Over the past several weeks, our nation’s leaders (and a slew of talking heads) have been discussing the nature of our public discourse. How do our leaders frame debates? In what tone are they addressing each other? Politicians have long spewed vitriol. But is our problem necessarily tone and language? As a writer, I understand [...]
If you haven't seen this photo in your own social media circles, here's a recent billboard from South Bend with a critical, meaning-altering typo. Honestly, it's an error that would be easy to make. But it's also a reminder to all of us that a second eye is essential. Check out the billboard here.
Writers and editors have our fair share of pet peeves. Actually, we probably have more than our fair share. One of mine (and I know I'm not alone here) is the misuse and overuse of the word "literally." This error seems to be everywhere lately, so I thought it was time for a primer. Here's [...]
A bad customer service experience can ruin your day — and a delightful one can put you in a supremely better mood. For some companies, good customer service is a defining characteristic. I always know I can expect good things from Crate & Barrel, Southwest Airlines and Disney. What we all should realize is that [...]
Looking for a writer for your project? Here are a few things to keep in mind to hire the best writer for what you need. 1. Is the writer deadline-driven? You won't be satisfied with any writer (no matter how talented) who can't meet your deadlines. 2. Does the writer get your style/voice? If your [...]
Even if you have an unlimited word count (which is, of course, quite rare), the best writing is simple — absent of extraneous words. Here are just a few simple ways to eliminate unnecessary words and make your copy easier to read. Scan your text for these phrases: 1. In order to. This phrase is [...]
I've been asked by clients and friends this question: Does Twitter work? I guess that depends. What the heck are you expecting it to do? The problem with Twitter (and all social media) is that people are hoping that it's the solution to their business/marketing woes. But it can't be. You can't stop all of [...]
A few weeks ago, I posed a question on Twitter and Facebook: If you could eliminate a word from marketing/PR use, what would it be? Not surprisingly, many writers chimed in. Check out the list: 1. Leverage 2. Synergy 3. State-of-the-art 4. Value-add 5. Ahead of the curve 6. Utilize 7. Cutting edge 8. Robust [...]
Blogging is a cornerstone of Web 2.0. Companies and individuals alike are taking to the Web — heck, you probably have one (or two) blogs of your own. That's how the number of blogs has risen to more than 133 million over the years. Despite the seeming ubiquity of blogs, some companies/individuals remain hesitant (while [...]
First things first: Does your company really need a style guide? Yes. The bottom line is that style guides help put everyone in marketing and — here's the thing — in other departments on the same page. Consistency makes for more polished communications pieces. I know it might sound daunting, but it doesn't have to [...]