Creative Writing for Professionals

What to say when you announce a sponsorship, so people actually pay attention. This ain’t the run of the mill press release. You’re building the story that your partners, execs, and media will build from. For context: I co-write messaging with sponsors and service providers across sport. From the first post to the follow-up that actually drives momentum. Here’s the 13-part checklist I use with sponsors to make sure that happens: 1/ Headline POV Lead with perspective. Not the deal. → “Why [Brand] is backing [Athlete/Team]” → “This is what [Series] got right about the future” 2/ Opening line that earns attention Start with a stat, insight, or belief. Not a logo. Not a thank-you paragraph. 3/ Logo placement with purpose Use it once, early, and tie it to meaning, not just exposure. 4/ Strategic pull-quote from exec No boilerplate. No fluff. One line from the CEO/CMO/CTO that frames the why of the deal. 5/ Athlete or team reference Tie their style, performance, or history to your brand’s values. This is where sports meet story. 6/ Photo or visual asset Use race-day imagery, behind-the-scenes shots, or real team integration, not stock images. (More to be said on this) 7/ Internal link to company POV or press release Bridge to the deeper story. Let them explore the details, but don’t shove it in the feed. 8/ Quote or POV from second voice Let the CTO or Head of Innovation speak to tech. Let a customer reference the impact. Add depth through voice layering. 9/ Race-week timing Don’t post in the void. Align to the race calendar, qualifying hype, or post-podium conversations. 10/ Pre-baked reshare language Give execs and partner teams a 1-line summary to repost with intent. No “We’re thrilled...” reshares. (Please) 11/ Hashtags with purpose (or none at all) Avoid the hashtag soup. Use one or two that shape narrative, not reach. 12/ Tagged collaborators (if useful) If you tag the team/athlete, it should add context or bring new eyeballs. Never tag out of obligation. 13/ Soft CTA that drives alignment End with clarity: → “What’s something you want to see more of in sponsorships?” → “We’re just getting started. More from this journey soon.” Final note: You’re writing a reference point that sales, PR, and investors will return to all season. Don’t publish and vanish. Publish and position. Photo by Darren Heath.

I’ve sent 10,000+ cold emails in my career. Those emails have generated $100M+ in revenue. Here are 11 tips to help you 10x your response rates: 1. Set Your Expectations If you're new to cold emailing, expect a 5% response rate. As you improve, you can boost that to ~20%+. It's important to know that the best cold emailers still hear "No" far more than they hear "Yes." But you only need a few "Yeses" to win. 2. Email Multiple Contacts Most people send one email to one contact and give up. Emailing multiple people increases your surface area for success. You never know who you'll catch at the right moment! I personally recommending emailing 5 different people at your target org. 3. Your Subject Line Data from multiple sources shows that subject lines with the highest response rates: - Are 2-4 words long (Boomerang) - Ask a question (Yesware) - Are ambiguous (Boomerang) My favorites are: - Quick Question? - Mentioning You? - [Result] In [Y] Time? 4. Write Like A 3rd Grader Data shows that emails written at a 3rd grade level see the highest response rates. That means: ✅ Use plain, simple language ❌ Avoid complex words and jargon I love HemingwayApp's Readability score for this. 5. Be Positive! Data also shows that a positive tone can boost response rates by ~15%. Aim to have a casual, positive vibe in your writing. To get there, pretend like you're writing this email to a friend. Also try to write the way that you speak. 6. Use A 3 Second Hook Most emails start with something like: "Hope you're having a good day!" That's boring. Instead, hook your contact with a personalized, value-driven statement. Ex: "Hey Tim, I want to help [Company] 3x your CVR in 30 days, below are 3 ways to do it." 7. Over Deliver On Value People avoid click bait. Your hook might seem that way, so follow it up with even more value: - Share relevant ideas - Show how to implement them - Provide real data The goal is to get your contact to take action and see real value. 8. Use Social Proof Social proof is one of the most effective trust builders. Weave it into your email in the form of: - Mentioning a mutual contact - Linking to case studies - Including testimonials The key is to do this naturally, not like a brand marketing email. 9. Use An "Exit Clause" No one wants to feel pressured. Everyone wants control. Tap into both by ending your email with an "Exit Clause." This is a statement when you recognize their time and give them an easy "out." 10. Follow Up! 44% of cold emailers give up after the first attempt. But 60% of prospects say "No" four times before they say "Yes." If you want to win? You need to follow up! I personally recommend four follow ups every 5 business days. Use Yesware to automate these.

Your Inbox Is Your Reputation (how to email like a CEO and build a real network): Most people write emails that either apologize for existing or bulldoze the reader. Neither earns trust. Clear, confident, respectful messages open doors and keep them open. Simple playbook (use this this week): 1. Lead with purpose. First line = why you’re writing and what success looks like. 2. Ask like an owner. One clear request, one date, one owner. 3. Be brief, not vague. 3–5 lines max or a bulleted skim + a direct ask. 4. Give the why. Tie your request to the goal, team, or customer outcome. 5. Set a clock. Deadlines prevent drift; include the consequence of delay. 6. Offer options. Make it easy to answer: A/B, Yes/No, or a number. 7. Close the loop. Confirm next steps in writing; send the receipt of action. 8. Follow up with a decision, not a nudge. “Decide by X so Y can move.” 9. Email isn’t small talk, it’s leadership in writing. Make every send count. What’s one line you’ll upgrade in your next email? ♻️ Share this with someone building real connections ➕ Follow Helene Guillaume Pabis for human-first leadership, clarity, and momentum ✉️ Newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dy3wzu9A

Announcing a funding round isn’t just about dropping your number and hoping TechCrunch picks it up 🚀 It’s a moment to shape the story around what you’re building, and done well, it can keep paying off long after the story goes live. Here’s how I usually think about it with founders: ❤️🔥 Start with the “why.” What’s the real goal here? Is it customers, future investors, hiring, or just putting a breadcrumb out there so people start paying attention? Knowing that upfront shapes everything else. ❤️🔥 Talk about the problem, not the product. Most people don’t care how the tech works. They care about why the problem matters and why you’re the team to solve it. The raise is a vote of confidence in a vision, not a list of features. ❤️🔥 Get other people to do the talking. The most powerful stories usually come from three voices: A customer saying why the problem matters. An investor saying why you’re the ones to solve it. A founder painting a picture of the future if you win. ❤️🔥 Think breadcrumb trail, not headline hit. Most announcements don’t instantly convert into sales or hires. What they do is build credibility so that when someone Googles you in three months, they see momentum and belief. And when the news drops, make noise. Post the blog. Fire up social. Turn quotes into graphics. Make sure the story spreads beyond a single article. Done right, a raise announcement isn’t just a milestone. It’s the start of a narrative that compounds over time.

I’ve trained hundreds of sales reps over my career. Here’s the exact framework I use to write good cold emails from start to finish: 1. Lead with the pain not the pitch The goal of a cold email is to start a conversation, not close the deal. It’s to reflect back a real pain your buyer is already feeling often before they’ve articulated it themselves. No one cares about your product. Especially not in the first touch. They care about themselves and their problems. The biggest mistake I see reps make is trying to close too early. They shove value props, case studies, feature sets, and “we help companies like…” I always come back to this: “No pain, no gain, no demo train.” You’re not here to educate. You’re here to trigger recognition. To make them nod and go: “Yeah, we’re feeling that.” 1. Write like a human The best cold emails don’t have long intros. No “hope this finds you well.” Just a clear, honest attempt to connect over something they care about. Let’s say we’re targeting agencies running 10+ client accounts. Here’s how I’d start: “Hey — I saw you’re managing multiple clients. Curious if you’ve had to deal with deliverability issues lately, especially with the new Google/Microsoft changes. Is this on your radar?” That’s it. No pitch. No product. Just a relevant question that hits a live pain. You don’t need clever. You need to be clear. 1. Structure matters (but keep it stupid simple) I’m not into formulas. You don’t need a 7-step framework to write a good email. You need to understand the buyer and speak to them like a peer. Think about it like this: Line 1: Show you’ve done your homework. Line 2: Bring up a real, relevant pain. Line 3: Ask a question that invites a reply — not “yes.” If your email looks like a blog post, you’re doing it wrong. The goal isn’t to explain. The goal is to start a conversation. 1. Use follow-ups to build narrative (not nag) Most follow-ups sound like this: “Just bumping this to the top of your inbox.” “Not sure if you saw my last message.” Useless. Instead, think of your cold email sequence as a way to diagnose pain over time. Email 1 brings up the initial problem. Email 2 digs into what happens if it doesn’t get solved. Email 3 introduces that you might have a solution, if they’re open to it. Each message earns attention and adds value. Follow-ups shouldn’t be annoying. TAKEAWAY Conversations > conversions. Relevancy always wins.

I used to think using complex terminology demonstrated expertise. That "leveraging synergies" and "utilising frameworks" showed I belonged in business conversations. The reality? No one was impressed. They were just confused. 💡 The breakthrough came when I started writing exactly how I think not how I speak. This transformed my newsletter engagement (open rates jumped over 30%) Here's why writing how you think (not how you speak) works: 1. Authenticity cuts through noise - Your natural thought stands out in a sea of corporate-speak - Readers sense when you're being genuine vs. performing - Trust builds faster with authentic communication 2. Simplicity enables action - Clear instructions get implemented - Complex directions get abandoned - Young entrepreneurs especially value directness 3. Relatable language builds connection - Industry jargon creates outsiders - Conversational tone creates community - Speaking their language shows you understand their world 📊 In marketing specifically: - Conversational emails see 17% higher click-through rates - Simple language in sales pages increases conversion by 2.1x - Readability improvements can boost engagement by 58% ➡️ Your readers aren't stupid. They're busy. They want to understand your point in seconds, not decode your buzzword bingo. When writing for my newsletter, pitching to investors, or speaking to young entrepreneurs, I constantly remind myself: "If my 16-year-old self wouldn't understand it, it needs a rewrite." Clear writing shows clear thinking. So next time you write anything: If a shorter word works, use it If you wouldn't say it in casual conversation, don't write it If it sounds like a "business robot," start over Simple, isn't it?

The Gap Between What We Say and What They Hear After 20+ years in communications across five continents, I've learned one uncomfortable truth: most companies are having entirely different conversations than their audiences. We craft messages about "stakeholder value" and "strategic initiatives." They hear corporate jargon that says nothing and means nothing to them. We announce "organizational restructuring." They hear "layoffs are coming." We talk about "our commitment to transparency." They remember the last three times we weren't transparent. This isn't a failure of messaging. It's a failure of listening. The best communications strategy I've seen started with six months of just listening - to employees, customers, critics, media, analysts - all key stakeholders. Not focus groups with carefully scripted questions. Real listening. The uncomfortable kind. What we discovered changed everything. The gap wasn't about what we were saying. It was about the credibility we'd lost years earlier, the promises we made and had forgotten. Here's what I've learned works: 1. Say less, mean more. Every word should earn its place. If you can't explain it to your teenager, don't put it in a press release. 2. Actions first, announcements second. Audiences believe what you do, not what you say you'll do. Show your work. 3. Acknowledge the elephant. If everyone is thinking it, address it. Silence doesn't make difficult truths disappear - it makes you look out of touch. 4. Ditch the corporate voice. Your CEO is a human. Let them sound like one. Authenticity isn't a communications strategy - it's a requirement. The companies that break through aren't the ones with the biggest megaphones or the slickest campaigns. They're the ones willing to close the gap between their reality and their rhetoric. #CorporateCommunications #Leadership #Authenticity #PublicRelations #ExecutiveCommunications

“We’re excited to announce…” is where attention dies. It’s PR’s version of beige wallpaper. Comfortable. Safe. But invisible. In a world that scrolls fast, Your lead must hit like a headline. Not like a press release intro. Clichés aren’t just lazy—they cost you reach. They signal "skip this." They bury the story beneath fluff. Swap vague for bold. Swap polite for punchy. Swap tradition for tension. Here’s what to ditch, and what to use instead: ❌ “We’re thrilled to announce…” ✅ “After 6 months of setbacks, we finally nailed it.” ❌ “We’re proud to launch…” ✅ “This changes how our customers experience X—forever.” ❌ “Today marks an exciting milestone…” ✅ “This is the moment our team almost gave up on.” 3 quick tips to un-bore your PR copy: 1. Start mid-action → Cut the intro, dive into the moment. 2. Use tension or contrast → “What we thought would flop… became our #1 product.” 3. Write like a human, not a brand → Emotion beats polish, every time. The bottom line? Safe copy won’t go viral. But real stories might. What’s the most overused line you see in announcements?

Getting ghosted regularly when you try to book time with your customers? Bad news - it's probably not them. It's very likely you...or at least your emails. Too few CSM emails are receiving training on how to build emails that are compelling. If you need to get that call booked, try to make sure that your email is a VIBE. And by that I mean: V - Value. Make sure you've spelled out the value your customer will get from attending (not just listed your discussion points). Instead of "We're going to dive into roadmap, align on goals, etc) pivot to "We're going to discuss X feature. We'll create an action plan on how this can help your team to achieve Z result." When in doubt, include the sentence "Coming out of this meeting, you should.." I - Individualize. Once you've built a bank of these compelling emails to templatize, don't forget to individualize them. Customize each email to your contact's goals, desired business outcomes, and with key details you know about them or their team. B - Better. Just the act of reading your email should provide insights so impactful they can make your contact better at their role or the project at hand. Provide a key tip or insight up front that's custom just for them. For example, instead of "We'll dive into the metrics" you can share "We'll dive deeper into the 8% lift I've seen recently on team adoption of feature X, and how to capitalize on this momentum." E - Edit. You're providing key insights and value, but you need to do it concisely. So write, write, write away. And then edit judiciously to trim anything unnecessary from your content. Become aware of your filler words (look out for every very, really, and just), remove full sentences that don't say anything new, and make sure you're being crystal-clear in your ask (did you forget to actually ASK them to confirm a time for the call??

Stop starting emails with "We're excited to announce." Lead with the customer, not your company. Start with YOU and drop the WE. Here’s how to do it right: → "Now you can [achieve result] with [new feature]."   → "Tired of [problem]? [New feature] makes it easy to [solution]."     → "Your feedback shaped [new feature]. Now it’s here to help you [benefit]." Shift the focus to *them*. It’s about what *they* gain, not your excitement. A winning email: → Focuses on benefits.   → Solves their pain points.   → Makes customer success the priority. Your job as a marketer? Deliver real value, not updates. ----- ♻ Share if you found this helpful! #marketing #copywriting #writing