Aside From Technical Writing... What in the World Can You Do?

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Aside From Technical Writing...What in the World
Can You Do?

• Presented by Jack MassaGuidance Communications
  Inc.

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Whats Up with this Title, Dude?

• Aside from Teaching English...

• What Color is Your Parachute?

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So, more about me...

• Successful Businessman (Who me?)

• 2003 Income down 48

• So how can I stand up here and dare to give
  advice?

Chutzpah!
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By the Numbers...

• Three ways to make money as a writer

• Ten jobs you can do

• Four Pillars of Your Marketing Plan

• Five-Step Plan for Controlling Your Destiny

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Three Ways to the

• Sales Help Increase Revenues

• Support Help Decrease Expenses

• Content Create Product to Sell

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Sales

• Sales Help Increase Revenues

• Copywriting/Commercial Writing/Marketing
  Writing

• Writing skills are paramount

• Every organization needs this

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Support

• Support Help Decrease Expenses

• Product Documentation/Online Help

• Corporate Documentation Policies and Procedures

• Training

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Content Creation

• Content Creating Product

• Magazine, newspapers, trade publications, books

• Research and writing ability are super-important

• Actually pays less than the other two

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By the Numbers...

• ?Three ways to make money as a writer

• Ten jobs you can do

• Four Pillars of Your Marketing Plan

• Five-Step Plan for Controlling Your Destiny

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Ten Jobs You Can Do

• Disclaimer!

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Engineering Writer
Ten Jobs

• Market Large or small engineering firms

Tasks Write, edit, manage publications/proposals
Required Writing, editing, interviewing SMEs,
publishing tools
Plusses Engineering or science knowledge
Pay Roughly similar to tech writing
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Corporate/HR/Training Writer
Ten Jobs

• Market Large organizations, writing often
  freelance or contract

Tasks Write and edit, policies and procedures,
training manuals, employee handbooks, etc.
Required Writing, editing, interviewing SMEs,
publishing tools
Plusses HR or training background, degree in
instructional design
Pay Roughly similar to tech writing or a bit less
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Corporate Communications
Ten Jobs

• Market Large organizations, marketing/PR firms

Tasks Write and edit brochures, speeches,
scripts, newsletters. Manage publications.
Required Writing, editing, interviewing.
Sometimes a PR or marketing background.
Plusses Marketing or PR experience.
Pay Roughly similar to tech writing. More at the
high end
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Marketing/Commercial Writer
Ten Jobs

• Market Marketing/PR companies. Or freelance to
  any client.

Tasks Write brochures, web copy, speeches,
scripts, newsletters, ads, stories, etc.
Required Writing skill, creativity, tenacity
Plusses Marketing experience
Pay Hourly rates generally higher than tech
writing
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Medical Writer
Ten Jobs

• Market Research facilities, biomedical companies

Tasks Write and edit brochures, reports,
articles for doctors and researchers
Required Writing, editing, interviewing. Often
need some medical or science background.
Plusses BS, PhD, MD
Pay Same as tech writing to much higher
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Trainer/Instructional Designer
Ten Jobs

• Market Large and mid-sized companies of all
  types. Small training firms.

Tasks Analyze needs design, develop and deliver
training.
Required Writing/design skills. Demonstrated
ability creating and delivering training.
Plusses Experience. Instructional design degree
or certificate.
Pay Comparable to tech writing
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Project Manager
Ten Jobs

• Market Contract market, large IT projects

Tasks Organize and track schedule, hire,
troubleshoot, write reports
Required Organization and people skills. MS
Project.
Plusses Demonstrated experience. Certification.
Pay Somewhat higher than tech writing
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Web Designer/Developer
Ten Jobs

• Market Large to mid-size companies. Freelance to
  small businesses.

Tasks Design, code, test websites.
Required Tools and coding skills, creativity,
knowledge of web architecture
Plusses Demonstrated experience. Back-end
programming skills.
Pay Generally lower than tech writing (except
for serious developers)
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Usability/HCI Consultant
Ten Jobs

• Market Tech vendors or large consulting firms

Tasks Consult on user interface design, test
prototypes and beta products
Required HCI knowledge and experience
Plusses Related degree people and management
skills flexibility
Pay Generally a bit better than tech writing
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Freelance Writer (Content)
Ten Jobs

• Market Magazines, newspapers, book publishers

Tasks Think up, pitch, and write compelling
content
Required Imagination, tenacity, nerve, and a
feel for the market.
Plusses Same as above
Pay Miniscule, but the sky is the limit
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By the Numbers...

• ?Three ways to make money as a writer

• ? Ten jobs you can do

• Four Pillars of Your Marketing Plan

• Five-Step Plan for Controlling Your Destiny

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Why Market Yourself?
Your Marketing Plan

• To be successful over the long haul, you must
  consciously and consistently market yourself,
  whether you want to be a freelancer, a
  contractor, or a full-time employee.
  

-- Jack Massa
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Jacks 5-Minute MBA
Your Marketing Plan

• Everyone is in Sales and Marketing.

• Marketing is more important than expertise.

• Marketing is simply controlling the messages
  that you send.

• Marketing is Chinese water torture. It is all
  about consistency and frequency.

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Jacks 5-Minute MBA
Your Marketing Plan

• Before you can market...

• What are you selling?

• Who needs it?

• How much are they willing to pay?

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Jacks 5-Minute MBA
Your Marketing Plan

• Two factors in buying decision

• Perceived value Whats in it for me?

• Price How much will it cost me?

Avoid being a commodity!
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Jacks 5-Minute MBA
Your Marketing Plan

• How to avoid being a commodity

• Develop unique expertise

• Develop a unique niche

• Develop relationships

Business is all about relationships!
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What Color is Your Parachute?
Your Marketing Plan

• There are always opportunities

• Research the field and companies before you apply

• Find jobs before they appear

• Meet people in the field, because...

Business is all about relationships!
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1. Networking
Four Marketing Pillars

• No such thing as too much

• Umpteen opportunities

• Learn to work a room

• Help the other person

• Meet as many people as you can...

Business is all about relationships!
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2. Telephone Techniques
Four Marketing Pillars

• Warm calls before cold calls

• Have a script and practice

• Voicemail Try three times

• Always ask for a meeting, because...

Business is all about relationships!
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3. Pro Bono Work
Four Marketing Pillars

• Build your portfolio and your contacts

• Every organization can use a good writer

• You must give before you receive

• Helps you make friends, important because...

Business is all about relationships!
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4. Your Sales Call/Interview
Four Marketing Pillars

• Be prepared

• Ask leading questions

• Study Consultative Selling

• Probe for the pain

• Present your solutions

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By the Numbers...

• ?Three ways to make money as a writer

• ? Ten jobs you can do

• ? Four Pillars of Your Marketing Plan

• Five-Step Plan for Controlling Your Destiny

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Control Your Money
Control Your Destiny

• Examine your beliefs

• Examine your expenses

• Save 10 of what you earn

• Give away 10 of what you earn

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Control Your Career
Control Your Destiny

• You must face your fears... Chutzpah!

• Understand the purpose of failure

• Set goals 1-Year and 5-Year

• Make a plan and check it often

• Working in the business vs working on the
  business.

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Five Steps to Destiny Control
Control Your Destiny

1. Know and love yourself? money

• Know and love yourself? work

• Set goals Where do you want to go?

• Plan How will you get there?

• Work your plan EVERY DAY

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SoAside From Technical Writing...What in the
World Can You Do?
Anything you want to!!!
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Questions or Comments

• !

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Door Prize!!!
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My Contact Info...

• Jack MassaGuidance Communications Inc.
• 770.621.0526
• jack_at_guidancecom.com
• www.guidancecom.com