Archive for Suzanne Richardson

The Dangers of Throwing Your Recommendation Around
by Suzanne Richardson (06/09/2009)

A few months ago, a former neighbor asked me if there were any job openings in ETR’s editorial department. If so, she wanted her daughter “Gwen” - a young woman I’d known for years - to apply for a position.

Instant Writing Fix: Get Rid of the Warm Up
by Suzanne Richardson (06/06/2009)

You can almost always make your writing instantly stronger by chopping out the first paragraph or so. Andrew Gordon reminded me of this powerful and simple editing step when he reviewed an ETR article I’d written.

How to Defeat a Sneaky Enemy of Good Writing
by Suzanne Richardson (05/25/2009)

One of the biggest enemies of fine writing? The verb "to be." In all its tenses, this verb can leach the impact out of almost any sentence. It sometimes seems impossible to avoid, but you need to seek it out and destroy it with a vengeance.

The Upsetting Side Effects of “Ready, Fire, Aim”
by Suzanne Richardson (05/21/2009)

Why Use Big Words?
by Suzanne Richardson (05/07/2009)

“Make yourself a solemn promise right now that you’ll never use ‘emolument’ when you mean ‘tip’ and you’ll never say ‘John stopped long enough to perform an act of excretion’ when you mean ‘John stopped long enough to move his bowels,’” says Stephen King in On Writing.

Have You Sharpened Your Axe Lately?
by Suzanne Richardson (05/05/2009)

“I just can’t make the time management seminar tomorrow,” Amy announced to the editorial team during a recent meeting. “I’m so busy, it’s going to kill my productivity this week!”

Working for the Tip
by Suzanne Richardson (04/28/2009)

It must be the only hotel in New York City, nay, the world, that doesn’t have automatic doors. But wait! It does have a doorman. Seems friendly enough when you pull up in a cab. Offers to take your bag. But if you dare to reject his offer to carry your bag into the lobby… he lets you get the door yourself.

Are You Guilty of Vocabulary Abuse?
by Suzanne Richardson (04/22/2009)

In my brief stint teaching college writing classes, one of the biggest problems I saw among my students was vocabulary abuse.

Are You Barking Up the Wrong Tree With Your Marketing Efforts?
by Suzanne Richardson (04/16/2009)

They’ve been calling me at least once a week for the past three months. Every time they do (at least, on the occasions when I pick up), I say the same thing: “Please don’t call me during work hours. I’ll be happy to consider this offer, but I’d rather see it in writing. Can you e-mail me the details?”

Build Your E-Mail List With the Relevancy Principle
by Suzanne Richardson (04/15/2009)

"Dear ETR, I was wondering if you accept articles for your newsletter?" I get e-mails like this on a weekly basis. And I applaud the senders for their initiative. Since ETR has over 450,000 subscribers, it is a good marketing strategy to get your name and ideas - and a link to your website - into our newsletter.

A Free Way to Build Your E-Mail List
by Suzanne Richardson (04/11/2009)

As an Internet marketer, your most important possession is your e-mail list - people who have given you permission to contact them.

They Don’t Call It a “Killer Recession” for Nothing
by Suzanne Richardson (04/01/2009)

It’s not surprising that the economy is wreaking havoc on Americans’ health. Nearly 30 percent of Americans are losing sleep because of it. And - according to the findings of a landmark Gallup poll - Americans’ stress levels soared in 2008 and continue to rise in 2009.

A New Way to Get Your ETR Fix
by Suzanne Richardson (03/10/2009)

ETR TV will bring you expert advice on breakthrough marketing techniques from MaryEllen Tribby… proven business-building strategies from Michael Masterson… techniques for writing strong sales copy from Charlie Byrne… steps for increasing your website traffic from Edwin Huertas… and more.

How to Surprise and Delight Your Customers
by Suzanne Richardson (03/06/2009)

Roy Flora, Group President of Microtel Inns & Suites, over-delivers by randomly giving away free stays at his hotels. Better yet, he encourages staff members to do the same. It’s one reason that Microtel has ranked at the top of the J.D. Power & Associates North America hotel guest satisfaction survey seven years in a row.

Why You Must Send a Confirmation E-mail
by Suzanne Richardson (02/24/2009)

You see, an existing customer - someone who’s already pulled the trigger and made a purchase - is much more valuable to you than a no-name prospect. As marketing expert Clayton Makepeace says, “Making secondary sales to existing customers is one of the cheapest and lowest risk actions a company can take. Response on promotions sent to existing customers is usually six to eight times higher (sometimes more) than promotions sent to cold prospects. Average sale is substantially higher, too - sometimes as much as two to three times higher.”

2 Easy Ways to Get More of What You Want
by Suzanne Richardson (02/19/2009)

Commenting on articles is a great way to congratulate an author on a great article… to point out any objections you have… to interact with other ETR readers… and to let us know which articles are most useful to you.

Harmless Pastime - or Insidious Time Suck?
by Suzanne Richardson (02/09/2009)

Video games are big business. When a Sony Playstation comes out… when the Nintendo Wii was finally released… every time a new version of Halo hits the market… Video gaming makes national news.

What’s In Your Back Pocket?
by Suzanne Richardson (02/05/2009)

For nearly three decades, Ernie Bjorkman was an anchorman for a Denver TV station. Then one day last month, after signing a yearlong contract, he was let go.

Use the 24-Hour Rule to Cure Yourself of This Success-Thwarting “Bug”
by Suzanne Richardson (02/03/2009)

The most common cause of failure, says Michael Masterson, is procrastination. The thief of dreams. You’re a procrastinator if you have ever said something like…

Living Rich: A Free Way to Improve Your Mind, Your Life, and Even Your Career
by Suzanne Richardson (02/02/2009)

As Groucho Marx said, “Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.” It would appear that more Americans than ever agree with Marx, according to The New York Times, which recently revealed the results of a report from the National Endowment for the Arts.

ETR Insider Report: Help US Help YOU
by Suzanne Richardson (01/30/2009)

The Dow dropped below 8,000 points last week. 2.6 million Americans have lost their jobs - and since “Black Monday” this week, they stand to lose 50,000 more. Home foreclosures are reaching new heights.

What’s Missing From YOUR Business?
by Suzanne Richardson (01/28/2009)

So make sure you test everything - your site, your products, your store - to make sure it works as it’s meant to. Better yet, have a friend, your spouse, and your grandma test things out for you. Get them to report back on what works, what doesn’t, what’s missing, and what’s superfluous. You’ll end up with a better product/site/whatever - and your customers will have a much better experience.

The Key to Powerful Writing
by Suzanne Richardson (01/26/2009)

Transforming yourself from a mediocre writer into a great writer may take time. But you can speed your progress just by following a few easy rules.

Where to Find the Moneymaking Ideas That Will Make Your Business Soar
by Suzanne Richardson (01/24/2009)

If you’re in business, you’re always on the lookout for breakthrough ideas. Ideas for new products… Ideas for attracting new customers… Ideas for communicating more effectively with your existing customers…

Do You Have Bad Writing Habits?
by Suzanne Richardson (01/21/2009)

"I've recently noticed a little 'quirk' in your writing style," Charlie Byrne mentioned to me the other day. "It's a particular 'thing' you do a lot. Not necessarily bad, but now that I noticed it, I see it a lot!" My bad habit? Starting sentences with "And."

The Wall Street Journal Gets It Wrong
by Suzanne Richardson (01/19/2009)

The Secrets of Marketing in a Web 2.0 World,” announced the front page of The Wall Street Journal business section. Sounded promising, so I took a gander. What I found left me scratching my head:

7 Nerve-Beating Secrets to Getting Past Your Fear of Being Interviewed
by Suzanne Richardson (01/17/2009)

Last November found me sitting in beautiful Delray Beach, Florida. A warm wind was blowing, water was making gentle lapping sounds against the sides of the pool, fluffy clouds scudded across the sky. And there I was, scared out of my wits. I might as well have been standing on the edge of a 170-story building. I was shaking, my mouth was dry, and my mind was blank.

A Little Personality Goes a Long Way
by Suzanne Richardson (01/14/2009)

Getting people’s attention is a big part of success in the business world. As Internet marketing expert Yanik Silver says, “If you want people to remember [you] and keep coming back again and again, [you have] to project a unique personality.”

The $10 Billion Coat
by Suzanne Richardson (01/12/2009)

The sun was shining, the sky was blue. And the bare-chested young man walking down the street looked like he could have been on his way to the beach. Except… it was two days before Christmas in Northern Montana. Even worse, it was 17 degrees below zero.

The Absolute Worst Place for Your Business
by Suzanne Richardson (01/07/2009)

The 113 miles of Highway 87 between Great Falls and Havre in Montana is desolate. A half-dozen or so tiny towns have cropped up in places. But mostly there’s just the two-lane road, vast expanses of prairie, and the enormous canopy of sky.
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