WRITING AND EDITING
Writing for internal communication
Because happy employees make happy customers
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Internal communication is my main area of expertise. In essence, this is a strategic conversation between leaders and those they're leading.
Why's that important? Because employees can contribute so much more if they're clear about the organisation's purpose and goals and feel valued, trusted and empowered to deliver them. These are functions of leadership, which in turn depends on communication.
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There are three main areas where skilful communication and storytelling are particularly important. I can offer you deep experience in all three:
Leadership communication
Leaders today need a wide range of talents and strengths. Leadership itself is enacted mainly through the decisions and actions a leader takes and the stories they tell.
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While you don’t need stories to program a computer, you do need them to win hearts and minds.
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There are different ways I can work with a leader, but whether in the role of a ghost-writer, an editor or a consultant, close collaboration is generally the key.
Brand and culture
Great brands are built from the inside out. Brand values are less about what the organisation says than about what it does. So how employees behave toward each other and their customers is what really counts.
Another word for this is culture. Internal communication, especially storytelling, plays a crucial role in reinforcing a positive culture, modelling the desired behaviours and their associated values.
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Work with a communicator who really gets this.
Communicating change
While some change programmes are purely systems implementations, most involve people - doing something new or differently. And that requires a particular type of communication.
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Trust is paramount. That means leaders being fully involved, visible and accessible. Employees’ questions and concerns need to be heard and addressed. Planning, coordination and preparation are essential.
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Successful change communication requires commitment and focus. A comms partner with deep experience in this field will pay dividends.
By the way, with all three, it's a good idea to build in two-way communication from the start. Years of experience of implementing surveys and feedback mechanisms means gaining audience insights is a natural part of my process.
Other writing services
Over the years I’ve turned my hand to most forms of commercial writing for all types of audience: customers, journalists, investors, suppliers, members and supporters, as well as employees.
I’ve written thousands of pieces of copy for advertising, brochures and websites; sales letters, press releases, news articles and blog posts.
If you’d like my help with any of these, let me know!
Editing
Not all my writing starts with a blank sheet.
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In fact, I'm just as likely to be asked to work from an initial draft. In other words, as an editor.
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I approach editing on three levels of depth or intensity. All are valuable. But the deeper I go, the more value* I can add.
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(* Usually, at any rate. And where I can't, I'll say so before you hire me.)
Levels
Level One: Copy edit - review spelling, punctuation, grammar, structure of sentences
Level Two: Content edit - improve readability by reviewing overall structure; fact-checking
​Level Three: Deep edit - bigger structural and more creative changes to improve effectiveness of storytelling or copywriting
How it works
I can be flexible, but what I normally suggest is this:
1. You contact. Get in touch via the Contact form or any of the contact details at the foot of each page. Include brief details of the text you'd like me to edit: what it's for; approximately how many words; was it written originally in English or translated; how quickly you need it.
2. I respond. I will get back to you, normally same day, to confirm if I have capacity to work on this and, if I do, how quickly.
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3. You send. If I've agreed to look at it, you send me the text you'd like me to edit.
4. I assess (FREE). I will get back to you within the agreed timescale with a free assessment of what work would be most beneficial and how much it would cost.
(Note: I want my clients to come back to me for more work in the future or recommend me to others. That's why I'll only ever recommend work where I know I can make a meaningful difference.)
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5. You decide. You now have a clear idea of what to expect and are looking forward to the benefits of the editing work. If, as usually, my quotation comes as a pleasant surprise, you'll want to go ahead. Contact me again to confirm and I can get cracking.
Level One (£): Copy edit - review spelling, punctuation, grammar, structure of sentences, that sort of thing
Level Two (££): Content edit - improve readability by reviewing overall structure; fact-checking
​Level Three (£££): Deep edit - bigger structural and more creative changes to improve effectiveness of storytelling or copywriting
The pace is quickening.
The demands are relentless.
There's never enough time.
You're not complaining. It goes with the job.
But so does the need to stay connected with your audiences.
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Maybe now's the time to get professional help. Someone who can stay laser-focused on your high priority communications. Who can get the ball rolling on drafts or edits.
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So you never miss an opportunity to connect with people that matter.
