Hey team-
(I always start group messages with “Hey team.” Why? Because we’re all in this together, and we’re all in it for the good of the group.)
Just wanted to introduce myself and give you some background on the guy behind the blog.
Husband and dad: I have an amazing wife, Carly, and two amazing daughters who keep me on my toes and push my creative boundaries. They keep me young, and I love them for it.
Teacher: Dug into print media at Buena Vista University (‘03, B.A. Journalism & Mass Communication), worked as a reporter and copy editor, went onto grad school at the University of Iowa (‘09, M.A. Journalism & Mass Communication), then scored the side hustle of my dreams, teaching classes on digital strategy, copywriting, and analytics for UI’s Masters in Strategic Communication program. I love my students, and I tell them, “Once your teacher, always your teacher.”
Strategist: I’ve spent 15 years in marketing strategy, content development, and project manager roles. I once had an art director call me “a producer.” I once had an agency CEO say, “I knew you knew your shit, but you really know your shit.” I’ve sat in two (un?)enviable spots: 1) among account services, media, and creative to get work planned, sold, and implemented, and 2) as the forest person and the tree person, the architect and the bricklayer, big picture and small details. Mission-driven, objective-based, data-hungry.
Content Creator: I love creating things. This blog. Digital content at my full-time job. Weekly lessons as an instructor. Songwriter. Book author. Doodler. Reporter. Podcaster. I love to make things, and I love to discuss the process.
StrengthsFinder: According to Strengthsfinder, my top 5 strengths are Responsibility, Communication, Input, Strategic, Learner. I love that I’m a learner and a teacher. I think they go hand in hand. I also love that StrengthsFinder thought I was strategic. I think I am, too.
The Four Tendencies: Gretchen Rubin’s quiz says I’m a Questioner. I don’t doubt that for one minute. But don’t misunderstand what that means : I’m not questioning you or your thoughts or choices. I’m asking you questions so I can gather information to give you my best response or my best work.
Mantra: Give help. A few years ago, the trendy New Year’s thing to do wasn’t to make a resolution, it was to state a phrase to live by that year. I tried a few–“Stay calm” and “Find joy” were on the short list–and I found that I was most successful living up to “Give help.”
So, how can I help you? Do you need ideas on strategy development, or “why” identification, or copywriting or editing, or social media tips, or landing page tricks, or audience research, or storytelling? Let me know – eric@ericdnelson.net – so we can talk. We’re in this together, and we’re in it for the good of the group.