


Get more referrals by letting others know what you do
A colleague asked me this week if I knew anyone with a specific expertise. No one person came to mind, so I scrolled through the member lists of a couple of associations. With a somewhat vague idea of what the members did, I had to rely on their brief summary of...
Do’s and don’ts for writing effective captions
One of my clients had a standing request to find a photo for each article written for the employee newsletter. No wonder; “Photos attract even the most casual reader,” says The Canadian Press Stylebook, and that makes captions “probably the most-read words…after...
In which Sue survives a perilous climb
What I was thinking? Months ago, I agreed to do a fundraising event, the 24th annual Canada Life CN Tower Climb. That’s 1,776 steps, from the bottom of that tower on the left, allllll the way to the observation deck. I would be part of the Advantis...
How often should you publish your newsletter?
How often should you send an employee or subscriber newsletter? As with many areas of communication, the answer is, “It depends.” The April issue of Wordnerdery talks about some things to consider, revisiting this blog post from 2012. Do you agree?...
Life is short; get screened
In the end, my big brother had less than a year to live from the first signs that something was going wrong. Gallstones, maybe? No. Colon cancer, which had already spread to his lungs and liver. He was 61. Don moved to California years ago, and being on opposite sides...
New Toronto shopping guide is out
Earlier this year, I mentioned working on a Toronto shopping guide, intended for people coming to this year’s IABC World Conference. With the guide, visitors get the inside scoop from local IABC members on where to grab a gift or specific item close to the...IABC session shares tips to help you transition your career

4 quick ways to get your workspace organized
Is your desk and workspace tidy? Some believe a messy desk shows creativity, others that it’s a sign of an equally disheveled mind. At a meeting of my local freelancer group (HPCA) last week, we learned that it’s okay to be a little untidy, but it’s...