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

1. Presented by Jack MassaGuidance Communications Inc. Aside From Technical Writing...What in the World Can You Do?

2. What’s Up with this Title, Dude? • Aside from Teaching English... • What Color is Your Parachute?

3. 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!

4. 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

5. Three Ways to the $ • Sales – Help Increase Revenues • Support – Help Decrease Expenses • Content – Create Product to Sell

6. Sales • Sales – Help Increase Revenues • Copywriting/Commercial Writing/Marketing Writing • Writing skills are paramount • Every organization needs this

7. Support • Support – Help Decrease Expenses • Product Documentation/Online Help • Corporate Documentation: Policies and Procedures • Training

8. Content Creation • Content – Creating Product • Magazine, newspapers, trade publications, books • Research and writing ability are super-important • Actually pays less than the other two

9. 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

10. Ten Jobs You Can Do Disclaimer!

11. Ten Jobs Engineering Writer 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

12. Ten Jobs Corporate/HR/Training Writer 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

13. Ten Jobs Corporate Communications 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

14. Ten Jobs Marketing/Commercial Writer 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

15. Ten Jobs Medical Writer 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

16. Ten Jobs Trainer/Instructional Designer 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

17. Ten Jobs Project Manager 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

18. Ten Jobs Web Designer/Developer 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)

19. Ten Jobs Usability/HCI Consultant 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

20. Ten Jobs Freelance Writer (Content) 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

21. 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

22. Your Marketing Plan Why Market Yourself? “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

23. Your Marketing Plan Jack’s 5-Minute MBA • “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.”

24. Your Marketing Plan Jack’s 5-Minute MBA Before you can market... • What are you selling? • Who needs it? • How much are they willing to pay?

25. Your Marketing Plan Jack’s 5-Minute MBA Two factors in buying decision • Perceived value – What’s in it for me? • Price – How much will it cost me? Avoid being a commodity!

26. Your Marketing Plan Jack’s 5-Minute MBA How to avoid being a commodity • Develop unique expertise • Develop a unique niche • Develop relationships Business is all about relationships!

27. Your Marketing Plan What Color is Your Parachute? • 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!

28. Four Marketing Pillars 1. Networking • 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!

29. Four Marketing Pillars 2. Telephone Techniques • 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!

30. Four Marketing Pillars 3. Pro Bono Work • 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!

31. Four Marketing Pillars 4. Your Sales Call/Interview • Be prepared • Ask leading questions • Study Consultative Selling • “Probe for the pain” • Present your solutions

32. 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

33. Control Your Destiny Control Your Money • Examine your beliefs • Examine your expenses • Save 10% of what you earn • Give away 10% of what you earn

34. Control Your Destiny Control Your Career • 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 inthe business vs working on the business.

35. Control Your Destiny Five Steps to Destiny Control • 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

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

37. Questions or Comments !

38. Door Prize!!!

39. My Contact Info... Jack MassaGuidance Communications Inc. 770.621.0526 jack@guidancecom.com www.guidancecom.com