While a more comprehensive picture of my abilities and skills can be found on my resume, in this section I provide more specific detail about a few key topics.
Content Market Writing
When I first saw this term, I found it a bit intimidating. After all, I just finished a technical communication degree, not one in marketing. Nevertheless, I have enough knowledge and experience to understand that marketing has many different connotations and is often misinterpreted as sales or advertising. So, the first thing that I did when I heard this term was to research it. Everything I read confirmed my suspicion that content market writing is not something new. Rather it is a new way to define something many writers already do. One site defines it as, " '. . . communicating with potential customers in a way that an audience actually enjoys paying attention to, and that demonstrates to that audience that you would be a good person to do business with' ” (qtd. in The Content Marketing Writer by Jennifer Gregory). The Content Marketing Institute provides further explanation.
When I first saw this term, I found it a bit intimidating. After all, I just finished a technical communication degree, not one in marketing. Nevertheless, I have enough knowledge and experience to understand that marketing has many different connotations and is often misinterpreted as sales or advertising. So, the first thing that I did when I heard this term was to research it. Everything I read confirmed my suspicion that content market writing is not something new. Rather it is a new way to define something many writers already do. One site defines it as, " '. . . communicating with potential customers in a way that an audience actually enjoys paying attention to, and that demonstrates to that audience that you would be a good person to do business with' ” (qtd. in The Content Marketing Writer by Jennifer Gregory). The Content Marketing Institute provides further explanation.
Basically, content marketing is the art of communicating with your customers and prospects without selling. It is non-interruption marketing. Instead of pitching your products or services, you are delivering information that makes your buyer more intelligent. The essence of this content strategy is the belief that if we, as businesses, deliver consistent, ongoing valuable information to buyers, they ultimately reward us with their business and loyalty. ("What Is Content Marketing?")
In other words, content marketing writing can include many different types of content because it is any deliverable that is part of a brand's marketing strategy, and its primary purpose is to deliver information.
When I am asked if I have any content marketing writing experience, I always reply that I do. While I have not worked directly with a client to this end, I have written many things that fall within the definition and achieve the same purpose. For example, when I worked as a volunteer with a local Boy Scout committee and a band booster organization, I wrote content for blogs, websites, newsletters, flyers, reports, and created formal documents such as bylaws. In those instances, the customers I was trying to influence were parents, community members, and other volunteers. In my current job I have created brochures, flyers, and other media to promote the center. I have also written numerous other forms during my academic career, and as I continue to educate myself professionally and build a portfolio, I experiment with different technologies and forms of media such as creating infographics.
When I am asked if I have any content marketing writing experience, I always reply that I do. While I have not worked directly with a client to this end, I have written many things that fall within the definition and achieve the same purpose. For example, when I worked as a volunteer with a local Boy Scout committee and a band booster organization, I wrote content for blogs, websites, newsletters, flyers, reports, and created formal documents such as bylaws. In those instances, the customers I was trying to influence were parents, community members, and other volunteers. In my current job I have created brochures, flyers, and other media to promote the center. I have also written numerous other forms during my academic career, and as I continue to educate myself professionally and build a portfolio, I experiment with different technologies and forms of media such as creating infographics.
Technical Writing Software
Numerous tools exist to help technical communicators create, document, and design. While many jobs will list experience with specific applications as part of the minimum qualifications, I believe that anyone can learn to use any application as long as they are motivated and diligent. I am one of those people. I tend to work hands-on and am very resourceful. So, I am happy to research anything I don't know, and I enjoy learning new things. The truth of the matter is that despite my eagerness, it is just not feasible for me to have had experience with or access to every type of application on the market. The following is a description of my proficiency or familiarity with some of the more common programs.
Microsoft
As is true with most individuals, the majority of my experience revolves around Microsoft Office products. I am fortunate to own the most up to date versions with the full office suite for 2013. Although I would never profess to be an expert where I know every single feature for each program, I am confident to say that I am proficient in many of the programs. I have created brochures and flyers using Publisher. I have written a chapter for a style guide and worked with a team to combine and edit a series of training modules using Word. I have used Excel to produce task schedules and Gantt charts. I am also proficient with PowerPoint and Outlook. I have not had access to Visio, but I understand the premise behind it as a useful tool for creating flow charts and diagrams. I have also had some limited experience using Sharepoint and Office 365.
Adobe
Unfortunately, because of the expense, I have not had much opportunity to work with the full suite of Adobe products, especially the new Creative Cloud versions. I am aware that Adobe sets the industry standard, and I have had some limited access to programs such as Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. I am familiar with some of the features available in Acrobat, such as merging multiple files into one pdf, and the wide range of other applications such as Audition for audio editing and Dreamweaver, MadCap Flare, and RoboHelp. I also have found that similar to Microsoft Office, many of the menus, toolbars, and other interfaces are similar across platforms.
Other
I find that I will run the trial versions of programs to get feel for them. If I can, I try to find another program that has similar features but may be less expensive. Some of the trial versions and free programs I have used are as follows:
Numerous tools exist to help technical communicators create, document, and design. While many jobs will list experience with specific applications as part of the minimum qualifications, I believe that anyone can learn to use any application as long as they are motivated and diligent. I am one of those people. I tend to work hands-on and am very resourceful. So, I am happy to research anything I don't know, and I enjoy learning new things. The truth of the matter is that despite my eagerness, it is just not feasible for me to have had experience with or access to every type of application on the market. The following is a description of my proficiency or familiarity with some of the more common programs.
Microsoft
As is true with most individuals, the majority of my experience revolves around Microsoft Office products. I am fortunate to own the most up to date versions with the full office suite for 2013. Although I would never profess to be an expert where I know every single feature for each program, I am confident to say that I am proficient in many of the programs. I have created brochures and flyers using Publisher. I have written a chapter for a style guide and worked with a team to combine and edit a series of training modules using Word. I have used Excel to produce task schedules and Gantt charts. I am also proficient with PowerPoint and Outlook. I have not had access to Visio, but I understand the premise behind it as a useful tool for creating flow charts and diagrams. I have also had some limited experience using Sharepoint and Office 365.
Adobe
Unfortunately, because of the expense, I have not had much opportunity to work with the full suite of Adobe products, especially the new Creative Cloud versions. I am aware that Adobe sets the industry standard, and I have had some limited access to programs such as Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. I am familiar with some of the features available in Acrobat, such as merging multiple files into one pdf, and the wide range of other applications such as Audition for audio editing and Dreamweaver, MadCap Flare, and RoboHelp. I also have found that similar to Microsoft Office, many of the menus, toolbars, and other interfaces are similar across platforms.
Other
I find that I will run the trial versions of programs to get feel for them. If I can, I try to find another program that has similar features but may be less expensive. Some of the trial versions and free programs I have used are as follows:
- Camtasia Studio
- SnagIt
- Jing
- GIMP
Languages
As a young adult, I took classes where I learned Basic and created simple programs on the school's Apple computers. In the late 90's, I taught myself to write HTML so that I could design my own websites. The sites were purely social wherein I could hone my skills and entertain friends and family. While I have retained much of that knowledge, it by no means comes close to the complexity of today's code. I am comfortable working with Wiki sites due to my background in HTML. I also have some familiarity with cascading style sheets (CSS) and how they function. I have a basic understanding of XML and its role in making a collabrative system within a single source. While I find the many forms of computer language beautiful, I have not had much experience working with them. Nevertheless, just because I am not a programmer does not mean that I cannot learn how to use the tools available to help me. Additionally, I have a book that I hope to read one day on using DHTML ; I intend to take a course on DITA ; and I intend to continue learning new formats and ways to work within content management systems (CMS).
As a young adult, I took classes where I learned Basic and created simple programs on the school's Apple computers. In the late 90's, I taught myself to write HTML so that I could design my own websites. The sites were purely social wherein I could hone my skills and entertain friends and family. While I have retained much of that knowledge, it by no means comes close to the complexity of today's code. I am comfortable working with Wiki sites due to my background in HTML. I also have some familiarity with cascading style sheets (CSS) and how they function. I have a basic understanding of XML and its role in making a collabrative system within a single source. While I find the many forms of computer language beautiful, I have not had much experience working with them. Nevertheless, just because I am not a programmer does not mean that I cannot learn how to use the tools available to help me. Additionally, I have a book that I hope to read one day on using DHTML ; I intend to take a course on DITA ; and I intend to continue learning new formats and ways to work within content management systems (CMS).