Matt Howell's Page

Email is a powerful tool for communication in business. When used correctly, it can help you move projects forward, gather valuable information, and delegate actions. When used poorly, however, it can become a source of frustration and inefficiency. Here are some proven guidelines for improving the effectiveness of your email communication.

Use a descriptive subject line. I see subject lines all the time that consist of "Hi" or "Question". This is absolutely useless and makes it impossib… Continue

Web content is different than content in a magazine or in other media. So much of the time I see web sites that are filled with pages and pages of dry, long-winded, boring content that is doing nothing to help connect with the site visitor. There are plenty of web sites that contain beautiful imagery and great design work but then fail to complete the package with good content. Here are some guidelines for writing good web site content.

Less is more. People reading a magazine have time to read… Continue

SEO web design is a skill that can be learned, though most
search engine optimization for beginners courses dwell too much
on linking strategy as opposed to web site design per se. There
are many ways for most normal people to get an improved search
engine ranking, and secure a high search engine listing, and
while linking is important, good on-site SEO is also necessary.

Although it might not seem like it, getting a good listing on
Google or any of the other search engines is not as difficult… Continue

Here are some tips for getting greater benefit from voicemail.

As the sender:

Speak clearly and leave your callback number (with area code) at the beginning and end of the voicemail. This may seem obvious, but so many times I get voicemails from people who speak almost inaudibly, rush through the phone number, and only leave it once in the middle of the message so I have to replay it over and over. Usability applies not only to web sites and software, but to other kinds of inform… Continue

by Michael Reynolds on July 8th, 2008

Having an email newsletter is one of the most powerful and cost-effective ways to communicate with your constituents in a positive way. However, I’ve noticed that many organizations are not taking full advantage of this medium. There are many subtle guidelines that are important to follow when publishing an email newsletter. Here are a few tips to help maximize the effectiveness of your newsletters.

1. Utilize a professional design. It amazes me how… Continue