Description
Our business is words
Overview: writing and editing/management contracts for: websites, free-to-publish article marketing, e-newsletters and print for a mixture of regular clients and “one-offs”. Also revised and edited the gap-year guidebook for the last six years and have provided editorial proofing and consultancy for a client writing two books, for one of which I also produced illustrations.
Examples of my work available on www.multimediareputations.com
Key skills:
Networking, negotiation and communication
Professional editorial knowledge and expertise
Proof reading and copy editing
Topical awareness
Shorthand and Microsoft Word 2000 specialist
Computer and internet literate
Use of CMS
Design, illustration and graphics
People person, adaptable and calm in crisis
RMS recruitment (London) articles for website, now editing a book for them
Empowered Sourcing Solutions Ltd (Suffolk) rewrite website contents for their client (commercial kitchen and vent duct cleaning) then improve website traffic via free to publish articles.
AgraQuest, (USA) Three-month trial to improve website traffic via twice-weekly free to publish articles now converted to long-term contract
PlusMinus Accountants (London): website content editing and management, marketing materials editing, help client improve written and spoken English (client is originally from Bangladesh)
HomeStore UK (Suffolk) bi-monthly e-newsletter and occasional print work as required. From May 2010 Three-month contract to improve website traffic via twice-weekly free to publish articles.
DL Design Associates Ltd (Long Melford): content writing & editing occasional e-newsletter. Content writing for client websites and advertising
www.newsletter-genie.co.uk (Suffolk) copywriting online e-newsletters for Newsletter Genie clients. post-design editor for others: final edit, proof read and plaintext version.
www.norfolk-exchange.org.uk The Norfolk Exchange (Wymondham) Jan 08 set up and write content for replacement website then manage content and write monthly e-newsletter for businesses. Also write for print publications and press as required.
Completed projects:
www.gap-year.com John Catt Educational Ltd, (Suffolk). 6-year contract as consultant editor to revise, advise on text content and proof annually for the gap-year guidebook and provide regular monthly copy for Info for gappers latest news section of website (travel, country info, book & music reviews, geopolitics). Design and copy for online newsletter gapXtra, and monthly copy using CMS (Jan-Sept 2005). Respond to inquiries from aspiring travel writers, travellers, journalists and researchers, give media interviews as required. Design advice and content for revamped website (2004).
Norfolk Community Foundation (Norwich) writing content, then design/upload of quarterly online newsletter (via Constant Contact CMS)
Grace Estate Planning (Ipswich) website plan, content writing. Website currently under construction.
EARA and WERM: (Willisham, Suffolk) Consultancy re marketing/drafting press articles and e newsletters ongoing. Pre publicity for January 09 launch of EARA – a Social Enterprise set up to collect and recycle domestic electrical waste and provide work and training for long-term unemployed. (WERM is an established company recycling IT equipment from industry).
Wikaniko.com (UK wide) content writing monthly e-newsletter on environmental issues worldwide two issues trialled, on hold for them to build up contact database
Murray Building Services (East Anglia) website plan and content
Armco Key (UK wide) plan and content for new security products website
H G Blatcher (Stonemasons) Ltd (Southend): writing content for new website
Envirologica (UK, Finland, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland) writing content for new website
Rethink Eastern RRG: Compile, solicit/generate articles and pics, edit and liaise with printer twice-yearly print newsletter (mental health charity).
Robert Ashton, (Wymondham, Norfolk) Update of consultancy website www.robertashton.co.uk, compiling/input/distribution monthly e-zine using CMS. Web content manager for this and a second site www.advantagecic.org a newly-launched publishing company set up as a social enterprise, edit and proof read books, internet and phone-based research/reports as required.
www.stuffstigma.org (Norwich) Set up the website and write occasional e-newsletter for a lottery-funded campaign to reduce stigma against people with mental health problems (under the umbrella of Rethink/Moving People project, nationally). “I know someone like that” edited and illustrated book written by Robert Ashton as part of this campaign.
www.aerotoxicassociation.org (Warwickshire) client John Hoyte, chairman: to reorganise and redesign website then manage content.
SL (Shanghai/London) Magazine, (London). Article on cultural and social issues for UK audience interested in China and for UK based Chinese professionals.
White Digital Media, (Norwich). Associate Editor producing articles from interviews for online B to B publication www.execdigital.co.uk . From Oct 2007 also producing articles for US/Canada versions
Doorstep British Market Research Bureau (Norfolk and Suffolk) tracker surveys for Kantar operations. April 04-Nov 07 (weekends only)
Summersault Communications Ltd (Leamington Spa) Range of articles and pics sourced from two local units of a national chain of private hospitals for its 50th anniversary celebration staff magazine
Futuresense Ltd (Newbury) Parent co of www.gapguru.com (gap year volunteer, internship and tour organisers specialising in India) produce a monthly online newsletter and revamp text of website, with additional one-off writing assignments.
Stratton PR (Ipswich) 13 articles for corporate newsletter (turnaround 7 hrs), 6 case studies from phone interviews for an organisation recruiting businesses into science/technology/engineering partnership programme with schools, copy for an 8 page A4 newsletter following probation service conference.
Q2A solutions (Delhi/London) Writing text to pre-designed template with strict sectional word counts for children’s book (age 7-10) on World Cup football. Robert Frederick/Really Useful Map Co (Bath) write 16pp addition to above on Germany World Cup 2006.
Babergh District Council Layout and design of Housing strategy document.
Beautiful Beings (Stowmarket) Photo-journalist assignment in Prague researching cosmetic surgery holiday (as “client/guinea pig”) subsequent article printed in EADT lifestyle mag.
Suffolk Preservation Society (Lavenham) Editorial consultant for 75th anniversary newsletter/magazine.
East Anglian Daily Times, (Ipswich) Two remaining articles (for series of 12 started while still employed) on faiths in Suffolk.
Qualifications/Awards:
Jan/Feb 2004: Local business centre certificate in book keeping, new business, marketing and sales.
January 2004 Microsoft Word 2000 certificate
1992 Winner of Race in the Media Awards (provincial newspapers) from Commission for Racial Equality. Shortlisted in final three for next two years.
1990 NCTJ Certificate in Journalism
1980-83 University of East Anglia, BA Hons, Development Studies (specialising in Sociology, Social Policy, Politics and Politics and Development)
A levels: French (A and S2), Latin, German, Zoology
Current interests and activities:
Travelling, principally to India, where I have family (I am Anglo-Indian) in both Delhi and Ahmedabad. Art, drawing and painting. Renovating old, semi-derelict houses. Reading: current affairs, political and crime fiction, travel and history. World music.
Testimonials:
Alison was referred to me by a very satisfied client when we were seeking to re-construct our website and more effectively market our support services to businesses and schools through e-zines.
Alison provided guidance and advice in transferring the existing website from the former web host company; she liaised with the new web hosts to ensure that the facilities and functionality that we required were enabled, and she oversaw the timetable for completion and launch of the new site.
She undertook the artwork and design layout for the site, reviewed all existing materials and edited those that we wished to retain for further use. She sourced new materials, analysed our publicity materials so that they were ‘web appropriate’, synthesised documents for web display and published all materials within the agreed timeframe.
As part of the package of support, Alison has provided on-site and telephone training and tutoring to colleagues who can now upload materials to the site or amend published materials, as necessary.
Alison has provided a full and comprehensive web support service that we continue to retain on a monthly basis. I highly recommend Alison’s skills and expertise.
Tom O’Connor, Chief Executive, The Exchange
Newsletter Genie is an online service which writes, designs and distributes email newsletters on behalf of a wide variety of clients. Those clients expect well-written, readable and effective copy that helps them to build and maintain a good relationship with their readers.
Alison consistently produces well-written, well researched and relevant copy to meet demanding deadlines. She also has the vital ability to coax and cajole our less organised clients into delivering their initial ideas on time!
Alison’s experience and ability give her the perfect skill set for our work. She has quickly become a highly valued member of the Newsletter Genie team, and I am confident in recommending her services.
Allan Scott
Director, Newsletter Genie Ltd
Alison is a star. She provides the right mix of quality writing, nagging and webmastering to ensure that all I promise on my website is delivered. At times it's a challenge for us both, but Alison never complains, other than by reminding me how important it is to meet deadlines! The outcomes were quick to appear. My website now sits far higher up the search engine rankings and I have invoiced to new clients attracted by the website, around 5x what I've paid Alison for the work. Who else can deliver that kind of return on investment?
Furthermore she has a wicked sense of humour and bribes me with cheese straws! I commend her to anyone wanting to benefit from the enthusiastic support of an ethical, practical, e-savvy journalist!
Robert Ashton
www.robertashton.co.uk
Alison is not afraid of hard work, very knowledgeable and always puts in that extra mile for things to be right and look fantastic before scheduled deadlines.
Alison was originally approached to take on the consultant editorship of our best-selling publication the gap-year guidebook in 2004. We had decided to outsource editorship due to staff changes and the amount of research and knowledge required on gap years.
Alison took on the challenge for the 2005 edition, when the publication was re-launched in a new colour format. Alison’s hard work, attention to detail, meeting the scheduled deadlines and actively promoting the guidebook have helped the continued success of the publication.
Since the 2005 edition of the gap-year guidebook Alison has worked on the last three editions of the guidebook, as well as creating news and website content for our gap-year.com site on a monthly basis.
David Ahier
Director - General Manager
www.gap-year.com
Alison is a very effective writer and communicator. She has written a large number of business case studies for our magazines, on an eclectic range of industries, and for these she has had to interview the chief executives of complex businesses, put them at ease and obtain from them the right kind of information – not an easy task.
On every occasion the research she has done has impressed the client and resulted in a first class article. Just as importantly, she has always delivered the commission within the scheduled time, and often well ahead of it. That amounts to an enormous benefit for a monthly magazine like ours, where a lot has to be accomplished in a short time, to a deadline.
I personally also appreciate Alison’s willingness to get involved, to take responsibility, to share ideas and to suggest practical improvements that often end up saving us yet more time. She has a great sense of humour, allied to a thoroughly professional approach.
John O’Hanlon
Editorial Director
White Digital Media
Please visit Alison's site at www.multimediareputations.com
Tel: (00)44 (0)1473 231067
Cell (00)44 (0)7889 242332
Email: alison@multimediareputations.com
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