Creative Writing for Professionals

Recently, I made a post about building an online presence and creating content on LinkedIn & Instagram, and I received so many questions like: 👉 How can we create engaging content? 👉 Is there any right time to post? So, let’s talk about it! First of all, there’s no fixed rule that guarantees rapid growth on any platform. From my experience, the key is simple: Create what your audience needs. But how do you figure out what your audience actually wants? 1️⃣ Pick 5-10 verticals (topics) you want to post about – This helps you stay consistent and gives variety to your content. 2️⃣ Post regularly and rotate between these topics – Try this for at least 30-45 days. This gives you enough data to analyze what’s working and what’s not. 3️⃣ Analyze your best-performing posts – Once you have a good number of posts, check which ones got the most engagement. Identify patterns in topics, formats, and writing styles that work best. 4️⃣ Test different content formats – Try text posts, carousels, polls, short videos, and storytelling-style posts. Experimenting will help you understand what your audience enjoys the most. 5️⃣ Hook your audience in the first 2-3 lines – The first few lines decide whether someone will stop scrolling or move on. Start with a question, bold statement, or interesting fact to grab attention. 6️⃣ Keep your content concise and easy to understand – Avoid overcomplicating things. The simpler and clearer your message, the better engagement you’ll get. 7️⃣ Use pointers in your posts – Structured content is easier to read and keeps people hooked till the end. 8️⃣ Engage with your audience – Reply to comments, ask questions, and keep the conversation going. Engagement builds a loyal audience over time. 9️⃣ Find the right posting time (but don’t overthink it) – Different audiences are active at different times. Test different time slots to see when your posts get the best reach. LinkedIn engagement is usually higher on weekdays, while Instagram tends to perform well in the evenings. 🔟 Stay consistent & have patience – Many people give up too soon when they don’t see instant engagement. The truth is, it takes time to build an audience. Keep posting, refining your strategy, and improving with each post. At the end of the day, there’s no perfect formula—the more you experiment, the better you’ll understand what works. Keep posting, keep learning!

I Run a 6-Figure Personal Branding Agency, And I’m about to hand you my Pitching Playbook for FREE! Why? Because my inbox can’t handle another one of these: “Hey Aaina, I think we could do something cool together?” “Loved your last post! Let’s collab!” “Hey! Big fan. Check out our SaaS tool?” I see it. I sigh. I delete. Let’s save us both the pain. Because great pitches aren't written, They're architected. Let me show you how: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 5 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 (𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬): 1. Research First But not just any research…do real research. Here’s what real research looks like: ✓ Read their last 3–5 posts and actually absorb them ✓ Look for patterns in what they care about (topics, tone, goals) ✓ Catch details most people miss (product launches, pain points, team changes) ✓ Reference something specific—a line they wrote or even a strong opinion they shared. Why? Because vague = ignored. And personal = powerful. 2. Value Before Ask ( Always) Don’t just drop your Calendly. Instead: ✓ Share a relevant insight ✓ Ask a smart, curiosity-piquing question ✓ Offer something they can use right now For eg: “Your last post did well. But if you had shaped it into a carousel, it could’ve driven much better engagement and sparked richer discussions". Give them value first—no strings. Then earn the right to ask for time. 3. Proof & Context: ✓ Reference clear results ✓ Show relevant credibility ✓ Build authentic trust For example, if you’ve helped improved the online presence of a similar client, reference those results. Use percentages, figures, or specific achievements like: “I helped Brand X increase their LinkedIn engagement by 40% in just two months by implementing a tailored content strategy.” This provides hard evidence that you know what you’re doing. 4. Easy Response: Remember, they're busy... ✓ One-word reply ✓ Clear next step ✓ Zero pressure Make it easier to say yes than to ignore. For example, rather than saying, "Let me know if you’d be available to chat next week," you could say, "Would you be open to a quick 15-minute chat about how we can improve your LinkedIn presence?" The recipient can respond with a simple “Yes” or “No” rather than feeling obligated to write a more elaborate answer. And the Golden rule… 5. Make It About Them! Because it's never about you. It's about their growth. There you have it: Our 6-figure pitch formula. Yours, for FREE. Because great ideas deserve great pitches. And my inbox? It deserves better messages. ~ Start here. ~ Watch doors open. ~ You can thank me later:) PS: Now, as I’m wrapping this up, I realize (shamelessly) that I forgot to talk about the subject line—the most important part! Want me to dive into that next? Drop ‘TGC’ in the comments, and I’ve got you covered. ♻️ Repost to help someone 🔔Follow Aaina for more such content. #strategy #personalbranding #research #learning #business #growth

15 years ago, I wrote "Write Better, Sell Better". The tagline that defined my career. Since then, I've written copy for Fortune 500 companies, projects that made millions, and taught copywriting at the university → Yep, writing is my life. But you don't have all semester long to learn. This post contains my 7 biggest writing lessons: (Save and repost this 60-second class ♻️) --- 1. Clarity is 90% of your writing Clarity beats cleverness 10 times out of 10. Remember: First, write clearly. Then, write creatively. Most focus on "creative" right off the bat = big no. (If you can do both, jackpot) --- 2. Use signposting to showcase authority I teach this technique to every single client. (This sentence you just read was a signpost) Signposts are short "signals" to your expertise and results. Think of them as signs on the side of the road, which allow you to "trust" the journey you're on. Can you notice where else I used it in this post? 😉 --- 3. Too much copy? Make it choppy. Here are 2 examples (the second one is better): Sometimes, we write super long sentences that we have no time to breathe and neither do our readers. Sometimes, we write super long sentences. We have no time to breathe. And neither do our readers. Chop it up! It's easier to read. --- 4. Write unselfishly. Edit relentlessly. Think about it. Writing is 80% editing. You are tweaking, optimizing, and making things sound perfect. One bit of advice: Don't hold back. Edit (ehm, delete) anything that isn't on-topic. I've deleted probably 40% of this post. --- 5. Use sensory words. Add texture to text. That had to hurt! → That had to "sting"! Having a bad day? → Having a "rough" day? A seamless process → A "silky-smooth" process All of the 2nd descriptions above can be "felt". It's how your readers "touch an emotion", not just "read text". --- 6. Never write to "everyone" Remember this for all time: "Everyone" is not your audience. Sales happen when your prospect can clearly "see" themselves in your writing. So how do you go about this? --- 7. The "Dear son" writing method Pick "one" person to speak to → I speak to my son. For you, it could be your best friend, the old you etc. I start everything with "Dear son" and end with "Love, Dad". In the end, I simply delete these 2 parts. Doing so creates such a powerful connection with your readers + a consistent tone of voice. With every word. Where there's connection, there's trust. And where there's trust, there's sales. Words to live by. --- Write Better, Sell Better = that's the whole game! Let me know which lesson you enjoy the most. Professor Jay, out. (Repost this for your network ♻️)

Here’s the proposal template that helped me close over $100 million in enterprise sales: It’s also helped my clients close more than 50% of their deals when they use it. And until now, I’ve never shared it publicly. Most sellers are great at pitching features. But the ones who consistently win big deals? They know how to tell a great story. The truth is, executives don’t buy products - they buy confidence. They buy vision. They buy a story they want to be part of. If you want to sell like a top 1% seller, you need a proposal that doesn’t just inform… it moves people. Here’s how I do it 👇 The Story Mountain Framework for Sales Proposals: 1. Exposition – Introduce the characters and setting. Start with them: → “You’re trying to expand into new markets… to grow revenue… to unify your tech stack…” Set the vision. Make them the hero. 2. Rising Action – Lay out the challenges and obstacles. → “But growth stalled. Competitors moved faster. Customer churn increased.” Quote discovery calls. Surface real pain. Build emotional tension. 3. Climax – Introduce your solution. → “Then you found a better way…” Now show how your solution helps them overcome the exact obstacles you outlined. 4. Falling Action – Ease the tension. → “Here’s our implementation plan. Here’s the ROI. Here’s how others in your industry succeeded.” Give them confidence that this won’t just work—it will work for them. 5. Resolution – End with clarity. → “Here’s our mutual action plan. Let’s get started.” Lock in buy-in, next steps, and forward momentum. This structure has helped me close some of the biggest deals of my career—including an $8-figure enterprise deal at Salesforce where I used this exact approach. I broke it all down in this week’s training—and for the first time ever, I show you the actual proposal I used AND tell you how to access my Killer Proposal Template for free. 👀 Watch the full training here: https://lnkd.in/gPY_cvv5 No more boring product pitches. No more ghosting after the readout. Just proposals that close.

You can pass all 3 levels of the CFA… and still not get the job. 𝗪𝗵𝘆? Because the one skill that actually gets you shortlisted… isn’t on any CFA syllabus. You’ve mastered valuations, ethics, derivatives, maybe even GIPS. But when it’s time to explain your ideas clearly — you ramble, over-explain, or sound just like everyone else. And that’s when the rejection email hits. The skill you’re missing? 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲. Not fiction. Not fluff. But the ability to turn complex data into simple clarity — and deliver it in a way that actually sticks. It’s what 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 in interviews. It’s what 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸. It’s what 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁... 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲. 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝘂𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲: 𝗔 𝗖𝗙𝗔 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝟮 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 landed a fund analyst role — not because he knew more valuation metrics, but because he explained HUL’s moat like a founder, not a textbook. 𝗔𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗕 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 — not because of his Excel skills, but because he could explain EBITDA trends in 3 lines, with no spreadsheet in sight. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴. Not everyone can do it — but you can build it. Here’s how: 📘 Start by explaining concepts in 5 lines or less. 📊 Pick one listed company a week and break it down like a VC. 🧾 Write about what you learn. Talk to non-finance people. If they understand it, you’ve won. 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀? Here’s what you can do :  → Creating 10-slide breakdowns on LinkedIn → Making Notion pages on companies & sectors → Rewriting resume points like deal stories → Practicing how I’d pitch a stock in 60 seconds — no Excel, just logic 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵: Recruiters don’t remember your formulas. They remember your clarity. And if you're spending 300+ hours for CFA… spend 30 learning how to talk about it. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀. 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 Dhruv Sitlani if you're tired of being technically correct, but professionally invisible. Smart is passing CFA. Smarter is making CFA speak for you. Don’t get left behind.

Want your words to actually sell? Here’s a simple roadmap I've found incredibly helpful: Think of crafting your message like taking someone on a mini-journey: 1. Hook them with curiosity: Your headline is the first "hello."  Make it intriguing enough to stop the scroll.  Instead of just saying "Email Marketing Tips," try something like "Want a 20% revenue jump in the next 60 days? (Here's the email secret)."  See the difference? Promise + Specificity = Attention. 2. Tell a story with a villain: This might sound dramatic, but hear me out.  What's the problem your audience is facing?  What's the frustration, the obstacle, the "enemy" they're battling?  For the email example, maybe it's "wasting hours on emails that no one opens."  Giving that problem a name creates an instant connection and a sense of purpose for your solution. 3. Handle the "yeah, but..." in their head: We all have those internal objections.  "I don't have time," "It costs too much," "Will it even work for me?"  Great copy anticipates these doubts and addresses them head-on within the message. 4. Show, don't just tell (Proof!): People are naturally skeptical.  Instead of just saying "it works," show them.  Even a simple "Join thousands of others who've seen real results" adds weight. Testimonials, even short ones, are gold. 5. Make it crystal clear what you want them to do (CTA):   Don't leave them guessing!  "Learn the exact steps in my latest guide" or "Grab your free checklist now" are direct and tell them exactly what to do and what they'll get.  Notice the benefit in the CTA example: "Get sculpted abs in just 4 weeks without dieting." And when you're thinking about where you're sharing this (LinkedIn post, email, etc.), there are different ways to structure your message. The P-A-S (Problem-Agitate-Solution) or A-I-D-A (Attention-Interest-Desire-Action) frameworks are classics for a reason. The core difference I've learned? Good copywriting isn't about shouting about your amazing product. It's about understanding them – their challenges, their desires – and positioning your solution as the answer in a way that feels like a conversation, not a sales pitch.

Most people think storytelling is just for writers and filmmakers. But the best business leaders know better. They use stories to close deals, inspire teams, and build movements. After studying how the best in the world communicate, I noticed something fascinating. They don't wing it. They use specific frameworks that turn messages into movements. 💡 The Pixar framework? It turns any change story into something memorable. "Once upon a time, retail was only in stores. Every day, people drove to shop. One day, Amazon changed everything." Simple. Memorable. Powerful. 💡 Simon Sinek's Golden Circle works because humans buy into purpose before products. Start with why you exist. Then show how you're different. Finally, reveal what you deliver. Watch how Apple does this in every launch. 💡 The StoryBrand approach flips traditional marketing. You're not the hero. Your customer is. You're just the guide helping them win. 💡 The Hero's Journey isn't just for movies. It brings founder stories to life. The call to adventure. The obstacles faced. The transformation achieved. We see ourselves in their struggle. 💡 Three-Act Structure works because our brains naturally think this way. Setup. Conflict. Resolution. Beginning. Middle. End. It's how humans have shared knowledge forever. 💡 ABT (And, But, Therefore)? It's beautifully simple. Here's the situation AND here's the context. BUT something changed. THEREFORE here's what happens next. Clear thinking in three beats. These aren't scripts to memorize. They're lenses to see through. Each one helps you connect differently. Each one moves people in unique ways. The magic happens when you know which framework fits which moment. And sometimes, when you blend them together. Which one are you trying this week? ♻️ Repost if this resonates with you. Follow Desiree Gruber for more insights on storytelling, leadership, and brand building.

Crafting the perfect corporate training proposal. A Deep dive into proposal components Writing proposals is a chore. What to include? what not to include? Having written hundreds of them, here's what I include and why: 1. Executive Summary: ↳ Think movie trailer, not dry summary. Captivate with the vision, not just the facts. 2. What We Heard: ↳ Mirror their language, not yours. Show you've listened, by reflecting their words, not just their needs. 3. The Opportunity: ↳ This isn't just a gap to fill. It's a launching pad for their potential. Highlight the transformation, not just the transaction. 4. Consultation Service: ↳ Position this as a partnership, not a service. Emphasise collaboration, not just consultation. 5. Approach and Methodology: ↳ Innovate, don't regurgitate. Present methodologies that are as unique as their challenges. 6. Project Roadmap: ↳ This is the journey, not just the route. Make it visual, engaging, and clear. 7. Investment: ↳ Transparency builds trust. It's not just about costs; it's about value creation 8. Terms: ↳ Make this easy to say 'yes' to. Simplify legal jargon into clear commitments. 9. The Team: ↳ Sell the dream team. Highlight unique strengths and past successes as a cohesive unit, not just individual CVs. 10. Case Studies/Testimonials: ↳ Show, don't tell. Use stories of transformation and success that resonate with their specific context. Each section of your proposal should not just inform but also engage and inspire. Think beyond the conventional and inject each part with a strategy that shows you're not just a provider, but a partner in their success. What are your top tips for great proposals? #ProgrammeBuilder #OfferActivator #BusinessDevelopment #LearningAndDevelopment #TrainingAndDevelopment #Facilitation #Workshops

I’ve been interviewing candidates for a new role and there’s one thing I’ve seen 90% of them struggle with: sharing the story of their career achievements. But don’t worry—I’ve got a simple hack that can help you overcome it: ✏️ Create a monthly ritual to review and document every significant work win, and turn each into a mini-case study. Documenting your wins regularly will save you HOURS when you prep for your next interview—plus it’s great fodder for: ⤷ your annual performance review ⤷ your 1x1s with your manager ⤷ your resume Here’s my 3-step process: 1️⃣ Weekly Check-in: Turn work ➡️ wins ⤷ Start a weekly habit of documenting your wins (grab my free template in the comments). ⤷ Block 30 minutes on your calendar every Friday to hold yourself accountable. ⤷ Ask yourself, “What did I accomplish this week that moved the needle?”   2️⃣ Monthly Recap: Turn wins ➡️ headlines ⤷ Identify 1–2 significant achievements and summarize them using this formula: [Action Verb] + [Specific Metric] + [Timeframe] + [Business Impact] ⤷ Make a bullet-point list (so you can stay organized and repurpose it for your resume later!) ⤷ Include dates and timelines for your own records—you’ll use them in step 3.   3️⃣ Quarterly Story-Building: Headlines ➡️ stories ⤷ Identify your top 3 quarterly wins. ⤷ Start a fresh document and map out each of those wins using the STAR method: ️ ⭐ Situation: What was the context? ️⭐ Task: What was your specific responsibility? ⭐ Action: What steps did you take? ⭐ Result: What measurable outcome did you achieve? ⤷ Ask AI to help you share that information as a story. Here’s the prompt I like to use: ✍ Can you help me turn this achievement into a story using the STAR framework for an upcoming interview for a [title here] role? Please keep it concise. [paste win]   Here’s what this looks like in action 👇 ⤷ Weekly win: March ’23 → Decreased CPA by 28% & increased conversion by 15% ⤷ Monthly recap: Optimized paid search campaigns in March 2023 that decreased CPA by 28% while increasing conversions by 15%, resulting in higher profit margins for the company. ⤷ Quarterly story: When I joined the marketing team in January 2023, our paid search campaigns were generating leads but at a high CPA, with budget constraints approaching in Q2.I was tasked with reducing CPA without sacrificing lead volume. In March 2023, I audited our campaigns and implemented three key changes: restructured ad groups with tightly-themed keywords, refined match types with strategic negative keywords, and A/B tested value-focused ad copy. By month-end, these optimizations decreased cost-per-acquisition by 28% while increasing conversion volume by 15%, saving budget and creating a scalable framework for future campaigns. What are your tips for storytelling in your interviews? I’d love to hear them. 

During my time at Qwilr, I’ve seen THOUSANDS of proposals. Here are 4 proposal plays that the best sellers use to close deals: #1 Lead With Problems Start your proposal by articulating your prospects' problems, ideally in their own words. Using quotes from relevant stakeholders within their organisation will grab your buyers’ attention and show you understand their problems. This immediately demonstrates that this isn’t just a generic pitch – you actually understand them and are focused on their specific issues. Doing this also puts decision-makers in somewhat of a tricky situation. They must either… 1. Disregard the opinions of their team as incorrect 2. Acknowledge they’re facing a problem, but decide not to look for a solution 3. Look for a solution (which you are providing in the rest of your proposal) Most (good) leaders will opt for the latter and will read on to better understand your offering. #2 It's Easy to Digest You MUST ensure your proposal is clear, straightforward and easy to understand. Remember, the folks who will be reviewing your proposal are incredibly busy and don’t have time to decipher endless information, searching for what is relevant for them. If your offer is easy to understand, it’s easier to say yes to. Avoid dense walls of text, and use images, graphics and interactive elements to simplify complex ideas. Always steer away from jargon. While it might showcase a level of expertise, you have to keep in mind that it’s likely a number of people will review your proposal. You need to make sure that EVERYONE will buy in. #3 Make It Relevant Buyers want to know that you’ve helped organisations that look like them, or the type of organisation that they aspire to be. Making sure that your proposal speaks to your buyers’ industry, needs, challenges and objectives will increase the likelihood of engagement Build your case by including concrete data and case studies that resonate with your client’s situation. CAUTION: It can be tempting to litter your proposal with logos and quotations from your “biggest” clients. You should not (always) do this! Instead, focus on featuring logos of similar companies or aspirational peers, not just massive brands. Remember, just because a company is “big” to you, that doesn’t mean your client will care. They want to know you can help THEM! #4 Keep Next Steps Simple It’s essential that you break down your proposal into clear, actionable steps – giving your client a roadmap on how to proceed and what will happen when they sign. You should also educate your champion on how to position the proposal to the buying committee, arming them to sell internally. Meet with them and go through your proposal, asking what needs to be removed and added (for other stakeholders) and how they plan to share it more widely. Want to send proposals that impress buyers and close deals? Try Qwilr for free at https://getqwilr.com