Action Plan

Here is a step-by-step plan approach to putting together, or updating, your style guide.

• Spread out communications samples in front of you, including pages printed out from your web site and your e-newsle
  R2 = EOC --- Recruitment & Retention = Employer of Choice
  Problems with staffing and retention may not be due to bad hires or a low unemployment rate. In fact, they may be related to poor management insight by not recognizing your employees as a core competency in your business strategy. Although employees may not fit the strictest definition of a core competency, it is a fact that your employees are the ones responsible for creating many of your core competencies. It is an undisputable fact that failure to recognize the importance of employee contributions will lead
  There's never enough time when you're getting communications out the door. But when two different spellings of the same word (both correct) are used in a membership drive campaign, or the way your nonprofit is described varies from letter to letter within the campaign, or your logo appears in different colors and different sizes in different places, your audiences will be confused. The answer? Style standards clearly defined and published in a style guide.

  The Problem

  Due to the ubiquitous nature of advertising and promotion, we're all bombarded by communications. In the face of this morass, you're making it difficult for your audiences to recognize, at a glance, that your communications are all coming from your organization. Remember, we're all scanners these days.

  In addition, it's likely that those who do recognize that these divergent communications are from you won't think much of your organization or your sloppy communications effort.

  Consistency is the key to your audiences absorbing your messages, and for them to be able to "whisper down the lane" – repeating those messages to others. No other form of communication is as powerful as this natural network.

  A Style Guide Is a Long-Term Solution

  An easy way to ensure clear and consistent communications is to create a two to three page editorial and design style guide. Everyone needs to be on the same page when it comes to getting the word out. The standards featured in your style guide will make it easy for them to do so.

  A style guide will also make it unnecessary for you and your colleagues to re-invent the wheel each time, saving you a great deal of effort.

  Action Plan

  Here is a step-by-step plan approach to putting together, or updating, your style guide.

  • Spread out communications samples in front of you, including pages printed out from your web site and your e-newslet
    Consider Doing Business in Pakistan
    I know what you’re thinking: why should I put my money in a place I’ve never even heard of before? Even for those who do know something about Pakistan, courtesy of CNN (and sometimes the BBC) have seen pictures of violence – people burning effigies of President George Bush, rioting, army personnel swarming over so-called terrorist camps and, of course, not to forget, a whole lot of bloodshed. No wonder it is usually confused with other places like Iraq and Afghanistan, which are actually going through very bad
    ? Style standards clearly defined and published in a style guide.

    The Problem

    Due to the ubiquitous nature of advertising and promotion, we're all bombarded by communications. In the face of this morass, you're making it difficult for your audiences to recognize, at a glance, that your communications are all coming from your organization. Remember, we're all scanners these days.

    In addition, it's likely that those who do recognize that these divergent communications are from you won't think much of your organization or your sloppy communications effort.

    Consistency is the key to your audiences absorbing your messages, and for them to be able to "whisper down the lane" – repeating those messages to others. No other form of communication is as powerful as this natural network.

    A Style Guide Is a Long-Term Solution

    An easy way to ensure clear and consistent communications is to create a two to three page editorial and design style guide. Everyone needs to be on the same page when it comes to getting the word out. The standards featured in your style guide will make it easy for them to do so.

    A style guide will also make it unnecessary for you and your colleagues to re-invent the wheel each time, saving you a great deal of effort.

    Action Plan

    Here is a step-by-step plan approach to putting together, or updating, your style guide.

    • Spread out communications samples in front of you, including pages printed out from your web site and your e-newsle
      The Pressure On The Freight Industry to Go Green
      Less than twenty years ago concern for the environment and worries about global warming were largely confined to a small group of scientists and people derogatively described by some as ‘eco warriors’.With climate change becoming more real and obvious, the realisation of the need to ‘go green’ is now becoming far more mainstream. All the major political parties have ‘green agendas’ and each jostle to convince the public that they are more environmentally aware than the others.Green issues are the
      rs these days.

      In addition, it's likely that those who do recognize that these divergent communications are from you won't think much of your organization or your sloppy communications effort.

      Consistency is the key to your audiences absorbing your messages, and for them to be able to "whisper down the lane" – repeating those messages to others. No other form of communication is as powerful as this natural network.

      A Style Guide Is a Long-Term Solution

      An easy way to ensure clear and consistent communications is to create a two to three page editorial and design style guide. Everyone needs to be on the same page when it comes to getting the word out. The standards featured in your style guide will make it easy for them to do so.

      A style guide will also make it unnecessary for you and your colleagues to re-invent the wheel each time, saving you a great deal of effort.

      Action Plan

      Here is a step-by-step plan approach to putting together, or updating, your style guide.

      • Spread out communications samples in front of you, including pages printed out from your web site and your e-newsle
        What are you Attacting?
        The Law of Attraction is something I’ve always known but as I have become aware of how it works what a change in my life. It has impacted every avenue of my life. Learning to be grateful has been the biggest obstacle. How can I accept the growth and knowledge I have acquired and not get so wrapped up in what I don’t have? Wow that blew my mind. All of the obstacles in my way were of my own doing. Again I was knocked for a loop. This awakening served me well.When you awaken the world becomes your giant s
        s powerful as this natural network.

        A Style Guide Is a Long-Term Solution

        An easy way to ensure clear and consistent communications is to create a two to three page editorial and design style guide. Everyone needs to be on the same page when it comes to getting the word out. The standards featured in your style guide will make it easy for them to do so.

        A style guide will also make it unnecessary for you and your colleagues to re-invent the wheel each time, saving you a great deal of effort.

        Action Plan

        Here is a step-by-step plan approach to putting together, or updating, your style guide.

        • Spread out communications samples in front of you, including pages printed out from your web site and your e-newsle
          Concierge Service: Give a Little, Get a Great Return
          Kathy has a problem. She has a huge project proposal due on Wednesday. However, her daughter, Tina, has dance practice this afternoon, Fido has to stay on his feeding schedule, and she has to have her suit dry cleaned in time for a presentation on Thursday. Her car is due for an oil change, and the grocery shopping has not been done for the week.Kathy’s situation is not that uncommon for today’s worker. How do stressed employees deal with finding a balance between their personal and professional respons
          le guide will also make it unnecessary for you and your colleagues to re-invent the wheel each time, saving you a great deal of effort.

          Action Plan

          Here is a step-by-step plan approach to putting together, or updating, your style guide.

          • Spread out communications samples in front of you, including pages printed out from your web site and your e-newsletter.
          • Jot down standards that work best in the following areas. Keep your audience in mind when you do so. You'll want input from communications staff or consultants.
          Traditionally, style guides covered punctuation, and spelling. I suggest that you expand this concept to include graphic guidelines and key messages. This way, you have a single point of reference to shape your communications.
          • Logo: Sizing; colors; position on the page; what elements should be included when logo is used.
          • Colors: Official colors -- with exact Pantone numbers if possible (Pantone is a color numbering system used by designers and printers) and notes on how those colors are to be used.
          • Words not to use.
          • Word style preferences (e.g. web site vs. website, grant making vs. grantmaking).
          • The title of the published grammar style guide that your group uses: Communicate the title of the guide that your writers need to follow when deciding whether to insert that final comma or not, or selecting the right preposition to follow the word parallel (to or with).

          Review these titles, talk to colleagues, and select one if you haven't already. Top picks are:

          1. The Associated Press Stylebook
          2. The Chicago Manual of Style
          3. Words into Type.

          • Talking points for staff and board: Key messages that briefly cover the who, what, when, where, and how of your group, and how they should be incorporated in most comm