http://wordslinger.com/blog Corporate Poetry Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:25:09 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en As the nation watches Iowa today, businesses should watch the conversation. Caucusing is social networking. While the forum is not online today, precinct groups will interact much like consumer groups do when they converse online about a product or service. Like members of a social network, caucus-goers will be influenced ... http://wordslinger.com/blog/2008/01/find-your-companys-citizen-voice/ Announced on NPR today, the Lake Superior State University 2008 List of Banished Words is out. The words and phrases on the list are well-worn or overused. Some of them are real groaners: • Perfect Storm • Back in the day • Sweet (you got that report done, sweet) • It is what ... http://wordslinger.com/blog/2008/01/2008-list-of-banished-words/ voluptuous magnificence sumptuous chandelier gilded giblets poultry stuffing a pendant bunch of grapes a dash a fifth a coffee spoon crème brûlée May the language of feasting entertain you this Thanksgiving. http://wordslinger.com/blog/2007/11/an-epicurean-banquet/ There's a thoughtful Bill Virgin editorial in today's Seattle P-I: "All those cliches aside, momentum is a real force in business" Highlights of the column: - A brief look at Starbucks loss of momentum, which Maija has talked about. - How the success of momentum can result in the 3 Cs: "cockiness, complacency ... http://wordslinger.com/blog/2007/11/momentum/ I know many small business owners and I'm always amazed when they fail to mention the name of their business during social conversations about work. The question "What do you do?" replaced "Where do you work?" some time ago. Probably because it's a more open question and it allows ... http://wordslinger.com/blog/2007/11/use-social-time-to-brand-your-small-business/ Charles Schwab struck brilliance with its tagline "Talk to Chuck," inviting us in and promising no airs. The company's marketing team is at it again with copy that expresses exactly what its target customers are thinking. For example, their Schwab New Client Concierge ad reads: I need a new investment account. ... http://wordslinger.com/blog/2007/11/talk-to-chuck/ I love the fact that so many parents are teaching their young children a second language. Sign language and Spanish seem to be the most popular with the parents I know. Their children are delightfully creative and playful with speech. And that prompts a creative response from their parents. This ... http://wordslinger.com/blog/2007/11/language-is-playful-and-creative/ Starbucks put signage that features their version of the famous Egg McMuffin® in stores this week. I wrote about the sudden appearance of McDonalds-like breakfast at Starbucks three weeks ago, before the new signs went up. Seems that my hunch was right. I wanted this ... http://wordslinger.com/blog/2007/11/starbucks-breakfast-battle-cry-continued/ "It's the economy, stupid." Ever since that famous saying from 1992, I've been a student of political campaign language. It fascinates me that elections boil down to just a few words. Yesterday, here in Seattle citizens voted down Proposition 1, a joint package developed by the Regional Transportation Investment District ... http://wordslinger.com/blog/2007/11/thumbs-down-on-road-rails-campaign-language/ It took an alumni group for a former employer to get me on Facebook. I spent almost 10 years working for this place (in my most formative years) and was curious about what certain people are doing with their lives. So I joined Facebook. Until now, I didn't see the ... http://wordslinger.com/blog/2007/11/facebook-finally-got-to-me/