I really recommend you read this. All of this.
You may have never worked with me, but all these people have. And here's what they have to say.
From people who worked with me at EMC Consulting...
"Michael is a man of great experience, and was an instrumental team player in helping bring to life valuable future visions for a very important household brand. When it comes to the written word—his bread and butter—he is all about achieving harmonious brevity, dancing the copy between reason and emotion to make any application appropriate and valuable. As the old adage goes, he sells a good night's sleep - not the mattress.”
– Rupert Christopher Jones
Associate Creative Director
“How best to describe Mike? Simply: Mike is a great writer. He loves words and creating great copy. He creates copy that helps you understand, keeps you interested, makes you smile and makes you want to read more (or at least apply for a new credit card). He always writes with the reader in mind.I have worked with Mike on a couple of accounts and on a range of projects. He provides more than just copy. He adds insight and experience: two things any planner values highly. If you want experience, then Mike is your man...from PR to advertising to marketing and writing for online. He has also embraced a more strategic approach to content production. He is an entertaining and engaging presenter. Mike is also very generous with his time, be it chewing an idea over, producing vox pops, editing video or generally helping out with any presentation or client event. But most of all I value Mike my friend. My coffee and lunch buddy. The teller of entertaining stories. The bar mate. The wearer of loud Hawaiian shirts. The occasional player (at a loud volume) of the original Batman theme tune on the studio stereo. The experienced dad who can reassure us first timers. I hope to work with Mike again some day.”
– Richard Edgley
Strategy & Experience Planner
“Mike is a great asset to any team. He's one of those people who always has time for anything you ask him for. He fits in in every situation. He's extremely intelligent, a very talented copywriter and a great presenter. I have no problem recommending him.”
– Cliona Mannion
UX Consultant
“If I were to sum Mike up in a sentence, it wouldn't be at all easy. But that sentence would be grammatically spot on, snappy and both clever and funny in equal measures. I worked directly with Mike on a number of occasions. He's such a likeable character that it's always great to have his input. Mike brings the full extent of his huge experience and voracious appetite for the contemporary and interesting to everything he does. He's an excellent writer and he intimately understands the value of good content and its relationship to marketing and PR. However, to say that would do him a disservice, because what makes him a cut above the rest is that he also brings commitment, humour, and bucketloads of well- reasoned common sense to every project he works on.
It's always great to have Mike's input. He brings the full extent of his huge experience and voracious appetite for the contemporary and interesting to everything he does. He's an excellent writer and he intimately understands the value of good content and its relationship to marketing and PR. However to say that would do him a disservice, because what makes him a cut above the rest is that he also brings commitment, humour, and bucketloads of well reasoned common sense to every project he works on.
There's no need for deliberation. You need Mike on your team; it's as simple as that.”
– Colin Franks
Senior UX Consultant
“It was a pleasure to work with Mike. He always brought a can-do attitude to the table and always gave 110% percent whatever the topic. I consider Mike not only a good colleague but also a great friend.”
– James Sandham
Practice Consultant
“Michael has a wonderful attitude to work, and to life, which makes him both a delight to be around and also an asset on any project. He is an excellent conceptor as well as delivering excellent copy. I very much hope to work with him again one day.”
– Cyrus Gilbert-Rolfe
Director
“Michael is a great copywriter with a real eye for detail and has the experience to take on any brief and produce results that exceed your expectations. You only have to ask Mike once to write a piece of copy. He's always accurate and has a great flair for getting it right. I worked with him on the Barclaycard account at EMC and found his enthusiam and personality infectious, hes always a pleasure to work with and has a great can-do attitude. Alongside the creative team, he helped shape the pitch work EMC did for B & Q ( A major win for EMC ) helping to create a great video piece that put B & Q's customers at the center of the EMC story. He's versatile and is always willing to lend a hand to any project. He has an amazing depth of knowledge in the field and can write a mean headline. He's a pleasure to be around and a positive and happy addition to any team.”
– Stephen Mead
Senior Designer
“Mike is a talented wordsmith and digital content guru as well as a source of endless positive energy. One of our colleagues presented an academic study of happiness, and Mike was identified as a case study in natural good humour. He brings that energy to his work, whether it be a huge financial project or last minute pitch work. He's definitely an asset to any team.”
– Glennis McGregor
User Experience Architect
“I've only worked with Mike on one project, but good thoughts endure: I found him a personable professional with a deep interest in his work, openness to collaboration and genuine drive and ability to do good work. I'd be very happy to work with Mike again, on both a personal and professional level.”
– Jason Buck
User Experience Designer
“Michael is a delight. Never seen without a smile and always makes you want to smile :-) I've not yet worked with Michael on any projects but I would very much look forward to doing so.”
– James Glover
Field Client Support Specialist
From people who worked with me at Ogilvy...
“I've worked with Michael on a number of digital concepts. He is very approachable and will listen and work through an idea with enthusiasm. He works well as part of a team and knows how to write for digital.”
– Michael Southgate
Digital Designer
“Michael is an excellent copywriter. Working for me on BT Business, he demonstrated both great long copy and also great concepting skills. He's a really friendly guy and full of enthusiasm for the job. I'd have no hesitation whatsoever recommending him.”
– Tom Duckham
Account Manager
“Mr. Energy. No day ends up the same, or worse, after you've spent time with Michael. Creative, energetic, experienced, and all done with a great sense of empathy and an even greater sense of humour.”
– Ian King
Director, GoodMood
“Michael's positivity and energy always makes the day go faster. He's a go-getter, highly self-motivated, and always ready to take things into his own hands. An asset to any team.”
– Neil Van Kerkhove
Creative Resource Manager
“Michael has a way with words – way better than most. He's very easy to work with and really dives into the subject matter to pull out the best creative. I guarantee that if you work with Mike, you'll be working with the top notch in the industry.”
– Dennis Pettigrew
Creative Director
“Michael has a clear understanding of the target audience of the copywriting and can adapt easily to the different challenges that arise from diverse copy needs. He also is a strong mentor for junior staff that are looking to grow and improve their writing skills”
– Kerrin Roberts
Managing Director, Ogilvy PR London
“Michael's a very good copywriter -- and that's rare. He gives you a lot of ideas, a lot of different approaches. He's working with you to solve the problem, so he's attached onto communicating on strategy. His top qualities? He's a good value, always delivers on time, and he's creative."
– Fred Barson
Director, Blue Bolt Marketing
“Michael is a pro. Great copy, great ideas and a great guy to have around.”
– Brendan McGrath
Creative Director
“Whenever I was able to hire Michael to work with me on a creative campaign, the job was exceedingly more enjoyable and the client that much more pleased. In addition to his skills, Michael seems to know how to handle any kind of challenge or difficulty, and sometimes when I'm in a tough spot I think, "What would Michael do?"
– Gail Perry Johnston
Creative Director, Perry Johnston Design
MICHAEL
Copy vs Concepts vs Content
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