Before Diana settled into the not-so-leisurely life of a freelance travel writer, business writing (case studies, technical and ghost writing) was part of her 9-to-5 job routine. From medical to business to software reports, Diana’s nonfiction and technical writing covers a wide variety of industries. Below is a sampling of this writing along with two of professional recommendations.

Rules for Passport Photos

By http://www.ehow.com/facts_5297201_rules-passport-photos.html Contributor By Diana Rowe eHow Contributing Writer – August 2009

Rules for passport photos are directed toward quality photos that realistically show your full face and features to make identification and passage through countries free of hassle.


 

Case Studies

Case Study for RDG Consulting, Inc. – consultants for Federal Contracts
Located at http://www.rdgconsulting.com/casestudy_pitfall.asp

Case Study: Overcoming the Pitfalls of Federal Contracts
Written by Diana Rowe (Formerly Martinez)

    Background
    Government contracts are difficult at best to attain, much less monitor, but many businesses are faced with this daunting task. Without the knowledge and experience with the nuances of federal contracts, attempting negotiations, and subsequently, contract management, can potentially prove costly to the contractor.

    Radiometer America Corporation (RAME) obtained a government contract through a small-company acquisition, and quickly realized their knowledge of government contracts was limited. Yet, the job still needed to be completed.

Case Study for Success Performance Solutions
Located at: http://www.super-solutions.com/Fredrick_casestudy.asp

Case Study: Growing a Small, Local Business into a Nationally Recognized Company
by Diana Rowe (formerly Martinez)

    Background
    How do you make your business more successful when you not only need more employees and a new location, but your small, family-owned business really needs a fresh and totally new outlook? How do you transition your company’s reputation from that of a family-run enterprise to being recognized as a craft specialist in your industry?

SATW LogoTravel, travel writers and social media
© SATW 2008 February 2008
by Diana Rowe

 

According to Shel Holtz (holtz.com), we have entered the era of social computing, a social structure in which technology puts the power of communication in the hands of individuals and communities rather than institutions. Unlike traditional media, social media is not just about transmitting information; it’s about engaging and participating.
In his two-part Manchester presentation, Holtz said that while traditional media remains strong, it has shifted from formal and instructive to informal and conversational (i.e. Blogs). Just as radio had to adapt and reinvent itself when television came on the scene in the 1940’s, magazines and newspapers are also adapting by channeling the printed word to the Internet.

Ghost Writing

Oct 2007 (Anniversary Issue) Diversity/Careers in Engineering & Information Technology
http://www.diversitycareers.com/articles/pro/07-octnov/article.htm

October/November 2007 Diversity/Careers in Engineering & Information Technology
Diversity In Action

Pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline improves the quality of life. The company has openings at manufacturing locations across the U.S. “If your background is technical we’d like to talk with you,” says a VP…
http://www.diversitycareers.com/articles/pro/07-octnov/dia_GlaxoSmithKline.html

October/November 2007 Diversity/Careers in Engineering & Information Technology
Diversity In Action

NRAO
offers astronomy excitement for interested techies at three U.S. facilities and an international project in Chile, NRAO has openings in engineering, CS and math as well as astronomy and physics
http://www.diversitycareers.com/articles/pro/07-octnov/dia_NRAO.html

October/November 2007 Diversity/Careers in Engineering & Information Technology
Diversity In Action

Philadelphia Gas Work
s supplies half a million customers…A wide range of employment opportunities is available. “Here at PGW, if you really want to do something, you can,” says a VP
http://www.diversitycareers.com/articles/pro/07-octnov/dia_PGW.html

October/November 2007 Diversity/Careers in Engineering & Information Technology
Diversity In Action
SAIC: systems, solutions, technical services and diversity
The director of corporate diversity says the company will hire several thousand experienced engineers and IT pros in the next year.
http://www.diversitycareers.com/articles/pro/07-octnov/dia_SAIC.htm

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Technical Writing

greenhousebiz magazine branding it's more than a namewww.greenhousebiz.com

Successful Landscapers Partner with Garden Centers
Greenhouse Business Custom Publication March 2007

Selling Tool: Latest Trend in Containers
Greenhouse Business Feb 2007

Heating Systems
Greenhouse Business August 2006

Branding: It’s More Than A Name
Greenhouse Business July 2006

All American Selection Corporate Profile: All-American Selections (AAS): Winners for 75 Years
Greenhouse Business July 2006

New Technology in Structures
Greenhouse Business March/April 2006

Corporate Profile: Wellmark International
Greenhouse Business March/April 2006

Retail Report: Barlow’s Flower Farm
Greenhouse Business February 2006

Controlling Your Greenhouse Cost
Greenhouse Business January 2006

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Travel, travel writers and social media continued

For those who have yet to blog or podcast, Holtz’s statistics are eye-openers: 1.3 million blogs are posted daily (18 per second); 100,000 new blogs are created daily (two per second); the Blogosphere doubles every 236 days; there are now more podcasts than global radio stations; there are 100 million MySpace profiles, 50 million Facebook profiles, nine million LinkedIn profiles – numbers that have no doubt increased by now.
The bottom line is that people want to share their own experiences and have the ability today to do so, meaning travel writers are competing with non-professional writers.
Holtz says that all travel professionals must at a minimum become familiar with the social networks and rankings and the new tools of content. “Content today resides on the edge,” he said, “and the tools of ‘on edge’ content are RSS feeds, blogs, podcasts, Wikis, Widgets, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr photos and Microformats.” Holtz added that “leverage is with he who seizes conversation, not he who starts or controls it.”
Consider that in the last five years, 50 percent of content was produced by consumers rather than by traditional media. Those in the Instant Message (IM) generation (born after 1980) get 62 percent of the content they consume from people they know personally. One percent of this community generates new content (i.e. Wikipedia) and 10 percent contributes to existing content (i.e. Commenting on blogs). These are critical influencers.
The tourism industry is already involved with social media via blogs and other forms of new media (virtual tours on tourism sites, for example), but Holtz encouraged Actives and Associates to become more involved in sites like MySpace, Facebook, Ning and TripUp (beta version for people who travel). In addition to blogs, Holz said travel writers should also have an online social profile.
Part Two of the presentation focused on how to build a social media presence, a.k.a. How to build a reputation and brand. Why is a presence important? Social media helps build a community that includes a writer’s biggest fans. By providing ongoing engaging content and attracting new fans, a writer will ultimately be seen by more people as an authority – and an interesting one at that. There are several ways to achieve this.
Blogs. A good blog is essentially a journal in reverse chronological order and includes a way for consumers to comment. Blog writing style should be informal with an emphasis on voice, and posts should be short for quick and easy reads. Content, said Holtz, is enhanced by images, audio and video and links, which blog readers love. It’s important to note that bloggers who have a following are being hired by traditional publications.
Setting up a blog shouldn’t cause stress because it’s simple. Sites Holtz recommended include:
Podcasting. Podcasts offer continuing, regular audio content that is deliverable by subscription, downloadable so consumers can listen at their own computers (56 percent) or on digital media players or can be burned to a CD. One example is Travelcommons.
Wikis. Wikis are web pages “edited” by the community so that the community itself adds and builds content. Two examples are Wikitravel and Wikipedia.
While it’s true that creating a presence in social media is a slow process and not always profitable,
Holtz said that the time spent can be justified if you use it to promote your other work – books, magazine articles, videos, shows, etc. He suggested adding Google AdSense or Feedburner ad insertion into RSS feeds because some blogs warrant sponsorships or other advertising.
It may seem overwhelming but getting started in social media is easy. Holtz recommends these five steps:
  • Read blogs and lots of them
  • Create your own blog (it only takes a few minutes)
  • Holtz’s slide-show presentation is available for download at holtz.com/satw. Numerous examples of successful social media websites, blogs, podcasts and wikis are listed on the 101-page presentation.