Blog

Show your translation team a little amour

Recently, we published a blog that explored what makes a great translator. In the Canadian financial services landscape — and, certainly, in other industries as well – strong translators are priceless. They help a company make its marketing, advertising, regulatory and legal documents available in our other official language, so their company can be more […]

September 23, 2015

What makes a great translator?

Financial services translation poses some interesting challenges for marketers – technical terms and time constraints being just two among many. In this post, we talk about the skills that great translators possess and we share some tips on choosing the translator that’s right for you. Core skills of a great translator 1. Technical knowledge specific […]

September 16, 2015

Advisor communications series: LinkedIn tips

LinkedIn is one of the best social media sites for advisors. Here’s how to make the most out of LinkedIn’s search capabilities and your profile. Build a robust profile We’re not talking about hobbies here. We’re talking about your headline, your summary and your experience. Use keywords that relate directly to your experience and talents, and […]

September 9, 2015

Advisor communications series: Five best practices for videos

Given the amount of time people spend watching online videos, it’s no wonder advisors want to evolve their marketing endeavours to capture the attention of their clients and prospects. Here are a few tips to ensure your online videos are more professional and engaging. Be prepared Write a script. If you can’t get it right, […]

August 26, 2015

Advisor communications series: Discussing fees and your value

It’s not an overstatement to say that Client Relationship Model – Phase 2 (CRM2) is changing the way clients view the services their advisors provide. Advisors who understand the changes and are able to articulate their value are the ones who will turn the evolving regulatory landscape into a business opportunity. Get ready to talk […]

August 19, 2015

Advisor communications series: All you need to know about email

Email is the way we communicate at the office these days, so we tend to simply type one up, click “Send” and move on. Sending out emails without a thoughtful analysis of what you’re saying, however, can result in a number of issues given how difficult it may be to infer your true meaning. Nuanced […]

August 12, 2015

Advisor communications series: Blogging fundamentals

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: blogging is one of the greatest opportunities to engage with your clients and prospects. To help you get started, or to help you stay on the right track, we’ve put together a list of blogging fundamentals. Get the right writers on board The best writer may […]

August 5, 2015

Advisor communications series: The end of writer’s block

You’ve been writing your blog and newsletter, and things have been going well. Then it hits you. You feel like you’ve run out of ideas. Everyone who writes knows what writer’s block is all about: a blank page, the need to do anything else, and a growing sense of insecurity. Writer’s block comes out of […]

July 29, 2015

Advisor communications series: A few thoughts on continuing education and content...

Advisors are talented and creative problem solvers. They have to be because the financial services landscape is constantly changing. And to stay on top of that change, the best advisors are always building their knowledge through continuing education. That’s true of financial and investment skills … and it’s true of content and marketing skills as […]

July 22, 2015

Advisor communications series: Create an amazing editorial calendar

Blogging takes dedication. It takes planning too. And there is no better tool than a well-organized editorial calendar to help you stick to your plan. An editorial calendar will cut down on the time and effort involved in creating content, act as an internal to-do list that everyone can rely on, and help you frame […]

July 15, 2015

How responsive brands win customer loyalty

Not that long ago, we heard the story behind Federal Express’s much-talked-about 1994 rebranding. Many of you may have heard this one before, but it was new to us. Through a series of focus groups, the design firm behind Federal Express’s rebranding became aware that everyone called the company FedEx, even using the term as […]

July 8, 2015

Building trust

The healthiest relationships are built on trust, and business relationships are no exception. Building trust with existing and potential clients can go a long way toward strengthening your brand and earning new business. We’ve put together a few tips to get you started. Lose the elevator pitch “In 30 seconds or less, tell me who […]

June 30, 2015

Lessons from courtside

At a Raptors game a while back, we were struck by the energy of the crowd. It was very different than what we’d experienced at hockey and baseball games. Basketball just has a different “feel” than other sports. It seems younger, hipper and hotter. The NBA is doing something right. Hang out with your core […]

June 24, 2015

How to write an engaging call to action

Among the pieces that make up great marketing copy, your call to action may be the most important component of all. And there’s a good reason why: your call to action may be your last chance to nudge your reader to take the next step. Here are three things to keep in mind when writing […]

June 17, 2015

Commentary/MRFP roundup: June 2015

Commentary and MRFP season is in our sights. Here are some writing, editing and process resources to get you ready for the July rush. Articles Jargony phrases – and ways to keep them out of your commentaries We all tend to use some jargon in conversation. But it’s best to keep that jargon – including […]

June 10, 2015

Involved in the commentary process? Ask these questions.

Although your commentary deliverables – from monthly marketing commentaries to annual MRFPs and everything in between – are always changing, one thing stays the same: they cause stress. Timelines are rarely in your favour. And you’re likely juggling many cross-functional relationships. Add in tight budgets and global offices and you’re going to reach for the […]

June 3, 2015

What we learned from our kid’s playlist

Have you heard of the band OK Go? We hadn’t until a few years ago when one of our kids showed us the now famous Rube Goldberg Machine video. We were hooked. OK Go may be the only band around that’s better known for its viral music videos than its actual music. The band’s creative […]

May 27, 2015

Focus on quality and clarity, not quantity

Earlier this year, the folks at Acrolinx decided to “read and evaluate the world’s content.” Sound like a daunting task? It was. They reviewed 150,000 websites from 340 companies, and the results were enlightening. The study found that, despite content marketing being a top priority for today’s businesses, only 42% of B2B and 34% of […]

May 20, 2015

Are your creative pipes backed up? Here are five ways to...

Writers working on anything from ad copy to executive speeches can get their creative pipes backed up. Project managers creating a robust brief can get backed up, too. Luckily, there are many ways to flush out those pipes and get the creativity flowing once again. Here are five ways to do just that: Get some […]

May 13, 2015

Five things to avoid when creating graphs and charts

Using a chart or graph can be a simple and eye-catching way to display information that might otherwise need paragraphs (or pages!) of text to explain. When done well, your audience should be able to scan and interpret your graphics quickly and easily. When done not-so-well, simple graphics can confuse a reader. Here are some […]

May 6, 2015