I ran across a couple of words this week (on Word Spy and Buzz Whack) that particularly appealed to me: Staycation. When you spend your vacation at home. (Thanks to high gas prices and a sluggish economy, it’s all many of us can afford.) Also known to those of us from Quebec as Balconville, after [...]
Monthly Archives: May 2008
‘What’s the point’ marketing
A coupon for a free item seems like a good way to market your business, doesn’t it? Maybe not, if the place you turn it in can refuse to honour it. We have such a coupon, expiring May 31, for a free sub at Quizno’s. In our household, the subs are known as good, but [...]
Don’t settle
As the school year winds down, Son #2 is headed for graduation from high school. While it’s not graduation from university, it is nevertheless a momentous occasion. (Sentimental creature that I am, there will be a tissue or three in my pocket.) So it seemed timely that I ran across (in the Mental Floss e-newsletter) [...]
Do what you love
You’ve often heard the advice, “do what you love and the money will follow.” In the dating world, the equivalent is “do what you love (or even just like) and the love will follow.” At the very least, you’ll have fun, but you may also meet someone special who shares your interest. I think this [...]
Keyword analysis inspires writing sample tips
If you are a blogger, consider yourself patted on the back by Anne Holland, Content Director of MarketingSherpa. She encourages bloggers in the May 12 newsletter (see #9) thusly: “Starting a blog is easy. Keeping the blog going for more than a few months is hard. If you are one of the relatively few, the [...]
Posted in The Red Jacket Diaries blog Tagged Blogging, Freelance writing, Writing tips Leave a comment
Networking tips
Networking gets a bad rap. Really, if you go about it the right way, you don’t have to break into a cold sweat. Forget the (bad) advice to go in and give out as many business cards as possible. Instead, look on each networking opportunity as a chance to make a connection with someone else. [...]
Live the life you want to live
Yesterday marked the birthday of Queen Victoria, who reigned when Canada was born. It’s a classic Canadian holiday, dubbed “May two-four” in a nod to both the date (the Monday closest to May 24) and the ceremonial purchasing and consuming of at least one case of 24 beers sitting outdoors in the sunshine with friends [...]
Few takers for discount docs
Freelancers sometimes run into clients who question quoted rates and ask for less. Most seasoned professionals will agree that you shouldn’t let yourself be “had” on price. State what you are worth, making sure you convey the value in what you are providing (which may be your X years of experience, your track record in [...]
Rare sighting: good ads
With golf season upon us, Golf Town has been busily advertising and I have to say, these ads are good. In one, you see a mom at the wheel of her mini-van, counselling her unseen charges to “stay together” and “don’t cry when we have to leave.” Then you see that she isn’t talking to [...]
More on moms
The Friday edition of the Toronto Star led into Mother’s Day with several essays about moms. One by Toronto writer Elyse Friedman was particularly funny; it captures the desire to do right by your child and the guilt and fear that you might not be doing so by “faults” like not making the bed or [...]