Freelance

—Writing, reporting, and editing breaking news, enterprise stories, and features as needed for media organizations   
—Interviewing sources including politicians, company officials, professors, and experts  
—Taking photographs, video, and developing graphics for online use as requested    
—Podcast production and editing, video production and editing, and photography and photo editing 
—Providing content strategy, content creation, marketing, social media strategy, SEO strategy, brand messaging, paid and organic messaging, and internal and external communications for clients
—Designing, developing, and refining AI prompts and creating and teaching AI best practices
—Extensive work with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives including the content strategy and copywriting for Meta's new Business Equity (DEI) page
—Created the SEO guidelines and best practices at Audible 
—Worked with a team to do SEO keyword research and optimize product pages for 500 books at Audible 
—Created the strategy, content, and then the analysis and analytics reports for paid and organic media at multiple companies and for several clients

Freelance Writer/Editor/Senior Marketing Specialist/Marketing Manager

AANP

Marketing Content Specialist

Avaaz Media

Deputy Editor for Avaaz Media and www.thebrowngeeks.com 

Audible, Inc.

-Create, write, and edit monthly copy for new Audible.com audiobooks. 
-Apply feedback and creative objectives of product managers, marketing managers, producers, talent, and digital designers to create new enhanced Audible.com web pages for desktop and mobile versions.
- Deliverables include product description pages, social media content, search engine optimized web content, audio snippets, and landing pages.

Editorial Associate

The Citizen (newspaper)

-Produced two weekly newspapers which covered eight towns in New Jersey. 
-Wrote an upwards of 10 stories a week.
-Took photos for most stories. 
-Assigned and edited stories for freelancers. 
-Laid both papers out on a weekly basis.

Editor

Nationwide Industrial Supply

-Overseeing all SEO work including keyword research, analysis, and writing for the ecommerce business which sells more than 500,000 products 
-Writing and editing all business communications including letters, catalog inserts, and informative articles to be sent or emailed to customers, businesses and officials or to be displayed on the company's site
-Planning and organizing Nationwide's first trade show, including designing and ordering signs and other decorative aspects of the event; speaking to politicians, business owners and other perspective business contacts during the event; and responding to all contacts made at the show following the event 
-Freelancing for several other companies. Writing education and local news stories and columns for patch.com and editing for companies such as NJ-based copywriting firm, Literatrue

Marketing and Communications Manager

Gannett Company Inc

-Produced between 7 and 15 stories per week including many enterprise stories, a weekly column, and personally developed an entire features back-to-school tab 
-Shot and edited photos, blogged live from events, and produced frequent updates to the Web and other content for online use
-Covered 3 large school districts, including K-12, secondary education, private and public colleges and universities, and national, state and local issues
-Stories and feeds were featured in USA Today

Education Reporter

North Jersey Media Group

-Helped create and develop multiple sections, including teen and young adult pages, two weekly columns, and helped run a teen editorial board 
-Covered up to four municipalities at a time writing between 7 and 10 stories per week 
-Attended city council meetings, school board meetings, community events, taking notes and/or transcribing events and interviews
-Conducted extensive research online and using public documents

Staff Writer

-Input and edited calendars, letters to the editor and rewrote and expanded on press releases  
-Wrote two weekly columns and stories for multiple departments 
-Helped create and develop multiple sections including a teen and young adults page, two weekly columns, a volunteer help wanted page and helped run a teen editorial board 
-Filled in for the office manager in her absence by troubleshooting problems for the editor, scheduling for the editorial assistant department, and various other duties including ordering office supplies, filing human resources paperwork and running payroll

Editorial Assistant

•	20+ years of publishing and marketing experience: research, writing, editing, publishing, content strategy, content creation, marketing, social media messaging, brand messaging, paid  and organic media messaging,  internal and external communications, and SEO.
•	Experience managing freelance writers and copy, assigning articles, designing layouts, and orchestrating marketing campaigns.  
•	Beats have included education, politics, tech, business, youth trends, crime and up to eight municipalities at a time.
•      Extensive experience working on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. I was responsible for the content strategy and the copywriting for Meta's new Business Equity (DEI) page.
•      Experience with podcast production and editing, video production and editing and photography, and photo editing.
•      I was responsible for creating the SEO guidelines and best practices used at Audible. Additionally, I was part of a team that did keyword research and rewrote product descriptions to be SEO optimized for 500 books.
•      I am skilled in prompt engineering. I know how to design, develop, and refine AI text prompts, how to optimize prompt performance, and how to improve the AI prompt generation process for various applications. I can also create, communicate, and teach best practices for using AI.

So... I was floored by the speakers at Propelify this year. Marc Lore, Craig Dubitsky, Carolyn Everson, and Aaron Price and Rebecca Price were especially incredible and insightful at the June 27th event.

What really stood out to me was how Lore and Dubitsky didn't just talk about their success. Lore spoke passionately about food insecurity and creating opportunities, which is so heartening coming from someone who has sold businesses for hundreds of millions or billions of dollars. Dubitsky emphasized the importance of art, a topic I deeply care about. He could have focused solely on his partnership with Robert Downey Jr. and his Happy company, but instead, he shared his belief in the power of art. It was really compelling and encouraging to hear his thoughts and aspirations on a topic I didn't expect him to address.

Seeing these successful individuals be so humble and committed to making the world a better place was inspiring. It made me incredibly proud and excited to have worked on this event with Propelify and TechUnited. The experience reaffirmed my priorities and goals, leaving me with a renewed sense of purpose.

The networking and connections were fantastic again this year, and I'm hopeful to share some amazing opportunities born out of this event soon.

A big thank you to Aaron Price, Todd Giannattasio, Justin Murray, Jasmine Ward, Denise Lauria, PMP, CMP, and everyone else involved with TechUnited and the Propelify event. I can't wait for next year!

#LetsPropel #WeAreTechUnited #Innovation #Leadership #Networking #Inspiration #ProfessionalGrowth

Heather Kays

Working as a freelancer, consultant, or solopreneur can be challenging. Often, you have to rely on yourself for support.

However, if you work hard and show up for others, you might be fortunate enough to find kind, generous souls who speak highly of you even when you're not around. I am that fortunate.

A big, heartfelt shoutout to Todd Giannattasio, Dan Enrico, and Jack Appleby. Your friendship, encouragement, and support mean more than I can express. I couldn't be more grateful for the three of you, and I will always have your backs as well.

Onward and upward, friends!

June has been an amazing month. Let's chat about everything that happened...

I have grown my connections and audience on every platform I am a part of. I worked on the marketing and social media for Propelify with TechUnited. It was an unforgettable experience that culminated in the amazing Propelify event held yesterday. I have been reading my poetry at least once a week. I gained two new clients who I am happy and excited to be working with, and my hours and responsibilities grew with another client.

What I am proudest of this month is that I have been unapologetically shooting my shot every chance I get. I am sharing and promoting my writing more. I am going after the clients I want to work with, no matter how intimidating it may be. I am pushing hard to get my book published.

I am becoming a better and more daring version of myself. I am advocating for myself and putting myself in a position to succeed and excel. Onward and upward, my friends!

What are you proudest of accomplishing this month?

Thank you to Jack Appleby and the entire Break An Egg community for inspiring this post.


#Growth #Marketing #SocialMedia #Networking #PersonalGrowth #Publishing #Propelify

I've been talking about creating video content for months now, but I've never actually taken the plunge. Tomorrow, that changes. I'm biting the bullet and putting myself out there with my first video. And now that I’ve posted this, there’s no turning back. Lol.

I’d love to hear your tips and advice on getting better at creating video content. Any suggestions are welcome!

Big thanks to Jack Appleby and the entire Break An Egg community for the inspiration. And a special shoutout to Daniel Brenneman 💛, Todd Giannattasio, Bobbi Mullins, Michelle Charpentier, and Troy Assoignon for always having my back and encouraging me. Love you all!

#VideoContent #ContentCreation #LearningJourney #Gratitude

I did a poetry reading last night that was especially emotional for me. Unfortunately, though there are a handful of photos, there's no video of my reading. So... I'm going to create a video of myself reading a brand new poem I wrote about losing my mother. Stay tuned!

Thank you to Jack Appleby and the entire Break An Egg community for inspiring this post. 

#PoetryReading #WritingCommunity #PersonalGrowth

Sharing my thoughts on LinkedIn has helped me become more confident in everything I do personally and professionally. Once I started posting regularly and seriously focused on building a personal brand, I began to feel better about myself and trust that I know what I am talking about. Recognizing that my words hold value has made everything I create better and more inspired.

A huge, heartfelt thank you to Jack Appleby and the entire Break An Egg community for not only inspiring this post but also for changing my life for the better. I hope we all continue to grow and succeed together!

#PersonalBranding #Confidence #ProfessionalGrowth #LinkedInTips #CommunitySupport #Inspiration #GrowthMindset #Networking #ContentCreation

Open article: 🐣 Break An Egg! Daily Newsletter by break-an-egg.ck.page

Here are five must-have apps for marketers:

𝐇𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫: Schedule and manage social media posts across platforms, track engagement, and performance.
𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐯𝐚: Create eye-catching graphics and marketing materials with easy-to-use tools and templates.
𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬: Monitor website traffic and user behavior to make data-driven decisions.
𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨 𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐚: Stay organized and collaborate on marketing tasks and campaigns with these project management apps.
𝐒𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤: Keep in touch with your team, integrate with other tools, and manage projects through channels and direct messages.

But the app I use the most for marketing and/or for writing is actually my plain old notes app on my phone. I constantly am taking down notes so I don't forget ideas I want to explore later. 

It's all about staying organized and communicating effectively. What are your favorite marketing apps?

Thank you to Jack Appleby and the entire Break An Egg community for inspiring this post.

#Marketing #Productivity #Apps

Here I am, awkwardly holding a cup of water and reading super emotionally charged poetry on a Tuesday night. 🤷‍♀️

When I need to wind down and destress from work… I like to change my scenery. 

Here’s today’s view from this year’s Propelify! Happy networking, y’all! 🥂

Thank you to Jack Appleby and the entire Break an Egg community for inspiring this post. And thank you to TechUnited for hosting such a fun, insightful, and beautiful event. 

#LetsPropel #WeAreTechUnited #inspiration #motivation #networking

No alternative text description for this image

I've got a handful of goals for the rest of 2024, focusing on staying consistent and productive in areas where I'm already putting in the work.

𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲: I'm committed to improving my poetry skills and have started seeking support from established poets. I'm excited to see how this unfolds.

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: I'll be taking more classes and attending workshops for the purpose of professional development.

𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐌𝐲 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: I'll be making concerted efforts to network both in person and online, expanding my reach across all platforms.

𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭: I'll be focusing on creating and improving video content to promote my personal brand and my writing.

𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: I plan to keep participating in pitch events and querying, pushing through even after rejections.

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞: I'm looking to find a few more clients who need my expertise in marketing, writing, editing, content creation, and/or redesign services.

What are your goals for the rest of the year?

A big thank you to Jack Appleby and the entire Break An Egg community for inspiring this post.

#ProfessionalDevelopment #Networking #Marketing #WritingCommunity #PersonalBranding #PersonalGrowth

I  have a distinct memory of not being able to attend certain field trips as a child because my family couldn't afford them. I get that same feeling whenever I have to work on days when most people I know are off.

The weird thing is that it isn't a bad feeling for me. It wasn't when I was young, and it still isn't now. When I was in school, we were given fun puzzles or activities to do, or we could work on whatever we wanted. As an avid reader and aspiring writer, I loved this. It was like having time to finally work on the projects I wanted to do.

Now, as an adult freelancer balancing several clients, I feel the same way. I can work on whatever important yet time-consuming tasks I want. It feels like a gift, as strange as that may sound. It's all about perspective.

Thank you to Jack Appleby and the entire Break An Egg community for inspiring this post.

#FreelancerLife #Productivity #Perspective #Inspiration #WorkLifeBalance

Before every work week ends, I make sure to recount everything I have accomplished throughout the week. I make notes about significant projects that I can use to build my resume and online presence. Instead of a to do list, I make a done list. But mostly I just do this for myself. It is so easy to work hard and simply move on and keep going. We need to give ourselves credit for our work, efforts, and achievements - especially if we are freelancers or solopreneurs. 

Do you have any rituals or routines you like to end your work week with? 

Thank you to Jack Appleby and the entire Break An Egg community for inspiring this post. 

#FreelancerLife #Solopreneur #Gratitude #WeeklyReview #CelebrateSuccess

I've been putting myself out there lately by reading at poetry readings, sometimes more than once a week. This is all new to me, and I feel very vulnerable. My writing has become more spirited and regular, and I'm experimenting with the structure of my poems, not adhering to any specific rules. I'm writing what I think and feel, hoping it will resonate with others.

This approach isn't accidental; it's intentional. However, I wasn't fully prepared for the criticism I would receive from other writers, friends, and audience members. Getting on stage at an open mic is incredibly challenging. For most of my life, I lacked the confidence to do it. So, I applaud everyone who reads, regardless of my opinion on their work. I appreciate the effort it takes to create and share art.

I'm learning not to take criticism too personally. I'm hoping to use feedback to improve while staying true to my objectives. I understand that not everything I write will be for everyone, and that's okay. Just because someone doesn't like a poem I've written doesn't mean it has no value. It might speak to someone else, or it may just matter to me, and that's enough.

Navigating these feelings is proving trickier than I imagined, but I will get better at it.

How do you deal with criticism and feedback, professionally or otherwise?

Thank you to Jack Appleby and the entire Break An Egg community for inspiring this post.

#Poetry #WritingCommunity #CreativeWriting #PoetryReading #OpenMic #ArtisticExpression #Feedback #Criticism #PersonalGrowth #Vulnerability #Inspiration

The best perk of working as a freelancer or solopreneur is the flexibility to set my own schedule. This freedom has allowed me ample time to write, do poetry readings, and explore other creative pursuits like painting, photography, and most recently, drum lessons.

What is the best perk of your job?

Thank you to Jack Appleby and the entire Break An Egg community for inspiring this post.

#Freelancer #CreativeLife #WritingCommunity #WorkLifeBalance #Inspiration

The biggest turning point of my career was when I decided to leave journalism. I thought I would be a reporter forever. Sincerely, I thought it was my calling and that I would write for newspapers, magazines, and websites for my entire life. 

But the industry changed. And I wasn't ready to change with it. My love for journalism was rooted in my desire to make a difference in the world. I wanted to help give a voice to people who otherwise wouldn't have one. I felt like I did that for years in my capacity as an investigative reporter, covering local, national, and international news. 

Until... everything moved to the internet. Assignment editors started asking for stories that would drive clicks and land pageviews. Covering the news, politics, corruption, and following the money became less important than drawing eyes to the page. I was being asked to write about the Real Housewives of New Jersey more than I was being asked to write about anything that actually directly affects the lives of the people living in the municipalities I covered. 

I was crushed. I didn't know what to do. But I knew I didn't want to feel how I was feeling. So, I slowly started to take freelance jobs doing marketing writing, editing, research, and content creation. I was able to use all the skills I gained as a journalist and, over time, I realized I was helping people. I was helping small businesses run by real people to find their voices. I was helping them to grow and succeed. Almost by accident and out of necessity, I landed exactly where I wanted to be. Not a day goes by that I regret this decision. 

Though a part of me will always miss working as a journalist, I still think we are years away from that industry sorting itself out. In the meantime, I have found a new, unexpected calling that has led me to work on exciting and fulfilling projects with companies of all sizes. 

I think if you are honest with yourself about who you are and what you want, eventually you end up finding your way. 

Thank you to Jack Appleby and the entire Break An Egg community for inspiring this post.

#CareerTransition #Journalism #Marketing #Storytelling #ProfessionalJourney #CareerGrowth #Inspiration #ContentCreation

🫶 A friendly (not so friendly) reminder...

We can all tell when you copy and paste straight from ChatGPT! 

I don't know about you, but if I spot that stupid rocket emoji in someone's copy I just automatically assume they've used ChatGPT 🚀

Don't get me wrong I love a cheeky bit of AI, but ya gotta know how to make it work for you!

Comment below with any other telltale signs that scream "ChatGPT" ⬇️

This article is fascinating and leaves anyone in marketing with a lot to think about. Marketers are facing a growing challenge in proving the value of their efforts. The article highlights the industry-wide problem of misleading marketing metrics, making it tough to explain value and strategy without exact numbers. 

While the lack of accurate data complicates our work, it doesn't mean our content and marketing efforts have no value. This is already a challenge I am facing in my own work. Proving the importance of awareness and education isn't easy, but it is crucial for a successful long-term marketing strategy. We all need to adapt, understand, and communicate our successes in new ways.

Thank you to Jack Appleby and the entire Break An Egg community for inspiring this post.

#marketing #MarketingChallenges #DigitalMarketing #MarketingStrategy
#ContentMarketing

Open article: Your Marketing Metrics Are Misleading You—And It’s About To Get Worse by forbes.com

Your Marketing Metrics Are Misleading You—And It’s About To Get Worse

I have been unintentionally limiting myself recently, focusing on the wrong things concerning my writing.

I've been working hard, writing a lot, submitting my poems to online journals, and querying my book like crazy. All because I have been waiting for someone to tell me that I have made it and broken through.

I realize now that this is just nonsense. Even looking at the more established poets I know, the ones in a position to potentially serve as gatekeepers, I understand now that those are not the people I am writing for. I am writing for anyone who thinks or feels something when they read or hear my writing. That's all. And most of those people are going to look more like me than like the perfectly polished writer surrounded by accolades and literary bylines.

I need to embrace the DIY nature of who I am as a writer. I love that my writing is raw, gritty, and real. So, why would I ever feel bad for not fitting into some sort of mold created by anyone else?

Just something I have been thinking about for the past few days. I thought it might help others struggling with similar self-doubt and negative self-talk.

#WritingCommunity #AmWriting #Authenticity #Inspiration #BeYourself

There are a handful of LinkedIn pages that I check out even on my days off. The content created by these individuals is so consistently thought-provoking and inspiring that I don’t want to miss anything. Whether they’re writing about social media, marketing, personal branding, writing, or something else entirely, their posts are insightful and entertaining. Following them has made me a better writer and marketer.

Thank you to:
✨ Jack Appleby
✨ Todd Giannattasio
✨ Daniel Kenitz
✨ Annie-Mai Hodge
✨ Bobbi Mullins
✨ Daniel Brenneman 💛
✨ Michelle Charpentier
✨ Heather Pridemore, MBA

And thank you to Jack Appleby and the entire Break An Egg community for inspiring this post. 

#ContentCreation #Marketing #PersonalBranding #WritingCommunity #Inspiration

I teach social strategy to 70,000 marketers with my newsletter, Future Social. | Work: Microsoft, Twitch, Beats By Dre, Morning Brew, Verizon

The best way to engage with a professional mentor is to pretend you don't have one. To think about your career like you'll never get the advice that'd be most helpful & you're gonna have to plan your professional path all by yourself. Why? Because then you'll have a plan to show a mentor for feedback.

Asking someone more senior "what should I do?" without doing any thinking on your own isn't effective, for you or the mentor. You've gotta have theories & dreams & wants & ideas of how you're gonna get there. You've gotta be solution-oriented all on your own, then be thankful when someone great can validate or improve those plans.

#mentorship #careercoaching

When you have the option to be kind or not—please choose to be kind.

I'm having a tough time personally, and I can't emphasize enough how much it helps when people choose to speak with consideration. When people approach me with kindness and understanding, my already difficult day becomes easier. I feel lighter, and the stress melts away. Conversely, when people are rude, cold, and unrealistic in their expectations, the opposite happens.

We've heard the phrase "You never know what someone else is going through" so many times that it's become a cliché. But there's so much truth in it. We're all out here fighting our own battles. That person you snap at is dealing with more than you realize, and your negativity reflects who you are both personally and professionally.

Choose kindness. Always.

How do you incorporate kindness into your daily interactions?

#Kindness #Empathy #PersonalGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #ChooseKindness #MentalHealth #Leadership #Communication

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