Why Plain Language Is Imperative For Our Survival

I’ve been on a war against jargon for a long time. Recently, I’ve come across a couple of things that reinforce the fact that we need to stop using jargon along with overly ornate language. I’d like to share them with you here. We must understand that not everyone has a doctorate-worthy vocabulary level. Even for those who are exceptionally deft with language, messaging that is around 6th-8th grade level resonates because it is easy ...

Social Media Accessibility Checklist

I recently tuned in to a live LinkedIn presentation by one of my favorite people: Scott Stratten. (If you were at the NAMP conference in Louisville in 2011, you’ll remember his amazing keynote. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend watching as it is still just as applicable — and hilarious — today as it was then.) He shared a highly useful resource in Alexa Heinrich’s Social Media Accessibility Checklist. Whether you’re looking to ...

What Butter Can Teach Us About Marketing

I’m about to share a link to a video that is about artisanal butter made in France. Hang with me and watch at least the first minute. At the end of that minute is what I want to talk about here. “If I make a product that’s only marketing, I’m not interested.” Butter artisan Jean-Yves Bordier is clearly passionate about his product. He creates something special and unique — something with emotion. Later in the ...