PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Professional writer and best-selling author of three books. Extensive familiarity with writing and administrating Web content – since 1997. Eight years’ experience in magazine article writing. Featured columnist in trade magazine, specializing in Internet marketing communications and business profiles. Passionate about business blogging and social media marketing. Commended on creative thinking, analytical troubleshooting, positive attitude, and strong project management/organizational skills.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Writing & Editing
- Gathered and synthesized information from a variety of channels and resources
- Able to translate high level first draft copy into easily-digestible marketing copy or technical instructions, based on project and/or audience needs and feedback.
- Coordinated 24-member creative team; drafted monthly themed online editorial calendar; organized and edited weekly writing and project submissions; created teaser copy and article excerpts for inclusion in weekly email newsletter.
- Edited 40-page orientation guide and instructional technical documents for new participants in ecommerce sales reporting program. Incorporated custom screenshots and step-by-step directions for non-techie audience.
- Freelance contributor of articles featured in four craft trade publications, three nationally-recognized consumer magazines, and seven websites.
Marketing Copywriting
- Wrote and edited broad spectrum of marketing collateral:
- backgrounders
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- product descriptions
- banner ads
- press releases targeted to specific audiences
- Prepared keyword-rich web & blog content to promote and sell products, services, and informational resources in a variety of industries.
Internet/Social Media
- Consistently ranked as Google's #1 resource for target keyword phrase
- Website Administration experience: HTML & MS FrontPage, as well as content management systems (CMS) such as phpNuke, Joomla, and blogs (Blogger, Typepad, & WordPress).
- Well-versed in Internet research techniques and resources.
- Extensive experience in online community management: moderated online bulletin boards and mailing lists; distributed bi-weekly techniques and ideas to over 5000 email list-members; answered questions and provided information in response to subscribers’ needs; encouraged group participation via thought-provoking discussion topics.
- Personally active on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
- Invited to facilitate international conference break-out sessions on marketing communications (how to market with newsletters, postcards, e-newsletters, websites, and blogs, plus search engine optimization techniques)
- Edited and optimized one of Shutterfly’s consumer-oriented blogs for increased search engine rankings
Marketing
- Conceptualized and facilitated industry-first Virtual Book Tour, visiting 15 websites and blogs over a two-week period. Developed itinerary for all site visits, and coordinated contests, promotions, and events with site owners.
- Invented a holiday to help promote client’s brand awareness & industry positioning, arranged magazine and online event coverage; created online press room; holiday now celebrated worldwide annually.
- Collaborated with manufacturers and PR staff to create mutually beneficial brand exposure, including product giveaways, discounts, and online promotions.
- Worked with business owners/clients to identify promotional goals; developed content for press kits and websites, focusing readers’ attention on specific marketing points.
- Implemented multi-pronged approach to promote brand awareness for consulting clients, including online marketing tools such as search engine optimization, traffic building strategies, social media & bookmarking, blogs, e-newsletters, online press releases, and web copywriting
- Coached clients on blog marketing strategies, from building a blog from scratch to increasing blog traffic to Search Engine Optimization (SEO) of posts
Project Management/Organizational Skills
- Spearheaded campaign to bring new participants on-board through six-month setup process of reporting sales and maintaining records via EDI. Tracked progress through multiple “milestones” to ensure all project requirements met. Increased program participation by over 500%.
- Developed systematic approach to introduce new participants to ecommerce reporting program – designed email templates, drafted follow-up schedule, and created step-by-step outlines of each stage in setup process.
- Organized correspondence, scheduling, catering, and general planning for 100+ person international conference
- Data management of marketing campaigns – responsible for creating sorting system and database for cataloging returns from direct mail campaign, data entry, report generation, and business resource recommendations for future campaigns.
- Consolidated five outdated Excel and Works databases into one customized Access database. Maintained contact database. Coordinated direct marketing and newsletter mailings.
Computer Skills
- Fluent in MS Word, Excel, Publisher, Outlook, and a variety of content management systems
- Intermediate skill in Access, FrontPage and PowerPoint
- Experience with graphic design programs: Photoshop and GIMP
- Typing: 66wpm
