Some
recent press releases and articles
07 Jan 2005: How a professional writer can improve your bottom line
26 Nov 2004: Exploring a Hidden Network
22
Oct 2004: Bringing Professional Writing Services
Within Reach of Small Business
30
Sep 2004: Moonsail Make Words Work for You
and Your Business
Press Release, 30 Sep 2004
Have you ever struggled to find the right words when writing that all-important business letter or job application? Are you a brilliant public speaker who has difficulty expressing those same thoughts in writing?
Then local freelance writers Moonsail Ltd would love to hear from you. The company is staffed by a small team of professional writers who claim to have 100% confidence in tackling ANY writing project.
Their output is certainly impressive enough. In the last month alone, they have written copy for several brochures, a number of advertisements, company newsletters, a series of training manuals and numerous press releases.
'The secret lies in finding the right words in the right style to convey your message as clearly as possible' says company director Hugh McClelland. 'Many of our customers come to us via graphic design companies. Often businesses are happy to spend money on design work and printing but try to cut corners by writing their own copy. It's a false economy because it can render the entire project ineffective if the text doesn't inspire the reader. That's where we come in. Our customers are often staggered at the difference a professional writer can make - at a small fraction of the overall cost of the finished product'.
Although much of Moonsail's work falls into the 'sales and marketing' category, they are quick to point out their ability to cater for absolutely any writing assignment, from a one-off letter to a longterm project. For example they are currently ghostwriting a travel book on behalf of a local author. 'He was overjoyed when he read the first chapter because we'd managed to capture his own conversational nuances in the text. It reads just the way he speaks, which is exactly what he wanted.' Hugh adds 'Good writing doesn't just happen by chance. It takes effort and commitment to find the right words to lift it above the ordinary. That's basically what we do.'
To find out more
about Moonsail Ltd, visit their website at www.moonsail.co.uk or call
on 0870-432-4244.
Press Release, 22 Oct 2004
Bringing
professional writing services within reach of small business
You want to add a professional spin to your next brochure or flyer but
can't justify paying the rates charged by marketing and PR agencies…
You're writing a standard letter to accompany your next mailshot but can't find the right words…
Your latest advert was expensive but hasn't given you the results you'd hoped for - was it worded properly?...
If this sounds familiar, then local freelance writers Moonsail Ltd would love to help you. Staffed by a small team of professional writers, the company fills a distinct gap in the market by supplying a top-quality writing service to small businesses - at affordable rates.
'Large corporations can afford the consultancy fees that advertising and media companies charge in exchange for news and feature-writing services' says Company Director Hugh McClelland. 'But because of the costs involved, most small businesses opt to take care of this area themselves. They write their own brochure copy, their own website copy, their own adverts and so on. They save money but they also compromise the quality of their customer-facing marketing material in the process. If an advert doesn't say the right thing, it becomes ineffective.'
Although Moonsail are a relatively new company, the writing team have a long and varied track record in the writing field. Their goal is to provide exactly the same standard of writing to the small business customer as the top corporations are receiving from their writers.
'We can take care of any writing project of any size' adds Hugh. 'Small businesses deserve the same level of quality they'd get from one of the big boys - but without an astronomical bill to pay at the end of it. Our low overheads allow us to do this and besides, as a small business ourselves we understand the needs of our customers. We're here to help them maximise the potential of their marketing efforts.'
To find out more
about Moonsail Ltd, visit their website at www.moonsail.co.uk or call
on 0870-432-4244.
Published in Business in Berkshire, 07 Jan 2005 - How Freelancers Can Improve Your Bottom Line
If you were working on an important project for your best customer, would you hand a vital element of the work to an employee unqualified to perform the task competently? Of course not. But it’s surprising how often companies utilise internal staff to write important business documents or website content when a freelance professional writer could do the job more effectively – and much quicker too.
I came across an example recently, in the form of a 20-page website. The company’s MD had asked employees from each department to contribute to their respective pages; on the face of it, a sound idea. But sadly the end result was a confusing mix of writing which did little to excite the reader about the products and services the company were offering. Although intended to entice potential customers, the text was littered with hard-to-understand technical terms and abbreviations. Despite the costly design work that had gone into producing the site, the writing failed to convey the right message.
Whether it be for your company brochure, an advertisement, a newsletter, or your website, choosing the right words for your marketing material is crucial if you want to encourage your customers and prospects to give you their business.
Use the wrong words and you can easily send your prospective customers running in the opposite direction. This is especially important on the web, where your competitors may only be a few mouse-clicks away. Writing good web copy requires a specific approach. It should always be as clear and concise as possible. Industry jargon and acronyms will switch readers off straight away, as will huge tracts of text. On the web, less is definitely more – and don’t forget to incorporate those all-important keywords for the search engines to pick up.
That’s all part of our job as freelance writers. So when you’re planning the next written communication for your business, whatever the format, consider the benefits of hiring a professional to do the job for you. It will save you time and help you get the results you really want.
Hugh McClelland
To find
out more about Moonsail Ltd, visit their website at www.moonsail.co.uk
or call on 0870-432-4244.
Published in Business in Berkshire, 26 Nov 2004 - A Hidden Network
Many of us have a hidden network of potential business that we're probably not tapping into...
As a freelance copywriter, I rely solely on word-of-mouth referrals and recommendations for my work – I don’t advertise at all - so networking is naturally the most productive way for me to generate business.
Like many of us, I'm a member of various networking groups and business clubs and I always look out for opportunities to promote my business.
There are other bonuses too: I get to meet loads of interesting people I can bounce ideas off, share marketing tips with, compare notes with, and enjoy social events away from the hustle and bustle of work. Fantastic. And I thought I had the whole networking concept reasonably well covered until I recently had a wake up call...
Last weekend my sister-in-law mentioned an acquaintance of hers had been looking for help writing copy for her website and wasn't sure where to look. (Unfortunately, this had taken place some months ago so the ‘job’ had long since gone). I realised that although I THINK I'm doing a reasonably job promoting myself to other local businesses, I haven't been doing such a good job of promoting my work to my own friends and family.
It made me wonder if my network of friends, relations, and ex-work colleagues really know EXACTLY what my business is all about? And if they DON’T know, surely I should be letting them know - so they can refer business my way if an opportunity arises?
Think about it for a second. We all have a circle of friends and acquaintances. How many of those people have a crystal clear idea about what YOU do for a living? Sometimes we’re so busy promoting ourselves to other business people, we can easily lose sight of the potential contacts / leads / referrals we might find if we reminded our nearest and dearest about our business activities from time to time.
How do we do this? Here’s an idea:
Why not spend a few minutes putting together an A4 sized newsletter detailing the kind of work you do (along with a few examples or testimonials if appropriate) and distribute it to neighbours, friends, relatives etc on a monthly basis or quarterly basis? You never know – your next big customer could come from the most unlikely source...
Best regards
Hugh
McClelland
To find
out more about Moonsail Ltd, visit their website at www.moonsail.co.uk
or call on 0870-432-4244.