WORDS AND CATCH PHRASES

 

How appropriate to read Lake Superior State University’s annual list of words/phrases that are to be banished at years end!  What a great idea!  Like a de-cluttering of the English language!  A year-end wrap up of acceptable words and non-acceptable words. uh…… “How cool is that?” (That phrase will NEVER be banished!!)

I don’t speak any foreign language, albeit a touch of Latin from my Catholic upbringing, but I wonder if other languages have catch phrases, or slang, or nicknames?  I wonder when you take a second language if it includes teaching slang or catch phrases?

At any rate, some of the words that have been banished this year,

• “from Wall Street to Main Street”;
• “winner of five nominations”
• “economic meltdown” hasn’t been chosen YET but soon will be!
• “change” (even though we desperatly need some!)
• “maverick”
• “first dude”  (adopted by Todd Palin, Sarah Palin’s husband)
• “Joe the Plumber”  (see what happens when you give a public opinion?
• “Main Street” vs. “Wall Street” (puleasssssssssse!)
• “At this point in time” (this gets nominated every year!)
• “Get a Life” (this phrase was banished in the 1997 list)
• “monkey”  (mainly used in connection with internet catch phrases)
• “going green”  (This had the highest nominations for tiresome words needing to be banished)

So what would be YOUR favorite words or catch phrase to eliminate for the year 2009?

I for one will always use my favorites, banished or not…as we get older we are “creatures of habits” (which is one of my favorites!).  At any rate, I love to say, “no way” or “you’ve got to be kidding”, then there is “for sure” and not to be forgotten, “duh!”  (the best way to insult someone is always with the word “duh” that makes THEM feel stupid….uh, duh! (how stupid can I be!)

Please write and let me know what YOUR favorite slang/catch phrase is…I’m sure with many sales people out there, hundreds of words can be added to the list! 

Sales:

• “For a limited time only”
• “time is running out”
• “hurry in while supplies last”
• “not sold in stores” (and they always are at the speciality stores)

O.k. let’s get our own list going!  In the meantime, a very Happy and Prosperous New Year to one and all and let’s hope from “Wall Street to Main Street”   “Change” is here at last!   A good one of course…duh!

Here is what I was thinking about with a recent client.  Why write a weekly blog, if you also send a newsletter, emails, and do social marketing?  Do we really believe that everyone “reads”  all that is put out there?  Blogs are great, don’t get me wrong..and there is a definite place for them in the cyberworld, but I’m wondering if it could not be put to better use?

Who are your clients?  Would that page of your website, the blog page, be a good place to speak directly to them?  Teach them? Educate or Train them?  What about that page to advertise for your clients?  As a service not a charge.  For fun, let’s call that blog page, the clientblog where any and everything that has to do with your own personal clients go there. 

Let’s say my website is really hot…and it gets lots of activity, readership and traffic. I have this client in NY, a dentist, who offers upscale dentistry and has a really unique office.  He is also running a “special” for a limited time due to hard economic times for people…What if I used my clientblog to spotlight him for a month and draw traffic to HIS website by promoting on mine?

It serves a two-fold purpose. Increases your business, increases your clients business and is good marketing and PR service.  How many times can you read someone else’s blog on “how to” or “what event” they are going to have….why not capitalize on the opportunity to give the gift of business to your client?! 

Hmmmm….this can be done and might be a good thing to consider doing!  Thoughts anyone?