Posts by Author

Suzanne Richardson

Posts by Author

Suzanne Richardson

The Dangers of Throwing Your Recommendation Around

By Suzanne Richardson | 06/9/2009

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.

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Instant Writing Fix: Get Rid of the Warm Up

By Suzanne Richardson | 06/6/2009

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.

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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.

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The Upsetting Side Effects of “Ready, Fire, Aim”

By Suzanne Richardson | 05/21/2009

If you subscribe to Michael Masterson’s “Ready, Fire, Aim” philosophy, you’re no doubt going to notice an unappealing side effect. Sometimes, you’re going to screw up. But don’t be too hard on yourself. Making mistakes – even downright failing – is a part of the learning process that you should…

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Have You Sharpened Your Axe Lately?

By Suzanne Richardson | 05/5/2009

“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!”

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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.

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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.

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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?”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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How to Surprise and Delight Your Customers

By Suzanne Richardson | 03/6/2009

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.

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