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In This Issue
What the people say
Links you'll love
The social media revolution
Competition
On a personal note
What the People Say
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"If I am to speak ten minutes, I need a week for preparation; if fifteen minutes, three days; if half an hour, two days; if an hour, I am ready now."
Woodrow Wilson

100s of client comments
on my website

More reviews at:
Which Web Design Company
The Best Of Bromley

Review me at:
WeCanDo.Biz
Free Index

Links you'll love!
links

If you are worried about money at the moment, RJC Financial Management offer FREE initial meetings for companies and individuals, to analyse the situation and recommend solutions

Adopt a Word
I adopted 'waffle'. It only costs £20 for one year and all proceeds help children who struggle to find the words they need to communicate

Last month's posts on my Bad Ads blog include:
Bummer
Astounding after-sales care
How observant are you?
Bog off, BOGOF!
 "Love Mondays"
I want one of those!
"Nothing makes me feel better...
I should cocoa
 Since when
Coincidence!
Soundbites
Taking things personally

Read the full stories here

Please note I take no responsibility for the content of these links (apart from my own).
Quick Links
All my online profiles in one place (website, blog, LinkedIn, Twitter, Ecademy & Facebook):
http://unhub.com
/JackieBarrie

Email me

Phone me
0845 899 0258

Writing Without Waffle
Greetings!

I had contrasting feedback to last month's newsletter (about the 20 worst website errors).

One subscriber told me: "This latest newsletter is great! Really interesting, full of good stuff, and I will take on board your notes about what to leave out of web pages. I think this is one of your best ever editions. Keep up the great work, it's a fantastic read... informative and friendly writing."

Another said: "Normally, I understand perfectly what you are trying to say, but I'm struggling with this latest newsletter.  I'm finding your language difficult because you are using a lot of negatives: For example: Worst website errors = Don't include any case studies or testimonials. I'm reading this as if I shouldn't have any testimonials, like an instruction, which is confusing and panicking me because I do have them."

Just to clarify, I listed the 20 things NOT to do, and I'm sorry if I confused anyone by using double negatives.

Jackie

* Note to self: Next time, make it clearer by including what people should do as well.
 
The social media revolution

As you may have noticed, I provide traditional marketing services to my clients. However, I do very little of it for myself. I don't even do as much face-to-face networking as I used to. These days, I win business through online marketing. It's free! But it does take time, and you can't do it all at once.

Here is my recommended order of events:
  1. Have a website that offers added value, because most people use the Internet to search for 'how to' information (mine has pages of free resources and fun stuff)
  2. Send a regular newsletter that offers added value (mine includes hints, tips and wordy humour)
  3. Start a blog that offers added value (mine is about what business owners can learn from UK advertising)
  4. Upload articles that offer added value e.g. on sites such as EzineArticles
  5. Share your expertise on networking sites e.g. Groups and Answers on LinkedIn
  6. Include links to your added value content in your Facebook status and/or Twitter updates (mixed in with social and fun content to add personality)
Have you noticed a theme? Like face-to-face networking, online marketing is about adding value, showing personality and sharing expertise. That's what wins clients these days.

OK, so that's anecdotal. If you want some statistics about the impact of social media, watch this You Tube video.

Let me know if you'd like help with your own social media strategy.
Competition

This text is part of a letter from Bromley Council to residents of Poverest Road, Orpington. Can you work out what it means?

"As you may or may not be aware a recent road assessment was carried out on the Chislehurst Road Bridge and the bridge was found to have a capacity of 7.5T but the structure was unrestricted...

[12 lines describing the problems with the bridge and a diversion which is in place for heavy lorries and buses]...

Due to this diversion some new waiting restrictions are required in Poverest Road to allow larger vehicles to safely negotiate the traffic islands leading down Poverest Road away from Poverest Primary School. These new restrictions will remove parking from the carriageway."


Please send your best guess to jackie@comms-plus.co.uk. No prizes, it's just for fun.
On a Personal Note
 
You may know that one of my main hobbies is jazz dancing, and I was thrilled when Elliott, one of my dance teachers,  appeared as an extra in the recent Fame-style TV serial, Brittania High. Then I was trumped by my sister. Her dance teacher played Lola, one of the leading roles. Hmph.

The first Fame film was what inspired me to take up jazz dance in the first place. The remake is currently touring cinemas, but I found it a big disappointment. Not enough dancing, not enough characterisation, and not enough story-telling.

Top tip: People love stories. So how can you use them in your marketing?
In the next issue: Your questions answered