All Posts By

Marijean

Dec 16
Love0

Clarity in Signage: What’s Wrong with this Picture?

By Communications

There’s some signage I encounter almost daily that to me, seems completely clear and easy to understand. It baffles me, however, how many times I witness others floundering about trying to figure out the directions and screwing it up over, and over again.

The parking lot I typically use has a pay to park machine with steps listed, 1, 2, 3 for gaining paid right to a space for 1, 2, or 3 hours of use.

Help me out, here, guys: what’s wrong with this signage? What could possibly be done better so people don’t have such trouble figuring out how to pay to park in this lot? Is it a little bit like when we pull on a door clearly marked push? Do our brains just override what we’re seeing? What do you think the issue is? photo 1

photo 2

Dec 13
Love0

Have You Aged Out of LinkedIn?

By Social Media

Last night, I attended a lovely event at The Jefferson School to celebrate, roast, honor, and say goodbye to my dear friend Alex Gulotta, who is moving to greener pastures (California), to work (until retirement) and be nearer his grown children. I spent part of the evening talking with a fellow advisory council member’s husband who was telling me that he was thinking of scaling back his LinkedIn presence since he was nearing retirement, and was thinking about doing different small jobs going forward.

But wait! I said, rather excitedly. (These parties get me a little jazzed, and the opportunity to talk about what I do with a stranger is even better!) What about all the younger people in your network? You’ve reached a point in your career when YOU are the facilitator of future relationships, YOU are the connector, YOU are the recommend-er and endorser of others. It’s your time to give back. AND, since you’re looking for new, and different opportunities, it’s a great place to make that known and to find those new projects.

I convinced him! Right there, over a cocktail at a nice little party. And guess who’s my new connection on LinkedIn this morning?

Nov 20
Love0

Community Engagement: Why We Do It and How We Choose What to Do

By Communications

October was an absolute whirlwind for Jaggers Communications. The firm was busy ramping up with a number of new client projects and, in the off hours, I was writing a book, 100 Things To Do in Charlottesville Before you Die (due out in spring, 2014) and devoting extra time to election work and volunteer hours to the Blue Ribbon Commission for Sustainable Schools.

I’ll admit, it’s the extra stuff I take on that sometimes pushes the limit of what can be accomplished with the time that exists and, unfortunately, much of it was concentrated in the month of October! November and December are calming down just a little (except, oh yeah, the holidays!) and I hope to be able to get back to providing more valuable content here on the Jaggers Communications blog in short order.

So why take on the extra stuff, when there’s an already full schedule? Mostly I do it because it’s contributing to the community in which I live in a meaningful way, and I feel strongly about that. I don’t have big bucks to make donations but I can give of my time and talent, my thoughts and expertise, to causes that are important to me. Among these, and the areas in which I’m likely to contribute include: health care (particularly diabetes-related causes), poverty (homelessness, in particular), and education (often, for the underprivileged).

What benefits do we reap? Well, for the most part, knowledge that we’re helping to make a difference, but with every volunteer experience I learn more about the community in which I live or that I’m supporting. I meet interesting people who often become lifelong contacts and sometimes, future business referrals. I get to use my brain in a different way than in the day to day way I do for my business or my clients. All of these things have great value to me.

It’s the time of year when Jaggers Communications starts looking for a nonprofit community partner to support in the coming year. Do you have a compelling case to make for a health care, poverty, or education cause that could use some PR or marketing help in 2014? We’d love to hear your pitch.

Nov 04
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What Happens When You Don’t Turn off your Cell Phone

By Social Media

I’ve picked up the funny little hobby of going to the movies by myself. I can see whatever I want (no matter how terrible) and I don’t have to share the popcorn. Last night, I went to see Gravity. It’s entertaining and just the escape I was looking for at the end of the weekend. After I carefully selected my seat, a group of young guys sat in the row just in front of me. One of them was texting.

We were still in the previews/commercial section and the feature film hadn’t begun, but I had my eye on Mr. Texty. I was already annoyed with his movie theater behavior. The movie started and he put the phone away, so I stopped composing all the ways (polite and decidedly not polite) I was thinking of telling him to turn it off.

About half an hour into the movie, he pulled his phone out again.

I was behind him and to the right, so I could plainly see as he checked his email (Yahoo) and texted with someone. I learned that I have the capacity for what, in some, manifests itself as road rage. For me, it’s movie rage. I mean, I shelled out eleven bucks for my entertainment. (I didn’t spring for 3-D; I rarely do). I didn’t want to put up with this guy and his phone habit. I calmed myself down and leaned forward, whispering loudly, “Would you please put your phone away?”

He jumped. And the phone disappeared. It didn’t make an appearance again and I quit seething in time. But I wondered, what is it that makes people ignore conventions like that? Do they know what impact they have on the people around them?

Earlier in the week I found myself needing some medical attention in the short term, and had the delightful experience of hanging around an Urgent Care waiting room for two hours. In this situation as well, it’s posted pretty clearly: Please turn off your cell phone. I, like most people, take this to mean don’t talk on your phone. I think checking e-mail and the like on a smartphone while in a waiting room may be the only way you keep your job and your sanity, so I approve. But I was surprised at the number of people who, HIPPA be damned, talked away on their phones, within earshot of 20 other would-be patients, freely giving away all manner of personal data.

What are these people thinking?

Maybe it’s because I’m a slightly older technology adopter. I still respect down time. I still unplug. I still reserve the right to NOT check my phone every five minutes and to sleep at night without waking up to check e-mail. And I reserve the right to, when it’s posted, and someone’s ignoring it, point out that we’re being asked to pay attention.