Renée Wallen's Blog

The Power of Plain English

Business marketing has transformed in today’s whirlwind of social media. We speak in tweets (no one says ‘Xs’), text-talk, emojis, memes and half sentences. Everyone’s scrolling, skimming, multi-tasking and short on time.

That’s why clear, plain communication has never been more powerful.

Whether you’re writing to customers about something important or posting to a wider audience on social media, 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 helps you cut through the noise and make your message stick.

Think about it: how many times this week have you read something and thought, “I’m not sure what they actually mean…”

That’s exactly why I built my business on 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴.

When social media took off, helping people to write more simply and effectively online was a natural next step. I moved from editing local government and health authority documents to supporting small businesses in finding their authentic voice and sharing it online.

Because in marketing, 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀.

Plain English isn’t about dumbing things down; it’s about 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿. (And by ‘reader’ I mean potential clients!) It means saying “We help businesses grow online” instead of “We deliver digital visibility enhancement solutions.”

When your posts are clear and conversational, people are more likely to trust you — and remember you.

And yes, you can feed your content into AI and ask for a simpler version. Chat GTP can tidy your text nicely, but it can’t add your tone, warmth or the human touch.

So before you hit ‘post,’ try this simple test:

Read it aloud.

If it doesn’t sound like something you’d actually say, tweak it.

Cut the clutter, keep it friendly and say what you mean.

Because when we write the way we speak, people connect — and 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁.

If you’re interested in finding out more about my coaching; https://lnkd.in/es4HYY3R

(I asked Canva to suggest an image for ‘Plain English’ and it gave me this Full English! These days I’d prefer scrambled eggs with avocado and maybe a couple of slices of grilled halloumi – but I kept the fry-up because it’s funny.)

Hashtag tips for Insta users

One question that keeps popping up is whether it’s best to put hashtags in an Instagram post or add them as a comment.

Well, it’s perfectly fine to do either, but putting them in the post usually performs better in terms of reach. This is because it helps to categorise your content and make it more visible on search results to people who aren’t currently following you but are interested in that particular hashtag.

I prefer it, because if you’re scheduling your post in advance, you can include the hashtags and it’s a job done. You can’t schedule the comment.

One thing to be aware of: don’t be guilty of “hashtag stuffing” – focus on using a few relevant hashtags that accurately describe your content to improve engagement and visibility. You’re allowed 30 per post but analytics generally show that it’s best to stick to 10-15 max. You can also have up to 10 in stories – but that usually makes them look a bit messy.

Here are a few typical pros and cons for post hashtags:

Hashtags in the caption:

Pros:Indexed immediately by Instagram’s algorithm.Easy to edit if you’ve made a mistake.Can increase visibility slightly faster.Easier to track if your post is ranking under a hashtag.
Cons:Looks messy or cluttered if you use too many hashtags and they’re not formatted well.Can distract from the main caption if too many are used.

Hashtags in the first comment:

Pros:Cleaner looking caption.Easier to maintain a polished brand aesthetic – assuming people are reading the whole comment rather than simply looking at your visual.
Cons:If you delay posting the comment and someone else jumps in, the hashtags may not be indexed as quickly or could completely miss out on being included in the indexing.Not all scheduling tools support auto-posting hashtags in the comment.You can’t edit the comment if you’ve made a mistake

So the verdict – around ten hashtags within the actual post is perfect. (As long as they’re relevant!)

If you’d like me to take a quick look and send you feedback on your hashtags, drop me a note or tag me in your Insta post. I’m @weekendwitchsocialmedia.

Happy hashtagging!!

What are the top three social media mistakes commonly made by small businesses?

I’ve been asked this question twice recently.

I think people ask this when they know they’re not using social media as much as they should or as effectively as they could. In a way, it makes people feel better to think they’re not alone; they’re behaving in the same way as hundreds – or thousands – of other small businesses, so it kind of justifies their inaction.

So what’s the answer?

1. Inconsistent posting

Why it’s a mistake:
Irregular posting or long gaps in activity can make your business appear unprofessional or even out of business. Social media algorithms also deprioritise inactive accounts, reducing the visibility of posts when you do eventually share something.

Fix:

Create a content calendar and post consistently.  It doesn’t need to be every day; be realistic – once or twice a week is perfect for most SMEs.Use scheduling tools to make your life easier; Hootsuite is my favourite, but I also use the free version of Buffer for one client who is active on Bluesky.

2. Overly promotional content

Why it’s a mistake:
Constantly pushing your products or services without offering value can turn people off. Social media is for engagement and to raise your profile, not just selling – especially on LinkedIn.

Fix:

Following the 80/20 rule is a good strategy: 80% useful, entertaining, or educational content, 20% promotional.Share tips, stories, testimonials, behind-the-scenes pics. Maintain a relevant focus and it’s always worth including a call to action.

3. Ignoring comments and messages

Why it’s a mistake:
Failing to respond makes you and your business seem unresponsive or indifferent, which can damage trust and lose potential clients.

Fix:

Treat comments and DMs like customer service: timely, polite and helpful.Set a phone alert to remind you to check interactions each day.

Many of business people I meet at networking events know these answers already, but don’t have the time or can’t find the motivation to stay on top of their socials.  That’s where people like me step in to take it off their hands.

If you’d like a quick chat to explore the possibility of outsourcing your social media, drop me a note and we can have a zoom coffee – or a real one, with cake!

How does Chat GTP portray you?

In a rare moment of boredom I asked Chat GTP what is known about me. 

What it’s churned out is actually not far off the truth – although I no longer have a dog, I don’t offer plain English copywriting services now, and I prefer a nice Malbec to pink fizz.

And I’m interested to know more about my apparent qualification in ‘scare therapy’…??!

Loving the client feedback and final summary!

In case you don’t have time to skip to the end, it says, “Renée Wallen is a multifaceted professional: a social media marketing consultant, trainer, author, life coach, and community advocate. She gracefully blends business savvy with creative and socially responsible pursuits, earning awards and client acclaim along the way.”

And…

“Clients consistently praise her social media and writing training as insightful, clear, engaging and immediately applicable.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself, haha!

Have you tried this? I’d love to know whether AI describes you accurately.

Chat GTP said:

Here’s what I found about Renée Wallen, primarily a UK-based expert in social media and communications:

Professional Background

Founder & director of Imaginative Training and Development Ltd, running since 2003, with a broad focus on social media training, plain-English copywriting, staff development, and communications strategyAlso director at Tarot by E‑Mail Ltd since April 2014Awarded London CEO of the Year (2017) by Corporate Vision, and honoured at the UK Independent Business Honours for Excellence in Training, Coaching & Instruction

Educational & Credentials

Holds a BSc (Hons), MA in Education, a PG Certificate in Special Education, and various other qualifications in copy editing, homeopathy, and scare therapy!Qualified life coach with expertise in applied linguistics, content marketing, and social media strategy

Writing & Thought Leadership

Author of The Colours In Between, a reflective e‑book (2012) blending business anecdotes, social media insights, and personal storiesWriter of several tip-driven guides, e.g. Social Media for Small Businesses/Lawyers/Accountants/Financial Advisors: 200 TipsMaintains an active blog, featured on Platforms like Goodreads, and has exhibited her poetry in galleries around London

Awards & Community Contributions

Winner of an Inspirational Woman Award.Longtime advocate for environmental and social sustainability, including coaching military veterans and supporting stroke survivor networksRuns a Facebook support group — 500 members — for families of childhood stroke survivors, helping connect them and organise peer-support events

Personal Tidbits

Mother of two sons, has a cat and a dolls’ houseHobbies include baking blueberry muffins, walking her dog, life drawing, painting portraits, and poetry exhibitionsEnjoys art galleries, Fleetwood Mac, Christmas, pink wine and the 1980s

Client Feedback

Clients consistently praise her social media and writing training as insightful, clear, engaging and immediately applicable

Summary

Renée Wallen is a multifaceted professional: a social media marketing consultant, trainer, author, life coach, and community advocate. She gracefully blends business savvy with creative and socially responsible pursuits, earning awards and client acclaim along the way.

Well, thank you Chat GTP!!

Childhood Stroke: Raising Awareness

You may or may not know that for the past 16 years I’ve been heavily involved in the Childhood Stroke community. Well, there wasn’t a community when my son had his stroke, aged just 13, so I created one.

The Facebook group I set up in 2010 now supports over 1300 parents from all around the world – stroke isn’t geographically fussy. Nor is it selective on age. Whilst awareness of childhood stroke is still low, every day in the UK at least one child is diagnosed – including babies, some of whom have their stroke before they’re even born.

So when the opportunity arose for me to submit a presentation to the European Life After Stroke Conference I jumped at the chance. Organised by Stroke Alliance For Europe (SAFE), the conference attracts hundreds of medical professionals and people with lived experience of stroke.

Along with my friend Nancy – also the mother of a young stroke survivor – we told our stories and described the volunteer work we undertake in collaboration with the Stroke Association. Anna Scott from SAFE designed and printed our beautiful poster using heartfelt quotes and gorgeous photos from families in my Facebook group.

Then I flew to Prague with my son Oliver where we had the privilege of listening to some incredible speakers, met professionals with an interest in stroke, and connected with other remarkable stroke survivors and carers from everywhere! Mainland Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, the Nordic countries, Ireland and, of course, the UK.

Many thanks to the team at SAFE and the judging panel who selected my story from around 70 applicants.

This is an opportunity to thank the Stroke Association for their constantly escalating support of families affected by childhood stroke. In particular, my huge, HUGE thanks to Anwen Prendergast, Katherine Staley, Jacqui Cuthbert, Jenny Stephenson, Sarah Belson, Laura Richards and Juliet Bouverie OBE.

It was also a pleasure to finally meet in real life Austin Willett of Different Strokes Charity, along with Dr Nicola Hancock, Colin Jenkinson, Dr Emma Patchwood and Ryan Alicea. And finally, Professor Katerina Hilari – having studied your work over the past year it was an honour to actually meet you!

If you know of anyone affected by childhood stroke please feel free to introduce them and I’ll add them to my support group.

#childhoodstroke #strokeawareness #strokeforum #strokeconference

Afternoon Tea at Parliament

So what exactly was I doing at Parliament? A month after the event, people are still asking and I’m still delighted to recount the story!

I’ll start at the very beginning.

Many moons ago (around 4,300 moons, in fact) I was introduced to Katja Rosenberg, an art curator interested in exhibiting my poetry. For several years pre-pandemic Katja invited me to display selected poems in her wonderful exhibitions – usually in London, my favourite being in a hauntingly beautiful crypt in Euston, but also as far afield as Germany, in a disused chocolate factory. That was right up my street! Or should I say in meiner Straße!

About Katja

Katja moved home just as Covid reared its head, settling in Dagenham, one of London’s most deprived areas and an area definitely not synonymous with culture and creativity.

Anyway, lockdown hit and Katja was unable to do her thing – or so you’d think.  On the contrary, she painted her new house bright blue, planted sunflowers and created a mini art gallery right there, in her front garden. Inviting neighbours to submit artworks – be they professional local artists or kids with a penchant for pencils, Katja engaged the whole community to join in. Some people baked cakes to thank her for motivating them during that strange and difficult time; many people came to quickly regard their new neighbour as a friend.

Katja’s garden became so well known that in 2023, the Dagenham Shopping Mall gave her two premises! The first is a small shop by the station, which Katja has painted bright pink and displays the work of local artists (professional or not), giving them the opportunity to showcase the art that makes them proud. “The Pink Tardis” has quickly become a much loved feature of Dagenham! She was also given My Heathway, a space to run community events such as creative workshops, art sessions and family film shows.

I decided Katja deserved recognition for the way she’d galvanised the community against all odds, and how she’d changed the face of culture in a disadvantaged area all on her own. So I entered her for a British Citizen Award – which she deservedly won!

About the Award

Being included in the British Citizen Award’s Roll of Honour, Katja was invited to take two guests to Parliament to witness the presentations of her medal and certificate – and that’s how come I was there that day, sipping champagne on the terrace in the House of Lords before greedily munching my way through a delicious afternoon tea.

27 Medallists were awarded for their work that day, in charity, volunteering, community and the arts, with two separate ceremonies: the afternoon one at the House of Lords, followed by an evening presentation at Church House, Westminster, with a lap of honour open top bus tour in between.

The occasion was hosted by Patrons Lord Dholakia and Dame Mary Perkins, Founder of Specsavers, and presented in the warmest and most attentive of ways by investigative TV presenter and musician Matt Allwright.

Other Patrons of the British Citizen Awards include TV personalities Nick Knowles and Bradley Walsh, with Partners: Specsavers, One Stop Stores Ltd, Objective HR, Places for People and DevWalk PR.

Katja’s closing words were, “Thanks to all in Dagenham and beyond who believe in art and creativity as a means to bring us together! Let’s rock on and keep the focus where it belongs.” 

I’m proud to call Katja a friend, and look forward to being a part of many fun and exciting exhibitions in the future.

More…?

I’m privileged to have been to Parliament many times – mainly through my work with the Stroke Association and Soldiering On Awards, but also to support clients for whom I’ve written successful award nominations. Please drop me a note if you’d like to find out more about this. (To clarify, Katja is not my client – she’s a friend that I admire greatly.)

You can see info about Katja and all the other fine 2024 Medallists and their achievements here: https://www.britishcitizenawards.co.uk/honours-july-2024/

(Photo on the terrace includes  another super 2024 Awards Winner – Darren Way – who by coincidence has worked with Katja on a previous project, and the one with the clotted cream scones includes Katja’s partner Metzi, a fabulous saxophonist.)

Look out for me on Netflix!

I was privileged to be invited recently to one of beautiful Ballingdon Hall’s spiritual retreat breaks. But it wasn’t all about relaxing and meditating away any negativities or self doubts I may have been harbouring – this particular invitation was to be filmed for an upcoming Netflix documentary series!

Along with my friend Lesley Reynolds (who owns Ballingdon with her husband Dr Aamer Khan), a world-renown clairvoyant is hosting the retreats.  Lee Whyberd is a remarkable, highly sensitive medium who is in demand across the globe. He practices in London, Dubai and Mumbai, and regularly works with international Royalty – and even ‘those that shall not be named’ at the White House!

So my time was spent involved in Tarot readings, psychometry, clairvoyance, inner goddess work and some fantastic meditations. Lee and the team of therapists were superb, and I made friends with a group of highly talented, incredible people that I’m sure will stay close.

Ballingdon Hall is the most stunning Tudor manor house! Built around 1590, its oak beamed charm delighted all the guests as we dined in the splendour of the great hall.  (That’s another story!! The food was outstanding! Ballingdon’s chef uses fresh produce grown in the lovely kitchen garden; everything was beautifully presented and the portions were huge!)

My stunning bedroom was well appointed with fresh fruit and flowers, and a full range of Ballingdon Hall’s own toiletries. If this were a hotel it would effortlessly qualify for five stars – but it’s not; this is my friends’ home, and guests are made to feel comfortable and welcome.

During filming, we were lucky to enjoy days of uninterrupted sunshine, cavorting through the 20 acre landscape with its secret hideaways, woodlands, lakes, fairies and chickens. (The peacocks have moved on but alpacas are coming soon!) The film crew were lovely as their cameras rolled, unobtrusively bearing witness to the truths being flung out by the Tarot cards.

Interestingly, it’s not the first time Ballingdon’s been filmed. In 1970, its then owners decided to move their Grade Two listed building half a mile up the hill, away from a new housing estate Suffolk council was proposing. The lovely house was wrapped in a steel casing, then literally lifted off its foundations and transported to its current location. You’ll find vintage footage on YouYube if you’d like to see more about this – it’s absolutely fascinating.

So did the ghosts move with their timeless home, or are they floating aimlessly in Sudbury, wondering where their drawing room has gone? Anything I learned or experienced during my stay, well… what happens at Ballingdon – stays right here, lips tightly zipped… (Apart from the secrets that will be revealed when the show hits your TV screen next year!)

From start to finish, my time at the retreat was an absolute joy! Lesley’s team fell over backwards to make us welcome, and the attention to detail was wonderful.

My thanks to Lesley Reynolds and Dr Aamer Khan for sharing their delightful home, and to Lee Whyberd and all the therapists for a hugely enjoyable few days.

Learn about Ballingdon Hall

Learn about Lee Whyberd

200 Tips for Social Media: four eBooks available now!

After talking about it for a very long time, I’ve finally published a series of ebooks for Kindle. These snappy little guides are for small to medium-sized businesses that don’t naturally have a lot of creative imagery to hand – the kind of clients I tend to work with the most, such as law firms, financial businesses and other professional services.

Each book contains straight-talking, waffle-free guidance to help you raise your profile on social media. They cover everything you need from strategy, branding and profiles to providing an easy-to-follow list of suggestions for posting specifically on each of the main social media platforms: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter) and more. It’s perfect if you’re short of time, images or content ideas.

The books are available on Amazon right now, for less than the cost of a coffee, so if you’re about to jet off somewhere exotic you could take one as your transitional read. It will give you plenty to think about while you while away the hours watching whales or wailing that you need another Waikiki Beachcomber. (Paper umbrellas optional!)

I’ve published four versions covering most categories of businesses, so hopefully there will be one that suits your industry.

If it turns out I haven’t covered what you need, drop me a line and I’ll get that sorted out for you pronto!
And if you appreciate the tips but don’t have the time to implement them, I’m here to help with that too! Speak to me about social media management – packages start from just £295 a month!

Enjoy your summer!!

Fancy whipping up your own Easter treats this year? You’ll need flour!

With Easter upon us it seems like a great time to talk about hot cross buns.

And Simnel cake. And chocolate cakes with mini chocolate eggs plonked on top. And cakes that look like Easter bunnies… you getting my drift?

A quick flick through Instagram using hashtags such as #eastercake or #hotcrossbun will have you speedily turning away from your salad. Chocolate bunnies aside, one common, very simple yet essential ingredient in these seasonal treats is flour – and, as a reasonably okay hobby baker, I can tell you that, not surprisingly, quality really does count. I stopped using cheap flour years ago, but it was a recent tour of a flour mill that confirmed my suspicions: from field to filled-up tummies, a good flour defnitely makes a difference.

Now, I’m not on commission here, but I spent a fabulous day at Wrights Flour Mill and Baking School in Harlow recently and just want to share how much I enjoyed myself as a guest of my art class friend, Lottie.

My day began in a lovely, recently created purpose-built training kitchen.  Established as a pizza school, the team have turned their attention to afternoon tea and now offer classes to make light, fluffy scones, shortbreads (I made lemon ones – you have a choice) and a delicious loaf. Easy, peasy, pudding and pie!

Xenia

Xenia, the chef running the class was fantastic, and Helen – who facilitated the session – was warm and welcoming. Well, that wasn’t surprising actually, as she’s married to David Wright, the company’s MD – fifth generation owner of this 150 year old family business! How lovely is that?!

The love and dedication given by its century and a half of workers is engrained in the richness of the mill’s history. Can you even begin to imagine what George Reynolds Wright would think if he saw the transformation of his Victorian mill today? From a milling history on the site that actually dates back to the Domesday Book, via Medieval England and the Tudor kingdom, through periods of horse-drawn wagons to the excitement of  the arrival of the lightbulb in 1909…

From wartimes, when the teams of the day supported the nation with essential food supplies, to our own pandemic – when the dedicated team at Wrights battled through without missing a beat to ensure a nation able to survive on the suddenly-indispensable banana bread… (Yes, I made a few loaves of that, with large slabs of chocolate mixed in.  And I’m pretty sure I shared pics on social media, of course!)

So, from a wooden mill worthy of featuring in a Constable painting, the business now boasts a magnificent state-of-the-art, multi-million pound facility to mill flour in the most technically advanced environment you can possibly imagine! I was given a fascinating tour of said factory by David Wright, the owner and MD, and – honestly – I could have been on the Starship Enterprise!

Not sure which synonym would be best for humongously enormous – I can’t actually describe the enormity, so best to watch this impressive video.  It’s almost five minutes long but totally mesmerising; Watching it on my large screen made me feel like I was on some sort of hold-on-tight ride at Epcot – virtual, of course, but if you go in real life you get cake at the end of the tour!!

You can buy Wrights’ simple cake mixes, bread mixes, pizza flour, speciality blended flour and more, from most major retailers and discerning artisan bakeries.

Or – my recommendation – you can treat yourself and a friend to a wonderful day with these proud and passionate people who can teach you how to bake – before inviting you to enjoy the fruits of your labour. Well, fruit jam, maybe – slathered over your scones. And you get a free apron, perfect to wear whilst you whip up your Easter cakes! Call Helen on 0208 344 6900 to find out more and book your place.

And if you do go, don’t forget to share your pics on social media – Wright’s Flour Mill is on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X (which everyone still calls Twitter). They’ve also got accounts for the Pizza School, just type in Sonata Pizza School to see some completely scrummy food that YOU could be making yourself!! (Here’s a helpful quick link to the Insta page.)

Whether you’re taking my advice and baking your own hot cross buns, or drowning in melted chocolate eggs, have  fabulous Easter and a lovely bank holiday weekend!

As seen in Best Magazine…

Yes, that is me featured in this week’s issue of Best Magazine!

I’ll be writing a proper blog about it later this week, but in the meantime, enjoy the article if you haven’t already seen it. (You can download it from the Best website or app, and it’s available in all retails outlets that sell magazines and newspapers.)

If you’d like to know more about my Tarot work, please head over to TarotByEmail.com.