WRITING FOR A COMMUNICATIONS CAREER
Anytown, USA
Whatever you’re building needs a solid foundation.
DePaul's Writing for Communications course I created Anytown, USA's fictional town, to highlight some of the skills learned in this class. Communications professionals need a solid writing foundation to write grants, blogs, press releases, and now Tweets. Knowing the essentials is vital in representing a company in this fast-changing profession.
The Fact Sheet
Fact sheets are simple, concise documents that highlight a company that goes beyond a mission statement. They effectively let other businesses or prospective clients know what services are offered and the company’s position, partnerships, and efforts in any given sector or community. They should be updated as needed and are cost-efficient.
The Press Release
Like all things communications, a press release is a clear and concise official document from a company to announce something news or announcement worthy. While many businesses are no longer using a press release because media has rapidly been changing, they are still important. Press releases can help create relationships with the media, build credibility around your business, create content that also supports SEO traffic, and engage with customers.
Grant/Proposal Writing
Many will look to the Communications person in their organization to write their proposals or grants. Understanding the grant-making process and writing is essential in raising funds, running fundraising campaigns, and starting new projects. Demystifying the process seems daunting and impossible, but I’ve successfully written and have been awarded granted many grants in my career by learning the basics.
The Blog Post
Much like the fact sheet and press release, blog posts are becoming essential to companies, especially small businesses. Regularly updating content on your companies website ensures your company’s ranking on google, keeps content fresh and up-to-date while creating SEO traffic and potential back-links. Blog posts also give the company a chance to show its personality and brand while connecting with existing and new prospective clients.
