James Doan - Just Minding My Own Business

Have you ever commented to someone, “You write like a girl!” or “You write like a guy!” Leaving aside whether we intend such comments as insults or compliments, researchers say there really are subtle indicators in English about whether a writer slants male or female. Apart from word choice, these indicators include sentence structure, paragraph length, punctuation choices, use of pronouns, emotional intensity, use of numbers and focus on things (male-ish) or on relationships (female-ish).

I came across a recent study by the think tank Populace. They found a majority of those polled said they value relationships, fulfilment and character more than money. Yet they also said that a majority of their fellow citizens feel otherwise, valuing status above all else. That misperception has serious consequences, including misguided career choices. This got me thinking. How far do mistaken ideas about what most people believe affect our business decisions? Often entrepreneurs make assumptions about what people would or wouldn’t do. They then dismiss marketing, pricing or operational strategies out of hand.

By themselves, numbers don’t tell a story. If you want to share data, it is important also to explain the point you are trying to make. This is true whether it is your own findings or someone else’s. Here are some guidelines to help you do this. What surprises you in the numbers, and why? What is counter-intuitive about the data, and what might that suggest? When comparing more than one set of numbers, highlight the similarity or the gap: Over here…, yet over there… Spell out the emotional significance of the data. Who is suffering or thriving because of these facts, and how? What should we worry about or celebrate?

Check out a recent study by the Aberdeen Group. They found companies using video marketing are growing revenue 49 percent faster than those that aren't.  But if that makes you want to leap into video marketing, hang on a moment.  Other research shows that distinct types of marketing videos suit extroverts and introverts. Consider talking-head videos. Someone faces a camera or webcam and speaks off the cuff. These are much easier for extroverts to manage and shine with.  Introverts tend to stumble, hesitate and blush or blink too much under that kind of pressure. Unless they do intensive practicing.  You can see this disparity in Facebook groups where new online course instructors post their practice videos.