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Quick tip: Use AI to make a Mini-Me

Dr Evil and Mini-Me

Remember the Austin Powers spy spoof movies? And the ones where supervillain Dr. Evil had a miniature clone of himself, called Mini-Me? Mini-Me dressed the same, talked the same, and shared many of the same silly tics as Dr. Evil. But he was a whole lot shorter. This is how to think about the executive…

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White Paper World 42: June 14, 2024

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Quick tip: Use AI for tech support Big idea: How to de-position the competition [includes case studies] Just for fun: All the papers of the rainbow 3 minute read. 18:30 minute listen (includes Big Idea): Quick tip: Use AI for tech support 1:15 minute read Do you ever have software headaches? Or some new gadget…

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How can I help with your next white paper?

white paper ? to !

Whether you’re a B2B marketer or a content writer, you can benefit from my experience. I’ve learned a lot, working on white papers for clients all over the world. Now you can get my help with your next project… avoid all the common pitfalls… and publish a white paper that gets results.  My unique services…

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White Paper World 40: April 25, 2024

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Shun the TIONs: Part deux Guest tip: Excise the IZEs! Mini-review: The Elements of Technical Writing This just in: Netline 2024 report on B2B content Book Giveaway Extended: I want some more bad advice! Listen to this issue in 8.5 minutes:   Shun the TIONs: Part deux My Quick Tip in the last issue advised…

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Quick tip: Excise the IZEs! [guest tip from Bob Bly]

placard reading Excise the IZEs!

The tendency to add IZE to nouns is an old story in English. The practice has been going on for centuries. Apologize was born before 1600, and criticize appeared in Shakespeare’s day. Revolutionize came along before 1800; burglarize first appeared in the 1870s. Edwin Newman, in his book A Civil Tongue, suggests that by adding…

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Quick tip: Shun the TIONs!

2 bowls of rice to show short verb + tion = puffed-up noun

2.5 minute read. 3.5 minute listen.  I see them all across the nation, to my total consternation: puffed-up words that end in TION. Too many people play this game of word puffery. You just add TION to any verb, and “poof!” it turns into a noun.  But in my book, that’s going in the wrong…

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White papers and… the Greek gods?!

Zeus the king of the ancient Greek gods

In ancient Greece, tales of the gods served to inspire, caution, and educate mortals. Today these legends can guide us to create white papers that ascend to the heights of Mount Olympus. Here are five tips on how these timeless gods and goddesses can inspire us to create more effective long-form content. 3.5 minute read.…

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Quick tip: Don’t say “once every xx seconds…”

Woman sitting alone with stat on 1 suicide every 40 seconds

I’ve been researching suicide lately. Don’t worry; I’m not thinking about doing myself in. It’s for a fictional story I’m working on. In my research, I encountered a statistic that always bugs me. Here it is, from no less than the World Health Organization: Suicide: one person dies every 40 seconds1 What a shocker, right?…

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White Paper World 36: February 1, 2024

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Quick tip: Don’t say “once every xx seconds…” Great book: How to Lie with Statistics February Book Giveaway: Send me a shoddy statistic! Need help with your next white paper? Quick tip: Don’t say “once every xx seconds…” I’ve been researching suicide lately. Don’t worry; I’m not thinking about doing myself in. It’s for a…

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