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What makes Logical Directions different than other technical communication firms?
There are several things that make us stand out:
First, the company’s principal, Doug Florzak has a degree in computer science, a certificate in technical communication, and is a Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach. This gives us the foundation to provide integrated communications and handle any type of document from marketing materials and business procedures to API and system documentation.
Second, the quality of our work has been recognized by our peers through the Society for Technical Communication (STC) competition awards.
Third, we make it easy for you to do business with us. We are incorporated and maintain our own insurance and, since we are a true independent contractor, you don’t have to worry about the IRS redefining us as an employee. As an option, we accept major credit cards, so it’s easy to manage payments and track your costs.
Fourth, we maintain a low overhead operation. Although we do not believe price alone should be your main criteria in hiring a communicator, we provide high value for the price we charge.
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What is the difference between “technical writing” and “technical communications”?
The two terms are basically synonymous, however “technical communications” better describes what we do, because we do more than just writing. In addition to good writing skills, technical communicators must understand the product user. They often act as detectives and journalists as they research how things work. They must know how to visually arrange the printed page and online content. They must know the concepts of hypermedia and topic linking to chunk information for HTML or online help. They must master complicated tools like RoboHelp®, Adobe® Acrobat®, and Microsoft® Visio®. Increasingly, they must know the basics of programming to write macros and manage documents. Technical communicators must understand usability concepts and are often the first product testers. As they work with the product they are writing about, technical communicators provide valuable feedback to the development team, catching bugs and inconsistencies before the product is released to your customers.
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How much will quality documentation cost?
We can’t answer that until we see the details of your project. Several factors determine project cost, including:
- Your deadline for publication
- The stability of your design. Is the product design following the original specifications or are you constantly making changes as you go along?
- Where you are in the development cycle. Is the product nearly complete or are you just getting started?
- The amount and quality of your documentation assets (previous versions of documentation, system design notes, outlines, program code comments, specifications, etc.)
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Do you charge hourly or by fixed bid?
This primarily depends on the stability of the product or operations we are documenting. If the project is well-planned, with few anticipated changes, and we can easily define its scope, then we can probably provide a fixed price quote. Otherwise, if you want the flexibility of making changes as you go along, it’s best to structure the project using an hourly rate. This usually works best for software development projects when the development staff needs the flexibility to redesign the user interface as they go along. Even with an hourly contract, we can include a “not to exceed” amount based on our estimates. This provides a “circuit breaker” so that when we approach the ceiling and we realize that the estimate no longer reflects the current status of the project, we can call a time-out, meet with you, and decide how best to proceed.
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Do you charge to discuss a project?
No. We will meet with you to get the details of your project and happily provide a good-faith proposal and estimate at no charge.
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Who will do the work?
Most projects are completed by Logical Directions owner, Doug Florzak. Depending on the scope of your project, we may recommend using one of our associates. Logical Directions associates are experienced, skilled, qualified professionals. In most cases, our associates are people that Doug Florzak himself has worked with on previous projects. If we propose an individual that we have not worked with in the past, we will properly screen and qualify the professional. In either case, we will not put someone to work on your project unless you approve. Usually this means scheduling a meeting between you, Logical Directions, and the associate.
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How do you collect your information?
We do a lot of “detective work.” We review any documentation assets (specifications, system design notes, program code comments, etc.). We interview your subject matter experts. We also study your product, service, or procedures.
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Can’t our programmers or engineers write the documentation?
Computer programmers and engineers are skilled professionals capable of many great things. Some of them are also excellent writers. However, these professionals usually chose their line of work because they like to build things. When you hire us to write your documentation and procedures, we not only bring a fresh, objective perspective to your products and services, but we increase your productivity by freeing up your programmers and engineers to spend more of their time doing what they do best. This way, everyone wins.
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What is our responsibility in the documentation process?
We ask that you commit some of your subject matter experts’ time to provide us with information about the subject we are documenting. You will also have to review and approve our work to verify that it is technically and legally correct.
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Do you offer training?
Yes. Since we know our tools well, we can train your staff on any of the tools we use. This includes Microsoft® Word, RoboHelp®, Adobe® Acrobat®, and Adobe PageMaker®.
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What is “Guerrilla Marketing?”
Jay Conrad Levinson is known as the father of Guerrilla Marketing. Jay’s first Guerrilla Marketing book was published by Houghton Mifflin in l984. Today there are sixteen volumes in 37 languages with well over 1,000,000 copies sold worldwide. Many MBA programs include Guerrilla Marketing in their list of required reading. Jay, who taught the topic at the University of California, Berkeley Extension Division, now serves on the Microsoft Small Business Council and the 3Com Small Business Advisory Board.
Here’s how Jay Conrad Levinson describes guerrilla marketing:
"I'm referring to the soul and essence of guerrilla marketing which remain as always -- achieving conventional goals, such as profits and joy, with unconventional methods, such as investing energy instead of money.”
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How can we get started?
Call us at +1-708-575-2899. E-mail us at info@LogicalDirections.com. We’re ready when you are.
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