Ezekiel Muoneke

Articulating Your Thoughts: The Art of Communication Ezekiel Muoneke Content Writer Blog June 21, 2023 1:54 pm Communication is the art of sharing your thoughts, feelings, and ideas with others. It is essential for building relationships, achieving goals, and expressing yourself creatively. But communication is not always easy. Sometimes we struggle to find the right words to convey our message clearly, or to connect with our audience. You may think you speak very well, but you don’t, and the moment you need to articulate your thoughts clearly, you will see how limited you truly are.  In the scope of things, there are primarily three types of people that exist: The arrogant, the ignorant, and the student. The arrogant thinks he’s great at communicating without ever improving this skill, and the ignorant underestimates the power of communication and influence and dismisses the importance of it, but the student is humble enough to accept that he should improve. He knows he wasn’t born with elite communication skills, and he doesn’t dismiss the importance of coping with this deficiency. Instead, he is eager to get better, and out of the three, he is the one who becomes the most successful in life. You see, communication is everything in the modern world. Your ability to effectively communicate dictates, in no small way, your ability to succeed, even if you have no other skill to back it up with. Because high-level communication is essential for success and, indeed, influence, it can get people to understand you, respect you, buy what you sell, and follow you to the ends of the earth. In a nutshell, you can’t be a good leader without it. In this blog post, we’ll examine this concept extensively as well as offer tips to help you elevate your communication game. If you have a student mindset, it’s time to become a powerful communicator. Let’s get started. 1. Think Before You Speak We see so many people just rambling their thoughts as if they were having a conversation with themselves. They do not pay attention to what they say because they feel social pressure to speak quickly and without thought. It’s not because they have a great answer, but because the pressure is forcing them to respond fast. This pressure isn’t real, but they make it real in their heads, and as such, they feel the need to answer in time. This happens all the time, even in conversations of low importance, like when the barber asks a question while you’re getting a haircut. Just because someone asks you something doesn’t mean you must provide an answer right away. Think. “What I’m about to say—is it valuable, or do I come off weirding everyone out and wasting their time and attention?” To prevent this from happening, think before you speak. That brief pause makes all the difference in the world between a successful conversation and a disastrous one. A brief pause can stop you from saying some of the most regrettable things you’ll ever say. Here’s a secret: the more often you pause before speaking, the shorter those pauses become over time because you’re training yourself to think faster under pressure. In the beginning, you may need long pauses to formulate a well-thought-out response, and it may feel awkward to do at first, but before you know it, you’ll be able to deliver well-thought-out answers with ease. This is why you’ll see certain individuals, either in a podcast or debate, delivering impactful responses effortlessly. It’s not because they’re talented or have memorised their lines; it’s because they’re so used to thinking before they speak that their brains are used to processing thoughts and answers at a much quicker rate. So, think before you speak. That’s where it all starts. 2. Choose Your Words Words carry weight, so you must pick your words carefully. Always consider how they’ll be received by the other person, not just by the content of the words you are saying but by how that person will receive them. You see, the words you pick combined with the tone of those words can make a night and day difference in how they are received. Something you say with good intentions can be perceived as disrespectful or hostile merely because of the wrong choice of words, tone, or both. You must be tactful as well as respectful of other people’s feelings. This doesn’t mean you should settle for indirect remarks; instead, you should always consider if what you’re about to say is necessary, relevant, and appropriate for the situation. If it’s not, bite your tongue and save your thoughts for something more suitable. Remember, to become articulate is to become a master of your tongue. 3. Use Simple and Clear Words One of the most common communication mistakes is using complex or vague language that makes it hard for your audience or receiver to understand you. To avoid this, use simple and clear language that expresses your thoughts precisely and concisely. Avoid jargon, slang, technical terms, or acronyms that your receiver may not be familiar with. If you need to use them, explain them clearly or provide examples. Also, when writing, avoid long or complicated sentences that may confuse your audience or make them lose interest. Instead, use short, simple sentences that convey one idea at a time. Use transitions, connectors, and signposts to link your sentences and paragraphs and create a logical flow of information. (Like this one.) 4. Listen Actively and Intently Communication is a two-way street. As you express yourself, you also need to listen to what others are saying and show that you are interested and attentive. Listening is akin to speaking, which is different from talking in this context; it is understanding, interpreting, and responding to the messages of others. Why? Everyone likes to talk about themselves, and when you allow them to share things they love or like talking about, they’ll associate those good feelings with you. Most people don’t know this, but listening

Product Placements and The Entertainment Industry Ezekiel Muoneke Content Writer Blog June 3, 2023 1:57 pm Have you ever seen a movie scene where a particular product is brandished for a few seconds or a TV show where a character casually mentions the name of a brand? If you have, then you’ve very likely witnessed a form of advertising called product placement.  Product placement is a technique that companies use to promote their products or services by integrating them into various forms of media, such as films, TV shows, video games, music, and even books. Product placement can be subtle or obvious, depending on the context and the intention of the advertiser. In this article, we will explore what product placement is, how it works, why it is important, and some examples of successful product placements in the entertainment industry. Product Placement: The Art The Oxford Dictionary defines product placement as a practise in which producers of goods or providers of services pay to have their goods or services advertised in films and television shows. Product placement can also be referred to as “embedded marketing” or “embedded advertising”, as it involves embedding the product or service into the content of the media. Product placement can take various forms, such as: • Visual: The product or service is shown on screen, either prominently or in the background. For example, a character may drink a can of soda with a recognisable logo or drive a car with a visible brand name. • Verbal: The product or service is mentioned by name or described by a character or narrator. For example, a character may praise the quality of a smartphone or recommend a restaurant to another character. • Plot: The product or service is integrated into the storyline or theme of the media. For example, a character may use a specific gadget to solve a problem or achieve a goal, or a scene may take place in a specific location that showcases the product or service. How Product Placement Works  Product placement works by creating an association between the product or service and the media content that features it. This can influence the audience’s perception, attitude, and behaviour towards the product or service. According to Investopedia, product placement can create explicit and implicit advertising effects. ~ Explicit effects: Product placement can increase awareness and recall of the product or service among the audience. For instance, after seeing a brand mentioned in a movie through product placement, viewers are more likely to identify it. ~ Implicit effects: Product placement can affect the feelings and opinions of the audience towards the product or service. For example, product placement can create positive associations between the product or service and the characters, settings, or emotions depicted in the content. Product placement can also influence the purchase intention and behaviour of the audience. For example, product placement can create a desire for the product or service among the audience, especially if it is portrayed as desirable, useful, or trendy. Product placement can also trigger impulse buying among the audience, especially if they encounter the product or service shortly after seeing it in the content. Why Product Placement is Important Both media producers and advertisers value product placement. Product placement can be beneficial to advertising for a variety of reasons, including: 1. Cost-effectiveness: Compared to other types of promotion, such as TV commercials or print ads, product placement can be more affordable. Since it can be viewed by many audiences frequently over time, product placement can also result in long-term exposure and value for the good or service. 2. Credibility: Because product placement might be interpreted as an endorsement by the media content or its creators, it can increase the product or service’s credibility and trustworthiness. Product placement can also avoid some of the scepticism and resistance that traditional advertising may face from consumers who are wary of being manipulated by marketers. 3. Relevance: Product placement can make the product or service more relevant and appealing to the target audience, as it can be tailored to fit the context and style of the media content. Product placement can also reach audiences who are otherwise difficult to access through traditional advertising channels, such as young people who consume more digital content than traditional media. ENJOYING THE ARTICLE? Sign up For Our Newsletter  For media producers, product placement can also offer several benefits, such as: 1. Revenue: Product placement can provide an additional source of revenue for media producers who may face challenges in funding their projects. Product placement can also help offset some of the production costs involved in creating high-quality media content.  2. Resources: For media producers, product placement can provide them access to resources that might otherwise be too expensive or impossible to access. The quality of the media content can be enhanced, for instance, by using product placement to gain access to venues, props, tools, talent, and distribution channels. 3. Great Traction—More Endorsement Deals: Great delivery creates great traction, and consistent delivery creates more endorsement deals; it’s not rocket science. When a TV show or movie delivers massively in its first and subsequent outings, there’s bound to be a lot of hype and rave, and this is good for business, especially when it comes to product placement and how it’s neatly done. Take, for instance, the Nigerian reality TV show Big Brother Naija. When it re-emerged on the scene in early 2017, it promised to be a total revamp of the original, promising more excitement and buzz like never before, no small thanks to its now famous tagline, “See Gobbe.” It ended up delivering, successfully spawning five more seasons and counting and inherently becoming a hotspot for product placement in Nigerian entertainment.   Examples of Product Placement in Movies Movies are one of the most popular and lucrative platforms for product placement, as they can reach a large and diverse audience worldwide. Some movies are known for featuring multiple brands and products throughout their scenes, while

The Move of Tangible Assets Towards Digital Convenience Ezekiel Muoneke Content Writer Blog May 31, 2023 4:46 pm Uber owns no vehicles. Facebook creates no content, and Jumia has no store. But there is one thing they all have in common: the ability to leverage the gap between consumers and their needs digitally. This action does not only identify the needs of the consumer; it also provides a speedy solution—one without stress but with ease—a digital convenience, if you will.  With the world changing rapidly, so are the ways we interact with our assets. Gone are the days when we had to carry bulk loads of cash, cards, keys, documents, and other physical items to access our money, property, identity, and information.  The world is moving from tangible assets to digital convenience, and today, we can store and manage most of our assets digitally, using our smartphones, computers, or cloud services. This trend of moving tangible assets into digital convenience has many benefits, but also some challenges and risks. In this article, we will explore some of the reasons and implications of this new trend. Why are We Converting Tangible Assets into Digital Convenience? There are several factors that drive the move of tangible assets into digital convenience. Some of them are: 1. Convenience: Of course, it’s always going to be convenience. After all, that’s the whole point of this article.  Compared to physical assets, digital ones are much easier to access, store, and use. We can pay for goods and services, unlock the doors of our homes, confirm our identities, access our accounts, and more using our electronic devices. This way, we don’t have to be concerned about misplacing, forgetting, or damaging our tangible possessions. Additionally, we can more simply and securely transfer and exchange our digital assets with others. 2. Efficiency: Another great benefit and reason why people now opt for digital assets is efficiency. With this, costs can be cut, time can be saved, and productivity can be raised. For instance, using digital payments can reduce fraud, do away with transaction fees, and speed up transactions. Printing costs, paper waste, and storage space can all be reduced with digital documents. The use of online or physical services is not left out, as they are made possible through digital identity, which in turn simplifies the verification process. Faster communication, teamwork, and creativity are all also possible thanks to digital information. 3. Security: Digital assets have the potential to provide greater security and control than physical ones. We can use passwords, biometrics, or other security measures to encrypt our digital assets in order to prevent unauthorised access. To avoid loss or damage, we can also create a backup of our digital assets on the cloud or on other hardware. With the help of logs, alerts, and other technologies, we can also keep an eye on and monitor our digital assets in order to spot theft or misuse and stop it. What are Some Examples of Tangible Assets that Have Moved into Digital Convenience? We’ve been talking a lot about these tangible assets and their metamorphosis into the digital assets we have become familiar with. But what really are they, and what are some examples for clarity?  Tangible assets are physical assets that have a finite monetary value and usually a useful lifespan of more than one year. Digital assets on the other hand are anything that is created and stored digitally, is identifiable and discoverable, and has or provides value. Some tangible assets have morphed into digital assets through the process of tokenization, which is the conversion of an underlying asset, tangible or intangible, into a digital “token” that acts as its proxy. And while there are many examples of tangible assets that have moved into digital convenience in various domains, here are some of them: • Money: Money is one of the most common tangible assets that has moved into digital convenience. These days, we can use digital wallets, mobile apps, online platforms, or cryptocurrencies to store and transfer our money without using cash or cards. We can also use digital currencies that are backed by governments or corporations to facilitate transactions across borders or platforms. These digital currencies can facilitate faster and cheaper cross-border payments and remittances. • Property: Property is another tangible asset that has moved into digital convenience. Today we can use smart locks, sensors, cameras, or other devices to control and monitor our property without using keys or codes. We can also use blockchain technology to create and manage digital tokens that represent our property rights and ownership without using deeds or contracts. This way, real estate properties can be tokenized into fractional ownership shares that can be traded on secondary markets. ENJOYING THE ARTICLE? Sign up For Our Newsletter • Identity: A vital tangible asset that has been incorporated into digital convenience is identity. Without the need for identification documents or cards, we can utilise biometrics, face recognition, QR codes, or other techniques to confirm our identity. Another option is to employ self-sovereign identification systems, which let us construct and control our own digital identities independently of intermediaries or third parties. • Information: Information is a valuable tangible asset that has moved into digital convenience. We can use cloud services, online platforms, or other tools to store and access our information without using paper or disks. We can also use artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics (BDA), or other technologies to process and generate information without using human labour or expertise. • Art: These days art can be tokenized into non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which are unique and indivisible digital representations of an artwork that can be verified on a blockchain. NFTs are a great way to make an extra income as they create new revenue streams for artists and collectors by enabling royalties and secondary sales. Now that we have all of these out of the way,  What are the Implications of Converting Tangible Assets into Digital Convenience? The move of tangible

Email Copywriting: Best and Worst Practices Ezekiel Muoneke Content Writer Blog May 27, 2023 11:35 am As has already been established in our email series, email marketing is one of the most effective ways to reach your target audience and generate leads. However, writing an email copy that converts is not as easy as it sounds. You need to consider various factors such as the subject line, the tone, the structure, the call to action, and the value proposition. In this article, we will share some of the best practices and common mistakes to avoid when writing an email copy. What is an Email Copy? An email copy is the text that you write in your email to communicate your message to your subscribers. It can be a newsletter, a promotional offer, a welcome email, a follow-up email, or any other type of email that you send to your list. The purpose of an email’s copy is to urge the recipient to do something, like click on a link, buy something, sign up for a trial, or respond to your email. Why is Email Copy Important? Email copy is important because it determines whether your email will be opened, read, and acted upon by your recipients. According to a study by Litmus, the average email open rate in 2020 was 21.3%, and the average click-through rate was 2.6%. This means that only a fraction of your subscribers will actually see and engage with your email. Therefore, you need to write an email copy that stands out from the crowd and convinces your readers to take action. How to Write an Effective Email Copy? The best way to write effective email copy varies depending on the recipient. However, there are some general guidelines that you can follow to improve your chances of success. Here are some of the do’s and dont’s of writing an email copy. Dos: 1. Write a Catchy Subject Line  When your subscribers receive an email, the subject line is the first thing they will see. It should capture their attention and entice them to open your email. A good subject line should be clear, concise, relevant, personalised, and benefit-oriented. Instead of saying “Our latest update can save time and money,” you may write “How our new feature can save you time and money.”  2. Use a Friendly and Conversational Tone  Your email copy should sound like you are talking to a friend or a colleague, not like you are lecturing or selling something. Use simple and familiar words, avoid jargon and acronyms, and address your readers by their name or pronoun. You can also use humour, anecdotes, or questions to make your email more engaging and relatable. 3. Prioritise the Benefits Over the Features  Your email copy should answer the question “What’s in it for me?” for your readers. Instead of listing the features of your product or service, explain how they can solve their problems or improve their situation. Instead of saying that our app includes a built-in calendar, you may say something like, “With our app, you can easily schedule your appointments and never miss a deadline.”  4. Use Clear and Compelling Call to Action (CTA)  Because it informs readers of what they should do next, the CTA is the most important section of your email message. For instance, you could write “Claim your free trial now” instead of “Click here.” 5. Proofread and Test Your Email Copy  Before you hit send, make sure that your email copy is free of spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting errors. You can use tools like Grammarly or Quillbot to check and improve your writing. You should also test your email on different devices and platforms to ensure that it looks good and works properly. Don’ts: 1. Write too Long or too Short Emails  There is no ideal length for an email copy because it depends on your purpose, audience, and message. However, you should avoid writing emails that are too long or too short for your readers’ attention span and interest level. A general rule of thumb is to keep your emails between 50 and 200 words.  2. Use too Many Images or Attachments While many tend to be guilty of this, like myself, because images and attachments enhance blog posts and email copies by adding visual appeal and providing additional information, they can also slow down the loading time of your email and increase the chances of being marked as spam or blocked by firewalls. Therefore, you should use images and attachments sparingly and only when they are relevant and necessary for your message. 3. Make False or Exaggerated Claims Your email copy should be honest and credible because your readers will not trust you if you lie or exaggerate about your product or service. You should back up your claims with facts, statistics, testimonials, or guarantees. A better alternative to stating “Our product is the best across the market” would be “Our product has been rated 4.8 out of 5 stars by over 10,000 customers.” You see, no lie no foul.  4. Use too Many Colours or Fonts Your email copy should be easy to read and scan because most people will not read every word of your email. You should use colours and fonts that are consistent with your brand identity and style guide. You should also use white space, bullet points, headings, subheadings, and bolding to break up your text and highlight the key points. 5. Send Emails Without Permission or Segmentation Your email copy should be relevant and personalised for your subscribers because they will not open or click on emails that are not interesting or useful to them. You should only send emails to people who have given you permission to do so by opting in to your list or agreeing to receive marketing communications from you.  You should also segment your list based on criteria such as demographics, behaviour, preferences, or interests so that you can tailor your email copy

Making Your Emails Mobile-Friendly Ezekiel Muoneke Content Writer Blog May 24, 2023 2:54 pm Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to reach and engage your audience. It can help you build trust, increase conversions, and generate revenue. But email marketing is not a one-size-fits-all strategy. You need to consider how your subscribers are accessing and reading your emails and optimize them accordingly. As a result, one of the most important factors to consider in this journey is mobile optimization. Mobile devices account for nearly half of all email opens worldwide, and this number is expected to grow in the future. If your emails are not optimized for mobile, you risk losing subscribers, clicks, and sales. In this article, we will guide you through the best practices for optimizing email marketing for mobile devices. We will cover the following topics: ~ Why mobile optimization is important for email marketing ~ What to do And ~ How to design mobile-friendly emails Why Mobile Optimization is Important for Email Marketing Mobile optimization is the process of ensuring that your emails look good and function well on mobile devices. This means that your emails should be responsive, adaptive, or scalable to fit different screen sizes and orientations. Mobile optimization is important for email marketing because it affects your subscriber experience, engagement, and conversion rates. Here are some of the benefits of optimizing your emails for mobile: • Improve subscriber experience: Mobile users expect fast and seamless experiences when they open your emails. If your emails are not optimized for mobile, they may encounter issues such as slow loading, distorted images, unreadable text, or broken links. These issues can frustrate your subscribers and damage your brand reputation. By optimizing your emails for mobile, you can ensure that your subscribers have a positive and consistent experience across devices. • Increase engagement: Mobile users tend to be more active and responsive than desktop users when it comes to email marketing. They are more likely to open, click, and share your emails if they are relevant and appealing. When you effectively optimize your emails for mobile, you can capture their attention and interest with clear and compelling content. You can also use mobile-specific features such as buttons, icons, emojis, or swipe gestures to enhance interactivity and engagement. • Boost conversions: Just like desktop users, mobile users are also likely to take action from your emails if they are optimized for mobile. They are more likely to visit your website, sign up for your offer, or make a purchase if your emails are easy to navigate and complete on their devices. By optimizing your emails for mobile, you can reduce friction and increase urgency with simple and effective calls-to-action. What to Do 1. Optimize Your Subject Line and Preheader Text The first thing that mobile users see when they receive an email is the subject line and preheader text. Therefore, it is pertinent to optimize them for mobile devices. Keep your subject line short and to the point, as mobile screens have limited space. It should grab the user’s attention and encourage them to open the email. The preheader text is the short summary of the email that appears right after the subject line on mobile devices. It should also be concise and informative, providing the user with a reason to keep reading. Make sure that your subject line and preheader text work together to entice the user to open the email. 2. Use Responsive Design  Responsive design is a must for any email campaign that targets mobile users. It ensures that your email looks great and functions properly on any device, regardless of its screen size or orientation.  A responsive email design involves using HTML and CSS to adjust the layout of the email automatically. If your email is not optimized for mobile devices, it will look cluttered, and the user may have difficulty reading it. Responsive design ensures that your email is easy to navigate, and all elements are easy to read and interact with. 3. Optimize the Email Content Once you have optimized the subject line, preheader, and design of your email, it’s time to focus on the content. When writing content for mobile devices, keep in mind that users have limited attention spans. Therefore, your content should be concise and easy to read. Avoid using too much text in your email. Instead, use headings, subheadings, bullet points, and images to break up the content and make it more scannable. Use a legible font size and typeface that is easy to read on small screens. Also, make sure that your call-to-action (CTA) is prominently displayed and easy to click. 4. Test Your Email on Multiple Devices Before sending out your email campaign, it’s important to test it on different mobile devices. This will help you identify any formatting issues or design flaws that may cause problems for mobile users. Test your email on various smartphones and tablets, including both iOS and Android devices. 5. Monitor your email metrics It’s important to monitor your email metrics to see how your campaigns are performing on mobile devices. Pay attention to metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, and bounce rates on mobile devices. This will help you identify any areas that need improvement and optimize your campaigns for better results. How to Design Mobile-Friendly Emails Designing mobile-friendly emails is not as complicated as it may seem. You can use various tools and techniques to create responsive, adaptive, or scalable emails that adapt to different screen sizes and orientations.  Earlier on, we mentioned the need to use responsive design because it is the most suitable for mobile. However, there are other design techniques, and for the sake of clarity and a full understanding of these things, we’ll be delving briefly into them. The Responsive Design The Responsive design is the most popular and recommended technique for mobile email optimization. It uses media queries to detect the device type and screen size of the subscriber, and