Creator's Block

We've talked about the importance of style in your content before - on this very podcast, on our blog and in one of our webinars from last year.

But this week, I came to the proverbial podcast mic with something specific on my mind: the importance of tone in your content.

You see, early last week, I was having a discussion with an account manager about a case study. We had received some feedback from a client regarding the potential inclusion of an element that, in my mind, would have dimished the power of the final product. 

Why?

Unlike a blog post, an eBook or a webinar, case studies are supposed to be results-focused, because readers don't want to be burdened by mounds of editorializing and exposition. In fact, the more fluff you try to put into a case study - no matter how noble your intent - the more you may undermine or water down the actual point of your success story.

This is just one example of how tone and message choices matter, when you're creating content for your business. So, that's what we're talking about this week.

Because, as we all know, often it's not just what you say, but also how you say it.

• What is the difference between voice and tone?
• Why does a brand's tone need to change, and how can you do it effectively?
• How do we create guidlines around tone that work for our clients?
• What are the dangers of not paying attention to your tone when creating content?

• Brand style guide template (Ungated for a limited time)
• Episode 30: How to Boost Creativity and Stay Inspired
• New Yorker: U Up? (Daily Shouts)
• New Yorker: I Work from Home (Daily Shouts)
• Liz's guest stint on the Scripted podcast

What did you think of this episode? Is there another topic or question you want us to take on? Or do you just want to say hi? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CreatorsBlockHQ or using the hashtag #creatorsblockparty. You can say hi to me at @naptownpint and Shelby at @shelbstheging. You can also join us in the Creator's Block Podcast group on Facebook, where you can ask questions and get inspired.

And don't forget - whether you love us or hate us - we would really appreciate you reviewing our podcast on iTunes! 

…until next week! 

There is a black hole in design projects. It's this realm right between the development of the creative brief and the presentation of those first few design concepts.

Sure, the client knows is that their designer is hard at work – brainstorming, ideating and being as creative as possible in order to deliver the most fantastical design concepts imaginable. Obviously.

But where exactly does the designer go? Do they trek through the mountains of Tibet in order to find inner peace and bolster their creativity? Do they flee to an uncharted island to perfect their focus?

Most project managers and clients probably couldn't say what goes on during this time. And it's problematic because then, when the first rounds of designs are reviewed, designs come out of left field and no one is quite happy with how it all came out.

Goals and expectations were not established, and feelings get hurt.

Mood boards are like a lifeline back to the mainland. They bridge this gap that we all struggle with, whether you're a designer or not. And they run both ways, helping both designers and clients communicate better with one another.

In this week's episode, Liz and I discuss my own process for using mood boards in design projects. I talk about the tools that I use to brainstorm design concepts and build out mood boards. In particular, I share how they help me communicate better with my clients and ensure that we are both on the same page regarding their needs and desires.

Flipping this concept around, Liz also shows how marketers and noncreatives alike can use similar tools to talk to their own designers. 

• Why use mood boards?
• How do mood boards help with brainstorming?
• How do they help with presenting and clarifying design concepts?
• How should you set up your mood board?
• How do you create a successful and meaningful mood board?
• Can a mood board bridge the gap between designers and decision-makers?
• How can marketers and other nondesigners use mood boards for their projects?

• InVision
• Pinterest
• Creative Market
• Moodboard
• Niice
• Canva

• Noisli (For all of your "rainy-trainy" needs)
• This adorable penguin holiday cookie cutter mailer
• 2016 Annapolis Film Festival artwork – "Captain ACrab" by Citizen Pride
• Foodie photography app
• Liz avoided my efforts to take a photo of her official "Friday shirt," but I promise to force her to add it to the Creator's Block HQ Instagram when I can. 😈

What did you think of this episode? Is there another topic or question you want us to take on? Or do you just want to say hi? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CreatorsBlockHQ or using the hashtag #creatorsblockparty. You can say hi to me at @shelbstheging and Liz at @naptownpint. You can also join us in the Creator's Block Podcast group on Facebook, where you can ask questions and get inspired.

And don't forget - whether you love us or hate us - we would really appreciate you reviewing our podcast on iTunes! 

…until next week! 

Last fall, as I was perusing the lineup for speakers for #INBOUND16 and assembling my schedule, there was one session that immediately caught my attention:

"Could a Robot Create Your Content?"

Within seconds of mentally processing the title, I knew I was registering for it. I also muttered in a rage to myself that if the presentation was anything other the phrase "ABSOLUTELY NOT!" projected onto a screen for 45 minutes straight, I was going to completely freak out.

Because I'm a rational adult and a professional who never overreacts about anything, ever.

Of course, there was much more to the presentation than that. (In fact, it wasn't even close to my anti-robot vision.) And, as you might have guessed, the answer to that loaded question has many layers to it. 

That's why this week, after forcing Shelby to watch the recording of the session I attended (linked above), we're talking about robots. Are they nefarious, dark overlords who will ruin my life, as well as content and marketing forever? Or, are they like automation, where there may be a time and a place? 

One thing we know for sure is that we're in a new era of rapidly-evolving technology; that means it's time to start tackling these questions before the 'bots take over. So, grab your tin foil hat and listen in on our discussion... 

• What's the difference between automation and robots?
• What if a robot is so good that you can't tell it's a robot?
• Where do robots fit into the movement toward hand-crafted work?
• Robots seek and emulate patterns, and yet humans seek deviation - where do they meet?
• Will you ever be able to outsource your content creation to a robot?
• What can Jurassic park teach us about robots and content creation?

• Design Isn't Art (Shelby)
• Dharmesh Shah's INBOUND keynote (Starts around ~39:00)
• The Two Vocabularies, Because There Are Two Audiences (Seth Godin)
• GrowthBot
• Which Marketing Strategy Is Better: Fear or Emotional Persuasion? (Kathleen)
• Uncanny valley
• Google Is a Total Dictator and It's Making Us All Better (Meghan Keaney Anderson)
• Creator's Block, Ep. 8: What Google's New Algorithm Change Means for Your Website 

What did you think of this episode? Is there another topic or question you want us to take on? Or do you just want to say hi? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CreatorsBlockHQ or using the hashtag #creatorsblockparty. You can say hi to me at @naptownpint and Shelby at @shelbstheging. You can also join us in the Creator's Block Podcast group on Facebook, where you can ask questions and get inspired.

And don't forget - whether you love us or hate us - we would really appreciate you reviewing our podcast on iTunes! 

…until next week! 

Our work culture thrives on people telling others – coworkers, bosses, friends, spouses – how busy they are.

Really though, we love to say it. Don't tell me you never feel just a little bit of pride when you tell your friends that "No, I can't go out on Wednesday night. I'M BUSY."

But busy-ness becomes a dangerous trap. It's so easy to just say "I'm too busy" and to move along from one task to the next, checking things off your list without really putting your full brainpower into any particular item.

So when we feel like everything is on fire, and out inboxes pile up with endless newsletters and emails, how do we – as marketers, content creators, and designers – keep our creativity flowing and continue to think outside the box?

In this week's episode, Liz and I dive into the tools and techniques that we both use day-to-day to get ourselves out of the "check-the-box" mentality. We share how we push ourselves to keep thinking creatively, in order to fuel the passions that we both have for what we do, and to continue to produce higher-quality work.

• What are some simple tools and websites that help inspire creativity?
• As designers and content creators, what kinds of things do we read to stay inspired?
• Why, as professionals, should we go out and network with others in our respective niches?
• How do you really step back and reset yourself and get your creative juices flowing again?
• What do Liz and I like to read and listen to, for fun and for work?

• airpixels
• Mid-Atlantic Aerial Photography
• Video: How Louis CK Tells a Joke
• This video that cheered me up one, extra-busy day

What did you think of this episode? Is there another topic or question you want us to take on? Or do you just want to say hi? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CreatorsBlockHQ or using the hashtag #creatorsblockparty. You can say hi to me at @shelbstheging and Liz at @naptownpint. You can also join us in the Creator's Block Podcast group on Facebook, where you can ask questions and get inspired.

And don't forget - whether you love us or hate us - we would really appreciate you reviewing our podcast on iTunes! 

…until next week! 

This week, we're taking a break from talking about content and design to talk about something we think everyone can relate to - whether you own your own business, or you're a marketer just getting started: 

The challenges of networking.

For so many, networking events (trade shows, conferences, happy hours, industry meetups) are considered a necessary evil. Unfortunately, it doesn't matter if you're getting out there to mingle with prospects or to connect with other professionals in your field, knowing how to work a room effectively can make or break you in those situations.

So, inspired by a recent talk I attended, I decided to go digging for some of my favorite tips and tricks to help others feel more confident in networking situations. And, of course, Shelby brought in her own unique perspective, as well as a few things I hadn't even thought of...

• What is your body language communicating to others - both in a conversation and standing on your own?
• Why should you look out for pairs of people?
• What are our favorite strategies for prepping for events we need to attend?
• What the heck are power poses, and why do I rely on them?
• What does it mean to be word drunk and design drunk?
• ...and finally, what is this week's secret question?

• Forbes: How to Work a Room Like You Own the Place
• Lifehacker: 10 Tips to Work a Room Like a Champ
• Mixergy: How to Work a Room
• Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!
• And, of course, the dramatic chipmunk (even though we called it a groundhog)

What did you think of this episode? Is there another topic or question you want us to take on? Or do you just want to say hi? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CreatorsBlockHQ or using the hashtag #creatorsblockparty. You can say hi to me at @naptownpint and Shelby at @shelbstheging. You can also join us in the Creator's Block Podcast group on Facebook, where you can ask questions and get inspired.

And don't forget - whether you love us or hate us - we would really appreciate you reviewing our podcast on iTunes! 

…until next week! 

One of the most important things you can do as a marketer is to step back, take off your marketing goggles and remember that you, too, are a consumer.

As a designer who builds out marketing email templates, I love to read through my variety of business newsletters and marketing emails, because they shows me where other businesses are finding success. And I've noticed recently that many companies are beginning to play around with plain-text emails versus their normal, branded, HTML emails. And my marketing geekiness might be showing a bit here, but I find it fascinating.

In this week's episode, Liz and I fight a little over the common debate between over-designing and under-designing marketing emails – and we see how plain-text compares to HTML.

We ask: How far should we take email design, or should they be designed much at all? And like the conclusion of pretty much any marketing discussion, everything really comes down to knowing our audience.

• What are some good examples of both plain-text and HTML marketing emails?
• Should our audience determine the types of emails we send?
• Is our audience being honest about the types of emails they prefer?
• Do plain-text emails perform better and have higher deliverability than HTML emails?
• Should we use more images and graphics, or more text?
• Is this conversation a matter of personal versus branded?
• Are we, as marketers, better off trying both plain-text and HTML emails?

• HubSpot's post on Plain Text vs. HTML Emails
• InVision and their newsletter
• Bernie Thoughts Twitter account
• This relatable meme:

What did you think of this episode? Is there another topic or question you want us to take on? Or do you just want to say hi? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CreatorsBlockHQ or using the hashtag #creatorsblockparty. You can say hi to me at @shelbstheging and Liz at @naptownpint. You can also join us in the Creator's Block Podcast group on Facebook, where you can ask questions and get inspired.

And don't forget - whether you love us or hate us - we would really appreciate you reviewing our podcast on iTunes! 

…until next week! 

As Quintain's dedicated content manager, I spend as much time creating content as I do reviewing content created by others. That means I have a front row seat to all of the editorial quirks and idiosyncracies of my fellow Quintain team members, our clients and... well, myself. (Alas, I am not perfect.)

Then, a couple of weeks ago, I noticed something that almost everyone was doing - again, including myself.

Most content creators - whether you're a marketer, or you're burning the midnight content oil for your own business - make wimpy word choices when framing their ideas or offering advice based on what is often years of experience. They play it safe and use apologetic language that undermines their authority and the power of their content. 

For those of you sitting there saying, "I'm not 100 percent sure what you mean, but I am not the kind of person to be a wimp about anything," I get it. In person, you stand behind your ideas. In meetings, you speak with conviction and confidence. But who are you once you get behind a keyboard?

You'd be surprised by how many people succumb to apologetic writing, no matter how much of a rockstar they are face-to-face. What's worse, they don't even realize they're doing it. 

• Is there a great conspiracy against Liz?
• What does it mean to be apologetic in your writing?
• What words and phrases should you avoid as much as possible?
• Why is being too wishy-washy a bad thing, even with topics that obviously involve a lot of variables?
• Why do people naturally tend to write this way?
• How do you walk the line between professional and appropriate, without eroding your credibility?
• How do you write with confidence without also sounding like a jerk?
• How do you stop writing like an apologist once and for all?
• Which ice cream chain is now officially on notice?

"When I read a blog, I don't want it to be filled with "maybes" and "might bes." I want them to tell me what to do with some kind of authority."

"Stop making excuses for your content." 

• Gmail plugin: Just Not Sorry
• Kickstarter: Vincent Van Gogh action figure

What did you think of this episode? Is there another topic or question you want us to take on? Or do you just want to say hi? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CreatorsBlockHQ or using the hashtag #creatorsblockparty. You can say hi to me at @naptownpint and Shelby at @shelbstheging. You can also join us in the Creator's Block Podcast group on Facebook, where you can ask questions and get inspired.

And don't forget - whether you love us or hate us - we would really appreciate you reviewing our podcast on iTunes! 

…until next week! 

A few months ago, I posted a question to Inbound.org, asking users to tell me how they would rate their own company's logo, on a scale of one to 10, and why. The responses were all very positive, each a rating of nine or even 10, and I enjoyed reading the reasons behind the ratings, all of which were varied and completely subjective. 

But it gets us thinking – what is it that really makes a logo so great? How can you, someone in charge of your company's branding, make sure that your logo and other brand elements aren't outdated or missing the mark?

In this week's episode, Liz and I explore the way people critique their own brands, and how they reach out to others for feedback as well. Ultimately, we find there is a balance between you taking charge of your brand, as someone who truly knows their own business, versus bringing other knowledgeable stakeholders into the discussion to really make sure your logo and brand are achieving the goals they were designed for.

• When should you consider a rebrand?
• Who should you consult for feedback on your logo and brand?
• How much feedback should you take into consideration, versus making your own judgments?
• How many people should be involved in critiquing your logo?
• What really makes a logo successful?
• What does it mean to have a flexible, multipurpose brand?

• The infamous Tropicana rebrand
• Google's new logo and the goals that drove it
• Shelby's "9 Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before You Rebrand" Quiz
• Creator's Block Episode 24 – Where we talk about what really goes into a design or rebrand project
• Cool, nerdtastic podcast: 99% Invisible - Billy Possum
• The Power Pause
• This wonderful, and painfully accurate gif:

What did you think of this episode? Is there another topic or question you want us to take on? Or do you just want to say hi? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CreatorsBlockHQ or using the hashtag #creatorsblockparty. You can say hi to me at @shelbstheging and Liz at @naptownpint. You can also join us in the Creator's Block Podcast group on Facebook, where you can ask questions and get inspired.

And don't forget - whether you love us or hate us - we would really appreciate you reviewing our podcast on iTunes! 

…until next week! 

We are no stranger to talking about blogging on the Creator's Block podcast. (We've talked about why people hate it so much, as well as three quick strategies for writing killer blog introductions.) Why do we talk about it so much? Because while we can all agree that blogging is an essential part of any successful inbound marketing strategy, it's also the marketing activity people tend to complain about the most. 

Specifically, there are two excuses that crop up in conversations both internally at Quintain and with our own clients time and time again. First, "I don't know what to write about." Second, "But I don't have any time to write a blog - I am so busy!"

So, on today's episode of Creator's Block, Shelby and I aren't just complaining and commiserating - we're providing you with tested strategies and tips for picking great topics and finding the time to blog. (Spoiler alert: You have more to say than you think, and guess what? We're all busy.) Enjoy!

• Do you really not have time to blog, or are you just not making the time?
• What's broken? Your process or your strategy?
• Are you choosing the right kind of format for your blog?
• Are there other formats you can explore to make blogging more efficient?
• Wait a minute, where do infographics fit in?
• What do you blog about when you think you don't have something to say?
• When should you pick your topic?
• How do you properly scope a topic?
• How broad should your audience be, and how does that influence how easy a blog is to write?
• When is the best time to set deadlines for yourself or others?
• What are some strategies for those managing other blog contributors?
• Are you setting up your work environment to actually make blogging enjoyable?
• What are our favorite strategies for "hacking" the blogging process?

• Video: Why You Should Create Insights, Not Content
• Distraction-free writing apps: Bear, Calmly
• Noisli ambient sound board
• Pomodoro technique
• Pomodoro application

What did you think of this episode? Is there another topic or question you want us to take on? Or do you just want to say hi? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CreatorsBlockHQ or using the hashtag #creatorsblockparty. You can say hi to me at @naptownpint and Shelby at@shelbstheging. You can also join us in the Creator's Block Podcast group on Facebook, where you can ask questions and get inspired.

And don't forget - whether you love us or hate us - we would really appreciate you reviewing our podcast on iTunes! 

…until next week! 

The topic of cheap logo design, or low-cost design work in general, is one that quickly causes riots to break out in the design community. Keyboards sailing through the air, potted succulents shattered on the floor. Designer anarchy.

Or, at the very least, passive-aggressive comment chains on social media.

But what are the reasons business owners turn to cheaper design options in the first place? More importantly, what do you stand to lose by going with a cheap design, and what might you gain?

I will always be an advocate for good, labor-intensive creative work, but the prevalence of cheap, quick design work can't be denied.

In this episode of the Creator's Block podcast, Liz and I walk the line between these two extremes and dive into the positives and negatives of "low-rent" logo design, and what they mean for the people who write the checks.

We also talk about what business owners truly miss out on by not being involved enough in the logo design process, or by overlooking what is essentially the cornerstone of their entire visual brand.

In the end we came to a similar, simple conclusion: You get what you pay for.

• Who fits the target audience for cheap logo design?
• What's really lost when you go for a low-cost logo, rather than a more expensive one?
• "Get Shit Done vs Get Shit Done Right": Should branding be just a check-the-box situation?
• Is the DIY culture relevant to logo design?
• What kind of work really goes into logo development – for both the designer and client?
• What questions can you ask a potential designer to alleviate your own concerns?
• What questions might a designer ask to get to know you and your needs better?

• Adweek: Here's an Ad That Should Inspire Entrepreneurs Everywhere to Get Their Act Together
• LogoDesignLove: How LO Can You GO?
• Medium: Stop Demanding Attention and Start Earning It

What did you think of this episode? Is there another topic or question you want us to take on? Or do you just want to say hi? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CreatorsBlockHQ or using the hashtag #creatorsblockparty. You can also say hi to meat @shelbstheging and Liz at @naptownpint. You can also join us in the Creator's Block Podcast group on Facebook, where you can ask questions and get inspired.

And don't forget - whether you love us or hate us - we would really appreciate you reviewing our podcast on iTunes! 

…until next week!