True Word Creative Copywriting

Armed with only an old laptop and a firm conviction I had to do better, I went freelance again during the pandemic.

So far so good. Takes a bit of resilience but genuinely love it most of the time. I've worked with some great clients and agencies on tons of different topics. Everything from travel & tourism to tech and law. And from ghostwriting on social to threading Tone of Voice through websites. 

Storytelling, Creative Copywriting, SEO Content Writing, Conversion Copywriting, Blogging, Editing, Content Strategy. All that kind of stuff.

Head of Copy, Chief Cook and Bottle Washer

Maratopia

Lots and lots of SEO content stuff. Working closely with a top technical SEO guy every day. Met some lovely folk. 

Took a 30% pay cut to get back into writing. Started as the oldest junior in history. Worked up to Head of Content.

Head of Content

Scottish Social Services Council

Translating Legalese (and plain dodgy grammar) on statutory notices. Arranging conduct hearings for social workers and social care workers. Making sure they knew their rights and accessed all available support.  

Met two brilliant work besties. And another guy who showed me an escape route.

Taught me how to format docs really clearly. And support people in very difficult circumstances.

Hearings Officer

Aberdeen City Council

Got this job after a video interview in Jamaica. To this day, I'm not quite sure how. 

But the pressure was on as getting my family back to Scotland depended on it. Anyway, someone was looking out for me. As a job, it wasn't my favourite. As a portal home, it was outstanding. 

Investigating complaints against ACC Social Work department and ensuring responses were adequate and provided to statutory timescales. So you can imagine, it was quite a tricky job. 

Another tough job dealing with complex legal procedures and learning lots about social problems up in the chilliest bit of Scotland.

Complaints, Rights and Enquiries Officer

UK Home Office

High-pressure and eye-opening decision-making job which required translating labyrinthine immigration laws to real-life circumstances.  

I met some lovely people and this job had the best culture I've ever experienced. From the High Commissioner to security team, local Jamaican staff to diplomats on postings, everyone was refreshingly transparent and generally positive.

We used to finish at 2pm on Fridays and take a dip in the high commissioner's pool. People like Chaka Demus & Pliers played at the social club. Lovely.

I was in Jamaica for bout 3 years-ish overall. Lived in Harbour View and then Kingston city centre. Used to go to the country every weekend and was lucky enough to see every parish. The Blue Mountains are magical. So many beautiful spots and (next to Scots of course) Jamaicans must be the toughest, funniest and most outrageously creative folk on the planet. 

Job itself was: assessing and making decisions on UK entry clearance (visa) applications. Working to tight deadlines with demanding quality control. Post was highest risk worldwide for criminality. Assessing thousands of visas throughout my time at post. 

Specialised in complex Appendix FM family migration visas for spouses/partners, children and adult dependent relatives. 

Worked with UKTI as Business Network Officer for the Caribbean Region. 

Experienced in visit/family visit visas, Tier 2 and Tier 4 visas.

Carried out face-to-face and telephone interviews with applicants/sponsors. 

Carried out investigative work liaising with internal/external agencies. Security cleared to Restricted and Confidential levels. 

Completed Entry Clearance Officer qualification at Home Office in Croydon and further training in New York. Yup, I got a work trip to the Big Apple. On a plane and everything. Hotel had a telly in the bath!

Entry Clearance Officer

Self-employed

My first shot at paid writing. Scribbled my way from Scotland to a new life in Jamaica. Best gig was for a fancy dress website. Got to write all the landing pages product pages and descriptions for hundreds of categories. Bit like rewriting history in your own words. 

Wrote SEO content and copy for a wide range of businesses in different TOV. Edited other writers too.

Also got stories in Scots/English/Jamaican patois published online and in print round about this time (a few times since too).

Online copywriter/ content writer/copy editor

The University of Glasgow

Taking verbatim electronic notes for disabled students and assisting them around the university.

Helping students with non-academic tasks outwith the uni. One day, this involved helping a student pick up a massive tandem bicycle at one end of Glasgow and getting it to her home at the other. Two of us and her massive Alsatian. Bike was as long as a car.

Academic Scribe/Personal Assistant to disabled students

The Big Issue South Africa

Yeah, this was really cool. And deeply humbling.

Conducted interviews with vendors. Had human interest, political, arts and culture articles published. Cape Town is just lovely.

Intern Journalist

In the fast-paceddDIEBOTDIEkrRaaWkKkk




whew.

Robbie here (the genuine human version).

You just caught me exterminating a beige AI bot. 

Nope. Not on my watch. 

Because my pencil's sharpened.

My brain's bursting with brilliant ideas.

And I'm here to rescue your customers (and humanity itself) from crappy cookie cutter content.

If you rely on words to move people, you've got two choices right now:

1. Hop on the AI blandwagon (with all your competitors) and slouch blank-eyed towards Samesville. 

2. Stand out with content made by people, for people.

You want 1? I'm not your guy. 

But if 2. rings true, DM me to get cracking.

Or email robbiehandy@trueword.co.uk 

Be quick, mind...or you'll end up talking out your bot.


What clients say:

"Robbie is my go-to writer for content where technical matters need to be understood easily by regular readers and global audiences. He always delivers on time, is proactive, and always ready to think outside the box. He takes an informed approach based on his years of experience to turn a bland story into killer copy. It's an absolute delight working with Robbie."

Mark Elliott
Senior Account Manager
Stratton Craig

Taplio

Robbie Handy, writer's Linkedin Analytics

Robbie Handy, writer

What is Robbie talking about?

Want to drive more opportunities from LinkedIn?

Taplio

.css-1jgreyo{background-image:linear-gradient(284deg, rgba(39,43,72,1) 0%, rgba(33,47,183,1) 100%);color:transparent;-webkit-background-clip:text;background-clip:text;}Robbie Handy, writer's Linkedin Analytics

Robbie Handy, writer

What is Robbie talking about?

Want to drive more opportunities from LinkedIn?

Robbie Handy, writer's Linkedin Analytics