1. Don't be anonymous! Let us write your bio
2. Summer special: Direct mail, interactive emails, and more! 1/2 off!
3. Starting an eBay® business? Do it right with marketing from Jumping Bean
4. Writing Web pages your visitors will love
5. Tip: Need to create an outline in Microsoft® Word? It's a snap!
6. Recipe: Authentic Thai green curry

We're Hsuan-min Chou and Blythe Howard-Chou, founders of Jumping Bean Communications. Do you know someone who can use our marketing writing or technical writing services? Forward this newsletter to a friend or colleague, or point them to www.jumpbean.com.

1. Don't be anonymous! Let Jumping Bean write your bio

Sure, you want people to know what you're selling. How you're better than the competition. What your differentiator is. Yadda yadda yadda.

But your customers probably wonder: Who is this person? What is her experience? Is she a good CEO? What are her credentials? And what about her VP? And the company's board?

Let us write your company's bios, and we can show the world who you are and what makes you a fabulous CEO, president, VP, or contortionist. We have written bios for Catbird Networks, Open Port Technology, Streeterville Chamber, and more.

Contact us now so we can write your bios! info@jumpbean.com or (773) 562-6093.

If you missed that issue on intellectual assets, just visit the Archives page. You can find that, plus all past issues of "bean news!"

2. Summer special: We're taking 30% off to do your direct mail! Offer good until July 31

Summer is here! Or at least, almost here (6/21). And what better way to celebrate summer than to offer our clients, new and old, a special on direct mail.

Why you need direct mail: Direct mail is used to grab your customers' attention, get them in your door, and persuade them to buy your product or service. And to sweeten the deal, the offer has to be something your customers (think they) can't refuse!

At Jumping Bean we can do your direct mail. And we're taking 30% off our regular fee!

Take a look at our direct mail section. But don't wait too long. Offer is good until July 31! Call or email us today!

To sell your items on eBay, you need to market them. Sure, you can be the "low cost" leader, but to be successful and actually make money it's not about price only, it's about value. "Why do I want this item?" "What's in it for me?"

As experienced copywriters, we can help you improve your sales by creating value for your items. We'll make sure you item has:

• What you're selling
• What's so great about it
• Why someone would want it

Our job is to market your item so that it sells quickly. We'll write a description that works from the "buyers" point-of-view which can only work to your advantage! Learn more about our eBay services.

Do it now and tell us what you want to sell!

FYI: When your eBay/Craigslist description is ready to be posted, you (not Jumping Bean) will be responsible for managing the transaction, shipping the item, and dealing with any issues brought up by the buyer.

Garage filled with baby clothes? But, your "baby" is 18? Sell them now on eBay! Learn more about our eBay services!

4. Writing Web pages your visitors will love

In 1997, developing user documentation for the Web was a fairly new idea at the time. My co-worker and I did a little research before we started, and came across an article by renowned usability expert Jakob Nielsen, "How Users Read on the Web."

Mr. Nielsen recommended employing scannable text to make reading on screens easier (reading large amounts of content on screen tires eyes out).

At Jumping Bean, we have been using Mr. Nielsen's recommendations for more than 10 years. And with a little tweaking here and there, we have been developing Web copy our clients love. Take a look at our portfolio of Web sites!

Related links
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/9710a.html
http://www.jumpbean.com/work/index.htm#web

5. Tip: Need to create an outline in Microsoft Word? It's a snap

What's the first thing we do before writing a white paper, brochure, or online help? We write an outline. It helps us organize our thoughts and rearrange points we want to make.

Microsoft Word makes it very easy to create outlines. Using Word's built-in styles, Heading 1, Heading 2, and Heading 3, you can make outlines, rearrange points, and collapse and promote points. And it's a great way to show clients what you plan to write well ahead of time.

To create an outline in Word:

1. Write the points you want to make.
2. Assign each point a heading style by clicking Style drop down menu on the Formatting toolbar:
   • Heading 1: The main points you want to address in your paper
   • Heading 2, 3: Heading 2 represents the main points that support Heading 1; and Heading 3 encompasses the points that support Heading 2.
3. After you have assigned your headings, click the View menu and select Outline. Word has placed small + signs next to each heading. You can click the + sign to expand your heading or collapse it.
4. With your headings collapsed, you can cut and paste headings and all the supporting points will be copied and pasted wherever you want to place them.

Make your day run more smoothly and efficiently with our timesaving tips. Got a tip? Send it to tips@jumpbean.com. You might see it in the next issue of "bean news!"

6. Recipe: Authentic Thai chicken green curry

Blythe and I were in Thailand recently enjoying a welcome respite from the never-ending cold weather of the Midwest (90 degrees all day every day!). We spent one morning with a Thai chef, who took us to the local market in Kok Kloi, and then showed us how to make four dishes. Our favorite was an aromatic green curry.

Ingredients

• Green Curry Paste (found in many Asian grocers, Whole Foods, and Trader Joes): 2 tbls
• Vegetable oil: 2 tbls
• Coconut milk: 2 cups
• 1 chicken breast cubed: 1 cup
• Mushrooms: 1 cup
• Optional vegetables: baby corn, egg plant, green peas
• Fish sauce: 2 tbls
• Brown sugar: 1 tbl
• Green/red chilies: 2 chopped
• Basil and lemon leaves

FULL RECIPE

Expand your culinary world by trying one of our recipes. If you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share, send it to recipes@jumpbean.com, and you just might find it in the next edition of "bean news!"

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For quality oil changes and other car maintenance, call Steve at (773) 661-5100. Tell Steve you saw this ad on Jumping Bean.

New Clients
Active and Able
The Beloved Community
  (Taproot Foundation)
MediaBank
Specialty Services
Spencer Stuart
Walgreens

Thanks...for your work in the short time you were here. We'll certainly keep you in mind... for additional freelance help.

Manager
Corporate Branding and Creative Services
Discover Financial Services

Play and Feed a Hungry Person!

Did I overhear right that you were leaving after today? Bummer... You were a great help.

Copywriter
Walgreens

You did a wonderful job and I know The Beloved Community appreciated it!!!

Account Director
Taproot Foundation

Hsuan-min's writing style is approachable and easy-to-read—quite an accomplishment when writing about software and technology concepts!

Carolyn Calzavara
Director, Global Marketing
Decisions Made Easy

Excellent product, packaging, and shipping. Would gladly do business again.

eBay buyer: gravyshoes

Amy has definitely expressed her positive feedback with your work and is impressed with your strategic copywriting abilities!

Recruiter
Visa Account
Direct Mail Agency

Hsuan did a wonderful job writing the copy for our Web site. He was creative and detail oriented, met all of our deadlines, and was a joy to work with. We were very pleased with his work and would definitely use him again.

Kim Schilf
President
Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce
Read the case study

Thanks for the awesome piece! I'm completely happy with Blythe and Hsuan's work.

Jonathan Howell
Graphic Designer
Photoplay Design