#FailFolder

I keep a #failfolder. It's a file with screenshots of other organization's marketing and communication mistakes. Is that bad? I do it to keep my mistakes in perspective. The screenshots here are just a couple that I have gathered over the years. If you are a communication or marketing professional, you have made public mistakes. … Continue reading #FailFolder

Bad writing isn’t just annoying… it can cost you

You don't hear much about writing being the "hot skill to have this year." But it's probably one of the most important, and one you'll use the rest of your life. Pssh...writing? My job doesn't require me to write. Do you send emails? Then yes, your job requires you to write. Who cares if your … Continue reading Bad writing isn’t just annoying… it can cost you

We switched to sentence case and here’s what happened

Recently our marketing team switched from using title case in headlines and subheads to sentence case. We thought it would be a #ncbu decision (#ncbu = nobody cares but us). We were wrong. Bedlam. Mayhem. Confusion. We had some 'splainin to do. We didn't realize this change would cause this kind of reaction. APstyle made … Continue reading We switched to sentence case and here’s what happened

The key to great content is always the same

During a recent PRSA chapter meeting, we watched a webinar about Snapchat, PR in a Snap (PRSA log in required to view the webinar), one of the latest shiny objects to hit the social media landscape. During the webinar, the presenters mentioned key takeaways for using Snapchat. Among the ones they discussed, here are three … Continue reading The key to great content is always the same

#PRFail: If you are doing these in your PR efforts, you are doing it wrong

This article first appeared on CUinsight.com. If you are doing these things in your public relation efforts, you are doing it wrong: Using long words when a short one will do. We don’t “utilize” something…we use it. A longer, more complicated word slows down the reader and makes them work harder to understand. Make your … Continue reading #PRFail: If you are doing these in your PR efforts, you are doing it wrong