Letters vs. Email

In a world where people expect everything to be right at their fingertips within seconds, it is possible that letters will one day become obsolete. Email has become a huge means of communication and now other methods like text messaging, instant messaging, and Twittering have started to show precedence over letters. There are many positive attributes and benefits of using direct mail and letters.

Direct mail gives you the opportunity to truly "inspire, frighten, cajole, convince, make cogent arguments, and motivate" your audience by using real emotion. (Levinson) When people read emails they do not want fluffy, drawn out responses. Readers want direct and concise information when they read an email. Letters allow the writer to present valuable information in a persuasive, organized manner. Letters require more personal thought to be put into them and also provide historians with valuable information. (Thaindian News) Also, emails and other forms of electronic data are more easily lost than paper letters.

To me, letters show a more emotional and personal connection. I have grown up in a world where I have everything at the snap of my fingers and have suffered from the results of instant gratification. It is great living in a world where I can communicate quickly and effectively, but I do believe that letter writing can still be important. At least for a little bit longer. There is already evidence that letter writing is becoming second-best to methods like text messaging and emailing. It is important that people still see the importance and value of a hand written message.



Levinson, Ivan. "E-mail vs. Direct Mail: Which works better?".

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/art-of-letter-writing-dying-out-as-people-use-email-and-texts_100182116.html

Look the Part

People have different views when it comes down to what should be worn to a job interview. Some think that you should not be judged on what clothes you wear, while others believe that it is a great indicator of the type of employee you will be. According to MSNBC.com, when you dress up for an interview you are showing the person that you respect them and their company enough to dress up and put that effort into looking put-together. This article suggests that an interviewee call the company's HR department and ask what the proper dress would be.

According to Randall Hansen in his article on quintcareers.com, first impressions are critical in job searching. When you are looking for a job, you are marketing a product-yourself- and the potential employer first sees your attire. Collegegrad.com warns college students and graduates to stay away from casual or stylish attire. Interview dress standard is still conservative. Some suggestions for proper attire are

Men and Women

• Conservative two-piece business suit (solid dark blue or grey is best)
• Conservative long-sleeved shirt/blouse (white is best, pastel is next best)
• Clean, polished conservative shoes
• Well-groomed hairstyle
• Minimal cologne or perfume
• Empty pockets--no bulges or tinkling coins
• No gum, candy or cigarettes
• Light briefcase or portfolio case
• No visible body piercing (nose rings, eyebrow rings, etc.)

Men

• Necktie should be silk with a conservative pattern
• Dark shoes (black lace-ups are best)
• Dark socks (black is best)
• Get a haircut; short hair always fares best in interviews
• No beards (unless you are interviewing for a job as a lumberjack!)
• Mustaches are a possible negative, but if you must, make sure it is neat and trimmed
• No rings other than wedding ring or college ring

Women

• Always wear a suit with a jacket; no dresses
• Shoes with conservative heels
• Conservative hosiery at or near skin color (and no runs!)
• No purses, small or large; carry a briefcase instead
• If you wear nail polish (not required), use clear or a conservative color
• Minimal use of makeup (it should not be too noticeable)
• No more than one ring on each hand
• One set of earrings only

These tips should be followed in order to guarantee the best results at an interview. It is best to remember that you are dressing to impress your possible future employer. Dress to impress!


http://www.quintcareers.com/dress_for_success.html
http://www.collegegrad.com/interview/jobinterviewattire.shtml
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15211788

Avoiding Green Marketing Myopia

With the recent trend of making everything "green", it is vital that businesses remember what customers truly care about. It is true that some people care about being "green" and saving the plant, but marketers need to figure out what really drives their customers. According to Ottman's article, when Philip's introduced their EarthLight light bulb, it only appealed those people who deeply cared about being "green." Environmentally conscious companies must keep in mind their customers needs and interests in order to sell their products.

Consumers today, for the most part, are not overly concerned about saving the environment. For green companies to sell their products, they need to attract customers through other ways besides focusing on the greenness of the product. Phillips sold more of their light bulb after changing the name to one that told consumers that it was a money and energy saving lightbulb. Companies must remember to appeal to consumers' interests instead of always focusing on the "green" aspect of their product.