Technology has been a great workplace equalizer, allowing everyone to perform tasks that once required specialized skills, and flattening organizational charts as companies reduce headcount. But added responsibility doesn’t automatically equate knowledge or expertise. I mention that because a side effect of that change is a growing misconception that anyone capable of forming an opinion … Read more
As I brace myself for this year’s national election debates, I have empathy for the debate moderators, because their role is very similar to what those of us who write copy for a living do every day. (Another reason I can empathize is that I’ve moderated election forums before, and I know it’s not an … Read more
There’s an awful lot of anger in today’s world. From the presidential campaign, to professional sports coverage, to long lines at the neighborhood java joint, people are quicker than ever to raise their voices and snap at people. They often aim that anger at companies — maybe even yours. You’ll see evidence of it everywhere, … Read more
Case studies are one of today’s most effective marketing tools. In simple terms, a case study spells out what your company did (or how someone used your product or service to do something), how it worked, and the results that proved its value. The approach succeeds because case studies are factual, depending upon real-world performance … Read more
I recently handled a project for an organization full of extraordinarily smart people, something you might not recognize if you read the copy they wrote. Their words were so unfamiliar, their sentence structure so complex only their peers could grasp what they tried to convey … and their peers weren’t the audience. You were. No, … Read more
The marketing assistant shook her head and sneered, “You just can’t be serious.” She saw the puzzlement in my eyes, and continued. “This copy is supposed to be aimed at the C-suite.” Whatever message her critique was supposed to convey wasn’t registering, and her frustration quickly became evident. “You know, it’s for corporate leaders. It … Read more
If your organization does business in the growing global marketplace, there may be times when you need to communicate with people in languages other than English. While it’s tempting to simply translate your existing materials, that may not be the most effective approach. That’s because writing for translation requires different thinking and approaches than writing … Read more
Entrepreneurs are amazingly brave people. No matter how they may publicly shy away from comments like that, they’re well aware of how much courage it takes to walk away from someone’s payroll and create or grow a business. But despite their courage, many entrepreneurs become downright timid when it comes to marketing. Specifically, these bold … Read more
He was a successful engineer with a nagging problem. It haunted him during his commute, in the shower, and when his golden retriever woke him up at 3:00 a.m. for a quick trip outside. Never was it far from his thoughts. It involved a process that he knew could be improved. He had a hunch … Read more
The new client and I were discussing the content he wanted me to produce. After discussing his general objectives and some thoughts about design, he handed me a brochure and said, “Everything you’ll need is in here.” Even a quick skim told me that it was an excellent, well-written brochure. The content was spot-on, and … Read more