Who's The Write Partner For You?
Let me introduce myself: My name is Rob Curran, and I'm a professional writer.
Since this is the "about" section of the website, I'll present my skills, experience, qualifications and education. That way --- when you ask "Is Rob Curran The Write Partner For You?" --- you can decide for yourself.
To present an objective view, I'll endeavor to "step outside myself " --- to focus on how others see me.
Who is Rob Curran?
Rob is a freelance writer and consultant who focuses his skill set on advanced technologies. His niche, his specialty is marketing communications for complex products with a high degree of engineering.
His skill set
• Sharp eye for marketing,
• Accomplished, published writer with a trusted voice,
• Speaks fluent "Engineer,"
• Expertise in strategic planning,
• "International" perspective.
Sharp eye for marketing
Rob Curran developed his expertise in marketing through education, training and decades of experience on-the-job.
At the University of South Carolina, Rob specialized in marketing to earn his Master's degree in International Business. (U.S. News And World Report recognizes Carolina as the top public university in international business.)
Rob started his marketing career with an internship in France. He was selected to train as assistant product manager for Café Maxwell, one of the top two coffee brands in the world.
From consumer marketing, Rob turned to product marketing management for advanced technologies. He first joined Harris Corporation, then Motorola – two Fortune 250 leaders representing the cutting edge of information technology and communications.
Rob signed on with the International Division of Harris Corporation to market product lines of super minicomputers and terminals. At Motorola he rose through the ranks in domestic and international marketing to product planning manager for multimillion-dollar lines of walkie-talkies and mobile computer terminals.
At Motorola and Harris, Rob acquired decades of expertise in all aspects of IT marketing --- including product development, marketing communications, sales training, public relations, strategic planning and customer negotiations.
Rob is a “quick study” in all things marketing. Once he begins a writing project, he wastes no time: He steps inside your marketing program to analyze the product from your company point of view (the "features"). He pivots to the customer point of view, to establish the product's "UPB" ("Unique Perceived Benefits").
For a writer, what's the advantage of a sharp eye for marketing? Rob links features with benefits to frame a lively and engaging dialogue, where the transaction between buyer and seller unfolds in an atmosphere of mutual trust.
Rob speaks fluent "Engineer"
Is technology the beating heart of your business? Then you need a writer who's fluent in Engineer, who's comfortable with technology.
Rob served as product planning manager for Motorola, one of the world's most respected names in technology. Working side by side with engineers for years, he earned their respect by learning how to speak their language, how to think like engineers.
Give Rob an assignment and you quickly realize he's a writer with a special kind of "radar." His radar cuts through the fog of engineering jargon and specifications, so he can home in on your product. Once Rob locks onto the features, he translates them into Unique Perceived Benefits.... benefits your customers will appreciate --- and trust.
A trusted voice, an accomplished and published writer
Rob brings a potent blend of experience, training and education to every writing assignment.
He honed his writing skills as a freelancer at Rodale Press --- one of the most trusted publishers in the world. There he learned the importance of establishing a bond with readers. Rob produced over 250 photo-illustrated articles for SCUBA Diving, the publication billed as "The Magazine That Divers Trust."
Rodale Inc. --- the authoritative source for trusted content in fitness, health and wellness worldwide --- was named Magazine Publishing Company of the Year by Advertising Age, America's premiere publication for the marketing and advertising trade.
Rodale publishes titles that are famous around the globe –– respected, trusted household names like Men's Health, Prevention, Organic Gardening, Runner's World and Bicycling.
The question is: The world's most trustworthy publisher, who did they turn to when they needed to speak with authority, when they needed to establish a bond of trust with their readers? To Rob Curran.
Expertise in strategic planning
Rob began to develop expertise in strategic planning at the start of his business career. During his internship in France as assistant product manager for Maxwell coffee, he garnered praise for his market research. The director of marketing hailed one analysis as "a model of its kind."
At Harris Corporation --- a Fortune 250 manufacturer of mainframes and computer terminals --- Rob coordinated the production of the five-year strategic and one-year operating plans for the International Division.
At Motorola, Rob served as product planning manager for multimillion-dollar lines of walkie-talkies and portable computer terminals. The team's profit and loss responsibility involved coordinating every aspect of strategic and operating planning: marketing, sales, engineering, production and finance.
Why hire a writer with expertise in strategic planning and market research and analysis? Because it's essential to see beyond the confines of your marketing department.
Before Rob begins a project, in his mind's eye he “plants” himself in the CEO suite, to survey the landscape. From above, he zooms in to study the details of the project –– the small picture –– to ensure it fits properly inside the big picture.
As your writer and partner, Rob ensures that everything aligns: corporate mission, strategy and message. Once again it comes back to trust --- You can proceed with confidence, secure in the knowledge that you're maximizing the power of your communications.... when everybody and everything is pulling in the same direction.
International perspective
Rob Curran brings a global perspective to his work in marketing communications. He's an “internationalist” --- he acquired his cross-cultural sensitivity through decades of experience, education and global business travel.
At the University of South Carolina, a candidate for the Master's in International Business must satisfy two key degree requirements: demonstrate fluency in a foreign language and complete an extended internship overseas.
General Foods France named Rob to a coveted internship as assistant product manager for Maxwell coffee --- an internship that was the envy of his student peers. Rob realized he had achieved his goal of fluency --- with French language, culture, business and thought ---when he heard the feedback from his supervisors: The director of marketing hailed one of Rob's market analyses as "a model of it's kind." And many colleagues nodded in agreement when one supervisor remarked: "This Rob, he is more French than the French."
From the very start of his career, Rob sought opportunities to develop expertise in international marketing. First --- at Harris Corporation --- Rob signed on with the Information Systems International Division. His focus was product marketing for overseas subsidiaries and distributors. Then, at Motorola, Rob worked with the international product group to market complex systems of portable two-way radios. The assignment there was product line extension: to adapt systems designed for North American markets for new applications in the European Community.
Why does a writer need international experience? What's the value?
The ever-accelerating rate of change in the world marketplace demands a global perspective in marketing. Today, the success or failure of a product often hinges on sensitivity to cross-cultural issues.
Rob possesses a sort of cross-cultural "radar," which he activates when the project calls for a writer with international expertise. The benefit? When Rob fine-tunes the radar, he helps his clients sail around the marketing storms that engulf the unwary.
Is Rob Curran The Write Partner For You?
We've taken a look at Rob Curran.... We've reviewed his experience, qualifications and education. We've examined his skill set: a sharp eye for marketing, an accomplished writer with a strong voice, fluent in the language of engineering, experience in strategic planning and a broad, international perspective on business.
Next time you're looking for a trustworthy writer to forge your relationship with customers, trust Rob Curran. With the assignment complete and all your customers satisfied, you'll stand firm in the conviction that Rob is The Write Partner For You.
Rob Curran
The Write Partner For You
3161 NW 47th Terrace, Suite 109
Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319-6646 USA
Telephone + 01.954.717.9147
24-Hour Fax + 01.208.545.6352
email: click here
RobCurran(at)WritePartner4u(dot)com