Communications

We’ve all experienced a well-meaning advice that resulted in disaster… or was completely ignored. And nobody wants to be Debbie Downer (check out this classic and hilarious SNL video): The way you communicate advice determines whether others can and will listen to what you have to say. Then they might even act on your feedback.…

One of our clients, Sunset Transportation, was named on the prestigious Inc. 500|5000 list of America’s Fastest Growing Companies last week for the first time. Sunset has achieved a three-year growth of 102 percent, which a big accomplishment in a good economy, but an even bigger testament in 2012 because it demonstrates that Sunset has…

I was researching social media trends the other day. The most interesting thing I read was about 24,000 people donating $541,000 to send a bullied bus monitor grandma in NY on vacation. We’ve all seen viral videos and enjoyed many of them, like the dog talking and the baby laughing. But most of those videos…

I haven’t done a crazy review of everything, however after some research at this very point in time, it appears that the cream of the crop for quick and helpful note taking are below. Any other suggestions are welcome. We’ll be checking these out immediately however. Notability Penultimate Note Taker HD Dropbox synchronization and friendliness…

An interesting challenge I’ve been dealing with lately has been translating techie products to senior management and company leaders in feature magazine articles. The reason why this is a challenge: The magazine also reaches tech staff, so we don’t the article to be over-simplified. It’s hard to differentiate the product without covering some of the…

I do a lot of freelance magazine writing; while wearing my journalist’s hat, the first place I go to do research on a company is their website. Surprisingly, it often appears that the website is the last place where most companies invest their time. How do I know? On company websites of all sizes, I…

A few weeks ago I wrote on this website about a funny phone experience I had with a bank customer service rep about credit cards. I submitted it to one of my husband’s favorite personal finance blogs, GetRichSlowly.org. The editor, J.D. Roth, liked the post and offered to publish it. It went online yesterday at…

I had so much to say on the topic of great writing, that I had to break it into multiple posts! Here’s a few more tips to follow to improve your writing process: Read out loud. After writing, speak what you write. This unveils awkward phrasing, gaps in the structure, and areas that need revision.…

Want to look smart? Learn how to write clearly and concisely! Writing has never been more important as we all spend hours every week writing emails. Although this list applies to nearly all business and promotional writing, I wouldn’t suggest applying it to essays and creative writing. This is, however, a great checklist the next…

I have to admit, I have some big pet peeves with email. I think its the most abused communication tool ever invented. I think this is because its purpose is has been overextended, and it’s available at the sender’s convenience. You can send an email anytime you feel like it, but you can’t call your…

In my previous two jobs, I have produced over 60 promotional videos, so I have a few tips to offer on how to create a great video. I’ve done it on the cheap and with a big budget. And, since I only had one video class in college, I learned from experience…and from my incredibly…

No matter what you are communicating, testimonials pack a powerful punch. Well, let me qualify for a minute: real testimonials pack a powerful punch. Fake or doctored up testimonials detract more than they help. (Who really believes infomercials?) Gathering testimonials for your company, product or service takes effort, plus a little time and money. However,…

I love press releases. They are one of the most clear, concise and non-manipulative ways to communicate important information. And, if written correctly, news releases offer facts and invite participation in a tantalizing way that makes everyone want to read them. I’ve found they are welcome addition to any direct marketing program; why save the…