Mindmap on Writing Well

Not all the time do I get the opportunity to create a Mindmap on an audio book but there have been a few special ones that I have. It usually occurs on the 2nd listen since I typically am listening to them while I am driving or walking the dog.  Well this one has been listened to more than a couple of times.

This particular book is a timeless classic and has been one of my favorite ones for many years. On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction, first published in 1976, has sold almost 1.5 million copies to three generations of writers, editors, journalists, teachers and students. I recommend it to any inspiring writer or blogger.

Most of my writing and podcast are geared towards a learning experience for me. It may sound somewhat selfish but I have found that is the best way to immerse myself in a subject. Another of Zinsser’s books, Writing To Learn was the basic structure of how my blog and podcast has developed.  

About: William Zinsser, a writer, editor, and teacher, is a fourth-generation New Yorker, born in 1922. His 18 books, which range in subject from music to baseball to American travel, include several widely read books about writing.

P.S. I own the hard copy of both books.

Related Information:
Reinventing Your Company in a Customer-Driven Marketplace
Create space; create agility; and create the future
A Lean Experts Guide to Blogging and Twitter
Content marketing strategy from start to finish

What marketers can learn from medical data!

Thomas Goetz wants to redesign medical data, allowing patients to get more insight and take part in their treatment. His ideas on how to make data understandable (ideas stolen from a Captain Crunch Box) and how to create feedback loops are excellent visualizations for marketing to learn from. As marketing increasingly relies on content and knowledge creation these basic skills are imperative but seldom so well simplified. 

Goetz knows this will not happen overnight so he encourages patients to make matters in their own hands for the time being….

4 Questions Every Patient Should Ask..

1. Can I have my results?
2. What does this mean?
3. What are my options?
4. What next?

Funny, seems strikingly similar to the same questions a customer asks me about a proposal!

This information came via a tweet from fellow Lean Consultant @AnkitTheLeanWay.

Related Information
The Future of Marketing is Lean
Why Lean Marketing? Because it is the Future of Marketing
PDCA for Lean Marketing, Knowledge Creation
Lean Marketing Creates Knowledge for the Customer
Has Knowledge Management disguised itself as Lean Marketing?

Featured user on Business Week

Shameless self promotion: but this weekend I am the featured author on Business Week's home page http://www.businessweek.com

If you would like to review a few of my other published articles check out this recent blog post:

Watch out Guy Kawasaki!

Technorati Tags: Business Week,Business Exchange,Duct Tape Marketing,Business901

Content is everything

More and more successful businesses are employing something called "content marketing". Content marketing is the practice of creating relevant, valuable and compelling content to customers and prospects (instead of sales information). This type of "un-marketing" is now the last option available to target buyers who are tuning out advertising messages across the board.

In order to attract the attention of buyers, manufacturing marketers must first understand search engines -- where most buyers start their search. Search engines love content, especially valuable and relevant content that generates links from outside, reputable Web sites. Unfortunately, creating valuable and compelling content is not easy to do.

Even though most manufactures may agree with the movement to the Web, most are still using the traditional marketing strategies they have used for decades. There are several reasons for this:

• Most manufacturers are set up to sell products and services, not to provide relevant and valuable information to customers and prospects. Educational newsletters, blogs, white papers and free reports are just a few types of initiatives that are challenging for manufacturers to consistently produce. It's as simple as this: if the information you are sending out to customers doesn't help them do their jobs better or live happier lives, don't send it.
• Most manufacturers have well-worn marketing paths that are easy to follow. Going off the beaten path into uncharted territory is intimidating.
• Most manufacturers may believe that their customers are still not active on the Web.
• Many manufacturers aren't measuring their marketing, so they aren't even sure what is and what is not effective.
• Many manufacturers lack both the right people and the right processes to implement a new kind of marketing.

 

Read this entire post from Industry Week

Joe Pulizzi is founder of Junta42 Match, a free resource for businesses looking for content experts that match their fields. Additional information on content marketing can be found in Pulizzi's book, Get Content. Get Customers. -- How to use content marketing to deliver relevant, valuable, and compelling information that turns prospects into customers.  The book teaches you, step-by-step and through countless case studies, how to create and market your own content to acquire customers. www.getcontentgetcustomers.com.

AT&T Reply to Your Small Business Question

 

Hello,

Small business expert, John Jantsch, has posted a customized response to your business challenge.

To review the response, follow the link below.

http://smallbiz.att.com/community/expertadvice/johnjantsch

Thank you for looking to the AT&T OnwardSmallBiz web site as your ultimate resource for the latest industry news and insights. Continue to turn to AT&T Onward Small Biz for expert advice to keep moving your business onward.

Sincerely,

The AT&T OnwardSmallBiz Site Team

Technorati Tags: Duct tape marketing,John Jantsch,AT&T,small business,onward small biz

Other links: Duct Tape Marketing, Business901 Weblog

SoundBite Back

Even a contract can benefit from technology, here is some good resources for old school ways. 

SoundBite Back

Try something new (the analog version)

Posted: 09 Mar 2008 11:12 AM CDT

Last month I challenged SBB readers to improve their communication skills by trying something new. Since everything I listed involved technology, however, I want to issue a follow-up challenge from the analog world. While it's crucial to keep pace with technology, it's just as important to learn how to use some tried-and-true communication tools and skills, like:

• A library card. Still free, and still relevant. (If you live in Allen County, apply for one here.)
• The Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature. Still the best way to find every magazine article in print in a given year, and only available at your local library.
• Your reference librarian. Reference librarians are the original search engines, and they're better company than Google or Yahoo. When you need to dig deep on a research project, they're the people to see.
• Public speaking. One of the best ways to raise your profile at work or in the community. But make sure you can do it well before you volunteer. How do you learn?...
• Try Toastmasters or another skill-building group. There are plenty to choose from in northeast Indiana.
• Write a letter to the editor. Petrified of public speaking? Let your pen do the talking instead. Click to learn more about where and what to send to the Journal Gazette or News-Sentinel
• Your writing's not ready for prime time? Well, take a writing class at Ivy Tech Community College or IPFW.
• Learn a foreign language. Given population trends, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, or Indian are probably good choices. French no longer makes a lot of sense from a practical standpoint, but learning just about any language is worthwhile. (Except Klingon. Learning Klignon is just nerdy.)
• You'd rather speak with pictures instead of words? Take a photography class. See pg. 32 of the spring Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation catalog from a class that's only $67.
• Teach a class. Already good at most of this stuff? Consider teaching others. You'll hone your public speaking skills, too, and you'll inevitably learn something new about your topic.
• Read. A book. A real book. Something with actual pages.
• Travel.
• Turn off the computer and talk to someone. Yes, I mean now.

Chalk one up for the apostrophe

Posted: 09 Mar 2008 11:11 AM CDT

More proof that puncutation isn't optional.
Photo from Grammar Girl's Group Photo Pool on Flickr

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Why develop Information products

Why should you? Here is my list which I am doing in1 sitting off the top of my head. I think it could be endless.

1. For your own learning experience
2. Best advertising you have.
3. Creates opportunity to obtain customer information.
4. Build trust with our potential clients.
5. Can partner with others to gain more exposure.
6. Multiple products create a large product.
7. Able to re-purpose for other uses.
8. Direct mail piece.
9. Handout for salesperson.
10. Download
11. Basis for a speech or a talk
12. Magazine article
13. PR release
14. Test market an idea

Write Baby, Write!