This is Cathy Miller's Typepad Profile.
Join Typepad and start following Cathy Miller's activity
Cathy Miller
Business Writer with 30+ years of professional writing
Interests: 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk, Reading, Travel
Recent Activity
From a purely selfish standpoint, I am so sorry to read this. But, as someone who is semi-retired from business writing, I totally get it.
It has been a real pleasure “meeting” you, Lynn, and I have enjoyed your breadth of wisdom. Thank you for all you’ve shared. All the best!
Goodbye, Readers! It's Been Great to Write for You
I have been writing this blog for nearly 15 years, and I have decided to move on. Although I am not sure whether this is my final post (that will depend on when a blog sale goes through), I wanted to be sure to say goodbye while I have the chance. When I created the blog in June 2005, I began wi...
I used to play a little game in my corporate days. Hey, you have to find your fun where you can. :-) I would ask colleagues who used acronyms to tell me what the acronym stood for. Many could not tell me.
I suspect some of the readers complaining about the spelled-out version may be in the same category. To me, if you spell it out and follow it with the acronym - e.g., subject-matter experts (SMEs)- the acronym lover can skim over the longer version to embrace their beloved acronym. ;-)
Acronyms and SMEs--Help!
Tim wrote today with an acronym situation he would like to resolve. What do you think about his desire to spell out acronyms and initialisms, even when writing for SMEs (subject-matter experts)? Here is his message: I read your blog on acronyms this morning and agreed with all the points. Afte...
I totally agree with Marcia's response. My specialty is in health care and employee benefits - an industry that wins awards for jargon. However, I assure you I still get stumped by some of its jargon even after 30-plus years in the industry.
Over Their Heads and Far From Their Comprehension
Marcia Yudkin's excellent "Marketing Minute" arrived in my inbox today. It included an important reminder about jargon. Marcia gave me permission to share this guest post with you. ********************************************************* Over Their Heads and Far From Their Comprehension By Mar...
I wish AT&T would read this, Lynn. I am not one who likes receiving text for business or personal accounts. Every month AT&T sends a text saying my auto-payment has been made. Then I receive an email with the same message. I'll take the email. Trash the text.
When I researched how to opt-out of the texts, I discovered there is no opt-out. Doesn't matter if you want them or not. You get them.
They think it's okay because no fee applies to the text. Who cares if it drives your customer crazy? ☺
Can you tell you hit a nerve, Lynn. ☺
10 Etiquette Tips for Business Text Messages
Texting customers, colleagues, clients, and others is mainstream business behavior. But with regular use, there can be abuse. Don’t text just because you can. Text because people want or need to hear from you, and make the messages convenient for them—not just for yourself. Review the 10 tips be...
I did; however, that's because a writer friend of mine uses the term to describe herself. I admit to me it sounds more like a calculus equation. I wonder how many people THAT turns off. ;-)
Good Word to Know: "Polymath"
Reading yesterday's New York Times, I came upon the word polymath, and I couldn't confidently determine its meaning from the context. Can you define the word? Here's how The NYT used it: The debut season of "Atlanta," the FX series created by the polymath Donald Glover, will probably be remembe...
#2 is huge in my book, Lynn. I've written several blog posts on how the simple acknowledgment of an email improves communication.
I also like your suggestion to provide specific "next steps" or meeting times. Typically, I add the question, "Will that work for you?" when offering a specific date and time or certain action.
Be Nice and Make Less Work for Your Reader
The other day at my health club I asked an employee what time the bank parking lot was available for club members' use. I knew I could use the bank lot when the bank closed, but I wasn't sure what time that was. The employee responded, "You'll have to ask at the bank." The health club has arran...
I thought of Care Advisor, but to me that sounds more like a caregiver than someone talking to you about what their facility has to offer. Just my 2 cents. ;-)
Let Me Sell You Some Assisted Living
Last week I went with two friends to visit an assisted living facility they were considering for their mother. A warm, welcoming man shook hands with us and led us into his office. As we entered, I noticed the door plate. It said Sales and Marketing. We were not there for sales and marketing. W...
Right or wrong, skilled nursing facilities have such a horrible reputation for high cost and often (unfortunately) poor care. So, you would think they would be a bit more sensitive in this area.
Why not something like Care Facility Advisor?
Let Me Sell You Some Assisted Living
Last week I went with two friends to visit an assisted living facility they were considering for their mother. A warm, welcoming man shook hands with us and led us into his office. As we entered, I noticed the door plate. It said Sales and Marketing. We were not there for sales and marketing. W...
Oops, my link to the article didn't work. I'm diminishing my response. ;-)
http://www.businessinsider.com/former-google-exec-says-this-word-can-damage-your-credibility-2015-6?IR=T
How to Unintentionally Diminish Others
The other day I met my friend Barb for lunch. She arrived at the restaurant first, and the server asked, “Just one?” Barb often eats out alone, and she frowns when she hears that question. This time she replied, “Here is where I should have a snappy comeback, but I don’t.” Then she explained her...
I love this, Lynn, probably because I am often "just" one. There's a tip right there. The word "just' often diminishes and I know I am guilty of doing it to myself - e.g., I just wanted to follow up. Sounds like I think I need an excuse. And, yes, I did read Ellen Petry Leanse's Business Insider article about that word. ;-)
I'm working on it. :-)
How to Unintentionally Diminish Others
The other day I met my friend Barb for lunch. She arrived at the restaurant first, and the server asked, “Just one?” Barb often eats out alone, and she frowns when she hears that question. This time she replied, “Here is where I should have a snappy comeback, but I don’t.” Then she explained her...
Hi, Lynn. I have written several blog posts on coming up with ideas for posts. I know this is only one form of writer's block but I thought I'd share a Slideshare presentation I did on my method. Hope you enjoy. ☺
https://www.slideshare.net/camscorner/5-simple-mind-mapping-tricks-for-more-creative-blog-posts
10 Ways to Break Through Writer's Block
Time clicks by on your phone and wristwatch. Your article, letter, report, email reply, or blog post is due at noon. How do you get around the obstacles that block your writing flow? Try these techniques. 1. Imagine you are talking with your reader. Think about the things your reader wants or ...
Unfortunately, it falls on deaf keyboards, Lynn. ;-)
10 Places to Ignore Your Grammar and Spelling Checker
You check your documents electronically to try to catch every error. But your grammar and spelling checker may be giving you bad advice. Because it's a software program, it can't read your mind or know your intentions. Also, it can't always distinguish between correct and incorrect sentence stru...
P.S. I am struggling with the notion of Al Gore and Daryl Hannah as parents of the author. ☺ See how vital the serial comma is?
The $10 Million Serial Comma--Why Not Use It?
Please explain to me why people don't use the serial comma. When millions of dollars can be drained away in a lawsuit because of its absence, why would anyone not use it? To be clear, these examples show the serial, or Oxford, comma and its role separating the parts of a series of three or more...
I agree with you, Lynn. Isn't it interesting how passionate people get over the topic? ☺ I figure the lawsuit is an extremely effective way for the serial comma to make its point. ☺
The $10 Million Serial Comma--Why Not Use It?
Please explain to me why people don't use the serial comma. When millions of dollars can be drained away in a lawsuit because of its absence, why would anyone not use it? To be clear, these examples show the serial, or Oxford, comma and its role separating the parts of a series of three or more...
Lynn, very nice, thorough review. :-) I added Grammarly's free version as a Firefox add-on. I always go with the free version to test it out.
For me, it gets very annoying online as I try to write and it keeps highlighting "errors." Yes, I do turn it off but it seems to turn back on every time I go back to Firefox. However, that could be me. ;-)
Like you, I use both Microsoft's grammar and spelling check and Grammarly. I agree, between the two, I think you get a nice result.
There is one odd thing I noticed online. I'm not sure if it's Wordpress or Grammarly. However, I did notice right after adding Grammarly, my posts did some wonky things (highly technical term) ;-)
For example, if I created a new paragraph in the middle of some content, it would repeat the same sentence in the original copy and in the new paragraph.
I do think Grammarly is worth a try. I'm not convinced enough to try the premium version. But, again, that's just me.
Review: Grammarly’s Spelling and Grammar Checker
As a writing expert who relies on Microsoft's grammar and spelling checker to flag what I don't see, I was eager to test Grammarly's power to find additional errors. I signed up for the premium version and tested it to the max. I wanted to find the answer to this question: For people who already...
Irregardless is a classic, Lynn. I wonder if it will ever die. ;-)
A New Word That's Not a Word: Disconcerning
Lately I have been hearing the word "disconcerning." When it came up yesterday in an interview on NPR (National Public Radio), I knew it was time to write about it. "Disconcerning" is actually not a word--at least not a correct one. I've just checked all my dictionaries and style guides. With s...
Wow, I am having awful flashbacks to my corporate days of writing audit reports for a consulting firm. My boss was one who agonized over every word and phrase. On many occasions, we would be in the office until 10:00 or 10:30 p.m., the evening before we delivered the report to the client.
On one of those occasions, my boss came into my office around 10:15 p.m. and said, "You know I was thinking." I raised my hand, palm up, and replied, "And you need to stop that. If we cannot deliver this report in its current state, we need to find another job."
Hmm, perhaps that's why my branding for my freelance business centers around, "Keep it simple." ;-) I love how many of your examples include the suggestion of speaking to the appropriate person(s). For all our technology, I often find using our voice instead of our fingers is the better form of communication. :-)
So, ask yourself, does it need to be sent in writing? Or would a conversation be a better alternative?
Don't Work so Hard on Your Writing
As a careful writer and professional, I have sometimes spent too much time fussing with a piece of writing when I didn't need to. Recently I spent several hours on a proposal, when a brief conversation would have told me the client wasn't serious about moving forward. In classes, I often witness...
Very helpful, Lynn. Words that end in s can be tricky. I have read a difference of opinion when it come to adding apostrophe s. Example: Arkansas' versus Arkansas's.
If we're sharing pet peeves, mine is a bit off topic (typical):-) Example: it's versus its.
Do Not Use Apostrophes to Make Plurals
Please--don't do it. Don't use apostrophes to make expressions plural, like this: This photo of a plumbing supply company storefront is NOT for a company owned by people named Spa and Pool. If it were, Spa's & Pool's might be the perfect sign. Spas & Pools--that's what the sign should say. G...
Thank you for the request for the link. I appreciate the link love. :-)
http://simplystatedbusiness.com/persuasive/
Do You Like This Caterer's Messaging?
If you are like many business people, you have attended meetings, conferences, and training programs that include a catered lunch. Can you remember the name of any of the caterers? Do you remember anything that would help you find the caterer if you wanted to schedule a lunch (and have more of t...
Love it! I just did a post on persuasive language techniques and they aced many of them (in my humble opinion) - especially the alliteration one in their name - Crocodile Cafe & Catering. ☺
Do You Like This Caterer's Messaging?
If you are like many business people, you have attended meetings, conferences, and training programs that include a catered lunch. Can you remember the name of any of the caterers? Do you remember anything that would help you find the caterer if you wanted to schedule a lunch (and have more of t...
Lynn, and I know you're a Notre Dame graduate. ;-)
Thank you for the opportunity for sharing ideas.
Avoid Fake Intimacy
If you write a blog, a newsletter, or both, you work to develop valuable content that appeals to readers. You build a relationship of trust with your readers that encourages them to return to your site. But you don't want to take such relationships for granted, as my marketing mentor, Marcia Yud...
Marcia, I would agree for the most part. Few subscriptions to an ezine result in the feeling of being part of a community.
However, as a professional writer who began freelancing seven years ago, my subscriptions to a select number of blogs have definitely resulted in me feeling like I'm part of a community. I have developed a small circle of freelancing friends from that experience - some I've met in person - others I've never met. That doesn't make the relationship any less of a community (in my humble opinion).
I agree that there is the danger in believing your own press and an intimacy that does not exist. However, like most things in life, never say never. :-)
Thanks for allowing me to share my point of view. ;-)
Avoid Fake Intimacy
If you write a blog, a newsletter, or both, you work to develop valuable content that appeals to readers. You build a relationship of trust with your readers that encourages them to return to your site. But you don't want to take such relationships for granted, as my marketing mentor, Marcia Yud...
I admit at first I resisted the advice until I read the entire post. I think what I was resisting was the labeling of it as "fake intimacy".
When you build a community of followers, that "intimacy" is not fake. However, I agree that feeling of community without the face-to-face meetings can have us forgetting there are new individuals to our group. Forgetting we have someone new in the community can result in an almost cliquish environment.
It reminds me (on a smaller scale) of using acronyms and assuming everyone knows what they mean. Frustrating for those who don't.
So, point taken and appreciated. :-)
Avoid Fake Intimacy
If you write a blog, a newsletter, or both, you work to develop valuable content that appeals to readers. You build a relationship of trust with your readers that encourages them to return to your site. But you don't want to take such relationships for granted, as my marketing mentor, Marcia Yud...
Thanks for the review, Lynn. High praise coming from you. I will definitely check this out. :-)
Book Review: Everybody Needs This Book
Do you write on the job? If yes, you need Ann Handley's Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content. It’s the best book on creative business communication I have read since Chip and Dan Heath's Made to Stick. As Handley writes, "If you have a website, you are a publi...
The same mindless messaging is used in customer service calls.
Depending on my mood, I dismiss it as rhetoric - not the "effective" kind ;-) - or I get annoyed at the response-by-rote nature of the words.
I like the idea of sharing examples of a professional response; however, even the sincere becomes mindless.
I'm fine, how are you? ;-)
When Messaging Is Mindless
The customer service representatives at XYZ Company include the sentence "Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you" at the end of every email--at least on every email they send externally. When Ashlee, one of XYZ's customer service reps, writes to me for feedback on her business wri...
More...
Subscribe to Cathy Miller’s Recent Activity