A content audit is the website equivalent of brushing your teeth: it’s basic hygiene. Plus, the benefits are huge. So why isn’t everyone auditing? — As a baby content strategist, content auditing felt like the most natural thing in the world to me. I was in charge of a website, I wanted to know what we had, what worked, and what didn’t. …

I read a blog post recently which argued that the concept of tone in brand voice is a ‘scam’. This is one of a few discontented rumblings I’ve heard recently about tone. I agree with a lot of the criticism, but I’m not ready to give up on tone yet. Here’s why. — Most of the criticism I’ve seen of the concept of tone focuses on three main points: 1. Tone = terrible content People try to add tone and end up with terrible content as a result. We’ve all seen them, the cutesy 404 messages and glib error messages — ‘Oops, the hamsters that power that page…

As a solo consultant, I’m drawn to anything that promises to save me time, make my life easier, or help me do a better job. This is a snapshot of my current toolkit and how I’m using the things in it. — This is an updated version of a post I wrote back in 2018. A lot of the tools are the same, but there are some new ones. Research tools Evolve What does it do?: It’s a tool for gathering and analysing insights from research.

Ten Things is my newsletter. Each edition has ten links to interesting, thought-provoking, useful or beautiful things from the worlds of content, digital, business for good, culture and beyond. These are the top ten Things of the year, according to clicks from readers. 1. Lockdown workshop tips I feel slightly embarrassed, but the most…

Here’s what I read in 2020. Or more accurately, everything I read until I got a dog and reading became impossible. Non-fiction The Uninhabitable Earth, David Wallace-Wells A terrifying read on climate change, with a hint of optimism and a passionate call for change. The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, Shoshana Zuboff It was a worthwhile struggle to get through this beast of a…

Tips, tools, and templates to help you build a coronavirus help website for your community. — For the last month and a bit I’ve been working on a coronavirus help directory for Brighton & Hove (the city I live in) on behalf of two amazing clients — Community Works and The Trust For Developing Communities. It’s been quite a journey, so I wanted to share some…

What I learnt this week about running successful online workshops — This week I should have been running two training workshops. I wanted to make a great atmosphere where everyone would feel comfortable and ready to learn. So I booked a venue: a beautiful barge with loads of space and natural light. I arranged delicious coffee and food. I planned a…

Trying to create a unique, effective brand voice? This is how to do it… — Are your voice guidelines six adjectives in your brand book, with a line of explanation for each? Or maybe you have none, because they’re all in one person’s head? You can be honest. I’m not judging, and you’re not alone. In years of consulting, I can count on one hand…

How to write a content strategy that’s a map to guide you, not a maze to get lost in — There’s this bit in Willy Russell’s play Educating Rita (also a film with Julie Walters and Michael Caine) where Rita, a spunky working class woman on an Open University course, hands in a five-word essay to her stuffy middle class professor. …