Feelings of sci-fi peril aside, the capabilities of programs like ChatGPT are remarkable. I’ve tried it, and I can’t say that I would be able to easily tell the difference between a passage written by the program or by a person.
It’s not Small Business Operations Versus Marketing. It’s Both
Small business owners like us commonly fall into a trap of our own making. We are truly excellent at operating our companies and keeping our existing customers happy. That is nothing to be ashamed of. We are proud of the job we do and how efficiently we can do it. It does come with one... Continue Reading →
Self-Publishing for Marketing Purposes
Not everyone is an author (or wants to be). But think of the possibilities of self-publishing for your marketing efforts!
An Ode to Writing in Courier
The benefit gained through truly finishing your words—and the multiple rounds of editing and revision required to achieve this gleaming shine—may be noticed by not only the writer but appreciated by the intended audience.
What Makes a Good, Effective Read? Editing Does
Everyone has heard the cliché in real estate: “It’s location, location, location.” Well, in 2021, when real estate is booming everywhere, maybe it’s low interest rates and a pandemic-enhanced market. For those in the writing profession, it's editing, editing, and more editing. We know that excellent editing makes the copy sing. Only very rarely does... Continue Reading →
How Do You Market in Such a Strange, Strangled Business Climate?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many different types of businesses took a hard look at their own viability. Not surprisingly, this meant cutting staff and “nonessential activities,” such as marketing. But marketing is still essential to survive these pandemic times.
Nonprofits and Associations in the Year of COVID-19: How Do You Ensure Your Attention to Detail?
This year, perhaps more than any year in the distant past, nonprofit organizations have experienced incredible fund-raising challenges. Live meetings with paid attendees or donor events have been postponed, cancelled, or converted to virtual sessions. Registration fees and exhibitor registrations, which fueled much of the annual operating budget, were not an option in 2020 (and... Continue Reading →
The Value of the Client Interview
Writing the copy for websites, brochures, fact sheets, blogs, and press releases is a straightforward process. An experienced writer can whip up a first draft in short order, if that person knows what the client expects to achieve. In other words, what’s your point? We’re not mind readers, though some clients seem to expect that!... Continue Reading →
The Language of PowerPoint®
If your company’s objective is to thrive through business-to- business (B2B) transactions, then it seems inevitable that you need to create slide decks at some point. Whether reporting on business results or seeking to solicit new work, or introducing a new product or service, fluency in Microsoft PowerPoint® seems increasingly important. Although not news to... Continue Reading →
The Simple Road to New Marketing Copy
Let’s say that you have a website, trifold brochure, and some exhibit hall materials that have not been reviewed in several years, or that you are starting a new line of business and beginning to look at marketing opportunities. Taking the first step can be daunting, but it need not be. We favor what we... Continue Reading →
An Unconventional Thought on SEO: Is It so Important to Every Firm’s Website?
This axiom has been drilled into our heads: A primary objective of your marketing strategy is to get listed on the first page of major Web browsers’ search results. Whatever web design you choose, that rule seems to be the first, most important goal of your firm’s web content. Let me explain why I believe... Continue Reading →
Where’s the Beef? It’s not Just in the Tag Line. It’s in the Campaign
Some of the greatest marketing slogans of the last 70 years have stuck with us, despite the fact that they haven’t been seen or heard in many decades. If you’re old enough, you’ll remember the following: Clara Peller, asking in a Wendy’s commercial from 1984, “Where’s the Beef?” And no, this is not an ad... Continue Reading →
Sex Sells, but Everyone Has a Story to Tell
I was 17 years old, 5-foot 5-inches tall and 120 pounds dripping wet. I was put in charge of the rear platform station of the Galaxy, a large rollercoaster at an amusement park where I grew up on Long Island. Nothing about this rollercoaster was automated, by the way, and that included the braking system... Continue Reading →