by Sue Horner | Jun 22, 2017 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
“How many words can you read on a computer screen before you start drifting off or your eyes start burning?” asks journalist, magazine editor and internal communications manager Rachel Ifans. Rachel calls print the best medium for long-form journalism (which you may...
by Sue Horner | Jul 6, 2016 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
When technology and big data converge, the results can be revolutionary. Just don’t forget communications. Illustrating that point was one of many stories shared by Julia Oosterman at the “Next Big Thing” session for IABC/Toronto Westend members on June 23. Julia...
by Sue Horner | Apr 28, 2016 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
I’ve been walking my neighbour’s two dogs at lunchtime, to cover while his daughter is away. Logan and Norman are relatively big black dogs, like my guy was, and they were good pals with him. So while I’m helping my neighbour out, I’m also getting a little “dose...
by Sue Horner | Dec 10, 2015 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
Researchers say that people’s attention span is a pitiful eight seconds — supposedly less than that of a goldfish. (Do you wonder, as I do, how researchers measure a goldfish’s attention span?) So it’s not surprising that marketers are looking...
by Sue Horner | Sep 22, 2015 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
Employees, customers and others who have been wronged by corporate action/inaction want and deserve an apology. Yet lawyers and executives are wary of what could be seen as “admitting fault.” As Elton John sings, “Sorry” does indeed seem to be the hardest word. But...
by Sue Horner | Sep 16, 2015 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
If Donna Papacosta had to do it all over again, she’d rename her podcast something other than “Trafcom News.” Yet 10 years ago, she was just linking to her business (Trafalgar Communications) and her website. Her advice now? “Choose a meaningful name,” she told...
by Sue Horner | Jul 15, 2015 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
(This post updates one originally written in 2013.) Storify used to be a handy free service that “makes the web tell a story.” It’s been taken over by Livefyre and now requires a paid license. Many people are instead turning to Twitter Moments to collect – or curate,...
by Sue Horner | Jun 10, 2015 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
Is aiming for perfection holding you back? Sure, getting rid of typos and fixing glaring errors is important. But if you’re waiting to launch your website or start tweeting or record your first podcast until all conditions are perfect and you’ve tied...
by Sue Horner | Feb 6, 2015 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
The Internet used to be like an elephant; it never forgot. Now, its future is about “fast, temporary pieces of content” (think Snapchat) that are here now and gone soon after. Mitch Joel, one of North America’s leading digital experts, told IABC/Toronto members...
by Sue Horner | Jun 26, 2014 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
What forces are shaping internal communications, and what are the best practices that help companies improve their own communications performance? At a session at the an IABC World Conference in Toronto, speaker Kelly Parsons shared what Melcrum’s research...
