the consistency most marketing departments desire. It can also serve as the final voice of authority between coworkers, because it contains resolution to many disputed words, rules, abbreviations, etc. While it's not much for inspiration, the AP Stylebook, often referred to as just AP Style or AP Style Guide, is an essential reference for writers to create a uniformed content marketing campaign. While this editor, prefers the traditional hard-copy book (with even a preference toward the spiral bound book, instead of the flat binding), the AP Stylebook is also available on the Web and multiple users can be added to a company's account.
Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer
Think tools, not rules for this book by one of America's most influential writing teachers, Roy Peter Clark. His book distills decades of experience into 50 tools that will help any writer become more fluent and effective. It's a book any content writer will want to keep on their book, open any page and read again, because the information is valuable and easy to consume.
The Writer's Idea Book:
How to Develop Great Ideas for Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry and Screenplays
Thanks to the SEO impact of on-site blogging and links from contributed articles, the Web has made writers out of, well, people whose calling shouldn't have ever included a byline. Luckily, there are guides like The Writer's Idea Book that contains more than 400 prompts and exercises to help aspiring writers to generate intriguing ideas and turn them into quality content for company blogs or guest posts.
The Everything Guide to Writing Copy:
From Ads and Press Release to On-Air and Online Promos
This step-by-step guide to writing effective copy for a variety of media including print, Web, radio, trade journals, and much more is packed with tips and tricks used by the pros. The Everything Guide to Writing Copy is basic and more informational than example driven, but it's a perfect starting point for those newly interested in creating copy that sells.
Check Out these Other Writing Resources:
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