http://www.expressionworks.com Words That Connect Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:06:46 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Hitting the stores this holiday season? If you can get past the parking nightmares and the throngs of twitchy, overtired shoppers at the mall, this is one of the best times of the year to study the marketing tactics of your favorite big retailers.  You'll be amazed at the lengths they'll ... http://www.expressionworks.com/marketing/jingle-bells Can you be sure your target customer is getting the right message? A colleague of mine tells a story of calling himself the “de facto boss” to an audience. It must have been lost in translation, though, because the resulting transcript touted him as ”the fatso boss.” Take care when speaking ... http://www.expressionworks.com/copywriting/the-fatso-boss Corporate marketing materials are something to behold, aren’t they? Full color, glossy advertisements that are great at communicating their message. Big budgets allow large companies to go all out. Want folks to buy your perfume? Stick a sample of it in a hot fashion magazine. Selling a car? Make a ... http://www.expressionworks.com/marketing/making-the-connection Remember the days when you would get a lollipop as a “thank you” when you left the bank or the doctor’s office?  It was a simple gesture, but it helped you leave the encounter on a sweet note. Now think about all of the products and services you have purchased over ... http://www.expressionworks.com/businessbasics/lollipop-marketing-the-two-words-that-will-keep-your-customers-coming-back-for-more I’ll admit it. I have a thing for power tools. Many women love dresses, purses and glittery eye makeup. And while I can certainly get giddy over a trip to Sephora, nothing will woo me quite like shine of a brand new drill press. I was wandering through one of ... http://www.expressionworks.com/marketing/does-this-hack-saw-come-in-pink Here's a question I received recently from a client that needed some editing work. She agreed to let me share the question and answer with you: QUESTION Erin, When you were editing the product descriptions I sent you, you removed the abbreviation for etcetera several times. I think it sounds ... http://www.expressionworks.com/askerin/the-three-letters-that-will-send-potential-customers-packing I went for a job interview several years ago for a job I really wanted.  I was primped and polished, had a fresh copy of my resume neatly placed in a fashionable black folder,  and practiced my answers to typical interview questions in front of the mirror until I looked ... http://www.expressionworks.com/businessbasics/how-an-ink-pen-changed-the-way-i-do-business A client and I were recently discussing the importance of spicing up the product descriptions on her Web site. “Where is the line,” she asked, “between good, descriptive copy and embellishment?” It’s a good question. In a world where we rely on the descriptions we read to help us make purchasing ... http://www.expressionworks.com/askerin/truth-in-advertising As much as it pains me to say it, I'm on a diet. This morning, instead of slurping down a giant cup of coffee with 2 kinds of flavored syrup and whipped cream that was prepared by a cute young lady in a green apron, I sulked through a ... http://www.expressionworks.com/marketing/why-ill-always-want-a-cupcake [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="400" caption="Photo by James Jordan"]    [/caption] Welcome to the newly redesigned ExpressionWorks Web site! I'm really glad you're here. Prop up your feet and stay a while.  And, as always, don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions or want to get started on a new project. http://www.expressionworks.com/news/welcome-home