You might want to sign up for daily emails from BusinessDictionary.com if you want to increase or “polish” your business vocabulary. I signed up several months ago, and I can honestly say that receiving the daily emails has been a learning experience for me. Some days the words are more basic than others. But, even the basic words are defined in new, contemporary ways.

Here’s one of BusinessDictionary.com ‘s definitions for “media” — a definition I share with students in my writing courses:

Communication channels through which news, entertainment, education, data, or promotional messages are disseminated. Media includes every broadcasting and narrowcasting medium such as newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, billboards, direct mail, telephone, fax, and internet.

What’s great about BusinessDictionary.com is that the information they share is current and relevant. I think we can all benefit by being more “current and relevant” in today’s business world. And learning new words and definitions to help us be better communicators in business — and in our personal lives — can be a big help!

Until next time,

Kathy Magrino

I wrote an article (“How to Write Content with Purpose”) that appears in the “Expert’s Corner” in this month’s issue of ThomasNet’s newsletter for industrial marketing professionals, The Industrial Marketer. Take a look at the article by clicking here, and let me know what you think.

Until next time, take care!

Kathy Magrino

I’m not into making “New Year resolutions,” but for the past few years, I’ve embraced a creative idea for each new year originally presented by Barbara Winter in her Winning Ways newsletter, and most recently featured on Barbara’s blog: Buon Viaggio.

Barbara says, “To put your goal setting and entrepreneurial efforts on track — and keep them there—begin by giving your year a theme. It could be a single word or a phrase that becomes your motto. Either way, it will help you gain clarity and focus. When planning your time or making a decision, a quick check will reveal if your choice adds or detracts from the theme you’ve declared.”

In the past, some of my themes have been “Be Bold,” “Be Creative” and “Be Strong.” This year my theme is “Be Focused.” I want to be able to focus on meeting the demands and challenges of each day, while focusing on the future at the same time.

What’s your theme this year? Tell us.

Until next time,
Kathy Magrino

This past year, I discovered a very helpful e-mail newsletter for PR and marketing professionals and anyone looking to publicize their business — Joan Stewart’s The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week. Today’s issue of the newsletter gives readers a free gift: Joan’s annual e-book, “Best of the Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week.” Joan encourages her readers to share this gift with our clients, friends and blog readers, so I’m sharing it here with you. Click here to access the the e-book now.

Until next time, enjoy the holidays!

Sincerely,

Kathy Magrino

Now is a good time to write your resume. Actually, it’s always a good idea to have your resume ready to go. Some of my students will be graduating this year and they’ve asked me for guidance in preparing their resumes. I direct them to www.CollegeGrad.com. The site offers FREE templates to help you write and create a professional resume. Here are some additional resume writing tips from me:

– Always be honest!

– Sell yourself! Think of your resume as a “marketing brochure” for yourself and “target” your “audience” (each prospective employer) and include information that shows how you’ll benefit their company or organization.

– PROOFREAD! PROOFREAD! PROOFREAD! Then ask someone else to proofread your resume, too! Typos and poor grammar can be “deal-breakers”…

Until next time,

Kathy Magrino

If you’re blogging, here’s a quick “FIT”-ness checkup for your blog posts.

Ask these questions: Is your blog…

F – FOCUSED on your audience?
Write your blog posts in a natural way, with a conversational tone that “talks” directly to your readers.

I – INFORMATIVE and Interesting?
Provide your readers with helpful information and links related to their interests and needs.

T – TIMELY?
Is the information you’re blogging about timely or newsworthy? And, are you writing blog posts on a regular basis so that readers know to expect more helpful information from you each week… or month… or day?

For more detailed information about “Blog Basics,” see Jarad Krywicki’s helpful article in ThomasNet’s online newsletter, The Industrial Marketer.

I guarantee that if you keep your blog “F.I.T.,” you’ll gain more readers and success!

Until next week, happy blogging!

Kathy Magrino

I’m sharing this information with my students at Rider University this week, and I thought you might like to review these quick tips for writing great presentations and speeches:

1. Know your audience! Before you start writing, try to “get inside the heads” of the people you’ll be presenting to — your audience.

2. Don’t forget that you’re writing for an AUDIENCE, not for readers! (Generally, readers have the luxury of taking their time with words and concepts…)

3. Use repetition. Don’t be afraid to repeat key messsages, concepts and benefits.

4. Be organized. Follow a logical progression from start to finish.

5. Be consistent. Use the same writing style and same design (if you’re using PowerPoint) throughout the entire presentation.

Follow these tips, and you’ll write a great, professional presentation!

Until next time,

Kathy Magrino

I haven’t forgotten about this blog. During the past two weeks, I took on some unexpected work that, literally, has been keeping me busy around the clock. 

The concept of a “bye” week in professional football has always intrigued me — some time off from the regular routine. I guess that’s what I’m doing right now, taking a “bye” week or two to accomplish my work and trying out a few new things.

I’ll be back again soon… promise!

Kathy Magrino

This past Friday night, The Write Way won a “Silver Jasper Award” from the Jersey Shore Public Relations and Advertising Association (JSPRAA).

The award was won in the “electronic communication” category for The Industrial Marketer newsletter that we write and edit for ThomasNet. 

It’s a good feeling to be recognized for our work — especially when it’s something that we enjoy doing. 

I look forward to sharing more winning news with you in the coming months and weeks!

Kathy Magrino

How you say something can make a big difference in how people respond to your message.  View a thought-provoking YouTube video that I discovered through grokdotcom.com.

In his blog post “The Difference Between Great and Average Copy,” Jeff Sexton says, “Great copy communicates the emotional truth of your message; mediocre copy simply conveys information.” Sexton uses the video to convey the message that “the emotions behind your words matter.“

Message received – and I couldn’t have said it better myself. (Thanks, Jeff!)

– Kathy Magrino