“Forgot password?” should be instant. The site should simply request the user to enter the email address and immediately let the user know if the email address is in the system or not. Otherwise, you could lose out on ordering opportunities. We tried to order dinner online and Paul (SO) forgot his password. He entered … Read more
When I posted the entry about designing a logo, I didn’t expect to get the kind of emails I did about designing on specs. I didn’t think about the issue with such “contests” where a business posts its requirements and offers a set price. People would respond with their creations and then the business picks … Read more
It’s no surprise that blogs are catching on with B2Bs (business-to-business). BtoBOnline confirms it by referencing a Knowledgestorm and Universal McCann survey. “Blogs are the perfect forum for business and IT professionals — readers want to hear about a company or a product from ‘someone like them,’” says Matt Lohman, director of market research, KnowledgeStorm. … Read more
Blurbs, testimonials, and quotes are a great way to promote yourself or your book as you let the clients and readers do the talking. No worries about sounding like a braggart. But there are good, bad, and tricky testimonials. “This is a great book!” “Joe did an excellent job on the project!” Do these tell … Read more
Yesterday, I received an email from a company looking to do work for me. Items in quotes are directly from the email. Non-quoted items are my comments. I apologize for intruding into your busy schedule. Please allow me to introduce ourselves. Polite, but already off to a negative start. Says he is intruding. It might … Read more
Making Online and Offline Connections looks at how the virtual world changed how we connect to others. In it, I state that the online world made it possible for me to become a full-time freelancer. It got me thinking how I met people in this virtual world. I met a few through blogs, especially in … Read more
One of the bigger themes of Web 2.0 is interactivity. Putting the control in the user’s hands. A past email newsletter I managed lets users choose what content they want to receive. Help Potential Customers Remember You Email newsletters offer an easy way to build relationships with clients and prospects while keeping your business in … Read more
Disclaimer: I did research for Debbie Weil for this book. Yes, there’s a flood of books on business blogging hitting the market, but each one is different. Debbie Weil’s The Corporate Blogging Book is written for the corporate-minded person who isn’t sure about the blog thing especially in a business setting. The book tells it … Read more
We all know someone who, like Oklahoma's Ado Annie, just "cain't say no." These folks accept every project. Every volunteer job. While everyone around them loves and appreciates them (or not), they're often tired and do little for themselves. Some people who fall into this group may not even realize they're on automated mode when … Read more
Many types of cuisine are award winners and require a variety of special ingredients to be flavorful. It would be easy if one award-winning recipe existed for all newsletters, but newsletters, too, are as different as Creole gumbo is from Korean dumplings. One recipe won’t do the trick. Fortunately, two newsletters can be opposite in … Read more