I recently learned how cold it had to be before I froze my toes off.

Last weekend's storm left my household without power for more than a day. I often wonder what people with children do when there is no tv or video games to entertain?

We entertained ourselves by watching the frozen smoke billow from our lips every time we opened our mouths. It was minus twenty one in the living room, and it seemed as if my feet would never be warm again. 

At one point, just before the last candle blew out, we attempted hudling on the couch; three big people together in one giant pod. That, thank God, only lasted a minute. I'm clostrophobic. 

Bottom line was we were freezing, and the only thing that we could really do is go to our respective bedrooms and huddle up with as much blanketing that could be found. I found a really ugly grey, wool fabric blanket amongst the throng of blankets on my bed and wrapped up. 

We endured that for just over a day. I know. That's not a very long time. But let me tell you, living without electricity in the country means that you also lose the water. Gross. That means you have to fill up the tub before weather starts so that you can flush the freaking toilet. 

The cold weather was an experience, but all in all, I'd say we made it through pretty good. Our experience proves one thing; it pays to be prepared.

My Last Post

Halifax, NS, 17/07/16 - It's been nearly six months since my last post, thus breaking Google's cardinal rule, keep the copy fresh!

Myself and Scream Media have gone through somewhat of a metamorphosis over the last six months with a change in location from Toronto to Halifax and a new consulting position in Halifax's downtown core. I am from Halifax so returning here wasn't that taxing, but getting use to the speed that everyone operates on is.

My consulting career with my new client has gotten off to a good start, but I still feel that, deep down in my soul, that I am suppose to be doing something different, more creative. That seems to be the pitch though, everyone is looking for the perfect spot to be in, but few can find them due to a poor economy or lack of training opportunities.

I'm not sure how long my tenure will last with my current client, but I have already learned so much in such a very short period of time I feel like my brain is going to pop open and be nude for all to see. That my friend would be scary.

If you've been visiting my blog looking for something new, I apologize. There really is no excuse except that life kind of took over the driver's seat for a while and made me unavailable. But I'm back on the road again and will continue to persevere.

The people in Halifax are great. The city is great. And I'm closer to my family now than I have ever been, which is something that I value a lot. I hope that the man upstairs sees me and my efforts and looks favorably down on me and you. Here's to the next six months and a whole hell of a lot of posts, content and interaction with you.

Sincerely,

Darren.

Setting Up Google Analytics For Your Web Server

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Setting up Google Analytics on Your Web Server

The Google Analytics tracking code collects data for your web property, and returns that data to Analytics where you can see it in reports. When you add a new web property to your Analytics account, Analytics generates the tracking code snippet that you need to add to the pages whose data you want to collect. You can use this tracking code snippet as is, or customize it to collect additional data. The tracking code snippet contains a unique ID for the web property that lets you identify that property's data in your reports.

If you want to find out if you have installed your tracking code properly, you can use the “View Source” function of your web browser. The tracking code or “snippet” will have been installed at the bottom of the code on the page. You will need to install snippets on each page you wish to track them in Google Analytics.

If you are not familiar with the code view of your website, usually the web host provider will give you a hand setting this up. Keep your eyes open though because it’s not something they’re going to do twice for you, unless your site is managed by a communications firm or a consultant, in which case they will probably charge you a fee for setting it up for you. However, if you’re going to be dealing with data from Google Analytics, it would be wise to get familiar with the back end of your site, if only for the monetary savings you’ll realize by not needing to contact your go to person every time you want to take a look. To get to the view page source option, right click on the mouse on a piece of open page and the menu will appear. Once you have the menu, click on “view page source”. 

This is what the view page source will look like in most  cases

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Once you release the mouse you will see the code view. As you can tell with this snippet, the Google Analytics code IS NOT installed. But don’t worry. It’s a simple cut and paste job to do so, at the bottom of The HTML at the bottom of your page. Remember, this exercise isn’t about changing or moving code about on the page. You simply have to look at the code, find the tail and cut and paste the code that Google Analytics has generated for you. 

Find the tracking code snippet for your property:

The snippet of code would be placed here. The snippet of code will look like this:

Sign in to your Google Analytics account, and select the Admin tab. From the ACCOUNT and PROPERTY columns, select the property you’re working with. Click Tracking Info > Tracking Code.

This is what the tracking code for www.screammedia.ca, looks like :

<script>

  (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){

  (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),

  m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)

  })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga');

  ga('create', 'UA-59151106-1', 'auto');

  ga('send', 'pageview');

</script>

-Wait for Part 2-

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What is Copywriting?

What is Copywriting?

Copywriting is the creative process of organizing information and writing words (and sometimes suggesting concepts, structure, and visuals) used in creating effective sales and marketing documents. These include print ads, Internet banner ads, brochures, case studies, direct mail, sales letters, sale sheets, flyers, case studies, and new product announcements – and the list goes on.

Copywriters seek to inform, persuade and sell. The process sometimes goes by other names – marketing writing, sales and writing, persuasive writing, ad writing and public relations writing are just a few. Copywriting is a broad term. The words on a menu are copy. So are the words in an ad, product description, press release, annual report, announcement, invitation, package insert, sales letter, Web page, broadcast fax, CD ROM presentation, and food labels.

For the most part, copywriting is copy that sells, but sometimes the direct sales message within a marketing document isn’t obvious.

Direct mail certainly packs a deliberate sales punch. A direct mail package is designed to make an immediate buying decision, and the success of a mailing is measured by how many people from a given list respond. I can remember as a manager of the local Marie Brown’s in Bedford, Nova Scotia, my manager waiting patiently by the door and counting the number of people who came in with their coupons from the direct mail piece that he participated in.

But, of course, there are no guarantees. People may be fickle, or just not interested in what you’re selling. I have written many a news article thinking that this would be the one to light the paper I was writing for on fire only to have it dropped like a wet sponge from disinterest. It’s to no fault of the author, it’s just the way the masses read.

A lot of copywriters call copywriting “writing that sells,” but sometimes the direct sales message within a marketing document isn’t obvious. Direct mail certainly packs a deliberate sales punch. A direct mail package is designed to get you to make an immediate buying decision, and the success of a mailing is measured by how many people from a given list respond.

But marketing documents such as case studies, success stories, and features take more of a “soft sell” approach. They contain no direct “buy now” message. Still, copywriters tasked with writing any forms of marketing document, whether it be hard sell or soft sell, will use all the persuasive tools at their command in a deliberate attempt to with the hearts and minds of buyers. 

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