An Experienced Freelance Copywriter
I’m a great writer, but I can’t grow a real mustache.
I’m Joshua Squires, a freelance writer living in Richmond, VA. I’ve spent the last five years writing everything from marketing and website copy to scripts, banner ads, and short fiction. I even offer social media consulting and training services for individuals and small businesses.
I got my start in copywriting by working on email marketing campaigns for a local publishing firm’s in-house marketing department. While working my way through college in kitchens and offices, I continually took on more and more copywriting jobs, slowly building a respectable portfolio.
By utilizing social media sites such as Linkedin and Twitter, as well as email, I built a high-quality list of contacts which brought in regular freelance assignments. I have worked with a vast array of clients in a number of major industries including travel, retail, sports, medical, legal, and finance.
In addition to copywriting, I also have a deep understanding of search engine optimization (SEO) and have no problem using Google Analytics and Adwords data to optimize websites. I manage social media campaigns and advise on social media strategy. These several skills combine in my regular blogging duties as I provide SEO optimized blog posts that drive overall site SEO and distribute that content via a carefully crafted social network consisting of numerous social media platforms.
A Different Kind of Copywriter
Unlike many of the professional copywriters my age, I didn’t pursue a degree in marketing. My degree focus was in English Literature. My training required a focus on writing with an emphasis on comprehension and analysis, as well as the ability to craft convincing voices and characters while keeping my writing concise and poignant. This, and my deep understanding of internet culture , technology, and best practices for the web has helped me immensely in my work and has generated better results for my clients. As a copywriter, I feel that it is important to continue to learn. In working so closely with web technology, I make it a point to stay ahead of the curve by not just reading today’s headlines, but by analyzing them to get a feel for the trajectory of the industry so that I, as well as my clients, will be ready for impending changes further down the line.
Digital Communications Expertise
I’ve served as a freelance copywriter for advertising and marketing firms both here in Richmond, VA and all over the United States. I’ve helped produce collateral copy, website copy, and copy for email newsletters. I’ve worked in online reputation management where I created SEO bios for executives and businesses, as well as Build-My-Rank content. Much of what I do is producing content for internet start-ups and local businesses. I share my expertise in social media; I’ve been using it avidly since 1999 and have been one of the first 100 users on some of the web’s most popular sites (and a few that weren’t so popular). I frequently beta-test new sites and offer reviews on them in an effort to stay ahead of the curve. I’m highly experienced in SEO and have a great ability for using web analytics and interpreting them to create a better product and increase the performance of your website.
I’ve also written and repurposed scripts for YouTube videos. I’m familiar with most of the common script-writing software and am capable of creating scripts for TV, radio, and web.
