Ryan Parton, known in the Valley from his recent tenure as Marketing Coordinator for Comox Valley Tourism, is the man behind Ryan Parton Writing Solutions, the Valley’s newest professional service provider.  With this new venture, Parton is lending his skills as a professional writer and marketing strategist to projects such as web sites, press releases, advertisements and brochures. He’s also able to help out with a wide variety of related services such as editing, research, translation, search engine optimization and web design.
 
“The words you use are often the only line of communication between you and your customers,” Parton says.  “You want to make sure that your marketing materials, letters and other business communications are delivering the right message in language that speaks clearly and directly to your target market.”
 
Writing, says Parton, is a skill that is all-too-often underestimated, or overlooked entirely, by business owners.
 
“A lot of people will spend a pile of money on a web site or print job but then they don’t pay any attention to the words they use.  Effective copy writing is part art and part science, and it’s striking that perfect balance that will make your marketing materials achieve their potential.
 
“A great example is web sites,” Parton continues.  “Most people don’t realize that the words you use on your web site have a profound effect on your site’s search engine rankings, and there’s a real science behind choosing the right ones.  You also see people dragging copy from their brochures and plopping it onto the web, which generally isn’t a good idea.  People read words on a screen differently than they do words on a page, and you really have to understand the differences to write effective web copy.”
 
The timing for a new professional writing service in the Comox Valley couldn’t be better, Parton says.
 
“The Comox Valley is growing from all sides, and as the Valley grows the local business community is growing with it. My goal is to help all of these businesses put their best foot forward, and ultimately to succeed. Especially with the Vancouver Olympics coming up, local businesses know that they’ve got to be ready to welcome the world.  That’s why I’m offering a translation service, so that our hotels, hostels and tourism industry businesses are able to communicate to the broadest possible market.”
 
Ryan Parton relocated to the Comox Valley six years ago from Montreal, where he graduated with distinction from Concordia University’s prestigious School of Journalism.  When Comox Valley Tourism essentially folded last May, Parton was able to take advantage of a Community Futures program for new entrepreneurs and set out on his own.
 
Business has already been steady since launching Ryan Parton Writing Solutions, Parton says, mainly due to the great relationships he’s established within the community.  He has managed to find time, however, to build a web site (www.ryanparton.ca) that he plans to fill with useful tips and information on writing effective copy.  Currently, his web site describes his various services and contains a portfolio of his work and links to other professionals in the Comox Valley.  These links, Parton says, are a big part of what makes doing business in the Comox Valley so great.
 
“Doing business in the Comox Valley isn’t like doing business in the big city,” he says.  “People come here to get away from the every-man-for-himself mentality, and that’s what makes the Valley such a special place.  You don’t succeed in the Comox Valley by burning bridges, you succeed by working together.  It’s all about cooperation and helping each other to grow and to succeed, and I’m really looking forward to being a part of that.”
 
To learn more about Ryan Parton Writing Solutions, visit www.ryanparton.ca or call 250-702-1103 to schedule a free consultation.
 
 
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