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When Should You Use “Among” vs. “Amongst”?

[Questions? larry@larrylitwin.com]

Two words, with two letters’ difference: “among” and “amongst.” But is there really a difference between them in meaning and usage?

The short answer is, no. Both “among” and “amongst” are prepositions used to describe something in the midst of, in the company of, surrounded by, or in association with. For example, “I know that contract is somewhere among this mess.” Or “Mary had one suitor in mind amongst the many clamoring for her attention.”

Does It Matter?

You can use “among” and “amongst” interchangeably, so why do both exist? The big difference is their age. “Among” comes from the Old English word “ongemang,” which combines the words for “in” and “mingling.” “Amongst,” despite its dated sound to modern American ears, is actually a newer term popularized as Middle English took over. “Amongst” appeared with other words such as “against.”

Historical Fiction

Generally speaking, it’s a matter of preference, but one particular use case for “amongst” would be in writing historical fiction. Given the word’s popularity during the Middle Ages, it may feel more at home when spoken by a character using other traditional lingo.

An International Audience

“Amongst” is more popular in England, Canada, and Australia. While Americans will understand “amongst,” it sounds out of place and old-fashioned within the American dialect. “Among” is the preferred choice when writing for an American audience, or for daily content such as news articles, reports, or business communication.

What About “Between”?

While there may not be much of a difference with “among” and “amongst,” there is a contrast compared to fellow preposition “between.” “Among” and “amongst” describe a collective grouping, such as: “The roses bloomed brightly among(st) a sea of green.”

You should use “between” only when highlighting a one-to-one relationship, as in: “The newspaper was wedged between the two passengers on the train.”

[Questions? larry@larrylitwin.com]

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8 Tips For Generating Repeat Business Post-COVID-19

[Questions: larry@larrylitwin.com]

No matter where you are in your sales cycle post-COVID-19, more and more businesses are looking for ways to help drive repeat business.  Why? Because it represents a huge revenue stream to top-line sales.

According to OutboundEngine.com:

  • Acquiring a new customer can cost five times more than retaining an existing customer.
  • Increasing customer retention by 5% can increase profits from 25% to 95%.
  • The success rate of selling to a customer you already have is 60% to 70%, while the success rate of selling to a new (non-referral) customer is 5% to 20%.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Here are the “8 Tips To Help Generate Repeat Sales”
  1. Use a client’s first name
  2. Make GREAT customer service a priority
  3. Communicate missed deadlines
  4. Train Your Sales Team On Up-Selling And/Or Cross-Selling
  5. Follow Up After An Initial Order Is Placed
  6. Ensure Customer Support Information Is Readily Available
  7. Reduce The Perceived Risk
  8. Assess Your Company’s Performance

Executive Summary:
A happy client is more likely to become a repeat customer. With this in mind, it’s essential to make good customer service a top priority. Remember, if you are not making your clients happy, your competition will be waiting in the wings to do a better job.

[Questions: larry@larrylitwin.com]

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Special Events — Defined

[Questions? larry@larrylitwin.com]

Stimulating an interest in a person, product or organization by
means of a focused (noteworthy)“happening.”

Also, activities designed to interact with publics and to listen to them.

[Questions? larry@larrylitwin.com]

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How To Better Manage Your Boss (Even When Working Remotely)

From:

Dale Carnegie Training Newsletter
By: Anita Zinsmeister, President
Dale Carnegie Training of Central & Southern New Jersey

For more ask larry@larrylitwin.com

  • Word Count: 481
  • Time To Read: 1.9 Minutes

Everyone has a manager. And whether or not you like him/her, your well-being and career are directly related to a positive relationship.

It Starts By Exceeding Their Expectations.

You first need to determine what outstanding performance looks like in the eyes of your boss. Is it your loyalty, performance, or consistent work? No matter what it is, you need to do this: Exceed their expectations.

5 Simple Ways To Help Manage Your Boss (Even When Working Remotely):

#1: Take Things Off Your Boss’s To-Do List – Find out what your boss doesn’t like to do or has challenges with, and then find a way to do it (or solve it) for them. By adding this kind of value to a relationship and doing it with good intentions, you will be amazed how much it will be appreciated. Another suggestion is this: Ask your boss what they want to “get off their plate” on a given day.

#2: Connect With Your Boss – Your manager, for the most part, won’t be fully committed to you if they can’t trust you; therefore, it is imperative to connect with them. PLEASE, don’t wait for your boss to initiate that relationship, as it may take a lot longer to develop. Great employees are often a champion of their manager – and this, in itself, shows your maturity.

#3: Your Timing And Approach – To help take the lead on a specific project(s), your timing needs to be right – and with the right intentions. Another thing, you must be able to read when your boss is too focused or frustrated (and know when to push or retreat).

#4: Be Cognizant Of Your Boss’s Needs – It is never easy to read your manager’s mind; however, you should understand their top priorities to help spot their needs. For example, if their goal at year-end is to roll out five new products or services, start looking for ways to schedule meetings with a product manager so that things are not waiting to be done at the last minute.

#5: Know Your Organization – There is a high probability your boss is juggling a million things on a given day. Although everyone has deadlines and things that need to get done, it is critical to know how your organization works when it comes to getting things accomplished. By having the insight to manage any roadblocks or issues, you need to position yourself as a trusted resource for your boss.

Executive Summary: At some point over the next seven to ten days, we recommend being more proactive in helping your boss get things done.  Additionally, have a one-on-one call/meeting with your boss to find out what their expectations are of you and how you can exceed them. No matter what, it is OK for your boss to take the credit for a project that they are ultimately responsible for, as it will go a long way in your boss’s mind.

For more ask larry@larrylitwin.com

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Technique to Succeed: Business dining: Dos and don’ts

[Questions? larry@larrylitwin.com]

There is much more in Litwin’s The Public relations Practitioner’s Playbook for (all) Strategic Communicators and The ABCs of Strategic Communication. Enjoy.

[From Jim Haney – General Manager – Palm Restaurant – Atlantic City NJ Courier-Post – Monday, April 4, 2005]

Some tips to help make your business dinner successful:

• Have fun, but remain professional.

• Dress appropriately.

• Pick the right restaurant for your affair, making sure the atmosphere fits the tone of your business outing. If you are looking to have a quiet business dinner, and don’t want to be disturbed by other diners, look for a place with private rooms or a very quiet environment.

• Go to a restaurant with which you are familiar. It’s not the best idea to go somewhere that you have never been before.

• Make reservations in advance – not the day of a business dinner. You’re usually safe on the same day during the week, but if you have a larger party you may be out of luck.

Limit the alcohol.

• Order food you like.Don’t order because of someone else.

• Make sure you have enough credit on your credit card if you arepaying thebill.

• Always take care of your server

From Jim Haney – General Manager – Palm Restaurant – Atlantic City NJ Courier-Post – Monday, April 4, 2005

[Questions? larry@larrylitwin.com]

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3 Ways To Make Your Thank-You Note Stand Out After a Job Interview

[For more: larry@larrylitwin.com]

Larry is back after a few weeks of being slammed. Here, from ZipRecruiter on June 28, 2021 are Thank You Note tips. There is much more in Litwin’s The Public relations Practitioner’s Playbook for (all) Strategic Communicators. Enjoy. Questions? larry@larrylitwin.com…

You nailed the job interview! Or maybe you didn’t.

Either way, you still have one more chance to stand out and leave a good impression: the post-interview thank-you email.

(Yes, an email is perfectly acceptable. Especially these days when your interviewer could be working remotely.)

57% of job candidates don’t send a follow-up note after an interview. Which is bad for them, but good news for you. The secret to a good thank-you email is to talk about the interviewer, not yourself. A little-known secret about interviewers is that…they’re people too! And they love positive feedback just as much as you do.

Here are three ways to do it:

  1. Share How They Have Increased Your Enthusiasm

Hopefully, you conveyed how excited you were about the job during your interview. Your email can express how speaking with the interviewer kicked that excitement up another level. Then say why. This message will make the person you met feel good that they represented their company, and themselves, well. And when you make them feel good, they’ll feel good about you.

  1. Show That You Were Listening

For this approach, mention one or two topics that stuck with you. These could be anything they shared about the company, their department, or your industry as a whole. When you repeat something they said, it demonstrates that you were listening…and that your interviewer said something worth listening to.

  1. Highlight Their Best Moment

In this type of thank-you note, call out a question the interviewer asked or something they said, which taught you something or made you change your mind. Then, ask a related follow-up question. This is a great way to keep the conversation going, and gives you more opportunities to provide further insight into what you would contribute to the role.

A post-interview thank-you note is often the final impression you leave with a hiring manager. While your actual interview will likely be the main factor in whether you get the job, the right follow-up could seal the deal.

[For more: larry@larrylitwin.com]

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Hashtag

[Questions? larry@larrylitwin.com]

There is much more in Litwin’s The Public relations Practitioner’s Playbook for (all) Strategic Communicators and The ABCs of Strategic Communication. Enjoy.

Hashtag – The # symbol, called a hashtag (some refer to it as a hash mark),
is used to mark keywords or topics in a tweet. It was created by Twitter® users
as a way to categorize messages – tweets – by keyword. Also,(on-social-networking websites) a word or phrase preceded by a hashtag, used within a
message to identify a keyword or topic of interest  and facilitate a search for it
(e.g. The hashtag #PRPractitioner’sPlaybook is used to help coordinate tweets
about The Public Relations Practitioner’s Playbook for (all) Strategic
Communicators.)

[Questions? larry@larrylitwin.com]

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Hard Money vs. Soft Money

There is much more in Litwin’s The Public relations Practitioner’s Playbook for (all) Strategic Communicators and The ABCs of Strategic Communication. Enjoy.

Hard Money = Donations made directly to a political candidate. Hard
money is regulated by federal laws (Federal Election Commission) that
limit the amount a person can donate to a candidate.

[Questions? larry@larrylitwin.com]

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Crowd Funding

There is much more in Litwin’s The Public relations Practitioner’s Playbook for (all) Strategic Communicators and The ABCs of Strategic Communication. Enjoy.

Crowd Funding = Using social media or other Internet site (e.g.
kickstarter®) to raise money for charities, starting a business or other
“legitimate project or venture.

[For more: larry@larrylitwin.com]