2. Step 1: Look over the writing sample.
This will show you whether the applicant can write intelligent copy in your
field of interest.
Writer Byline: Judy Pokras
Writing Sample: The Door of Doors
The entrance to a house makes a definite impression, especially the first time you see it, so an entry that is 20 feet
tall says “Welcome” in a very grand way. In the 19 years that Bill Zinser has been a professional remodeler in
Florida, he has never had a project as dramatic as “the door of doors,” a spectacular entrance to a 9,000-square-
foot Manasota Key house. “The peak of my remodeling career is to have such a neat thing like this to do,” says the
former United Airlines mechanic, who is chairman of the Remodeler’s Council of the Home Builders Association of
Sarasota County (HBA) and a member of the HBA’s board.
You will hear equal amazement from John Rullman, window and door sales specialist for Kimal Lumber, who Zinser
worked with on the door. “I’m six feet tall and over 200 pounds, and when I first saw the door completed, it was
like, wow! You do feel small standing next to it.”
What Rullman calls an “entry system” is about 11 feet wide and 20 feet tall, and is comprised of eight
pieces, including the door itself, a sidelight on either side, four transoms above the door (in three pieces), and two
quarter-circles above those, forming a half-circle, all containing impact-resistant glass. “I’ve worked primarily with
people building houses up and down the keys—in some big houses—and this is by far the most impressive entry
system I’ve ever seen,” Rullman says.
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3. Step 2: Check their qualifications.
This will show you that the writer has the publishing and/or professional
experience that you’re looking for.
Writing Qualifications
As a journalist, I have written on a wide range of topics, in print and
online, for many publications, including The New York Times. For the last
two years, I have been writing news articles every weekday for the blog of
a Colorado law firm, danielRrosen.com/blog. In the same time period, I
have also been writing guest posts about small business for
VistaPrintDeals.com, and news articles related to vehicles and driving for
NewJerseyNewsroom.com. The writing sample I'm including for you along
with this section is an article I wrote for Sarasota Arts and Culture
Magazine about an impressively large door a builder had made for a
client's 9,000 square foot house.
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4. Step 3: Review the writer’s profile tab.
This will show you additional topics the writer is comfortable with, their
published work from around the web, and any social media experience.
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5. Pro Tips
• Keep in mind that the writer has not been
trained to match your brand voice yet. The
application is an indicator of proficiency; the
coaching will come after you accept them.
• Check in on your pending applications tab
often. Writers are less eager to participate if
you leave them in the queue for too long.
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6. Pro Tips
• You can export a contact spreadsheet using the Excel
button at the bottom of the Accepted Writers list –
use it to contact your active participants should any
major program changes be headed their way.
• Not sure about the next step? Your Content
Strategist is an email away. Don’t hesitate to contact
him/her with questions.
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