Write It Well

If SPAM refers to all the unwanted e-mail that you receive, your colleagues are likely sending more of it than anyone else. And, since their e-mails can get through the servers, you’re seeing more of it in your inbox.Ask your colleagues to answer these questions before sending e-mail or “replying to all.” This will reducethe amount of unnecessary e-mail they send you.

1. Do you have answers to quesitons they are asking?

2. Have you asked for the information?

3. Do you need to know that they want to need something done?

4. Will you make a decision or take action based on the information they are sending?

A client came to us with a story that we hear all the time now. Their sales teams and consultants will be on the road moreande-mail HAS to work better. In our E-Mail Effectiveness workshop tomorrow, we’ll focus on these things:

• Establish e-mail guidelines. Make sure that everyone is on the same page about how to use e-mail to communicate.
• Focus on reducing volume so that the important messages get the attention they deserve. Avoid “reply all” at all costs.
• Don’t forget about the phone. E-mail is not always the best tool for the job.
• Maintain a professional image. Write clear, concise, grammatically correct e-mails all the time. You never know where your e-mail might end up.

Write It Well’s Natasha Terk will join this panel of experts on June 12th – 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the IABC Headquarters Conference Room, One Hallidie Plaza, Suite 600, San Francisco.

Business pundits say that one of the best defenses in a down economy is a diversified revenue stream. When your clients are feeling pinched, offering complementary products and services can build your immunity to budget ups and downs.

This panel discussion will explore ideas for spin-off products and packaged services that you can sell year round. We’ll look at e-books, podcasts, workshops and other deliverables that are now cheaper and easier than ever to produce. These products not only have an appealing price tag when budgets are tight, they can also generate passive revenue when you’re fully engaged.

Our expert panel features Allison Bliss on packaging consulting services, Tim Hart on delivering web-based seminars, Laura Lowell on bundling toolkits, and Natasha Terk on publishing books and facilitator kits.

Please join us for a fascinating discussion of how to package and sell your expertise to generate a steady cash flow. Bring a guest and win a prize! Seating is limited to 20, so register early to reserve your place at the table in the IABC Headquarters Conference Room.

More About the Panelists

Allison Bliss (www.allisonbliss.com) is founder of Allison Bliss Consulting, a Bay Area marketing and communications agency that creates branding, strategies, promotional materials, web development, television commercials, and workshops teaching companies to entice just the business they want. In addition to on-demand consulting and coaching services, Allison offers service packages that include the “Knowledge is Bliss” business evaluation, podcast production, search engine optimization, marketing database training, and marketing plans.

Tim Hart (www.hart-communications.com) is principal of Hart Communications, a San Francisco-based independent marketing firm serving clients in four primary areas: Food & Wine, Health & Wellness, Community, and Music & The Arts. Tim recently launched “The Savvy Marketers,” an education program serving Small Business. The Savvy Marketers’ primary course, “Basic to Brilliant in 90 Days,” comprises 12 consecutive, weekly one-hour Web-based teleconferences.

Laura Lowell (www.impact-mg.com) is the founder and principal of Impact Marketing Group as well as an author and speaker. Laura has extended a successful consulting business into multiple revenue streams by leveraging her expertise into a series of products including her book 42 Rules of Marketing, her four supporting toolkits (“42 Rules of Marketing,” “The Big Launch Toolkit,” “Strategic Marketing Toolkit” and the “PR Toolkit”) and a successful speaking business.

Natasha Terk (www.writeitwell.com) is president of Oakland-based Write It Well, helping people in the workplace communicate clearly and work together effectively. Her team provides practical, relevant information, techniques and strategies that people can use immediately to improve their business writing skills. The Write It Well business writing books and self-paced training programs include E-mail: A Write It Guide, Professional Writing Skills and How to Write Reports and Proposals.

Questions? Email ICR Director Cathy Chatfield-Taylor, cathy@cc-tunlimited.com.

WHEN: Thursday, June 12, 2008

Registration and networking: 8:30 a.m.; introductions: 8:45 a.m.; panel discussion: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

WHERE: IABC Headquarters Conference Room, One Hallidie Plaza, Suite 600, San Francisco (near Powell St. BART Station)

TO RESERVE: Book online at www.acteva.com (http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=160407).

COST: Advance registration: $10 SF IABC members; $20 non-members; $10 students.

At the door: $15 members; $25 non-members; $10 students.

Morethan 40 percent of the average workers’ day is spent managing e-mail. Of that, between 20 percent and 30 percent is unnecessary! Updated version of E-Mail: A Write It Well Guide is now shipping. Our popular e-mail book has been updated. The new version includes a section on instant messaging and handheld devices.

We presented our half-day e-mail workshop to the senior leadership of a major healthcare organization in Atlanta, GA in March, 2008. The workshop focused on helping people get their messageacross clearly, use the right tone, craft effective subject lines, save and finde-mail messages, and reduce e-mail risks.

It was great to work with a group of people who communicate with eachother all day long because e-mail is systemic.In other words, ifyou send fewer e-mails, you will receive fewer e-mails. If you send high quality e-mails, you’re likely to recieve higher quality e-mails too.

Today wereceieved a note from a participant thanking us again for the workshop. He said that he is, in fact, receiving fewer e-mails than he was prior to the workshop. Now he has more time to focus on providing excellent healthcare to patients. Bravo!