If your email inbox is anything like mine, (or FAR more likely, your spam/junk folder) it potentially contains the odd business email that reads like it was written by a bot. A generic opener along the lines of "I trust this email finds you well", or "I'm reaching out...
Plain English Website Audit – A how-to for clearer communication
I’m currently looking for a very specific service provider locally. I found a most excellent candidate via his most excellent website. It was written in plain English. It directly addressed my needs. I instantly knew he offered the services I needed. Unfortunately,...
Why did it take me so long to discover B Corps?
TL;DR
I thought I was doing my bit for the planet. And then I discovered B Corps—a game-changer for conscious consumers.
Cleaning up our streets?
If we can nudge behaviour on bottle returns, can we apply the same thinking elsewhere?
The greenwashing playbook
(Not a how-to but rather a please don’t) I unapologetically loathe fake grass/fake lawns. It is my personal view that not only do they look unsightly, but they are truly awful for the environment on many levels. Gardens should be mowed (or not), not hoovered. And they...
Accessible digital content – Alt text
Alt text, or alternative text, is a brief description of an image or other visual content that's read aloud by screen readers to help people with visual or cognitive disabilities understand the content. Alt text is an essential part of making digital content...
Dog language
I’ve been pondering recently the words and phrases that my dog understands. I can categorically state that she’s no genius. Plus I’m not a dog specialist in any way. But, the words and phrases she knows and understands are directly attributable to me and my...
Room 101 of words and phrases that make my insides squirm
Language is fluid and subjective—what irks one person might delight another. Still, there’s something cathartic about naming and shaming the words that make you cringe.fd
Inside-out comms
Your customers are not your employees. Well, in some cases they might be, but as a general rule, especially when it comes to comms they are distinct and disparate. Why am I telling you this? I’m seeing an increasing number of external comms full of internal comms. By...
Let’s talk about euphemisms in copy
There’s a fine line between using euphemisms to enhance communication and crossing into deceptive or inappropriate territory.