The Write Reflection

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is cracking down on deceptive social media marketing tactics with a new rule to restore consumer confidence in digital brands. Engagement pods are on the watch list. It's not just large corporations that use this unethical strategy that the FTC can punish. Individual social media influencers and small business owners are included in the rule. Learn more about how this rule works in the latest Substack post from The Write Reflection's Shari Berg. The link is in the comments. Image Description: Hands hold onto a heart cutout in red paper popping out of a mobile phone. 

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." ~Thomas Edison

This is worth a listen because it demonstrates better than we ever could with text alone why over-using emojis in your digital content makes it inaccessible to anyone relying on assistive technology to read online content. Accessibility is an SEO metric because it improves the user experience. Focus on it during the content creation process to naturally boost search engine ranking. Thank you Lia Stoll ♿️ and Jamie Shields for exposing the importance of accessible content.

"Write what you know" is a common piece of advice in the writing community. It encourages content creators to produce authentic narratives from personal experiences and emotions. However, it's interpretation varies. For some, it means emphasizing emotional truth. For others, it means creative flexibility to use imagination alongside real-life experiences. What does "write what you know" mean to your brand?

How can you be sure you're not getting generic AI-generated content? Make sure you ask these 4 questions of your content provider before committing to working with them.

Our latest newsletter is now available on Substack. We tackle a growing frustration for writing professionals - accusations of relying too heavily on AI to produce client content. Get suggestions on educating your clients about the limitations of AI content detectors, plus how to AI-detector proof your client contracts. The link to the newsletter is in the comments. Image Description: A half-woman, half-robot sits in front of a computer working. Her head is part human with neural network wires in the back of her head. Her body is robotic and her hands are human.

"Yeah, but can you get me to the top spot in SERP and keep me there?" We get asked that question a lot at The Write Reflection. Our answer is always the same (and it's probably not what you're expecting). We're honest in our "no" response because promising to keep an organization ranking in the top spot forever is an unrealistic SEO goal. It's not the only one. SEO is one component of a well-rounded marketing strategy. Use it wisely, and it can increase authority and trust in your brand. However, there are limits to what even the most skilled SEO professional can do. Check out our latest newsletter to discover what you can expect from SEO - and why it should never be your only marketing approach. The link is in the comments. Image Description: A woman bangs her head in frustration on the desk next to her computer.

Shari Berg of The Write Reflection recently appeared on a podcast for FourNine Marketing to talk about how journalists make the best content strategists. The hour-long interview also touches on AI's role in content creation, how to uncover a great story and the core copywriting principles that align with journalistic skills.

How much time do you spend generating fresh content for your digital assets? If you answered "too much time" then we have some tips and tricks on repurposing your content like a pro. Learn how to revive your best stories, turn blogs into social media carousels, and repackage podcast gems into viral blog wisdom in our latest newsletter. The link is in the comments. Image Description: A Black woman wearing a grey sweater is surrounded by computer code to represent AI content creation tools that repurpose your content for all your digital assets. #ContentCreation #SocialMediaMarketing #SmallBusinessSuccess

How do you create a business name that sticks in your customers' minds? Make them think of a popular song, that's how. While not exactly in the right order as the famous tune it invokes, it's close enough to tickle the brain the next time someone hears it. Keeping your brand top-of-mind is part of an effective content marketing plan. Work with a content strategist who understands the importance of branding and how to apply it to every aspect of your business. Image Description: The exterior of a DoReMi Sofa store in a shopping mall. Blue couches with a matching chair are pictured in the front window. #BusinessBranding #ContentStrategy #ContentMarketing