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Read the Words, Call the Numbers

December 1, 2017Lori Rohrbach

Proofreading is a dying skill. We have latched on to the convenience of spellcheckers and grammar checkers, and figure, “Hey, how could a person ever do better than that?” Let me give you two real-life examples to demonstrate why it had better be a human brain, not a computerized one, that gives the final blessing on a piece of marketing before it goes out the door.

Years ago, I was working on ad copy for a special football-themed sweepstakes for a local credit union. Now, the ad copy was short and sweet. Minimal words on the page. Nothing underlined in red by the spellchecker. Why bother proofing it, right?

Wrong. I can’t tell you how close that ad came to being printed declaring that the credit union would be having a Super Bowel Sweepstakes. Umm … was the grand prize a case of Tums or of Pepto-Bismol?

Then there was the gaffe that I was called upon to remediate. A letter had gone out to a very large association composed of seniors. In it, the call to action supplied a phone number. It should have been the phone number for the association’s customer service department. However, two numbers had been flipped – and the error had not been caught, because no one had actually called the number before the mailer was printed. Had someone called the number, they would have discovered that it went not to the customer service line … but to a pornographic sex line. Yikes!

It’s time to resurrect proofreading as a human skill. Read the words. Call the numbers. At some point, you’ll be very glad you did.

 

Author: Paula Marolewski

 

 

 

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Eight Work-From-Home Etiquette Tips

Eight Work-From-Home Etiquette Tips

 

Whether telecommuting is old hat or something you’ve been forced into as part of the COVID-19 shutdown, here are a few tips to make the experience run smoothly for both employers and employees.

 

Managing expectations

Successful work-from-home strategies always begin with clearly communicated expectations. Make sure your employees have any necessary equipment, tools and resources.  Will they need to track their time? Participate in regularly scheduled meetings? Be available at certain times of day? For employees, know what you’re accountable for and clearly communicate any challenges you’re having.

 

Constant communication

Keep the lines of communication open and be accessible. Check in with employees regularly through apps like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts and Skype, or even an old-fashioned email or phone call. Be genuinely interested in how they’re doing but don’t overdo it. Foster a feeling of trust by not micromanaging.

 

Nine to five…ish

While having a daily schedule is ideal, it may not always be practical right now. Make sure your people know when you need them to be available and try to offer flexibility at other times. They may be juggling school schedules as well as work schedules and working at “off-shift” times may be necessary. Be mindful of employees in different time zones as well.

 

For employees, try to work when you’re at your best, and not when you’re exhausted by kindergarten playtime and fourth grade math. Make sure people know if you will be unavailable at certain times.

 

Taking a break

Getting up and moving clears the head and helps with creativity and problem-solving. Whether it’s a walk around the block or a break for lunch, make time to get away from your desk throughout the day.

 

Signing off

Working from home does not mean being available 24/7. Set an actual end to the workday if possible. Don’t send and respond to messages at all hours. Sign out of messaging apps and close work programs. Understand and respect these boundaries.

 

Location, location, location

When setting up a home office, think about where you will have the fewest distractions – for yourself and for those who may be seeing you and your background on a video conferencing platform. Try to avoid busy spots that may include semi-clad people walking behind you, barking dogs and kids vying for your attention.

 

Conferencing and calls

Be clear about whether you expect people to turn on their cameras during meetings. If so, be clear about how they should be dressed. During calls, mute your phone when you’re not talking to avoid background noise. Headphones can also help with call quality. When speaking, pause frequently so others can participate in the conversation.

 

Social engagement

It’s ok for managers and employees to have some down time together, which may help ward off feelings of isolation. Keep up your normal level of interaction, perhaps with a virtual coffee break or happy hour. Managers should set the tone for how casual to be. Let employees choose what they would like to share, and never pry into areas that were off-limits before.

 

 

Author: Erin Alderfer

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