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Technical & Creative Writing Services

It doesn't matter if the medium is a web site, corporate brochure, technical manual or print advertisement, effective communication is essential if you are attempting to sell a product, instruct users or inform readers.

Softext provides professional writing services for all kinds of applications and requirements. Our contract writers include experienced newspaper reporters, ad copywriters, technical writers and free-lance journalists. If you want to sell a product or just inform your readers using words we have the skills to do it.

The following is a summary of the specific services we offer.

Technical Writing

Good documentation, in print or electronic form, will help users to maximize the value of your product. The job of documentation is commonly assigned to programmers that produce technically accurate but user-unfriendly results. Documentation requires a different skill set and a level of objectivity that fosters thinking in “user” terms. Do you think it’s important to have good documentation? Think of your own experiences with inadequate instructions.

How often have you given up on a software user manual in frustration and sought out third-party publications as a replacement?

Have you read supposedly simple installation or assembly instructions that leave out important details or fail to accurately describe a process?

Have you had to call in professional assistance to finish an installation or setup that was supposedly so easy, anyone could do it?

These are just a few of the experiences we all encounter on a daily basis when instructions are inaccurate, inadequate and indecipherable. If this happens to users of your product or service, it can adversely impact sales, repeat business and your reputation.

The specific services that we offer are:

• Writing user manuals & guides
• Editing and formatting existing documents
• Document design
• Conversion to e-book formats

Printed documents can be produced in Word, FrameMaker, Indesign and Quark in either PC or MAC formats.

All source files are provided to the customer on completion of the project if you choose to continue updating the document in-house.

These projects are billed on an hourly basis or can be offered as a fixed-price contract.

Software Instruction Manuals & Guides

As a computer software development company, we have extensive experience in the design and programming of both large and small applications. Good documentation originates from a clear system specifications document which is used as a foundation for creating user instructions.

On our projects, documentation is developed parallel to programming. This approach uncovers software design problems early. Processes that are too complicated to document easily are likely too difficult for the average computer user. To assist you developing user guides, we can work with you during the development cycle or when your project is complete.

The specific services that we offer are:

• Writing user manuals
• Editing and formatting existing documents
• Design of printed manuals
• Development of interactive help systems

Printed documents can be produced in Word, FrameMaker, Indesign and Quark in either PC or MAC formats.

Interactive help systems are developed in RoboHelp, Framemaker, Dreamweaver and Flash and can be produced as Acrobat or HTML documents.

All source files are provided to the customer on completion of the project if you choose to continue updating the document in-house.

These projects are billed on an hourly basis or can be offered as a fixed-price contract.

Advertising Copy

Good advertising copy integrates with the visual message but is a commonly overlooked aspect of most web sites and a great many marketing materials. People still read for information so if what you have to say doesn't communicate properly, you create confusion in the buyer's mind.

Our writers will help discover the unique features and benefits you are offering and word it in an effective proposition to your prospects and customers. They can evoke response and compel readers to take action on your offer. Good advertising copy is not a baseball bat. There are times to be bold and times to be subtle. We believe effective advertising copy delivers the message without drawing attention to itself.

Pricing Guideline

Turnaround time is usually 3 - 5 days. Customers are required to provide technical specifications, pictures and related materials applicable to the project.

Services include initial proof, secondary draft and final.

Press Releases

Press releases are a simple means by which you can notify the media of something you feel is important. Most news organizations receive dozens each day so your message must be newsworthy and presented in a way that will draw an editor's attention. This is where being concise and observing strict writing standards is essential. When you consider the free advertising benefits that you can reap from a press release, it makes sense to have it professionally written.

Pricing Guideline

The standard turnaround time is 48 - 72 hours (shorter by arrangement). When the topic is time-sensitive, material should be provided at least two to three days in advance.

Newsletters

Newsletters are an often over-looked means of communication that is being rediscovered. Whether it's in the form of an 8 x 11 flyer or the glossy, magazine style, newsletters are being used increasingly to build bonds with existing customers and as a soft-sell technique to get new ones.

Are you developing and printing your corporate newsletter in-house?
If you think you are saving money, consider staff time in writing, editing and design. Also consider the cost to your business if the finished document contains errors, is inadequately designed and fails to interest readers. These are also costs.

Having an external source develop your newsletter brings a new set of eyes to the problem. As an impartial viewer, we will commonly see aspects of your business that you may have missed. There are stories buried in your business.

From Writing to Design to Print

Design is an essential element of an effective newsletter. You must get attention quickly, keep and get your information across in comparatively few words. An “identifiable look” gets initial attention and is memorable. Newsletters should never be viewed as a one-time project, the value comes from successive issues that develop repeat readers and imprint your brand in user minds.

Printing Services

Softext uses the latest digital print technology for proofing and printing of newsletters. The result is press-quality output even for quantities as small as 100 copies. Using the latest VDP (variable data printing) technology newsletters can be customized to include customer data (name, address, contact information) and create variations based on such data as part purchases and buyer preferences. Imagine sending a unique newsletter to each recipient.

Services that we offer:

• On-site interviews and information gathering
• Development and writing of newsletter content
• Web-based research
• Edition planning
• Prepress preparation
• Digital printing
  

Pricing Guideline

Writing

The typical 11 x 17 - 4 page newsletter contains 3 - 6 articles of varying length but commonly no longer than 400 words.

Newsletter 3 - 4 articles $300 - $500
Newsletter 5 - 6 articles $450 - $650

Printing

Due to the wide range of options for printing, prices are provided by quotation only.

Web Site Content

Whether you are telling the story of your business, enticing prospects or educating, written communication on the web should be as carefully crafted as anything you would put in print - perhaps more so. What you have to say must cut through the flashy graphics and visual noise that tend to mask the real message. We can help you with simple concise copy that does just that.

To help us develop the copy for your site, we have developed a detailed questionnaire that you must complete before work begins. It will tell us about you, your business and products and give us some ideas as to what your unique selling proposition should be.

Search Optimized Copy
The written content of your web site has a big impact on how your web site is viewed by search engines. The easier it is to find, the more readers will see it and respond to your message. It’s a number game that you can’t afford to lose.

Services that we offer:

• Content development and writing
• Editing
• Web site design
• Search engine opimization

Pricing Guideline

Content Package A

Content Package B

Topics/subtopics section can be product/service related or any other type of content. Customer must complete detailed information questionnaire and provide copies of print-based marketing materials, advertising etc. The typical turnaround time is 5 - 7 days.