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How to make an amazing content plan for your new website

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How to make an amazing content plan for your new website

For a lot of creatives who go through the process of building a new website, the exciting part is seeing the design come together and this bright, shiny, new website appear. The hard part is putting together the content that will fill that gorgeous website with valuable content – the kind that will convince curious readers to stick around and click around.

And yet, building a strong content plan is one of the most essential parts of your website design process. It’s much more than just the words that go on your about page. Your content plan will guide the way you decide to structure your website, the visuals you choose, and the way that you guide your visitors into taking the action that you want them to take.

It will also make it much easier for your designer to build a website that tightly integrates your content with the amazing visuals that they’re creating for you, so that you end up with a compelling and user-friendly experience for your readers.

But how should you actually create a content plan, and when in the process should you start? This post will walk you through it.

How to start your new website project on the right foot (+ FREE template!)

How to start your new website project on the right foot (+ FREE template!)

What’s the very first thing you need to do when you get ready to hire a designer for a website design or re-design project?

A lot of people would say, Brainstorm potential designers or Approach web designers regarding their pricing and availability. But this is skipping one of the most important steps that will set you on your way to managing a strong web design project for your brand and business.

The first step you should be taking as you prepare to hire a designer is to build out an organized plan for the project that you can share with them before you decide to work together.

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3 tips for creating a strong, consistent brand voice

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3 tips for creating a strong, consistent brand voice

One of the more challenging elements of creating a brand that connects with your ideal audience is the development of your “brand voice” – the way of communicating with your audience that embodies the core qualities of your brand and sets you apart to your audience.

But what is a brand voice?

Think about it like this: in real life, you have a unique way of communicating with your friends, family and clients. Are you outgoing or reserved? Edgy, or more conservative? Bright and friendly, or calm and professional?

Your brand also has a voice. Your brand voice is the way in which you express yourself to your audience – and it needs to be consistent. It’s key to building a strong connection with your audience so that they know, like and trust you.

How to edit your content with confidence

How to edit your content with confidence

We all want to publish strong content that delights our readers and convinces them to take action. Having someone else review your drafts can be a helpful way to get a fresh perspective on your content before you publish it and identify any rough spots that could use a little polishing. But what if you don’t have the budget to hire an editor, or the time to have a friend read over your draft? If you’ve ever felt unsure about how to edit your own content, this is for you.

In this post, I go through some of the questions I ask myself when I’m reviewing content for Polish & Shine clients, friends and family, and even for myself. And if you want something quick and easy that you can refer to the next time that you’re editing your own content, I’ve got a handy, fully clickable checklist for you that you can print out and hang next to your desk.

What is the Curse of Knowledge? (And 4 ways to reverse it)

What is the Curse of Knowledge? (And 4 ways to reverse it)

Have you ever tried to explain something about your work to someone, only to have them look at you with a blank stare? You try again, putting it a different way… still nothing.

It’s frustrating, right? What seems so simple to you feels impossible to communicate or express clearly.

We’ve all experienced it, and it can be a real challenge to our marketing efforts and to connecting with our clients and customers.

But did you know there’s a name for it? It’s called the Curse of Knowledge. This post talks about how exactly it's causing you grief, and 4 things you can do to get rid of it. 

 

Discover the tools I use and recommend in my free resource Guide!