Dominique B. Fluker, M.A.

Let’s play “Tell me if the copy was written by AI.” I can name that tune in one sentence. If you’re curious how writers and editors can tell if your copy is authentic or AI-generated, consider these tips from Ragan Communications and PR Daily. And here’s how you too can spot AI-generated copy in one sentence: “Look out for structural clichés. AI tools tend to write like a high-school freshman’s five-paragraph essay or the most insufferable kind of LinkedIn influencer. It starts thoughts with phrases such as “In this fast-paced world,” and ends writeups with hackneyed drivel such as “In conclusion, this impactful information has life-changing implications…” https://lnkd.in/gG69eJuP

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You may groan when you read this, buuuuut trust: You need to write your holiday blogs now, not in November. If you have (or work for) a company that sells anything, especially more things around the holidays, get those blogs done now + pinned on Pinterest. You’ll thank me when that search volume ratchets up in Q3-4. It’s also exactly what I did when I wrote + pinned this blog: https://lnkd.in/gpmSRCGA. #contentwriting #holidaycontent #companyblog #holidayblog #organicsearch

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Take a big step forward in embracing accessibility and inclusion best practices by making your PDFs accessible using this actionable 8-step guide!

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If you thought you could do away with all your content and SEO people now that Google is offering AI generated responses, think again. Unless you're ok with AI telling people to "jump off the Golden Gate Bridge" if they're depressed, "add non toxic glue" to their cooking, "run with scissors" for cardio exercise, and "smoke 3-4 cigarettes a day when pregnant" - I'm not kidding, check out other examples in this article: https://lnkd.in/gWT_vw6T I've spent almost 15 years working in content in some form. It's much more complex than many people think. But I don't need AI to create content, I need it to help solve critical, complex world issues, and I need it to replace the mundane manual labour that humans don't want to do. Leave art to the humans. Art is human connection. And, content is human connection at the core.

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"But NPR’s troubles extend far beyond concerns about its journalism. Internal documents reviewed by The Times and interviews with more than two dozen current and former public radio executives show how profoundly the nonprofit is struggling to succeed in the fast-changing media industry. It is grappling with a declining audience and falling revenue — and internal conflict about how to fix it." This article sheds good light on the disruption facing the media industry. #Media #Communications #PR

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Calling all content leads/managing editors/marketing pros – I've got your next best freelance hire. Writer & editor extraordinaire Alison Bowen has some availability for new clients and you should snap her up ASAP. I've been working side-by-side with Alison nearly two years, and I cannot sing her praises loudly enough. (If I had the work, I'd give it to her! So you're lucky she's temporarily available!) Here's what you'll get if you work with Alison: • A thoughtful, whipsmart, incisive editor who will source and manage freelancers, write assignment briefs, handle onboarding and invoicing, deliver developmental and copy edits, and upload to a CMS • A brilliant, award-winning writer and researcher who can tackle everything from front-page national newspaper stories to branded lifestyle content to B2B research reports. She spent over a decade as a features writer at the Chicago Tribune and she specializes in finding compelling human stories that make you care about the problems people are facing. • A kind, considerate, joyful person to work with. Alison is always positive without being Pollyanna. She approaches every business problem with curiousity and a spirit of collaboration. She can speak to CEOs and veterans with PTSD and treats everyone with the same level of respect and genuine inquisitiveness. • An organized, punctual project leader who can delegate to and mentor editorial collaborators. If you have a large-scope project that needs a careful, experienced guiding hand on copy, Alison is your person. • A veteran journalist who can work seamlessly with marketing and branded content stakeholders. Alison understands that the best branded content is produced with journalistic rigor and the highest editorial standards, while still uplifting and promoting the brand. I know I'm gushing. But it's all true. If you'd like any more of a recommendation, please DM me and I'm happy to share more about my experience working with Alison. I'll link to her portfolio in the comments, and you can reach Alison at [email protected].

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Cross-posting from J.D. Cunegan (hey, I know that guy 👀 ): Your greatest asset as a writer? ✨ Curiosity. ✨ No matter what you write, never lose your curiosity. Read everything you can. Find topics completely unrelated to your day-to-day interests. Study. Poke around. Research. Let yourself fall down the proverbial rabbit hole. You don't have to become an expert in any one thing (unless you want to), but feeding your mind will pay dividends. 📖 "Write what you know" should not limit you to the present. It should spur you on to devour as much knowledge and experience as possible. Even if you never use what you learn in your writing. Maybe the saying should be "Write what interests you." The more engaged your mind, the more productive your writing. ✍️

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If your copywriter asks lots of questions, this is a good thing. It means they're very much interested in your project/brief. They're not trying to be annoying. They just want to get to the bottom of exactly what the request is, who it's targeting, and why (what do you want that audience to do?). It's when your copywriter goes quiet or becomes blasé that you should worry. If they just say 'yes' to everything, without asking questions, it's likely they've become disengaged... from the process, from the workplace, from stakeholders etc.

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The work doesn't end when your CEO lands a big interview. Sometimes, things don't go the way you'd hoped, and it becomes the job of PR and marketing teams to clean up after the fact. My latest blog post covers how you can make the most of an opportunity even when it doesn't turn out exactly as you'd planned. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dsfgUmyG

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Do the thing. ❤️ It will absolutely be hard. It won’t kill you (but it may try) (let it try) (and smile in its face). Just remember (especially when you add dream things to a life already full of things), that you are the captain of your life (passengers welcome). Need space/time. Shift priorities. Even if it’s a few weeks. Need forgiveness/understanding (from family, coworkers, etc). Communication is your bestie. And set really clear + respectful boundaries. Need encouragement/imposter syndrome fix. Do the thing. And. Remember that ANY experience is growth (period) and hold onto that as FACT every time you don’t feel good enough/worthy/successful/etc. …. I will honestly look an experience in its face and say “you’re mine” like a possessive freak. 😂 Feel free to steal it. It works.

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Fellow writing professionals, I have a few questions for you: Are you affiliated with an agency? If so, how has your experience been? Do you find more job opportunities compared to freelancing independently? Would you recommend joining an agency? Are there any specific agencies you endorse? If you're not part of an agency, could you share your reasons for that choice? Thanks! #writing #writers #contentwriting

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Sending out your regularly scheduled social posts and e-blasts to people in Los Angeles right now only hurts your brand. Any organization, whether a business, nonprofit, or government agency, communicating in the greater LA region right now needs to focus on value. Use your brand and platform to provide resources, expertise unique to your work, and actionable information that help people navigate this moment. Talk about how you’re caring for your community, whether your employees, clients, or the public. The messages that people will receive right now are the ones with meaning. Anything else right now risks being ignored—or worse, doing damage. Communication and PR professionals, be intentional and find the unique ways your organization can contribute. Actions and words make a difference in times like these.

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Thoughtful insights from Jill Schildhouse (as always). It's crucial to remember that these layoffs' effects go beyond just the in-house roles. They also affect... Freelancers Publicists / PR Pros Clients Families We're all connected and in this together. So take the time to understand what's happening across the industry at large. Earlier this year I had the opportunity to speak with Danielle Belton, Editor-in-Cheif at the HuffPost. The topic? How to save journalism. It felt timely to reshare in light of recent news. Give it a watch and listen: https://lnkd.in/g-yfs39x

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For an upcoming lesson of mine at New York University, what does the next generation of communicators and marketers need to know about the creator economy and influencer marketing? What journalists are you following that cover this beat? A few that come to mind are Amanda Perelli, Dan Whateley, Eleanor Hawkins, Kimeko McCoy and Kristina Monllos. What do they need to know about managing social media channels for a brand? Thoughts? 💭 Adam Ilenich, Bri Reynolds, Deepa Lakshmin, Gabriel Gomez, Giselle Huasipoma, Sami Lambert #CreatorEconomy #InfluencerMarketing #Marketing #SocialMedia

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When the comments go off!!! 🤪 Love it when I connect with women doing the damn thang and we start riffing on important topics 💥 Let's see what Ryan Roslansky has to say about her question. #FFR #amplifybipocvoices #inclusionnotoptics #copywritingcreative #blackfemalefounder

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If your blog income dropped 4x from Google's Helpful Content Update, you need to hear this: Here’s what HCU is rewarding (and punishing) [Part 1] 1. People-first content Content should be written with the user in mind, addressing their needs and answering their questions. It should satisfy user intent and satisfaction, and not be overly optimised for search engines. Do people bounce off after the first few seconds of entering your page? If so, that’s not good. Is the content answering what the reader searched for? - Predict your user journey and answer their queries right in the beginning. i.e. primary and secondary intent. E.g. if they searched best areas to stay in Koh Phangan, the next thing they’ll probably want to find out is where are the best hotels to stay in the area. - Make it easy to read and understand - Internal links should point to user intent that sends users to the correct contextual signals, not just spamming a bunch of irrelevant internal links. ✅: - Freshness & relevance - is the content updated frequently? - Delivering real value - Quality content - Real-life experience that cannot be copy-pasted anywhere else - Comprehensive answers, not thin content ❌: - Not click-bait, not spammy - Not duplicate content - More words =/= good.  - Remove off-topic/ filler content. Anything that doesn’t get straight to the point, remove.  - Don’t over-optimise. No need for a keyword in every single heading. Don’t keyword-stuff. Thoughts? Stay tuned for Part 2 :)

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