I don’t believe I’ve ever read anything written by a weasel, but the use of something known as weasel wording is far too prevalent in business and the public square. Many users see it as a clever way to mislead their audiences, but what it really does is diminish their credibility. Weasel wording is what […]
The COVID-19 crisis led many B2B marketers to rethink how they reach out to prospects and customers. Stepping up your online presence may be a wise move, but only if you avoid some common mistakes. Whether you choose to beef up your website, expand blogging, introduce email marketing, host webinars, or take a stronger stab […]
The landscaping contractor had a nice-looking pickup truck and well-kept trailer. He had invested some money in an attractive door sign. But a little detail probably cost him more business than he ever realized. Squarely in the middle of his front bumper was a license plate displaying the Confederate flag. (Before Civil War buffs jump […]
You messed up. You handled something the wrong way. Could be you just failed to handle it when you should have. So what are you going to do about it? Are you a big company? Then you’re probably going to mess up even more. Sure, you’ll spit out some kind of public apology, but it […]
What many call “fight or flight” is a quick way to describe the brain’s innate responses to stimuli. It might come as a surprise that it also offers some valuable advice related to websites and other marketing communications materials. Humans like to think we’re rational animals who don’t give in to automatic judgments about people […]
You’ve spent six months getting your company’s new website put together, and now you’re ready to tell the world about it. What a waste of your time. I understand you and your team have worked hard, and you’ve invested more money into the process than you wanted. Your new site is truly a humdinger, and […]
Companies that make the extra effort to survey customers of their products and services usually gain my admiration — except when their approach to that survey makes me never want to do business with them again. There’s a lot of sense behind taking the time to follow up with the people who use your products […]
Companies that hire white paper writers have made a smart business decision. Hiring a white paper writer instead of writing a white paper yourself not only means you can stay focused on your job’s normal responsibilities, but gives you someone who will approach the project with more objectivity, an outside viewpoint, and stronger skills. How […]
I’m certain your company offers outstanding products or services. I’m just as certain that the best way to promote those products or services is to stop talking about them. I’m not suggesting that marketing efforts are useless or the products or services should sell themselves. What I am saying is that too many companies become […]
If you’ve ever read a magazine article or lengthy blog post from a corporate leader and wondered how a top exec found the time to write it, you’ve discovered a little secret. Many corporate leaders (and professionals) who have plenty they want to say, but far too little time to capture those thoughts in words […]
