Toronto expects its politicians to be open, engaging and authentic. And what better way to demonstrate these traits than social media. Politicians use social media to deliver announcements and key messages. That’s a given. A select few, however, truly understand the power of social media. These politicians go outside their comfort zone, using social media […]
Category Archives: Communications
How to Respond to Anonymous Trolls, Ragers and Bullies on Twitter
If you’re a regular Twitter user, chances are you have received at least one negative tweet in your lifetime. Scores of people have faced harassment on the social network. And organizations, too, have had their Twitter marketing campaigns highjacked by torrents of negative tweets. Opportunities abound for individuals and organizations alike. But anonymous trolls and […]
Why Are You So Boring? My First Date With Periscope
When I tried the Periscope live streaming app for the first time, I really didn’t know what to expect. Like other people who work with social media, I thought the best approach would be to dive in like I would a cold Ontario lake. I made myself the Guinea pig. Though I was nervous, I […]
7 Practical Email Management Tips to Make Your Job Less Stressful
Love it or hate it, email management is an important part of the modern workplace. According to a survey conducted by the McKinsey Global Institute, office workers spend 2.6 hours per day reading and answering emails. That’s a lot of time! Emails are a primary mode of communications for many work settings and should be treated […]
9 Eye-Opening Takeaways From the World’s Largest Gathering of Professional Communicators
On June 4th, leading communicators from across the globe converged in New Orleans to connect, network and learn at the International Association of Business Communicators’ (IABC) 2016 World Conference. I was fortunate enough to attend this event and partake in the jazz and gumbo-infused festivities. I was expecting to learn about new tactics and technologies, but […]
6 Awareness-Expanding Exercises to Become a Better Communicator
What separates an amazing communicator from everyone else? What makes an entertainer funny, a writer intriguing and a politician inspiring? On the surface, entertainers, writers and politicians may not look like they have a lot in common, however, they do share one common attribute: heightened awareness of their target audience. To connect with your audience, […]
Why Politically Correct Communications Is Good for Business
For many, “political correctness” is a pejorative term and comparable to some form of Orwellian thought suppression. Some may find it annoying: We have all experienced a moment when we had to double check an email to ask ourselves, “Will this offend someone?” But is politically correct communications such a bad thing? From now on, […]
What’s More Important? Meeting a Deadline vs. Content Quality
Have you experienced the following at work: You need to send an important document to the printer in less than an hour. However, you’re pretty sure the content isn’t up to par. You’ve made some edits, but just not enough to meet your high standards. You don’t know what to do. Do you submit the document […]
How to Cover an Event on Social Media from Start to Finish
Expand your event’s reach by reporting it live on social media! Long gone are the days when your event’s reach was limited to the number of butts you could get into the seats. With social media, you can now reach a potentially larger virtual audience, increasing engagement with your community along the way. But social […]
10 Ways to Repurpose Website Content to Help Spread Your Message
Have you ever experienced a creative block while producing content for your website? Creating website content can be a tough, time-consuming process. But it doesn’t have to be this way. There are many ways you can repurpose website content that will not only save you creative energy, but will also help you reach a larger […]