Archive for April, 2012
9 Lessons from Bad RFP Responses
If you want to write a successful response to a request for proposal (RFP), avoid these 9 mistakes.
Secrets of Viral Video
Video is a growing part of most organization’s marketing strategy. But what are the secrets behind videoing going” viral”? The answer is a number of factors including optimization, neuromarketing, and luck.
TED Tuesdays: Rory Sutherland on ‘Being an Ad Man’
“TED Tuesday” is our recurring series on public speaking, specifically breaking down TED talks. This week, we examine Rory Sutherland in 2009 discussing “Life Lessons from an Ad Man.”
The Lost Art of Asking Questions
Asking questions, in any context, has become a lost art. Whether you are in the position of journalist, or consultant, or group member, or job applicant, or any other situation that requires you gather information to use to your advantage, you have only two things at your disposal: background and questions.
Rethinking Happiness in the Workplace
Happiness is the single most important thread running through our daily lives. It’s also probably the world’s most elusive concept. What exactly is it? How do we define it? How do we achieve it and, more unclear, how do we make it last?
4 Problems with Your Marketing Postcards
Recently, a client asked me to look at their array of marketing postcards, those 5.5 x 8.5-inch promo pieces you frequently find at events, commonly at tradeshow booths or on display tables. They’re referred to as either “takeaways” or “leave-behinds”, which do not sound like the same thing and furthermore serves as an indication of their [...]
5 Words You’re Using Wrong
It’s no secret that I abhor a large chunk of popular business language. In fact, I recently did a talk on some of these terms, not just from the business world, but from life in general. Buzzwords and catchphrases serve one purpose: smokescreens. They are shorthand for legitimate ideas, but the more they’re used, the more [...]
TED Tuesdays: Keith Bellows on the camel
“TED Tuesday” is our recurring series on public speaking, specifically breaking down TED talks. This week, we examine Keith Bellows in 2008 discussing the camel as an engineering phenomenon, an animal he dubs the “SUV of the desert”. The video has garnered some criticism; on YouTube as of today, it has 51 likes and 47 [...]
The Last Question to Ask Before You Publish That Content
“Did we produce this because it adds to the conversation or because we thought it was “good to have”? Of course, it’s not necessarily the last question you WILL ask, as answering it brings up a few others you must address in order to justify your response (especially if your response is the former). And [...]
TED Tuesdays
A few months back, my office started a public speaking club where those interested in the craft could discuss strategies, develop skills, practice upcoming talks, and provide feedback to other speakers. One recurring exercise we have is to watch and critique TED talks. I’ve decided that’s a good weekly feature for this blog: “TED Tuesdays”. [...]
