Knowing the difference between formal and informal situations when writing an email

Knowing the Difference Between Formal and Informal Situations When Writing An Email

Copyright (c) 2009 Luie De Von

An e-mail marketer should be able to tell the differences between formal and informal situations if he/she wants to make his/her email marketing strategy works. Formal wordings are used when writing an email for business purposes. It shows how professional the sender is. On the other hand, you can write an email for friends and family members using informal words and phrases. Here are some of the differences between formal and informal that you need to know and remember when writing your business emails.

— Standard English terms are used for formal e-mail writing. Informal writing allows the use of colloquial words and expressions. Colloquial words are widely used by people all over the world, but still, it is not yet considered formal.

— Always keep in mind that when you are using contractions, write them in their complete form like will not, have not, do not, should not, does not, can not, etc. People often make the mistake of using won’t, can’t, don’t, shouldn’t, doesn’t, haven’t, etc.

— Using clichés like vast majority of, each individual child, utilization of resources, etc. when writing an e-mail is also not considered formal. You can use terms such as preferred like most, each child, the use of, and others instead.

— You should also be cautious when using abbreviations in your e-mails. Keep in mind that you should never use shortened form of words such as tv, digicam, aircon, pro, photo, etc. Instead, you should use television, digital camera, air conditioner, professional, photograph, etc.

— When writing a formal e-mail, you should always use the passive voice while active voice is for informal writing.

A business letter is always written in a formal way. It uses a formal tone to make it more professional. But when it comes to e-mail marketing, marketers have found that using a more informal tone makes their communications have a friendlier tone. This generates more positive responses from prospective customers.

Let us enumerate the differences between formal and informal e-mail writing when it comes to email marketing.

Use proper opening and closing salutations. It is very important that you maintain civility when writing your salutations. Using Mr., Mrs., Madam, etc is still the best way to address your recipient. Addressing your recipients by their first names or nicknames is only used when you are writing an informal e-mail. Also, do not forget to say «Thank You» to show appreciation that they spent time in opening and reading your letter.

Do not use smileys. Although it is important to show your recipient how you feel through your e-mail, never make the mistake of including smileys. Although it is an informal tone you are using when writing the business e-mail, it is still inappropriate to use smileys.

Check your grammar and spelling. How would you feel if you received an e-mail that is supposedly for business purposes and the grammar is really bad or there are lots of misspelled words? This is why it is important to proofread your message before hitting the «Send» button. You should always use the correct form of the words, phrases and sentences. Scan the letter for possible typographical errors and check as well if you have used the correct punctuation marks.

Do not use all caps. Sometimes, readers feel that the sender of the e-mail is somehow shouting or yelling at them when words are capitalized. That is why you should avoid capitalizing all the letters of a word or words when writing a formal e-mail. You can either italicize the word or put an asterisk before it to show emphasis.

Observe correct capitalization. Whether it is a formal or informal e-mail writing, always bear in mind that proper capitalization is very important. The first letter of the first word in your sentences should be capitalized. Proper nouns should also be capitalized.

Interaction is where the outdated idea of mass marketing, advertising together with

Interaction is Where the Outdated Idea of Mass Marketing, Advertising Together With

… Broadcast Media, finally bite the dust!

Because no longer is the Marketing message, «We want your money». To day the Marketing message has to be «We want your opinions».

Because the moment you put that into real practice you can have everything you’ve always wanted, sales, customer relationships and also Brand loyalty.

And the next time you hear those words «Let’s research it» remember that research works against the very thing you desperately need in your Marketing efforts, creativity and risk taking, both crucially necessary to the successful development of your products or services.

However replacing research with interaction changes all the opportunities to successful marketing. «Yes», you can say,» «Interactive Events will create my new products»

However at the moment Big Business is not making the correct decisions regarding interaction. Maybe some people within these organisations know and understand what’s happening out there in consumer land. But the dreadful fact is that giving their voice to such statements would, more probably, seriously damage their career growth!

These days I search everywhere for the headline «Interactive Communication is a winning combination for all…The Client…The Media…and last but by no means least…your customer»!

It never appears.

Interactive Communication finally allows the revolution to commence. The revolution against one-size fits all advertising; the bland all-knowing corporate voice, the lack lustre politicians busily furnishing their own nests…from our money.

The fact of the matter is your customers, you, me and everybody else, do not trust business. We find it highly insulting to be treated this way and we mistrust you in numbers far greater than you or your advertising/marketing people allow for.

Dialogue, two-way conversations, would start to change these hostile attitudes. You really do need to commence interactive events – right now. And you can do so in existing media.

Before I go on, I must emphasise that on no account let your Advertising Agency tempt you into spending big bucks on the Web.

Already the Advertising-as-Usual crowd is pouring billions into the Web, however be warned, as they said in the «Cluetrain Manifesto», «So you advertise on the Internet…so what»?

If you think you are wasting money on Advertising-as-Usual be very careful. The Internet, possibly, is a bigger waste of money than Advertising-as-Usual, and, as we all know, right now that is one Mother of a huge waste of money!

«Why?» you may ask «has it all changed from the safe secure way of marketing in the past».

Simply put, Advertising-as-Usual, together with its handmaiden Broadcasting-as-Usual have treated us with too much contempt.

According to a recent article in the Times, TV executives commonly think of viewers’ phone revenue as «moron tax».

And this attitude of utter contempt pervades the executives of advertising and Broadcast-as-Usual, and expresses itself in all the offerings of a rip-off culture, from government to TV companies.

And bear in mind that Advertising-as-Usual and Broadcast-as-Usual hold Clients in great contempt as well. They rejoice in removing large chunks of your Marketing Budgets, to then waste them in rip-off ventures that only worsen the publics’ contempt for you…so in effect they are spending your money to get you into a ever worsening situation.

Trust is a must have asset. You now must harness interactive communication to get the trust, and results, because if you don’t somebody else will and they, in turn, will drive you out of business.

Trust based relationship lies between the extremes of command and control and empowerment in business.

Interactive marketing communication, using existing media, is a practical way of reaching out and building up a powerful relationship, and trust, with every single person you need to make your business successful.

Lcd tv installation made simple

Lcd Tv Installation Made Simple

A lot of us prefer flat screen LCD and Plasmas over conventional TVs. If you have just bought a LCD TV and wondering where and how to fix it, look for appropriate mounts. Apart from mounts, there are other things that are required to fix your new TV on one of your favorite walls. Whatever your needs maybe, look online and get all that you need to fix your flat paneled TV. Now fixing your dream entertainment system at you home is as easy as a breeze with right flat screen TV mount and other products. You can also get help in terms of fixing them also. Everything related to installation of LCD or plasma TV at your place is at your fingertips now.

Recessed Cable Control Plate can be useful in connecting your flat TV to A/V components or receiver without any mess. If you do not want to show the cables and want to conceal them smartly, this cable control plate is a must. All your AV cables are relocated behind wall with clean and organized installation method using control plate. You do not have to deal with hideous wires anymore as cable control plate hides them underneath. TV mounts are also necessary for holding your flat screened LCD or Plasma TV. You can get different types of TV mounts that include ones that stand on the floor and others to hang your TV on wall. You can buy the easy to install TV mounts using internet now. Look for a company that provides you with LCD wall mounting kit to make your work easier.

Apart from TV mounts, cable control panel, recessed power receptacle is an important tool for placing your LCD. After acquiring the required equipments, you can also refer to guides online fir hanging your TV properly. There is ample information provided by the experts to hang the TV in place and without any botheration. Even with the detailed instructions, you still have problems in installing your TV, do not mess anymore and take professional help.

These professionals are well acquainted with installation process and also know where to place your entertainment system so that the place looks good and you are comfortable watching it. All the hardware that is required by your system is also looked for by these experts. They can help you with addition and system upgrades on timely basis so that you enjoy convenient and enjoyable Television experience. Consult the people who know about this area and you will be relish great services.

Look for the company that provides TV installation products, professional services for installation and also information on using these products. Getting in touch with such a company will help you in saving your valuable money and time. Have a happy entertainment experience with professional assistance by your side. Whether it is buying Recessed Outlet for your Plasma or availing services of installation; search online and let the experts handle it for you. You will not have a hard time setting up your entertainment system now.

How to hire a pr firm

How to Hire a PR Firm

As a professional PR, I’ve never liked the way movies portray public relations people. Usually, they’re characterized by Hollywood as slick talking flim-flam artists who promise the universe and deliver next to nothing.

And there’s a reason why Hollywood zeroes in on that rendering of PR pros — because our profession does have its share of people who are just like that. I wish it weren’t true, because the vast majority of PR professionals have integrity and work hard to earn their clients’ trust. But the bad apples do exist, and every time I hear real life stories about those kinds of PR people, it infuriates me.

I received a call the other day from a potential client who described to me her campaign that was executed by a retainer-based PR firm (and they charged a bundle) that was so shoddy and mismanaged, it cast a dark shadow over the entire profession in her mind. And, just in the past month, I had similar conversations with two other companies who also had bad experiences with PR agencies.

The sad thing is these bad experiences could have been prevented or foreseen if only the client knew what questions to ask during the hiring process. As I care very much about my profession and the people we serve, let me share some insight about what questions you should ask your PR agency BEFORE you sign on the dotted line. If you get satisfactory answers to these questions, you’ll be well along the road to a successful campaign. «Do you have experience in my industry?» — All PR agencies are not alike, and agencies that tell you they can handle anything aren’t necessarily telling the whole truth. An agency doesn’t need to be a specialist in your particular industry, but it’s important to know something of your industry in order to understand your business. It’s essential for being able to understand the underlying news angles prevalent in your industry and in the news, and for being able to write strong pitches that represent you well to the media. You don’t want to pay for your agency’s learning curve, so make sure they have experience in your industry.

«What mediums do you specialize in? Print? Radio? TV? All of the above?» — More than 95 percent of all PR firms tend to specialize in print media. But, if your company’s message also plays well on radio or television, make sure the agency can deliver that as well. And the issues go deeper than just the type of media, but also the size of the outlets. If you want to be interviewed on talk radio shows, does the agency have contacts with high powered stations in top 100 markets, or will all your bookings be at LP (low power) stations in sparsely populated areas with few listeners. Ask what media they specialize in, and also ask for samples of past campaigns. If they can’t show them to you, chances are you won’t get the coverage you are paying for.

«Are you a pay for performance or retainer-based agency?» — This is an important question, because retainer-based agencies work on a «best-efforts» basis, meaning you are paying for their time and skill. Your risk is that you pay their monthly fee with no guarantee you’ll get the coverage and results you were hoping for. With pay for performance agencies, you’re guaranteed the media you pay for and in some cases you’re billed as you receive coverage, mitigating your risk as the client. A pay for performance agency doesn’t make money unless you get coverage so it’s a win-win situation.

«Can you provide samples of current client campaigns?» — This «look-see» will provide you the documentation to support the agency’s promise that they are actually capable of delivering against their promises. Compare your needs to their current clients, so you can assure yourselves there is a fit. Remember that good client case studies aren’t a guarantee you’ll get the same results. However, chances are that if the agency achieved success for other clients, the odds are decent that they’ll achieve comparable success for you.

«Are you a local, regional or national agency?» — Local agencies may feature lower costs, but their media contacts are limited to their own city. This is fine if all you need is local coverage. But if your company does business nationwide, you want to hire an agency who is speaking to national media every day. An agency with national media contacts is far more preferable than an agency with a media database service that they use to «dial for dollars.» With that in mind, don’t choose an agency just because they’re located in your city and you get «face-to-face» time. What matters more is whether they meet your criteria for getting the job done.

«Who will be managing my campaign?» — With many agencies, the role of senior management is to bring in new clients, not actually execute the work. So, before you choose an agency ask about the level of experience of the person or people who will be working on your campaign. In some agencies, Account Managers are rookies fresh from college or interns playing a key role in the execution of campaigns. As an insider, I highly recommend that you ask questions about the qualifications of the team who will be handling your account.

In addition to asking these questions, make sure to choose a firm that understands your topic, has enthusiasm for your message and can communicate about it intelligently. In the end, you want a firm that you feel comfortable and confident with so you can establish a long-term working relationship.

Increase the value of every sale

Increase the Value of Every Sale

Most of us are very familiar with the up-sell. My most memorable up-sell experience was buying a jeep. The advertised cost was “Starting at $17,500”. That got me interested. I drove away with a $24,000 jeep. How’d that happen? The up-sell.

Up-sells are predicated on one simple idea: multiple product and service levels. If you only have one standard offering, you can’t make the up-sell. If you have multiple levels from basic to standard to superior then you have the opportunity to up-sell. Cars have base models, sport models and options. Gasoline has regular and premium. Cable TV has basic 20 channels, 40 channels and 80 channels.A great management tip you can take away from this is that multiple product and service levels allow us to sell people the level of service they desire and serve the needs of a wide market.

So when is the best time to offer the up-sell? To understand this we need to review the customer purchasing cycle.

All customers go through four basic stages when making a purchase:

1. Shop for it and make a decision to buy

2. Order it and work out the details

3. Get it and pay for it

4. Use it

When you are still deciding what to buy you are researching, price shopping, comparing features and doing all the things you need to convince yourself you really need to purchase something and deciding where the best place to do that would be. I call this the shopping stage. During this stage you looking at what is available and who you can trust. There is so much information, that you can’t possibly start to consider all the details of each possible purchase. This is not the time to up-sell. You must sell before you can up-sell. Up-selling at this stage can turn people away.

At some point along the way you make a decision. You pick a place and a thing (or a service) and you decide “I’m going to do this”. From a business perspective something very important has just happened. You have started to imagine you already own it. You have crossed a very important psychological boundary from shopping to ordering. You are no longer comparison shopping and wondering if you really need it, you have decided you are going to take the necessary steps to get it. You are now open to the up-sell.

The best time to consider offering your customers the super-duper package is after the purchase decision has been made. This is a simple idea and also a very important concept to understand because it works. It is so important that many businesses hand you off to a different department as soon as they determine the purchase decision has been made.

When you buy a car, the sales person takes you to the decision point, then the “manager” works out price and lays out the “additional items” that you won’t want to turn down because they are so important.

When you go to the till in an electronics store they then ask if you want to add the “extended warranty”. None of these were mentioned during the conversation with the sales person that convinced you to buy. All of them are valuable to you, and increase the overall value of the sale to the business. They are all up-sell opportunities.

Offering multiple levels of your product or service allows you to employ up-sell strategies to increase the value of your average sale. The up-sell offerings must be of genuine value to the consumer, and are generally accepted best if you wait until after the initial purchase decision to offer them. For some types of up-sells you may even want someone other than the sales person to offer it to the customer when they are placing the actual order.Did you find this article useful?  For more useful tips and   hints, points to ponder and keep in mind, techniques, and insights pertaining to credit card, do please browse for more information at our websites.
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