Six tips for slogging through blogging: Lessons from the Blogathon

“How can I force myself to blog regularly?”

The investment and wealth managers in my blogging teleclass often ask this question. I grappled with this challenge during the Word Count Blogathon, for which I committed to post daily. So now’s a good time for me to share tips with you.

Tip 1: “Set it and forget it.” Most blogging platforms allow you to schedule blog posts in advance. This potentially lets you put your blog on auto-pilot when you’re busy. During the Blogathon I learned how to take automation one step further. I set HootSuite to tweet my blog posts without human intervention. Read about "How to Add an RSS Feed" using HootSuite.

Tip 2: Blog when the spirit moves you, whether or not your schedule requires you to post. It’s much easier for me to blog when I’m in the mood. On a good day I can push out three or more blog posts. To help me write regardless of location, I always carry a spiral-bound notebook or pad of paper. It’s worthwhile jotting down blog ideas, not only full-fledged posts. It’s much easier to blog when you don’t face a blank PC screen or piece of paper.

Tip 3: Write posts that are “evergreen” or tied to a future event, so you’ll have material to post when you’re too busy to write. “Evergreen” articles aren’t time-sensitive. Like a pine tree, they don’t lose their attractiveness with the changing of the seasons.

I scheduled a bunch of evergreens to run between May 16 and May 31, when I was distracted by attending the CFA Institute’s annual conference and going on vacation out West.

Blog posts tied to events such as the April 15 tax deadline or the August-September “back to school” season aren’t evergreen. But they can be written and scheduled long before a timely date for posting.

Tip 4: Keep it short. Short blog posts are okay. Just pick one point and explain it. This is how I dealt with Jeremy Grantham’s wide-ranging presentation to the FA Institute’s annual conference. Having trouble writing economically about your topic? Slice it narrower.

Tip 5: React to online articles or blog posts. Notice when you have strong feelings upon reading something. Your passion makes it easier for you to jot down a quick blog post that links to the original article. Links spare you the need to describe the other author’s position in detail. However, it’s kind to your reader to briefly summarize what sparked your blog post.

Tip 6: Hire someone to type your blog posts if you dictate or write your drafts on paper. I drafted this post on a plane to Las Vegas. Later I scanned it for my virtual assistant to type. Or follow the suggestion that Bill Winterberg of the FPPad blog gives in the comments below.
____________________  
Receive a free 32-page e-book with client communications tips when you sign up for my free monthly newsletter.  

Copyright 2010 by Susan B. Weiner All rights reserved

Can you help with my Facebook dilemma?

Dilemma: I feel as if I need to change my Facebook (FB) strategy. I currently use it to hang out with family, friends, and fellow writers.

I'm sitting on two FB friend requests from people who feel like friends, but they are also in my business. 

Another source of pressure: I need to become a "fan" of client/referral source Facebook Fan Pages, so I can learn more about them. Once I do this, I will face more FB friend requests from people who are not family, friends, or writers. 

Which of the following four options should I pick?

1. Continue to accept friend requests only from people in my target categories. 

PRO: This preserves my relative privacy, though I should keep in mind that boundaries may still be breached. 

CON: Others may feel offended. Plus, I miss opportunities to deepen relationships with them.

2. Set up a second FB profile for Susan Weiner, CFA, which I'll use for business relationships.  

PRO: There's less risk of inappropriate information reaching my business contacts. 

CON: It becomes one more social media profile to maintain. Content will overlap with my non-business profile.

3. Set up a FB Fan Page for InvestmentWriting.com and try to direct business connections there, while keeping my FB page "personal."  

PRO: A fan page is more flexible than a profile for my business. 

CON: Fan page doesn't solve the problem of having a profile that I can use to "fan" business contacts' fan pages.

4. Accept friend requests from everyone, but control who can see what. 

PRO: This option involves the least extra work. 

CON: I'm bound to slip up on categorizing my updates, thus letting clients in on my squirrelmania, etc. Family or friends may make edgy comments on some of my posts.

What do YOU suggest? It would be great to get comments from you.

____________________
The next session of "How to Write Blog Posts People Will Read: A Five-Week Teleclass for Financial Advisors" will start in September. For more information, sign up to receive "Information on upcoming classes, workshops, and other events" as well as my free monthly newsletter.
Copyright 2010 by Susan B. Weiner All rights reserved

How I've benefited from Twitter

"Has being active in social media helped you grow your business?"

This question from a wealth manager set me thinking. Most of my new business still comes through old-fashioned referrals from people whom I've met face-to-face. But that's changing thanks to social media, especially Twitter. There's no doubt that my Twitter has helped my business. I see three main benefits.
 
#1 Bigger network of experts
When I've got a problem to solve, I can now call on a much bigger network of experts for help. This has been especially helpful with my technology challenges, where @RussThornton, @BillWinterberg, @RussellDunkin, @Blano, and @KristenLuke have been particularly helpful. This is just a sampling of my expert sources. There are many, many other experts on Twitter whom I've learned from.

#2 Bigger pool of prospective clients
Twitter has expanded my newsletter circulation, which is an important source of new clients. For example, most of my teleclass students have been newsletter subscribers for awhile. I've consistently gained more new subscribers post-Twitter than pre-Twitter.

One of my favorite clients found me through Twitter, got to know me better through my newsletter, and then became a client.

# 3 Convenient way to network and socialize
Twitter keeps me from feeling isolated as a solo entrepreneur. It also suits my style. I can hop off a work project for 10 minutes, read and chat with some folks, and then settle back to work. I don't need to spend an hour schlepping into Boston on the commuter rail and then an hour coming back.
 
Feeling happier from brief spurts of socializing help me to focus better when I'm doing actual work.

There are other benefits, too. But these three are enough to keep me tweeting.
____________________    
Receive a free 32-page e-book with client communications tips when you sign up for my free monthly newsletter.  

Copyright 2010 by Susan B. Weiner All rights reserved

Which blogging platform should I use?

If you're not yet blogging, you're probably wondering which blogging platform to use.

WordPress seems the most popular. If I were starting my blog today, I'd probably go with WordPress rather than Blogger. I'm no expert on blogging platforms, so you'll find below some opinions from folks who know more than me.

Technology specialist Bill Winterberg told me via Twitter that he prefers Wordpress "because if you need new functions, there's likely a plugin available. Support and forums are comprehensive, too." Speaking of plugins, Bill told me about Akismet, a spam-blocking plug-in that's available for WordPress, but not Blogger. By the way, as I understand it, a plug-in is software that expands the capabilities of a larger piece of software--but don't quote me on that.

The Tech for Luddites blog, written by my friend Elizabeth Kricfalusi, compares Blogger vs. TypePad vs. WordPress in "Picking a Platform for Your Blog." She also favors WordPress. If you're a non-technical person with computer questions, you may enjoy her blog, with its motto, "Increase Proficiency. Decrease Profanity." 

For a blogging platform comparison from another source, check out the "Blogger vs. WordPress Comparison Table 2010."

WordPress was also the choice of the financial advisors who took my recent class on "How to Write Blog Posts People Will Read" (next session starts April 22).
 
I'd be happy to get comments on this post from those of you who are more knowledgeable about blogging platforms.
____________________
Sign up for  "How to Write Blog Posts People Will Read: A Five-Week Teleclass for Financial Advisors" starting April 22 or join the list for my free monthly newsletter.
Copyright 2010 by Susan B. Weiner All rights reserved

Poll: Would you hire a ghost blogger for your company?

Investment and wealth managers have great skills. But writing isn't necessarily one of them. So what's a financial professional to do now that blogging is an important part of marketing?

Some companies hire ghostwriters to write their blog posts for them. Ghostblogging can encompass everything from coming up with the ideas, doing the research, writing, formatting posts, and even responding to comments in the voice of the company. Or it can involve a much bigger contribution from the client whose name goes on the post.

Critics say that hiring a ghostblogger is bad. In "The Ghost Speaks," writer Michael Janofsky quotes communications consultant Shel Holtz, "I'm a huge fan of transparency. My advice to executives is: If you don't take the time to write yourself, find another channel of communication."

What do YOU think? Please answer the poll that will run in the  right-hand column of this blog until I replace it with next month's poll. I'll report on the results in my May e-newsletter.
____________________
Sign up for the next session of "How to Write Blog Posts People Will Read: A Five-Week Teleclass for Financial Advisors" starting April 22 or join the mailing list for my free monthly newsletter.
Copyright 2010 by Susan B. Weiner All rights reserved

Reader question: How can I share my investment commentary on LinkedIn?

You can use LinkedIn, yet stay within your compliance officer's guidelines, by sharing approved materials through your LinkedIn "status line." I often suggest this to investment managers and financial advisors. 

So I wasn't surprised to receive an email saying, "Help! Please remind me how to share a link to my investment commentary on LinkedIn." 

Here's my answer.

Step 1 Shorten the URL that takes readers to your commentary. The URL for your commentary is probably be too long for the limits of LinkedIn's status updates, especially because you need text to lure readers to your commentary. This is when link shorteners come in handy. You can use a free service, such as TinyURL.com. To shorten your link, simply follow the directions at the link shortening website of your choice.


Step 2 Enter your text into LinkedIn. When you go to your LinkedIn home page, you'll see below your Inbox the Network Updates section.  Type your text into the box. If your commentary is provocative, you might say something like "You won't believe what I'm saying about the stock market  http://tinyurl.com/....." LinkedIn automatically converts URLs beginning with http:// into live links.

Hit the Share button and your investment commentary becomes available to folks on LinkedIn.

Related posts
* The LinkedIn status line is your friend, whether you're looking for clients or a job
* My top tips for LinkedIn newbies who want to attract financial clients, referrals, and jobs
____________________
Susan B. Weiner, CFA
Check out my website at www.InvestmentWriting.com or sign up for my free monthly e-newsletter.
Copyright 2010 by Susan B. Weiner All rights reserved

Five-Week Writing Teleclass for Financial Advisors: "How to Write Blog Posts People Will Read"

Blogging has become a "must" for many independent and fee-only financial advisors. It's a great way to connect with current and potential clients. Blogging also helps drive traffic to your website and cement your reputation as a leader in your field. But many advisors struggle to crank out a steady flow of compelling blog posts. That's why you need to enroll in "How to Write Blog Posts People Will Read," my NEW five-week teleclass for financial advisors.

You will learn how to
o  Generate and refine ideas for blog posts that will engage your readers
o  Organize your thoughts before you write, so you can write more quickly and effectively
o  Edit your writing, so it's reader-friendly and appealing
                    
The inaugural class will be offered exclusively to my newsletter subscribers and to clients. Participants in the initial class will receive a 50% discount in return for participating fully and providing detailed feedback.

When you participate fully in this class, you'll end up with one polished blog post--and a process you can follow to generate many more.
 
How you'll get there
o Small class--limited to 12 advisors--so you can participate, not just listen passively. Research shows that people learn best when they act on new information.
o Classes will meet on five successive Thursdays--Feb. 25, March 4, March 11, March 18 and March 25-- on a teleconference call from 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Eastern Time
o Convenience because you can dial into the weekly phone calls from anywhere--and classes are recorded, in case you can't attend "live"
o Guidance through a step-by-step process of writing blog posts, including
      o  Generating blog post topics
      o  Organizing your thoughts before you write
      o  Positioning your blog post to appeal to readers
      o  Editing your posts to boost their reader-friendliness      
o  "Hands on" practice through completing your weekly homework assignments
o  Resources for the future because you can download
      o  Class recordings
      o  Class handouts
      o  E-booklet
o Feedback from a seasoned financial writer-editor whose clients range from the country's largest asset managers to solo professionals to trade and retail publications

Register Now!

TESTIMONIALS
What advisors say about other workshops by Susan Weiner, CFA
o "I found this presentation very helpful because it focused on key elements to being an influential but understandable advisor."
o  "Susan's presentation brought to life the benefits of better writing."
o  "Great tips for jump starting my client communications"
o  "Susan's presentation made me want to go back to my office and juice up my emails and letters."
 
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS?
Contact Susan at learn@investmentwriting.com or 617-969-4509.

Register Now!
____________________
Susan B. Weiner, CFA
Check out my website at www.InvestmentWriting.com or sign up for my free monthly e-newsletter.
Copyright 2010 by Susan B. Weiner All rights reserved

CFA Magazine on social media and your career

"Stepping Out: Digital Footprints Can Make Or Break a Career" by Rhea Wessel appears in the Nov./Dec. issue of CFA Magazine, starting on page 34 of the digital edition (page 32 of the print edition). 


It's a cautionary tale that quotes several CFA charterholders including yours truly. It even refers indirectly to my "Top five tips for financial advisors dipping their toes in the Twitterverse."


Here's the bit that quotes me

"Don't land yourself in hot water by starting to blog before you consult with your compliance officer," she says. "However, you can get an idea of industry norms by studying bloggers whom you respect and who work in positions similar to yours."

____________________
Susan B. Weiner, CFA
Check out my website at www.InvestmentWriting.com or sign up for my free monthly e-newsletter.
Copyright 2009 by Susan B. Weiner All rights reserved

Guest post: "How to Use LinkedIn When Your Compliance Department Says No"

Financial advisors--and all kinds of professionals in investment and wealth management--need to be on LinkedIn. I feel strongly about this, so I'm happy to feature a guest post from marketer Kristen Luke. In this post, which originally appeared on Kristen's Financial Marketing Wire blog, she tells you how to benefit from LinkedIn, even when you must work within compliance constraints.

Recently I have been conducting one-on-one LinkedIn training sessions for advisors on how they can better utilize the professional social networking site. Each advisor has different restrictions on how they can engage with the site depending on the rules set forth by their compliance department. I have found that most compliance departments will allow advisors to have LinkedIn profiles, but will not necessarily allow them to actively participate in groups, install applications, update their status or mass email their connections. For those advisors who are allowed to have a LinkedIn profile but have been restricted in their use of the site, there are still strategies that can be utilized to make LinkedIn a valuable sales and marketing tool. Below are four strategies to implement even if you can’t use LinkedIn to its fullest potential.

Strategy 1: Build Your Network

LinkedIn becomes more powerful as the size of your network increases. This is because you are only able to see profiles of people within your network (i.e. 1st, 2nd or 3rd Connections and Group Members). To make effective use of LinkedIn, you will need to continuously build your network. This will allow you to discover more potential clients and centers of influence. Start expanding your network by importing contacts. You can do this by selecting “Add Connections” in the Contacts menu and uploading a spreadsheet of your contacts’ email addresses. The resulting list will show you who is on LinkedIn and will allow you to send a mass invitation to connect.

Once you have started with your initial network, you’ll want to continue adding all new contacts to your network. Make inviting all new contacts to join your LinkedIn network a part of your weekly routine. This includes people you meet professionally and socially. You never know where the next client or referral will come from, so don’t exclude people from your network.

Another way to build your network is to install an Outlook toolbar which will notify you when an email contact is on LinkedIn. You can download and install either the LinkedIn or Xobni toolbar which will show you LinkedIn profile information about each of your email contacts and provide you with a link to send an “invitation to connect” request. These tool bars eliminate the need to manually look up a contact to see if they are on the site and then send an invitation request. Plus, they constantly remind you to build your network.

Strategy 2: Join Groups

You may have been told by your compliance department that you can’t post a discussion question, answer a discussion question, post a news article, or comment on a news article. That doesn’t mean that joining groups is a waste of time. Even if you never actively participate in a group, joining allows you to expand your network. By joining a group, you are able to view the profiles of everyone in the group. This helps when you are researching prospects since their profiles might not be available to you otherwise. In addition, you are able to send an email directly to fellow group members without being linked in with them through the “send a message” function. Joining groups provides you with direct access to hundreds if not thousands of individuals who would otherwise be outside of your LinkedIn reach. Just be cautious when emailing through LinkedIn since some compliance departments require a screenshot of the message you are sending including the name of the person to whom who you are sending it.

Strategy 3: Research Prospects

LinkedIn provides a wealth of information about a prospective client. By reviewing a prospect’s profile prior to your first meeting, you can discover past employment history, educational background, professional associations and personal interests. This will give you a better understanding of the prospect and may assist in directing the conversation during a first appointment. The only limitation with this strategy is that you are only able to view profiles of people within your network. Having a larger network, as described in strategies one and two, will increase the likelihood of being able to see a prospect’s profile.

Strategy 4: Research your Network for Introductions & Referrals

Do you know which of your clients have relationships with the types of people you would like to meet? If they have a LinkedIn profile you can easily find out. When you connect with your clients, centers of influence or networking contacts on LinkedIn, you can look through their connections to see who they know. By researching your LinkedIn contacts’ network, you can make informed decisions about who has the ability to make quality referrals and introductions and create a marketing strategy around that information. For example, you can ask for referrals and introductions to specific people within your contact’s network when you have a referral conversation. Or, you can plan a private client event and make extra effort to ensure that clients with strong networks attend. Researching your network will allow you to focus your referral efforts.

Conclusion

In my personal experience, the strategies listed above are acceptable by most compliance departments who allow advisors to use LinkedIn. However, you will want to consult with your compliance department before implementing any of these ideas to make sure you are in observance of your firm’s policies.

For information about Kristen's marketing strategies and support for financial advisors, visit www.wealthmanagementmarketing.net.

____________________
Susan B. Weiner, CFA
Check out my website at www.InvestmentWriting.com or sign up for my free monthly e-newsletter.
Copyright 2009 by Susan B. Weiner All rights reserved

Interesting example of fund company using YouTube

I  normally think of a fund company using YouTube--if it uses YouTube at all--to show off its talking heads. But times are changing.

U.S. Global Investors' "Shanghai City Lights" video, which you can view below, doesn't mention the fund firm's name or investments. It doesn't even show any people. I think this video has the potential to reach more viewers than the firm's more traditional videos. Heck, I already forwarded the video to my husband to remind him of our visit to Shanghai.  However, I wonder how many of this video's viewers will be potential fund buyers.





US Global Investors seems to have moved away from talking heads and toward more visually appealing pieces. Its initial YouTube video was "Frank Holmes Explains the Key Drivers for Gold and Mining Stock," followed by "What the Global Infrastructure Story Looks Like" and "A Firsthand Look at Mining Operations in Brazil." To view these videos, go to the USFunds YouTube channel. So far the Frank Holmes video has gained the most viewers on YouTube, with 218 views as of Nov. 16.

However, US Global Investors hasn't given up on more traditional communications. For example, "Five Reasons China is Not a Bubble" appears on its blog and the firm's Fall 2009 Shareholder Report leads with a letter titled "Just Back from Shanghai."

Do you think US Global Investors' YouTube video about Shanghai represents the start of a trend? While their videos haven't attracted many viewers yet. the firm's YouTube presence is pretty new.
____________________
Susan B. Weiner, CFA
Check out my website at www.InvestmentWriting.com or sign up for my free monthly e-newsletter.
Copyright 2009 by Susan B. Weiner All rights reserved

What's a good elevator pitch for this blog?

Whether you're marketing your company, job hunting, or just networking, everybody needs an elevator pitch that succinctly conveys how they add value.

Even a blog needs an elevator pitch, says Darren Rowse of ProBlogger in "Write an Elevator Pitch for Your Blog."

Here's my elevator pitch for this blog:
The Investment Writing blog helps investment and wealth management professionals to communicate more effectively with their clients and prospects. The blog provides helpful communications tips and timely articles about industry topics.

How did I do with my elevator pitch? Do you have suggestions on how to improve it?

Also, if you're a blogger, please share your blog's elevator pitch along with a link to your blog..

 

_________________
Susan B. Weiner, CFA
Check out my website at www.InvestmentWriting.com or sign up for my free monthly e-newsletter.
Copyright 2009 by Susan B. Weiner All rights reserved

Ignore this advice--at least some of it

"10 Words to Use in Your Website Copywriting" gives you some great advice. But some of author Eric Brantner's suggestions need to be adjusted for investment management websites.

Eric lists 10 words that tug powerfully on human emotions. 
     You
     Free
     Guaranteed
     Easy
     New
     Proven
     Results
     Save
     Maximize
     Benefit

     
Can you guess which word I'd ban from your vocabulary? 


Yes, it's "guaranteed." Bandying about "guaranteed" can get you in trouble with the SEC.


I have my doubts about "new" when it comes to something as sensitive as your prospective client's money. I think they may prefer "proven."


As for "free," it may seem tacky to offer something free on an investment management website. Sure, you can offer a free report, but don't hype it like one of those late night TV commercials for a super duper chopping gadget.


"You" is my favorite word on Eric's list. But I know some firms consider it undignified. They prefer to talk about "clients" or "investors." What's your preference?

_________________
Susan B. Weiner, CFA
Check out my website at www.InvestmentWriting.com or sign up for my free monthly e-newsletter.
Copyright 2009 by Susan B. Weiner All rights reserved

Which social networking sites do you use to promote your business?

Investment and wealth managers, which social networking sites do you use to promote your business or your career? Please answer the poll that will run in the right-hand column of my blog until a date in May 2009.

If you're not familiar with the sites I've named, here are links to their home pages:

• Facebook.com
• LinkedIn.com
• Naymz.com
• Plaxo.com
  
• Twitter.com

Are there other social networking sites that you'd recommend to investment and wealth managers? If so, please name them in a comment to this blog post. 

I've been using LinkedIn for awhile, but am a recent convert to Twitter. Initially, I hated Twitter. But I've been impressed by how many new connections Twitter has made for me. I mostly ignore the other social networking sites.

Related posts:

• My top five tips for advisors dipping their toes in the Twitterverse
• MFS Investment Management is using LinkedIn to circulate commentary
• Eaton Vance, Evergreen, and FRC on "Communications Strategies for Good Times and Bad" 
• Compliance makes social networking tougher for registered reps than for RIAs
  

_________________
Susan B. Weiner, CFA
Check out my website at www.InvestmentWriting.com or sign up for my free monthly e-newsletter.
Copyright 2009 by Susan B. Weiner All rights reserved

My top five tips for financial advisors dipping their toes in the Twitterverse

Every day more of your clients, prospects, family, and friends get on Twitter. If you're ready to dip your toe in the Twitterverse, here are the top five tips from my personal experience.

1. Use Twitter Search to check out Twitter before you begin tweeting. Go to http://search.twitter.com and type in your company name or other keywords that interest you. For example, you could type in "Fidelity Investments." Even if you don't start tweeting, you can set up ongoing Twitter searches, similar to Google Alerts, and have them delivered to your RSS reader. By the way, if you need motivation to research your company on Twitter, read "Commonwealth Bank all a-Twitter over mortgage approval tweet."


2. Find interesting people to follow after you set up your Twitter account. Reading their tweets will help you understand how people use Twitter. If you're a financial advisor, here are some folks who may interest you
* Bill Winterberg, technology specialist for financial planners and the writer of "Yes, Financial Planners Can Benefit from Twitter," which helped put me on Twitter
* Russ Thornton, financial planner and investment advisor
* Kristen Luke, marketing consultant to independent financial advisors
 * Lawain McNeil, the Advisor Blogger
* Marion Asnes, editor in chief of Financial Planning magazine
* Cathy Curtis, owner of financial planning firm focusing on women and money

Also, look to see who's followed by people you respect. For example, I believe I discovered Kristen Luke when Bill Winterberg directed a tweet at her. By the way, Kristen has written "Twitter Your Way to New Clients, Part One" and "Part Two."

3. Learn the nitty-gritty of how to tweet. I like "Getting Started on Twitter" on the Tech for Luddites blog written by Elizabeth Kricfalusi. There are lots of social media gurus out there. Many of them are good, but few are as consistently helpful as Elizabeth with my technical questions. She gives great step-by-step instructions for non-technical people like me.   

4. Interact with people on Twitter. The people who get the most out of Twitter interact with others on Twitter. They answer questions posed by other folks on Twitter or get a conversation going in some other way. The few times I've posted questions on Twitter, I was surprised by how quickly I got answers.   

5. Figure out why you're on Twitter, so you can plan your time--and tweets--accordingly. But be prepared to adjust your expectations. I got on Twitter to promote my blog. But I've been pleasantly surprised by how much I've learned from people on Twitter. I hope I can give back as much as I've gotten.

If you dip your toes in the Twitterverse, let me know how it goes. Also, feel free to leave your Twitter tips--or questions--in the comments. I'm still a Twitter novice, so I can learn from you.



Related posts:
* What the heck is Twitter? 
* Should stock analysts use Twitter?
* Compliance makes social networking tougher for registered reps than for RIAs

_________________
Susan B. Weiner, CFA
Check out my website at www.InvestmentWriting.com or sign up for my free monthly e-newsletter.
Copyright 2009 by Susan B. Weiner All rights reserved

A top marketing blog for financial advisors

The market has slashed your clients' wealth and your revenues based on assets under management. So gaining new clients is more important than ever. If you'd like to get some fresh ideas about marketing, check out Kristen Luke's Financial Marketing Wire blog.

Are you puzzled by how to leverage social media? Kristen has posts on topics such as
* Using Facebook to build business in "A Social Media Marketing Success Story"
* "How to Host a Webinar for Your Clients"
* "Twitter Your Way to New Clients"--By the way, you can follow Kristen on Twitter. 

If you don't like social media, Kristen has advice for you, too. I especially like this one: "Touch Your Clients 24 Times a Year without Breaking a Sweat."  She's delivering a webinar on the same topic on April 6.

Are there other blogs on marketing or communications that you'd recommend? Please let me know. I have a couple in mind for future posts on this blog.

_________________

Susan B. Weiner, CFA
Check out my website at www.InvestmentWriting.com or sign up for my free monthly e-newsletter.
Copyright 2009 by Susan B. Weiner All rights reserved

Website lessons from the Obama administration

You can learn about good website design from the Obama administration.

Writer Matthew Battles explains how in "Extreme makeover WhiteHouse.gov edition: How should we read the new Obama home page?", in today's Boston Globe.

Some of the key lessons illustrated by the new whitehouse.gov website:

• Prioritize. Put your most important information first. Remember the top half of your page will get the most attention.
• Use active verbs. They raise the energy level of your web page.
  
• Use white space effectively.
  

_________________
Susan B. Weiner, CFA
Check out my website at www.InvestmentWriting.com or sign up for my free monthly e-newsletter.
Copyright 2009 by Susan B. Weiner All rights reserved

New "Wall Street Week" seeking participants

Contact Jeff Salkin (jeff AT wallstreetweek.com) if you're interested in appearing on a new version of  the "Wall Street Week" show.

Here's what Jeff says:

We are launching a web-based revival of the venerable "Wall Street Week" franchise. We think there's a need for a higher-level (and lower-decibel) program than CNBC etc. Looking for potential panelists (some of whom will also host the program.) Please email ideas/suggestions to jeff AT wallstreetweek.com

_________________

Susan B. Weiner, CFA
Check out my website at www.InvestmentWriting.com or sign up for my free monthly e-newsletter.
Copyright 2009 by Susan B. Weiner All rights reserved

"The Seven Dirty Words You Can't Say in Email Subject Lines (Plus 100 Others You Shouldn't Use, Either)"

You don't want your emails to get tagged as spam. So stay away from the words listed in "The Seven Dirty Words You Can't Say in Email Subject Lines (Plus 100 Others You Shouldn't Use, Either)."

This list is old, so keep your eyes open for updates. If you ever look at your spam folder, you can probably identify questionable words that haven't made it onto the list yet.

_________________
Susan B. Weiner, CFA
Check out my website at www.InvestmentWriting.com or sign up for my free monthly e-newsletter.
Copyright 2009 by Susan B. Weiner All rights reserved

This website helps you with acronyms

Puzzled by an acronym? 

Acronyms are abbreviations formed using the initial letters--or syllables--of a phrase.

The Acronym Finder will uncover the complete phrase that underlies the acronym.  Like "grantor retained annuity trust" for GRAT.

_________________
Susan B. Weiner, CFA
Check out my website at www.InvestmentWriting.com or sign up for my free monthly e-newsletter.
Copyright 2009 by Susan B. Weiner All rights reserved

Boost readership of your e-newsletter with powerful subject lines

More people will open your email newsletters if your subject line shows value in the first two words. That's according to "4 Takeaways from MarketingSherpa's Newsletter Subject-Line Analysis" (accessible only to MarketingSherpa members).

How do you show value? Start your e-newsletter subject lines with phrases such as:

• Top Five
• How to
• Best Time

Your subject line should focus on the benefit that your content provides to readers. It's especially powerful to indicate that you're giving readers information they can act on.

_________________
Susan B. Weiner, CFA
Check out my website at www.InvestmentWriting.com or sign up for my free monthly e-newsletter.
Copyright 2009 by Susan B. Weiner All rights reserved