Happy
Spring!
Welcome
to another issue of Communications
Matter! In every issue, we will review topics that will help you grow
your business faster with cutting-edge communication skills.
************
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************
In this
issue:
Getting
Articles Published
Great
Design Principles
Creativity
Corner: Strategies to Encourage Creativity
Tips
for Getting Articles Published
| Publishing
articles in your target market's publications is a strategic way
to get free exposure for your product or service. As you know, one
of the best ways to be considered an authority in your field is
to be published either in a book or an article. It's an easy and
fun way to communicate to your target market. |
|
Here are
some tips for writing and publishing articles:
- Write
down your ideas as soon as you get them. Keep them together in a file
or a notebook.
- Use
"Mind Mapping" techniques to generate and organize your
ideas.
- Include
your personality as well as great information into your article.
- Subscribe
to as many blogs and ezines(e-newsletters) as possible for your industry.
Sometimes you will get a great idea from another resource, or you
can complete the idea that they may have started.
- Make
sure that you give your audience something of real value.
- Don't
copy anyone else's writing.
- Research
and create a list of Ezine editors and publishers. Address them personally
with your article submission. You can contact them once a month.
- Before
submitting your article, please attach a Resource Box at the end of
your article that directs them to your website.
Please
contact us if we can help you with any step of the process above. This
is an important part of any quality sales and marketing campaign. We
can be reached at info@mason-works.com.
We would be glad to help you!
Great
Design Principles
Good design
is something that anyone can learn. You probably know it when you see
it- the message is distinctive and clear. Design quality is developed
by following some very basic visual communication rules. In every well-designed
piece of work, there are four basic principles: Contrast, Repetition,
Alignment, and Proximity.
Contrast-One
should avoid elements on the page that are similar. Contrast is often
the most important visual attraction on the page and the best way to
get attention.
To get
it, add contrast through your typeface choices, line thickness, colors,
shapes, sizes. Reverse out your type to add strength to your message-
be strong! It works better.
Repetition-
repeat visual elements of the design throughout the piece.
You can repeat colors, shapes, fonts, graphic concepts, etc. This develops
the organization and strengthens the visual unity.
To get
it, look at the possibility of adding elements like lines, a distinctive
font, a numbered list on items, or any other aspect of your images
on a repetitive basis to add style and understanding.
Alignment-
Placement of images and text on the page should not be done
arbitrarily. Every element should have some visual connection with another
element on the page. This results in a clean, sophisticated look.
To get
it, be conscious of where you place elements. Always find something
else on the page to align with, even if the objects are far away from
each other.
Proximity-Items
relating to each other should be grouped close together. This makes
the information easier to organize and understand.
To get
it, squint your eyes slightly and count the number of visual elements
on the page by counting the number of times your eyes stop. If there
are too many, try to group some of the elements together to create
one visual unit.
Remember,
great design helps you grab your audience's attention to get your
message across. Design's place in communication cannot be underestimated!
Superior design allows a communication piece to be scanned by the eye
quickly and then read. Since you don't have very much time to hook your
audience, great design is essential for marketing and sales communication.
Using the four steps above will help you create a more concise and productive
piece. Please contact us if we can help support your design projects,
info@mason-works.com.
Creativity
Corner: Strategies to Encourage Creativity
| Welcome
to another month of Creativity Corner. This creativity tool session
will be on Strategies to Encourage Creativity. In our Communication
Matters past issues, we have covered Brainstorming, Mindmapping,
Forced Relationships, Guided Fantasies, Holistic Thinking, and Synectics
as tools to develop creative solutions for communication. Here we
will describe another set of strategies for developing new solutions. |
|
| Use
Creative Games, Puzzles and Humor |
Turn
problems into puzzles to be solved. When your brain is relaxed,
creativity is enhanced.
|
| Challenge
the Rules |
Develop
the approach of listing many alternatives, choices, and solutions.
Try new approaches to break the restrictions of habit.
|
| Change
your Routine |
Break
away occasionally from your routine to allow yourself to have
a vacation from all the constant activity and hurried thoughts.
Great breakthroughs can come from your retreat.
|
| Allow
Failure |
Mistakes
are stepping stones to growth and creativity. Do not be afraid
to make mistakes and appear foolish. If you don't take yourself
too seriously, you can find new ways to create extraordinary
results!
|
| Expect
to be Creative |
See
yourself as a creative person and act like one. Don't hold back-
expect to be inventive and creative and great ideas will surface.
|
| Support,
Acknowledge and Reward Creativity |
Reward
enthusiasm, new ideas and creative approaches. Get excited about
new ideas and they will grow.
|
| Keep
a Journal |
Write
down dreams, jokes, ideas, cartoons, or draw pictures. A journal
will help you shape your thoughts and take action. Collect ideas
from stories of creative people.
|
In summary,
use your imagination to come up with ideas that are truly different.
I don't know about you, but I get some of my best ideas in the morning.
Albert Einstein said "Why is it I get my best ideas in the morning
while I'm shaving?" Maybe you get your best inspirations on a walk
in the mountains. Anything that works to develop your problem-solving
skills is good.
We hope
that this information helps your business create better solutions. Here's
to creative and more successful outcomes!
* * * * * * * * *
We hope
that you have enjoyed our April 2005 newsletter and will gain many useful
ideas from our experience to accelerate your business! Please contact
us if you do not want to receive future mailings. For more information,
email kathy@mason-works.com
or go to our website, www.mason-works.com.
The Mason Works Acceleration team looks forward to helping you grow
your business faster and more cost effectively.
Best wishes!
Kathy
Kathy Mason,
President
Mason Works,
LLC.
303-527-2978
