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Clariant Creative Blog

Neil Hayes

Neil Hayes
Neil Hayes was an author and award-winning journalist before moving into business-and-marketing writing. He wrote the best-selling book "When the Game Stands Tall," which was made into a major-motion picture in 2014, and has co-authored two other books.


My Recent Posts:

What the NFL and WWII Bombers Can Teach Us About Marketing Metrics

Feb 4, '19 / by Neil Hayes posted in Marketing ROI

Editor's Note: Please enjoy this blog post originally published in May 2016 by our guest author, novelist and former Chicago Sun-Times journalist Neil Hayes.

Quote: "There are three kinds of lies:...


7 Ways to Make Your Email Pop-Ups More Effective (and Less Annoying)

Sep 26, '16 / by Neil Hayes posted in Marketing ROI, Strategy

It ranks with selfie sticks, car alarms and karaoke machines. You know it has reserved a place of honor in the Museum of the Most Annoying when the inventor apologizes for it, as Ron Carlson did in a...


How to Write Fast Under Pressure

Sep 6, '16 / by Neil Hayes posted in Content Marketing, Blogging

If you’re a writer, you’ve heard the question: Do you ever get writer’s block?


How to Write a Pitch That Editors Will Love: Insider Tips

Aug 10, '16 / by Neil Hayes posted in PR and Media

Without publicity, a terrible thing happens … nothing,” P.T. Barnum.

The excitement in her voice suggested the scoop of the century. My experience as a journalist for 12 years suggested otherwise.


Got a Boring Topic? Turn It into Must-Read Content Marketing

Jul 28, '16 / by Neil Hayes posted in Content Marketing, Blogging

Author and humor columnist Dave Barry once acknowledged his fear of covering a stock-car race. I’m paraphrasing here, but his idea of how he might cover such a race went something like this: “The red...


Gated Content: When to Put Your Premium Content Behind a Form

Jun 22, '16 / by Neil Hayes posted in Content Marketing, Inbound Websites

You’re a big believer in content marketing and well aware of the standard practice of placing premium content behind an opt-in form on a landing page. But should this always be the case?


6 Public Speaking Tips to Help You Give a Presentation That Rocks

Jun 17, '16 / by Neil Hayes posted in Strategy

You’re at ease mingling with colleagues at the chamber of commerce mixer, chattering happily about business. But standing in front of an audience? That’s a whole different ballgame.

If you’ve ever...


Building Your Best Content Marketing Team: How Hungry Is Your Talent?

May 17, '16 / by Neil Hayes posted in Strategy

“Creating a team is bigger, tougher and more elusive than any opponent we will ever face,” legendary high school football coach Bob Ladouceur.


Email Segmentation Tips: Strategies for Improving Your Email Marketing

May 11, '16 / by Neil Hayes posted in Email Marketing

I’m currently reading five books. Fiction, non-fiction, self-help. I’ve got one for every mood. I read whatever appeals to the frame of mind I’m in at any moment on any given day.

I fold a piece of...


Eureka! 6 Easy Ways to Come Up With New Blog Post Ideas

May 6, '16 / by Neil Hayes posted in Blogging

During my journalism days, I often heard editors say they wanted to hire “a great writer,” which always annoyed me. Maybe that’s because I never considered myself a great writer, or because I value...