Sometimes a website that breaks all the “rules” of web development is the very best thing to do after all. Thanks to Johnnie Moore for the tip.
Oz soldiers design own recruitment ads
Nice touch: The latest round of Australian Army recruitment posters were designed by the grunts themselves. This one isn’t the winner, but it’s my personal fave.
Author John Birmingham provided the pointer, and amongst the various daft comments from his feral fan base there’s a gem, explaining how the ads reveal the current self-image of the typical Australian soldier.
An open letter to MYOB
Today I received a letter talking about upgrading to “the latest version” of the MYOB AccountEdge accounting software — but nowhere did it mention a version number. So I looked on the website under AccountEdge — but once again, nowhere could I find a mention of version numbers.
Since the version number of software is a key piece of data, why is is missing from all the promotional material?
Leaving out the version number was either deliberate or a mistake — logically there’s no other option. If it was a mistake, that’s just incompetence. If it was deliberate, the intention can only be to confuse or mislead — either encouraging people to call and get the hard-sell, or to spend money on upgrades they don’t need — and that’s despicable.
Which is it?
[As an aside, roughly 18 months ago an MYOB salesperson called, trying to convince me to purchase MYOB extended cover. He was extremely aggressive, to the point where I eventually said, “This is now the third time I’m telling you that I’ve already made my decision not to purchase extended cover, I am now angry.” I have become less and less impressed with MYOB over time.]
Feng Shui for your fridge
My friend Richard Watts has already ranted the good rant about this stupidity.
Stupid long Microsoft product name
Microsoft was already well into their keep-the-customers-confused strategy with at least five different versions of Windows Vista rather than the two of XP. But does the world _really_ need — I kid you not — Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate UPGRADE Limited Numbered Signature Edition?
Say what you mean!
Most businesses are incapable of communicating clearly. They’re almost paranoid in the way they avoid short, direct statements.
Compare these two “positioning statements” from British companies, both in the business of writing.
Metia is a global provider of integrated marketing services and technology-based marketing solutions. We deliver services, programs and solutions that are relevant, smart and repeatable — and that generate measurable value for our customers.
And:
Our passion is communication. We help businesses talk about technology.
The second is from Articulate Marketing. Who would you pick to work on your communication?
I discovered this thanks to Matthew Stibbe, proprietor of Articulate Marketing. His blog Bad Language (“writing about business, technology and marketing”) is extremely readable.