As I write this post, 150 new words are making their debut on Dictionary.com. This seems like a shockingly high number, but it’s actually a pretty discriminating list compared to the 1,000 going into the Oxford English Dictionary and the whopping 1,700 Merriam-Webster said “kk” to. (Which you’d know means “okay” if you got an […]
I had just sent my husband a text reading, “This place in incredible,” when I heard my son, Leo, crying. Not just the whiny cry of a six-year-old who wants Cheerios instead of scrambled eggs, but a real, something-is-seriously-wrong cry. Like most accidents, it all happened so fast: One minute, he was jumping happily on […]
She’s never watched MTV. To her, “fleek” is the new “cool.” And no, she doesn’t feel guilty about illegally downloading movies. A few weeks ago, I was in a discovery call with a new client. We were trying to create marketing collateral that would resonate with their target consumer: the college student. Luckily for us, […]
As a consumer who is also a marketer by profession, a brand’s advertising can sometimes inspire conflicting emotions in me. Case in point: Geico. In my day-to-day life, I’m assaulted by Geico’s advertising ad nauseam. “Fifteen minutes could save you 15 percent or more on car insurance,” my TV, radio, phone and laptop remind me […]
The relationship between a copywriter and graphic designer can be a beautiful, harmonious thing — or it can be a disaster because each does things that drive the other one nuts. I’ll start with my perspective as a copywriter who has worked with dozens of designers over the past 20 years. Here’s one that kills […]
Look at this ad. Which reaction feels more like the one you’re having — be honest. Don’t think too hard. A. Oh, look at that happy little girl reading! How cute! B. Dear God, what is our world coming to? Here’s what I suspect: If you picked “A,” you’re 30 or younger. If you picked […]
Want to find love, ace that test or lie online? Then you better choose the right font. Below you’ll find three of the craziest studies I came across when I was trapped in the font research vortex for my last blog. Enjoy. 1. If you want people to believe you, use Baskerville. Turns out font […]
“It’s possible to blow away three-quarters of our readers simply by choosing the wrong type.” So says Colin Wheildon, author of Type & Layout: Are You Communicating or Just Making Pretty Shapes, in an article by John Wood. That’s a lot of people to lose right out of the gate. Think about what that represents […]
This PowerPoint presentation really speaks for itself. And that is EXACTLY what you don’t want to do if you’re trying to engage with your audience in any meaningful way. The slideshow was directed at professors, but anyone can benefit. Well, anyone who uses PPT. My favorite tip: If your audience can understand everything they need […]
There are times in life when one feels hopelessly out of touch with pop culture. Like when I saw this Hallmark display in a CVS. Are people actually giving loved ones greeting cards featuring members of the Duck Dynasty? I’m so confused …
