Thinking of cutting back on your marketing during these tough economic times? It’s a natural reaction. After all, money is tight. But look back at history, as the New Yorker’s always-interesting James Surowiecki did this week, and you discover an amazing secret: when everyone else is disappearing off consumers’ radar, you can take over an […]
Yearly Archives: 2009
Hourly rates or flat fees?
I don’t believe in charging hourly rates for my work. First of all, real value can’t be measured in hours – only in quality and results. Paying hourly rates for creative work is upside-down and counterproductive. Sometimes they’re even a ripoff for the client. Suppose you needed heart surgery. Would you shop around for the […]
Upgrade your emails in three easy steps
Sometimes we forget that it’s OUR job to write letters, emails and business communications so they’re clear and understandable. It’s not the poor reader’s job to try and puzzle out what we meant. That way, my friend, lies heartbreak (and possibly Chapter 11). Author and blogger David Silverman offers some good advice on how to […]
Et tu, Google?
Zone Alarm has big news about Google:
R.I.P. Cringe-worthy buzzwords
INC. Magazine is out with “15 Business Buzzwords We Don’t Want to Hear.” As a copywriter and lover of language, I agree that these buzz babies might have been fresh and vibrant once, but that time has passed. Now they’re like fingernails screeching across a chalkboard.* Is your favorite pet peeve among the words that […]
Four magic words that will transform your marketing
“I can help you.” Simple, isn’t it? Your prospective customers don’t need more information. Chances are, they’re drowning in information. And they sure don’t want a sales pitch. What they really want is advice. Guidance. Expert help from someone they know and trust. Someone who has demonstrated that s/he understands their problem or need, and […]
Twitter update: They like me, they really like me!
Despite a LOT of initial skepticism, I have been tweeting for exactly one week now, squeezing it in between my client work — and trying to resist the temptation to do it ALL the time. It’s really fun! Here’s an update. I have attracted 65 followers in those seven days. That’s amazing to me, since […]