First the secret: Treat the interview -- and preparation for it -- as if it were a presentation and not an interview. Know which main messages you want to offer your audience (the interviewer) about the topic (you) and clearly state them, just as you would in a presentation. Here's how to do it, step by step:
I rarely give out my email address when I am asked for it at a retail store. Two weeks ago, I made an exception. I bought a basketful of products at Sephora after a knowledgable and attentive sales person spent about half an hour with me. She didn't pressure me. She listened well. And she made several good recommendations as we talked. As a result, I bought many more things than I had expected to when I first walked into...
In my last blog post -- the first in a two-part series on banishing corporate buzzwords from memos, emails, presentations and meetings -- I acknowledged that recognizing the jargon is sometimes hard.
Why? Because we've heard the say-nothing shortcuts so often that our ears and eyes almost get accustomed to them.
Well, the bad news is this: fixing gunky corporate-speak is even harder than spotting it.
And that's because it requires...
After repeated use, corporate buzzwords and jargon have a way of starting to sound like normal words -- the kind of words that regular folks use in every day conversation. Except, they're not.
These semantic shortcuts explain nothing, but they sound like they might. Corporate-speak is easier, but far less effective, than describing something simply. (Einstein wasn't a genius only about physics!)
One of the...
Say you're on deadline with a proposal, report or other written piece and you're truly stuck.
What to say next? How to say it? And where can you turn to get words and ideas flowing again?
Try taking a break from putting words on paper or a screen. That's right...
Put down the pen. Stop typing. But, don't give up on the assignment. Do something besides write -- like these five:
This is the perfect time of year to reflect back and figure out what the previous 12 months yielded in the way of insights and perspective. I decided to break out this analysis into several different categories for 2012, including the most relevant social media concepts I either adopted or believed in more strongly. I consider these essential social media guidelines, for clients and for myself. As it is with life, in general, the more I think I know about social media,...
So, what is story-showing? Why is that better than, or different from, story-telling? And, how?
When brands tell their story, they give customers more than the mere attributes of their product or service. They convey emotional aspects that resonate with existing and prospective buyers. It's effective. And it works for companies, nonprofits and others.
"But, when brands show their...
A new Twitter follower Tweeted me to comment on the page on my website where I talk about my work and experience. He had liked the page, and complimented it. Part of it describes my former, and long, career as a journalist for major publications. Some of that time, I freelanced.
He asked me to share any advice I might have for him: a freelancer just getting going.
Hmmm, I thought. I'm...
Have you ever encountered folks who tell you:
That happens somewhat regularly, in my experience -- especially with corporate leaders who might use Facebook personally but aren't convinced it makes good business sense for their company to invest in much beyond a website.
Commonly, business people who don't live, breathe and work in and on social media platforms are...
Infographics are so powerful. They can take on just about any tone. Done well, they can present amazingly complicated data clearly -- or pretty simple ideas invitingly. And they can be used to make routine presentations fascinating and even fun.
I'm sure that the brands that beg customers -- or anyone else who sees their pleas -- to like them, follow them or friend them, etc., mean no harm or offense.
Customers who love a brand are priceless. I get that. And I have written before...
A friend of mine who has had a long career in communications emailed me the other day to inquire about a certification in social media. An associate of his wondered about the best program for this.
So, he asked, which did I recommend? And this is what I told him:
None.
I just don't think that's the best way to figure out the culture and language and inner workings of social media.
When someone wants to become...