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Editorial Solutions can be reached by phone at (201) 569-7714.  E-mail address is
howard@editsol.com.  Mailing address is P.O. Box 250, Tenafly, NJ 07670.  
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR EDITING TIPS PAGE.

Three commentaries on news and feature writing techniques have been added to the
editing tips line-up.  Here's a summary of what's viewable now:

  • Make every at-show issue an editorial showcase!  Don't fall into the trap of
    focusing on content that duplicates standard show directory information.  A ten-
    factor scoring system helps determine whether your at-show line-up is a
    winner!  Editorial Solutions uses the technique described in all competitive
    analysis projects involving convention issue comparisons.
  • Eight ways to deliver highest value headline/deck combinations.  ES
    president Howard Rauch has been judging the Azbee competition Best
    Headline category since its inception.  In this commentary, he summarizes a
    variety of ways to pack the most punch into headlines written for covers,
    contents pages, Letters to the Editor departments, editorial columns, and
    feature articles.
  • Special report:  Summary of exclusive 50-site study of e-news delivery.  If
    you missed any of the recently-published updates pertaining to this Editorial
    Solutions project, learn more about key challenges B2B web editors face.
  • Seven key hurdles block delivery of high-value head/deck/lead packages.  
    Introductory elements must be treated as a cohesive unit.  Here's how to do it
    better.  (Note: This commentary is excerpted from a half-day Editorial Solutions
    workshop:  Winning the Battle for Superior Headlines/Decks/Leads.)
  • Avoid mid-stream reporting of unresolved legal disputes.  Editors frequently
    land in hot water because they've not been alerted to proper practice required
    when covering court battles.  Editors also should steer of complaint territory via
    fact-checking all articles excerpted from other published sources.  Another area
    to be wary of involves improper use of "endorsement language" in published
    new product announcements.
  • Four ways to maximize editorial board input.  The benefits are worth the time
    spent organizing your group.  Use members to critique published articles and/or
    for peer review purposes.  Be sure to maintain personal contact with the board  
    via telephone polls.  If possible, host a class dinner during an industry event  
    most members are likely to attend.
  • Now's the time for editorial managers to document performance.  When
    times get tough, it's even more important to create reports that show how staff
    is meeting productivity challenges.  Travel efficiency and pages written per
    editor are two places to start.  Here's how.
  • Use this I.Q. test as a convention coverage planning guide.  This combination
    of multiple choice quiz and assignment strategy guide frequently is used by
    Editorial Solutions during "trade show reporting basics" workshops.
  • 14 ways to put top value into your editorial research.  Do you pre-test your
    questionnaire?  What are the most typical graphics glitches?  How often should
    you publish original research?  These are some of the typical questions editors
    should consider during a research project planning phase.  Check out this list
    summarizing 14 considerations an Editorial Solutions workshop covers in detail.
  • Scoring system eyeballs e-news content value and readability.  ES has
    started experimenting with a scoring system designed to assess e-news
    delivery.  The initial approach involves eight factors: Relevance, enterprise, fast-
    paced/easy-to-read copy, article length, end-user direct quotes, attention-
    getting leads, immediacy in terms of making key story point, and link usage.  
  • Ask e-newsletter subscribers what they think of you.  One major industrial
    publisher recently circulated a dynamite questionnaire covering the waterfront
    in terms of content preferences.  Respondents also were asked to consider
    choices for news content delivery and indicate readership habits.  If you
    haven't surveyed your e-newsletter audience lately, it's time to start.

Editing Tips will be updated periodically.  Look for these items in future installments:

  • Expect stronger focus on ethics in 2010! ES president Howard Rauch is now
    serving as chairman of the American Society of Business Publication Editors
    ethics committee.  Projects currently being discussed include development of an
    ethics I.Q. test and recognition of "Ethics Heroes."  Howard also will lead a
    discussion on ethics during ASBPE's annual convention this July.  Future ES
    postings will keep you in the loop on important ethics matters.      
  • Is the editorial future now or never at your company?   When screening new
    recruits, editors are blowing it because they can't paint a clear picture of
    advancement, especially in financial terms.  Potential stars are turned off when
    you can't outline a three-year growth plan during the initial interview.
  • How to cope with a shrinking editorial budget.  Your usual 40-page editorial
    allotment has been slashed by ten or more pages.  What adjustments must
    you consider in order to preserve the impression that you're still delivering a
    high-value, diversified editorial package?

                                                                       














       
Editorial Solutions, Inc.


SPECIAL OFFER:  $775 PER DAY RATE BUYS TOP-QUALITY SERVICE

You can arrange for knowledgeable editorial consulting at an excellent rate.  
Service provided can be any combination of competitive analysis reports,
telephone brainstorming, or on-premises visits (the $775 per diem does
not cover travel expense).  The arrangement is a practical way to provide
coaching for newly-appointed editorial directors.  Based on this rate, a
strengths/weaknesses report comparing a single issue of your publication
vs. your toughest competitor would cost $1200.  You can obtain a critique
of a single issue of your magazine for between $775 and $1,000,
depending on how much input you require. For more details, call Howard
Rauch at (201) 569-7714.