Getting Back To Normal After Being Hacked

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After a very disruptive hacking of our previous website, we’re working hard to get favourite posts we were able to recover restored and a new, improved site up and running.

What will it be about? Anything and everything that catches me eye – exactly as it was before. After all, I deal with content. Lots of content. Creating it, organising it, managing it, managing those who create it. It might be:

  • linked to Modern Parlance, my content consultancy (lessons learned, advice offered, etc.),
  • pieces I’ve done with my freelance writer hat on (Travel especially, & check out Fabulous Foodie for most of the food related content),
  • based on something I picked up indexing (yes, indexes in the back of books are made by people),
  • commentary on the world of social media or MarCom where I spend so much time,
  • the result of falling down the research rabbit-hole, which happens a lot.

I know it sounds a bit like a catch all but the truth is, I’ve got a lot to say on a lot of topics. It’s why I make such robust use of the categories function.

So, be a bit patient while we sort out how to get back the material we want back and make plans for the new material to come.

Being Aware of Awareness Days

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I love a good awareness day. Not just because they are a fun way to flesh out a social media calendar – there’s one for nearly everything – but because I always pick up something I didn’t know every time I draft new awareness day content.

But I know they are not universally beloved. Some people dismiss them as a quick crutch if you’ve got nothing else to say. And I cannot deny that there is some truth in that. You can tell when they’ve been thrown in just because someone has run out of time, ideas, or interest.

But it doesn’t have to be like that. If you use them reasonably, awareness days are great for highlighting your brand and encouraging engagement. Just be sure that you:
Continue reading “Being Aware of Awareness Days” →

Workplace Collaboration: A Challenge or Triumph?

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With a few notable exceptions, more gets done when people work together. Except for the control freaks among us (and we all know at least one), we all know that collaboration can boost productivity. If we didn’t know it, consultants tell us all the time, using phrases like ‘teams in harmony,’ ‘working on internal synergies’, etc. All that jargon-y mumbo jumbo.

So, we know it. Consultants know it. Even the control freaks know it despite being possibly uncomfortable with it. So why is collaboration often such hard work, or so difficult to get right? Well, there are a few common obstacles you’ll find in all sorts of workplaces.

graphic of a team working in collaboration Continue reading “Workplace Collaboration: A Challenge or Triumph?” →

Who Is Your Target Audience? Hint: It’s Not “Everyone.”

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“Everyone” is never the answer to the question, “Who are your target audiences?”

It never ceases to amaze me when someone actually answers “Everyone” because it tells me that they’ve not thought things through.

Nothing has a target audience of everyone. I mean, if I am wrong, please let me know. But nothing comes to mind.

You don’t have to drill down too deep to start narrowing things down. Even if you do the barest minimum, you get at least three groups to focus your content a bit more. Continue reading “Who Is Your Target Audience? Hint: It’s Not “Everyone.”” →