If you
‘re looking for a writer who’s passionate about modern technology (cloud, mobile, IoT), then you’ve come to the right blog post. In the latest installment of our ongoing Writer Spotlight series, you’ll get to know a little bit about Chris Hardee. Enjoy!
nDash: If you could only write about one topic for the rest of your freelancing life, what would it be? And why?
Chris Hardee: I’ve worked in the technology industry as a project manager for over 20 years, so I naturally gravitated toward technology writing. However, if I had to pick one sub-topic within technology, I would probably pick cybersecurity. Since it is a constantly changing industry, it requires a lot of attention, and there is always new research, news, and opinions about the latest topics.
Q: What’s the most rewarding part about being a freelance writer? The most challenging?
A: The most rewarding part about being a freelance writer is the freedom to work from almost anywhere. While I have a desk where I get most of my work done, if I want a change in routine, I can go out on the back porch (where I am right now), to the park, or just about anywhere else. My phone doubles as my hotspot, making it easy to connect from anywhere.
The most challenging part of being a freelance writer is my dogs. I can be right in the middle of an important writing assignment, and Olaf, our Dachshund, will start barking and ruin my concentration. If this happened once a day, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but he seems to enjoy barking (often!) with a passion. In the end, though, it is hard to be angry with him when he is cute, cuddly, and trying to protect his family.
Q: What do your most successful clients all have in common?
A: My most successful clients know how to listen as well as give instructions. I have found that the most successful relationships are the ones where I collaborate with marketing rather than simply being given a list of assignments. With 20 years of industry experience, I can often bring additional real-world insight that the marketing person may not have.
Q: What made you decide to become a freelance writer?
A: It all started with me needing some extra money to make ends meet. Since then, it has become a passion. I enjoy writing as much (or sometimes more) than I have working in the technology industry. I enjoy using my real-world experience to get up to speed quickly and blend technology features into benefits a reader will understand and appreciate.
Q: What’s the biggest mistake you see brands making with their content?
A: The biggest mistake I see is companies that produce quality content and then don’t promote it. According to Neil Patel and others, you should spend roughly 4 times the cost of the article promoting it.
Q: What marketing trends should brands be keeping an eye on in 2017?
A: I think more companies will start to realize that even though social media is important to an organization, email marketing (when done correctly) provides better engagement. As a result, I think some budgets will shift from social media to proper email marketing that helps to nurture prospects until they are ready to buy.
Rapid Fire:
- Favorite marketing buzzword? Cost per lead
- Watched any terrible movies lately? I saw Batman versus Superman and was not impressed. It felt like it went on forever.
- The world record you are most likely to break is ____? The person who knows the most obscure 80s movie lines. BTW, if you like 80s trivia, I would recommend Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.
- Are you cool with the Oxford comma? Are you kidding? My mother and wife were schoolteachers. My wife edits my work, so the Oxford comma is a big thing in my house. J
- What is a reasonable punishment for people who double-space after a sentence? None whatsoever, in the right place and time, is acceptable.