I had driven past the yard sign several times before curiosity got the better of me. Was it really an abstract watercolor in shades of gray and rose? What was it doing in someone’s yard? So I parked, walked up, and studied the sign. It promoted a community event having nothing to do with watercolors. … Read more
Years ago, a wise boss told me that the most affordable attorney I’d ever hire is the one I called before making a decision or taking an action. I’ve since come to realize that the same holds true with writers. I’ve often seen organizations decide to tackle writing a new website, blog, or other project … Read more
I’ve always wondered why people who are confident and comfortable with who they are become something entirely different when they produce a website, write a blog post, or create a presentation. Time after time, I’ve watched owners of reputable, high-quality businesses walk away from their hard-earned reputations and present themselves as something other than what … Read more
Want to know the biggest single misconception about advertising and marketing? It has a lot to do with our obsession with weight loss. Every few months, a new diet appears. Suddenly, people are binging on grapefruits, drinking 24 glasses of water a day, living solely on turnips, or eating yellow foods today and red ones … Read more
We’ve heard it more times than we care to remember: what we need is some out-of-the-box thinking. We could solve this chronic problem if only we could step out of the box. Golly, J.P., that’s a really out-of-the-box idea! Apparently, if we’re brave enough to step out of that bad, bad box, we can accomplish … Read more
Companies often develop materials such as white papers to target marketing and communications objectives, but forget to go back and make edits as their marketplace or products and services change. When developing a white paper, new web copy, or other communications tool, most marketers start with some sort of objective and develop an outline covering … Read more
Freelance writers and other creative suppliers are accustomed to taking calls about the services we deliver. While the calls I receive focus on learning more about what I do, they also give me great insight into the sophistication of the callers and whether I really want to do business with them. Prospects often lack experience … Read more
One of the most common mistakes companies make when developing websites, blog posts, and other communications materials may surprise you. They completely lose sight of the audience. Confused? It’s absolutely true. I’ve seen it happen again and again. Companies invest huge amounts of money to develop websites, advertising, social media campaigns, and other materials, and … Read more
I wonder if you can answer a very simple question about your business. Do you do a good job? By that, I mean do you accomplish what you set out to do for your customers and clients? Do you provide more value than your competitors offer? Are your customers better off because they work with … Read more
Graphic design for seniors considers changes in people’s vision.