| Frequently
Asked Questions
I
hired a designer, but had to go elsewhere
for writing. Is this common?
It
is. Many businesses that hire a designer
expect to get copywriting in the deal, too.
This is rarely the case. Instead, they must
either write the copy themselves (often
a frustrating experience that ends up setting
the project back) or bring in a third party.
I honed my design services for just this
reason. By offering both writing and design,
I ensure that projects move along quickly
and seamlessly.
I have a new business. Where do I start
with marketing materials?
These
days most people like to browse through
a website to get more details about a business
before they make contact. I suggest you
start by creating a website—even
a single, well-designed page will do for
a start (you can always add more pages as
your business grows.) Just as important,
your product or service will come up during
online searches even if potential customers
don't yet know your business exists. Finally,
the public will always have your contact
information at its fingertips.
If
you plan to do any face-to-face networking,
I also recommend a brochure that highlights
the benefits of your product or service.
It's nice to leave people with something
they can hold in their hand and peruse later.
Business cards are, of course, a must.
Regardless
of what type of marketing materials you
start with, be sure you have a clear idea
of two important issues: 1) the market you
are targeting and 2) the unique benefits
your product or service has to offer that
particular demographic.
What
if I need just writing (or design)
services?
To
get the most out of my services, your project
needn't require both writing and design.
Many of my clients come to me just for writing
services—as
in the case of ghostwriting, press releases,
or web content where a developer is already
on the job. Other clients do their own writing,
but need someone to create a professional
design package to showcase it. I welcome
jobs in all their infinite variety.
I
want to do more of my own writing. Can you
help?
Absolutely.
I enjoy helping others bring their own writing
projects to fruition, whether it's a magazine
article or a technical report. I start by
helping you assess your writing goals and
the steps you'll need to reach them. As you
complete successive drafts of your work, we
review their strengths and weaknesses. Over
time, you learn how to build a strong piece
from the beginning—all
on your own. If your dream is to get published,
I can help you find appropriate markets and
craft a strong query letter.
What
writing and design resources do you recommend?
When
it comes to polishing prose, my personal
favorites are Strunk and White's ever-delightful
The Elements of Style and Joseph
M. Williams's more in-depth Style:Ten
Lessons in Clarity and Grace. For technical
matters, I turn to The Chicago Manual
of Style whereas nothing beats H.W.
Fowler's classic Modern English Usage
to ensure proper treatment of the English
language. When looking for inspiration,
I enjoy anything by William Zinsser, particularly
On Writing Well and Writing to
Learn. Of course, you can't do without
a big fat dictionary and thesaurus on your
bookshelf.
When
it comes to basic design theory, I recommend
Roger C. Parker's One-Minute Designer.
For ideas on layout, try Quick Solutions
to Great Layouts by Graham Davis. Finally,
you can keep up with the design times with
by reading magazines like HOW and
Print. |
