Hello Reader! Good writing has rhythm, structure, and intention. Every choice you make shapes the story. It can mirror or elicit emotions—sharp and staccato for tension, like Raymond Carver: “He sat. She looked at him. He didn’t say anything. The clock ticked.” Or, it can flow like music—melodic, immersive, and full of wonder—like Brian Doyle: "What is it about the hum and thrum of a mother to her son and a father to his daughter that is unlike anything else in the universe, unlike anything...
14 days ago • 5 min read
read it Hello Reader! I know we've said this before, but content has been so bonkers lately. I've been experiencing so many instances of "let's use AI to make this more efficient." And, while AI can make many things more efficient, sometimes it really is better to have a human driving the carriage. Here are some instances where you may be asked to use AI, and ways to make it work: 1/ AI is great at summarizing. This is my FAVORITE use case. ✅ Use it to decode transcripts and articles and give...
21 days ago • 5 min read
Hello Reader! Now is the perfect time to register for our partner event with Stacker. Don't miss this event if you're creating outstanding content but it's getting buried in the noise. They'll cover everything you need to know to nail your distribution strategy, amplify your reach, and get the results you want. More information and the registration link are below. Can't wait to see you there! 👇 -Ashley STACKER AND CONTENT MARKETING INSTITUTE PRESENT Your Content Has Evolved—Has Your...
24 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader! In this issue... AI Marketing Alliance: Sign up to see the best AI tools demoed. Learn how to use them to gain a competitive edge. Expert interview: Mauro Semedo 50+ new content jobs: Go directly to this week's jobs Top stories: Read 8 of this week's best content stories covering trends and strategies, including a new must-read report on ChatGPT search. Thanks, Ashley Partner | AI Marketing Alliance See the Best AI Tools Demoed Live—Creative, Analytics, and Engagement Solutions...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Hello Reader! This issue is brought to you by..Ranked I just signed up for a new SEO service, Ranked. I'm loving it. The team is attentive. It's affordable. The best part? I no longer have to do the SEO for my sites and am watching my rankings rise. You can started for free today (rad, right? That's what hooked me). Then, it's only $99/month. Amazing. Expert Interview | Maria Jose Rodriguez 1/ Tell me more about yourself and your journey into content. I’ve always loved writing—from scribbling...
about 2 months ago • 5 min read
Hello Reader! I just joined the January Growclass cohort, and it's fantastic. I'm learning so much and gaining a bunch of new marketing friends. Yay! wanted to let you know about a cool, limited-time opportunity. The Growclass team is currently offering fully funded enrollment opportunities through the Digital Marketing Skills program to help folks from underrepresented backgrounds. You can apply here and tell them "Ashley Cummings" sent you.Good luck! I hope to see you in the Growclass...
about 2 months ago • 4 min read
Hello Reader! If you've been opening the emails the past week or two, you may already know Content Connect has officially launched its job board! You may not know that it's complete, up and running, and ready to roll. Here's what you can do with the board: 👉 Get niche job updates. No more sorting through all of LinkedIn, Indeed, etc. to find a job. We find the good ones for you. 👉 Create a professional hiring profile. You can create a professional profile that headhunters looking for people...
2 months ago • 4 min read
Hello Reader! I don't know if you know this, but surprise! I'm a freelance content marketer. As such, I am often on the hunt for good job opportunities. And I know you probably are, too. (That's one reason I added a job board to the Content Connect website.) But, I've noticed a troubling trend on some of these job opportunity boards. The trend? (AI didn't write that). Giving attention to extremely low-paying jobs. I'm talking pennies per word. Or maybe a hundred or two for a detailed,...
3 months ago • 6 min read
Hello Reader! Good news! I finally found the content marketing crystal ball. You know, the one we HAVE ALL BEEN LOOKING FOR during this past very strange and unpredictable year. We can probably all agree when I say 2024 was like no other year in content. We saw: AI hype Anti-AI hype Lots of tech layoffs Budgets get hacked Google go completely bonkers More freelance content people enter (and leave) the space It's been a wild ride. But, thankfully, like I said, I found the Content Marketing...
3 months ago • 5 min read