Steven Lowell, CSNS, CIC, CPRR

The Write the Docs 2024 salary survey is up. It's open to anyone who works in areas related to documentation, no matter your location, experience level, industry, or employment status. If this is you, I encourage you to complete the survey. It's completely anonymous. Note: All opinions are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer. #salary #documentation #technicalwriting

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There are several compelling reasons why U.S. based companies should hire U.S. based freelance writers: 1. Simpler streamlined tax filings, particularly in regards to foreign income. 2. Fewer chances for messy international legal issues to pop up in case of copyright, court appearances, business law, etc. 3. Stronger economic support that stays in your native country. 4. Smoother communication and expectations in terms of a more streamlined cultural synchronization. 5. Stronger command of the English language, resulting in a better product that brings in more clients and naturally attracts search engines for your target audience. So my question is this: Why not hire a freelance writer who is based in the U.S.?

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I run a VA agency and here are a few reasons why you should steer clear of virtual assistants: ‌ You Love Being a One-Person Show: Why delegate tasks when you can be a solo superstar? If the idea of collaborating with someone who can lighten your workload and bring fresh perspectives to the table makes you cringe, then hiring a VA is a big no-no. Keep on being the lone ranger!   You're Addicted to Stress: Ah, stress – the fuel that keeps you going, right? If you thrive on the high of adrenaline and cortisol coursing through your veins, then hiring a VA to alleviate some of that stress is the last thing you need.   You Cherish Perfectionism: Why settle for good enough when you can strive for perfection? If you're a self-proclaimed perfectionist who believes that nobody can do it as flawlessly as you can, then hiring a VA is a recipe for disappointment.   You're a Glutton for Punishment: Who needs a work-life balance when you can just work, work, work? Suppose you enjoy sacrificing your personal time, health, and happiness on the altar of productivity. In that case, hiring a VA to help you achieve a resemblance of balance is a terrible idea. Keep on hustling! ‌ So there you have it – plenty of reasons why hiring a virtual assistant is the worst decision you could possibly make. Because who needs sanity, efficiency, and support when you can have chaos, stress, and perfectionism instead? ‌ But hey, if by some chance you actually value your well-being, productivity, and overall quality of life, then maybe, just maybe, it's time to reconsider. Reach out to Empower Virtually today and let us help you break free from the chains of chaos (if you dare)!

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One of the significant challenges transcribers face is the lack of clear guidelines and inconsistent formatting requirements. Imagine working on a transcription project, only to realize that the client didn't provided clear guidelines on formatting, style, or even the level of detail required. You're left wondering whether to include every "um" and "ah", or to clean up the transcript for easier reading. This lack of clarity can lead to: - Confusion and frustration - Inconsistent formatting and style - Delays in completing the project - Potential errors and inaccuracies To make matters worse, some clients may have inconsistent formatting requirements, changing their minds mid-project or providing contradictory guidelines... So, what can be done to address this issue? ~Here are a few solutions: - Provide clear guidelines and formatting requirements upfront - Establish a style guide or template for consistency - Communicate regularly with the transcriber to clarify any doubts - Be open to feedback and willing to make adjustments as needed Let's work together to create a smoother transcription process and reduce the stress and frustration that comes with unclear guidelines! You deserve the best!🥂 📸: One of the lecture transcripts I delivered to my client! Seeing me for the first time? 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙𝙪 𝙀𝙟𝙞𝙠𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩. 𝙄 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝, 𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨. #TranscriptionSpecialist

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*want more screenwriting advice and tips on how to make it as a professional writer* ^beware any post that begins like this. First, you shouldn't be scrolling LinkedIn, you should be writing, so get back to that. Second, ask yourself who is posting garbage like this? Is it someone who has what YOU want? Is it a seriously successful screenwriter, or a manger with the clients YOU want to be like? HINT: it's not and it never will be. Log off and finish your pages!

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The perils of technical writing gone wrong - Is this your experience? How can you prevent this from being your experience? Let's connect in the comments below #technicaldocs #softwarestartups #softwareprojects #technicalwriting #customerfacingdocs #whitepapers #ebooks #longformcontent

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scamboogery? i apply for a job... i get an email from company - the company is legit.... i check the person and they have a linkedin profile for that company (at least the name & company match) we email back & forth about salary, job, etc. I’M HIRED! 1st RED FLAG::: part of email - “2. Mini Office Setup: Before you begin work, you will receive a payment (via check) to purchase the required office equipment and software for your training and daily tasks. “ mini-office? cost of software? every designer has creative cloud and microsoft office  anything else is in the cloud. i reply with by telling this person that i’ve sent them a connection request on linkedin, please connect… because if it’s a real offer - they’ll reply and connect as quickly as they answered all my other emails. 2nd RED FLAG::: crickets - nothin - nada scamboggery? i would dare say YES. good thing i did not give any information they requested...

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Last week I officially celebrated 4 years of #freelance writing for me. 🎉 🍾 The past 4 years have been quite the rollercoaster since I lost my job in 2020. I never expected that I could make writing a true career reality for me. I didn’t believe it would be a possibility for me and a path within the #cybersecurity industry for me. To celebrate 4 years of #freelancing, I wanted to share 4 tips that have helped me get on the career path that I truly believe was meant for me. 1. Network with authenticity.  Networking is what got me where I am today. Networking from a place of authenticity has allowed me to build a referral network that has only helped me grow exponentially year after year. Most of my networking growth has also been 100% organic growth, built on just being me. My best networking tip is to foster genuine connections with other people in your industry and adjacent industries. Don’t aim to be fake, spammy, salesy, or generally off-putting when trying to network. Collaboration is much more valuable than looking at networking as a sales pipeline or competition for work in freelancing. 2. Be adaptable and flexible. When I started all of this, ChatGPT was not around to compete with when it came to landing work for me. However, AI is here to stay now. Along with it, the market has transformed. It’s imperative you pivot and work with the changes to the market, not against it. Complacency cannot build resiliency. The same goes for your clients, services you provide, and your industry. If you’re struggling to land work successfully, go back to the drawing board with it. Are there adjacent sectors that I could also provide my services to? Should I expand or fine tune my service offerings? 3. Establish clear boundaries with yourself and clients. This is one that seems simple to do but sometimes hard to execute. The best thing I have done is clearly establish an FAQ on what working with me looks like for clients. In addition to that I also shift and pivot things often for me. When I started, I was very much a “yes, I can do that” or “yes, I have some availability” even when I fully booked already. Nowadays, my boundaries differ from where they used to be. For example, I can no longer do same day calls or drop everything for a meeting. Clients appreciate clarity and transparency, so communicate it to them without ambiguity. 4. Be resourceful!  I have worked with clients and businesses of all sizes. From enterprises to one-person teams. I may have a Master’s in Cybersecurity, but I do not know every single protocol or facet of this industry. The same can be said about any other industry or niche. I’ve made continuous learning for myself a priority, and that has translated over to my client work as well. It's allowed me to take the experiences I have learned to help other clients as well. Clients pay for expertise. So become a resource, an extension, and a guide to help them achieve their content goals successfully.

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Client: We'd love to hire you for a project! Here's the scope, briefly. Can you name your rate? Me: Oh sure, thanks for reaching out! I have a few questions! Question A Question B Question C What kind of budget are you operating with? Client: (Answers A-C) I'm not sure what out budget is! Me: Alright, well my rate for a project of this scope is X Client: Oh, that's out of our budget! 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ I can't get over how frequently I've been having this same FREAKING conversation with clients lately. And it's a huge waste of my time. Clients: if you have a budget, you need to say so from the get-go. This is on you. It's your responsibility to be upfront.

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Attention all writers! Are you considering applying for a $50 per blog role from full-fledged retailers? Think twice before accepting this pay rate. As a writer, your skills and time are valuable. Don't be swayed by the occasional "free sweater" offered as compensation. Remember, quality content requires time and effort, and you deserve to be fairly compensated for your work. Let's work together to raise the standard for fair pay in the writing industry. #FairPayForWriters

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Just how *do* freelancers get paid? There are quite a few ways many freelancers and independent contractors get paid. Honestly, the ways my freelance clients pay cover the gamut. Some send funds via PayPal. Others work with BILL. A few pay directly into my bank account. One pays via printed check. I get payments via Stripe for some of my digital products. It's not consistent. That's why I asked freelance writer Kaneesha Allen RN,BSN, CMSRN to do some research into this topic for my site, Best Freelance Tips. Read the article in the comments. Share your preferred way of receiving freelance payments in the comments, too.

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You know what makes things a TON easier? Clients that *get* processes and don't mess around. Optemization team has been so quick to onboard me for our first project—it's so refreshing to be able to access company resources and have all those initial questionnaires filled in so I can actually dive into the project and get the ball rolling. 🤸‍♀️ But this is coming from the biggest Notion consulting agency so I wouldn't expect anything less. When a company treats its freelancers this well, it's probably a pretty good sign of what they're like across the board. Just sayin' 😉 —— 👋 I'm Anete — a creative B2B SaaS writer who nerds out on products so I can craft content that makes complex tools feel simple and accessible for users. 💁‍♀️ A strategic storyteller dedicated to long-term growth. 💌 If you need help creating documentation, case studies, community content, and blogs that speak directly to your users and drive action, let's connect!

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LinkedIn wants us to get "verified" but who is verifying their own site? Human or AI error LinkedIn? Maybe YOU need to connect with AN editor. #editor #humaneditor #editingservices #editing #grammar

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This is an EXCELLENT description of what Technical Writers do. Here's an excerpt and a link to the original post. 1. Technical writing is a HUGE field. Although most people know that technical writers produce user manuals, quick start guides, checklists, procedures, technical bulletins, website content, blogs and other content, others may not fully understand what else is involved in being a technical writer. 2. Technical writers are one of the few professionals within an enterprise who interact with most of the departments that make up the organization. Therefore, they may know and can communicate information that others cannot. Get to know them. 3. Technical writers connect subject matter experts, professionals, technicians, everyday users, clients, and others with digital and paper products that act as a force multiplier for people and organizational productivity. 4. Technical writers transform disorganized data, words, figures, charts, graphs, photos, and other content into elegant and useful communication materials that transfer knowledge from the expert to those who need that knowledge to accomplish their tasks. 5. Technical writers make effective use of communication fundamentals and standards (ISO, CMMI, 508, etc.) to create better and more elegant documentation. 6. Technical writers understand that PEOPLE and their personality and writing differences must be considered to create great documentation. 7. Technical writers are, by nature, intellectually curious. This is only one of many traits that help create a successful technical writer, but it is one of the most important. 8. The best part of a technical writing career is that you get paid to learn new technology. 9. Technical writing is not the most secure career as companies hire and fire technical writers daily. But it is a great way to make a living. And it is a great way to support a family in an honest and productive way. 10. Technical writers know and use alternative methods when necessary to reach a variety of internal and external partners. 11. Technical writers document knowledge in plain English for American and non-American audiences, so simple is always best. https://lnkd.in/g5HptA23

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I’ve transitioned from a LinkedIn ghostwriter to a LinkedIn Flywheel Specialist. Here’s why I did this. I’ve been reading Russel Brunson’s books lately which covered the topic of offers. Which stated that every sub niche/category has its own “Category King”. These are the few competitors in the niche that are hogging 80% of the reward. Where they’re unable to be dethroned due to their high levels of credibility. Which leaves the rest of the competitors in that category fighting for the 20% scraps. But that’s not even the biggest problem he spoke about. He also referred to how most people are making “Improvement Offers”. Which is anything that includes “er” at the end, such as: - Faster - Easier - Bigger To try and beat their competitors. However your audience has probably already: - Seen - Tried - Ignored Your type of offer beforehand, meaning they aren’t drawn to your offer. But repelled by it instead. So Russel talks about the concept of “Creating your own category”. This way you can become a “Category King” more easily and have an offer which people are more drawn towards. Is it risky? Yes. But if you can make a NEW OPPORTUNITY rather than just an improvement offer for your ideal clients. Why wouldn’t they be drawn to your category/offer? P.S. I’ve released a FREE Lead Generation Flywheel Training to help you get leads from LinkedIn with less energy while building momentum. You can get it here → https://lnkd.in/ePNrGHpA

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Unhappy with how much time you’re spending editing and reviewing your team’s documents? Before you assume the writers “just need to get better,” look at your own processes first. If the reviewing team isn’t consistent in how they give feedback, how do you expect the writers to be consistent in the documents they create? Writing and reviewing is a process. If you want consistently great outcomes, you need to standardize the process.

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Fortune Writers Inc: Content Writer https://ift.tt/woOjpNt Headquarters: San Francisco, CA URL: https://fortunewriters.com About the Role: Fortune Writers Inc. is looking to hire a remote Content Writer with knowledge and competency in a wide breadth of topics and niches. You will be at the forefront of our storytelling and branding initiatives. The ideal candidate will work cohesively with our dynamic team to craft, refine, and elevate our content output. We’re seeking a writer who is not just skilled with words, but also possesses a strategic mindset, ensuring that all content aligns with both our clients' and our internal objectives. Key Responsibilities: 1. Content Development: - Craft and edit compelling, clear, and effective written content across various platforms. - Produce content that aligns with client objectives, brand guidelines, and voice. 2. Strategy and Planning: - Contribute to content strategy development and planning sessions. - Ensure content is SEO-optimized and adheres to the latest market trends. 3. Collaboration: - Work closely with design, marketing, and project management teams to ensure content cohesiveness and project timeliness. 4. Quality Assurance: - Conduct thorough research and fact-checking to uphold accuracy and reliability in all content. - Review and revise content, ensuring it meets quality standards and is free of errors. 5. Client Interaction: - Occasionally communicate with clients to gain insight into their content needs and feedback. 6. Analytics: - Collaborate with the analytics team to gauge content effectiveness and modify strategies as needed. Requirements: 1. Educational & Professional: - Preferred but not required: Degree in Journalism, Communications, English, or related field. - Preferred but not required: 2 years of experience in content writing, preferably in an agency setting. 2. Skills: - Stellar writing and editing abilities with an impeccable command of English. - Proficient in SEO principles and utilizing SEO tools. - Ability to adapt writing style to different tones and platforms. 3. Personal Qualities: - Strategic and critical thinking skills. - Excellent research, organizational, and multitasking abilities. - Strong interpersonal and communication skills. 4. Technical Proficiency: - Familiarity with content management systems (e.g., WordPress). - Proficient in using Microsoft Office and Google Workspace. How to Apply: Interested candidates are invited to submit their application via email. Your application should include samples of your writing or a link to your portfolio. All writing samples can consist of previously written content. Your sample will serve as the first step in our shortlisting process. Fortune Writers Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Please note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the subsequent recrui...

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