Dink Thifferent
StackHacks: Be outstanding in your field
Be the yellow tulips
Because they stand out. We see differences in fields of sameness. So to market yourself - or product or business - and if you are unique, you will be remembered more than the other hundreds of red tulips.
I’ll show you a few ways you can be different and stand out from all the other newsletters:
Use a unique font for your name
Use pictures to start your post
Use custom buttons for your Calls to Action (Subscribe now)
Find your Unique writing style
Led by Steve Jobs, Apple Computers, launched a successful advertising campaign named “Think Different”, from 1997 to 2002. The ad copy:
Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.
— Steve Jobs, 1997
Be Different
Name Font: When you add your name to your Twitter account or Substack account, use a unique font. 🅵🅾🅽🆃🆂 🅵🅾🆁 🆂🆄🅱🆂🆃🅰🅲🅺. Go to:
https://www.fontsfortwitter.com/ and type your Twitter name, or Substack name in the enter text field. Choose a unique font. Then copy it, and paste it into your profile name on most websites. Here is how my name looks on Substack and Twitter:
It stands out from the sea of regular text (red tulips). From now on your unique font name becomes part of your personal brand.
Hero Pictures: The big image or graphic, or even video that covers the whole ‘Above the Fold’ real estate is called a ‘hero’ image. Sometimes referred to as an oversize banner.
For this post, I used a photo I took at a park by my house.
Substack now has a button on the editing tab to access Unsplash pictures free to use. Thank you, Substack!
I use Canva to augment and modify photos I take myself. In Canva it is easy to add text or combine many pictures into a composite, or a collage. And Canva has a free version that a lot of people use for their Substack articles.
I also use a few other tools to make my main image pop:
Custom Buttons: Here’s an article about changing the stock Substack “Subscribe now” button to a custom-colored and worded “Call to Action” button (CTA).
It is titled “StackHacks - Customize Call To Action Buttons in SubStack - Wording and Color for 2022“
Find Your Unique Writing Style: There are a ton of websites telling people how to write. If you want to find your style, here are a few ways to do that, from this article titled: 10 Ways To Stand Out And Develop A Unique Writing Style
Use experiences as a springboard. Start with what you know.
Be aware of what makes your observations unique.
Awaken all senses.
Show with a spin.
Avoid clichés.
Be intimate with details.
Turn objects into metaphors.
Create strong, authentic voices.
Know the rules of writing, then break them.
Write a little every day.
More about building a brand with your newsletter:
Q: How do you catch a unique rabbit?
A: Unique up on it!
So let me know how you are going to unique-ify your article posts. Please ask questions in the comments, or privately to (paul@pau1.ca) and click the heart to support my work.
#rebels, #contrarians, #misfits
