When you’re in business, the most important distinction between you and other businesses is how your customers know you or think they know you — good or bad. The same applies to your personal brand. When someone first meets you, you leave an impression. You know, first impressions… Your personal brand represents what people thinkContinue reading “Leveraging the master”
Author Archives: Haynes on Communication
There’s no time like now
Do you have a small business idea or a new hobby you’ve always wanted to start but you’re just not sure? You know exactly how you would do it, how your brand would stand out, or how you’d approach your customers or sell your wares. I once read, you can’t wait for the right momentContinue reading “There’s no time like now”
Finding the right words
I’ve been focused a lot lately on writing in plain language. Writing with clear and simple words makes your message easier to digest and understand. Think of how much easier instructions would be if they were written without technical jargon, big words and acronyms (words made up using the first letter of each word). SimpleContinue reading “Finding the right words”
This is how we do it
A lot of work goes into starting a business. There’s planning and projecting. Managing and marketing. You’ve identified your brand personality and decided how you want your customers to feel when they interact with you. Now that you’ve defined the business you’re in, how will you make sure you’re delivering a consistent experience? Whatever yourContinue reading “This is how we do it”
Hello, how are you?
With the snow melted and warmer weather on its way, I find my mind thinking about travel and reconnecting with family. Winter tends to find people staying in their homes. Icy roads and snow make travel difficult and the cold can make venturing out undesirable. But if I look back, there were lots of opportunitiesContinue reading “Hello, how are you?”
Feeling contracted?
All I can say about contractions is… If your communication is less formal, consider using contractions to ease the flow of your copy. Unless you really want to emphasize a point — do not touch that — a contraction is the way to go. A contraction is two words pulled together to make one. MostContinue reading “Feeling contracted?”
A great branding story
Driving home from shopping today, I heard this great branding story on CBC Radio. I wanted to share with you. Best Buy was originally called The Sound of Music. It was the actions they took in 1981 after a tornado struck their Minnesota store that lead them to a name change. What a great exampleContinue reading “A great branding story”
Um…
Filler words are those nasty little words that replace your pauses; pauses that give your mind some time to think about what you’re going to say next. Um, ah, so, like are a few examples. We all use them (some more than others). Even though they may help to buy you some time, they canContinue reading “Um…”
A mentor or two
Have you ever thought of the people who have helped you navigate life stages or helped you reach success? Formally or informally, these are your mentors. When I look up “mentor” in the dictionary, I see words like wise and loyal. Toastmasters describes a mentor as someone with experience and expertise who is willing toContinue reading “A mentor or two”
It’s time to check in
Building a strong brand doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time and a consistent focus. Know what it is you’re offering and stay the course. Don’t lose sight of what your customers want. Test your brand from time to time to make sure it remains relevant. The strongest brands have been around for years because theyContinue reading “It’s time to check in”
My writing booth. 