Interview With Bob Janitz
Interviewed by Jenna Glatzer
Bob Janitz is a freelance writer based in Amarillo, Texas.
He specializes in business communications and website consulting for
corporations, small businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals.
What special skills are required for business/PR writing as opposed to
creative writing?
A business writer must be concise and professional. The business audience wants to read documents that are short and to the point. Creative writing
audiences are generally reading during leisure time.
How did you get your first job in this field?
I got my first freelance business writing job through my website.
Is this something you studied in college? How did you learn business
writing skills?
I had some business writing courses in college, but I learned most of my business writing skills while employed at P & G.
You worked as a sportswriter for several different newspapers. Was
that freelance?
All my sportswriting was done as a freelancer.
It's becoming harder and harder to fool the American public with
advertising gimmicks. How difficult is it to write a press release or sales letter that is attention-getting without being flashy?
I don't think it's very difficult, as long as you understand your target audience and the product you're trying to sell. In my opinion, the opening
sentence in a sales letter is crucial. It will either make the reader read further or throw it away.
Why should a business hire a professional writer rather than
generating copy in-house?
Many executives, engineers, and staff professionals don't have the time (and most dislike writing) to produce effective business documents. A
professional writer is able to create effective business documents, leaving the executives, engineers and staff professionals to concentrate on other tasks and be more productive.
Would you ever turn down a job if you didn't believe in the business?
I'd only turn down a writing job if I thought the business was illegitimate, as in a scam.
How do you advertise your services?
I advertise my services almost exclusively through my website. I'm currently working on a campaign to market my services in Amarillo through
personal contact with area business people.
Procrastination is a danger when you get to make your own hours. How
do you inspire yourself to write?
I pride myself on excellent customer service. If I set a deadline to deliver my services, I meet that deadline or deliver the product ahead of
time. This is my motivation - to complete projects ahead of the promised delivery date.
How do you determine your rates? Do you work with contracts based on
word counts or total package prices?
I charge a flat rate for resumes and individual letter-writing. Other business writing is charged by the hour.
What are your future writing goals?
I would like to write full-time, revising business documentation for corporations to make their employees more productive, thereby increasing
corporate revenue. Like almost any other writer, I'd like to pen a novel.
Visit Bob's website here.
