The Meaning of… Azure

azure |ˈa zh ər|

adjective

bright blue in color, like a cloudless sky : white beaches surrounded by azure seas.

Welcome Back to

“The Meaning of…”

I started this personal project a few days ago on my blog. I have taken hundreds of photographs that I love and keep going back to. They evoke memories, feelings and always associated words. The other day, someone described the theme running through the photos I take, my style if you will, as a photographic haiku (|ˈhīˌkoō; ˌhīˈkoō|, a Japanese poem of seventeen syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five, traditionally evoking images of the natural world). I felt very touched and also proud hearing that my photos stirred such emotions.

As a copywriter, I love words, of course, especially the many subtle ways their use can convey so many different meanings. A photograph can have even a wider range of individual meanings – and scores of emotions – attached to it than copywriting (which is and has to be more precise) can create.

Born was “The Meaning of…”

I’d love to see you comment on my definitions, hear yours and invite you to share your photos, ideas and linguistic quirks and cravings on my blog. This project reflects my tastes and sensibilities, and is by its very nature a very personal and subjective view on the meaning and significance of certain words, which I captured in photographs I have taken.

Until next time,

Daniela

Spinning Your Web: How influential are you online?

Fast Company’s The Influence Project

The Influence Project is open to anyone and everyone. All registered participants will have their picture appear in the November issue of Fast Company as part of an amazing photo spread. The more influence demonstrated by a participant, the bigger their picture will be. Even those with smaller social networks can learn something about their influence by participating.

To learn more, and register your profile, go to http://fcinf.com/v/chou or click here.

Contributors may discover that they are more influential than they think. Influence is not only about having the most friends or followers. It’s about being able to affect the behavior of those you interact with, to get others in your social network to act on a suggestion or recommendation. That’s what The Influence Project will measure.

The competition for 2010’s “Most Influential People” ends August 15 at midnight EST. Fast Company has created a blog dedicated to the project at www.fastcompany.com/influenceproject, where coverage will continue through the publication of Fast Company’s November 2010 issue.

What’s your favourite blog?
Which websites do you enjoy reading?
Seen an ad lately that stayed with you for a long while?

Chances are, their writers were saying something that mattered. To you.

They appealed to you because you could find out quickly what the writer was trying to say. And they were relevant, not just waffling on. They may have been funny, entertaining, educational, silly, serious, or even pure marketing.

What they have in common is good writing – with you, the reader in mind. They “got” what you need, what you were looking for. Rather than just going on about themselves, without saying anything that matters to you, their reader/client/prospect/fan. People and companies can get very wrapped up in their own jargon, their way of talking about their services and products, because they are just too close to the topic they write about. It’s their baby, after all.

Getting a professional copywriter like myself involved, does not mean you loose control of what’s written. A copywriter or editor helps you say what you want and need to say – but in a way that actually gets your message across.

Seth Godin, marketing “guru” extraordinaire, has this example of copywriting gone haywire on his blog:

“The firm will remain competitive in the constantly changing market for defense legal services by creating and implementing innovative and effective methods of providing cost-effective, quality representation and services for our clients.”

Now, I am sure you’ll agree: there are better ways of saying whatever it was the writer intended to communicate.

Remember: Communication is what’s received.

Now… fire away & let me know your thoughts on this topic.
Looking forward to hearing what you have to say.

Until soon,
Daniela

What’s your favourite blog?
Which websites do you enjoy reading?
Seen an ad lately that stayed with you for a long while?

Chances are, their writers were saying something that mattered. To you.

They appealed to you because you could find out quickly what the writer was trying to say. And they were relevant, not just waffling on. They may have been funny, entertaining, educational, silly, serious, or even pure marketing.

What they have in common is good writing – with you, the reader in mind. They “got” what you need, what you were looking for. Rather than just going on about themselves, without saying anything that matters to you, their reader/client/prospect/fan. People and companies can get very wrapped up in their own jargon, their way of talking about their services and products, because they are just too close to the topic they write about. It’s their baby, after all.

Getting a professional copywriter like myself involved, does not mean you loose control of what’s written. A copywriter or editor helps you say what you want and need to say – but in a way that actually gets your message across.

Seth Godin, marketing “guru” extraordinaire, has this example of copywriting gone haywire on his blog:

“The firm will remain competitive in the constantly changing market for defense legal services by creating and implementing innovative and effective methods of providing cost-effective, quality representation and services for our clients.”

Now, I am sure you’ll agree: there are better ways of saying whatever it was the writer intended to communicate.

Remember: Communication is what’s received.

Now… fire away & let me know your thoughts on this topic.
Looking forward to hearing what you have to say.

Until soon,
Daniela

Are you a soloist, entrepreneur, micro- or small to medium business?  If so, sometimes, as the owner of such a business, it can feel like you are all alone, out there on a big big ocean and only a few islands in sight.  But you are not alone.  And dry, solid land is there for the taking – if you know how to look for it and stake your claim.

In their book The Risk Takers Renee and Don Martin identify ten common traits, challenges and ultimately opportunities for entrepreneurs:

1. Trust your Instinct
2. Challenge Convention
3. Persist
4. Find your Niche
5. Spot Trends and Act
6. Fill the Gaps your Competition’s Left
7. Just Start – there is no Perfect Time
8. Get Creative in Marketing
9. Competitor’s Weakness = Your Strength
10. Never stop Changing
11. I like to add another point here: Be Clear and Consistent about your Brand.
    Ensure you communicate clearly, regularly and in an engaging way with your target audience, i.e. your potential and existing clients.
    Be relevant, give them something for free, don’t just hard-sell. Be professional, yet personal. Put yourself in the client’s shoes and think how you would like to be communicated with and treated.
    There is much you can do yourself towards this aim. Everything else a good copywriter and communications expert can help you with.
    Help is at hand – for all budgets.

Read more on how to get motivated, find your niche and not lose the edge over your competition here.

Until next time,
Daniela