Are there certain things that people don’t know but should, and that drives you to distraction? For me, one of the biggest is the difference between features and benefits. While that distinction has been talked about for years, and successful communications and sales professionals invariably advocate for emphasizing benefits over features, there continues to be a … Read more
Have a job where you find yourself saying the same things 150 times a day? Don’t lose sight of the fact that each time you do, it may be the first time your audience is hearing it. I think about that every time a cashier or an employee on a store’s PA mumbles “thank you … Read more
If you’re looking for a way to catch the attention of your audience and focus their full attention on your message, ask them a question that matters to them. Some people think that asking questions in headlines and opening statements is a bad idea. I once had a boss who became furious anytime anyone presented … Read more
A good portion of my business comes from helping companies develop websites, so you won’t be surprised to learn that I believe creating a new site or redoing an existing one is a worthwhile investment. But I’m less enthusiastic about companies that see rolling out a new website as an exciting event for their customers. … Read more
A quarter-century ago, when I started my business (in the days when nearly all websites were blue), I spent time in online groups that catered to the small-business crowd. I was looking for sound advice, but found little. One conundrum really seemed to vex visitors to those sites. “When writing about my business, should I … Read more
If you’ve ever lived in an apartment or a college dorm, you’re probably aware that toothpaste offers a fast and cheap way to hide nail holes and other small damage to the walls. Anyone who has ever tried to sell a house has probably heard that slapping a quick coat of paint on the walls … Read more
One of the most common mistakes in advertising and marketing materials — one that’s even made by professionals who should know better — is forgetting to include a call to action. In simple terms, a call to action is the instructions you’re giving the reader or viewer, so they know what you want them to … Read more
What is a brochure? An ad? A radio commercial? A website? I’ll give you 5 points if you said they’re all marketing communications channels. But they’re also something more important. You can’t be everywhere your prospective customers are. So you develop materials such as ads and brochures to stand in when you can’t. In essence, … Read more
You may be a highly skilled writer who can craft brilliant sentences. Which is why you might be surprised that I believe you probably shouldn’t write your own copy. Do I have a reason for that assertion? I do — actually several: It’s a waste of time. Well, maybe a waste of your time. Odds … Read more
Want proof that keeping your copy simple and easy to understand is more effective? Just look at Washington State. Like most government units, the Evergreen State is constantly trying to increase revenues (especially since there’s no state income tax). A few years ago, tax officials noticed that use-tax revenues were below projections … and they … Read more