Crystal Schwanke's Resume
Professional Experience
Freelance Writing, Editing, and Social Media (February 2005 to Present)
Writer and Editor
Social Media and Blogging
Sales Management
Oak Center Optical, Valdosta, Georgia
Manager (August 2004 to June 2005)
Cellular Communications, Cingular Wireless, Valdosta, Georgia
Manager (January 2003 to March 2004)
Additional Accomplishments and Memberships
Dean’s List Psychology Club
Alpha Lambda Delta Alpha Delta Pi
Freelance Writing, Editing, and Social Media (February 2005 to Present)
Writer and Editor
- Locate and interview experts on various topics for LoveToKnow features, including Lynn Laboranti for Nature Made SAM-e sponsored article, Jack Mackenroth of Project Runway, Lindsay Roberts of The Gift Insider, Shama Kabani of Marketing Zen, Lauren Handel of CAMiLEON Heels, Amy Li of Lens Circle, author Tina Boscha, Mike Salguero of CustomMade.com, and Kate Walsh of Private Practice.
- Write blog posts for Smart Mom Picks, Smart Mom Style, and Interior Complex
- Create press releases and articles about men's and women's fragrances.
- Write book reviews for Kirkus Review's Indie category.
- Contribute personal essays to sites like Babble.com and nonfiction Web content for HubPages and a variety of additional clients on health, fitness, beauty, relationships, and more.
- Write monthly beauty column for Fayette Woman magazine.
- Compose articles, e-books, quizzes, slideshows, product descriptions, and reviews for sites such as LoveToKnow, ComCore 21, EZTrip, LookingForClues, ShoppingInfo, and WriteyHo!.
- Analyze the best products in health, fitness, and family categories for Consumer Search, part of the New York Times Company.
- Proofreader for horror novel Nightcry by Gregory Thompson.
- Wrote flash fiction to be published in author Caroline Smailes' collection to benefit charity One in Four.
- Edited Shoes, Buy, Sunglasses, Movies, Lingerie, Furniture, Uniforms, Social Networking, and Dating articles to ensure cohesion with LoveToKnow’s guidelines while maintaining visually pleasing formats.
- Updated main pages for select LoveToKnow sites to reflect trends and traffic patterns.
- Communicated regularly with Group Editors for quality checks and image usage on LoveToKnow articles.
- Assisted in propelling LoveToKnow Shoes into a top ten slot on the earned revenues list by increasing traffic to other articles and websites within the LoveToKnow.com structure and affiliate webpages.
- Inspired 18,667 people to view LoveToKnow Shoes in December 2006 with heavily viewed articles such as Winter Boots, Sexy Shoes, Rack Room Shoes, and Heelys Shoes.
- Conduct interviews and follow up with articles for print magazines; clients include Mia, Moultrie Magazine, M, Hair and Beauty Magazine, Colony Style, Y:L, and Southern Arts Journal.
- Completed “You Want to Bill Them How?” for Writer’s Weekly to educate new writers.
- Published creative nonfiction piece, "Gaining Perspective," in Fayette Woman magazine.
- Created humor piece that was featured and podcast by FlakMag.com.
Social Media and Blogging
- Create opinionated, witty, and instructive blog posts about beauty and fashion for ILookGood.com, Gi-ve.com, AphroditeMars.com, Styloot.com, and FashionHeps.com.
- Contributed guest post for FreelanceWritingGigs.com.
- Reply to online reader comments in a timely manner for a variety of websites.
- Social media manager for Yagolicious Cosmetics, overseeing Twitter and Facebook accounts in addition to contributing two blog posts per week.
- Maintain personal and fitness Twitter accounts.
- Experience using WordPress and Blogger to contribute to and maintain blogs.
- Maintained personal blog, Eclectic Musings, about parenting, beauty tips, and writing.
Sales Management
Oak Center Optical, Valdosta, Georgia
Manager (August 2004 to June 2005)
- Conducted all aspects of the business from sales and advertising to customer service and database management.
- Designed ads, bulletins, and mailers to promote trunk shows and specials to increase brand recognition and retain customers.
- Collaborated with doctors to design eyewear packages at multiple price points.
- Led the company from loss to profit by balancing inventory, pricing, placement, customer satisfaction, and the improved reputation of the business.
- Increased the prescriptions written to glasses sold ratio by 20%.
Cellular Communications, Cingular Wireless, Valdosta, Georgia
Manager (January 2003 to March 2004)
- Awarded “Most Improved Store in Region” for 2003 as a result of substantially increased sales, customer satisfaction, and salesperson knowledge.
- Designed attention-grabbing decorating schemes for the store.
- Created store manual addressing job policies, customer service, sales processes and techniques, and computer functions.
- Promoted sales and provided troubleshooting to new and established clients.
- Interviewed, hired, and trained new personnel.
- Resolved employee disputes.
- Valdosta State University, Valdosta, Georgia
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, July 2004, 3.5 GPA
Additional Accomplishments and Memberships
Dean’s List Psychology Club
Alpha Lambda Delta Alpha Delta Pi