Prioritizing Tasks at Hand: GTD
Posted by Alberto Ferrer on Jun 17, 2007
Sometimes we have more tasks on our to-do lists than we have time or resources in which to do them. Perhaps most of the time. How to prioritize? A common (yet erroneous) approach is to prioritize by due date. Start with what’s due first, continue with the task that is due right after the first [...]
More Grammar Help: Homophones
Posted by Alberto Ferrer on Jun 15, 2007
Homophones are words that sound alike but are spelled differently (and have different meanings). These words are commonly misused (one used instead of the other). Here are some examples. Well, not all these examples are true homophones (for example, the last pair), but they’re still commonly misused.
loose: Not tight, fastened, contained, or restrained.
Correct: The chimney [...]
Words in Plural and Singular
Posted by Alberto Ferrer on Jun 13, 2007
There are words in English with singular/plural combinations that are a little different from the usual “add an ‘s’ at the end” approach. These words are commonly misused (the singular used for the plural or vice versa). Here are some examples:
criterion (singular): A standard, rule, or test on which a judgment or decision can be [...]
Common Grammar Mistakes
Posted by Alberto Ferrer on Jun 12, 2007
Mute/Moot (Point)
The first (rhymes with “cute”) means [a] unable to speak or vocalize, [b] one who is incapable of speech, or [c] to soften or muffle the sound of. The second (rhymes with “boot”) means [a] without significance, having been previously decided or settled, or [b] of no practical importance, irrelevant. You can set your [...]
DVR Users Skipping Commercials During Playback?
Posted by Alberto Ferrer on Jun 9, 2007
I read in the 06/04/07 issue of Television Week an article by Adam Armbruster of consultancy Eckstein, Summers, Armbruster & Co. that quoted an interesting research study that looked at DVR users’ viewing behavior (general market).
It should come as no surprise to anyone that has a DVR at home that at least some people fast-forward [...]
Don’t Forget the Back-End Processes
Posted by Alberto Ferrer on Jun 8, 2007
When bringing clients into direct marketing to Hispanics for the first time, I have long advocated an approach that can be summarized as “start from the back and work forward.” Essentially, it calls for building the infrastructure that will support the program before media and creative are even explored.
That means looking at the existence of [...]
IAB Adds Two New Ad Sizes
Posted by Alberto Ferrer on May 31, 2007
I just heard from the AAAA Digital Marketing Committee that the IAB’s Ad Sizes Working Group will be making the first update to the IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau) Ad Unit Guidelines since their inception. They have voted to add the 300×100 and 720×300 banner sizes to the current list of Interactive Marketing Units. This information [...]
Leader’s Covenant
Posted by Alberto Ferrer on May 28, 2007
I recently read the article “What Your Leader Expects of You” by Larry Bossidy in the April 2007 issue of Harvard Business Review. Bossidy is the former Chairman and CEO of AlliedSignal and of Honeywell after that.
In the article, Bossidy discusses that, while the success of a leadership team depends heavily on the relationships the [...]
Liberally Borrowing from Dean
Posted by Alberto Ferrer on May 23, 2007
I was reading the May 14, 2007 issue of DM News the other day and happened upon an article by Dean Rieck. The article is called “A Copywriter’s spin on ‘The Elements of Style’” (Dean is a copywriter by trade, you see). Since I’m interested in good writing, I decided to take a look and [...]
Information Freedom
Posted by Alberto Ferrer on May 18, 2007
When I was working at Leo Burnett as an AAE, I thought quite highly of myself. There I was, making $16,000 per year, working on the prestigious Procter & Gamble business. I had my very own cubicle, my very own key to come in and out of the office (no access cards back then), and [...]
