Judy's comments

Holly,

Welcome to Biznik. I've always been in awe of people who can make something beautiful from nothing. Hope you find the support and resources you are looking for here.

Great article, Liam. You have raised some important questions.

Free, useful content is a marketing tool for many, many people. But I do not think you can present 20 seminars/workshops on the same topic, with the same curriculum, and just start charging all of a sudden.

I am not opposed to a paid workshop if there is value. What I think works best is to present a small chunk of content and promote the full deal to the same attendees in the form of a larger, more comprehensive workshop that answers many of the questions they are still left with after the "mini-workshop."

I think sometimes there is a "chips and salsa" mentality with presenters. If you sit down at a Mexican restaurant and they keep refilling your bowl of chips, eventually you will get full on the free stuff and won't order dinner.

There should be a balance between the chips and salsa and the more substantial dinner.

I am very interested in hearing others' thoughts on this.

How funny, Ed. I was reading some interviews with speechwriters and they all said the same thing. I think when you come up with a good line, it's probably natural that the "author" or speaker would want to own that themselves.

Sounds like a fascinating, and challenging, process, especially when you need to make sure that your words and the personality/voice of the person you are writing for are always in synch.

Interesting discussion. I have always suspected that speechwriting for politicians is a collaborative process between the writer and the candidate.

As far as Obama goes, that seems to be true. Newsweek interviewed Obama's writer, Jon Favreau. He said,

"What I do is sit with him for half an hour. He talks. I type everything he says. I reshape it. He writes. He reshapes it. That's how we get to the finished product."

An interesting sounding book is about to be released: "White House Ghosts: Presidents and their Speechwriters" by Robert Schlesinger of the Huffington Post. I think I'm going to have to buy that one.

Ed,

Thanks for this refreshing look at taglines. Your three tips are excellent.

As a long-time watcher of political campaigns, I don't think "change" was the key word in Obama's campaign. Too many other candidates have used that word. I think that bringing "we" into it was brilliant.

Oh, but Pamela and Dan: Shouldn't that book really be called "Say It Like Obama's Speechwriters"?

Sorry, as a writer, I just couldn't resist that.

Useful tips, Shannon.

I truly believe that if people think too much about the details when they write their first draft (punctuation, grammar, etc.), they lose their writing voice. So your next to the last paragraph, about appealing to the reader on an emotional level, is great advice.

After the real you has come out on the page, with personality, emotion, and attitude, then it's easier to go back and edit for clarity and flow.

Over the years, I've gotten a lot better at editing my own work, but I think, in some cases, it can help to turn it over to a new pair of eyes.

This is an interesting topic and timely for me because I just started a five-part series on writing e-letters over at my blog.

Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

Thanks, Anita. I'll share this with Bob, the in-house Cat's Eye designer!

Way too many to list. Okay, I'll try:

Jazz: Hiroshima; Spyro Gyra; Earl Clugh; Dave Brubeck ("Take Five").

Opera: the Pavarotti benefit concert for the children of Bosnia.

Rock: anything Springsteen, Beatles, of course; the Kinks Greatest Hits (Come Dancin'!)

Ballads: James Taylor ("Carolina on My Mind," a song that always makes me cry); Carly Simon; Carole King ("You've Got a Friend,")

Blues: Ray Charles, my all-time favorite; BB King.

Other: Jimmy Buffet; Manhattan Transfer; Chieftans (authentic Irish music Bob introduced me to); the Nylons (a cappella group with incredible harmonies).

I could go on. I think I'll go put some music on.

Many times, Jonathan.

What you say, whatever it is, just doesn't seem to get through to them. It's like they don't listen and they go right on with their pitch.

Sometimes it's just easier to say "no, thank you" and hang up.

I'd love to hear a great one-liner to respond with, if anyone has one. Particularly one dripping with sarcasm.

Michele,

What an excellent post. I left a comment. Everyone should read this!

I will definitely check it out, Michelle.

New York Times. Wow, that's awesome!

Welcome, Kevin. What a cool business.

I look forward to meeting you at an event down the road.

So sorry to have to cancel. I worked all weekend on meeting my seven (!) writing deadlines, but it just didn't happen. I'll be working into the evening. They are magazine/newspaper deadlines, so they are unmovable!!

Hope there will be another Twist event in December.

I did a lot of research on multi-sensory marketing in my Master's degree work and, in fact, recently wrote a blog post on it.

Yes, the sense of smell is the most potent and memorable. It is also a little more challenging to use in marketing. And, frankly, scents are so personal that they mean different things to different people.

I think that "neuromarketing" just is a new way of saying that we should address all the senses and all the ways people learn and take in new information. There are people who listen and learn better through auditory channels and then there are people who retain information more easily when they see it.

This is an interesting discussion and I'd love to hear other viewpoints.

Thanks, Leif, for introducing the topic.

I definitely do not fit the stereotype, if in fact the smiling woman is a stereotype.

Bob has to take dozens and dozens of shots of me to get a smile. Most times it ends up looking more like a smirk. I'm just not comfortable wearing a huge grin in a photo.

If I had my way, I'd look more like Mike (well, smile-wise, that is). : )

You know, McCain gave a gracious concession speech (minus his boo-ers). I don't really feel bad for him, though. He charted his course, communicated his plan, and it wasn't my vision for America (or obviously, a lot of other people's).

But, even though I supported Hillary, it was a momentous moment.

The thing is, I'm not looking for a rock star. Don't need that in a president. Just want someone who understands the problems of the "middle class" and will finally give us our due.

I don't like the divisions either, Darol.

But I wouldn't have been "okay with either." Obama wasn't my first choice (my daughter was an Obama delegate and I was an alternate delegate to the Democratic national convention in 1972– talk about full circle!), but I say, let's give him a chance. He certainly has his work cut out for him.

Brent,

I understand what you are saying. And Arthur, I get your point, too. Boy, I'm beginning to sound like a politician myself!

While I think that smart, determined biz owners can weather just about any administration, I look far beyond "is it good for my business" when I vote. There are so many other important issues.

And I firmly believe that who is in the Congress and who is the prez does make a difference, particularly for us small businesses. I am tired of corporations that make unwise and unhealthy decisions (AIG), then get bailed out by the taxpayer, then turn around and give their CEO (Willumstad) an "exit package" of $8.7 million.

Just tired. Already voted. Please, everyone, VOTE!

What a great conversation.

Lee is right. Having something to do certainly helps. A friend and fellow blogger told me I was wise to host our Networking the Island Way event because, unbelievably it takes your focus off yourself and your own social fears. You are too busy making sure everyone else has what they need. It definitely helps.

It's really great, Brent, isn't it? I love the fact that I can develop an online relationship with someone in Sausalito or Boston and explore mutually beneficial partnerships. (And my new friend from Boston will be visiting Seattle in December so we will have a chance to have coffee!)

Glad Biznik is working for you.

This article is something I needed to read today. I struggle with my "secluded-self" and it is probably no coincidence that I live and work on an island.

The energy issue is so huge. I can write and blog and comment on forums and copywrite all day and I'm awake and alive. But put me in a room with 30 or 40 people and nametags and I get all anxious. And I am exhausted by the time I leave.

I think some of us introverts are the types who like to focus, I mean really focus, get into a problem or idea and stay there. And we can pass hours that way.

You have given me something to think about, Rachel. And us introverts, boy do we love to think!

Excellent article. Thanks.