Tag: communications

Clichés: To Use or Not to Use?

Posted on by Rachel
“We need to get our ducks in a row.”
Photo by ehpien.

Clichés have become so ingrained into our language. The problem with these phrases is that they are used all too often and can deprive a piece of true thought or emotion. In fact, the definition of a cliché is “a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought.”

While a cliché may get a point across, is it really the best we can do? Can’t we come up with a better, more original way to communicate our thoughts and ideas?

Recently, Forbes compiled a list of common business clichés that when really thought about don’t do the best job at getting the point across. Here are a few of my favorites: Continue reading “Clichés: To Use or Not to Use?” →

Friday Flubs: You Are An “Expert?” + Four Pro Editing Tips

Posted on by Rachel

Every Friday’s post is a collection of typos or grammatical errors I’ve spotted throughout the week. Sometimes they are things I find while out and about and sometimes they are things I find on the Internet. If you are anything like me, these typos drive you crazy, especially when they come from people who should know better.

If you cringe at misspellings, this week’s Friday Flubs may be especially horrifying to you. Everyone misspells a word here and there, but people who claim to be experts really shouldn’t make huge spelling mistakes.

If you are an expert, typos can take away your credibility in an instant. If you think I’m exaggerating, take a look at these.

 

Oh boy. I don’t even need to read this bio. I know what I need to know: you don’t edit your work. Continue reading “Friday Flubs: You Are An “Expert?” + Four Pro Editing Tips” →

What’s In a Name? How to Refer to Your Customers

Posted on by Rachel
Photo by Betsy Weber.

On a recent flight, I overheard a flight attendant speaking about a “gentleman” in the back of the plane. When I heard the term, I admit I thought of a middle-aged or older man, and was surprised when the passenger turned out to be a 15-year-old boy. I was so impressed with the tone of respect and helpfulness this flight attendant had for this customer, even though he was very young and let’s face it, probably didn’t pay for his ticket himself.

The terms you use to refer to your customers mean a lot. You may not realize it, but customers pick up on this, and the words you choose reflect the type of business you run and how much you value your customers. Continue reading “What’s In a Name? How to Refer to Your Customers” →

Who Created YOUR Business?

Posted on by Rachel

On Saturday, President Obama gave a speech in Roanoke, Virginia. I don’t want to get overly political with this post, but I was pretty outraged when I heard a quote from his speech:

“If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.” — President Barack Obama

Continue reading “Who Created YOUR Business?” →

Curiosity Killed the Boring Content

Posted on by Rachel
Photo by Bas.

The best content is content that offers value. Not only is this type of content more likely to convert readers, bring in new business and improve your brand, it is also more likely to be ranked higher by search engines. How do you nail down what is valuable? By tapping into the power of curiosity.

Curiosity Brings Traffic

People don’t generally stumble onto your site accidentally (and if they do, it’s probably not the type of traffic you need); they get there because they are curious. What are your readers looking for? Determine what is most likely to bring people to your site and then use content that is based on those influences. Continue reading “Curiosity Killed the Boring Content” →