Website and PR copywriter for a Devon animal charity

My work as website copywriter for the completely voluntary North Devon Animal Ambulance (NDAA) began in May 2007 when I responded to an appeal in The North Devon Gazette where the NDAA's Diana Lewis asked for help with the charity's new website.

Website copywriting for the NDAA

The article explained how Barnstaple based Net Tecs Internet Solutions had already offered website development help. Since then, working closely with Net Tecs and the NDAA's volunteer team, I have completely revised and updated their website copy, including search engine optimisation (SEO) copywriting and generation of new articles and animal rehoming 'ads'.

Up there with major charity websites

My content, I've been told, has contributed to a website that's been independently acclaimed as comparable with those of major charities. Even more importantly for the NDAA, I understand that my copywriting for the transformed website has been directly linked to offers of financial support from various charitable trusts as well as donations and bequests from members of the public.

Homepage for the North Devon Animal Ambulance website, recently rewritten by Al Hidden, Gloucestershire website copywriter.

Newsletter design and copywriting

I don't normally handle design and layout for newsletters. Therefore, when I started working for the NDAA I was content to write content for incorporation by others in what was at that stage a very basic publication. After doing a couple of issues in this way, circumstances changed and it made sense for me to use my layout skills (and Microsoft Publisher) to handle the complete writing, editorial and layout stages ready for printing. And from spring 2010 we're expanding the newsletter to 12 pages (below)...

One of the greatest compliments paid to me during my work with the NDAA was the following comment by Mr H. V. F. Winstone, one of the NDAA's supporters, in a letter to me in my capacity as newsletter editor:

��I was a paid hack for some forty years, mostly in Fleet Street, and I can tell you, for what it is worth, that your editorial judgement is outstanding in terms of both writing style and make-up. Long may you continue to record Diana�s work [in the NDAA newsletter] in this inventive and professional way. Many congratulations��

You can download the latest NDAA Newsletter from the homepage of the charity's website.

'Day out' features

Since December 2008, a regular part of my work for the NDAA has been quarterly 'day out' features which highlight the day-to-day work of the animal ambulance in the county. Written as a feature artical, I've been told that these articles are a popular addition to the charity's website. You can read these and other articles that I've written for the charity on their News & Articles page.