I have a habit of making up words, usually when I can’t find the one I want in the filing cabinet that is my head. Sometimes the dictionary doesn’t contain exactly the right word I’m looking for. Apparently quite a few people agree with me. My favourite is Nopology (n). Any statement beginning ‘I’m sorry if…’
All Words girls are striding out… that is, we’ve joined Striding Out: a not-for-profit organisation that aims to nurture and support entrepreneurs across the UK.
The community was initially set up to offer dedicated support to young entrepreneurs between the ages of 16 and 30; however, its popularity has grown and it is now open to the over-30s. (Which, considering my age last birthday, is just as well…)
Networking events, professional advice, one-to-one and group coaching and recruitment assistance are all available for members, as well as virtual administrative assistance and office space via Striding Out partners.
As a Manchester-based business, we love to get involved with a variety of local and regional organisations, whether it be to increase our knowledge base on different topics, make a contribution based on our own knowledge and experience, or simply to have a natter and a glass of wine cup of tea with lots of different people!
Yesterday, I attended the North West Business Leadership Forum, a meeting of representatives from businesses, education and the public and voluntary sector in the North West. We meet every month to discuss current issues that are relevant to the region’s development and wellbeing.
It’s a great opportunity to find out more about key organisations within, and plans for, the North West - and to contribute your opinion on some exciting issues. Plus, it’s a really friendly, welcoming meeting that’s a pleasure to attend.
Yesterday’s event included a presentation by Jackie Potter, the new Chief Executive of the Manchester City South Partnership. This partnership has been agreed between Manchester City Council, The University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University and the Central Manchester and Manchester Children’s University Hospitals NHS Trust (phew, there’s a mouthful!).
Together, they are aiming to boost the economic, social and cultural development of the area of Manchester that stretches along Oxford Road, between St Peter’s Square and the Whitworth Art Gallery, and extends out into Hulme, Moss Side and Ardwick.
It’s quite a challenge. Getting everyone who lives and works within this area to unite as one community and share a sense of place is not easy in a location where academic institutions - traditionally viewed as the preserve of the privileged - sit alongside some of the most deprived areas in the UK.
For the project to succeed, it’s going to require the development of innovative schemes that really capture the imagination of a diverse range of people; the sustained commitment of many influential individuals and institutions; a willingness from both public and private bodies to contribute funds and develop further partnerships - and a well-thought-out, multi-targeted and carefully delivered marketing plan.
But, from the ideas that have already been outlined, and the interest and excitement that Jackie generated amongst the NWBLF last night, I think it just might work. One thing’s for sure, it will certainly be interesting to see how “City South” develops over the next few years.
All Words will help in any way we can.
Think of an inspirational speaker. What exactly is it about them that is inspiring?
Is it the actual, physical delivery of their speech? Their stance, tone and cadence of voice, eye contact, gestures?
Is it their honest passion and inherent emotion that is apparent in every word that they utter?
Is it their ability to make persuasive, reasoned points and sustain a clear argument throughout?
Is it their belief in themselves and what they are saying; the overwhelming sense that what they are saying is part of what they believe is their purpose in life?
Well, at All Words, we have recently learnt that it is those individuals who bring all of the above - their physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of their personality - to the forefront of everything that they say and do, who truly have presence.
And how have we learned this? By working with the fantastic Vivienne Mee: performing artist and workshop leader, specialist in personal transformation, people skills, communication and presence - and a lady who, herself, truly does have presence.
We’ve worked with Vivienne to create the copy on her newly-launched website:
It’s been a fantastic project to work on - creative, quirky, unusual, imaginative and intellectually challenging. Oh, and loads of fun 
Thanks Vivienne!
x
This year we’ve had some fantastic projects to work on, and right up there at the top is Cheeky Wipes (launched last week). We’ve written web copy and ads that will appear in national parenting magazines.
And here’s what it’s all about…
Cheeky Wipes – making a bum job better
A squidgy baby bottom is a beautiful thing…changing their stinky nappy isn’t…
What if you could clean that botty, protect your baby, the future of the planet and save money?
Cheeky Wipes Washable Baby Wipes are leading a bottom cleaning revolution – for DISPOSABLE or WASHABLE nappy users…
Save money - at least £200 against disposable wipes
Do your bit for the environment - less landfill
Gentle on bottoms - no harsh chemicals, just fragrant essential oils
Hassle free – all in one kit, no extra wash loads or drying required
It’s fast approaching. My 21st birthday (cough, erm, splutter). On 24th September I’ll be consoling myself at Selfridges in Manchester at their Big Beauty Bash.
I’ve been invited by Rickie Josen of Miss Jones Concierge - time saving angels. They offer a range of membership packages to help you take care of tasks from gift wrapping all those chrimbo pressies to organising VIP events.
Come down and join me, I’ll be the one searching for the best wrinkle cream out there…
Here at All Words Towers, we like to think that we treat all our clients fairly. In fact, it’s something that we pride ourselves on.
Prices quoted up-front, with no nasty surprises; regular contact with customers, so they always know where we’re up to on their projects; honest opinions on marketing, so we’re giving customers what they need, rather than just what they want; client testimonials that tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, etc. That’s the way we work - and the way that we know most of you do, too.
Sadly, there are those who favour more dishonest working practices, making false claims about their business, services or products; faking credentials; using scare tactics to manipulate the unwary into making unnecessary purchases, and much more.
However, recent steps have been taken to clamp down on such behaviour, with new regulations designed to make various unfair sales and marketing tactics illegal.
The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) has published new guidelines following the implementation of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, which took place on 26 May this year.
From an advertising perspective, some of the practices being clamped down on include:
- Being honest in advertorials. If you have paid for editorial to appear in the media in order to promote your business, it must be clear that this is advertising, not general editorial. For example, a magazine advertorial should have the words “advertising feature” marked clearly above the piece - or similar wording.
- Not being who you claim to be. Posing as a satisfied customer praising your company on a reviews website, or even on your own website, or blog, will not be tolerated.
- Advertising to children. Addressing kids directly with a plea for them to buy your product, or coerce an adult into buying it for them, is now officially a no-no.
- Pestering. No-one likes to be harangued by unwanted emails, letters, phone calls, faxes, etc. Don’t become a nuisance.
There are many more. A leaflet explaining all the new regulations has been published online:
The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations: A Basic Guide for Businesses.
I started writing an article last week about shunning grammar conventions. Language is constantly changing, it’s a flexible jungle full of interesting words, expressions, punctuation and idioms. All at our disposal to have fun with. Or so you’d think. I used to get told off at school for starting sentences with conjunctions. And now I do it all the time.
Tesco have recently had a little language guidance from the Plain English Campaign which sparked off a grammar debate on the BBC website.
Makes interesting reading.
This week we’ve been featured in the Manchester Digital newsletter with our manifesto (that’s a polite word for a mini-rant) on SEO and brand language…
We all know what good SEO can do for a company’s visibility on the web. So it must be a key part of branding, right? What if you’ve grown a business and created a brand which uses a very specific tone or has a certain brand language? Can you marry this with the idea of getting certain key phrases into a particular page, especially if they have to appear in specific places on a webpage (for example, headlines)?
Businesses need to move towards full integration of SEO into their branding, and stop treating it as a separate entity. Tone of voice or verbal identity guidelines should consider the use of brand and generic key phrases. The final part of the puzzle is to find creative writers who both understand SEO techniques and can create the unique voice a company needs to stand out from the competition.
Sometimes it’s hard for people to understand the value of using a copywriter - after all, we can all write can’t we? I suppose most copywriters would say they do more than simply bash out a few words on a keyboard.
One of the most important skills is the ability to see how powerful a message can become by making the most simple of changes.