The heart of any content marketing campaign includes content: articles, eBooks, case studies, and so on. And because rising above all the other content out there is about as easy as finding your best friend in a packed football stadium, it better be good!
If you’re writing direct mail, lead generation emails or web copy, you need strong calls to action, readability and a little bit of magic. If you do either or both types of writing, expert guidance and inspiration go a long way toward taking your words from good to really good to gosh darned great.
In the spirit of the season, here are 9 gift ideas that will bring joy to your favorite content writers and copywriters.
Writers making the switch from journalism to content marketing will find a wealth of useful information in Jennifer’s comprehensive book. In The Freelance Content Marketing Writer, Jennifer shares tips on how to find work, how to charge what you’re worth and how to create engaging, relevant content.
For businesspeople and marketers that have to write, but aren’t writers, Ann’s popular book is a must. Everybody Writes gives expert guidance into writing fundamentals, such as grammar and basic storytelling, as well as how to make your words work for websites, blogs, social media and more.
If you want to learn how to make your content work, learn from some of the best in the biz. Shane Snow and Joe Lazauskas, the two minds behind Contently, share secrets that have helped Fortune 500 companies and hundreds of other brands build relationships with millions of customers. Give this gem to your favorite writer, content strategist or any other marketer on your gift list.
Bob Bly’s Copywriter’s Handbook was required reading when I took Copywriting Training Ltd.’s Copywriter’s Apprentice course. Originally published in 1985, Bly updated the book most recently in 2006; however, don’t let the dates steer you away. The techniques he shares stand the test of time.
New copywriters get the fundamentals, such as 8 basic headline structures that work. Experienced copywriters have a comprehensive guide to writing everything from ads to sales letter to web copy.
Another classic, Joe Sugarman’s Advertising Secrets gives tips on how to flip your thinking and understand the psychological triggers of winning ads. For example (I read this somewhere else), instead of “ABC University Hosts XYZ Event,” think “No Classes on Thursday.”
I read Stephen King’s On Writing a few years ago and should have read it sooner. Much sooner! It doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of King’s fiction or not. Writers of any genre can appreciate and likely relate to the stories he shares about his early writing career, his wins and losses and his daily practice.
King also gives sage writing advice. What I remember from this book: read a lot, write a lot, write every day, keep it simple, cut out the fluff. Good stuff!
MarketingProfs Pro membership
For a gift that keeps on giving all year long, give your marketer a one-year subscription to MarketingProfs Pro. They’ll get 24/7 access to MarketingProfs‘s excellent courses, webinars and training programs, as well as a wealth of supplemental resources.
Noise-canceling headphones
Some people like to write with music in the background, some need complete silence. Not many can concentrate around other people’s phone conversations, leaf blowers, and city noise.
Give the gift of peace and productivity with a pair of noise-canceling headphones. Bose gives you two options: the big ‘phones that cover your ears and effective buds.
A good pen
I have gobs of any ol’ pens at my desk, in my purse, in my gym bag, in my car…pretty much everywhere. A good pen is different. Your hand flows effortlessly across the page. The instrument feels good in your hand. It inspires you to pick it up and use it. Often.
A good pen just feels…decadent. By giving the gift of a beautiful pen, you’re doing your part to preserve the art of writing longhand: a personal form of communication and creativity that allows ideas to spring forth in a way that computer-typing can’t touch.
What would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments below! Happy December!