Greg Krehbiel

Robot nurse

Use technology to create a more human touch

Summary: It’s important for publishers to strive for a more direct relationship with their readers. This article reflects on “direct” and “relationship,” then discusses how technology can help. Note: This article is an expanded version of a story from the August issue of The Krehbiel Letter. An ad in an industry newsletter said, “In the…

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Tired man with candy bar

Don’t make your customer think!

Summary: Reduce the cognitive load on your customers by personalizing content and interfaces to their needs. There’s an old book on website design titled Don’t Make Me Think, A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability. It’s a good book, and if you’re involved in design, you should read it. But that basic concept applies to…

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Woman reading brochure

The Economist shows that print is still a legit tool for publishers

Summary: Transitioning readers from print to digital is challenging due to the distinct moods each medium invokes. Still, some publishers are seeing new uses for print. The Economist found that a print package for their welcome series improved engagement. Publishers take note: print remains a valuable tool, particularly when digital methods are oversaturated. It has…

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Publisher's self-audit

A publisher’s self-audit toolkit

From time to time a publisher will ask me how they can improve their business. I’m first and foremost an operations / tech guy, but I also have ideas about growth and business development. To help a publisher figure out where they can grow, it’s first necessary to find out what they’re doing — good…

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Credibility

Adam Ryan’s 5 content strategy pillars to build trust

Summary: To establish trust with your audience, your content strategy should focus on these five pillars: transparency, credibility, habitual product, relevant language, and specificity. At Omeda’s OX7 meeting in Chicago, Adam Ryan from Workweek gave a talk on 5 pillars of trust. They are … Transparency Credibility Habitual product Relevant language Specificity My notes from…

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Frazzled editor

Worst practices in content creation

Summary: Here are 10 things for content creators to avoid: Poor Quality, Overly Promotional, Irrelevant or Off-Topic, Inconsistent, Inauthentic, Insensitive or Controversial, Poor User Experience, Lack of Engagement, Repetitive, and Ideologically biased content. Bo Sacks recently distributed an article by Dave Morgan called “It’s NOT About The Content.” His argument is that the point of…

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