by Sue Horner | Oct 19, 2017 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
Like many Canadians, I was dismayed to hear of the death this week of Gord Downie, just 53, quirky lead singer of Canada’s Tragically Hip. His diagnosis with an incurable brain tumour last year made the ending inevitable, but it still came as a shock. Like many...
by Sue Horner | Oct 12, 2017 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
When a company fails to follow up with a customer who is ready to buy, or who has stopped coming back for service, you have to wonder. Is business so great the people running the place don’t care? No, more likely the problem is lack of followup. Customers want help...
by Sue Horner | Oct 5, 2017 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
The subject line – “Done like Thanksgiving dinner” – probably seemed appropriate, casual and timely to the marketers who sent the email. It rounded up things that would help you prepare and serve a Thanksgiving dinner, like a roasting pan, pots, glasses and dishes....
by Sue Horner | Sep 28, 2017 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
Search engine optimization (SEO) is a fancy way of describing how to get you or your business in front of search engines like Google. The ideal is that someone searches for your name, of course, but SEO helps if the searcher doesn’t know you or have your name in mind....
by Sue Horner | Sep 21, 2017 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
(Updated Oct. 3, 3018) Ouch. You Googled yourself and found false and nasty comments about you coming up on page one of search results. You need to take action. If someone has taken the time to smear your reputation, they are unlikely to respond to a polite request to...
by Sue Horner | Sep 14, 2017 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
(Updated April 30, 2018) If you run a small business, you want to be found for both your company name and the products or services you offer. At a meeting of IABC/Toronto’s Professional Independent Communicators this week, speaker Ray Litvak shared some tips for doing...
by Sue Horner | Sep 7, 2017 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
(Updated Oct. 12, 2022) The fall is as much a time of new beginnings as New Year’s. If you’re a PR or communication student, your new beginnings probably include building your network and launching your career. You can do both by making the most of your professional...
by Sue Horner | Aug 30, 2017 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
“What does eponymous mean?” I’m usually your go-to gal for the meaning of words, but this one stopped me. I knew I should be able to explain the meaning, but the question sent me to the dictionary. Good for you if you know “eponymous” is an adjective relating to the...
by Sue Horner | Aug 24, 2017 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
Words are my business, but I realize that a stunning photo or clever infographic can often make a point faster than plain text. The August issue of my monthly newsletter, Wordnerdery, shares tips for writing effective captions (also called cutlines) that hook readers...
by Sue Horner | Aug 11, 2017 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
What’s the best practice for sending an internal newsletter – from the CEO, “Internal Communications,” the head of the Communications department or someone else? That was a question that came up this week. I don’t know of any definitive best practices related to who...
