The O'Neill Communications Blog

Author Archive

Leaving Blog Comments

I love reading other blogs almost as much as I love writing blog posts. But it can be tough sometimes to come up with an insightful comment. I don’t want to be a mere lurker, but on the other hand I don’t want to waste my time – or the blogger’s time – with an inane comment. (more…)

Getting Started with Google Reader

I use several online tools to make my life easier (including Remember the Milk and Aardvark), but my absolute favorite is Google Reader. After the jump, I explain a little about Google Reader and how you can get started.

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Common writing mistakes

Because I’m a writer, people often think that I love grammar and know everything about the English language. They think I lived for the grammar lessons in school.

Well, they’re wrong. I never liked grammar, and I have a difficult time explaining certain things to people. However, there are certain rules that are really basic, and that everyone should know.
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The New Breakfast Club – Twitter and Facebook

The other day, the difference between Twitter and Facebook came up in a meeting – and with good reason. Facebook asking “What’s on your mind?” sounds very similar to Twitter’s “What’s happening?” But Facebook and Twitter are two very different animals, for very different reasons. I explain my perspective on the two after the jump:

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Facebook, meet Google Buzz

Google recently confirmed Internet rumors that they are throwing their hat into the social networking ring by introducing Google Buzz. If you can overlook the awful name, Buzz will basically be incorporated into your Gmail account. According to Mashable’s initial details, there will be a tab labeled “Buzz” right underneath your Inbox. It will provide links to Google-owned Picasa and YouTube along with Flickr and Twitter (Facebook was left out of the initial report; not sure if it’s incorporated or not).

Todd Jackson, product manager for Google Buzz, called it “an entire new world within Gmail.” (more…)

Bowser = Marketing Genius

In honor of it being close to the weekend, I’m going to go with a fun post:

Do you know about Bowser, the Miniature Schnauzer?

Meet Bowser.

Bowser came into my life when he was seven weeks old. I was fresh out of college, adjusting to living on my own and the 40-hour workweek. He fit in the palm of my hand and looked more like a rat than a puppy.

Anyway, I was looking at Bowser the other night (he’s now almost three years old and gets fatter every day), and I was thinking that Bowser knows the secrets to all anyone really needs to know about marketing. After the jump, allow me to explain. (more…)

An Open Letter to Facebook

(Author’s note: I’ve loved and have been a member of Facebook since June 2005. Facebook is an excellent way to keep up with friends and network with professionals. It’s also a great tool for businesses to use to communicate with several target audiences at one time. But I haven’t been happy with Facebook’s swift change in stance toward privacy and security, and that is what this letter details. I also explain how you can set your privacy settings after the break.)

Dear Facebook,

Facebook, Facebook, Facebook. What happened to you? What’s happened to us? When I first started seeing you, I was still in college. You promised me exclusivity, and in return I shared important information and intriguing facts about me that hardly anyone knew at the time, including the fact that I truly believe “The Great Gatsby” and “Confessions of a Shopaholic” are two of the greatest books of all time.

After some time of that, you began sneaking around. My friends told me that you were flirting with the idea of letting high school students join us. What?!? These were high school students. I thought you and I were beyond that. But you let high school students on, and I eventually became used to that fact. I still loved you, no matter how you treated me.

Once I got used to that (and almost forgot about it, actually), you threw another curveball my way. I was told that you were going to see anyone over the age of 13. Anyone. What happened to the exclusivity? I felt like you were changing, yet I had stayed the same. I tried to break up with you then, but you lured me back. We had so many mutual friends, and you always managed to come up in conversations. How could I not stay away from you? (more…)

Criticizing Copy

I can be a very narcissistic person, so it’s difficult for me to accept and utilize criticism – however, as a writer, I know constructive criticism and honest feedback of my work will only help my writing become stronger.

I also find it difficult to critique other people’s work at times, but I realize that they are probably just like me and want to strengthen their writing as well.

After the break, learn what steps I use to critique various writing projects. (more…)

CES 2010

The 2010 Consumers Electronic Show is currently happening – and there are several gadgets that are being unveiled that I simply can’t wait to see, primarily the iSlate. But even though Apple may overshadow many of the big ticket items at this year’s CES with the iSlate, there are several other pieces of technology to look forward to. (more…)

My Christmas Wish List

Diamonds? Chocolate? Gift cards? Nope. Well, actually, yes … but those gifts aren’t the focus of this particular wish list.

These gifts are a copywriter’s/marketing professional’s/blogger’s/geeky girl’s dream … so what are you waiting for? Click the link and find out what I want for Christmas.

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