As professionals, we’re taught that we need to value our services at a price. But, what if the best way to grow professionally, is to give our services away? How can we turn the experience of working for free, into a positive one that benefits all parties involved? Come explore what it means to volunteer as a technical writer and answer the difficult questions. How can technical writers volunteer and outreach to their community? Who even needs technical writing volunteers? Why bother? We’ll cover: · The motives behind volunteering. · The roadblocks that stop us, and how to overcome them. · How to find the right volunteer opportunity for you. · How to get the best experience out of volunteering.

1. VOLUNTEERING
TO IMPROVE YOUR CAREER
Greta Boller
@TheLoneTW
linkedin.com/in/gretaboller

2. HI, I’M GRETA Technical Writer
Blogger
@infodevdc @TheLoneTW @Zoomdata @Meetup #techcomm #dctech

3. TODAY WE’LL COVER
The stigma against volunteering as a writer.
Motivations behind volunteering.
Roadblocks that prevent us from volunteering.
How to overcome those roadblocks.
Where to start.
Finding a volunteer opportunity.
Making the most of volunteering.
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4. THE STIGMA
“Your services are worth what people are willing to pay for them.”
“Your services are worth what people are willing to pay for them.”
“Your services are worth what people pay for them.”
If people pay nothing, your services are worth nothing.
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5. SLIPPERY SLOPE
1. Writers volunteer their services.
2. Companies no longer want to pay for
services they can get for free.
3. Companies stop hiring writers in favor of
volunteer writers.
4. Writing-for-hire jobs decline as companies
rely more and more on free work.
5. Writing ceases to exist as a profession.
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7. VOLUNTEERING MOTIVATIONS
others2
We volunteer to help…
|
the greater good1|
ourselves3|
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8. THE BEST VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
are ones that give us experience or exposure
to boost our career…
with people we want to help and build
relationships with…
for companies whose mission we stand behind.
@infodevdc @TheLoneTW @Zoomdata @Meetup #techcomm #dctech

9. WITH THESE OPPORTUNITIES
We grow as professionals by experiencing the latest
technologies and gaining exposure for our personal brand.
We create professional relationships that lead to
opportunities and enhance our reputation.
We connect with a company that motivates our work and
helps change the world.
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10. LET’S TALK ROADBLOCKS
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11. LET’S TALK ROADBLOCKS
It takes TIME
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12. LET’S TALK ROADBLOCKS
It takes TIME
I work 9 – 5.
I want to have
a social life.
I don’t have
spare time.
@infodevdc @TheLoneTW @Zoomdata @Meetup #techcomm #dctech

13. LET’S TALK ROADBLOCKS
It takes TIME
I work 9 – 5.
I want to have
a social life.
I don’t have
spare time.
I will create a
schedule.
I will be
realistic.
I will step
away when I
need to.
@infodevdc @TheLoneTW @Zoomdata @Meetup #techcomm #dctech

14. LET’S TALK ROADBLOCKS
It takes
HUMILITY
@infodevdc @TheLoneTW @Zoomdata @Meetup #techcomm #dctech

15. LET’S TALK ROADBLOCKS
It takes
HUMILITY
I don’t want to
be desperate.
I don’t want to
be used.
I don’t want to
seem less than.
@infodevdc @TheLoneTW @Zoomdata @Meetup #techcomm #dctech

16. LET’S TALK ROADBLOCKS
It takes
HUMILITY
I don’t want to
be desperate.
I don’t want to
be used.
I don’t want to
seem less than.
I will know my
goals.
I will take
control.
I will measure
my growth.
@infodevdc @TheLoneTW @Zoomdata @Meetup #techcomm #dctech

17. LET’S TALK ROADBLOCKS
It takes
EFFORT
@infodevdc @TheLoneTW @Zoomdata @Meetup #techcomm #dctech

18. LET’S TALK ROADBLOCKS
It takes
EFFORT
I have to find
opportunities.
I have to
advertise
myself.
I have to do
the work.
@infodevdc @TheLoneTW @Zoomdata @Meetup #techcomm #dctech

19. LET’S TALK ROADBLOCKS
It takes
EFFORT
I have to find
opportunities.
I have to
advertise
myself.
I have to do
the work.
I will narrow
my scope.
I will create a
reusable pitch.
I will create
templates.
@infodevdc @TheLoneTW @Zoomdata @Meetup #techcomm #dctech

20. SO WHERE DO WE START?
Review Your Schedule
Set Your Goals
Identify Your Skills
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21. REVIEW YOUR SCHEDULE
Sunday
Dinner w/ Family
Monday
Work 9-5
Dog Training
Classes
Tuesday
Work 9-5
Wednesday
Work 9-5
Meet-Up Team
Meeting
Thursday
Work 9-5
Friday
Work 9-5
Saturday
Night Out
Do I have
time in the
morning?
Will I be too tired from work?
What if
something
comes up?
≈ 8 hours per week
@infodevdc @TheLoneTW @Zoomdata @Meetup #techcomm #dctech

22. SET YOUR GOALS
I want to…
Make a Connection
@infodevdc @TheLoneTW @Zoomdata @Meetup #techcomm #dctech
Learn Something New

23. IDENTIFY YOUR SKILLS
Training
Process and
Policy
Marketing
Software
Documentation
Opinion Writing
@infodevdc @TheLoneTW @Zoomdata @Meetup #techcomm #dctech

24. FINDING OPPORTUNITY
Find Potential Customers
Find a Contact
Develop Your Pitch
@infodevdc @TheLoneTW @Zoomdata @Meetup #techcomm #dctech

25. FIND POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS
Potential customers can be…
@infodevdc @TheLoneTW @Zoomdata @Meetup #techcomm #dctech
Causes You Believe In
Companies You Admire
Sites and Platforms You Follow

26. FIND A CONTACT
look for internal contacts2
To find your ideal contact:
|
look for obvious avenues1|
default to HR3|
@infodevdc @TheLoneTW @Zoomdata @Meetup #techcomm #dctech

27. DEVELOP YOUR PITCH
@infodevdc @TheLoneTW @Zoomdata @Meetup #techcomm #dctech
Who is this? Liz Ryan
Why are we talking about her? Pain Letters
•Find a Hook
•Pain Hypothesis
•Dragon-Slaying Story
•Closing

28. DOING THE WORK
Take Control
Be Accountable
Recover
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29. TAKE CONTROL
Set the schedule
Define the scope
Be the authority
@infodevdc @TheLoneTW @Zoomdata @Meetup #techcomm #dctech

30. BE ACCOUNTABLE
Meet your deadlines.
Put forward quality work.
Accept responsibility for mistakes.
Because we want to:
Grow professionally and gain experience.
Make positive professional relationships.
@infodevdc @TheLoneTW @Zoomdata @Meetup #techcomm #dctech

31. RECOVER
Take a Break
Gather Lessoned Learned
Create Templates
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32. CONCLUSION
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33. QUESTIONS?
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