I’m David Chadd, here’s a little about me…

Why you should choose me…

MBA from the Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University

30 years as a university professor

Real world business experience in real estate, commercial services, and management

Multiple writing certifications from American Writers and Artists Institute

I’m ready to learn about your business or organization so I can create the writing you need that will move your audience where you want them to go. One of my biggest assets is an almost unending curiosity to understand what is great about your organization or products and then communicate that in a way so your audience will respond.

Perhaps my other biggest asset is an extensive academic background intimately joined with real-world business experience. This will make it easy for me to connect with you, appreciate what you do, and plan and execute a copywriting strategy to get the results you want.

My first serious intellectual interest in life was philosophy, and I finished an MA in philosophy at the Claremont Graduate University in the mid 1990s. Broadly speaking, in addition to learning about the history of philosophy and a lot about Plato in particular, I learned to see beyond the boundaries of convention, propriety, and expectation. I learned how to (almost) fearlessly question assumptions and be comfortable in an area outside the norm.

My second interest was business, because I found myself being restless only occupying space in the world of ideas. I wanted to swing a hammer and build something with my own two hands, even if it meant missing a nail and hitting my thumb every once in a while. I wanted to learn about finance, real estate, and other businesses and get in the world of buying and selling and participating in this essential dynamic to our modern humanity.

In the late 1990s, I had the opportunity to take classes with THE legendary Peter Drucker. After only a few class sessions I was hooked, even if Drucker wasn’t quite at his best at the age of 85. As I was drawn in by Drucker’s intellectual charms I discovered other classes and professors in the MBA program and decided that completing an MBA was something that I wanted to do. After weaving a handful of MBA classes into my life for several years, I finally finished in the early 2000s.

The MBA from Drucker has had a lasting impact on me because I learned a number of valuable lessons that have really stuck with me since graduating. One of the most striking quotes I take with me from Drucker is the following:

There is a lot of philosophy in this, and quite honestly, it may be a little dramatic. But the central point is clear. We must manage our organizations in a way that delivers real value to the customer, something that makes their life better in ways that are tangible and can easily be understood. To do otherwise leads to epic failure that ends in potentially disastrous results.

As a writer, I must write to position your message so that it communicates the value you bring to the customer’s life. It must be clear and something your customer wants to hear, because they will be better because of it.

Business and Philosophy

Philosophy and business have been the two pillars of how I have negotiated the professional world, and though from some perspectives they may be opposites, I have found them quite complimentary.

As I started my career, I would teach various philosophy and business classes at the university level. This exposed me to cases, personalities, and experiences that I was able to frame through these unique lenses.

In 2018 I won a recognition of appreciation award that is only given to about 20 professors each academic year. I didn’t know I was being considered for the award so it came as a pleasant surprise when I was announced as one of the winners. It was initiated by a student on behalf of the athletics association for a business ethics class I had taught, which makes the award that much more special.

After I had been teaching for several years, I was overcome by my restlessness to be in business and I began investing in real estate and I started my own business. These Experinces have provided the core of my real-world experiences “in the trenches”. From getting a call at 3:00 am from an angry tenant about a toilet not working to having to deal with the headaches of entitled diva-like employees, and everything in between, I have experienced a lot.

Through my business activities I connected with a lot of organizations which were doing incredible work, and I came to respect everything associated with running a business. Anytime I go into a restaurant, a lawyer’s office, or have a doctor visit, it’s not an exaggeration to say that I marvel at the incredible level of accomplishment that had to take place in order for them to be in business and stay in business. Every once in a while, we humans can be really impressive.

My academic degrees and professional experiences provided me with knowledge and insight into the way the business world works, but I realized it wouldn’t be enough to help businesses get the results they need through writing.

Copywriting is not just something that anyone can do particularly well, and It requires specific training on best practices and an informed understanding of what works, where it works, and why it works. I have completed a number of training courses at the American Writers and Artists Institute, which is an organization that trains copywriters by having them take classes and complete assignments with modern master copywriters.

In addition to many courses I have completed, I have also finished the following writing certifications. These are especially intensive and a more in-depth treatment of their respective topics.

1. Site Content Audit Specialist – This certification dealt with looking at what content makes websites work and what makes them not work well. We looked at the research behind best practices for a number of content items that websites need in order to do the most they can for the organization. If you are interested in learning more about the content that makes websites work, take a look at my website content audit services.
2. SEO Copywriting Specialist – This certification was a deep dive into all the ins and outs of what to do on a website to get its content to rank well in search engines. We examined the psychology of the prospect and the various stages of awareness they go through in thinking about buying a product. We then examined how to produce content for each one of those stages. If your website is not ranking well in search engines, then check out my SEO content services here.
3. E-Mail Copywriting Specialist – We studied various ways to create e-mail campaigns that are designed to make the prospect want to click on and read a sales page. The process involves moving the e-mail recipient from a state of curiosity to a state of awareness and interest in considering the offer. The course identified specific formulas and strategies to help move the prospect through a ‘story arc’ of e-mails designed to invite them to enter an emotional state that will make the offer more attractive. Learn more about my e-mail services here.
4. Lead Generation Specialist – This was an examination of how to create a structured lead generation campaign through a funnel that begins with a Facebook or Google ad, and then moves to a lead magnet sales page, and then a sequence of nurture e-mails. Most importantly, the value and strategy of producing an effective lead magnet was discussed in depth. Here is more about my lead generation services.
5. Yoast SEO Certification – This certification was offered by the Yoast SEO company, not AWAI. I produce my own website, and the Yoast SEO plugin is a great tool to help make sure you have done as good of a job as you can on your SEO strategies. It measures for keyword density, making sure you have a good H1, H2 structure, and a number of other behind the scenes tactics that will help content rank higher. It is no substitute for knowing how to write SEO content, it can only tell you if it’s there or not, but it is an extremely helpful tool.

After being in business for about 20 years, I decided to sell my businesses, and focus on teaching. But I want to continue to connect with businesses which are doing incredible things. And I want to put my lifetime of experiences, my curiosity to learn and understand more about the businesses around me, and my skills as a certified business copywriter to work for your organization.