Back to Basics: Ignore the 3Bs at Your Peril!
Do you remember everything you learned in school? I swear I had the best short term memory; I could cram tons of information in my head and pour it all out for my tests. But ask me today if I remember any of it? The capital of New Hampshire or the square root of pi? Not a chance. Since the kids are going back to school this month, it’s a good opportunity for us older folks to brush up on some of those basics we learned a long time ago. And I’ve got three rules of good communication we all need to know. There are a ton of reasons why good communication skills are still...
read moreHow to Thank Your Clients Memorably
Ahhh, the holidays are here. Is it just me, or are all of you having trouble focusing on your work, too? I’d much rather be out shopping. But honestly, besides spending money, I love another holiday tradition as well – getting all those cards in the mail. There’s just one problem: you have to send cards in order to get cards. Holiday cards – especially corporate cards – can be tough to write. What do you say? In such a tiny spot? It’s tempting to just have your signature pre-printed on the cards and be done with it. But please…stop and reconsider. Build a strong...
read moreBanish the Blank Computer Screen Blues!
I hate blank computer screens. Every time I start a new project, I get nervous. The negative buzz in my head takes over for a minute: what to say? where to start? I sit, waiting for inspiration to strike. It’s at these times I’m often overcome with an immediate urge to organize my supply cabinet…sort through invoices…something, anything, that suddenly sounds more attractive than sitting in front of a blank computer screen! As a professional writer, however, this is not good. My clients do prefer that I actually finish their projects before they pay me, so I’ve had to find...
read moreThe Right Way to Write to Your Clients
When you write to your clients – whether it’s a fancy monthly newsletter or a simple quick email – do you talk at them, or do you have a conversation with them? The single most effective copywriting secret, that will guarantee that your letters and marketing materials will knock your clients socks off, is to master the art of conversational writing. Conversational writing, done properly, establishes a closeness between you and your client, and gains their confidence and attention. It’s not pretentious, boring, or dry – problems that plague most business writing. Instead, writing...
read more
