Writing

Sample 1:

YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

Written by Nathan Adams

Published in The Dilenschneider Group January 2014 Trend Report

Starting with the good news, youth unemployment in the United States is decreasing in proportion with overall unemployment numbers.

Looking back to January 2010, just under four million 16-24 year olds were unemployed. At the beginning of 2013, that number had fallen to just above 3.6 million. And as of November 2013, youth unemployment was under three million. Still, if one stretches the age boundaries from 16 to 24, the jobless rate remains quite high—15 percent, or more than twice the overall national unemployment rate.

Today, many young people are experiencing financial hardship due to accrued debt, often sparked by the cost of education. They have taken loans to pay for college and then failed to find jobs after graduation that allow them to service the debt, significantly affecting their financial future.

IMPLICATIONS FOR BUSINESS: With currently limited opportunities and spending power, young people are going to continue to force changes in current social and economic norms. In addition, expect the feelings and emotions from the past few years to have a continued effect on their spending habits and behaviors.

Technology is allowing some young entrepreneurs to exploit opportunities that were previously inaccessible to individuals or smaller companies. Funding mechanisms like KickStarter Inc. and Indiegogo Inc. have given young people the power to design and produce successful products and services. This is still a small movement, but it is growing and providing job opportunities for the younger generation.

SAMPLE 2:

A SELECTION OF COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED IN A DAILY INDUSTRY REPORT PREPARED FOR ONE OF THE MAJOR AUTOMAKERS

Recommendations:

• Many mobile devices can now be located via WiFi or GPS systems accessed from various applications to help owners find or track a lost or stolen cell phone, computer or tablet. Ford should look to add a similar feature to Ford key fobs to allow an owner to find misplaced keys from their mobile phone using Bluetooth or low power WiFi. This would be an instantly understandable and desirable feature for customers.
• The Internet has forever changed the rules for video advertising and brought new styles of visual ads that can be more engaging with users. Volvo, for example, created an ad that presents the vehicle as part of a lifestyle and not just a list of features. Ford might do a similar style of ads for Lincoln and the Fiesta, creating lifestyle targeted ads for distribution through YouTube or Facebook.  
• With Biopic films and books increasing in popularity on the backs of digital distribution, Ford should be capitalizing on its rich and storied history. From Ford Racing, to Henry Ford and Alan Mulally, Ford should work to get definitive tellings of those stories in print and video. This kind of content could help strengthen brand loyalty and draw new people to Ford who may have overlooked the brand.
• Many automakers sell “sport” or “tuned” or “performance” exhaust systems, but it is sometimes hard to understand what changes when you check that option box. Currently, enthusiasts go to YouTube to hear exhausts notes from popular aftermarket and factory systems. But amateur YouTube videos can distort the sound. Ford might create video or audio clips that can be embedded into online car customizers that allow customers to hear how their car will sound with the factory and performance exhaust options.

Comments:

• It is very easy for competitors to take shots at GM over its recent recall misfortunes, similar to a misguided tweet by Nissan taking a shot at Tesla, which was later deleted. In the age of the Internet, public opinion can make a serious impact in media coverage of an event and taking a cheap shot at a competitor while they are struggling can be viewed by potential customers as insensitive or mean, tainting their view of the brand. That is why the old adage, “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all,” should be adopted by social media and communications managers in these types of situations. 
• With more consumers choosing online shopping over traditional brick-and-mortar establishments, the popular will could threaten the traditional auto industry dealership structure. Tesla is leading the charge to cut dealers out of the loop, but a strong dealer network will continue to be essential for service. Sales these days are initiated between the car maker and the customer via online marketing and research. Sites like Edmunds and KBB are keeping dealer sales profits razor thin.
• In a video comparison between the Chevy Volt and Cadillac ELR by the website The Smoking Tire, host Matt Farah comments that “a plug-in hybrid is an electric car that operates on your schedule and not the other way around.” For many customers, a plug-in hybrid is the best of both words, a super fuel-efficient vehicle to run, and you don’t have to plan your routes and charging stops. Ford’s “Energi” models have the keen advantage, too, that they’re attractively designed when compared to some competitors like the Leaf.
• Google uses April Fool’s day to release interesting experiments like this year’s integration of Pokémon into Google Maps. This kind of gag is both fun and good for brand awareness as many want to share the experience with friends and family.

Sample 3:

HOT BEVERAGE GEEKERY

Posted on October 19, 2014 by Nate Adams on Today's Geek Blog

Since my senior year in high school, I have been spoiled by having excellent local coffee shops in close proximity. Both in my current resident and where I grew up in Massachusetts, my local coffee shops roasted their own beans, ground the beans in single serving quantities, and used a french press or pour over kettle to steep the grounds. Because of this access to good coffee, I have always been a bit of a coffee snob, but cost and convenience has always kept me from taking the deep dive into home brewing great coffee. 

In addition to my love of a good cup of black coffee in the morning, I have always enjoyed tea. Hot or iced, herbal or green, I like it all. Thanks to my wonderful girlfriend at the time (now my incredible fiancee) who got me a tea maker from Breville for Christmas, I have gained a new passion for loose leaf teas. The luxury of having excellent tea with minimal work and clean up has made it my beverage of choice and something that I make on a daily basis.

Teavana had an online sale, perfect time to stock up!

If you have ever wanted to try some loose leaf tea, you should defiantly take a look at Teavana. Teavana is a tea-centric retail chain that exists in most large American shopping malls. They have a large selection of both brewing equipment and loose teas, at least among brick and mortar retailers.

When you are just starting out, Teavana also sells a “starter kit” of sorts that includes some basic brewing tools, some loose tea and some rock sugar. In addition to the starter kit, one item that you should absolutely invest in, no matter if you are brewing coffee or tea,  is a good instant read laser thermometer. They are not extremely expensive from online retailers like Amazon or at a big box store. They are incredibly helpful when getting your water to the right temperature. 

Though much of my tea come from the chain store Teavana, I have always been a bit disappointed that some of their teas contain sweeteners and additional flavors. Once you know a bit more about your tastes in loose tea, there are many online retailers that are less expensive and/or use more natural ingredients. 

One final note, if you have never had a good, fresh cup of tea, brewed from loose leaf, Teavana will brew you a cup in almost all of its retail locations. It is defiantly worth passing the Starbucks to try some.

If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out to me on twitter.

-Nate a.k.a. ‘SodiumFree’

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