Alright. Let’s get this out in the open. I’m a mass of contradictions. Anyone who knows me understands that I see both sides of every issue and I have some seemingly hypocritical views and personality ‘traits.’

One of these happens to be that I’m a spelling and grammar fanatic. The other, is that I love to break the rules, especially when it comes to writing. I frequently get into super-hot debates over compound-modifiers, question marks, serial commas and prepositions.

It may surprise you to know that despite being a self-proclaimed, armband-wearing literary revolutionary, I also believe in things like starting a sentence with ‘and.’ And, (see!) if you use a preposition at the end of a sentence, I say right on. AND (twice now, are you fellow fanatics cringing yet?) using passive voice.

Why, you ask, do I stretch and break these sacred rules of writing? Because that’s how we talk, y’all.

One of the most brilliant writers I know (Steve Unger, our copywriter), taught me everything I know about writing—so you can blame him for this post. The most important lesson I learned from him is to write conversationally. People like to read copy that’s written the way they talk. And, (third time’s a charm) they understand concepts more clearly when they’re written in a conversational fashion.

Just look at this blog post. Doesn’t it seem like I’m sitting right next to you, chatting you up?

So, what’s this have to do with Business-to-Business marketing, Shakespeare? Well, you see, I believe writing conversationally is critically important in B2B, especially because B2B industries abound with buzzwords, acronyms and jumbled jargon. The more we can break it down into day-to-day language, the better we’ll be able to relay our clients’ important and valuable messages to their target audiences.

So go forth my friends. Use the word ain’t, because it IS a word. Just don’t say ‘comprised of’ or this will ‘insure’ us of success (unless you’re in the insurance business). Otherwise, I’ll have to whip out the dreaded red pen.

What do you think? Want to join the SuperScripters (my non-vandalizing alternative to TEAL)? Are you a grammar hypocrite, too? (Oh, and no comments about how horrible my spelling and grammar are. I meant to make all those so-called mistakes you found)

Spending on print advertising is down. Companies are slashing travel budgets and cutting out tradeshows. Printing and postage costs are continuously rising. What’s a B2B marketer to do?

Take a look in your pocket, or purse, or that leather thingy strapped to your belt. That’s right: it’s your mobile phone.

I’m of the opinion that the most efficient and effective way for B2B marketers to reach their target audience will soon be through their smart phones and MIDs (that’s Mobile Internet Devices, for you non-geeks. You geeks can go here).

As those who know anything about me will attest, I am an iPhone junkie. I’m talking JUNKIE!!!! I’m always on it. Mapping out routes. Looking up movie times. Booking flights. Solving factual arguments. Searching for solutions to my business problems.

Wait. Back that one up. ‘Searching for solutions to my business problems?’ Why on earth would I do that?

Because with the wealth of information on the Internet, you can find educational content on any topic you choose with a few taps and maybe a swipe. And with web browsers for mobile phones becoming more technologically advanced, people can search for your solutions any time, anywhere. Plus, it’s getting easier and easier to deploy lead-capturing tools on mobile devices.

Here are a few quick tips for B2B marketers to make sure your prospective customers find you when they’re tapping away on their smart phones and MIDs:

Go Mobile: Please make absolutely sure your website and e-mail marketing campaigns are smart phone and iPhone accessible and include a phone number, as most smart phones have a click-to-dial feature. Or, you could always create a dedicated mobile site.

Get Out There: Optimize your website with ‘solutionizing’ key words and phrases by cramming it chock-full of meaty, educational content. When your prospective customer types or taps their problem into Google, you want to come up first (or at least on the first page).

Be Social: Develop (and frequently update) a blog and use social media tools. Then, make sure to promote this in everything you do. That’s a surefire way to build up your street (er, web) cred.

Get Wired: Send newsworthy press releases to online trade media outlets and post them to the wire.

Don’t Worry. Be Appy: Create an App that your prospective customers will benefit from using.

Texter Beware: I recommend limiting SMS campaigns unless it’s a reminder to attend an event someone has registered for or something like that and they have specifically agreed to receive text messages from you. Otherwise, it just reeks of intrusiveness to me.

Don’t just take it from me. Check out the results of this research study, which found that SEO, PPC and e-mail had the highest influence on conversions. Adapting these strategies to mobile devices is a surefire way to cost-effectively reach your target audiences.

What do you think? Are texting campaigns the best thing since sliced sashimi? Are you reading this blog post from a mobile device? Can you refer me to a 12-step program for iPhone addiction? Let me know.

Many of today’s meetings are via web conference, rather than face-to-face. It just makes sense, in addition to saving time and travel costs.

But what about using this new media to throw a party? Canyon turned ten in April and we invited clients to celebrate with us using WebEx online meeting service (by the way, we like the functionality of Cisco’s WebEx, but GoToMeeting provides similar capabilities). Here’s how we managed to add some fun:

1) Canyon clients received an e-vite asking them attend the online party.

2) A day before the celebration, attendees received a “party in a box,” which included a party hat, cake, candles, confetti and rock music CD. Also enclosed was a gift – a unique commemorative Canyon Rock Star-branded thermo cup.

3) A card provided the date, time and instructions join us for the web bash.

4) At the appointed hour, clients clicked in via voice and video. Our emcee moderated the party agenda which included group games such as a Canyon trivia game (What is the name of Canyon’s mascot fish?) and identifying photos of Canyonites at age 10 (not so easy).

When you can’t shake a hand (or hug as so many of us do when we meet our clients face-to-face), it’s really important to make web meetings personal, fun and still effective.

As online meetings replace teleconferences because of enhanced capabilities to show graphics, use PowerPoint presentations and stream video to see meeting participants and be seen in real time, we need to step it up and get personal.

Is your company using web conferencing more often in the current economy? What do you do to personalize and add interest to your online meetings?