In my business, which most of my readers share, our work product is often the written word.  This year, for example, I have already written at least one of each of these: blog, customer letter, customer-satisfaction survey, direct-response letter, Email, employee communication, e-newsletter, Facebook post, feature article, LinkedIn post, marketing communication plan, news release, OpEd, pitch to media, PowerPoint presentation, Q&A, Quora answer, research report, speech, Tweet, Web page and white paper.

 I recently devised a writing challenge as part of a client's process for hiring several high-level people, each of whom would have significant communication responsibilities.  The results were appalling.  They included typos, poor grammar and even complete unresponsiveness to the instructions for the challenge.

Sadly, I say with certainty, use of the English language will only get worse.  The next generations of communicators have developed their writing skills (such as they are) chiefly in social media, often with the imperfect input tools of mobile devices.  In social media, speed (an enemy of good writing) counts, shorthand is gr8 and punctuation doesn't exist. 

I shouldn't complain: the lack of competent writers in corporate America means long-term job security for me.  However, if you're one of those folks who clings to the idea that words have beauty and power, this issue of my Update  newsletter is for you.

Here are a few examples of my specialized copywriting work.

• Wrote, for a bank CEO, a one-hour equity analyst presentation for the annual analyst meeting. (This assignment, by the way, was given and completed in 5 days, including a weekend...)
   
• Ghosted a "career reminiscence" piece for the chief executive of a chemical products company for the 50th anniversary issue of Chemical Week magazine.
   
• Based on interviews with executives of a Bristol-Myers Squibb subsidiary wrote a profile piece for a leading trade magazine.
   
• Substantially re-wrote speeches, for publication, originally delivered by senior executives of Du Pont Merck and Glaxo.
   
• Wrote, for FMC, and am now licensing to other companies a full-color, illustrated 30-page manager's workbook, Managing Change: How to Plan and Implement an Effective Employee Communication Program.
   
• I have written countless feature articles, speeches, PowerPoint presentations, news releases, employee communication pieces such as Q&A documents, annual reports, brochures, direct mail pieces and Web sites

What's in a word?

I frequently hear: "I don't need any of your strategic services now. But I do need to have an important tactic produced by an experienced professional. Can you take on a short-term tactical writing assignment?" Yes.

Here are some of the "à la carte" writing services I perform frequently:

• Write a speech or feature article for a senior executive.
• Write a critical or sensitive letter for a senior executive.
• Write a non-routine, mission critical news release.
• Write or re-write an annual report or other SEC-required document.
• Write an executive white paper or briefing on a communication subject.
• Write a Web site or portions of a Web site.
• Re-write a news release, article, speech or publication that has been prepared by more junior in-house staff or consultants.
• Develop a special-purpose PowerPoint presentation for a speech, trade show, sales or financial presentation.
• Critique and improve an existing corporate presentation.
• Critique a plan or other work product of in-house staff or external consultants ("Second Opinions").
• Develop a firm's response to a Request for Proposal (RFP).
• Work with a PR firm or ad agency to develop a competitive new business presentation.

Here are a few examples of my specialized copywriting work.

• Wrote, for a bank CEO, a one-hour equity analyst presentation for the annual analyst meeting. (This assignment, by the way, was given and completed in 5 days, including a weekend...)
• Ghosted a "career reminiscence" piece for the chief executive of a chemical products company for the 50th anniversary issue of Chemical Week magazine.
• Based on interviews with executives of a Bristol-Myers Squibb subsidiary wrote a profile piece for a leading trade magazine.
• Substantially re-wrote speeches, for publication, originally delivered by senior executives of Du Pont Merck and Glaxo.
• Wrote, for FMC, and am now licensing to other companies a full-color, illustrated 30-page manager's workbook, Managing Change: How to Plan and Implement an Effective Employee Communication Program.
• I have written countless feature articles, speeches, PowerPoint presentations, news releases, employee communication pieces such as Q&A documents, annual reports, brochures, direct mail pieces and Web sites.

If I may be of service to you, please contact me.

theWRITERguy is a service mark of thePRguy incorporated.