As a panelist, my topic was the importance and benefits of having a business website — especially visibility and credibility. I also spoke about Search Engine Optimization’s strengths (and weaknesses).

I explained that a website is a valuable sales tool that can help potential customers get to know, like and trust you — then hopefully become happy, repeat customers who send loads of referrals your way. It’s best used as the “hub” of your other marketing, both online and offline.

I displayed some of the many ways a small business can benefit from a website, using as examples websites I’ve created for local clients, like Indigo Organic Salon for Hair, Joseph Barnett Photography, and Safe Haven Humane Society’s blog.

I was joined on the panel by Blake Baldwin and Lee Cote of Video Creations, who expertly handled all the sound and video for the event. Blake said some very complimentary things about my work and this blog. (I guess I fooled him!) Also by Ralph OBrien of Customized Computer Design, and Bill Griffith of Griffith Technology.

Thanks also to Paulette Millette of York County Community College, who emceed the workshop, and Angus Macaulay and Charlie Galloway of the Kennebunk Economic Development Committee for the invitation.

PS: Need someone to speak about Internet Marketing, Web Design and/or SEO Copywriting to your group? Contact me!

BBC News Magazine has compiled a list of its readers’ twenty most-hated phrases. Nothing new there — you’ll recognize them immediately. Yes indeed, you’ll see old friends like:

• “touch base” (and most other tiresome sports analogies)
• “110 percent”
• “24/7”
• “going forward”
• “in the pipeline”
• “roll out
• “can’t get my head around it” and many more

The worst thing is, the more you notice someone using these grating phrases, the more you notice them. Like, they’re all you can hear — which makes them even more exasperating. So, going forward, let’s try and keep stupid cliches out of the pipeline and maybe roll out some new ones — okay, team? If everyone works 24/7 and gives 110%, by the end of the day we’ll… oh, never mind.

via Lifehacker photo credit: erinEG6

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 for effective copywriting and business writing.

First, contractions are OK except under the most formal circumstances. Cavett’s suggestion:

“Change all “I wills” and “I shalls” from the speech to “I’ll’; Also, “I haves” and “I ams” to “I’ve” and “I’m,” etc. You’d be surprised how much this cuts down on the oratory tone.”

Cavett’s second tip is the secret of all effective writing, speaking — even radio personalities.

“Tip #2. Pretend you are speaking to one person. One single person. Because that’s what everybody is. No one watching or sitting in the audience is an “all of you” or an “everyone” or a “those of you” or a “Hi, everybody,” and no one is a “ladies and gentlemen.” You, out there, are a “you.” So, speaker, think of yourself as being viewed by only two eyes. (Presumably on the same person.) The most magical word you can use, short of a person’s name, is “you.”

Hey, you — got that?

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. A big factor was my lack of meetings — especially the ones that seem pointless and disorganized.

What makes so many meetings so distasteful? According to a new study, 27 percent of workers are most irked by disorganized, rambling meetings. 17 percent are most annoyed by peers who interrupt and try to dominate meetings. Other top peeves are furtive Blackberry usage, lack of bathroom breaks and snacks (or the lack of them).

“If you (call) the meeting, organize it, control everyone during the meeting, and make sure the people there aren’t wasting their time,” said Jeff Resnick, president of Opinion Research USA, which conducted the survey. “If you’re asking somebody to participate in a meeting, it has to be, from their perception, worth it to invest the time.

I have a few other suggestions to offer:

• Make sure there’s a real reason for the meeting. A lot of routine stuff can be better handled in a memo.
• Post an agenda along with the invitation, so people know what will be covered.
• Let participants know what’s expected of them (ideas, etc.) in advance.
• Invite only participants who really need to be there. Remember that a one-hour meeting attended by 12 people drains 12 hours of productivity from your team — not just one hour.
• If the purpose of the meeting is to share information, procedure changes, etc., prepare summaries in advance.
• Keep it short! (I’ve heard of meetings conducted where no one is allowed to sit down. THAT would speed things along!) Short meetings also reduce the need for meals, snacks, bathroom breaks, etc. They also let your team get back to work sooner.

What’s your take on meetings? Bane or boon?