Make the most of your downtime
My day usually starts like this: get up at 4am (sometimes earlier), work for a couple of hours until my daughter gets up, drop her off at school, run for an hour or two, then get back to work. This … Read More
Write as if you were speaking to a friend
In high school, I had a friend who had the gift of the gab. Everything she said was hilarious. She could spin the most incredible yarns on the spot. The words she chose, her inflections, her laugh, her unique … Read More
The line in the sand
A DNF (did not finish) during a running event teaches us many lessons. A lot of those lessons, I believe, are relevant to small business. A “DNF” – whether on the trails, in business, or something important to us in … Read More
Stage fright vs page fright
Public speaking is not my thing. Actually, it goes further than that. Public speaking terrifies me! I’d rather do almost anything else – skydive (heights also scare me), listen to a Justin Bieber album (*shudder*), or even give up … Read More
Passion isn’t discovered, it’s created
I’ve been the editor of Trail Run Magazine Australia & New Zealand since January this year. I do this as part of my Full Stop Writing, Editing and Design services. Trail running is a passion of mine, so it’s … Read More
How you can make your business writing consistent
How much of your communication is conducted online? In this digital era, businesses educate and inform their audiences via email, blogs, website content and social media. It’s a world where bite-sized information is king. Yet, it’s a world where … Read More
Write on: 5 document design tips to keep readers hooked
Do you get excited about brick walls? I don’t. In fact, if there’s one image that perfectly encapsulates the word “boring”, I think it’s a brick wall! I feel the same way about slabs of text. To me, … Read More
What’s stopping people buying from you?
Address customer fears in your website content Fear is a powerful emotion. People are wary of working with or buying from someone new. Their money, time and even their pride is at stake. You present a risk to your potential … Read More
33 awesome ideas for writing blog posts
Do you struggle with your blog? Are you scraping the bottle of the barrel for blog post ideas? Blogs are vital to your sales and SEO strategy. They should inform and engage your readers so you remain top of … Read More
Proofread like a pro
In a previous life, I was a sub-editor at newspapers including the Northern Territory News, The Courier-Mail and Bundaberg NewsMail. People often think because the role “sub-editor” has the word “editor” in it, it involves some kind of prestige or … Read More
What kind of design do you want?
I sometimes have clients say, “I’m not sure what I want, you choose what’s best!” when they ask me to create a design for them. While this can work out quite well for me and the client, I’m often a … Read More
My top 5 writing tips
I’ve been doing a lot of proofreading and copy-editing lately. I enjoy this side of my work, as I get to read about a range of interesting topics I otherwise might not learn about! Every article, blog post and manuscript … Read More
Why proofreading your resume is so important
When it comes to resumes, the devil is in the detail – and I’m not just talking about being honest with your job history! Recruiters have potentially hundreds of resumes to review for a job vacancy, so it’s important to … Read More
Bigger isn’t always better
Bigger isn’t always better. Credit card debt, shoulder pads and houses (the bigger they are, the more you have to clean!) are all cases in point. Bigger also isn’t always better when it comes to design. Too often, people think … Read More
People who don’t work from home say the darndest things
I love working from home. I like having creative control and working with great clients. I am thankful that I can fit my work around my responsibilities as a mum to a mini cyclone. One minute I’m proofreading and designing … Read More
Eco-friendly graphic design
Sustainability and printed graphic design. It may seem the two are mutually exclusive, but there are ways you can reduce the environmental impact of your printed material. Eco-friendly graphic design means making informed decisions about the paper size and stock, … Read More
Writing advice: Show, don’t tell
Which of these two sentences piques your interest? 1. “David was very anxious.” 2. “Sweat prickled David’s upper lip. His breathing quickened and he felt a sickening dread that rose from the pit of his stomach.” The first sentence is … Read More
5 ways to stay creative
I think we have all been there. Sitting at the computer, mentally pounding our brain with our fists, willing for that brilliant, creative, timely idea to suddenly appear. But it doesn’t. As a designer and writer, my livelihood depends on my … Read More
12 Words We Should Bring Back
In my last blog post, I listed 12 words to cut from your writing. (Really, absolutely, literally I did). In this post, I list 12 words I think we should bring back! Followers of my Facebook page would know about my … Read More
12 words to cut from your writing
Some words are so overused, they fail to make an impact. It is important to keep your writing fresh and engaging by being concise, whether you are writing a blog post, website content, marketing material or resume. Here are my … Read More
7 helpful & inspiring blog posts for small business owners
A lot of my clients and supporters are small business owners, so for this blog I have put together a shortlist of some small biz-related blogs and articles I have read recently and found truly helpful. It can be a bumpy … Read More
How good design can boost your business
Whether you are about to start your own business or have been around for a while, good design is essential to achieve a professional edge and attract customers. First impressions count, and bad design can be the difference between making … Read More
Top 12 handwriting fonts
Want to add some fun to your documents and designs? Handwriting fonts can add a playful, hand-made, decorative, retro or grungy feel to your online and document designs. And they are not difficult to source, either. In fact, there is a … Read More
Five tips for efficient writing
Writing: some people love it, some people hate it. No matter which category you fall into, most of us would claim we are time poor, and finding the time to write without distraction – whether you want to write a … Read More
What I learnt in 2014
It was the best of times (working from home!), it was the worst of times (working from home … with a toddler). 2014 was my first full year of running a home-based design and editing business. As someone who definitely … Read More
My best writing tip
Which would you rather read: the panel on the left, or the panel on the right? Be concise with your writing! That’s the best writing tip I can offer you. People are more likely to read what you have … Read More
Common typesetting terms
So, what’s your type? No, I’m not talking about blood type or whether you prefer blondes or brunettes, I’m talking about typography! Do you justify? Hate orphans and widows? Does mismatched kerning drive you nuts? Whether you are typesetting your … Read More
Customer service is crucial to small business
I recently designed and edited a print and e-book for the AusMumpreneur Network called How to Create a Successful and Profitable Business From Home. I was also one of the 50 contributors to the book. The book is full of … Read More
Guerilla editing: spelling and grammar fails
If I could make a living out of correcting all the spelling and grammar mistakes on signs and advertising, I would. Although I would probably never see my family again, because I would be so busy wielding my big red … Read More
Spelling and grammar pet peeves
Do I need to spell it out? Spelling matters! Bad puns aside, nothing ruins a sign, brochure, flyer, e-book, Facebook post or email as effectively as bad spelling and bad grammar. And everyone has their pet peeves when it comes … Read More
Modern touches for old-school marketing
The internet and social media certainly have been blessings for businesses large and small. There is no doubt that online marketing can reach customers quickly and effectively. But does it mean the death of the humble business card, flyer or … Read More
Image resolution and file size
A picture says a thousand words. Well, if it is 300 pixels per inch, then yes, it does. But if it’s 72ppi and you want it to be the dominant image on your flyer or brochure, then all it says … Read More
6 Really Handy Tools I Use Every Day
There are some things in life we just cannot live without. Food, water, shelter, and Seinfeld repeats. It is the same when it comes to design work. Here are five really handy tools I cannot live without when it comes … Read More
Are you print ready?
You’ve designed your flyer or brochure, exported it to a PDF and now it’s ready to be sent to the printer, right? Wrong! Before you send your document to your chosen printer, it must be “print ready”. This means the … Read More
Where to source images
So you’ve written some killer copy for a flyer, brochure or blog; now you need some eye-catching images to really pull the reader in. In the previous edition of Full Stop’s blog, we talked about how vital it is to … Read More
Image is everything
Image is everything. And no, I’m not talking about wearing hip clothes or having your eyebrows plucked just so – I couldn’t care less about that! (Trust me, I’m writing this in my gym clothes). I’m talking about the images … Read More
Handy guide to paper sizes
Do you know your DL from your trifold? There are so many paper-size and flyer options in the world of printing, it can be mind-boggling for the uninitiated. Here is a handy guide to common sizes to help you decide … Read More
What is SEO and why do I need it?
Thank you to Jayne Day, the online marketing guru behind Webonize, for this guest blog for Full Stop. SEO stands for “Search Engine Optimisation” and it is the process of doing things on the internet in order to get free … Read More
Proofreading fails to avoid
Can you spot the common mistakes in the examples above? Be honest! If you can’t and you are in charge of writing and/or designing material for your business, you need a proofreader – pronto! An unnecessary apostrophe or two, such … Read More
Why white space is a designer’s best friend
Forget complicated layouts and fancy imagery – one of the most critical elements of a cohesive, attractive design is white space. White space communicates messages quickly and concisely. It attracts and maintains reader interest, and highlights what is important. Whether … Read More
The criticality of mobility for small business
Thank you to Andrea Madden, director of business development at Synergy Managed Solutions, for writing this guest blog for Full Stop. Being mobile is the key to widening the market for small businesses today. Mobile devices have progressed from a … Read More
Choose your fonts wisely
If you received this letter, would you take it seriously? What does it say about the professionalism of the business? Unless you are a member of the Addams Family, the font – Green Fuz – would probably have you running … Read More
Beware the one-size-fits-all trap
Do you want your business to be perceived as a one-size-fits-all service provider, adopting the same approach for every client and failing to treat each one as unique? No? Then why opt for a design template for your promotional material … Read More
Why design is so important for business
You turn up for work or greet a client in your home office looking disheveled. You’re not wearing shoes, you missed a couple of buttons on your shirt, your hair is all over the place. What kind of image does … Read More