To make your writing seem personal, write like a person, for cryin’ out loud. That goes for most corporate communications as well as speeches and presentations, as Dick Cavett pointed out in a recent NY Times blog post. The former talk show host was referring to political candidates’ speeches, but the same principles hold true […]
Yearly Archives: 2008
Seth: Write like a blogger (but not this blogger!)
Seth says write like a blogger. Good advice. The two biggies on Seth’s list that hit home for me were: #3: Drip, drip, drip. Bloggers don’t have to say everything at once. We can add a new idea every day, piling on a thesis over time. #9: Say it. Don’t hide, don’t embellish. I’m always […]
New Zillow service protects borrowers' privacy
Let’s face it, none of us like dishing out our personal information online, especially to a company we don’t know or haven’t done business with before. It can result in all sorts of unpleasantness, including spammy emails. Zillow, the real estate valuation website, is launching a service that I think is simply brilliant. Mortgage Marketplace […]
Marketing in a recession
I’m not saying this roller-coaster economy is a recession, mind you — although Bernanke now seems willing to consider it a possibility. Faced with hard times like these, what does a small business do about its marketing? How do you continue to attract customers and clients now, when it’s most important? Marketing gurus say, “Keep […]
Amazon strikes again. Retailers, be very afraid.
Amazon, which has already revolutionized the way we shop and buy, has taken what I think will be another giant step forward. It is satisfying our passion for comparison shopping with a new service that lets you compare prices — and make a purchase, of course — with a few quick taps on your cell […]
Is your writing wimpy and wishy-washy?
Strong, powerful, confident words communicate and convince. Lame, wimpy writing kicks the legs out from under your message, and waters it down. The most common kind of wimpy writing are “qualifiers.” If you remember what your 7th grade English teacher told you, qualifiers are adjectives and adverbs that limit (“qualify”) your message — thus modifying […]
Are you leaving would-be customers hungry for more?
The always-interesting Freakonomics blog in the NY Times recently cited a recent study that confirms the importance of providing lots of product information in your marketing and sales material. The MediaPost headline says it all: “Majority Of Online Shoppers Check At Least Four Reviews Before Buying.” Take-away point: A solid 68% do their homework before […]