Dick Clark and Me: An Interview Blast from the Past
by Paula Lovell on May 17, 2012 | no comments
in Uncategorized
When Dick Clark passed away recently, it hit me on so many levels. An American icon, gone. America’s Oldest Teenager, gone. My youth…well, that happened a few years back.
I went back into my archives of videos from days working for the fledging CNN/WTBS sister stations, and I found an interview with Dick Clark that I conducted when he was recording in Nashville and produced for an old TV magazine show called, “Winners.”
Back “in the day” we were producing pieces that were six minutes long and, at the same time, we’d struggle to squeeze everything into the story. We actually thought these pieces might even be too fast-paced for the viewer!
What a luxury it was to be able to let a story leisurely unwind and to be able to spend some time on a topic or reveal a person’s personality. Hope you enjoy this few minutes (don’t worry, it’s been edited down significantly) with the late, great Dick Clark.
Getting Aggressive About Passive Voice
by Rosemary Plorin on May 16, 2012 | 2 comments
in Writing
Passive voice. That lofty, abstruse language construct so multifarious it tests even the journeyman writer – and completely eludes the novice.
But take note. Understanding passive voice – and its emasculating impact on otherwise good prose – is crucially important to improving one’s writing. If the goal is to write strong, persuasive, behavior-changing content, the writer must eliminate passive voice in all but the most impactful instances.
While the Internet is replete with examples of poor writing, it provides many good sources to help the student writer (and I hope even the most accomplished novelist, journalist, essayist and scribe would count him/herself in this hungry crowd) learn, detect and destroy passive voice. Such resources can be found here, here and here (and note that I just used passive voice). But as an appetizer to a heartier serving of study in passive voice, I offer a few quick tips to assist the average editor and proofreader in spotting this destructive tendency.
Avoid almost any use of the word “there.”
The glaring “there” is a certainly the most flagrant demonstration of passive voice. Like a bald, fat, shirtless man who has proudly painted the logo of his favorite NFL team on his hairy chest and rounded abdomen, “there” makes no bones about its upbringing. Sentences built on “there is” or “there are” are so weak they can be completed in literally millions of ways. Consider these wildly contrasting examples:
“There is … a quiet beauty in the act of baptism.”
“There is … nothing but depravity and course behavior resting on the limbs of their family tree.”
“There is … a delicious surprise wrapped in the waffle cone of a nutty buddy.”
“There is … a sniper in the state capitol.”
Do you really want to employ a construct that can be so easily manipulated?
Look for subjects hiding at the end of the sentence.
“The trainer was scratched by the lion.”
In this example, the subject of this potentially powerful sentence cowers at the end of the copy, limiting the action of the thought and almost eliminating the possibility of augmentation. (How does one modify “was”?)
Just imagine the possibilities when active voice prevails: “The lion scratched the trainer” is quickly and easily evolved to “The brooding lioness quickened her pace and turned on the unsuspecting trainer, snapping a massive paw against his trousers and tearing fabric, fringe and flesh in the blink of her feline eye.”
Watch out for sentences that rely on “to be.”
In truth, I think most all acts of passive voice can be blamed on this particular flaw (don’t miss that I just used passive voice … again).
While not every sentence with a verb form of “to be” is passive – or necessarily bad – the discerning write will certainly review it carefully. Consider this:
“The cake in the break room has been eaten.”
As passive voice is wont to do, it devours the subject in this sentence. (Go ahead, try to diagram it and see for yourself). We know that eating is (or was) the action here, but who actually did the eating? We don’t know!
As with the example above, this sentence can really come to life when converted to active voice: “The devious data center representatives slipped from their cubicles one by one, surreptitiously devouring the cake in fork-sized bits until the icing read only “Hap … ay” and even the exclamation point was consumed.
As with most of society’s serious woes, the first step to overcoming passive voice is knowing how to identify it. Microsoft Word offers a “grammar check” option that catches most uses of passive voice and can be a helpful tutor as you refine your active voice skills.
What is your favorite trick for avoiding passive voice?
How to Lose a Blogger in One Pitch
by Sam Sudano on May 10, 2012 | no comments
in Blogs, Corporate Blogs, Media Relations, Social Media
Managing the Digital Suggestion Box: Five tips for pleasing your most vocal customers
by Rebecca Kirkham on May 9, 2012 | no comments
in Brand Management, Social Media
“If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”
Growing up in the South, my mother instilled this bit of wisdom in me at a young age. And I try to take her advice to heart – even if I don’t always follow it to the letter. For example, when the neighborhood restaurant we regularly order take-out from recently messed up my order for the fourth time in as many weeks, I chose to email the manager directly rather than blast the business on Facebook.
However, as business owners and brand managers everywhere can attest, I am not your average customer. Social media and sites like Trip Advisor, Yelp and Insider Pages have created a new breed of consumer – one that not only has plenty to say, but more forums than ever in which to say it. Negative tweets and posts have long ago replaced comment cards at retail establishments and, in hospitals, they’ve become the new nurse call button. While negative posts can take a toll on a brand’s reputation, research suggests they also affect the bottom line. According to a recent survey, more than 80 percent of consumers say they are heavily influenced by online reviews and search results. It’s a fundamental power shift that has caused many businesses to think twice about embracing social media.
Though engaging directly – and publicly – with consumers is scary for many brands, it’s increasingly necessary. Businesses simply can’t afford to bury their heads in the sand by ignoring negative comments. However, responding to an unhappy customer or a negative review requires a special kind of cool – not to mention a solid strategy. Here are five tips to help brands – large and small – make the most of these interactions.
- Silence speaks volumes. The first thing clients facing a negative post often ask is “Should I respond?” The answer is almost always yes. People want to feel heard and they want to know what you’ve done to fix the problem. In fact, research suggests that 88 percent of consumers are less likely to do business with a company that fails to address customer questions or complaints. Providing a timely response shows customers that you are not only listening, but that you also care. On the flip side, positive posts can be opportunities to show customers you appreciate their feedback too.
- Cooler Heads Prevail. It sounds simple but never respond to a negative post while angry. It’s easy to take criticism personally but take a deep breath – or a long walk – before responding.
- Sorry works. When answering a complaint or bad review, follow many of the same rules you would use to respond to a negative media story. Don’t make excuses or place blame. Apologize and accept responsibility as appropriate and briefly explain what you have done to fix the issue. Keep it simple and move the conversation offline to discuss details.
- Be human. I’ve blogged about the importance of humanity in PR before, but it’s especially important when engaging online. People want to deal with other people. This isn’t the time for corporate speak. Identify yourself as a representative of the company, keep the focus on the customer and make sure your tone is warm and conversational.
- Listen. Really Listen. Perhaps the biggest mistake a business can make in dealing with a negative commenter is moving on too quickly. It’s human nature to want to resolve the issue and put it in the past, however doing so without taking the time to understand what went wrong (or right) is a huge missed opportunity. Businesses have a unique window to mine valuable insight from their most vocal customers … so take advantage of it!
While you’ll never make everybody happy all of the time, common sense and good digital manners can earn you the respect – and business – of your most vocal customers. Wouldn’t Mom be proud?
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Five Tips to Help You with Those Pesky Commas
by Robin Embry on May 4, 2012 | no comments
in Copywriting, Punctuation, Writing
I’ve lived in the south my entire life and it’s safe to say my accent quickly distinguishes me from anyone living north of the Mason Dixon line. So, one would think that if I wrote like I talk, my copywriting would be full of commas…hey, why not pause every second during conversation to draw it out? Fact of the matter is I routinely don’t use them enough and I constantly refer to online resources to help me out. Using commas correctly seems elementary, but it is shocking how often this simple punctuation is misused.
Most people are familiar with Grammar Girl (I actually have her book The Grammar Devotional sitting on my desk) but probably don’t visit her as much as they should. Her web site is full of informative and easy to remember tips, and so is GrammarBook.com. In my opinion, here are some of the most useful tips from those sites:
Rule #1: Use a comma when an -ly adjective is used with other adjectives.
Lucy is a lovely, young girl.
Helpful Hint: To test whether an -ly word is an adjective, see if it can be used alone with the noun. If it can, use the comma.
Rule #2: Use commas to set off expressions that interrupt sentence flow.
She is, as everyone expected, very excited about the promotion.
Rule #3: When starting a sentence with a weak clause, use a comma after it. Conversely, do not use a comma when the sentence starts with a strong clause followed by a weak clause.
If these comma examples are not helpful, please let me know.
Let me know if these comma examples are not helpful.
Rule #4: A comma splice is caused when two strong clauses, which could be independent sentences, are separated with a comma without using a conjunction, a semicolon, or a period.
Incorrect:
Kristen wrote an award-winning press release, Steven created an impressive web site.
Correct:
Kristen wrote an award-winning press release, and Steven created an impressive web site.
Rule #5: Sentences that include “if clauses” are called conditional sentences. When this type of clause is at the beginning of a sentence you need a comma, and when it’s at the end you can leave it out.
If I don’t get enough sleep, I am worthless the next day.
I am worthless the next day if I don’t get enough sleep.
And, don’t forget the simple ones like use commas to separate words and word groups with a series of three or more; and use a comma to separate two adjectives.
Here is a recent article in The New Yorker about commas: it’s a funny read.
Do you have a common comma quandary? And, how did I handle my commas?
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LinkedIn Launches New iPad App
by Sarah Mansouri on May 1, 2012 | no comments
in LinkedIn, Social Media
The world’s leading professional networking site, LinkedIn, has recently launched its first iPad application. With more than 150 million users in 200 countries, the site’s long awaited app creates an easy way to stay linked in with professional connections. For those of us who have only used the LinkedIn website, the new app is a pleasant surprise as it displays simple visuals and quick tools to check updates and messages. The redesign creates a sort of “social news” feel and aims for its users to check in throughout the work day.
The central home screen provides users with three simple options: Updates, Profile, and Inbox. The “Updates” portion of the app is comparative to Flipboard, a social networking aggregation which collects content of social media and other websites and presents it in magazine format allowing users to simply “flip” through their social-networking feeds. LinkedIn users are able to flip through their friends’ stories and updates and even check the local weather.
The “Profile” option on the app is where you can view your own profile, update your status and see who has recently viewed your profile. This section of the app also allows members to send invitations to connect with other LinkedIn users.
Finally, the “Inbox” is where you will find messages sent by connections, along with connection requests. The app’s tools allow for simple follow up messages and initiation of new conversations.
The app’s new calendar feature is also able to pull information from your existing Google Calendar or Exchange calendar and display profile information for the people you’re meeting with.
As mobile devices continue to become more and more prevalent, sites such as LinkedIn will flourish as users move to use apps as a quicker and easier way to check-in on social networking sites. What do you think of the new iPad app? Let us know in the comments section!
Before turning to a thesaurus, consider this
by Erin Lawley on April 26, 2012 | no comments
in Writing
Ever find yourself sitting at your desk, simultaneously staring at a draft of a writing project and an online thesaurus? You toggle back and forth between the two, looking for words that can substitute for those two or three terms that seem to appear in every sentence.
Well, before you start plopping synonyms on the page, consider how differences in meaning and connotation can dramatically affect the tone of your writing.
Tone, as you’ll recall from high school English courses, is the mood of a particular piece of writing. And word choice is one factor that determines mood.
For example, in writing for some of our healthcare clients, I’m frequently tasked with describing services provided by hospitals or physicians. Instead of describing cardiology is a “critical service” for the hospital, I’m better off calling it a “vital service,” given the positive connotations of the word vital (life, energy, etc.) and the more negative connotations of the word critical (crisis, criticism, etc.). Similarly, it’s preferable to describe how a client has “reduced costs,” which has positive implications of strategy and planning, than say it has “cut” or “slashed” its costs.
In addition, word choice determines whether the tone of your writing is casual or formal. Did you “talk about” or “debate” a topic? Did the researchers “look into” or “examine” a subject? Were you “mad” or “angry”?
The next time you’re putting the finishing touches on a piece of writing – or getting ready to reference a thesaurus – take a moment to consider the word choices you’ve made and how they impact the message you’re trying to deliver. A short editing session can mean the difference between a positive and professional piece of writing and a passage that unintentionally frowns at its reader.
For more tips, check out our previous posts on writing and copywriting.
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