e: ac3hbf@r.postjobfree.com linkedin.com/in/sararaelancaster p: 262-***-****

SARA RAE LANCASTER

Editor/Writer With 10+ years of copywriting, editorial and publishing experience in print and digital platforms, clients and employers can count on me to craft copy that is creative, accurate, engaging, and (most importantly) delivers the results you want.

Sara Rae Lancaster Résumé 1

BY SARA RAE;

WRITER/EDITOR

(AT-HIRE)

11/2012 - Present

DIGITAL MARKETING COPYWRITER TRUSTED MEDIA BRANDS, INC. (Milwaukee, WI)

• Create benefit-driven, persuasive copy to promote the Reader's Digest brands, including Reader’s Digest, The Family Handyman, DIY University, Taste of Home, Taste of Home Online Cooking School, ShopTasteofHome.com, Birds & Blooms, and Reminisce

• Part of the launch team for Taste of Home Online Cooking School, DIY University, and Taste the Seasons subscription box product lines; created original content and copy for a variety of digital marketing assets including website copy, landing pages, emails, social media assets, and banner ads

• Collaborate with designers to create eye-catching emails, landing pages, order pages, banner ads, and social media assets to attract new customers/readers and increase return customers/readers

• Proofread and edit all copy for clarity, brand style consistency, brand voice, spelling, and grammar

• Employ SEO best practices

• Identify and strengthen weak copy to improve readability, messaging, and produce desired results

• Write A/B test copy to improve results and increase conversions

• Continually meet project expectations and deliver copy in a timely and efficient manner (deadlines fear me) BLOGGER/FEATURES WRITER KENOSHA NEWS (Kenosha, WI)

• Lead writer/blogger for “Third Coast Woman,” a monthly community/lifestyle blog highlighting noteworthy community members and women business owners in southeastern Wisconsin

- Collaborated with team to develop themes for each monthly issue, managed editorial calendar, and scheduled interviews with sources

- Created original blog content using WordPress

- Built relationships with local businesses to help grow blog exposure

• Lead writer for My Life, a monthly publication highlighting news and lifestyle stories for adults age 55+

- Research and write articles on a variety of topics, including personal finance, health, and travel

• Write on assignment for daily local newspaper; regular contributor to newspaper’s bi-annual Wedding Guide CONTRIBUTING WRITER MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY (Milwaukee, WI)

• Research, conduct interviews, and write articles for Marquette Nurse Magazine

• Research, conduct interviews, and write articles for Discover Magazine, a publication that highlights cutting-edge and interesting research happening on Marquette University's campus CONTRIBUTING WRITER MILWAUKEE MAGAZINE (Milwaukee, WI)

• Contributing writer for a variety of editorial and special advertising assignments, including:

- “Feel Better: Spa Treatments with Health Benefits" (Milwaukee Health 2016)

- “Country Living, City Ties” (Milwaukee Magazine, April 2014)

- “Smoke Signals” (Milwaukee Magazine, December 2014)

- “Top Dentists 2014" feature story (Milwaukee Magazine, January 2014)

- “A Scanner Not So Darkly” (Milwaukee Magazine, December 2013) e: ac3hbf@r.postjobfree.com linkedin.com/in/sararaelancaster p: 262-***-**** Sara Rae Lancaster Résumé 2

What Colleagues Are Saying...

READER’S DIGEST ASSOCIATION, INC. (Milwaukee, WI)

• Positively influenced department revenue by contributing successful cooking, home entertaining, and food-related books for the retail/trade and direct market books product lines

• Acted as lead editor of Holiday & Celebrations annual book; helped the title maintain its status as a top-performing product by contributing fresh ideas and working with art directors to update photography/design

• Increased sales of the Taste of Home Cooking School Magazine by improving communication between the editorial and the Taste of Home Cooking School teams, creating more innovative content, and fostering better relationships between the editorial content, brand, and sponsors

• Maintained editorial and project calendars; prepared project roadmaps; developed content; wrote, edited, and proofread copy; and collaborated with art directors on project’s overall design REIMAN PUBLICATIONS (Milwaukee, WI)

• Edited clumsy verbiage and dry product specs into lively, benefit-rich and attention-grabbing copy for RachaelRay.com, World Wide Country Tours, and Country Store Catalog product lines

• Created and edited content for book marketing campaigns, brochures, magalogs, slim-jims, and other direct mail marketing materials

• Wrote test copy for Taste of Home and TasteofHome.com product marketing campaigns DIRECT SUPPLY, INC. (Milwaukee, WI)

• Wrote and edited product copy for the company’s 1,500-page product catalog, as well as internal and external copy for a variety of marketing teams

• Turned technical product specs into benefit-oriented, approachable copy for website and various print marketing materials

• Spearheaded the company’s “Eldercare Employee of the Month” recognition program; selected award candidates, conducted interviews, and wrote profile stories of recipients then featured on company website BOOK EDITOR

October 2006 -

November 2012

“I've had the distinct

pleasure of working with

Sara on several publication

projects, and find her highly

organized, enthusiastic,

detailed, and most of all

cooperative. Sara is most

competent in all aspects of

writing, editing, creative and

project-management.”

RUSTY GRIMES,

BIC GRAPHIC USA

“I first met Sara through a terrific pitch. I was immediately hooked, we worked through the concept and assignment, and she delivered a first-rate, engaging feature for an issue of Rails to Trails magazine. I was extremely impressed by her exacting attention to details and clarity, and how blissfully easy it was to work with her at every stage. I trusted her completely, and that's a wonderful feeling as an editor. Sara is a talented writer loaded with sharp ideas and initiative.

KARL WIRSING, UW SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND FOREST SCIENCES

“Anyone who has a project for

which Sara's skills are

appropriate (writing, editing,

design, project conception)

should hire her in an instant.

She's skilled, fast and accurate,

imaginative, and does not miss

deadlines. She's one of the best.”

PROF. DRAKE HOKANSON,

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY

COPYWRITER

June 2005 -

October 2006

COPYWRITER

July 2004 -

June 2005

EDUCATION

Winona State University (Winona, MN)

• B.A., Mass Communications (journalism emphasis)

• Minor: Creative Writing

• Graduated Magna Cum Laude (May 2004)

• Activities and leadership positions:

- The Winonan; features reporter

- Bravura; co-editor (senior capstone publication)

- NCAA student athlete (Division II) and

co-captain of women's cross country team

SKILLS & OTHER INTERESTS

• Ability to transform complex topics such as finance, technology, and health/medical into approachable, engaging and easily understood copy

• Interviewing and reporting

• Experience using WordPress and Adobe Creative Suite

• Proficient using MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

• Fact-checking experience

• Workshop and class instruction

• Coaching (high school cross country assistant coach)

Contact this candidate