Not long ago, A.wordsmith manager Lisa Lavora-De Beule published a useful post outlining 5 steps to enhance your public speaking. Every effective speech, however, shares a common beginning, one that happens long before the speaker gets to the podium: audience analysis. Understanding one’s audience is one of the most important elements of effective communication. It […]
Read MorePress releases are an effective way to garner publicity for your business. Although distributing a news release doesn’t guarantee coverage for your brand, by planting the seed with journalists and bloggers, it might very well lead into a future feature opportunity. Additionally, placing your press release on your website is an effective way to communicate with […]
Read MoreHow often do you hand out your business card? What kind of info do you include? I’ve designed cards chock full of contact information in teeny-tiny print, and I’ve designed cards with only a logo, name and email. It really depends on how you prefer people contact you (or how truly accessible you want to […]
Read MoreThis should strike a chord with any parent (especially those of you as sleep-deprived as I am). Sometimes I feel like a short walk to the park with my kids becomes an open invitation for “tips and tricks” from well-meaning advisors. I appreciate their intentions, and I’ve gotten pretty good at hanging on to the advice that […]
Read MoreRolling into my senior year of college, I have been asked the same question a number of times throughout my studies as an undergraduate. It has been asked by my family, friends, acquaintances, professors and anyone I’ve struck up a conversation with. It is the question I was hesitant to answer until two years ago. […]
Read MoreCommunication can be tough. There are countless styles and approaches to communicating; and in today’s technology-driven world, many interactions take place over different mediums, ranging from face-to-face in person, to email, to instant messenger, to conference call, to text message, to Skype…and the list goes on and on. While there are obvious benefits with the […]
Read MoreBrand guide for Clearly Business, by The One Off A brand guide is an essential tool for companies who aim to present a cohesive, consistent, and professional face to the world. A company’s brand guide acts as its visual communications “map” over the years, and also as documentation of the brand’s history as it evolves (as […]
Read MoreAmazon executives are typically a reclusive bunch. So its was a rare treat when Jeff Wilke, Amazon’s senior vice president of consumer business, took the stage this week at Seattle University as part of the Albers Executive Speaker Series. In an hour-long talk, Wilke laid out the core leadership principles that make up the tech […]
Read MoreIn case you didn’t know, today is “National Honesty Day.” (It also happens to be “Adopt a Shelter Pet Day,” “Bugs Bunny Day,” “Hairstylist Appreciation Day,” “Oatmeal Cookie Day,” “Raisin Day,” “Sarcoidosis Day,” and “Poem in Your Pocket Day,” and while a number of those are terribly important—I mean, cookies!–we’ll focus on honesty for now.) […]
Read MoreAmerica loves football – everyone knows that. But it’s beginning to look like the sport itself is in crisis and does not reciprocate these feelings. A growing body of evidence is beginning to show that football players are prone to concussions and thus prone to degenerative brain disease later on in life. These diseases (CTE […]
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