This week I started writing my first blog
post for the organisation, which we are hoping will lead into an upcoming
feature article we have in the tech-savvy magazine – iStart. You can check it out here istart.com.au to see what it's all about!
I’ve written blogs before at my previous
job, but I was quite excited to be provided with the opportunity to write one
for UXC Eclipse. However it suddenly
dawned on me that I didn’t know much about what I was meant to be writing
about. Sure I had read our recent White Paper on the topic, but that definitely
didn’t make me an expert or thought leader.
However, as I reflect, this is a constant battle
us ‘PRers’ have to face.
Most days we are asked to research and
write something, usually for someone else. Media releases with made up quotes
that are later signed off, speeches. presentations, backgrounders, this list
goes on!
When working for a consultancy, when a
client wants something written (and usually written fast) you are suddenly
required to write in a certain field. Be an expert if you will, in an industry
you only touch base with occasionally, but the client expects you there to
write about an organisation, a topic, a project like you’ve been there for the
last 20 years.
For me now, even though I only work in the one industry – ERP/IT I have only been here for four months, and that’s definitely not enough time to be an expert.
I therefore have to research hard and fast,
ask the right questions and just get on with the job. I usually first reach for
what an organisation has done in the past and get a feel for the writing style
and subject and then go from there. As
always Google is most definitely your friend to try and find out all the
information that’s available out there and make sure what we’re writing is
adding value to the conversation and not just more noise.
Sometimes it can be quite tricky, but if
you persist, you can often get it. I’ll keep working on the customer-centricity
blog this week and once its finished off,been looked over by my director and published online, I
will try and post up here so you can check it out.
In the meantime, the customer-centricty
blog was sparked off by the back of an article which you can find here:
Perfect timing as we have a current focus
on the retail industry.
And although I knew this will be attributed
to someone else, I’m just really glad to be provided with the opportunity.
