Description
Copywriting
Editing
Proofreading
Journalism
Promotional literature
Web content
Writing
If you're looking for compelling and accurate copy that can be tailored to your exact requirements, I can help.
I have more than six years of experience of writing for a variety of clients.
I have written advertising, marketing and technical copy for both online and print publications.
EDUCATION/QUALIFICATIONS:
1996 - 2000 Edinburgh University
MA (Hons) English Literature (2:1)
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:
Jan ’07 – Present Alphabet Copywriting Ltd
Copywriter
• Writer of a range of print and online materials working for clients including Metia, Writing Machine, tmg, Book Club Associates and Business in the Community.
Dec ’05 – Jan ‘07 Alchemy Worx Ltd.
Editor
• Writer and editor of monthly online publications and e-zines for clients including Sainsbury’s Bank, Norwich Union, ntl, Carphone Warehouse and Premier Travel Inn. I researched, wrote, edited and proofread a broad range of content and was responsible for the overall quality of all client publications.
• As editor, it was my responsibility to research and plan the editorial content of publications on a 12-month basis. I wrote forward features lists and prepared briefs for each client e-zine. I also prepared and presented editorial strategy documents to prospective and existing clients.
• With hundreds of thousands of readers per e-zine, it was vital that the editorial remained fresh and engaging from issue to issue. And with topics ranging from TV and film to sport and travel, it was my responsibility to ensure that I was continually up-to-date with the latest news. Whether it was entertainment news or financial news, I needed to be able to write with authority and clarity, and ensure that all our clients were happy with each e-zine we produced.
Oct ’03 – Dec ‘05 Write Image Ltd.
Writer/Editor
• Features editor for Retailspeak magazine; a quarterly distribution with approximately 10,000 readers. This involved planning, researching, writing and proofreading articles and news stories. I worked closely with designers and writers together to ensure the high quality of the publication.
• Writer and editor of technical and business case studies on the latest Microsoft, Dell and HP implementations. This involved interviewing customers in the public sector, retail, corporate and manufacturing industries. I had to develop a high level of technical expertise along with a clear understanding of clients’ wide-ranging customers. In the last three months of my employment alone, I wrote case studies on the impact different technologies had at Vodafone, Tesco, the Cabinet Office and even the production team behind the animated series of Captain Scarlett.
• Editorial lead and project manager for Dell. This involved allocating work to members of the editorial team and planning and managing resources. I was also responsible for ensuring the high quality of work from all members of the team.
• Content editor for the Microsoft EMEA website. I wrote and edited copy on subjects ranging from corporate social responsibility and accessibility to careers at Microsoft. I was also the dedicated writer for all Microsoft Citizenship projects.
• Along with being the designated writer for high-profile clients, I produced extensive white papers for customers in both the retail and travel industries.
Nov ’02 – Sep ‘03 Business Partnership, F-CT, Carbon Trust
Freelance Copywriter
• Wrote the copy for the 3 extranet, posters and DM mailouts to coincide with the UK release of 3G mobile phones.
• Proofread, localised and edited exhaustive Russian-translated content on the Russian oil industry.
• Carried out research and ensured the quality of Carbon Trust membership database.
Mar ’01 – Oct ’02 Euro RSCG Wnek Gosper
Copywriter
• Wrote, produced and updated the content for the Cadbury’s TimeOut website. The target audience of the site was 20-30yrs and the proposition of the brief was ‘divert your time’. I was given a lot of freedom to mould this site and put my own stamp on it. www.timeouttime.co.uk went on to win the yell.com award for ‘Best Funny Site’.
• Wrote the copy for games and quizzes for cahoot, Intel and MTV. These projects required me to work very closely with the designers and programmers from a very early stage in the process.
• Wrote the user documentation for a content management system, monthly newsletters and website copy for a number of branches of the Intel site.
• Produced an internal weekly newsletter called ‘Spam’. This was intended to keep the rest of the agency informed about recent developments within the department and on the web as a whole. My role on the team was to produce an engaging newsletter to raise the profile of my department across the whole agency. This allowed me to keep up to date with recently launched websites, campaigns, events and news.
• Wrote advertorials for major clients such as Abbey National, cahoot and Maison de la France. The last campaign I took part in was for Maison de la France; the brief was to create interest in holidays in Corsica. I received very positive feedback from the client on my work which received a 70.9 per cent and 55.3 per cent click through rate compared with a 36.2 per cent average for the rest of the campaign.
• Produced copy for banners for Abbey National, cahoot, Intel, PAYE and the Greater London Authority.
Clients: Abbey National, Cadbury, cahoot, Evian, Greater London Authority, Intel, PAYE, Maison de la France and UTC.
COURSES ATTENDED:
Apr ’01 – Jul ’01 International House
12-week TEFL course (RSA CELTA) with both practice and theory (course taken on evenings and at weekends).
Aug ’00 – Sep ’00 Queen’s Business and Secretarial College
Four-week computer literacy course entailing:
• Word
• Excel
• PowerPoint
• Email and Internet use
INTERESTS:
Reading: favourite authors include Paul Auster, David Lodge and John Irving.
Films: I love film and TV but can’t watch horror. I have been known to be scared by Baywatch Nights.
Swimming and tennis are sports that I used to be very enthusiastic about, but now indulge in less often and with far less skill.
Football: not playing; just watching.
REFERENCES:
Available on request
Roz Strachan Details
E-mail rozstrachan@hotmail.com
Location London, UK
Telephone 07748 183 842 |
