Issue 68 - March 2008

The posture of a communicator

“If you buy my product but don't read the instructions, that's not your fault, it's mine.  If you read a blog post and misinterpret what I said, that's my choice, not your error.  If you attend my presentation and you're bored, that's my failure.  If you are a student in my class and you don't learn what I'm teaching, I've let you down.

“It's really easy to insist that people read the friggin manual. It's really easy to blame the user/student/prospect/customer for not trying hard, for being too stupid to get it or for not caring enough to pay attention. Sometimes (often) that might even be a valid complaint. But it's not helpful.

“What's helpful is to realise that you have a choice when you communicate. You can design your products to be easy to use. You can write so your audience hears you. You can present in a place and in a way that guarantees that the people you want to listen will hear you. Most of all, you get to choose who will understand (and who won't).”

Source – Seth Godin’s Blog, February 15, 2008

A quote we like

"Daily portions of encouragement are the fuel that keep hope alive and well."

Source - Zig Ziglar

Tips for e-newsletters (gratuitous plug)

If your organisation has a pulse, it almost certainly - by now - has an electronic newsletter. If it doesn't maybe it should. Here's the thing. E-newsletters don't cut it when they are designed like printed newsletters. Suggesting you are emailing them with the view that people will print them out to read them doesn't cut it either because unless your readers are over 50, chances are they will read it on screen.

E-newsletters should -

• be one to two pages maximum
• use a layout that can be read across the screen
• not use traditional columns that fit 'the page' but not 'the screen'
• not have traditional 'articles', but rather snippets and thought-starters (350 words is a lot to read on screen)
• make it possible for readers to click somewhere obvious and contact someone at the organisation who can communicate with them
• know (and ideally demonstrate) why they exist. To communicate news about the organisation, to be of value to the reader, to spruik for business, to enable communication between its organisation and its readers?

Does your organisation need to achieve any of the above or could it do it better? Contact M Power by clicking here to find out how we can help your organisation to launch or improve an e-newsletter.

This month's book review

I could do anything if only I knew what it was. Discover what you really want - and how to get it by Barbara Sher, Hachette Australia, 1999

This is a really great book for anyone interested in exploring what drives them or looking for tips on plotting their future. It would be a great read for a school leaver or anyone contemplating a midlife crisis. I have already been both, but got much from it anyway. I highly recommend it.

Last month M Power -

• devised a promotional campaign for a new publisher

• wrote, designed and distributed e-newsletters for several clients

• won a new client that does great work for the community in the not-for-profit sector

• advised various ongoing clients on public relations issues

• committed to a number of speaking and training assignments.

Contact us to see how we could work to empower you or your organisation.

The M Powerer comes to you each month from M Power.

Its 'fast four' format makes The M Powerer a purposefully quick read with a mix of quotes, tips, reviews, news and views on areas we work in, including

• communication
• public relations
• empowerment
• individual effectiveness
• organisational productivity
• life balance
• customer service.

Karen Morath
Managing Director
M Power
karen@mpowercct.com