Writing the Web Copy for the Grains for Health Foundation

The NEW Grains for Health Foundation homepage!

It was a sincere honor to be asked to write all the website copy for Grains for Health Foundation. Not only is their staff hardworking and passionate about their cause, they're also bright and witty and honest. It isn't often I get to work with such amazing minds. I felt encouraged by their mission and welcomed into their fold.

Here's how we worked as a team to complete the monumental task of taking a functioning site and turning into a beautiful, easy-to-read, smart site:

• Project Timeline: One of the many hats I don is that of Project Manager and the skill of calendar flow, timelines and due dates helps me and every client with whom I work see clearly what piece of writing will come when. Clear expectations make EVERYONE happier. In the case of Grains for Health, Len and Denise were so grateful to have a shared timeline to which everyone could refer.
• Test pages: Often with clients I'll write a "test" page of copy. If they're happy with the tone and language, I can continue moving full-speed ahead on the rest of the pages. If I haven't hit the mark exactly, the test page is the perfect time to make necessary tweaks---brilliant especially before doing an entire site and THEN having to revise. Len and Denise worked from the very beginning with me on the intricate place they stand in their industry--as a powerful and necessary liaison between two huge industries: grains and policymakers. I remember the conference call we had when they exclaimed..."You got it!" and I was off to writing!
• Final pages: Once a page's copy is finalized it needs insertion into the developer's or programmer's coding. As a copywriter, knowing even the smallest bit of html and programmer-speak makes this part of the process much easier for everyone involved (designers, writer, client). Grains for Health were quick with their approvals, fully trusting my writing. We were able to meet the originally-planned deadline and after 26+ pages of new copy, the final site was truly lovely.
• Review: Seeing the pages in preview is very crucial before a site is fully launched live to the public. Because I have a bullet list of things to check for (html title tags, unique URLs, h1 headers, h2 headers, copy, copyright info, the friendliness of the interface, etc) I can quickly ascertain a list of final, quick edits for the programmers. Having this kind of knowledge took the pressure off of Grains for Health. Afterall, they're professionals in making real change in an industry that desperately requires their knowledge and tenacity...we creatives will handle the rest when it comes to launching a site.

This project alone re-shaped my thinking on what I feed my family (yeah, Grains for Health is that amazing!). Consider supporting them since, in essence, they're supporting all of us by working to make availble the healthiest grains possible.

Check out the NEW Grains for Health Foundation website!

I think I'll go have a bowl of oatmeal to celebrate!