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A New Marketing Communications Firm Launches in the Washington D.C. Area That Focuses on the Small Business and Non-Profit Sectors
Conversion Pipeline, a strategic marketing communications company was created to help small business and non-profits utilize modern sales, marketing and communication strategies such as pay-per-click advertising, search engine optimization, public relations, business consulting, social media and other strategies to raise brand awareness in their respective marketplace.

Improve Your E-Mail Openings
The very first 3-4 words set the tone for how the reader will feel as he or she wades into your e-mail note. How do you control your phrases at the start of a note to foster the kind of reaction you want in the reader?

Write Colorful E-Mails
We can all improve the quality of our e-mails if we take a little time to think about how we word them. Painting "word pictures" can be a great way to improve this mode of communication, and it is not as hard as we might think.
Understanding E-Body Language
Online communication is so much a part of everyday life that we normally take it for granted until the power goes out. Many of us view e-mail the same as face-to-face communication; we just type information as if we were chatting with someone in the lunchroom – potentially a big mistake. If you are like most leaders, you lived through the transition from a face to face world to a mostly online world with little training. That can lead to some problems that are unnecessary. In this article I describe some of the opportunities.
Home Based Business Strategies
In a time when we can no longer rely on employers and lenders won't help us buy a business the only alternative is a home based business. This rapidly growing business profile is one that will allow you to take advantage of your talents and skills to achieve your dreams.
Assumptions Are Conversation Killers
Assumptions can really derail a conversation. Don't make assumptions about the other person when you are in conversation. If you find you are making assumptions, test them out. Ask, "Why do you thing that is so?" Remember, in many cases you really don't know what the other person is thinking or feeling. To quote Bernard Shaw, "You think you do; but you don't."
No DMs Please
I'm continuously shocked at the lack of just plain common sense (or common courtesy) from some Tweeps.

Five Ways to Improve Your Team Building Success
The key to minimizing conflict and maximizing team building success is to pay attention to the following five important team functions. These functions are critical for every stage of the team building process and for every step the team takes to complete its mission.

10 Points to Consider in Your VoIP Choice
“…not graduated your telecom system into an IP (internet Protocol) system then you are at a big disadvantage compared to your competitors who have done so.”
Joke or No Joke
I was having an online conversation in a class I am teaching about teams at work. The discussion was relative to having online messages misinterpreted. Clearly we have all experienced this uncomfortable situation more than once. I got so fascinated about this topic that I wrote a book on it a few years ago. One student brought up a situation that is common in person as well as online, but the damage done online is usually much larger. This is when a person tries to rib another person with a joke, but the meaning on the part of the receiver is taken literally. The writer is astonished when the reader takes umbrage at the barb. The writer says, “but I was only joking.” This article deals with this common situation

Yelling Telling and Selling
I saw an employee survey the other day where several employees referred to their supervisor’s style of giving instructions as “yelling.” It started me thinking about that word. This article compares the yelling style with telling and selling.
What Is Your Communications Strategy?
How you communicate depends on your communications strategy. This article will show you the 3 kinds of strategy you can use and the benefits and pitfalls of each one.

Social Media, Marketing and the ROI Dilemma
Unlike Google, which serves as a basic search engine, Facbook, Twitter and other social media sites have markedly different formats and face very different marketing challenges. Originally developed for friends and acquaintances to interact, the posting and images on social media sites can often be confrontational, controversial and at times obscene. The very quality that makes social media sites so attractive, the free flow of content, is precisely what makes advertisers so very cautious.

The Secret to Successful Inbound Marketing
Unlike traditional marketing that uses an advertising outreach; inbound marketing has to do with creating content, building trust, relationships and credibility. According to studies customers are five times more likely to purchase a product they found via an organic search then they are from a banner advertisement. But there is one vital ingredient that most inbound marketing campaigns miss.

Best Practices for Sustainability and Communicating Sustainability
A sustainable best practices program involves a comprehensive and holistic approach that encompasses everything a business does that impacts the environment. A successful sustainability initiative demands the willing participation of employees. Businesses also need to understand how to communicate sustainability in a way that conveys their environmental initiatives while enhancing their internal and external brand.

Keep Values Simple
I believe less is more when establishing the values of an organization. It is a mistake to have a long shopping list of values that cannot be easily be remembered by everyone in the organization. Reason: once the list becomes more than an handful of concepts, it loses power because people cannot internalize them easily.

Dreaming of Future Cell Phone Technology
I am fascinated by the potential for new technologies in communication. In this article I let down my hair and dream about the possibilities that will eventually become reality by the application of imaging technology and nano-technology.
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR ENTREPRENEURS TO WRITE WELL?
Alas, it’s not as necessary as it once was for an entrepreneur to be a good writer. Today entrepreneurs and business people in general can substitute other communications skills to take them where they need to go. I say “alas” because I’m a writer who loves to write and mourns the demise of good writing in our rapid-paced, text-crazy world.

DON’T LET CYBERSCHISM DELETE OLD FRIENDS
We entrepreneurs are always charging ahead. We seldom look back, but some of our old friends sometimes fail to keep up with the technology that now consumes us. So we risk losing what were once precious and valuable connections.

A SPIN HISTORY LESSON: KNIFERISMS, SPOONERISMS AND MADDENISMS
A brief history spin on spoonerisms, kniferisms, malapropisms and now maddenisms.

A Guide to Cold Calling
Cold calling is a great way to generate business leads. Though it can be quite stressful and discouraging to place outbound calls to parties whom may not be interested in what you are selling, the sales advantages outweigh any possible damage to your ego.

Alan Blumlein & His Contributions to Communications
Alan Blumlein worked for Western Electric and made crucial contributions the field of telecommunications.

Is Technology a Blessing or a Curse?
Whether we like it or not, we’re hooked on technology. Whereas not that many years ago, cell phones, laptops, desktops and tablets were more likely to be found in science fiction novels than in our homes, we’ve come to not only like technology, but rely on it.

Yes You Do Need more Media Training
Studies show that 93 percent of what an audience reacts to has to do with the messenger, and only 7 percent has to do with the message itself.
Working With Your Media Relations Firm Realistic Expectations and Avoiding Misconceptions
You've hired a firm and are excited, but anxious. You've paid them the first month's retainer fee in advance. You've signed a letter of agreement, and now you're committed. What if they don't do their job? What if they're just smoke and mirrors? What if it doesn't work? What the heck have you done?

Effectively Marketing Medicine
Those involved in the fields of health and medicine, perhaps more than any other professionals, can benefit from a targeted, strategic public relations campaign. The trust and validation factors are never so important than when people are searching for a physician, medical center or hospital. Most people first learn about a new medical breakthrough, treatment or modality via the media and when the public sees a physician being interviewed on TV or in a magazine or newspaper, that physician gains immediate credibility.

I want them to want to be motivated to be on time!
A common trap and pitfall for managers to avoid
You’re an S
A common trap and pitfall for managers to avoid
Pretending to know the acronyms
A common trap and pitfall for managers to avoid
If you don’t know what you need, why are you talking about it?
A common trap and pitfall for managers to avoid
Having your cake and eating it too
A common trap and pitfall for managers to avoid
Key Points To Consider When Managing A Crisis
Any business can find itself, without warning, having to deal with a crisis or issue. Such situations can have far reaching and long lasting detrimental effects, if not dealt with in the most efficient and controlled manner, deflecting as much negative response as possible. The process by which a company handles such situations is commonly known as crisis or issues management. Every organisation should have a procedure that is documented and established that is activated either as soon as a crisis occurs, or whenever possible, in advance of an issue or crisis arising.

PR Leading The Way To Better Reputation
Every business, no matter how large or small, ultimately depends on its reputation for survival and success. You should be asking what PR means for your company. What should you be doing to manage and enhance your reputation amongst your key audiences?

Who cares about PR?
The public relations industry is coming of age in a global economy where it is ideally placed to take advantage. Maybe we should look at what the PR industry offers, rather than how the industry has been characterised. Here are five key messages to consider.

Article #11 Looking At Various Home Based Business Opportunities?
Did you know that 95% of businesses fail in the first one to three years? Did you know that the number of people looking to start their own home based business do not have the necessary skills to do the job so they “wing it”? Do you know what to look for when you search for these home based business opportunities? Of all the junk that’s out there, how do you know what business opportunity is legit?

Its not fair!
As a leader or manager do you aspire to be fair? If you do, stop!

You didn’t say I’d be fired!
Do you get frustrated when something you say which is obvious gets misinterpreted?
Always isn’t every time
As a manager, do you and your employees have miscommunications?
Just the facts
Do any of your direct reports (or for that matter, anyone at all!) continually challenge you in an unproductive way?
My employee seems to be sick on Fridays and Mondays
Do you have an employee who takes advantage of the system?
That person has a difficult personality
Does it irritate you when one of your employees, peers, or boss is very difficult?
Gen X, Gen Y, Gen whatever
Do you have opinions on someone based on their age?
The Facebook Revolution
Do you wonder what your employees are doing on their computer?
Not listening can be catastrophic
Do you feel your reports are not listening to you?!
Dealing with Morons
Do you ever think you’re working with people who don’t know what they’re doing?!
The $64,000 Question
Do your questions lead to solutions or more problems?
Dirt on the car
DO YOU STRUGGLE TO EFFECTIVELY MOTIVATE ANY DIRECT REPORTS?
Questions, Jeopardy Style
Do you find yourself stuck no matter what questions you ask yourself?
The questions which lead to nowhere
DO YOU FIND YOURSELF STUCK NO MATTER WHAT QUESTIONS YOU ASK YOURSELF?
My Door is Always Open
Do you ever commit to things which you possibly can’t achieve?
Developing a Creative Strategy
This article deals with the development of a creative strategy related to marketing communications. It provides a practical step-by-step approach to establishing a creative strategy.
Presentation Marketing All About Communications,Presentation slides and Where to stand
A quick tutorial on public speaking and presentaton marketing; from developing your power point presentation slides to where to stand.
PR 2.0: Succeeding in the New Media World
When it comes to distribution and media outlets, PR has changed dramatically. Yet the basics of PR, which include defining your objectives, defining your stories, learning how to present your stories, defining your target market(s), and creating a media contact list that reaches your target market(s), remain the same. Still, while the core basics remain the same, it’s true that just about everything else has changed.
The Small Business Marketing Success Secret
The biggest problem that most small business owners have with PR is that they don’t fully understand the process or how it can help build their business or establish their brand. Most think that public relations is only for large corporations or those in the entertainment world and that it has to do with stunts and smoke and mirrors. None of those perceptions are correct. Why should entrepreneurs and small business owners use PR? Because it can build a business and establish a company’s brand. Because it works!
Why You Absolutely Do Need PR To Succeed
Whether you want to launch a PR campaign for your company or not, you owe it to your business, so do it. If you’re going to spend time, money, blood, sweat and tears launching your service or your product, it makes no sense not to do everything you can to effectively market your company and reach your target market. If you’re running a small business, you don’t have the marketing arm of an Apple, or IBM or GM to do your promotional work for you. You’re either trying to handle your marketing in house, or you’ve brought on a PR firm or media relations consultant to handle your marketing for you. However you’re approaching it, you need to be truly media savvy to be effective and reach your customers, prospects and clients.
When & How To Call The Media
You’ve decided to give your PR campaign a real shot. If you’re not in a position to hire a public relations firm or media consultant and are giving it a stab on your own, learn the ropes before moving forward. It’s important to develop your story, write your press release, build your media list and send your release out to the appropriate media. But at that point media follow up calls might be in order.
To Phone or not to Phone (pitch) The Media
You’ve come up with your story ideas and pitch angles, you’ve written your press release, you’ve sent out the email pitches and you’ve placed your release on one of the paid wire services and… nothing! Not a single editor or producer has called to interview you or write a feature on you. You’ve done everything right and everything’s gone wrong. What now? How about picking up the phone? There’s a start!

Pitching Lessons
To have yourself, your service or your product featured in the media, you need to effectively pitch the media. It’s an art. By appearing in the media you create a bridge between your company and your clients or customers. You also build your brand by establishing credibility that only comes with being featured as a news story. Your best bet is to hire a public relations firm or PR consultant to develop, launch and implement your media relations campaign for you. It can be a tricky business and you can often do yourself more harm than good by trying it on your own. But, if money is tight and you’re not in a position to retain a firm, you don’t have to wait to get started. There are some PR tips and secrets you can try. With that in mind, the following is a pitching overview.

What have I learned in 6 months of management? Part 1
I asked one of the managers I was coaching what he learned in six months of re-focusing on management skills. Each response deserves its own soundbite, because they all incorporate skills managers should use to avoid traps and pitfalls.
What have I learned in 6 months of management? Part 2
I asked one of the managers I was coaching what he learned in six months of re-focusing on management skills. Each response deserves its own soundbite, because they all incorporate skills managers should use to avoid traps and pitfalls.
What have I learned in 6 months of management? Part 3
I asked one of the managers I was coaching what he learned in six months of re-focusing on management skills. Each response deserves its own soundbite, because they all incorporate skills managers should use to avoid traps and pitfalls.
What have I learned in 6 months of management? Part 4
I asked one of the managers I was coaching what he learned in six months of re-focusing on management skills. Each response deserves its own soundbite, because they all incorporate skills managers should use to avoid traps and pitfalls.
The loud woman at Starbucks
Do you find any of your employees irritating?
Managing techies
Do you need to come from a technical background to manage technical people?
Motivation with consequences
How do you motivate someone to do something they don’t want to do?
Jumping to Conclusions
As managers and leaders, how do we put aside our beliefs and experiences when we’re listening?

Top 3 Goals for Communicators
Like with many jobs, as a communicator you have to consistently work on your skills to be ready to perform at any time. Looking ahead to the future I see three things that every communicator should do in order to be successful.
10 NOT-SO-COMMON SENSE TIPS FOR WRITING COMPELLING EMAIL
Not only is tightening up your email communications a surefire way to increase your productivity, becoming known as someone who writes clear and concise email is a quick way to stand out from the crowd --which means people will be more likely to read and respond to them. Win-win.
6 Tips to Avoid Being Micromanaged
Being micromanaged is something most of us have complained about at some point. We get a task to do, then the boss keeps badgering us with details of how we should do it. The result is a feeling of exasperation or even helplessness. Clearly, having a micromanager for a boss reduces our empowerment and energy to do the task well. Usually we blame the boss. This article turns the logic around and suggests that we can do things to prevent being micromanaged.

Other communications Related Articles

STRAIGHT TALK ABOUT PUBLIC RELATIONS FEES, SERVICES
A frequently published author on management, marketing and communications, Andy Marken, president of Marken Communications Inc., strips away the rhetoric and mystery that often surrounds the public relations field and discuss the art and science of PR efforts and activities in terms corporate management understands... price/performance and return-on-investment.
THE CHANGING FACE OF CORPORATE, PRODUCT/SERVICE COMMUNICATIONS ... HITTING A MOVING TARGET
We the press...instant messaging...global communications have all changed how you should carry out and manage your PR and communications efforts. Do it right. Do it effectively. Do it profitably.
“Six Strategic Steps To Improve Your Emails, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach”
The number of business emails we send and receive continues to grow at an amazing pace. And from my personal experience, more and more of my clients that prefer email communications as a preferred communications mode. Email can be a very effective and efficient means of communicating. However, how many of the emails we send and receive can we honestly say are effective and efficient? And what can we do to improve our email communication? Looking at those questions, Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach developed a short list of six (6) strategic steps to take to improve your email communications.

Twelve Tips For Strategic Business Communications According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
Have you ever thought about the millions, no lets make that billions, of communications that take place each day in the world of business? We have e-mail, IMs, cell phones, PDAs, iphones, direct face-to-face communications in meetings, and on and on and on. Communication is taking up more and more of our time as we conduct business. So, having said that, let me ask you if you believe we really are using our time and communication strategically? And are we really thinking strategically about the most effective forms of communication for each specific situation? Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach believes you gain a significant strategic advantage in your business when you think more and act more strategically with your business communications. Here are twelve (12) tips for strategic communications in your business.

Bridging the Gap Between Sales and Marketing
This article discusses the importance of bridging the communications gap between sales and marketing. This point can not be overstated . . .in fact, it can be blamed for many failures in both divisions. It is imperative to all businesses to have solid communications between the two divisions -- and goals that work in tandem with each other. Doing this can spell success for your business.

Improve Your Communications by Taming those 800-Pound Elephants
With time demands, constant interruptions and continually conflicting priorities, business communications is challenging enough. And when you have an issue or a personality involved that you cannot directly speak to, but can only tiptoe around the "elephant in the room", any attempt at communications may only get you more off track and cause more harm than good. With a few communications tips you can learn how to tame those 800 pound elephants and create more effective communications that improve your work relationships and help you get the job done.
The Art of Effective Communication in the Small Business World
As with any profession, effective communication is essential to the success of small business. Whether you are meeting with a client, emailing an employee or phoning a vendor, you need to give great care to the quality of your communications to ensure that all parties comprehend the intended message. Below are two points to consider in the back of your mind with all of your communications.
Making the Most of Your Marketing Communications
Making the most of your marketing communications means getting the maximum return-on-investment for your marketing dollars. This article will show you how to accurately target your potential customer, develop alternative marketing channels to offset traditional advertising and PR, and provide five tips for maximizing your marketing communications budget.
A Brief History of Data Communications
Data communications have evolved from the days of telegraph communication to its current state of mobile communications and high speed data transfers.

The Importance of Relevance in Intranet Communications
The desire to leverage intranet communications is one of the principal reasons for intranet deployment in a wide range of companies. However, many intranet platforms do not allow companies to adjust communications permissions, or the messages are general - this lack of relevance to the end user significantly reduces the engagement generated from intranets, and lowers the value of the communication.
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