25 Years in the Making
October 2026 marks the beginning of our 25th year in business. Even though 25 years is a long time, we continue to evolve and innovate for our clients. In 2002, websites were all the rage, but they relied on custom content management systems, with simple text changes requiring help from the website supplier. Fast forward […]
What Really Goes into Running a Conference
Attendees see a sea of nametags, a coffee station, a keynote that starts on time, and a PowerPoint presentation that just works. What they don’t see is the eight- to 12-month lead-up behind those few minutes on stage — the spreadsheets, the vendor calls, the emcee script that’s been revised eleven times, and the person […]
A Focus on SMART Objectives
At Focus Communications, strategy is the bedrock of our decision-making process, which is why we always like to start by asking our clients (and ourselves!) if the goals being set are SMART. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Specific objectives that target exact outcomes such as improving newsletter open rate by 7%. […]
The pen is mightier than the sword
No truer words were ever spoken. In today’s society, where people feel free to lash out at service staff, call centre employees, and retail clerks, it seems there are simply no boundaries to the abuse they feel entitled to hurl. Yelling, name-calling, insulting people… This might make the person feel, what, powerful? superior? in the […]
A Focus on SWOT
The corporate world is full of jargon that can initially seem intimidating. Business people will use the term SWOT analysis as a common phrase in conversation, but do most people understand what that means outside of the office? What is a SWOT Analysis? SWOT is an acronym that stands for: Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats […]
There is No General Public
One of the main points taught to me repeatedly during my time at university is that there is no such thing as a general public. Yet this term continues to be used today to describe a large population of average people. The term general public implies that we can lump a colossal group of people […]
So, what really is the truth?
It seems odd to question the truth, although ‘fake news’ certainly started challenging us a few years ago. Nevertheless, people can surely agree on facts: 2 + 2 will always = 4. But, when it comes to recounting history or even relaying conversations, what really is the truth? Winston Churchill is attributed with saying, “history […]
Three things to know: website analytics edition
Website analytics are an extremely helpful tool for businesses, if they know what they’re looking at. While combing through web stats isn’t exactly everyone’s idea of a good time, knowing what you’re looking for and what the stats mean could help you engage your audience, know where to put more effort, and even let you […]
What’s the rush?
“There’s never time to do it right, but there’s always time to do it over.” These words ring true so many times for communication professionals who are pressed by clients to deliver products and services in a flash. And, many times errors occur as a result of rushing around, and you end up doing things […]
Sue Heuman, ABC, MC, IABC Fellow
I am so proud to announce that my business partner and wife, Sue Heuman, has been named a Fellow by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). This is an incredible honour that is much deserved. Achieving the IABC Fellow designation requires the individual to have a significant impact, not only on their organization and […]