“Reasonable” Usually Means “Unreasonable”

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This is a bit of a vent…

rea•son•able  adjective \ˈrēz-nə-bəl, ˈrē-zən-ə-bəl\ a :  being in accordance with reason <a reasonable theory>

b :  not extreme or excessive <reasonable requests>

c :  moderate, fair <a reasonable chance> <a reasonable price>

d :  inexpensive

According to Merriam-Webster, that is the definition of reasonable.  However, in the business world it seems to meet this definition:

un•rea•son•able adjective \-ˈrēz-nə-bəl, -ˈrē-zən-ə-bəl\

: not fair, sensible, or appropriate : not reasonable

a :  not governed by or acting according to reason<unreasonable people>

b :  not conformable to reason :  absurd <unreasonable beliefs>

:  exceeding the bounds of reason or moderation <working under unreasonable pressure>

For example, when someone says that they are looking for ABC service at a reasonable price, it usually means at an absurdly low price or free.  I understand that a reasonable price is relative to what that person perceives the cost should be, but it seems that most people that use the word “reasonable” perceive the cost to be well below industry standards.  In my personal experience, it seems to be the perceived cost is low because a) the person does not see the value in the service to begin with; or b) they do not understand the amount of effort, time and energy that may be put into such a project to achieve their desired result.  Either way, when someone uses the word reasonable when inquiring about my services, a red flag is waved.  More than likely, they have received other quotes and did not like the pricing or did not feel them to be reasonable.

Time constraints seem to be another area I often hear the word reasonable used.  For example, someone needs a project/service completed in a reasonable amount of time.  Usually this tends to mean an unreasonably short amount of time.  Sometimes the offender is the service provider with an unreasonably long amount of time to complete the project.  Again, I understand that perception may play a large role in what someone deems to be reasonable or unreasonable, but I have to believe that deep down they know it may be a bit absurd.

Have you had a similar experience with the use of the word “reasonable?”

 

reasonable-usually-means-unreasonable

Writers Block Tips

What To Do When You Have Nothing To Write About

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They say every great writer experiences writer’s block…well; I’m not a great writer.  I enjoy writing and I see it as a creative outlet for my brain to dump out its contents.  However, sometimes it’s content is empty and I cannot think of anything to write about.  That is my writer’s block.  It seems to happen more often when I am feeling stressed or approaching a potential burn out.  I have to admit that I place a bit of added anxiety on myself by stressing about not having anything to write about.  Today has been one of those days and I decided to turn to my favorite source for inspiration, motivation and ideas:  the Internet.

Here are some helpful tips to get past writer’s block that I found from around the web:

“7 Ways To Overcome Writer’s Block”, by Chuck Sambuchino
Notable tip:  Write while you are sleeping by using your mind’s night activity to problem solve a writing solution.

“Writing Tips:  Strategies for Overcoming Writer’s Block,” The University of Illinois – The Center for Writing Studies
Notable tip:  Try freewriting, a method of writing everything about your topic that comes to your brain for a specified period of time.  Try doing this for 10 minutes.

“How to Get Past the 10 Most Debilitating Sources of Writer’s Block,” by Corey Eridon
Notable tip:  If you are not in the mood to write, try creating a bit of competition for yourself with the laptop trick.  Unplug and move into a room free of distractions with just the laptop and its battery pack.  Your challenge is to finish writing your post before your battery runs out.

I thought that these three articles had some great tips on working past my writer’s block.  It would help if I could get myself to relax a bit more and release some of this stress, but I’m working on that element.  In the meantime, it gave me some great fodder to write this post and excellent strategies to use when I sit down again to write. 🙂

 

Writers Block Tips

Writing to 10th Graders

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Over the weekend I had a conversation about marketing and writing with my mother.  A client of mine had written a scholarly paper and wanted to use it as the basis for an ebook.  The intent with the ebook was to get people to sign up for a mailing list (they would receive a free copy) and to establish credibility with the content contained within the ebook.  Although I am an avid reader, it took me a full day to read the paper.  It was very scholarly and a bit heavy in terms of leisure reading material.

I was telling my mother about the paper and how it would need to be reworked and written to speak to the layman and more specifically the intended audience.  I thought there was great information contained within the paper, but it was a difficult read just for fun.  My mother mentioned that “back when she was in school,” she had learned in a communications class, to write as if you were writing to a 10th grader.  The thought behind this was that at that level it was simple enough for everyone to grasp the meaning of the content without being too simple and insulting.

I don’t know if this specific concept is still being taught, but I must have been absent the day that was discussed when I was in college.  It was new to me, but a very good way to think about it and one of the tips I will be giving my client for rewriting the paper.  Another tip I plan to give is to write to the audience instead of at them.  I saw a marked difference in my own blog engagement when I stopped writing as if I were being graded.  For me, writing the way I speak and as if I am holding a conversation (albeit one sided) has worked wonders.

The client’s intended audience is not looking for a scholarly read.  They are just regular every day people with busy lives.  The information may be helpful to them, but they will not be interested in reading a research paper.

Do you have any tips for presenting a scholarly/research or scientific document to the layman?

 

writing-to-10th-graders

 

Playing with My Emotions: The Emotional Sell

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Piggy backing on what I wrote about earlier this week with “It Takes More to Keep Our Attention,” emotions are one way that marketers use as gateway into our pockets and hearts.  J  I know it works on me, so I will assume it works on others as well.

Make me mad and I want to fight and lead the charge.

Make me cry and I want to donate or help.  The meaning in the message will stick with me more.

Make me laugh and you make me want to check you out and know more.

Extreme emotions, extreme times because advertisers, marketers and PR representatives have to go above and beyond to reach consumers.

Do emotional marketing tactics work on you?

emotional-selling

It Takes More to Keep Our Attention

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Advances in technology and industry have made it harder to please people.  We are a society that is often distracted, busy, impatient and easily bored.  Look at how children stay entertained or at least what is manufactured and marketed to keep them entertained.  A long, long time ago, just a rock, forked twig and a rubber band could keep a kid entertained.  Then came hula hoops, toy cars (plastic and wooden), bikes and video games.  Video games are what brought kids inside and they too have evolved from a yellow blob that eats ghosts to interactive dances and internet connectivity to play with friends.

Connectivity through the internet has allowed us to consume what we want, when we want and how we want it.  If your favorite show is coming on too late; you DVR it or catch it later OnDemand or on HULU.  If you don’t want to see what your friend is posting about; you can delete, block or hide them and their posts.  Don’t want to see ads on your favorite game or app; you can pay a premium to make them disappear.  As a consumer, it seems like we have more choices that allow us to dodge and avoid advertisers; while at the same time being bombarded by them.

It is becoming harder and harder for advertisers to find ways to reach consumers.  Trends do not seem to stay trends for long.  The advertising world is moving just as quickly as technology.  Just as soon as a strategy works and is the “it thing” to do, “it” changes.  I think it is because of the connectivity and far reach of the internet.  An idea can spread a lot more quickly than it could back when print advertisements and media placements were the primary methods.  At that time, you were limited by the readership/viewership and frequency of a publication.  Today, you can post something online and potentially reach thousands in a few hours.

Consumers are also more savvy and adept and recognizing veiled sales attempts, pr stunts, and other marketing methods.  Partially because the word has spread, thanks in part to the internet…and Reddit.  So marketers are left with brainstorming and coming up with new and inventive ways to wow, shock, and reach consumers.  I’ve noticed more brands are trying to use humorous/wacky concepts or trying to appeal to a more diverse group of people. Check out the example ads below:

What are your thoughts on why it is getting harder to reach consumers?