Two companies in the social media news

PR Sears named most-hated major company The retailer might turn to its ‘softer side’ for comfort.

SOCIAL MEDIA How Wendy’s online audience influences its decisions By monitoring social media chatter about its products and brand, the fast-food chain makes informed choices about nutrition apps, dollar-menu items, and speaking out about ‘pink slime.’

5 common ways to commit presentation suicide

Good Advice from Ragan Communications. Read the article for details.

5 common ways to commit presentation suicide Even if you’re a great storyteller, how you look and the words you use could spell disaster.

The authors discuss the following mistakes in the article:

Mistake 1: Preamble overdose

Tip: Don’t give an introduction that lasts forever. Skip the self-serving bio, or at least move it to the end of your presentation.

Mistake 2: Toxic words

Tip: Avoid loaded buzzwords or stereotypes that show ignorance. If you’re presenting to a group that has its own lingo—and most do—learn what words to use and avoid.

Mistake 3: Personal disconnection

Tip: Don’t share beliefs that can evoke passionate disagreement.

Mistake 4: Experience blindness

Tip: Find a way to empathize with those whose experiences vary from yours. You don’t need to be an expert in how religion affects banking in Muslim countries, but recognizing that your experience doesn’t always work everywhere in the world can go a long way to establish credibility with a group that has a background unlike your own.

Mistake 5: Demographic mismatch

Tip: Gather information on the tone, language, clothing and level of formality your audience expects.

I’ve never been a fan of dress codes, but now I always ask event organizers what “business casual” actually means.

The same goes for using potentially offensive language—some audiences think “crap” is a bad word. Also consider if English is actually the first language for the majority of the audience.

Social Media Guidelines and Attention Grabbing Posts

Some good articles from Ragan Communications

SOCIAL MEDIA 17 essential social media guidelines to follow The author shared the rules that guide her social media journey. Consider adopting some of them, or call them bunk in the comments section.

WRITING & EDITING 4 attention-grabbing ways to open a blog post Your first few sentences are critical to capturing readers’ attention. Use these methods to turn heads and keep people reading.