opp Schwiiz! There's always been a special bond between me and the Swiss, with a lot of "Schweizerdeutsch" being tossed around in my projects. So, it comes as no surprise that my introduction to e-commerce was with SwissCommerce, a virtual anthill that united all these different websites from Switzerland specialized in online retail. The two ants I got to work with were Yonc.ch, specialized in portable lighting (flashlights and whatnot), knives of all sorts, tactical equipment, and everything in between, and Survival.ch, specialized in outdoor equipment, sports & recreation products, survival stuff, and so on. And, as it is with virtual ants, one day Yonc just ate Survival and became a super-ant that united all of the products in one online shop, which turned out to be one of my longest-standing partners.
The wilderness as a brand
Unlike in the wilderness where you try to blend in, in e-commerce you want to stand out. So here's where I come in, with all the right words to make your brand visible and compelling. From company descriptions for the two websites to presentation catalogs and brochures used at fairs, to slogans for every situation and campaign—all in German & English and all "tipptopp," as the Swiss like to say.
Trailblazing e-commerce
Outdoor people don’t like to admit it, but they secretly love technology. So, in order for them to purchase the gear for the next adventure, they relied on my detailed product descriptions, written in the smoothest German. I think there’ve been at least a couple thousand of those. The SEO-optimized texts explaining product categories and presenting the featured brands were my final e-commerce exam.
The outdoors is now on social
Since we're in the most secluded corner of my portfolio, I think I can reveal—without too many people finding out—that doing social media is not my favorite task as a writer. That being said, it doesn't mean that I am not good at delivering those catchy captions and smart slogans for Facebook and Instagram posts. I built Yonc's social media presence from scratch and took it to around 3000 followers.
The Swiss Army knife
Never have I ever... done only what is in my job description. Side quests are part of the game and when you are good at what you do, you take care of those as well. With Yonc.ch, there were brand presentations, seasonal product catalogs, event specials, and countless other projects where my words were needed. Quick, off the top of my head: social media campaigns when Switzerland was playing in the World Cup, a special catalog for the skiing/snowboarding season, guides for a trail running event Yonc organized—you get the picture.
Of adventures and advertorials
Adventurers always like to tell their stories, but if you are a master in whitewater kayaking, ice climbing, or high-sea fishing, it doesn't mean that you are also an expert in finding the right words to captivate an audience. So, I sat down with these daredevils and wrote down their tales of travels, nature, sports, and gear. Everything in neat German, while throwing some articles from the shop into the mix.
