• How to Approach a Copywriter

      In my experience, you usually start looking for a copywriter at the eleventh hour. If it’s a new website, the design is done but there’s no copy. If it’s a brochure, you’re ready to go to print but there’s no copy. If it’s an email campaign, you want to send it tomorrow but there’s no […]

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  • Use Images to Optimise Your Blog’s SEO

      You don’t need me to tell you about why you should be using images in all your blog posts. Just in case you’re unsure it’s because images will entice visitors to click through to your website more readily. A headline is all well and good, but a great image is more persuasive. But just […]

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  • Is Plain English Dying in the Workplace?

      This is something I come across more and more when I meet clients. During meetings, the initial plain English is replaced by an incomprehensible babble of nonsensical words and phrases that meld to create a language that only a few seem to understand. Usually I am the only person who has to interrupt and […]

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  • How to Brief a Copywriter

      Do you know the single most important golden rule that you should always follow when briefing a copywriter? It’s quite obvious really, but often gets overlooked. If you’re not sure, let me tell you a story. First thing on Monday you’re called into your line manager’s office. “There’s a bit of restructuring happening at […]

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  • Copywriting – How to be Natural and Authentic

      This is longer than my usual stuff, so you might want to grab a coffee while you read. Recently, I was asked to talk at a local business event. The topic I chose was the human face of copywriting – how to be natural and authentic. Why? Mainly because of the tonnes of bad […]

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  • The Easy Way to Write Great Content Every Time

      On the face of it, writing content should be the easiest thing in the world. You have a product or service to write about, so surely all you have to do is tell the reader what it does and you’re there. Unfortunately it doesn’t work like that, which is why you usually end up […]

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  • Writing By Numbers Will Ruin Your Reputation

      How long should my content be? That’s the biggest headache most business owners have, in terms of boosting the effectiveness of their website. It’s not something that’s kept me awake – here’s why. First of all there is a lot of conflicting advice out there. Some articles tell you the optimum number of words […]

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  • Behind The Doors at Briar Copywriting

      Ever wondered exactly who’s behind Briar Copywriting? OK, this website gives you quite a few clues, but it doesn’t really tell you about Sally Ormond the person. Towards the end of last year, I was asked by my good friend Katherine Wildman (a fellow scribe) to take part in her “The Writing Desk” interview […]

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  • Can You Ever Be Truly Unique?

      It’s what you’re constantly told by your marketing department, marketing agency, copywriter and just about every other Tom, Dick and Harriet. If your business is to survive you must be unique. You must offer something no one else offers, work in a way no one else works and achieve things no one else has […]

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  • No, You’re Not the Market Leader, I Am

      Marketing leading. Industry leading. Cutting-edge. State-of-the-art. Innovative design. Breakthrough technology. Ground-breaking technology World-class. How many times have you come across one of those phrases on a website or in a brochure? It’s amazing how many ‘market leaders’ there are in the world. It doesn’t matter if it’s kitchen design, software, telecoms, or finance related, […]

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