I’ve read several articles that list phrases to avoid in business writing. I’m not trying to be a snob here, but with so many people spouting so many “catch phrases” on the Web, they’re starting to just blend into the sea of words. Here are a few phrases that drive me nuts. What are some that make you want to scream at your screen?

“Bang for my (or your) buck.” – This says “cheap” to me. Or in a designer’s world, it says I want you to work hard and I want to pay peanuts. It sounds like a used car salesman.

“I’m an (insert product here) evangelist.” – Again, it’s not unique anymore because everyone says it. Drop it and give yourself a meaningful title.

“Going forward…” – Of course we’re going forward, and of course I will implement your changes in the future. It’s understood. It doesn’t need to be said.

“It is what it is.” – No, it is not. If I’m not happy, it’s not. Make it right.

“Flesh this out.” – It sounds gross and means “Explain something more completely.” It’s more of a literary term and doesn’t have a place in the design world, in my book. I prefer, “Add detail to this,” or “Polish this with…”

“Twit (something).” – Makes us all sound like a bunch of twits. I hate that word and refuse to use it. “Tweet” sounds better.

And some common mistakes that just make you look igorant:

Typing in all caps. – This is rough on the eyes and it should be well known by now that it is the equivalent of shouting on the Internet. Please use caps sparingly. Caps for design purposes are generally ok. I use them in my titles because of the look. But Whole sentences and paragraphs in caps? No way.

Capitalizing the first letter of every word in a sentence. – Didn’t They Teach You That Only Proper Nouns Need To Be Capitalized In a Sentence?

“Should of, could of, would of” – Should be, “Should have, could have, would have.” Grammar, peeps.

Using excessive abbreviations, even on Twitter – “U R 2 cool!” You are an idiot. Spell things out. It’s just unprofessional. If you have to abbreviate things like that for Twitter, then you shouldn’t be Tweeting about it. If it’s longer than 140 characters, its not a micro-blog. It’s a blog. Blog about it.

The mistake I’m probably making on a daily basis is that I very rarely use proper capitalization during instant messaging chats. I don’t abbreviate, but I do type things like this: “i just wanted to ask a questions about project one. more information is needed.” I do use LOL as well. But that’s about as unprofessional as I get. And I only do those two things with clients that know me well enough to understand my writing style.

Do you have any phrases or habits that make you cringe? Any tips for writing conversational emails that still communicate clearly?

Today’s Candy consists of free stuff I’ve seen on various blogs this week. Keep in mind these may have been posted before this week, but I came across it this week. Thanks!

Free Leaf Textures from Naldz Graphics

Free Icons Roundup from BlueBlots

Free Fonts Roundup from InstantShift

Free RSS Icons List from Crazy Leaf

15 Free Design EZines List from Design Reviver

7 Free Vector Wings from Sharebrain

20 Tips on How to Write for the Web from Design Depot – not really a freebie, but still great!

40 Dual Screen Wallpapers from 10 Steps – I have the Mario one!

List of Free Stuff on Creattica – great resource!

Free Rusty Textures on Designer Daily

15 Free Fonts on DZine Blog

17 Outstanding Sources of Advertising Inspiration from DesignM.ag – again, not really free stuff, but inspiration is a good thing to have!

Abstract Curve Brushes on BrushKing

45 WordPress People you need to follow from WooCamp – good stuff!

Photo Gallery WordPress theme list from Best Design Options

Free Flash Catalyst training on Lynda.com from FlashEnabled

Useful and free Adobe Air Apps on Dream Css

That’s it! Enjoy!

Click the links, then right-click to download. All are in 1920 x 1200 resolution.

What the naysayers don’t understand, though, is the need for businesses to stand out and increase marketing efforts during tough economic times. Tulsa County is a business just like any other – they just serve in a public capacity. I personally think the decision was an excellent one, as Tulsa County is in dire need of competent, skilled employees. Part of attracting those employees is the County’s image. They need to appear updated and modern to be attractive to educated job seekers.

I don’t think the logo is as beautiful as those from some other cities, but we also don’t have the budget for that. We did the best with what we have.

Granted, Tulsa does need money spent on projects to improve roads, etc., but that is where city spending comes into play – not county. Come on, guys! The logo had been in use for over 40 years! It is time for Tulsa to show its true colors!

But the one revelation that has made the biggest impact on me is Twitter. I never knew how useful it could be for my business. I had no idea of the power behind it. Maybe I’m being overdramatic, but where else can I connect with so many incredible designers, clients, and all around creative people? No where that I’ve found. I’ve discovered more amazing and inspirational blogs and websites this summer than ever before. I think I’ve grown more as a designer, and I’ve certainly become inspired for the next big project that comes my way.

That being said, there’s a lot I don’t know about Twittering, Tweeting, whatever it’s called. I know there are some guidelines to follow for business tweeting, but I’d love to get info straight from dedicated Twittererers.

So, what are your Twitter tips for a newbie? What’s the one thing you’d love to tell tweeters?

I’d love to hear how Twitter has changed your or impacted your business, and I’d love to hear any tips and advice on Tweeting for a completely behind-the-times newbie.

Happy networking!

Image credit: Comicbase

Here is a quick list of tips to keep you from being fired by your designer:

1. Be organized. One of the biggest complaints designers have about their clients is how clients manage information. If you don’t have your thoughts together, you won’t be able to fully convey what you want to your designer. This results in your designer delivering results that are incomplete or off the mark, which in turn will make you angry or frustrated with your designer. Keeping emails to a minimum, or consolidating lots of tiny pieces of information can also help you stay organized. Get organized before you contact your designer and the relationship is sure to be much smoother.

2. Know what you want. Your designer is not a mind reader. You have to know what you want before you hire a designer. If you don’t know what you want, you won’t be happy with anything your designer sends your way – and your designer won’t know which direction to go.

3. Be honest. Need an extra week to pay your invoice? Don’t care for a concept your designer sent? Just tell them. Most designers are understanding – it’s the nature of the business. But we don’t tolerate dishonesty or no communication. Sometimes a quick email is all it takes.

4. Respect the designer’s boundaries. Most designers have set hours that they take phone calls or work on projects. This is because they have to be in the creative zone to do actual design work. If your designer asks you not to call on Tuesday, don’t do it. If your designer asks you to leave voicemail or email regarding your needs, do it. This will help the designer complete your project more quickly because they won’t be interrupted by calls while they’re working.

5. Pay up! One of the quickest ways to be fired by your designer is to not pay your invoices. If you need more time, communicate that with your designer. Otherwise, get them paid! Most designers need invoices paid quickly for cash flow purposes. Just do it. It’s the right thing to do.

6. Don’t ask for a public critique without your designer’s consent. This may sound strange, but asking for a crtique of a design piece on a public forum is not acceptable unless the designer has given consent. The reason for this is because most people on a public forum do not have the background information needed to make an informed opinion. They may not be your target audience. They may post derrogatory or demeaning comments regarding the design, which in turn can harm the designer’s public image. Asking for public opinion during the design process can also be harmful to your own perception of the design piece. Work it out with the designer, and do public testing together, in a controlled environment.

That’s it! Stay tuned for a post for designers – Don’t Get Fired by Your Client!

So a big thanks goes out to our clients, without whom, our growth would not be possible. Thanks and happy Independence Day!

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This post is stemming from a variety of clients (who will probably read this, and I hope they do) who really don’t seem to understand a graphic designer’s thinking. I’m writing because I’m tired of being asked the same questions again and again.

So many VA’s (and young start-ups) don’t understand what is involved in brand development and website design. It’s hard work, I tell you! Being creative isn’t as simple as slapping a graphic into Illustrator. It takes research, time, and inspiration. They expect an award winning website for $500 – and I’m telling you right now – that’s not gonna happen.

You pay $500, you’ll get a decent 3-5 page site with no frills – nothing fancy except for a little bit of SEO. At least, that’s what I offer my clients. But the clients that tend to find me can’t afford much more than that. That’s fine with me – I enjoy working for VA’s and small start-up businesses. Why do you think I target them? I offer an affordable solution to the plain ol’ unoptimized templates offered by sitebuilders and FrontPage.

I suppose I’m writing this post just to say this – please don’t expect miracles for $500. You want a fancier site with more interactivity and graphics? Pay up. Can’t afford it? Wait until you can.

Don’t ask for more than your designer has told you you’re getting, and be thankful there are those of us out there who charge so little for a service that some people wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole. It’s an issue of respect. Would you be ok with providing your clients more than they paid for? Didn’t think so. I could be charging as much as this guy for what I do – but I don’t – yet. I have a lot to learn, but I certainly feel that my work is worth what I charge. So far, none of my paying clients have told me otherwise.

Wishing you happy holidays,

The Mad Hatter