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How storytelling adds power to your presentation?

You are standing in a conference room full of people, or on a stage, about to give a business presentation. How do you begin?

Well, for starters, go for the brain. No, we don’t mean what zombies do or anything like that. But a little humor is good, especially if you can start with a story, a personal anecdote or an experience you’ve had that is relevant to your topic.

Storytelling is an immensely powerful way to communicate and it will help you immediately connect with your audience. Great leaders, sales and marketing professionals have always known this, and in today’s fast-paced corporate world, storytelling is a skill you need to succeed in business, says Darren Menabney, a lecturer on business presentation and critical thinking in the GLOBIS MBA program in Tokyo.

Why is that? Because storytelling relaxes you, grabs your audience’s attention, it boosts their empathy with you and helps them remember what you are talking about, he says. “Just giving data or facts doesn’t have the same effect on the brain of the people listening. Anybody who is in business needs to persuade — that is a core leadership skill. For example, you might be a startup and need to persuade investors and employees to join your company. But the goal is always to use a story to make your presentation compelling and create a bond with your audience. Take the facts, wrap your story around them and you will see a greater effect in terms of selling a product or idea.”

It’s a powerful, yet simple technique that has proven effective for thousands of years. Humans have always told stories, whether it has been sitting around a campfire, in books, movies, TV or online. The tools change but the power of storytelling remains because it comes naturally.

“Everyone has a story to tell, a life experience,” Menabney says. “Our brains are naturally wired to tell stories. For most of us, on any given day, 60% of our conversations are gossip or storytelling. If you can use storytelling in a presentation, with some visuals, the results will be much greater. Create a portfolio of stories that you can use in various situations.”

Storytelling is also a great way to help you overcome your own shyness, Menabney says. “When you learn storytelling skills, it becomes easier to put them into effect at your workplace because you are able to find new ways to bring about a mindset shift. Of course, like all stories, your story will need characters — they can be anything from the company itself, a new product idea or an innovation.”

While nobody is born a natural presenter or public speaker, you can learn the techniques, Menabney says. ”A good example is Steve Jobs with his Apple keynote talks. When he first started, he was nervous. Later on, his body language and gestures changed. He would walk on the stage and build up drama. Then he would stop … and show the new iPhone. Another example is Bill Gates. He gives great TED talks but if you see videos of his old talks, he was a bit rigid.”

"If you can use storytelling in a presentation, with some visuals, the results will be much greater," Menabney says.

Menabney recalls that he, too, honed his business presentation skills over time. Born in the UK, he grew up and lived most of his life in Toronto, Canada. After graduating from the University of Toronto with a degree in astrophysics, he spent over 20 years working for the federal government in Canada, at the departments of Revenue, Industry, Foreign Affairs and Defense. Seeking to take his career in a new direction, Menabney moved to Tokyo in 2011 and enrolled in the part-time MBA Program at GLOBIS.

“It taught me critical thinking, problem solving and to focus on the big picture. It gave me a better sense of my strengths and weaknesses. I picked GLOBIS because of the teachers and now I am one of them. We are not academics. We are businesspeople who teach and bring a real world experience into the classroom.” His skills have helped him with his work at Ricoh Co Ltd where he leads and manages global HR programs focusing on employee engagement and helping Ricoh employees build stronger global and cross-cultural teams.

Menabney is still, learning, though. He has given hundreds of presentations to diverse audiences across North America, Asia, and Europe, which he says constantly refines and improves his skills. He has worked as a business skills trainer at top Japanese companies and government agencies, instructing business leaders, military officers, and ODA staff on how to create compelling presentation slides, handle audience questions and boost their confidence. He is also an alumni coach with IDEO U, supporting learners in online courses on storytelling and creativity. He works with the start-up community in Tokyo, coaching entrepreneurs on how to better present and pitch their ventures.

Menabney cautions that a speaker needs to observe his or her audience. ��If you see the audience fading out, try to engage them and make it interactive, saying, for example, ‘What do you guys think?’ The worst kind of presenters think they know everything and just want you to listen to them. A little humour is good but not a joke because telling a joke could backfire. Move about a bit, too. That’s important. Know your audience and what is going to work for them.”

Knowing your audience also means not judging their ability by their cultural background. When some Japanese tell him that they are not good at this style of emotional, story-driven presentation, Menabney says that’s a myth. “Look at Tokyo’s Olympic bid where Mami Sato, a Paralympian who lost her leg to cancer, gave one of the most passionate and personal speeches, and in English. In our classes, I’ve seen many Japanese people shy or nervous at the beginning of the three -month courses. By the end, they are volunteering to give presentations.”

The power of storytelling will be the theme of a seminar, “Storytelling: Redefining Business Presentations,” that Menabney will give at the GLOBIS campus on November 2. He will discuss the use of narratives to communicate, persuade and motivate others. During the interactive seminar, Menabney will give the audience an introduction to storytelling (and tell a few stories of his own, no doubt). Participants will learn how to effectively structure and deliver stories in their speeches and business presentations.

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5 Tips to Get More Creative + Free Download with 26 Tips on Writing Fiction

Anyone can sit down and start writing fiction, but not everyone can sit down and start writing good fiction. Learning how to write fiction is an art form that takes a lot of patience, practice and determination (it also is nice to get a little help, which is where we come in). To get you started, here are five fiction writing tips to help you improve your craft.

Also, we’re offering up this free download, Literary Devices and Terms, where you’ll learn 26 key elements of fiction that all authors need to know. From hyperbole to conceit to metonymy and more, this list of terms and definitions is easy to read and will help you get a better understanding fictional writing. Download it for FREE now!

1. Start with tension

Time and time again you’ll hear fiction writers and instructors tell you to start with action. This is flawed advice. Why? What good is the action if it isn’t grounded in context that’s important to the story or draws you to the main character? It’s better to start with tension, like a character falling short on getting something he wants—can’t save the life of a loved one, can’t beat a rival in a race, etc.

2. Know what your characters’ wants are

Interesting stories come from characters who want something. Romeo and Juliet want each other. Harry Potter wants to beat Draco Malfoy and Slytherin in Quidditch. Hannah Baker wants the people who led her to commit suicide know how they hurt her. Writing a fiction book requires that you have compelling characters, and characters who have strong wants and desires are the most compelling kind there are.

3. End each chapter on a cliff

OK, you don’t have to end each chapter on an actual cliff, but you do need to leave them with unanswered questions. This doesn’t mean you can’t answer questions during the book, it just means you need to create new ones as you go along. Be creative. Fiction is built on the curiosity of readers. If you don’t spark their curiosity (especially at the end of a chapter), what incentive do they have to start the next one?

4. Give your characters obstacles

The obstacles can be as difficult as you want (and should be pretty darn difficult to help spice up the story). But the key here is that they have to be able to overcome the obstacle no matter what it is—drug addiction, in love with a person who’s on the antagonist’s side, etc. Fictional writing is strongest when characters face tough odds and still come through in the end.

5. Understand your audience

Are you writing a fantasy novel? A crime novel?Erotica? Fiction genres are different and are told in different ways, so audiences of each have different expectations that you need to cover. For example, if you’re writing crime fiction, you have to reveal what happened early and spend the novel solving the crime (and the whodunit). If you’re writing a thriller, your story is dedicated to characters trying to stop whatever it is from happening. See all content writing services

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45 Best Resume Tips & Tricks Amazing Writing Advice for 2019 [List]

We're about to give you dozens of our best resume tips, but first:

 Maybe you’ve finished writing your resume, maybe you’re just starting. 

 Either way, you could probably use some quick resume pointers. 

 It’s easy to overlook things when you’re worried about finding a job. The best tips help you remember the smallest details of resume writing.

 So, in this guide you'll find 42 of the best resume tips we could find for every step of the resume writing process.

 For your convenience, we’ve divided the tips into two, five, and thirty-minute tips.

 Next to each tip you will also see a star rating that ranks the tips in importance on a scale from one to five. 

 Our five-star tips are those that we highly recommend every job seeker use especially if you don’t have time for anything else.

 Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click.  Sample resume made with our builder—

One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:

 [I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.

 Create your resume now

 These Resume Tips Will Take Two Minutes Tops  

 1. Create a professional email address. 

   Out of all of the resume building tips listed, this may seem too obvious. 

 But it’s worth mentioning because the use of an unprofessional email address will get you rejected 76% of the time. 

 So, if you haven’t already done so, ditch that email address you’ve been using since high school. Choose a professional email provider like Gmail or Outlook. Use your name. 

 Right:

john.smith@gmail.com 

 Wrong:

 johnlikesgrapes@hotmail.com

 2. Update your contact information.

After you change your email address, make sure the rest of your contact information on your resume is up to date.

 You don’t want to miss an interview because you put the wrong phone number on your resume.

 Also, exclude information like your birth date or marital status. You do not have to respond to questions about religion, race, or gender on an application. US employers cannot take these aspects into consideration when accessing you.

 If you’re applying for a job out of state or country, also consider omitting your current address. That way a hiring manager won’t think you’re confused about the location of the job.

 3. Set your font size to 10-12 points.

While choosing a font is important, making sure that it is the right size is paramount.

 Keep your resume font size between 10-12 points so that a hiring manager can easily read it without squinting.

 4. Use reverse-chronological order.

That means: start from your most recent job and work your way back.

 For your experience section, put your current job first.

 For your education section, put your highest degree first.

 5. Align your content to the left to make it skimmable.

The first thing a hiring manager is going to do is skim your resume for relevant keywords from the job description.

 Aligning your text to the left makes this easier for them to do. 

 6. Make strategic use of bold, caps, and italics.

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 Be consistent with your choices. If you’ve made one of your subheadings bold - make them all bold. Try not to overuse anything. The point is to make important information easier to find. 

 7. Choose an attractive and readable font.

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 You may think resume fonts are trivial in the larger scheme of things, but the right font is going to do a lot for your resume. 

 Right

 Stick to fonts that sound like the names of hipster children: 

  Verdana 

Arial

Helvetica 

 Wrong

 If you choose a font that is hard to read or childish, a hiring manager might toss your resume in the trash.

  Comic     Sans

Papyrus

Curlz     MT

 Want to make sure your resume will hook every recruiter and get you that interview? Get our free checklist and learn what makes a job-winning resume: 46 Things You Need to Do Before You Send Your Resume

 8. Only add jobs you’ve had in the past 10-15 years.

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸

 You do not need to list every job you’ve ever had on your resume. Make sure you go back on your resume no more than 10 or 15 years. 

 9. Give your sections simple subheadings.

 Importance: ✸ ✸ 

 Regardless of what layout you choose, make sure your  resume sectionsare visible and easy to find. 

 You can do that by giving them simple subheadings.

 For example: 

 Right

  Resume     Summary

Experience

Education

Skills

 You’ll want to write simple subheadings for all sections. That way Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software can find them. 

 Wrong

  About     Me

Accreditations

Professional     Background and Work History

 Pro Tip: Deciding what key skills to put on your resume is one of the biggest tasks that lie ahead of new resume writers. Make sure that they are easy to find and easy to skim as well.

 10. Include URLs to social media profiles, personal websites, and your blog.

 Importance: ✸ ✸

 If you have a professional website or blog, include the URL in your contact section.

 Add any relevant social media handles as well. For most professionals, that will include your LinkedIn URL and your Twitter handle. 

 Creative professionals could also consider adding relevant links to Instagram, Youtube, or Pinterest profiles.

 Take an extra couple of minutes to make sure that your URLs are live and to hyperlink them in the text so they are accessible.

 11. Choose a resume format that works for you. 

 Importance: ✸

 What are the best formats for a resume? Well, that depends.

 There are three types of resume formats: 

  Reverse-chronological

Combination

Functional     or Skills-based

 Deciding what resume format to choose will be one of the first things you do. 

 Best

 Most of you will opt for the reverse-chronological format. It’s the most common and you can play with the layout. 

 Worst

 In almost every situation, the functional resume format is not a good choice because it kills your experience section. And even if you don’t have experience, that’s not the best way to handle it.

 Pro Tip: Consider a format that gets your strongest information closest to the top of your resume where hiring managers will be sure to see it right away.

 12. Consider using a professionally designed template. 

 Importance: ✸

 Resume templates can save you a lot of time and effort. Imagine not having to fool around with margins in Word. Pick one out, and you’re ready to go. 

 13. Consider putting your education section first. 

 Importance: ✸

 Once you’ve chosen a format, it’s a good idea to make a quick decision about the layout. 

 How do you build a strong resume?

 After your contact information, start your resume with either a resume summary or a resume objective. More on that later.

 But what should come next? Your education or your experience section? 

 If you’re a professional with tons of experience, your experience should come first. 

 But let’s say you’re a student and your educational background is your strongest selling point. In that case, consider putting your educationsection first. 

 14. Lose the phrase “References Available Upon Request.” 

 Importance: ✸

 It is no longer necessary to place this phrase at the bottom of your resume, as hiring managers know that they can request your list of references.

 Adding it only takes up valuable space that you could use for something else.

 When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.

 Create my resume now

When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

 Only Have Five Minutes? Here are the Best Resume Tips

 15. Read the job description and then read it again. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 Okay, reading the job description may sound like one of the most obvious resume-building tips ever.

 Of course, you’ve read the job description. Right?

 In fact, most people spend an average of 76 seconds reading a job description. And that’s why hiring managers find that 50% of applicants are unqualified for the job. 

 You’ve got to make sure you have the skills necessary for the job in the first place.

 Right:

 Read the job description. Make sure you’re qualified. Read it again. Mine it for keywords. Put it through a cloud generator. Target your resume. Take it on a date. Buy it Tiffany’s. Get married to it. 

 Because that job description is your best friend when it comes to building a great resume. 

 Wrong:

 Seeing a job title that sounds right, sending your resume immediately. 

 Reading a job description is as close as you’re going to get to reading the recruiter’s mind.

 Pro Tip: If you want to save time and find out how to write a resume for your profession, take a look at our guides and resume examples.

 16. Make sure you’ve created margins. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 Margins are important. That’s because resumes with text crammed edge to edge look messy and unprofessional.

 Do you know where messy resumes go? You know.

 If you do need a little more space, it’s okay to drop your bottom and top margins to 0.5” and your side margins to 0.75”. Anymore and you’re resume will suffer.

 17. Balance your text and white space. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 Balancing your text and white space is the same thing as adding margins. It makes your resume aesthetically pleasing and easy to read. 

 Do not sacrifice white space in the name of fitting everything onto one page. There are other ways.

 18. Consider adding a coursework description. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 This is one of the best resume tips for students. If you’re learning how to make a student resume, adding a coursework description is a good start. 

 Your education section is still your strongest asset. Listing or describing courses can show recruiters that you have skills related to the job. 

 Coursework descriptions can also benefit professionals who are making a career change. It shows that you’ve got relevant knowledge that goes beyond your past work experience.

 19. Name your files properly. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 This is a *pro* piece of resume advice: it is important to name your resume files properly. 

 Right:

 John_Smith_Resume

 Wrong:

 Resume

 Your resume could end up in an inbox with hundreds of other resumes. 

 And if they’re all named “resume,” then the chance of your resume standing out is slim to none.

 20. Match your cover letter to your resume. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 The two best cover letter tips are:

  Write     a cover letter. 

Match     the content of your cover letter to your resume. 

 Yes, you still need to write cover letters. And yes, they need to match your resume so that you’re telling the hiring manager one cohesive story.

 If there was something you feel needs an explanation, write about it in your cover letter—see our great guide on how to write the perfect cover letter for a job application.

 21. Draw attention to your promotions. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 Make sure you’ve mentioned any promotions you’ve received. 

 You don’t have to list the name of the company more than once in the case of internal promotions. 

 Write the name of the company once. Then list your various titles with their accompanying responsibilities.

 Example:

 Company ABC

 Marketing Manager

Responsibilities.

 Marketing Assistant

Responsibilities.

 22. Cut the fluff in your experience section. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 Is your resume is a bit longer than the ideal length for resumes (one to two pages)?

 Then an easy way to cut fluff is to start by deleting bullet points in your experience section. Limit yourself to around six resume bullet points.

 Right

 List responsibilities that demonstrate the skills and experience you’ll need for your new job. Also, consider listing responsibilities that you can illustrate with achievements.

 Wrong

 Don’t list every responsibility you had at previous jobs. 

 23. Write explanations for large gaps in your career history. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 Address significant gaps in your career history by writing brief explanations next to the jobs where the gaps occur. 

 Gaps can happen for all sorts of reasons.

 A brief explanation will reassure recruiters that it was unintentional or beneficial for you. As in the case of a layoff or a break to have a child or go back to school. 

 24. Insert action verbs wherever possible. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 Take a quick glance at your resume.

 How many times have you used the phrase “responsible for?”

 A million? It’s not uncommon.

 The good news is that it only takes five minutes to replace that sad phrase with action-packed verbs.

 Using action verbs and avoiding resume buzzwords is one of the best resume tips out there.

 Remember, not all verbs are action verbs. Try to avoid weak verbs like “managed” or “communicated.”

 Here are some alternatives:

 Wrong: Managed  

Right: Orchestrated

 Wrong: Communicated 

Right: Persuaded

 25. Get rid of nonsensical jargon. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 The person interviewing you may not be familiar with the technical jargon that goes with your territory. 

 Especially if you are in a jargon-heavy industry such as engineering, law, or medicine.

 Try to use layman’s terms or simplified equivalents wherever possible.

 Wrong: Dramatically cloudify viral innovation.

 Right: Create digital backups for popular campaigns.

 26. Run your job description and resume through a cloud generator. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ 

 Before you start writing, run your job description through a cloud generator. Which words are the most prominent? 

 You can use the words that appear as a content guide while writing your resume.

 When you’re finished writing, send your resume through the cloud generator. Do the same words appear? 

 A cloud generator is a quick way to check that you’ve tailored your resume to meet the needs of the hiring manager.

 27. Consider saving a copy of your resume as a PDF. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸

 Saving your resume as a PDF is one of those resume tips that might not work for everyone.

 Pros

 The benefit of saving your resume as a PDF is that the formatting will not change when it’s opened. 

 Cons

 The downside is that if a company is using ATS, a PDF might not be the best format for your resume.

 Pro Tip: It’s often best to save your resume in a couple of file formats so you can send whatever is more suitable. It’s up to you to decide.

 These Resume Tips Take 30 Minutes, But They’re So Worth It

 28. Tailor your resume to the job description. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 Tailoring your resume is probably the king of resume tips. If you do nothing else, tailor your resume to the job description. 

 You do that by identifying keyword skills in the offer and then add these skills throughout your resume. It sounds like a lot of work, but these keywords are what you should put on your resume above all else. 

 That’s because keywords are what hiring managers are looking for when they scan your resume. 

 29. Add achievements to your experience section. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 If tailoring your resume to the job description is the king, adding achievements is the queen of resume tips.

 Illustrating a skill or responsibility with an achievement puts you five steps ahead of candidates with the same skill set. 

 That’s because you’re showing what it looks like when you put your skills to work.

 When adding achievements to your resume, use the X, Y, Z approach.

 In situation X I did Y, which resulted in Z. 

 Right:

 To generate user engagement, I performed multiple A/B tests, resulting in a 20% decrease in bounce rates and a 15% increase in sales conversions.

 Wrong:

 I won an employee of the year award.

 30. Add numbers and details where possible. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 Adding numbers and details to emphasize skills is by far one of the best resume tips you can follow. Anytime you can illustrate an achievement or skill with numbers or details - do it. 

 Right:

 Increased sales by 12% over a 5 month period.

 Wrong:

 Responsible for sales.

 Numbers draw the eye of the recruiter and details give them a tangible sense of what it looks like when you use a skill. 

 Maybe you increased sales, efficiency, or user engagement. Maybe you slashed costs. Whatever it is that you’ve achieved try to make it quantifiable.

 31. Make good use of the top third of your resume. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 Another very important tip for your resume. Think of the top third of your resume and “the penthouse.” It’s here that you want your best skills, experience, and achievements to appear.

  Try to put the best stuff at the top. 

 Why?

 Because when a recruiter scans your resume, they will focus on the top third of the document.

 If they don’t find what they’re looking for in a few seconds of scanning, they will reject your resume as irrelevant. Read more with our guide on how to start writing a resume.

 32. Include a resume summary or objective. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 So, how do you get your best information in the top third of your resume?

 Include a resume summary or a resume objective. 

 It’s three sentences of who you are, where you’re going, and why you’ll bring value to the company.

 When considering how to write a resume summary or how to write a resume objective, keep in mind that the old school way is dead.

 Wrong - What You Want

 Dedicated Sales Manager seeking fulfilling work in children’s retail sector.

 Right - What They Want

 Dedicated Sales Manager with 5+ years of experience in the retail industry.Wishing to decrease returns for PeaPod Babywear by 15%.

 33. Use a proofreading tool like Grammarly. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 You cannot afford to have typos or grammar errors in your resume. The majority (61%) of recruiters will throw out a resume immediately if they see typos. 

 Microsoft Word or Google Docs will do a good job of detecting spelling errors, but the Grammarly app or Language Tool will catch grammar mistakes and typos. 

 You need to proofread your resume before sending your resume, and an app will help you catch things you can’t see. 

 34. Have a human proofread your resume. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 Apps are great for catching mistakes, but another human being is priceless.

 Grab whoever you can find with the patience to read through your resume.

 They can also give you feedback about your tone and how you’re selling yourself.

 35. Write a thank-you email. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 Knowing how to write a thank you email after an interview is priceless.

 It’s not always enough to write a great resume and ace an interview. The show isn’t over until you’ve also written a thoughtful thank-you email.

 36. Clean up your online presence. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 When you’re just learning how to create a resume, you may forget that hiring managers also search for you online. 

 Be sure to optimize your LinkedIn profile so that it resonates with your resume.

 Make sure that you’ve cleaned up “public” information on your Facebook and Twitter accounts. Change your Facebook privacy settings to “Friends” to keep future posts from becoming public.

 And do a quick sweep to make sure nothing else unsavory is lurking out there on the Internet. Enter your name into Google and see what turns up in the results. 

 You can ask Google to remove sensitive or sexual content from the web.

 37. Create a professional persona for yourself. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 A professional persona is a two or three-word description of yourself that should stick in the head of the recruiter when your name doesn’t. 

 It’s like when you try to describe someone from last night’s party.

 Remember the girl who graduated from Harvard and talked about goat cheese for an hour?

 It’s like that except less goat cheese. 

   38. Reinforce your professional titles by showing career progression. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 Putting a bunch of flashy job titles on your resume isn’t the most impressive thing you can do believe it or not. 

 What is impressive is the telling the story of your career progression.

 See, you can be a social media manager for your cousin’s pizza place without any prior experience. 

 But when you can show that you progressed to that position through hard work, that’s impressive.

 The trick is trying to make each past role reinforce your place in the next one.

 Example:

 Marketing Manager

Manage     a team of 10+ employees.

Prepare     annual marketing plans.

 Marketing Specialist

Planned     and implemented promotional campaigns.

Cooperated     with interactive agencies.

 Marketing Intern

Conducted     market research.

Assisted     during promotional campaigns.

 39. Consider adding a Hobbies and Interest section to your resume. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 If you have space, hobbies and interests can be great additions to your resume.

 That’s because companies are beginning to emphasize work culture. Which makes finding a candidate with a  fitting personality increasingly important.

 Just be sure to research your company. Choosing hobbies and interests that match the company’s culture is a good strategy. 

 Right:

 Work Culture: Corporation participates in charity marathons.

Hobbies and Interests: Volunteer Work and Athletics

 Wrong:

 Religious, political, or sexual hobbies. 

 If the person reading your resume has an opposite opinion, it could hurt your chances of getting an interview.

 40. Trim any unnecessary fat from your resume. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸

 Having problems keeping the length of your resume in check? 

 You will want to trim the fat:

  Make     sure every word you’ve used is necessary. 

Keep     your bullet points to six at most. 

Trim     your resume summary or your skills section without killing the     value. 

And     kill any extra sections that aren’t mandatory.

 41. Try to find the personal email address of the hiring manager. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸

 You can always attach your resume to a generic email and send it to a generic inbox.

 Or you can attach your resume to a personalized email and send it to your hiring manager.

 Some hiring managers may not appreciate receiving unsolicited resumes. 

 At the same time, if you know how to send an email to a hiring manageryou know that you aren’t sending it unannounced. 

 Right:

 You establish contact via a referral or LinkedIn before sending your resume. 

 Wrong:

 Sending a cold-call email to an unknown hiring manager.

 42. Track your resume. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ 

 Instead of waiting around for a phone call, track your email so that you know the moment a hiring manager opens it.

 You can use a free tool like Mixmax to see if a hiring manager has read your resume. That gives you a better idea of when to send follow-up or thank you emails.

 43. Do not lie on your resume. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸

 No need to explain. You will get caught lying on your resume: in the interview or after you've been hired.

 It will cost you your job, career, or a costly lawsuit.

 44. Do not worry about making your resume one page long. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 You've heard it before: a resume has a perfect length. And that's one page. However, most employers expect experienced candidates to submit resumes at least two pages long.

  45. Don't try to impress employers with fancy paper. 

 Importance: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ 

 Need to print your resume on paper? See the link to learn what kind of paper works best (and doesn't make you look the fool.)

 Check out our resume dos and don'ts to avoid more mistakes!

 Key Takeaway

 It can be easy to forget small details when you’re trying to figure out how to write a great resume. But if you follow these resume tips and tricks you can rest assured that you’re on the right track. And if you want a professional resume writer to create compelling resume for you then you can order at TextProz resume writing service. See all content writing services

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8 Tips for Writing White Papers

Ever seen a “white paper” on the web… and figured those are only for the big guys?

Think again. A white paper is a 6- to 8-page marketing document that helps a prospective customer understand an issue or solve a problem. Producing one can help your small business generate leads, build buzz, and level the playing field with much larger companies.

I know, I’ve done it. And I’ve worked for content writing services providers.

If you’d like to put this high-powered marketing device to work, here are eight tips on writing effective white papers.

Tip 1: Provide information your prospects can use.

Wondering what you could possible say in a white paper? You already know more than you realize.

To help find a likely topic, ask yourself:

·         What pains do your customers experience?

·         What problems do you help with?

·         What advice do you give them?

For example, consider Tom the plumber. The problems he finds include leaky pipes, clogged drains and plugged toilets. And what sometimes causes them? A DIY job gone wrong.

What if Tom publishes a little report called “5 Home Plumbing Jobs You Can Do Yourself—And 3 You Should Leave to a Pro”? What if he mentions that report on his business cards, on Facebook, even on the side of his truck? Wouldn’t that help Tom stand out from every other plumber in town? Wouldn’t that make him seem like the kind of guy they can trust?

Tip 2: Don’t make your white paper a sales pitch.

The #1 mistake people make is turning a white paper into a sales pitch. Don’t do it! An effective white paper provides answers to questions that many prospects ask. If you dish out a sales pitch, you’ll waste this opportunity to get known and trusted.

Tip 3: Write in a conversational tone.

Many business owners are scared of writing. You don’t need to be. Just write in a friendly, conversational tone, something like this article. You want to sound authentic, helpful, and trustworthy. No need for big words and fancy sentences. You may want to hire an editor to smooth out your final draft: You can quickly find one here at TextProz Editing and Proofreading Service

Tip 4: Present proof for your claims.

If you make a claim, be prepared to back it up. Dig up facts, figures, and quotes from experts and reliable sources. If Joe says homeowners can save half their plumbing bills by following his list, he should have an article in Time magazine or USA Today for proof.

Tip 5: Get it designed properly.

Your white paper should be attractive and easy to read, and that may call for a professional designer. Author/designer Roger C Parker has great tips available at his site Design To Sell.

Tip 6: Develop a snappy title.

The title is what people see when your paper comes up in a list of search results. So if your title doesn’t “pop” right out of the screen, prospects may skip right past it.

You can make a title interesting with a bold statement, a number, a question, a looming deadline, or a promise. Write lots of different titles, combine the best, then test your favorites on some actual customers.

Tip 7: But don’t call it a white paper.

In some sectors, the term “white paper” is valued, but in others it’s over-used or unknown. You may get more traction calling your document a “special report.” To make the intended audience clear, create a subtitle that names a specific job role or challenge, such as “A special report for home-owners wondering about DIY plumbing.”

Tip 8: Promote it like a madman.

It’s not enough to stick a white paper on your website. You’ve got to promote it. Mention it on your blog, newsletter, Facebook page, Twitter, and LinkedIn groups. Send it any relevant journalists, analysts or bloggers. Consider publishing a press release through a channel like PRWeb. Your goal is to get your white paper in front of everyone who could possibly benefit from it. Good luck!

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7 Tips for Creating a Memorable Slogan

What is a slogan? A slogan is a catchphrase that represents a product or company and communicates the key benefit you want consumers to associate with your business. And if crafted with care, it can keep your brand front and center in the minds of consumers — until they’re ready to buy. Read on for inspiration and tips to help you create a compelling, unforgettable slogan:

Slogans with staying power

If you’re creating a new product or business slogan, you want something that represents your brand and is easy to remember. Some well-known slogan examples are:

Just Do It. (Nike)

I’m Lovin’ It (McDonald’s)

Finger Lickin’ Good (KFC)

Melts In Your Mouth, Not In Your     Hand (M&Ms)

Although the above slogans are likely already at the tip of your tongue, there are many other great ones. Recognize these?

Because You’re Worth It.     (L’Oreal)

What’s In Your Wallet? (Capital     One)

Shave Time. Shave Money.     (Dollar Shave Club)

They’re G-R-R-REAT! (Kellogg’s     Frosted Flakes)

M’m! M’m! Good! (Campbell’s)

Get In The Zone (AutoZone)

The Quicker Picker Upper!     (Bounty)

Save Money. Live Better.     (Walmart)

Maybe She’s Born With It. Maybe     It’s Maybelline. (Maybelline)

Challenge Everything (EA)

To help you create catchy slogans for your business, here are seven tips to get your creative juices flowing:

1. Keep it short and simple

If Las Vegas had tried to use “Whatever you do while you’re in Las Vegas, Stays in Las Vegas” instead of “What Happens Here, Stays Here,” it might never have caught on as one of the most popular slogans of all time. Keep your slogan under 9 or 10 words.

2. Be consistent

Consistent branding is key whether you’re a small business or household name. Make sure your business slogans complement your existing logo, company name and projected image. For example, General Electric’s slogan “Imagination at Work,” draws attention to their brand with a simple, yet powerful logo that celebrates human imagination and innovation. All of their products from lightbulbs to CT scanners, bare this testament to creativity and quality.

3. Focus on what makes you different

Figure out what your unique selling proposition is and use it. Is your delivery business done with a fleet of electric cars? Does your dental practice cater to those with high anxiety? Crossoak Family Dentistry features a big chicken on its website, along with the slogan “We cater to cowards.” Incorporate what makes you special into your slogan if possible.

4. Make it timeless

Verizon had a good run with “Can You Hear Me Now?” but it was only a matter of time before technology made nearly all cell phone calls clear. You have to change with the times, but when you’re working on a slogan you want to think of its longevity. That’s why references to technology and phrases like “the only” are risky. Good slogans use wording that can stand the test of time, like Rolaids and their “How Do You Spell Relief?”

5. Ensure it can stand alone

Your slogan shouldn’t be a mystery! You want a slogan that tells your audience what your business is without needing any additional information. For example, Cartoon Network’s “The Best Place for Cartoons” tells people exactly what they’ll get when they tune in.

6. Consider your target market

You’ll also need to consider if your customers are local, national or international. While some locals get Philadelphia’s new slogan, “PHL: Here For The Making,” it may have left tourists scratching their heads. And if you do business internationally, keep in mind that translating your slogan to another language can significantly change the meaning. When KFC launched in China, their “Finger Lickin’ Good” slogan translated to the less appetizing “Eat Your Fingers Off.”

7. Get input

Being creative is a tough job, but there are ways to avoid going it alone. Use VerticalResponse’s Surveys feature to get opinions from your followers. Take to social media like Facebook or Twitter to host a slogan contest with a designated hashtag to track entries. Or consider some free tagline generators, like Slogan Generator, to get your brain warmed up.

Done right, a memorable slogan will stick around long after consumers interact with your brand. Use these tips, or order at TextProz slogan writing service, to create a catchy slogan that fits your business. See all content writing services

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6 Content Marketing Strategies Every Small Business Should Steal

Got big dreams but a small budget? You’re not alone. Most small companies are in the same fix. But this doesn’t have to be a deal killer – it just means you need to be smart. You need to think differently than your larger competitors.

Many of the big-splash strategies of the Fortune 500 simply won’t work for you. You don’t have a whole floor of people to throw at this. You don’t have a Pepsi-size budget. But again – you don’t need one.

The good news with content marketing is that it’s one of the most effective types of marketing for smaller budgets. In fact, many content marketing “teams” are just one person. 68% of them are three people or less.

But while you don’t need a big budget, you do need some media skills and a knack for creating engaging content.

It doesn’t even have to be super-slick content. You can get affordable content writing services.

Case in point: PewDiePie. The gamer/comedian has nearly 50 million subscribers on YouTube. He’ll earn $15 million in 2016 according to the Forbes December issue. But he’s not going to win any awards for production quality. And he doesn’t need to. It’s not a priority for him or his audience.

PewDiePie has amassed nearly 50 million subscribers on YouTube, all with homemade videos that have fairly low production quality.

You Tube

To give you an idea of what’s possible (and to potentially save you a bundle of money next year), here’s a few ideas for super-effective content marketing strategies that can be done with small budgets, by small teams. They range in price tag from zero to less than $100,000 max to set up the entire program. And they could well get you more attention – and more business – than a Superbowl ad.

1.      Influencer marketing

Remember how I said the one thing you really need for content marketing is media skills? Well, to borrow the words of Joe Pulizzi, the Founder of the Content Marketing Institute, “you can build it, or you can buy it.” Influencer marketing is buying it. “It” being the media skills and content marketing capabilities, of course.

This is a different route than what larger companies take. They’ll try to build “it” by hiring a team of content marketers. But bootstrappers can achieve a similar effect if they partner with the right influencer.

Here’s why this works: Influencers, by definition, have audiences. You, the start-up content marketer, do not have an audience. Building an audience is the key asset – the point – of your content marketing.

Influencers are also adept at creating content that resonates with their audiences. They know exactly how to create high-impact content on a budget that most big companies can’t even buy coffee for. You, the aspiring content marketer, can hire an influencer with these content creation (and content strategy) skills.

Now, before you roll your eyes and think “I do not have $10,000 a month to blow on some kid with an Instagram account”, consider this: Smaller influencers are often most effective. And you do not need to go after an Instagram influencer unless your audience is made up of Instagrammers.

Find an influencer that’s talking to your ideal audience. Find one that’s got a world view that’s sympathetic to yours. That’s the person to partner with.