Each week I bring together a few articles that add value to our work of becoming better communicators in business. Short on time? Watch for the *Must Read* for where I think you’ll get the best bang for your reading buck!
Use Google Reading Level to Improve Your Blog Message
Do you know about Google Reading Level? This article does an excellent job of explaining it, and how to use it to improve your ability to target your audience and improve readability. Read more…
You Have a Niche! You Just Don’t Know It Yet
Focus, focus, focus. If you are starting a blog, read this. The clearer you are about your specific area of interest the faster your audience will grow. Read more…
10 David Ogilvy Quotes that Could Revolutionize Your Blogging
“The consumer isn’t a moron; she is your wife.” David Ogilvy. Do you write a blog? Read this article. Taking quotes from the famous ad man, there are some great thoughts here on writing a better blog. Read more…
Shall We Kill the Niceties?
Is being thoughtful the same as being nice? Is valuable information communicated economically more valuable than nice salutations and sign-offs? A very good article on what keeps communication sacred. Read more…
Communication Mistakes Every Office Makes
What’s your role in contributing to your own ignorance? Are you asking for feedback? Are you creating an environment of safety and permission for people to provide it? Are you saying anything other than “Thank you” when you get it? This is a MUST READ article for business owners and managers. Listen up. Read more…
The #1 Leadership Problem *Must Read*
Where is your willful blind spot? Who did you brush off when they gave you bad news in the last few days? Ignorance is one thing. Rewriting reality because it makes us uncomfortable is deadly. Can you give me the name of one person in your environment who understands your business and is OK to tell you uncomfortable truths? If not, you are in trouble. Read more…
Davos Diary: Day Three
How are you going to motivate your team? How about some Shakespeare? This very interesting article from the Davos conference focuses especially on one speech from Henry V. An example of some of the take-aways: “instilling pride in colleagues and comrades”. Reminding your employees that they are working beside some pretty remarkable people is a great team motivator. Read more…
Are You Biased? Of Course You Are
A challenging piece on the biases that all of us have. Anyone ever tell you that they aren’t biased? They clearly don’t think very hard about things. We are all biased. The trick is to be aware of them and put team and communication structures in place to mitigate for them. What are you doing in your life to ensure you are getting a broad range of input in your decisions? Read more…
Court Rules Company Has Right to Employee E-mail
An important privacy ruling from California. This continues the North American trend that ‘private’ has significant qualifiers when it comes to doing things at work. Your communications are, and in many ways should be, the property of the employer when you are being paid. Note that the court here indicated that workplace email is the equivalent of talking “in a loud voice, with the door open…” Read more…
Want to Woo More Customers to Your Facebook Page? There’s an App for That
For anyone running a Facebook business Page, this looks like a very useful application. Clients have been asking about running coupon/contest-based promotions on their FB Pages. This app comes very highly recommended. A little steep at almost $30 per month, but if you are in retail or do real volume, this is worth a serious look. Read more…
How to Communicate More Effectively in E-mail
Email still matters. In the hyper-promoted world of social media it is easy to forget that email is still the primary form of business communication online. This is a useful article on composing emails that communicate better. Read more…
Social Media: You Had Me at Hello, But Then You Lost Your Mind *Must Read*
Love this! One of the best reads this week. Learn how to use social nurturing to build real connections with potential paying customers. And remember your manners. Read more…
How Brands Rediscover the Lost Art of Conversation
“Brands and consumers are now in dynamic conversation.” Bingo. The question is, how good are most businesses at being conversationalists? Sadly, most suck. Read this and learn how to suck less. Read more…
Want to improve your communication with employees, partners, and customers? I help organizations improve communication through social media strategies and management-level workshops.
