A note from the management. If you run a blog and you suddenly see an influx of traffic in your referral log, take care. Some of the traffic may be from what are called "blog spammers" or "referral spammers".
Showing posts with label Communication. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Communication. Show all posts
Detail is not wordiness
I've noticed a current trend in United States written discourse. "Cursory skimming" is at an all-time high. It stands to reason given the on-demand, internet-search-driven mode of information delivery today. Compound that with Twitter and texting becoming more prevalent and the trend seems pretty pronounced. I'm observing this "skimming mania" in many modes of communication from websites, to emails, to brochures.
With this skimming comes a side-effect. If you do not very explicitly state your meaning on every key point you write, with detail and in several clauses apiece, the reader doesn't find enough key words to catch their eye. They skip right over major points.
What is the result?
With this skimming comes a side-effect. If you do not very explicitly state your meaning on every key point you write, with detail and in several clauses apiece, the reader doesn't find enough key words to catch their eye. They skip right over major points.
What is the result?
The Death of the Channel?
So, I am channel surfing the "modern" way... via the channel guide grid. As I do so, I end up stumbling into a channel with the schedule:
The 700 Club religious program at 7.
The Jerry Springer show at 8.
A hunting show at 9.
Some random 90's sit com at 10.
At first this seemed peculiar. Then I considered several options. I'm only hypothesizing, but one reasonable explanation is that this "channel" has lost all cohesion as a brand because it really doesn't intend to be viewed as a channel that holds your attention. One can nimbly schedule content in each half-hour block to compete with other channels' offerings, forgoing any attempt at a channel brand identity. In the new paradigm of on-demand tivo and content that is often discovered by a Search function moreso than channel surfing... this may be the next step beyond the virtual programming blocks like Adult Swim we saw surface a few years ago.
Perhaps to some in "the industry" they know this and can confirm it. But to me looking in from simply a technologist's perspetive, if it isn't the strategy, it certainly makes sense that it can now BECOME the strategy.
The 700 Club religious program at 7.
The Jerry Springer show at 8.
A hunting show at 9.
Some random 90's sit com at 10.
At first this seemed peculiar. Then I considered several options. I'm only hypothesizing, but one reasonable explanation is that this "channel" has lost all cohesion as a brand because it really doesn't intend to be viewed as a channel that holds your attention. One can nimbly schedule content in each half-hour block to compete with other channels' offerings, forgoing any attempt at a channel brand identity. In the new paradigm of on-demand tivo and content that is often discovered by a Search function moreso than channel surfing... this may be the next step beyond the virtual programming blocks like Adult Swim we saw surface a few years ago.
Perhaps to some in "the industry" they know this and can confirm it. But to me looking in from simply a technologist's perspetive, if it isn't the strategy, it certainly makes sense that it can now BECOME the strategy.
How to lose audience by thinking you're "oh so clever" in 3...2...1...
Here's how you can simultaneously show you are incompetent, untrustworthy, show no attention to detail, and have no business speaking to or referring others on important matters... all at the same time! Ready? <Click the jump link>
He I, He I... Oh
Sometimes friends and associates give me grief for over-using the first person during discussions. I am aware it sometimes comes off as egotistical, but there is a more central reason for it. The practice stems from my viewpoint on the world.
"I" seems, to me, more honest and based on personal experience.
"You" or "they" is more often judgmental, a degree removed, and likely to be wrong.
"I" seems, to me, more honest and based on personal experience.
"You" or "they" is more often judgmental, a degree removed, and likely to be wrong.
What is satisfaction? Invite your customers to spy on you.
In the news recently. A couple who wanted to have their wedding at a ritzy
five-star hotel found out in a not-so-pleasant way... it isn't going to happen.
The hotel's wedding planner sent an email to her boss and accidentally cc'd
the couple saying, "I know this probably doesn't sound very nice, but I am
trying to put this wedding off as I don't think they are the type of people
that we would want to have at Stoke
Park."
I will avoid debating the rights of a private
establishment to refuse service to whomever they choose. I'll also ignore the fact the bride
in question is adult glamour model Pauline Bailey.
There’s another customer service lesson here besides
remembering to watch the cc line in those emails. The lesson is: think positively
about your customers and pretend like they’re eavesdropping on everything
you say about them.
The Two-Team Fallacy and The Sports Centerization of Politics
Although I discuss politics very
little (so far) in public forums, I have long opined to my friends about US
politics being incorrectly cast in the framework of “home versus away”, “red
versus blue”, and even “good versus evil”.
Why Impact is More Important than Effect
This is a quirk in my writing
which may be useful for others to understand. In business communications, I
usually use the word “impact” instead of the word “effect”. Why?
If spelling is rong, I don’t want to be rite.
Today I discovered the UNC
journalism school has done away with spelling as a journalism test topic.
<Link removed since the source removed my cross-link. Two can play that game.>
<Link removed since the source removed my cross-link. Two can play that game.>
This strikes me as concerning in
many ways. I’m having trouble limiting myself to just a few key observations.
As a lifelong management and communication professional, however, here are my
most urgent thoughts.
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