Note: If you are interested in a more direct connection with Randall Craig, please see Pinetree Braintrust, his professional mentoring group: http://www.PinetreeBraintrust.com

What catches your eye?

What can we learn from the world of advertising? That ads are intrusive or annoying might stand out for some, but billions are spent each year, in every country of the world -- surely something has been learned that can have direct applicability to us?

Efective advertising shares a number of key attributes. Consider this advertising checklist:

• Is the ad matched to the intended audience?
• Does the ad stand out from the noise of other ads?
• Does the ad have a clear message?
• Is it memorable?
• Does the ad build on - and help define - the underlying brand of the product?
• Is it free of silly mistakes?

All common sense, yet whenever we "advertise" our message, in proposals (or resumes), our efforts rarely measure up. We become lazy, relying on boilerplate, memorized presentations, and content that is irrelevant at best.

This week's action item: It's not just sales pitches that can be improved, but all of our communciations: from simple emails, to resumes, to complex proposals. This week, make sure that whatever you say or write catches the eye (or ear) of the audience. Before you deliver it, run it through the advertising checklist first.

Randall Craig is an expert on Career Planning, Work-Life Balance, and Networking; to find out how his workshops, webinars, and keynotes can help your team or add to your event, contact him through www.PersonalBalanceSheet.com, or by email at editor@ptadvisors.com.

Make It Happen Tipsheet
Comments or questions? let us know: editor@ptadvisors.com

Copyright © 2009 Knowledge to Action Press and Randall Craig. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: September 8, 2009