Category: Sales

Technical Writing

Hi everyone! How technical can you be with creative content? This is a good question. Let’s start by looking at how we can define a technical writer.

A technical writer is an organized communicator for a company. They present the company in specific ways and focus on areas that require clear and succinct communication. They also work on creating and formatting material effectively to increase overall communication efficacy.

A technical writer for a communications company would be responsible for the below (and later on can assist with other areas like research, project management and customer advocacy):

  • Creating/formatting proprietary documents (i.e.: emails, meeting minutes, customer welcome packages, social media posts, blog and website content etc.)
  • Developing instructions, guidelines, training material, strategies and plans
  • Creating templates, marketing collateral, brochures, promotional materials, ad copy and presentations

Higher-level roles:

  • Writing contracts, proposals, RFPs, white papers, reports, feasibility studies and reviews
  • Acting as an interviewer, trainer, organizer, facilitator or mediator
  • Designing visual communication strategy, information graphics and/or data interpretation

Another advanced role is analytics (excerpt from Wikipedia):

The use of computer skills, mathematics and statistics, combined with descriptive techniques and predictive models to GAIN valuable knowledge from data. The discovery, interpretation, and communication of meaningful patterns in data; and the process of applying those patterns towards effective decision-making.

In other words, analytics can be understood as the connective tissue between data and effective decision-making, within an organization. A technical writer also observes and collects data from customers that suggests the product and/or customer experience can be changed or improved in a way that customers would prefer or benefit from.

So, technical writing can be used to enhance communication to a specific audience and can create simplicity from abstract or conceptual ideas. These specifications can improve user experience, time management, levels of customer satisfaction and other customer-centered metrics. 

Desirable traits of a technical writer: 

  • organized and able to optimize process
  • detailed and extremely focused
  • able to portray different styles and perspectives 
  • a leader and team motivator
  • easygoing and confident personality
  • insightful, intelligent and innovative
  • transparent, accurate and responsible

Blox. Communications would like to define technical writing as it specifically relates to creative entities. What traits (quality) and aspects (quantity) do you think would be important to operating a technical creative company?

Sales Specialist

Hi everyone! As VanWhistle Media’s Lead Sales Specialist, I have been building the foundations for a new digital marketing brand. How will we stand apart from others? How do we get customers to commit?

In my mind, it’s a combination of creative direction (standing apart) and content (establishing commitment). Also, a strong brand is everything. It is about locality plus some other concept I haven’t figured out yet (internationalism?). Meet your neighbors and start building connections any way.

I wanted to design some storefront posters and presentation slides (with animation) and this is what I came up with in the discovery stage –

Header: VANWHISTLE MEDIA IS HERE TO HELP! (large, black + white)

Sub-header: Social Media (rainbow)

Done correctly, you can tell everyone that your brand is ACTIVE and that you are FOCUSED on promoting ongoing and thriving communication with your customers. We will show you where your efforts have worked and where they are falling short! DO SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT with VANWHISTLE MEDIA today!

Sub-header: SEO (blue)

Progress to the next level with a definite increase in traffic by organizing your content by keywords; this will ensure your brand appears HIGH on Google’s list of results. Your business will need a powerful strategy as search tactics are always evolving. Let’s get you to the top of the list! DO SEO with VANWHISTLE MEDIA today!

Sub-header: Web Design (orange)

Everything about your website (content, appearance, functionality) is determined by the QUALITY of its design. Aim to establish expertise & credibility. We can manage this process from start to finish! DO WEB DEVELOPMENT with VANWHISTLE MEDIA today!

(include at bottom in smaller typeface, maybe white on gray?)

Small print: We can also help with – Email Marketing, Pay Per Click Management, Blog/Content Creation, Designing, Auto Dealership Package, Storefront Signage, Business Cards, Branding, Creative Direction & Idea Development. Contact us, we’re flexible and talented!

(contact info)

Background tip – I repeat ‘DO…with VANWHISTLE MEDIA today’, because repetition has been shown to be an effective selling tool. Scientists have found that repetition increases processing fluency. In other words, our brains find repeated words easier to process and remember. I really want to establish a focus in my message (do = doing = done). What will drive people to stop and read/look at our poster? The word DO repeated equals the word DOING repeated equals the word DONE repeating in their heads, thereby increasing desire and attracting demand. It’s always about thoughtful language, usage and placement!
Coming back to this project, I question the use of ‘talented’. For whatever reason, people hate that word. Like, a talented person couldn’t have an honest mandate. Or, to say one’s talented is to say, I’m egotistical. It really makes me wonder. What do you guys think?
I suppose at the end of the day, people are going to think how they want. So…if you’re going to do it differently, find trustworthy research to support your ideas!

The Four Agreements

Hi everyone! I am writing about The Four Agreements today. The book is by Don Miguel Ruiz and you can pick up a copy on Amazon for around 8 dollars. A lot of his writing helped me get through the anxiety of having to work with people. It also gave me a directional map on how to treat others. I am going to go through the main points with you today.

WORDS HAVE POWER – speak with integrity; do not gossip; speak in love.

DON’T TAKE THINGS PERSONALLY – what others do has to do with them, more than you. At best, you can influence and even that is limited. They may say you made them do something, this is only a projection.

DON’T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS – clarify; ask clearly for what you want, don’t assume others will know.

ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST – your best will always change according to health, circumstance and time; forgive yourself if your best is not perfect.

And that’s it!

I hope this brief summary will help you out, even if it’s taking one step outside of your comfort zone to pursue a new social challenge or to try and wrap your head around why we think and do the things the way we do.

Do you have any tools, tips or tricks for managing social stress or anxiety?

Your Business Acumen

Hi everyone! So, you’ve started a new business. The idea has been in the works for 1-2 years and you’ve saved up a stash of money. You’ve done the work, the necessary  to lift it off the earth. What’s next? Well, it’s time to break things down, come up with some simple and consistent strategies that that will work with you and for you. Note: these tips are aimed towards businesses in the startup phase.

Let’s start off with Your Primary Aim – stay on top of your resources (what you’re selling, who’s selling it for you) and channel your knowledge and passion into dispersing these resources as products and services of their own. Keep a theme, keep it fresh and update your objectives frequently. Next, Your Singular Objective – to make money, as much as possible, and to generate new customers by effectively streaming your knowledge, passion and resources through appropriate platforms and channels. Next up, Your Organizational Strategy – this is simple: be organized, have focus and optimize every process as it relates to your business. Use templates, build files, digitize everything. If your products and services are consistent, you will establish a base and this will create a sturdy platform for growth. Now, we have Your Management Strategy – be loved and love those who work with you and for you, simple as that. Then, we have Your People Strategy – find the best talent, assist in growth and always nurture true potential. We’re leading up to the end, and this is Your Marketing Strategy – this is the easiest and best part of running a business! Apply vision, creativity and a fire within to drive awareness both inwards and outwards. Invest in a variety of means to expand your lot. If people are drawn to your work, understand what they see and observe your business’ impact on their lives. They will invest and return. And, last but not least, we have Your Systems Strategy – you can have it all, the mind-blowing idea, the passion, the drive, but without a systematic and technical flow that will take you through each day, you will become lost, disorganized and lazy. Be tenacious. Be determined. Be happy!

That’s my toonie. How do you keep your business running? Opening up a conversation with you, I’d love to hear your response!