Hi, I’m Robin. You might also know me as John. I used to work in marketing; now I focus on technical copywriting.
The first time I used a computer, it made me so nervous that I threw up (stomach poisoning may have also had something to do with it). I figured it could only go up from there.
I specialize in documentation and microcopy for a wide array of topics. I like explaining difficult things in appealing ways.
Here’s my somewhat strange professional history so far:
ZSA Technology Labs: Customer Service, Writer
2021 - Present
Here I write a whole lot about keyboards. My main job is answering customer questions that range from “When will my order ship?” to “What’s the difference between a dual-function key and a tap dance key and how do I implement both?” When I’m not answering emails, I’m QCing new features and writing and editing various copy of all different kinds.
Rookwork: Copywriting contract work
2020 - Present
My personal company and the very site that you’re on. Naturally, Rookwork has evolved with me. I started mostly in SEM, and I’ve since shifted to copy generally but with more of a focus on technical writing.
Altonimbus Entertainment: Marketing Manger, Assistant Director of Publicity
2019 - 2021
Here I volunteered to help with a Japanese culture convention called Kumoricon. I wrote a lot of copy, mainly for socials, news posts, and a digital and printed newsletter. I also interacted with press and managed a small team.
Bellissimo Coffee Advisors: Marketing Manager
2019 - 2021
It’s kind of hard to capture everything I did here succinctly. There were dozens of pages of all new website copy, a complete overhaul of PPC advertisements, two brand new online courses as new streams of revenue when COVID hit, and tons of miscellaneous customer service and IT work. I also created and honed an email sequence that, when combined with my PPC and SEO efforts, became the largest driver of sales by a wide margin.
Wisconsin Historical Society Press: Marketing Specialist
2017 - 2019
Mostly this entailed running the Press’s social media, but I was kind of a jack of all trades. I managed the layout, printing, and delivery of a season catalog, I wrote and designed print and digital ads and some book covers, and I even fixed a temperamental scanner from time to time.
A Room of One’s Own Bookstore: Store Associate
2018
While working at a book publisher I also worked at a book store. The main thing I learned? Books in boxes are really, really heavy.
University of Wisconsin Press: Intern
2017
Your pretty typical data entry gig. Not the most glamorous, but I took it seriously and managed to be quite efficient. There was a backlog of things to be entered dating all the way back to 1970 that I worked through in my spare time. I also wrote a few blog posts and proofed some catalog issues.