Sue Horner is a freelance writer in Oakville, Ontario, who blogs about writing, newsletters, communications and running an independent business in The Red Jacket Diaries blog.
Endless Zoom calls and Microsoft Teams meetings have changed how we look and relate to our co-workers and bosses. Home offices give a glimpse of how we live. Pets and small children are likely to loudly demand attention as our calls get underway, or we might forget...
The people behind the Air Canada Aeroplan rewards plan want to make sure members keep their information secure and up-to-date. I recently found this out because I was looking into turning some of my rewards points into gifts. It’s been a while since I poked around to...
Asking Google today “Is blogging dead in 2021?” pulled up 18 million results. I often ask that question around this time, since my own blog anniversary is January 24 (an amazing-to-me-too 14 years, thanks). Every year I’ve asked, the answer is no,...
With so many people working from home during the pandemic, companies have more remote workers to reach than ever. And there’s no end in sight. Research firms say 82% (Gartner) to 86% (Gallagher) of companies plan to let employees work remotely at least part of the...
January is the famous month of new beginnings, and I’m right there with the newly rebooted “Sex and the City” in starting a new chapter. No, I’m not planning on wearing outlandish clothes and super high heels or making drastic changes in my...
The top word searches this week on Merriam-Webster reflected the chaos in Washington, DC: sedition, coup d’état, fascism, capitol, breach, insurrection and more. But take a look at 2020, and you’ll see what dominated searches and our lives almost all year....
As we say good riddance to 2020 (finally!), here’s a look back at the 10 most-viewed posts on my blog during this pandemic year. Words are my business and pleasure, and it appears many of you share my interest in getting rid of jargon and corporate buzzwords. Will it...
For the past few years, my December newsletter has shared some “life is short” moments. I have more – and during these pandemic times, so do many of us – but I’m shutting the door on this dumpster fire of a year with another look at creative ways people have tried to...
If you’re interested in pursuing certification as a communication professional, get ready. In January, IABC members in Toronto and around the world have a chance to write the exam certifying you as a Communication Management Professional (CMP) or Strategic...
As the pandemic wears on, is the pace of communication easing for you? Comparing conditions in May 2020 and September 2020, a Simpplr survey found that at first, employees received company-wide updates daily, even several times a day. By September, the updates were...