What’s happening to Dell? Do they know who their customers are? Their marketing is shattering into a mish-mash of competing messages and brands. On the one hand Dell is peddling low-end PCs in Wal-Mart stores. On the other hand, they’re now selling PCs preloaded with Ubuntu, a flavor of Linux, the open source darling OS. […]
Category Archives: communication
A Field Guide to Freelance Writers, Designers, etc.
Thinking of doing a little freelance writing or graphic design work? Or maybe you’re thinking of hiring one. The Freelance Switch blog has compiled an amusing Guide to Freelancers. It zeros in on 13 common character flaws — oops, breeds — the highs and lows associated with each type, and a glimpse into the impact […]
Why marketing hype ultimately fails
Hype is always a temptation when talking or writing about your company or services. Puffing up your features and benefits may seem like a good way to set yourself apart from the competition. But too much hype hurts you in the long run, when people realize that their expectations — the ones you set with […]
Do you repeat yourself? Do you? Well, do ya?
You should, you know. Everyone is busy, distracted, only half-listening. They’re quite likely to miss your marketing message the first time (or two). Business Week‘s Michelle Nichols says offering your customer the same information in different ways can help get your message across and close the sale. Her sales tips (paraphrased by me): Listen for […]
Having trouble writing about your business?
“You know the really hard thing about writing? You not only have to think up all the words, you have to put them in the right order.” — Rick Broida
Amazon: Selling music without copy protection
“Online retailer Amazon.com on Wednesday said it plans to launch a digital music store featuring songs without copy protection restrictions.” Gasp! Um, excuse me. Don’t they already? They’re called CDs. Have you heard of them?
How to fix "meeting hell"
Meetings can be a major bummer. Maybe you’ve noticed. Whether it’s a cell phone ringing, co-workers whispering, or the guy across the table snoozing, meetings can be a big productivity drag. In fact, after I first went out on my own, I noticed I was immediately getting twice as much accomplished in half the time. […]