I recently received a request to share my thoughts and opinions on the sad state of affairs regarding professionalism in communication. Before I begin to regale you with my opinion, you’ll note that this blog post is littered with links. We’re not giving ourselves Google love. We’re demonstrating how often we’ve written on this subject and how much of a problem it can be. Each of these blog posts has strong value and something to teach you about professionalism, communication and manners on the web. They’re here for a reason: Being polite and respectful is
> Read MoreArchives for June 2008
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Drive-By-Shooting Sunday: GeekArt
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“Are you sure you have the right address?” Jamie frowned out the windshield at the empty parking lot. “This can’t be the right address.” A lonely sign swung from a pole, squeaking quietly as the breeze pushed it back and forth. “You wrote it down,” Harry handed James the post it note. “Don’t blame me if you can’t read your own writing.” “I can read it fine,” James snatched the yellow paper and glared at it, then at Harry. “See?” He pointed to the illegible scribble. “It says GeekArt. This has to be the right
> Read MoreGet your Site Out of the Garage and Onto The Stage
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This week, our Pen Men hot topic seems to be all about perception. Some issues are elements that James and I have been aware of, and some others are subtle observances of what lies below the surface. The moment of introspection has given me a few Refrigerator Moments. A new client of ours asked a question recently. She had concerns of the time it took to launch a new site – it seemed a big job. It’s no wonder she thought that; like many of you have experienced, our client has seen announcements of redesigns
> Read MoreHow a Great Reputation Can Hurt Your Business
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Perception is a great thing when you’re branding yourself. You want people to see you a certain way, and you need to convey what you can do at a glance. What happens when that perception hurts you – even if it’s a good one? We’re known for great designs and rocking content. We provide all the handholding people need. We’re flexible and friendly, and we embrace feedback. We’re also very good at our jobs, and we’re able to gently tell clients suggestions on what we feel is best for their goals. In short, we have
> Read MorePutting Twitter on Notice
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I’m becoming increasingly irritated with Twitter and Twhirl. Yes, yes, go ahead and say you told me so. That’s all right; I can handle it. I’ve been waffling on the subject of Twitter from day one. At first, I scoffed. After caving to peer pressure, feeling the need to hang out where all cool kids were, I joined the collective of Twitterfied Borg. I’m on the verge of dumping it. Don’t get me wrong. Twitter had its value. It was great for making connections and getting to know people a little better. If I hadn’t
> Read MoreThe Wrong Way to Enter Contests
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When you enter a competition, do you put your heart into it? Do you really want to win? Or are you just feeling lucky and taking a halfhearted chance? Recently, Daniel Smith of Smithereen’s Blog asked me to both sponsor his “Can You Put the Wit in Twitter” contest. He invited me and Dustin Wax to be entry judges. Cool. Sure. I can do that. After a week or so, Daniel emailed me the list of entries so I could start making the cuts. I did… and stared at the blank page wondering what to
> Read MoreBridging the Information Gap with Analogies
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We’ve learned that analogies can greatly enhance people’s understanding of complex concepts. We’ve also learned that you can overuse, misuse or confuse people even more with the wrong analogies. Poor connections in a hot-wiring job sure won’t get you where you want to go, and rickety bridges don’t span a gap safely. Analogies are useful when well chosen, and they demonstrate a lighter side of your creativity. When you’re writing about technical material or difficult concepts, analogies break out the party. They add some spark and humor to your content while enhancing the reader’s ability
> Read MoreDrive-By-Shooting Sunday: Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin’?
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“James, you have got to be shittin’ me.” “Hold still. Your tie is crooked.” James yanked – hard. Harry tried to get him to stop futzing with the damned thing, but he knew it was no use. “You know how much I hate dressing up.” Especially in a tux. Sure, it was a wedding and all, but still… “There.” James gave Harry’s shoulders a final brush and stepped back. He checked himself in the reflection of the limo’s dark windows. The blonde hair was slightly rumpled but presentable in a rakish sort of way, and
> Read MoreHow to Confuse the Hell Out of Your Readers
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Using analogies can really get your point across – faster, easier and better than if you droned on like some textbook monologue. The medical profession uses analogies often to explain complex concepts to worried patients, bringing biology down to a human level, if you will. As technology grows and new concepts arise, writers need to use analogies often, too. Have you ever tried to explain the blogosphere to someone who has never been on the Internet? What about explaining the blogging community mindset? It’s like nothing the virtual world has ever seen. Analogies are extremely
> Read MoreOne Easy Way to Clearly Convey Your Message
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Show, don’t tell. It’s one of the best ways to convey information. Hands-on lessons teach students faster. Observation allows different knowledge absorption than reading. Watching someone else helps us see the exact actions required in motion. Sight is a stronger sense than hearing. Vision is our primary source of information, and we rely on it to gather and pass on data to our brains, where that information becomes coherent images. Think about it: would you rather go deaf or go blind? I think to live in silence is difficult – but to live in darkness
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