Anita Isalska

How can you get your writing to stand out from the online noise? By writing better than everybody else. And my FIRE Framework gives you a strategy to help you make that happen! Listen to my new audio blog to learn all about it!

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If you're commissioning original research for your company's White Paper or e-book, avoid these three common mistakes: 1. Not getting quotes from respondents to include in your published report to save money on research costs. (A handful of lively quotes from interviewees will make the research more interesting and newsworthy. And it's easier than having to approach people surveyed after the survey for additional comment.) 2. Obsessing over aligning every major research finding with your company's 2024 marketing and product release calendar. (Few people outside your company care about these things. They do care about reading well-written stuff which helps them understand the world, do their job better etc. Focus on doing these things first. It's easy to link them back to your company.) 3. Rushing the pre-research phase when you're working out what to research and what questions to ask. (If you ask the right questions on a controversial or high-profile subject, the research findings will be interesting whether "yes", "no" or "don't know". Make sure someone on your team has a journalism background to help you find research angles that journalists will be interested in. Involve them at an early stage of the research planning.)

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Great testimonials matter. They help you put the cherry on top of a successful project - and figure out how to do it even better next time. And when they’re well shared, they give your future clients an authentic, visceral 'this is what I can deliver for you' glimpse into your work #business #testimonials

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Email marketing suggestion: About the dreaded unsubscribe. People's interest levels change. Their priorities change. Unsubscribes happen. So how do you use that to your advantage, and leave a space for those customers to come back at a later date? Many companies issue a brief poll, asking why the recipient unsubscribed. These polls can give you valuable information sometimes. So by all means--have one if it feels useful. *DON'T*, however, then send an email to the un-subscriber, confirming they've been unsubscribed. They didn't want to get any more emails, remember? So let them go, and keep refining your strategy. Just my two cents 😊 #emailmarketingtips #freelancewriter

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I talk about Decisions (CFT) + share Tea Break (FFF). Everything waits for tea or so George thinks, but what is he working on? I discuss newsletters + mixing how I write opening lines. I look at "normal" routines (FWB) + dealing with the unexpected (TWAO)

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"Writing is easy,” wrote author Gene Fowler. “All you do is stare at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.” This from a guy who didn’t have to cram in his writing between Zoom meetings and loads of laundry. Most of us don’t write full-time. We’ve got friends, family, a job, a passion, a side hustle—a whole life going on. It's challenging enough to find the time to show up and be brave and tell your story. You don’t need a single other thing about writing your book to be hard. That’s what inspired BookBound: my fervent belief that you deserve support, mentoring, and a mind space in which to do nothing but write. I call it "a bespoke writing journey," by which I mean that unlike my other programs, which follow a specific timeline and template, BookBound is built around you, your needs, and your book project. I'll hold you accountable to the goals you and I agree on together, which might be time-based, word count-based, or something else altogether. It's a creative process tailored specifically to you, your skill set, your your bandwidth, and your writing. I am so excited for you to join me and my writing coach/partner, Sky, on this adventure to get your book written and out in the world. Want to know more? Comment here or message me, and I'll send you a link to find out if this is exactly what you and your book have been longing for.

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Does everything actually happen for a reason? I don’t want to become overly pessimistic today but I’m skeptical about this idea that everything happens for some rational reason. Although it’s certainly a comforting sentiment, as of late, I been exploring the possibility that things, ✨gasp✨, don’t. Especially recently, I’ve been thinking, what if the good/positive and bad/negative experiences we all go through are just random events that lack any real explanation? And, assuming this as true, are our attempts at rationalising these situations just a coping tactic? Or, a means to explain away negative situations after-the-fact? Clearly, I don’t have definitive answers to these questions (I’m 23 and barely know how to change a car tire); but, as I am writing this existential LinkedIn post, I just wish my brain would ignore logic for a minute and believe that life events are cosmically guided somehow. I mean, for obvious reasons, that would feel way better than the alternative: the idea that nothing actually guides us. (Except maybe us? In a broken world?) What prompted this philosophical crisis? The job search, of course. For the first time, it feels like my hard work has gone nowhere. And, sure, a lot of positive has come from this time; I started swimming consistently; I started pursuing my artistic hobbies with more fervor; this free time has also forced me to meet some amazing people. But, the skeptical side of me wonders, what if certain realities just suck? What if there is no rhyme or reason to this? Ok, before I make you depressed, here is the point of this post. It’s totally possible that things happen for some reason OR we conjure up the reasons as we go. However, regardless of the actual truth, don’t let the job process stop you from living your life. The job search system blows—it’s broken. And, the reasons why you do (or don’t) hear back from companies can make no sense. So, don’t try to make sense of it. Instead, seize this time for yourself. Recharge. Socialise. Gain more work experience. Prove these hiring people wrong. And, if you are trying to be better, this BS system will inadvertently create something positive for you. Something negative always creates room for something more positive. So keep going….maybe all the stars will align in hindsight. #life #reason #existential #jobsearch #positive #negative #hindsight #yinyang

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Struggling with E-E-A-T compliance? I've put together a list of 7 content types that mean your website is more likely to surface in a Google search. Including the use of expert interviews, fresh research and summaries of your R&D. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eqVcDrZi

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Sorry for going all ‘soap opera’ on you; but my latest magazine article is headlined ‘Like profits in a downturn ... firms abandon the market”, almost.   To be fair, this FAnews Magazine-Online article, and my accompanying “Exit” image are a bit ill-timed given the most recent resurgence in JSE share prices. But the 'upbeat-nick' driven price action of the last couple of days does not deflect from the longer-term trend ... the gnu GNU will soon be old (apologies to #Zapiro).   In reality, the number of firms listed on the JSE has fallen by almost a quarter over the past eight years, from 395 listings at the end of 2015 to 294 by July 2023.   Commenting for the piece, Cornette van Zyl of Sanlam Investments said. “The de-listing trend started in 2015, following the Nene-gate scandal, with a net loss of about 100 listed companies since.”   The consequences include concentration risk and / or a lack of market depth.   Ralph Thomas, from the same #AssetManager, said the resulting #ConcentrationRisk increases idiosyncratic risk, even from an #AssetAllocation basis. And according to Van Zyl, “…rising concentration risk combined with low returns erodes the attractiveness of listed SA equities.”   Dr Nico Marais, of Carmel Wealth  explained that “…a lack of market breadth or concentration risk manifests in many financial markets.” He added that asset managers would have to leverage all their skills to stay ahead of the delisting trend.   As always, You can read my full write-up here, absolutely free: https://lnkd.in/dNfdajfd   PS, It cannot be my best work ever, since the publisher pushed it all the way back to page 90 😂   #Investing #JSE #PortfolioManagement #EquityMarkets #RetirementFunds #Diversification

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Just three days to go until the Newsletter Awards entries close. If you have a newsletter - or a newsletter colleague! - that (who) deserves to be celebrated, I urge you to get your entry in! Need a reminder of our categories? There are plenty to choose from, and entry is FREE - scroll below to find out more, and head to publishernewsletters.com to enter.

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Really important questions here. All writers have to borrow from the experiences of others. There's a weird double standard about it too. But writing with truth and respect is part of the craft Matt Kelland https://lnkd.in/gBqwiBNV #WritingCommmunity #authorcommunity #writinglife #novelist #storytelling

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The freelance market has been … well … weird for a lot of folks in our industry. That’s why I’m sharing my EXACT strategies for landing freelance writing gigs FAST in this week’s podcast episode. You'll discover: - How to reconnect with past clients and get new projects quickly - My technique for pitching to agencies to get subcontractor gigs fast - How to create templates to allow you to respond to freelance leads in minutes while on the go - Ideas for using social media to find well-paying opportunities These money-making methods have helped me through tough times - and I hope they can help you, too! Listen or watch your way! 1) Play the episode at https://lnkd.in/dkvnz6T6 2) Search for The Talk Freelance To Me Podcast on any major podcast app like Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 3) Watch on YouTube at: https://lnkd.in/deasmUbr What would you add? Share in the comments! #freelance #freelancelife #freelancewriter #freelancer #freelancelifestyle #freelancers #freelancework #freelancewriting #freelancecopywriter #freelancejob #freelancetofreedom #freelancemarketing #freelancetips #freelancewriters #freelancejobs #freelancerlife #womenwritersofcolor #mompreneurlifestyle #momwriter #workfromhome #workfromanywhere #workfromhomemom #laptoplifestyle #talkfreelancetome #writingpodcast #podcastforwriters #freelancewritingpodcast #podcastforfreelancers

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Wahnt halp editting you’re cahpy? Writer's tip: change the font in the document you're reviewing and enlarge the font size - your brain will view/review the copy as new and any mistakes will be more obvious. 

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Question: What snags have you hit when working with a digital content contractor? 📣 If you have worked with an external writer, editor, or writing company (where you post topics to be picked up by a pool of writers), what barriers or stumbling blocks did you come up against? Whether it’s something they did that you didn’t like or didn’t expect, or something you later realized you did wrong or unexpectedly—I want it all! I’m researching a new project on working with editorial contractors, and your insights will be extremely helpful! Please tag any contacts who might want to weigh in, too! (And, hey—if your contractor was me, I'm open to hearing those issues, too! 😅)

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Writers take note! These fantastic (approachable, actionable) steps from Hallie Warner will help you build your platform. Great tips for (re)creating a personal brand for any resilient, reinventing woman. #writer #thoughtleadership

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