BeTuitive: audio publication

Everybody's Workin' for the Weekend

Posted on May 14, 2007 by Vinnie Lacey.

When was the last time you told a job interviewer you have trouble getting things done? Probably never. We all like to think productivity is our strong suite. In reality, getting things done is a common obstacle, with nuances for every job position and industry.

Not to fear. No, really...c'mon now...take your forehead off the keyboard and get those pencil erasers out of your ears.

There are a few things that anyone can do in today's time-crunched business world to turn unsightly "to do's" into gold star "all done's." Our friends over at Yahoo Finance share these "Five Steps to Being More Productive."

Now excuse me while I go clean out my inbox.

May 14, 2007 in audio publication, award winning blog, award winning design, award winning magazine, award winning newsletter, Award winning publications, Blog Outsourcing, blog publish, Blogging Tools, Blogs, Brand enhancement, build credibility, Building B2B Relationships, Building Customer Community, Building Customer Intuition, bulk email marketing, business credibility, Business editorial, business magazine, Business Marketing | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Custom Publishing Growth

Posted on May 08, 2007 by Kathryn Regina.

A new study by the Custom Publishing Council found that companies are investing more in custom publishing than ever before, the magazine format is gaining in popularity, and the average company has 2.3 custom publishing titles.

Read the article

Simple and Balanced for Perfection

Posted on March 21, 2007 by Kevin G.

I find that being organized and well-balanced is one of the best strategies to take to ensure a productive and satisfying work week.

Often times the week starts out as planned as we manage tasks and then mid-way through we find ourselves pulled in every direction to please the whole world. Well, so it seems.

With custom publishing, it’s important to keep a balanced and fresh feel with each issue. If you feel the content is too sales oriented, try adding a cartoon or survey to engage your audience. If the publication engages the reader but fails to draw measurable results, try adding a sales incentive or response mechanism to monitor reception beyond open and click performance.

There are many different ways to balance the perfect publication. By keeping it simple and direct its hard to leave not satisfied with your results.

March 21, 2007 in audio publication, blog publish, Blogs, business magazine, Business Marketing, Business newsletter, Corporate publications, create email newsletter, how to publish online, inc magazine, online marketing, opt-in email, Opt-in Email Marketing, outsource magazine, publish online | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Grass-rooted Publishing...by Tree

Posted on March 05, 2007 by Vinnie Lacey.

Glancing through the Chicago Tribune on my morning commute, I read a fascinating article about the tumultuous Darfur region in Sudan. Instead of the typical stories of genocide and rape, the article focused on a young woman from El Fasher (the capital of the North Darfur state) named Awatif Ahmed Isshag. Isshag began a handwritten monthly newsletter covering local events, arts and religion nearly 10 years ago, and found a colorful way to distribute her articles by pasting decorated pages to a large piece of wood and hanging the creation from a tree outside her parents' home. These days, the 24-year-old journalist's grass-roots periodical often confronts the often tragic circumstances in the region, with Isshag conducting all her own interviews and information gathering. Passersby eat it up, some traveling several miles to read her installments. Isshag faces pressing issues--threats to her safety, constant insecurity, the loss of relatives--but she bravely soldiers through it all. "Journalism," she says, "is a profession of risk."

I'll refrain from giving any ill-conceived comparisons to custom publishing, but it's interesting how the struggle to accumulate and disseminate important information can bind us across cultures. Isshag has found incredibly creative--and brave--means to deliver her message to the community who needs it. A community that has largely been without a voice, but where one courageous woman is carving out quite the readership.

If only every publication could take such risks. Catch up on Isshag's story here.

March 5, 2007 in audio publication, award winning magazine, award winning newsletter, Blog Outsourcing, blog publish, CMO, company blog, company magazine, company newsletter, Company newsletters, Company publication, Corporate Blogging, corporate magazine, Corporate newsletter, create a newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

In Review: No Yelling

Posted on February 28, 2007 by Kevin G.

No Yelling: The 9 Secrets of Great Leaders

“What is your major malfunction?” Not exactly the words you would expect to hear from your boss (unless his last name is Patton, and he prefers pushups to coffee in the morning).

We all communicate in different ways to get what we want. Managers, CEOs and other leaders need to understand the necessary steps to take to get their team to work as a unit and get what they want. The US Marine Corps. manufactures leaders through effective training in the physical and mental realms. Former marine, Wally Adamchik, knows the methods to handle high stress situations, manage a team, and complete tasks that mirror the likeness of the business world.

In No Yelling: The 9 Secrets of Marine Corps Leadership You Must Know to Win in Business, Adamchik lets readers in on this classified information:

1. Integrity

The individuals that work with--not underneath--you need to trust and respect your efforts by demonstrating integrity. By building trust, maintaining consistency and establishing non-negotiable terms, your integrity as a leader will develop.

2. Technical Competence

Demonstrate the knowledge and ability to complete the menial, labor-intensive or specialized tasks your workers do for you. By offering a sincere effort to level with your team, they learn to accept and respect your role as a leader.

3. Set the Example

Delegating work to a team does not ensure its completion. Maintaining professional composure and being a role model for others communicates what a leader expects out of a team.

4. Self-Awareness

It is impossible to be conscious of the tasks and people around you if your personal standards of practice are not identified. Being self-aware allows leaders to assess unique situations, recognize effective methods of team members, and continually improve leadership style.

5. Take Care of People

A happy worker is a good worker. Recognize workers’ accomplishments, give sincere attention to concerns, and make a natural effort to connect on a personal level. What goes around comes around.

6. Make New Leaders

The leader will not be there forever, and the team must be able to uphold its responsibilities for the company. By developing a team of leaders culturally and personally, each member will take ownership and pride in their tasks as they become accountable for successful completion.

7. Commander’s Intent

When a team knows where it’s headed and why, it will be more willing to spearhead new initiatives and venture into uncharted territory.

8. Culture and Values

By creating a positive and productive working culture with an honest and comprehensive value system, a team will be able to identify and respect the foundations of their company.

9. Rehearsals and Critiques

Creating scenarios for your team to practice within allows for mistakes to be made. When these mistakes are critiqued in a clear and non-threatening, non-judgmental manner, your team will be conscious and motivated to minimize recurrence of the same error.

In Review

At the end of this book, these secrets may seem like common knowledge—but that’s a result of the clear examples and content that progresses naturally from one secret to the next.

These secrets not only identify the personal qualities a leader must have, but also address the practices necessary to foster a happy and productive team. Though you might occasionally want to shout “Drop and give me 20,” No Yelling makes it clear how good leadership is created for any team. As you were, soldier.

February 28, 2007 in audio publication, award winning blog, award winning design, award winning newsletter, Award winning publications, Blog Outsourcing, Blogging Tools, Blogs, Brand enhancement, Building B2B Relationships, Building Customer Community, Building Customer Intuition, business credibility, Business editorial, business magazine | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Mapping Your Search Results

Posted on February 21, 2007 by Kevin G.

I found a great new search engine that displays your search results in a whole new way.

Imagine viewing and modifying your search results in a visual format - like cities displayed on a map. The name of the search engine is Quintura. When you type in a keyword, the search engine will display related terms in varying placement and font size. I haven’t figured out the reasoning behind it, but it might have something to do with relevancy or amount of information.

It’s like sorting through search terms on a map. Try it out for yourself.

February 21, 2007 in audio publication, award winning design, award winning newsletter, Blog Outsourcing, Blogging Tools, Brand enhancement, Building B2B Relationships, Building Customer Intuition, business credibility, business magazine, Business newsletter, Business relationships, company blog, company newsletter, Company newsletters | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Reviving Stewardship

Posted on February 19, 2007 by Vinnie Lacey.

In the business of custom publishing, we here at BeTuitive always have to be mindful of copyright and plagiarism. After all, word-smithing is part of what we do, day in and day out. Not to mention that a crucial aspect of our credibility is ensuring the originality and authenticity of the work we produce, both for ourselves and our clients.

But are we, as the model of capitalist societies, too obsessed with the claims of private ownership in our created works? Has the rush to stake claim to their seemingly inalienable rights destroyed the public domain that these works also naturally reside in?

The author Jonathan Lethem gives an excellent treatment of these questions in this month's Harper's Magazine. Lethem's mini position paper, "The Ecstasy of Influence," got me thinking about what we are quick to deem worthy of protection these days. The article does get rather heavy at times, as a good position paper should, but I found some of his ruminations very interesting and worth the time. One of my favorites is Lethem's distinction between a market economy and a gift economy.

Check it out.

February 19, 2007 in audio publication, award winning design, award winning magazine, Blog Outsourcing, blog publish, Blogs, Brand enhancement, Building B2B Relationships, Business newsletter, CMO, Company publication, Corporate Blogging, corporate magazine, Corporate newsletter, create a newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

It's my Truthiness and I'll Stick to It

Posted on January 25, 2007 by Kevin G.

I always make it a top priority to stay on top of news developing throughout the day. Spending time at the New York Times and CNN web pages gives me a good portion of my world news, but I always try to keep myself well-rounded. I’m a little bit country and a little bit Rock’n Roll – but mostly rock.

So, another source I commonly utilize for my news intake is the always credible program, the Colbert Report, on Comedy Central. Ok, I may not use it directly as a news source, but how can you deny a show that counts the times Nancy Pelosi blinked during the president’s recent State of the Union address? A reason why I choose to stay out of politics all together.

Anyways, the show is great, but I was intrigued to see that the Colbert Report now utilizes a blog. It’s is always great to establish relationships in the blogosphere. So how about it Steven? I’ll comment on yours if you comment on mine. Let’s build synergy…for the people.

January 25, 2007 in audio publication, award winning magazine, Award winning publications, Blogging Tools, Brand enhancement, Building Customer Community, bulk email marketing, business magazine, Business newsletter, CMO, company magazine, Company newsletters, Corporate Blogging, corporate magazine, Corporate newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Waxing Grammar

Posted on January 23, 2007 by Kathryn Regina.

Whether you run into the occasional grammar roadblock or are a full-fledged word junkie, I recommend Patricia T. O'Connor's blog at Grammarphobia.com. O'Connor is the author of the entertainingly comprehensive book Woe is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English. Her daily blog answers questions from readers regarding grammar and etymology. The site also includes writing tips, grammar myths and links to other language resources.

My favorite blog of the week is today's entry on the origins of the phrase "waxing eloquent."

January 23, 2007 in audio publication, award winning blog, award winning design, award winning magazine, award winning newsletter, Award winning publications, Blog Outsourcing, blog publish, Blogging Tools, Blogs, Brand enhancement, build credibility, Building B2B Relationships, Building Customer Community, Building Customer Intuition | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

A Winging Sales Plan

Posted on January 22, 2007 by Vinnie Lacey.

By day I help customers make informed decisions on custom publications to improve their business and add value to their relationships; by night I perform, direct and sit in rapt attention of some of the most amazing improvisational theater that this fine city has to offer. As the locals know, Chicago is the mecca for improv and sketch comedy in America, with institutions like Second City, IO (formerly ImprovOlympic) and the Annoyance Theater carrying the torch on social and political satire. At its finest, it's nearly impossible to walk away from a show without an interesting reflection on the human experience. And...oh yes, it's downright hilarious.

Because I am so passionate about the art, I often look for connections between improv and my personal life--discovering answers to important questions like what motivates me, what brings me joy and what leaves me downright frustrated. And as a recent Washington Post article brought to mind, improv remains just as relevant to the world of business.

I was particularly struck by one of the big questions the author raises: How can you teach people to be funny? The query is all too familiar to any improv director wondering how to lead spontaneity, prompt genius, and tackle any other number of seemingly insurmountable oxymorons. Whew.

What I found from my several years of performing and short time directing is this: it's rarely successful to just tell someone what they are doing wrong; the direction that sticks is always a matter of discovery. So I try to lead through challenges (hey, try taking an exaggerated pose before delivering each line!) and repetition (you just said something significant--say it again!). These strategies have been far more effective than my default 20-minute tirade on the merits of "yes anding" your scene partner. And far more rewarding: witnessing the light bulb going off in a performer's brain in the middle of a scene is a pure delight.

How does this relate to the world of sales? I'm willing to bet few complex business deals have ever met success with a colorful brochure, a strong handshake, and a canned sales pitch. That--like my previous bad direction--is simply telling. And telling gets old fast.

So how to reach that promised land where their needs and our solutions thrive in glorious harmony? It's mostly a matter of the right Q & A. The targeted sales questions that lead a customer down a path to discovery--that is, verbalizing YOU as the solution to their imminent problems--is exactly what makes the best ideas stick.

Whether in improv or business, that is the "A HA!" moment that makes it all worthwhile.

January 22, 2007 in audio publication, award winning design, award winning magazine, award winning newsletter, Blogging Tools, Brand enhancement, build credibility, Building Customer Intuition, bulk email marketing, Business publications, Business relationships, company newsletter, Company publication, corporate magazine, create a newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

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