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Copywriter Q&A: Carissa Lamkahouan on the Art of the Pitch

Posted on June 7, 2019February 12, 2021 by The Writers For Hire, Inc.

Carissa Lamkahouan has two decades of professional writing experience and has been published in a wide range of newspapers, magazines, and online publications. At The Writers For Hire (TWFH), Carissa is our in-house authority for all things journalism. In this installment of our Copywriter Q&A series, we talked about the process of pitching an article.

Carissa’s advice: Start with the pitch letter. If you can perfect the art of the pitch letter, everything else will fall into place.

TWFH: Let’s start with the basics: What is a pitch letter and why do you need one?

CL: A pitch letter is a letter to a publication’s editor that explains your idea. It should tell the editor why your story idea is important in general, and why their readers in particular will want to read it. I also believe it’s important that you pitch yourself, too. You’re asking them to let you do this story, so explain why you’re the best person for the job.

TWFH: What are the key elements of a good pitch letter?

CL: It’s a lot like a cover letter. Your first paragraph should say, “Here’s what I want to write about, and here’s why it’s important.” The second paragraph needs a hook: Explain why readers will want to read your story. And in the third paragraph, sell yourself a little bit. Tell them how long you’ve been writing; link to a few articles or invite them to look you up.

TWFH: How much detail about the story do you want to include in your pitch letter?

CL: In first paragraph, I get decently specific. Publications get a million pitch letters. You don’t want an editor saying, “What are you talking about?” Spell it out very clearly: “This subject is interesting because XX. Your readers would be interested because XX.” In the past, I’ve also included a line to the effect of, “If this topic doesn’t appeal to you, there are other angles we can pursue, please feel free to contact me.”

TWFH: Does it help to let them know that you’re flexible, topic-wise?

CL: Yes. There was one case where I was hired to write an article on behalf of a client. He wanted to get his company’s name out there. We were pitching to a niche business publication, and the hook we originally came up with was a funny story about his celebrity client. It was a really fun idea, but when I sent my pitch letter I mentioned that we were open to other ideas. And they called me back and said, “This is funny, but it’s not for us.” So we went with a more serious, business-focused angle.

TWFH: How do you come up with the right hook that will appeal to a particular publication?

CL:Sometimes it’s pretty obvious. Luckily, everything’s online so you can take a look at the type of articles they publish. You’ll see a pattern.

TWFH: So, your hook and pitch letter should change depending on the content of the publication? Can you pitch one topic multiple ways?

CL: Yes. For example, I was going to write an article for a company that focused on creating products for dogs. I wrote pitch letters to several dog-related magazines, but the letters weren’t all the same. For more business- and inventor-focused magazines, I pitched a more general article about how the company founder was an inventor, and how he came up with ideas for new dog products. But I also pitched to pet-related magazines. The company also had a dog daycare business, and for the animal-specific magazines, we made that the focus. Things like, “What is dog daycare? And why do we need it?” I also pitched to a wellness magazine.

TWFH: How did you find a “wellness” hook?

CL: Dog daycare helps with dog depression. It was a completely different angle but still related to the inventor. I focused on the wellness aspect of his dog daycare business. Daycare makes dogs happier. They get depressed if they’re home alone. I interviewed veterinarians for that article, and I relied heavily on interviews with a dog psychiatrist.

TWFH: Can you walk me through the process from start to finish? Do you start by having an idea, pitching it to publications, and then waiting to write it until you know who’s interested? Do you write the article first and then pitch it? Or does the process vary?

CL: It is a fluid process, but it usually starts with an idea from experience I have or something I hear. Or maybe I have a client who wants me to help them get their name out there for whatever reason. I like to have at least two to three potential stories I can write based on just that one idea.

TWFH: Does the process change at all when you’re ghostwriting or if you’re writing and pitching an article on behalf of a client?

CL: With the dog daycare client I had one publication that liked the topic I suggested, which was the evolution of dog daycare. But they said, “We don’t want it to be all about your client.”

TWFH: And your client was OK with that? Were you able to find a way to mention his company without making that the focal point?

CL: I told him, “The lead is not going to be about your company — but when we mention X topic, we’ll mention you.” A lot of times, clients will be OK with that. You can also ask your client to supply photos, so when these magazines ask for pictures, which they will, you send your client’s pictures.

TWFH: So, the more flexible the client, the better the chances of getting their story picked up?

CL: They might get more coverage if they’re willing to take the focus off of themselves. It helps to explain tell clients, “Sometimes the article might be about your company, and then it might not.” My client was able to get more coverage with articles that mentioned his company or included a photo he sent, rather than articles that were all about his company or inventions.

TWFH: How do you choose which publications to pitch to?

CL: First, look at the subject matter and start with obvious publications. Then start working your angles. Look up publications related to any of those angles you’d be surprised what comes up.

TWFH: What about really super-niche publications that have outdated websites and/or don’t have a “submissions” section or clear info about pitching? Do you just write them off and move on? Do you try to track down contact info?

CL: If they’re niche, I try pretty hard to find an inroad. Most articles in a publication will have an email address for the writer. Try contacting them. I’ve done that. I’ll say, “Hi, I know you’re not an editor with X publication, but can you hook me up?”

TWFH: Does that work?

CL: Most writers will be willing to help. You can also try looking them up on social media, like Facebook or LinkedIn.

TWFH: How many pitch letters should you send at one time?

CL: That depends on how fast you’re trying to turn the article around. If you’re not in a hurry, you can start with five, then send another five in a month. If your topic is something time-sensitive — something that coincides with an anniversary date for an event, for example — you might want to send 20 pitch letters. And this is important: If you’re pitching to magazines in particular, you have to pitch six months in advance. They want stories three to four months in advance. So if you have a date-oriented piece, you’d better pitch early.

TWFH: What happens if multiple publications say they’re interested in your piece?

CL: Do all of them. But there’s the deal: Try to have a different hook or different interviewees on the same topic. You don’t want to write the same article multiple times. If it’s the type of article that doesn’t have a lot of hooks or there are not a lot of ways to write differently about your topic, you can still make it as unique as possible for each publication. It helps to have some ideas up your sleeve ahead of time. For example, find some local sources. If papers in both South Carolina and LA picked you up, find local people to interview. Reach out to local colleges or local experts. Editors know you’re pitching to multiple publications. But don’t ever turn down a publication. It’ll work itself out.

TWFH: What happens if you get zero responses from the publications you’ve contacted?

CL: Follow up. Have a follow-up email already written. There’s nothing wrong with that. They’re either going to ignore you or tell you no. If your topic is timely and you’re getting closer to the anniversary event, say, “I wanted to check in, this is coming up. That’s why it’s a good time to run it.” Mention your hook again. Ask if they’d like a different angle.

TWFH: Is there a rule to how often to check in or follow up? A lot of writers start to feel like they’re being annoying or too pushy after a while —especially if they’re not getting a response.

CL: Don’t be scared to do it. You’re doing those editors a favor. They don’t want to run around and find story ideas. A lot of them don’t have staff writers. They have pages to fill, and a lot of times writers don’t make their deadlines. And when that happens, they lose their stories and they’re scrambling for a replacement. Again, what can they do? Ignore you or say no.

TWFH: So you really might be helping them out if, say, they end up short on content.

CL: Editors are relying on your submissions. Offer other angles. Be fluid, be flexible, don’t be shy. You should never be shy about pitching. Editors know they’re going to get these pitch letters. They’re expecting to get them. Look at it this way: If you don’t tell them about these fun, cool, interesting stories, they’re not going to know.

I Shot the Serif: Is Font Choice Important?

Posted on April 4, 2019February 12, 2021 by The Writers For Hire, Inc.

When I married a man with the very Italian surname of Iacullo, I had no illusions about the spelling and pronunciation mishaps that were likely to follow. I knew I’d have to endure a certain amount of ribbing about the surplus of vowels in the old country and make endless attempts to explain that yes, my new last name really did begin with the letter “I” followed by “A,” and no, it wasn’t actually that difficult to pronounce.

This wasn’t a big deal for me. After all, I’d already spent 30 years with a maiden name – DeLay – that gave me an incentive to be patient with customer service representatives who were sure I’d actually said “Daley” or “Delaney.” (I’d also learned to smile my way through conversations with teachers who delighted in dropping hints about homework deadlines and airline employees who tried to make light of scheduling mishaps.)

A little more than a decade ago, though, things started to get weird. More specifically, I started to get mail addressed to “Jennifer Lacullo” instead of “Jennifer Iacullo.” I also started having to explain to befuddled pharmacists, receptionists, and clerks that they should check to see whether my information had been misfiled under “L” rather than “I.”

I didn’t quite understand why this kept happening – until I installed Microsoft’s Office 2007 suite on my computer.

One of the first things I noticed about the new software was a change in the default font used for Microsoft Word. The venerable Times New Roman was out, replaced by an upstart sans-serif font that went by the name of Calibri.

I had no real objections to this change at first. In fact, my initial impression was that Calibri was somewhat more elegant and less blocky than sans-serif stalwarts such as Arial and Helvetica.

But then I saw what happened when I typed my married name.

In Times New Roman, “Iacullo” had been relatively easy to read. Each individual letter had a different appearance, and the serifs made it easy to tell the difference between the upper-case “I” and the lower-case “L.”

In Calibri, “Iacullo” was a more slippery target. Without the serifs, the two letters in question looked virtually identical:

Once I saw Calibri in action, I realized that Microsoft Word was hardly the sole offender. I noticed that most online forms used Arial or another sans-serif font that made little distinction between the upper-case “I” and the lower-case “L,” and I deduced that most of the confusion occurred in situations where people had to read my contact information on a screen and then write it out by hand on another form. I then asked myself whether I could avoid this problem by using only lower-case letters when filling out online forms but concluded (regretfully) that I wasn’t willing to forsake proper capitalization, even if there were no serifs available to plead my case.

Visuals matter

On one level, the above is a purely personal anecdote – a mildly humorous tale about the collision between Italian last names, web designers’ preference for visually crisp fonts, and my own stubborn adherence to the rules of capitalization that I learned so long ago.

On another level, though, it is a plea to remember that visuals matter.

Certainly, there are reasons to go with sans-serif fonts. When you’re tired or distracted or hustling to meet deadlines, it’s easier to fall in line with the default choice – to let Microsoft Word compose your letter in Calibri, for instance. And when you’re a web or app designer who wants every pixel on the screen to be clear, it’s logical to use a sans-serif font such as Arial, which will never have the fuzzy look of serif fonts such as Times New Roman.

But the world doesn’t end at the edge of our screens. The words we see on our monitors and on our smart devices don’t always remain in the digital realm. Even when we’re trying to maintain a paperless office or rely exclusively on electronic records, sometimes we have to write information down by hand or retype it on another machine. If so, mistakes can happen – especially when we’re in a hurry and just trying to jot down what we see. And sometimes the price of such mistakes isn’t just the exasperation felt by people in my situation (or by people such as my friend Ilana G-, who has told me that she regularly receives mail addressed to “Llana G-”). There can also be consequences such as delays in picking up urgently needed medication for hospital patients in critical condition and difficulties in obtaining accurate contact information for potential new clients.

Likewise, sometimes we have to take the information we obtain from screens and turn it into printed material, such as a quarterly earnings report or a legal filing. And if we print it in sans-serif fonts, we run the risk of turning out material that will be difficult to read. (On paper, serif fonts tend to be easier on the eye and the brain because each letter has a distinctive look.)

The good news is that there is a simple two-part way to avoid the negative results discussed here. First, when typing something up, ask yourself how the text is likely to be used. If it’s going to stay on the screen and never go offline, sans-serif fonts are likely to be fine. (Indeed, they may even be preferable from a visual standpoint.) If it has to be printed out or transferred to another format, consider using serifs to enhance readability – or look into sans-serif fonts such as Optima, which use subtle visual cues to suggest serifs without compromising their clean lines.

Five Common Web Writing Mistakes to Avoid

Posted on March 8, 2019July 31, 2023 by The Writers For Hire, Inc.

Web copy can be tricky to master: It has to sell, but it can’t feel too salesy. It has to be packed with useful, relevant information, but it needs to be succinct and easy to scan. It has to differentiate your company, product, or service — but at the same time, it can’t feel like it’s “all about you.”

We’ve found that there are a few common web writing mistakes that come up again and again with web copy. In this post, we’ll explore five of the most common ones — and share our strategies for avoiding them.

Mistake 1: Ignoring navigation
It’s tempting to treat content and layout as two separate things, but we’ve found that the most effective websites begin with an integrated approach. When you have a solid grasp of your site’s navigation and layout, you’re better equipped to write content that fits into that navigation in an intuitive, seamless way.

A few questions to consider:

How will visitors navigate your site?
What information will they be looking for on each page?
How can you ensure that visitors can find what they need easily?
Will your most important copy points appear “above the fold”?
Can you use design elements like callout boxes and sidebars to highlight key points?
Is your copy broken up in a logical way?
Do you have too many pages? Too few pages?
What action do you want people to take after scanning the page?
Mistake 2: Super-long copy
Good web writing should tell your customers what they want to know in the first two sentences. Remember, website visitors come to a site to gather information. If they have to read paragraphs of unnecessary fluff to get to the “meat” of your product or service, they’ll probably move on.

Here’s an example:

“You need a car to get you to work. You need a car to take your kids to school, for trips to the grocery store, and for epic road trip adventures. You need a car to live your life – but you don’t need to pay top dollar for it. That’s why Two Brothers Used Cars specializes in certified pre-owned vehicles – guaranteed to save you money.”

The above paragraph is long and meandering, and it wastes valuable real estate stating the obvious: Your readers already know why they need a used car. They want to know why they should buy a used car from Two Brothers Used Cars.

Here’s a better option:

“Two Brothers Used Auto has thousands of pre-owned vehicles at wholesale prices. Reliable. Affordable. And all used cars come with a year-long free maintenance package. Come take a test drive today.”

Our advice: Resist the urge to “ease” in to your copy. Jump in, be bold, and get right to the point — your readers will appreciate it!
Mistake 3: The “Wall of text”
People read differently on a screen than they do on a printed page – their eyes flit around the page, scanning for information. Copy that appears too dense — also known as the dreaded “wall of text” can be a turnoff.

In fact, if your web copy looks too dense, readers will likely give up and move on.

Here are some ways to break down those “walls” and make your copy more scannable and web-friendly:

Use bullets to highlight important points.
Use bolded headers.
Break up paragraphs (limit each paragraph to three to five sentences, max)
Use visuals like infographics, tables, or photos
Use callout boxes and sidebars to highlight information
Use lots of white space
Insert links to relevant pages
Mistake 4: Wordiness and fluff
One way to keep web copy succinct: Avoid filler fluff and unnecessary words. Some hard-nosed editing can help streamline your copy. Scan your draft with these questions in mind:

Is there a single, better word that you can substitute for two words? For example, you could use “boring” instead of “not interesting.” You could use “to” instead of the wordier “in order to.”

Can you eliminate any fluffy, meaningless phrases? Don’t tell readers that your sales team is “committed to excellence” or “dedicated to success.” It’s much better to say something meaningful, like the fact that your sales team has a combined three decades of experience or has completed hundreds of hours of advanced training.
Mistake 5: Showcasing features, not benefits
Emphasizing the benefits of your product or service is more important than emphasizing features – that’s because benefits persuade, features only inform. Benefits are relevant to customers, features aren’t.

For example, let’s say your company sells high-end wristwatches: Details like “illuminated dial,” “digital alarm,” and “solar-powered battery” are features. But why should a potential customer care? This is where the benefits come in: The illuminated dial means you can tell the time in the dark. The solar power means that you never have to replace a battery. The digital alarm means that it can pull double duty as an alarm clock or a stopwatch.

Are There Any Synonyms for Synonym?

Posted on February 28, 2019February 12, 2021 by The Writers For Hire, Inc.

Whoever created the English language must have had a wicked sense of humor. Why else would they have used “monosyllabic” to describe a word with just one syllable? And why isn’t the word “long” actually long?

Perhaps the most interesting of these questions is: Why are there no true synonyms for “synonym?”

This great article from Mental Floss poses that very question. And while it acknowledges the fact that there are some words, such as “metonym,” that come close to having the same meaning, it seems that “synonym” does not actually have a true synonym.

Adding yet another dimension to the discussion, the article also mentions that there are arguments for the possibility that there are no true synonyms at all.

This is just the kind of philosophical language puzzle that we at TWFH just love! So, check out the article, and let us know what you think. Do true synonyms exist? And if they do, what is the synonym for synonym?

Autological Words: Words That Describe Themselves

Posted on February 21, 2019February 12, 2021 by The Writers For Hire, Inc.

As writers, we are passionate about words and language. Oftentimes, when we come across a word that we have never heard before, we immediately want to know not only the meaning, but also the history of the word.

In most cases, as with most words, the actual meaning of the word has nothing to do with the word itself. Words are generally just arbitrary sounds that are put together to give something a name.

The word “pink” is not pink. And the word “cold” is definitely not cold.

There are, however, some words that are perfect embodiments of the things they are meant to describe. These words are referred to as “autological words.”

In our never-ending quest for knowledge, we stumbled across a wonderful article from Mental Floss that gives a great list of some delightful autological words, along with their meanings.

From “Polysyllabic” to “Magniloquent,” we hope you enjoy this great list as much as we did.

The 17th-Century Preposition Rule

Posted on December 3, 2018June 21, 2023 by The Writers For Hire, Inc.

If you are a stickler for correct grammar (or happen to know someone who is), then you have probably heard the rule about not ending a sentence with a preposition.

But where did this rule come from? (Or, perhaps we should be asking, “from where did this rule come?”) And is it really a rule? Or is that just a myth?

According to this article from Atlas Obscura, it all goes back to 17th Century England, when a writer named John Dryden criticized playwright, Ben Johnson, for ending a sentence with a preposition. Dryden later advised a young writer that “In the correctness of the English I remember I hinted somewhat of concludding [sic] your sentences with prepositions or conjunctions sometimes, which is not elegant, as in your first sentence.”

And, while he is only documented to have stated this on those two occasions, for some reason his criticism stuck and turned into a well-known rule of “proper English.”

So, next time your grammar expert friend reminds you to not end your sentence with a preposition, you will know who to thank (or blame).

MICROSOFT WORD TIPS FOR WRITERS … Mac Edition

Posted on October 16, 2018February 11, 2021 by The Writers For Hire, Inc.

A little while back, we compiled some “Word hacks” that our writers have learned over the years of working with Microsoft Word. But we realized that Microsoft Word is, like all things, different across platforms. So not to be left out, our Mac users piped up with tips and tricks of their own.

Take Control from A to Z

PC users know that ctrl functions can really speed along their word processing. Mac users have a different – but equally useful – key in the COMMAND key (denoted with a snazzy ⌘ icon). And what do you know? Every letter in the alphabet (plus ⌘) has its very own function.

⌘A
will highlight all the text in the entire document.
⌘B
bolds your highlighted text.
⌘C
copies to the clipboard anything you’ve highlighted.
⌘D
opens the font window so you can adjust your typeface.
⌘F
pushes the cursor up to the top-right search bar – from there, you can perform other find and replace functions by clicking on the gear drop-down menu:
⌘G
goes to the next instance of the word you’re finding in the Find & Replace function.
⌘H
hides the entire Word program (don’t worry, it hasn’t gone away – just click on Word in your dock to bring it back to the forefront). For those of you who operate a cluttered desktop and need some quick breathing room, OPTION ⌘H hides everything else so you can just see your open Word docs.
⌘I
turns highlighted text into italics.
⌘K
adds a hyperlink to highlighted text.
⌘M
minimizes the Word window into the dock.
⌘N
creates a new blank Word document.
⌘O
opens a dialogue box that prompts you to open a different document.
⌘P
opens your print dialogue box.
⌘Q
quits the Word application (it will prompt you to save before taking that action, so you don’t need to worry about losing your work).
⌘S
saves your document.
(Important note: This quick-save option saves your work as the current version only! SHIFT-⌘S lets you do a Save As rather than save-and-replace, in case you don’t want to save over your previous draft.)
⌘T
inserts a tab (the position/distance is set in Format > Tabs).
⌘U
underlines your highlighted text.
Alternatively, CONTROL ⌘V opens the Paste Special dialogue box to choose the formatting for your pasted copy.
⌘V
opens the Paste Special dialogue box to choose the formatting for your pasted copy.
⌘W
closes your current document (it will prompt you to save before taking that action).
⌘X
deletes a highlighted word.
⌘Y
will redo your last action.
⌘Z
will undo your last action.

We’ve reached the end of the alphabet but definitely not the end of our keystrokes for fast action.

What's Your Preference?

⌘, opens your Word preferences window.

Use Proper Grammar

OPTION ⌘ L brings up a Spelling & Grammar toolbox. From here, click Options to select a variety of editorial aids to help you write your copy. This enables a ton of handy checks and balances. Our writers find the final check box option “Show readability statistics” particularly handy. This gives a measurement of how your content will match your audience’s reading level.

Capture Those Screenshots

One of our favorite quick key options is for grabbing screenshots. We find that visuals help explain many situations: A picture is definitely worth a thousand words! So our writers have discovered shortcuts to creating screenshots. There are several ways to do this.

SHIFT ⌘ 3 simply takes a screenshot of your entire desktop.

SHIFT ⌘ 4 gives you a bulls-eye to click and drag over just your desired image. Hold down your mouse while you capture the image you want, then release the mouse to snap the photo. Or hit ESC to release the bulls-eye and start over.

SHIFT ⌘ 4, then spacebar, pulls up a camera icon. Hover the camera over the specific app window you want to capture, then click the mouse for an image of the visible part of that window.

Watch Your (Foreign) Language

Whether or not you are fluent in multiple languages, you can— and should—still perform a spell check for everything you write. Word enables you to choose alternate dictionaries to accomplish this. You just need to let the app know which text should be checked in which language.

OK, so this isn’t a ctrl function or a quick key shortcut, but we found this feature an important one to include. It’s covered in the original “Word hacks” post, but here’s how Mac accomplishes it.

Highlight the foreign text.
Under the Tools menu, click Language.
In the pop-up list, click the language that you want, and then hit OK.
Mark the text, then check the spelling in your document (Under Tools, click Spelling and Grammar, or use the quick keys we just mentioned: OPTION ⌘ L). When the spelling checker encounters the marked text, it uses the specified language dictionary to check the text:

Medellín es la ciudad de la eterna primevera.

[Word has flagged “primevera” as misspelled and provided a correction.]

Protecting Your Formatting

Computerworld recently shared a tip for pasting content into a Word document without messing up your formatting. It calls making a couple of adjustments to your System Preferences.

To do this, open System Preferences on your Mac and then:

Select Keyboard
Select Shortcuts Pane
Select App Shortcuts, and then All Applications
Tap the Plus button
Type “Paste and Match Formatting” in the first box
In the second box, press Command V. Now when you paste something with a Command V shortcut, it will default to the formatting of your destination document.

Graduation Speeches in 50 Words Or Less?

Posted on October 9, 2018February 12, 2021 by The Writers For Hire, Inc.

Graduation is an exciting time.

Whether you are the one getting the diploma, or you are supporting a loved one from the audience, graduation is a celebration of years of hard word and a future full of opportunities.

But, let’s be honest. Sitting through long graduation speeches can, at times, be excruciating.

What if there was a limit put on the length of those graduation speeches, though?

And what if that limit were only 50 words?!?

Well, last year the New York Times asked their readers to submit graduation speeches with the stipulation that they had to be no more than 50 words.

The result was a great collection of short and sweet “words of wisdom,” which the NYT published in this fun article.

What’s Different – and What’s the Same – in Today’s Job Search Game

Posted on September 3, 2018February 11, 2021 by The Writers For Hire, Inc.

You haven’t looked in a job for 10 years. But for a variety of reasons, you’ve decided to get back into the job search game… and you’re noticing that things have changed.

From LinkedIn profiles to targeted keywords, resume writing is a whole new ballgame – and a confusing one, at that. Our internet-centric world has made job searching trickier than in the past.

So what do you need to do?

We’ve compiled a cheat sheet to help get you up to speed on the latest job search trends and strategies.

It's (Still) All About Who You Know

Networking is still king.

Because of the limits of faceless online anonymity, the personal meet-and-greet is as important as ever. Keywords – even “the right keywords” – will never take the place of a handshake and eye contact. Having someone personally vouch for you can often preclude anything in your resume.

“Job search continues to be personal,” HR expert Laura Handrick tells The Job Network. “People don’t hire from paper, they hire people they trust will do a great job in the role.”

And hiring isn’t the only thing that’s moved away from paper.

Today, most open positions aren’t even posted on traditional sources like online job boards or classifieds: According to Forbes, up to 80% of all available positions are nestled within the so-called “hidden job market.”

These positions aren’t advertised in traditional sources like online classifieds or job boards because companies are increasingly avoiding open online applications that can lead to a lengthy (and expensive) hiring process. Instead, they’re using recruiting firms, headhunters, and even referrals from their own employees. This means job seekers often have to rely on networking to find out about available positions.

But what if your network has shrunk (read: You’ve burned some bridges)?

Or what if it wasn’t very wide to begin with (read: You’ve never particularly enjoyed those meet-and-greet social functions)?

Start by contacting anyone and everyone you know or worked with in the past – from employers and coworkers to clients or suppliers to friends and college roommates. Mention you’re looking for a new gig, and don’t be afraid to send them your resume. You never know who’s aware of those hidden jobs.

Then reach out to people you don’t necessarily know. Use social media platforms like LinkedIn to find like professionals and invite them into your circle, and to join a few associations with strong social presence. And really, if you’re not already on LinkedIn, stop reading now and take care of that!

Leveraging LinkedIn

These days, LinkedIn membership is really not an option. In addition to establishing a network of folks who might be able to help you in your search, you can use the platform itself to find advertised positions.

New to LinkedIn? Not sure how to leverage your account to help in your search? Here are a few pointers:

1. Your Profile

Unlike your resume – which is a static document once you send it out – your LinkedIn profile is a living, breathing, and ever-evolving creation. You can (and should) change it regularly to keep it current.

Think twice about publicizing your job search, though. For one, that might not be information you’d like to share with your current employer (who’s likely tracking staffers’ profiles). For another – and possibly more important – reason, announcing the fact that you’re looking for a job could make you vulnerable. Recruiters shy away from desperate-looking professionals and have even been known to even weed out profiles containing the word “seeking.”

Thinking about leaving your current job off your profile? Consider this: JobHunt reports that this action could drop your ranking and push your profile “several pages lower than what it would have been.” Of course, if your current job isn’t something you’d like to publicize, by all means omit it.

2. Your Keywords

Keywords have become a big deal in today’s job market. TopResume tells us, “The algorithm behind LinkedIn looks at keyword density to rank your profile in a search.” Sure, this might sound daunting, but the casual consumer does essentially the same thing: When you search for ANYTHING online, you want only the most applicable results.

Same goes for recruiters. They are looking for candidates with very specific skills, and they target their searches to find only those who fit the bill. This means that your LinkedIn profile needs to include those target words. Be sure to use the exact wording of those desired skillsets included in the job posting. Try this hack: Copy the position description into a free word cloud app. WordItOut is particularly user-friendly and lets you visualize a summary of the qualifications that the posting highlights most.

Meanwhile, JobHunt claims that “the keywords in the Job Title field (an area highly indexed within LinkedIn’s search algorithm) can draw additional traffic to your profile.” And adding the sought-after keywords in your Skills & Endorsements section can also increase your page ranking and profile views.

3. Your Photo

Definitely post a current, professional-looking headshot. Recruiters tend to think that profiles without photos look suspicious. Plus, LinkedIn flags photo-less profiles as “incomplete,” which can negatively impact your search rankings. One statistic even claims that profiles with photos get up to 21 times more views.

4. Your Search

Use the “Jobs” tab to search by keyword, country, and even zip code. Use “Advanced Search” to refine your search by date posted, experience level, specific location, job function, company, and industry. If you have a specific company in mind, visit the company profile to see if they’ve posted job openings on their LinkedIn pages. LinkedIn can also save your job searches and send you emails about new job postings.

5. Your Contacts

Before applying, secure an introduction so someone will be watching for your application. In addition to linking with colleagues from your current endeavors, join your university alumni group to connect with names from your past.

6. Your Connections

Remember that old party game, “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon?” That’s kind of how LinkedIn works. Your contacts – or connections – are organized into a hierarchy of first-degree connections (people you know directly), second-degree connections (people who have connections in common), and so on.

Ask your first-degree connections if they can introduce you. Additionally, you could see if any of your LinkedIn contacts works there or knows someone who works there.

Once you’ve applied, don’t just sit back and worry that your application got lost in cyberspace. LinkedIn makes it possible to find contact information for the actual hiring manager, using the search bar at the top of the page. Click “People,” then input your target company name in the “Current companies” filter pane for a list of employees.

Social Media Presence

Have you Googled yourself today?

Since you’re already updating your LinkedIn profile, it’s a good time to consider your online reputation.

Recruiters will be looking you up on Google – you should do the same. Tweet this

“Google yourself once a week,” career consultant Mark Anthony Dyson recommends. “Take note of any results that tarnish your image – including those that may be about other people who happen to share your name.”

In fact, The Job Network cites statistics that 70% of employers report screening candidates via social media before offering positions. Recruiter.com even claims this tops 90%. Add to that reports that 54% of employers say they have chosen another candidate after viewing the applicant’s social media profile and another 57% report being less likely to even interview someone they can’t find online, and the implications are clear: You must be active online to be competitive in the job market.

And being active is more than just setting up your LinkedIn profile.

Sure, that’s a good first step. And keeping it current is another. Then stay alert and engaged in your industry by keeping the conversation going with your online colleagues.

Not sure what to post? Consider:

Responses to posts you enjoyed reading
Articles you’ve recently published
Awards or accolades you’ve received

Modernize Your Resume

Today’s job recruiter spends maybe six seconds reviewing a resume. You read that correctly. And six seconds isn’t a lot of time. You need to “impress the judges” from the get-go with relevant details they can’t turn away.

So how do you do that? What are the new “rules” of resume writing? What’s changed over the past decade or so since you last actively sent out your resume? For one, you’ll be doing a lot more fill-in-the-blank online application forms these days. Still, keeping these tips in mind will beef up your resume so yours is sharp when you hand over a copy during a discussion about hidden jobs.

1. Forego Your Physical Address

Gone are the days of including your physical address. Hiring managers don’t send job offers through the mail anymore, so they don’t need to know where you live. They do, however, need to have an easy way to find you to schedule a meeting or even offer you the job. Make it easy for them by providing your email address, your phone number, and (yes, you guessed it!) your LinkedIn profile link.

2. Choose Your Email Address Wisely

If it’s been long enough, your last resume might not have even included an email address. That’s a must now – as is using an adult email address. Your resume is all about first impressions. Can you really expect a hiring manager to contact you via [email protected]? Even if you’re emotionally invested in that email address you set up in college, get yourself a professional-sounding handle for all your job search communications.

3. Give Yourself a Title

Add a concise (two- or three-word) position title that summarizes your skills as a professional. Run this just underneath your contact information as a quick way for recruiters to know what you do (or what you want to do for their company).

4. Use Plenty of White Space

Use plenty of cushion around the key ideas you want to be particularly noticeable. Too much copy overwhelms the reader. If your resume is hard to read, recruiters won’t bother. This means that you shouldn’t cram your resume onto one page. Keep as much white space as you need, flowing onto two (or even three) pages in a very readable font, ideally at least 11-point type.

5. Take Action

Use strong verbs and be concise. If you’re stuck using the same mundane words, check out this amazingly comprehensive compilation of resume-worthy verbs from The Muse. Describe your job responsibilities with the concrete skills you’ve honed over your tenure in the position. Better yet, detail your accomplishments and how your successes help the company. Provide specific measurements whenever possible.

While that resume tip hasn’t changed over time, there are a couple “accomplishments” you should omit at this point. Don’t claim to be an expert in Word and Excel. These “skills” are assumed at this point. And don’t state, “References available upon request.” That, too, is a given in today’s hiring world.

6. Mirror the Lingo

Many hiring managers try to save time by using software like an applicant tracking system (ATS) to scan applications for keywords and weed out the ones that don’t belong. Estimates vary, but reports indicated that more than three-fourths of resumes never even make it across recruiters’ desks – the ATS rejects them outright for missing the right keywords. Sounds a bit daunting… all the more reason to make sure that your resume, just like your LinkedIn profile, contains some of “the right words.” Match the exact wording used in the job post. JobScan is a handy way to compare the content of your resume with the language of the position listing to help earn you a nod.

7. Keep it Scannable

Employers will scan your document in a “Z pattern.” They start at the top left, scan to the top right, then move quickly down to the lower left, and end on the lower right (remember, this only takes about six seconds!). So, the strategy is to keep the important details toward the top left (above the top third of the page) and the extra niceties toward the lower right.

8. Ditch the Objective

In the past, many professionals were encouraged to add a few sentences to the top of their resumes that described their ideal positions. But let’s face it: Recruiters today don’t care about what kind of work you want. Instead, you need to convince them of why you’re the best person for the job at hand. Replace your old objective statement of “Avid bird-watcher in search of pet-sitting opportunity” with a professional profile of “Animal lover with 20 years of providing the best in-home care for pets.”

9. Highlight Key Skills

What are the 8-10 main skills you most want to highlight about yourself? Think of the tasks you complete regularly and how you most help your company; when possible, include things you can quantify.

Another “new” trend is to include a two-column list under your professional profile. Keep in mind that resume format options are infinite and extremely personal. And your resume, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. If your ideal job is a straight-laced corporate position, opting for a more traditional black-and-white resume. A role in the arts might lend itself more to a bolder look.

Regardless: Clean, concise, and easy to read are always the best choices.

Stay on the Write Side of the Law: Steer Clear of Publishing Woes

Posted on June 7, 2018February 11, 2021 by The Writers For Hire, Inc.

“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….” there was a copyright lawsuit between Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica.

Stars Wars had captured the hearts of adoring fans across America, and Universal Studios wanted to jump on that bandwagon, so they launched Battlestar Galactica.

But Star Wars execs saw one too many similarities in the Battlestar Galactica storyline, and the lawsuit landed in federal court. Battlestar Galactica was cancelled and the parties settled out of court, but the case illustrates the ever-present battle against copyright infringement.

That phrase–copyright infringement–makes writers cringe.

After all, you don’t want to land in court just for doing your job.

But you need to do your job within the bounds of the law, even though you may not exactly know the specifics of that law.

Read on for a quick romp through media law*, and take the first step to protecting yourself against legal missteps.

For the Record

You can only type so fast.

In interviews, it’s inevitable that you’ll miss jotting down one thing or another.

So recording interviews isn’t really optional; it’s proper professional form.

Fortunately, the law is usually on the side of writers using recording devices.

You can usually record, film, or broadcast any conversation if all parties consent.

If you’re conducting an in-person interview and your recording device is in plain view, that equates implied consent–in other words, you’re standing (or talking) on firm legal ground.

Phone conversations are a little more nuanced.

Federal law requires only one-party consent to recording a phone conversation, unless the purpose is criminal or tortious.

That one party can be the writer who is recording.

Many states have similar standards. For instance, Texas requires the consent of at least one party in an oral communication.

In one-party consent states, this law would also allow a writer to record conversations in public.

Beware, that calling a person in another state places you under the laws of that state.

About a dozen states require two-party (or more, usually all parties to a conversation) consent to recording a conversation.

So, unless you want to research the recording laws of each state before making a phone call, it’s best to just make it your standard practice to inform the other party that you’re recording the conversation.

Texting Up Trouble

Similar laws govern text messages or electronic communications.

So what type of consent do you need before using quotes from electronic communications?

“Wireless consent is ambiguous,” says Rick Walker, a Dallas-area attorney and Professor of Media Law and Regulation at the University of North Texas. “It depends on the facts of each circumstance.”

Walker suggests that before you publish any wireless communications, you ask yourself questions like:

Where did you get the wireless communication?
Can you verify that the source is authentic?
What is your intent with the communication? Is your intent to harass, embarrass, or defame someone? If so, you’re headed toward shaky legal ground.
Is it public information or a private confidence? If it’s publicly disseminated on social media, then there’s no expectation of privacy.
Is the person in question a private citizen or a public figure? In general, public figures should have less expectation of privacy than private citizens.

Crossing the Legal Line

If you secretly record someone, using a digital recorder or hidden camera, the person you recorded may lob trespass and intrusion of privacy claims at you.

These claims are shakier if the recording takes place in an office or commercial establishment open to the public.

But courts frown upon secretly recording people in their own homes, where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Celebrity wrestler Hulk Hogan became embroiled in one such famous controversy.

Gawker posted a sex tape of Hogan aka Terry Gene Bollea, filmed without the celebrity’s consent. Bollea sued, won $130 million in damages, and single-handedly bankrupted Gawker.

Even worse than civil litigation, wrongful recording could land you a felony conviction.

In Texas, illegally recording an in-person conversation or electronic communication or disclosing is a felony offense.

So, think twice before you attempt to enhance your book with a juicy expose obtained through secretly recording conversations.

Sign on the Dotted Line

Even if a source knows you’re recording the interview, you may need to go one step further to protect your back and your bottom line.

Particularly with interviews for books, consider having your interviewee sign a release.

If you discuss sensitive or controversial material, this becomes prudent.

Having a well-written and signed release offers some protection against claims of libel or invasion of privacy, should your source decide that the published depiction is unflattering.

A recording of the interview that supports your assertions offers additional protection.

Many interview subjects do present special requests–perhaps wanting to read or edit your story before it is published, to remain anonymous, or have some comments kept “off the record.”

Document any request or agreement you make with interview subjects, and abide by those agreements.

Breeching such a spoken or written agreement could leave you liable for monetary damages.

Note those Quotes

And in quoting someone, make sure you avoid both plagiarism and copyright infringement.

The ideas overlap similar areas of law and ethics.

But plagiarism, as harrowing final exam warnings remind students, involves claiming someone’s work as your own, which is largely an ethical issue.

Holders of copyright own the rights to their work, including the rights to: reproduce the work, create derivative works based on it, distribute copies of the work, and publicly display or perform the work.

When quoting, aim to precisely use the words of the quote.

A writer must evaluate both the legal and ethical concerns involved in modifying quotes.

“My opinion is that a journalist should never modify quotes,” Walker says, “The definition of modifying could be either unprofessional or illegal, depending on how much liberty the writer takes in modifying.”

Walker asserts that though it’s not optimal professional form, modification is usually legal if it doesn’t materially alter a source’s statement.

The Supreme Court weighed in on this issue in Masson v. New Yorker Magazine.

That case involved an outspoken Mr. Masson, the director of the Sigmund Freud Archives.

Masson became disenchanted with Freudian theory, was fired from his position, and subsequently granted an interview to the New Yorker Magazine.

The writer paraphrased and inferred Masson’s rather unflattering statements, placing these paraphrases within quotation marks.

Masson sued the magazine for defamation, while New Yorker argued that its statements were protected under the First Amendment.

The Supreme Court disagreed, ruling that the First Amendment’s free expression clause does not protect distortions of quotes.

Nevertheless, writers do have some leeway in printing material with minor factual inaccuracies.

Under the substantial truth test, a writer can get away with conveying minor factual inaccuracies as long as those statements don’t materially alter the substance of the source’s communication.

In addition to factual content, it’s just as import to maintain proper context for the quote.

This rule trips up everyone from students to famous journalists.

For instance, John Stossel anchored a story purporting that televangelist Fred Price misused funds intended for his religious organization. On the 20/20 piece, Price is shown saying, “I live in a 25-room mansion. I have my own $6 million yacht. I have my own private jet, and I have my own helicopter, and I have seven luxury automobiles.”

Price did say these words. However, he said them during a sermon illustrating a hypothetical person whereas ABC insinuated that he was speaking of his own wealth.

The inevitable lawsuit followed, and the parties settled out of court.

If you’re worried about publishing a controversial story, remember that truth is a defense against defamation.

So, if you’re sharing factual, research-based claims, you’re protecting yourself against allegations of libel or slander.

Stick to a Fair Use Policy

Fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material without asking permission.

If you’re commenting on, criticizing, or parodying material, it usually falls under fair use policy and you are not likely to be found liable for copyright infringement.

The fair use statute looks at four factors in determining fair use:

Purpose and character of the use (commercial, educational)
Nature of the copyrighted work
Amount of the work used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole
Effect on market value of the copyrighted work.

In the famous 1841 copyright case that provided the basis for Fair Use laws, Judge Joseph Story said, “Patents and copyrights approach, nearer than any other class of cases belonging to forensic discussions, to what may be called the metaphysics of law, where the distinctions are, or at least may be, very subtle and refined, and, sometimes, almost evanescent.”

But, to distill the message of the wordy Judge Story, what are those distinctions? How much copyrighted material can you quote before eclipsing fair use?

Unfortunately, there are no firm guidelines.

In general, the more material you use, the less likely it is to be considered fair use.

If you’re eclipsing 50% of borrowed material, appealing to the same market as the original work, and negatively affecting the original work’s economic gain, crying “fair use” probably won’t get you far.

On the other hand, if you quote only a small amount of material, use it in a work substantially different from the original, and appeal to a different market, you likely have a solid defense against copyright infringement.

Finally, a Freebie

Good news!

There is one source that isn’t going to try to sue you for pulling its quotes–the public domain.

The public owns these works, and anyone can use them without getting permissions.

Works enter the public domain through:

Copyright expiring
Copyright owner failing to renew its copyright
Copyright owner placing the work in the public domain
Inapplicable copyright law

The bottom line in principles of copyright law?

The law is still evolving with a rapidly-changing digital media landscape.

If you use third-party content without permission, you risk a lawsuit.

But if you walk out your door in America, you risk a lawsuit.

So adhere to stringent professional ethics, write or broadcast with integrity, and balance these principles with basic media law knowledge.

Not only will you be able to look yourself in the mirror, you’ll put yourself in a good position to defend against possible claims.

*The information presented here is intended for informational purposes only. Copyright law differs by state, and you should consult a knowledgeable copyright attorney with specific legal questions. The information presented here is not a substitute for consulting a licensed attorney for specific legal advice.