Reading time: About one minute I’ll get ideas for better workshops wherever I can find them. Here are some tips I gathered recently from a client of mine… As a long-time conference and workshop presenter, I’ve learned several tricks over the years. When I ask the participants at one of my talks to raise their hands in […]
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Reading time: Less than 1 minute Writers should occasionally cede control to graphic artists, particularly when it comes to visual elements such a logos. Here’s an example from the company Ballet BC… I don’t think about logos very much. Until I see one I really like. The dance company Ballet BC now has one of my all-time
Simple messaging with big nuances… Read More »
Reading time: Less than 2 minutes Customer service is a big problem for many companies but it never fails to surprise me when I encounter it as a consumer… I’m a serious cook, and I recently subscribed to a paid service called Raw Spice Bar. For $6 dollars per month ($10 in Canada, where I
Raw Spice Bar botches customer service Read More »
Reading time: About 1 minute There’s an art to saying you’re sorry. Here are some guidelines for how to apologize… I had an important interview scheduled for this week, but the person’s Executive Assistant emailed me to re-schedule it. The new time she suggested wasn’t convenient for me — I had another call booked — but
Reading time: Less than 1 minute When I’m editing material for clients, here’s the most common mistake I see: they haven’t set a consistent style for headlines and subheads. If your headline doesn’t follow a proper style, your publication won’t look professionally edited. What do I mean by that? Well, there are two fundamental type of heads
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Reading time: Less than 1 minute The worst thing about taking the bus should be having to sit next to someone you don’t like. But in a recent bus imbroglio, two teenagers learned things can get much worse than that… Public relations is harder for companies than used to be. The Internet has changed the
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Reading time: Less than 1 minute In a crisis, it’s always wise to help your people on the front lines… If your company is facing a crisis you’re probably attending lots of high-level strategy meetings. Perhaps your job is to produce the key messages. Or maybe you have to handle the employee communications side of the
Support your people on the front lines… Read More »
Reading time: About 2 minutes Don’t be afraid to try something just because it’s relatively new. My life has been greatly enriched by the addition of podcasts… I’ve been recently transformed from a mild-mannered editor, writer, and trainer into a raging podcast enthusiast. Talk to me at a party and I’ll bend your ear about
Are you unfamiliar with podcasts? Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute Writers and organizations generally put themselves first when making appeals for money. Here’s why you should put yourself second… I’ve been helping a client of mine with a big fundraising request. Confidentiality prevents me from sharing too many details, but I can tell you they need to raise $200,000.
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Reading time: Less than 1 minute Do you need to sell someone with your writing? Here’s how a Venn diagram can help you… I was working with a client this morning who needs to make a big “ask” of some potential funders. For reasons of client confidentiality I can’t give you the details, but I can
How to make your writing more persuasive Read More »