Why newsletters still have value
However “old school” you might think them, newsletters remain a powerful tool for keeping in touch with employees, clients, prospects and other important audiences. Sure, call me biased. I love newsletters, both print and electronic. But I am not the only...
Please stop ‘hacking’ your life
Don’t tell me you’ve found a way to “hack” your life, or your morning, or your productivity. The tiresome term appears to spring from the standard dictionary definition of “to alter (a computer program).” It gets a nod as slang for...
I’m still not waiting for LinkedIn to say congrats
(Updated in January 2022) If you have a profile on LinkedIn, you’ve probably noticed that the site regularly points out when your contacts have a work anniversary. Somehow, my own milestone always seems to slide past without comment. So let me say on LinkedIn’s...
‘Photobomb’ and ‘vape’ are words of the year
People love to create new words, and every year we officially welcome some of the best/most used ones; or maybe, reluctantly let them in the back door. These words generally reflect the “preoccupations” of the year and are thought to have staying power....
The best of the Red Jacket Diaries in 2014
Thank you to the people who took the time to read (and sometimes comment) on the Red Jacket Diaries this year! Here are the 10 most-viewed posts in 2014: Polar vortex and other frosty words were newly popular in a cold winter. How dictionaries decide to “let...
Linguistic cicadas & other expressive writing, in my December newsletter
You can’t always (ever?) be wildly creative in corporate writing. But you can and should choose words and phrases that are interesting and colourful to help your readers “see” what you mean. I’m always on the lookout for expressive writing, and...
Don’t play ‘bait & switch’ with your links
Have you had this experience? You’re on a website, intrigued by what looks like great content in a tip sheet or a newsletter. You enter your email address to “get your copy” or maybe just “find out more.” Next thing you know, a...
Today’s in-box lesson on email marketing
Lessons we can learn from a retailer who is eager to keep in touch with customers by email (in the spirit of the season, I’ll be kind and not say who it is): Make it personal: Today’s message certainly was. “Hello SUE!” it said in the subject...