One thing all entrepreneurs have in common is that we seek to influence others through our writing. We’re constantly asking ourselves:    How can I speak to the needs, drives, and longings of my potential clients?  How can I convince people that my products and services will greatly benefit them?  How can I convince my clients that they need the services I provide? What strategies will win people to a new point of view?  What can I do so that people thirst for something better?  What is the most persuasive way to communicate my message?   Writing for impact ..read more

Stellar Canine Academy’s dog trainers had plenty of experience with dog obedience training, having worked for other dog training organizations in California. However, this trio of three dog trainers envisioned launching a new venture in the Puget Sound area in Western Washington.   They registered as an LLC, got a logo designed, and shipped their entire lives up to the Seattle area.   There was only one thing they lacked…   Clients!   You know, it’s one thing to convince people that they need what you’re selling (hint: this is what social media is for). It’s another thing t ..read more

Are you as confused as I once was about how to maintain a WordPress website?   WordPress can be daunting for the uninitiated. The advantages of WordPress – power, flexibility, and a considerable ecosystem – can also be its downfall when it comes to average and even pro users trying to navigate their way through the system.   As a beginner, you might have bumped into articles that state it’s “simple”, “easy”, or “only takes a few steps” to manage a WordPress site. Well, the truth is, it’s not that simple. Good and functional websites require time and proper planning to run.  &nbs ..read more

Did you realize that your company photo shoot isn’t just a mundane endeavor – something to be done in order to “check the box”?   When it comes to getting high-quality photos for your website, social media, and other marketing campaigns, the stakes are high. A photo shoot is a ONE-TIME event to get the right images you need.  If you fail to get the right images, it can be costly and time-consuming to go back and get what you need.   If you miss this opportunity, you may never have exactly the right image assets.   Or worse yet, you’ll end up using stock photography.  E ..read more

Marketing is a tool for selling products and services. But like any tool, we can use it for either noble or nefarious purposes.   One might think that the test of good marketing is how effective it is in getting people to do what we want them to do. But at White Hat Matt we believe this is a faulty test.   Consider Joseph Goebbels. He served as the Reich Minister of Propaganda for Nazi Germany under Hitler. Goebbels’ marketing was extraordinarily successful in terms of getting people to do what he and Hitler wanted them to do. But of course, their marketing scheme was designed to man ..read more

WordPress platform is the most popular website builder with over 47% of websites globally running on it   As an SME business, you may find yourself pondering the question: how important is a website for my business? Well, the answer is simple: in the digital age we live in, it is essential.    You may then wonder how to build one? Small and medium businesses generally require a simple and effective web presence that can generate leads that result in sales. This is why many opt for website builders since they provide simple tools and features that enable them to set up and mana ..read more

  Everyone knows that Facebook marketing (specifically Facebook ads) is a powerful sales and branding channel for ecommerce stores. With great targeting and accurate user data, Facebook is an ecommerce social media powerhouse — but so is Instagram!   Instagram is not only about a sleek ‘grammable’ aesthetic and influencers promote their glamorous lifestyles, but it’s also a place for brands to connect with customers. Popular, easy to use, and with an engaged user base, Instagram is the perfect place for store owners to grow their customer base.   Using some of the same great fea ..read more

  Being clickable comes with baggage. Journalists and readers alike lament the rise of clickbait headlines, used to entice readers into clicking on a story that’s actually much less interesting than originally promised. The rise of the practice has led to a loss of trust from readers, with people becoming more cynical about what they click through to.   This doesn’t mean it’s a dead practice though. Catering your headline copy to be as clickable as possible is still a vital part of gaining clicks, no matter how much readers complain about it. So even with all the negative press, why ..read more

  Whether you’re a low-level marketing manager or novelist of 30 years, the writing process can be agonizing, especially when you’re writing about something you are passionate about.   Copywriting for marketing is no different. It’s hard. Not only are there very specific things that work and very specific things that don’t work, the things we learned in school are often completely antithetical to what works in the marketing field.   That being said, good copywriting is more about unlearning than learning. Unlearning how to write in a hoity-toity academic style, best suited for s ..read more