Melissa Behrend-* Redmond, Washington
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-behrend/
Online Portfolio: https://melissam0202.journoportfolio.com/
10 years’ experience in digital marketing, writing, and editing. Lead in-app/UX writer for Samsung’s Bixby team. E-learning curriculum developer. Exemplary writing experience in a variety of settings; a knack for delivering clear, concise copy. High-energy professional with a passion for the written word. Well-versed in SalesForce, Piktochart, Pardot, InDesign, Adobe, SharePoint, Factual, Simple Geo, Conductor, WordPress, HubSpot, Google AdWords (certified), Diigo, Hootsuite, and more.
Professional Experience
Copyeditor, HigherEducation.com 2018 to Present
Seattle, Wa
Edit documents on a freelance basis for a variety of higher education clients.
Freelance/Contract Copywriter and Editor 2010 to Present
Wrote SEO content for clients; help clients get found on Google.
Proofread and edited client copy, including novels, blogs, white papers, web content, etc.
Wrote proposals and grants for clients. Worked with affiliate marketing.
Managed clients’ digital space (placing ads with LinkedIn, Google, Facebook) and helped maintain Google presence. Conducted research as needed.
Wrote copy for online sales sites, direct response copy, product descriptions, press releases and more.
Collaborated with developers of a travel application; wrote and edited copy.
Wrote online curriculum for both University of Phoenix and George Washington University.
Wrote and edited content for a client’s online health business. Created social content, attracting new ‘likes’ and followers.
Managed an online health business’s Facebook page, ZenDesk, and WordPress accounts; edited for spam, interacted with ‘fans’, posted and wrote content. Corresponded with customers via email.
Communicated with client’s advertisers, affiliates, and authors.
Wrote e-books as ‘sign up gifts’ for client’s email list and developed marketing B2C emails.
Experience writing for varied industry verticals. Extensive experience writing for the tech space, including IoT, Smart Homes, etc.
Digital Marketing Specialist, Fintech 2017 to 2018
Tampa, Fl
Researched, planned, executed, and measured the success of marketing campaigns and direct response copywriting; increased unique clicks to over 24% in just one month (growing clicks by over 10%).
Wrote internal communications; worked on policy change and development. Helped provide guidance to bring about policy change—and communicated those changes and need for the changes to staff.
Built go-to-market strategies for new product releases; executed a ‘Core Principles’ campaign to change/improve company morale.
Grew social media presence; increased impressions on LinkedIn by 3,000 with my first 2 articles in just 2 weeks. Increased impressions on Facebook and Twitter by 20% within the first 2 weeks.
Wrote white papers, press releases, pitch decks, blogs, and case studies.
Collaborated with managed partners on marketing efforts.
Designed and produced company collateral, copy decks, and marketing materials.
Designed wireframes for new company website; worked through the user experience, from beginning of their journey through purchase. Worked with in-house designers.
Lead In-App and UX Writer for Samsung Project, SDL 2016 to 2017
In-app writer; team lead for the Samsung Bixby voice assistant app with project management duties; managed a team of 12 writers, assigned tasks, ensured work was completed on time, answered questions, facilitated meetings, participated in international calls with Samsung Korea, India, and SDL Italy weekly.
Worked with engineers and designers in Korea to write the UX content.
Ran all QA checks; edited for style and grammar.
Wrote UX/UI microcopy for Samsung’s new AI app, Bixby. Implemented feedback from Samsung.
Designed Excel spreadsheets for Samsung and SDL team members, highlighted feedback received from Seattle and London.
Ran weekly parameter checks to ensure all variables were present and all strands of content were correct. Completed A/B testing on the app.
Helped hire and train new writers.
Conducted one-on-one sessions to help new writers learn best practices, how to write on brand, and how to utilize SDL programs and software.
Worked on a special side project for Samsung, to inject personality into the voice. Conducted research and presented findings to stakeholders.
Copywriter and Editor, Nicopure Labs 2016
Trinity, Fl
Wrote compelling headlines, press releases, body copy, and calls-to-action for company’s blog as well as partner sites. In my 1st month of writing for the blog, the articles went from a distant page 3 to page 1 in Google searches.
Wrote B2C/B2B copy; in the 2nd week, my copy helped to generate measurable sales (taking a product which had been selling at #49 and shooting it up to #10 on the company’s sales list).
Helped drive sales to the highest they had ever been during ‘Black Friday Week’; writing copy that helped bring in sales of over $200,000.
Directed a team of 5 freelancers; edited copy, directed revisions.
Collaborated with the art department to come up with weekly artwork for blogs and emails.
Conducted interviews for articles.
Worked with legal team to ensure all copy was accurate and to company standards.
Developed new topics, conducted research and found ways to put a unique spin on topics.
Adapted tone/voice across 4 brands.
E-learning Curriculum Developer and Instructor, Universal Class 2009 to 2018
Tampa, Fl
Wrote e-curriculum and microlearning curriculum for several courses, including an SEO writing course.
Researched key topics to help keep the courses relevant and content fresh.
Left position to move to Washington.
Education and Certifications
Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida Masters of Science in Education
Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida Bachelor of Arts in English Literature
California State University, Technical Writing Certification
LinkedIn Certifications in copywriting, marketing, SEO, and more
Google AdWords certified
General Proofreading: Theory and Practice™ (proofreading certification)
Proofreading 101: The Art of Proofreading™ (proofreading certification)
