"Hey, how ya doin'?"

Here's a handy way to reconnect with clients, editors, interview subjects, publishers, whomever -- especially if it's been a while.

Sometimes we just lose touch with those we've worked with, or would like to work with. And it might feel clunky or pushy to just drop them a line out of nowhere. One thing I do is regularly check the appropriate B2B magazines, industry publications, general and business newspapers in the person's geographical area for their "In the News" section that lists award winners, promotions, lateral position moves, board of directors' appointments, etc.

If I spot a familiar name, I immediately send them a quick e-mail that basically says: "Just read about your [FILL IN BLANK]. Congratulations." Short and sweet. And I do not solicit my services or try to get work out of them. It's meant to refresh their memory on who you are and what you can offer them. If they're interested in doing business, chances are they’ll respond and broach the subject.

You can even set up a Google Alert on the person so you'll get an e-mail anytime their name is published on the Web.

3 Reasons I Need to Get Out of the House and Work in a “Real” Office Again

Riding in elevators is my main form of exercise.

Our mini pinscher just doesn’t appreciate my politically incorrect jokes.

No IT guy to scream at for not replacing my computer fast enough after I chuck it out the window in frustration.

Words to Write By

Don't use words too big for the subject. Don't say 'infinitely' when you mean 'very'; otherwise you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.

– C. S. Lewis (1898–1963)

Appreciate What You’ve Got

Remember years ago when saxophonist Branford Marsalis was Jay Leno’s bandleader on "The Tonight Show"? He left the show because he apparently wasn’t content with the tunes he played night after night and wanted to get back to pursuing his own music.

Not long after his resignation, he appeared on Howard Stern’s radio show. An indignant Howard chastised him for leaving such a plum gig. His basic point was, so what if it wasn’t a "prestige" gig and he wasn’t able to play his original music on the show. Bottom line: He still got to play music every night for an audience of millions, and the job paid really well.

It sort of reminds me of writers who feel that writing for local or regional publications is not attractive as it once was. Time to move on and get those bylines only in national magazines!

Maybe they should think twice.

Though publication in the big boys is an admirable goal (heck, I’m constantly striving for it myself), don’t sell the little guys short. If they’re dependable, reliable, legitimate sources of bylines, appreciate what you’ve got. With the right combination of talent, tenacity and breaks those nationally published clips will come.

Clients Say the Darnedest Things

When I was a copywriter for an ad agency that specialized in audio marketing -- or on-hold phone messages (see my previous post) -- I wrote the scripts for my clients but had to get their approval before we recorded and produced the messages. Some clients, however, insisted on writing them themselves.

The following are actual excerpts from client scripts that must have seemed innocuous enough at first. But on a second read? Maybe not so much.

"Need more than just a good night's sleep?"

"Avoid organ meats..."

"Satisfy every guest, every time!"

"Come 'swing' with the best of 'em!"

"We're always open to your input..."