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Bite-sized chunks of info from Vancouver-based freelance copywriter/web editor Rob Mathison, including recent projects, info/articles, links, and interesting stuff found on the web. And a picture of a doughnut.

I'm available for freelance/contract work.

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One job title. Three toques. I gave myself the longish job title of copywriter / web editor / web content strategist partly because that’s a benefit of being self-employed, partly to keep up-to-date with recent developments in the area of web content, and partly because choosing one risked pigeonholing myself (which also sounds painful). This post is intended to clarify the differences between the three slightly different but interlinking roles of copywriter, web editor and content strategist (in the context of what I do direct for client companies or through agencies).  Copywriter A copywriter is, to quote the title of this excellent book, an idea writer, as well as a marketing storyteller. The aim of a copywriter is to deliver your messages and communicate your stories in as compelling and engaging a way as possible. There are different types of copywriter, but generally I do the following: Web copy Print copy Copy themes Platform copy Marketing storytelling Copy for any sort of marketing campaign Taglines and headlines Newsletters Articles Scripts, eg corporate videos Customer value statements Web editor Web editors make cluttered, unclear and inaccessible websites better. A web editor can step in when you have existing content from, for example, a brochure or other source, but it’s not readable, accessible or engaging enough to work well on the web. Or you have existing web copy and it’s just not very good. The aim of a web editor is to help ensure that visitors to your website very quickly understand the hows, whys, whats and whos of your business, as well as making sure the content is up-to-date and written in a consistent style (often, web content is produced by a number of different people). As web editor, I can: Edit and organize content for the web Ensure consistency Write a style guide Provide training in web writing for future client content updates Add keywords for search engine optimization purposes Write meta data Web content strategist Web content strategists take an overall, holistic view of your website and other content to make sure it’s all working well together. The aim of a web content strategist, like any kind of strategist, is to ensure there is a plan in place for all or specific elements of your content. A relatively new role, it’s quite similar to a web editor role, including: Content planning and organization Content reviews Content audits Content inventories Content repurposing Content marketing Editorial schedules, eg blog calendars Depending on what your project involves, I can wear one or a combination of these hats (without actually wearing them of course; I don’t own any of the hats above) on your project. Please get in touch for more info. 

One job title. Three toques.

I gave myself the longish job title of copywriter / web editor / web content strategist partly because that’s a benefit of being self-employed, partly to keep up-to-date with recent developments in the area of web content, and partly because choosing one risked pigeonholing myself (which also sounds painful).

This post is intended to clarify the differences between the three slightly different but interlinking roles of copywriter, web editor and content strategist (in the context of what I do direct for client companies or through agencies). 

Copywriter

A copywriter is, to quote the title of this excellent book, an idea writer, as well as a marketing storyteller. The aim of a copywriter is to deliver your messages and communicate your stories in as compelling and engaging a way as possible. There are different types of copywriter, but generally I do the following:

  • Web copy
  • Print copy
  • Copy themes
  • Platform copy
  • Marketing storytelling
  • Copy for any sort of marketing campaign
  • Taglines and headlines
  • Newsletters
  • Articles
  • Scripts, eg corporate videos
  • Customer value statements

Web editor

Web editors make cluttered, unclear and inaccessible websites better. A web editor can step in when you have existing content from, for example, a brochure or other source, but it’s not readable, accessible or engaging enough to work well on the web. Or you have existing web copy and it’s just not very good.

The aim of a web editor is to help ensure that visitors to your website very quickly understand the hows, whys, whats and whos of your business, as well as making sure the content is up-to-date and written in a consistent style (often, web content is produced by a number of different people). As web editor, I can:

  • Edit and organize content for the web
  • Ensure consistency
  • Write a style guide
  • Provide training in web writing for future client content updates
  • Add keywords for search engine optimization purposes
  • Write meta data

Web content strategist

Web content strategists take an overall, holistic view of your website and other content to make sure it’s all working well together. The aim of a web content strategist, like any kind of strategist, is to ensure there is a plan in place for all or specific elements of your content. A relatively new role, it’s quite similar to a web editor role, including:

  • Content planning and organization
  • Content reviews
  • Content audits
  • Content inventories
  • Content repurposing
  • Content marketing
  • Editorial schedules, eg blog calendars

Depending on what your project involves, I can wear one or a combination of these hats (without actually wearing them of course; I don’t own any of the hats above) on your project. Please get in touch for more info.