1. Our technical writing services
2. New service: Let us write your eBay (or Craigslist) descriptions
3. Case study: With the goal of reducing support costs, Cleversafe asks Jumping Bean to develop their online help documentation
4. Get free Web analytics with Google
5. Tip: Stop straining your eyes! Use zoom to see better
6. Recipe: Asparagus pudding

We're Hsuan-min Chou and Blythe Howard-Chou, founders of Jumping Bean

Communications. Do you know someone who can use our marketing or technical writing services? Forward this newsletter to a friend or colleague, or point them to www.jumpbean.com.

1. Our technical writing services

OK, we've been promoting our technical writing services for the last couple months. You're probably wondering what sorts of services we offer.

We primarily focus on technical writing for Windows and Macintosh systems. For these operating systems we can do the following:

Basic Online Help
This is the least expensive option. Basic online help provides the information your users need, including an index, searchability, and basic navigation.

Context-Sensitive Help
Context-sensitive help takes the basic online help and brings it up a level. For context-sensitive help, help topics are tied to your application. When a user clicks the Help menu (or presses the F1 key), a help topic relevant to what he's doing appears. We can implement the necessary tags (provided by your programmer).

Context-Sensitive Help + See Also
Don't know what a "See Also" is? It's the little question mark button that (sometimes) appears at the top right corner of a title bar. You can click this button and then click a field in a dialog box. A small pop-up description of that field appears. Think of it as "uber context sensitive".

Context-Sensitive Help + See Also + Tutorials
In addition to the context-sensitive help and "See Also", we can develop small tutorials. Tutorials would walk users through a task that involves several steps (i.e., creating an account, making a homemade pizza).

Scripts for Movies
We can write scripts for multi-media presentations that show how to do something with animation (QuickTime, Flash or Shockwave). Once a script has been approved, we will contact one of our graphic designers to produce the animation. We've created similar movies for SPSS and Open Port Technology.

Print/PDF and Online Help
Need something that you can hold in your hand? We can write a print/PDF manual that is tied with your online help. This can be useful for users who prefer books. The print* or PDF books generally cover more information, and include detailed overviews, pictures, and simple diagrams.

Online Help Formats
We can develop your online help for the following formats:

• Windows Help
• Web
• Flash

You can learn more about our technical writing services and see samples of manuals and movies at www.jumpbean.com/portfolio.

* Printing and design costs would have to be determined once the manual has been written.

If you don't need copywriting or technical writing services, but know a business that does, give us a ring. We'll be forever thankful and you will receive 5% off your next project.

2. New service: Let us write your eBay (or Craigslist) descriptions

Are you trying to start an eBay business? Or just trying to get rid of that wedding gift that looks like a toilet basin? We can help you improve your sales by making sure your eBay listing says:

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

Since we're not the actual seller (you are), we can approach your item as a "buyer" without any bias. We will suggest key words and phrases, much like we do for our corporate clients' Web sites, and advise against non-descriptive, meaningless phrases. After all, you have only 55 characters for your title and subtitle. And that's where most searches happen.

We'll write a description that works to your advantage, so you can sell your item/s quickly. If, for some reason, your item doesn't sell? We'll rework the key words and try it again. And if doesn't sell after the second time, we'll refund your money (minus transaction fees). This shows you we're just as determined as you are to make a sale.

And yes, we are relatively experienced eBay/Craigslist sellers having sold our:

• Car
• Laptop computer
• Convertible sofa
• iPod accessories
• PC/networking cards
• Even broken cell phones for parts!

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

Once we receive your email, will send an invoice for $30 (via PayPal) to your email address. After you have paid us, we will contact you and begin writing your description.

Our job is to market your item so that it sells quickly. Learn more about our eBay service.

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.

3. Case Study: With the goal of reducing support costs, Cleversafe™ asks Jumping Bean to develop online help documentation

Cleversafe, a pioneer in distributed data storage solutions, needed documentation for their Microsoft® Windows® client, Cleversafe Desktop for Windows. The company was running a tight ship and wanted its technical documentation ready for an early fall 2006 open-source launch.

Read the case study.

4. Get free Web analytics with Google

In addition to the plethora of free services Google has started in the last year, the company is now offering free Web analytics (http://www.google.com/analytics/). Web analytics helps small businesses create targeted marketing campaigns to increase site traffic and help improve content and site design.

I just discovered it and it has helped with the Jumping Bean site. It does not provide in-depth analysis (it's free after all), but it does help site designers improve traffic. No, I am not affiliated with Google, I just thought it was a neat service.

5. Tip: Stop straining your eyes! Use zoom to see better

Are you one of those lucky ones who has a laptop with a 17" screen? Or better yet, a desktop with a 30" inch flat-screen monitor? Great, you can see EVERYTHING!

But can you read the text? Not unless you switch resolutions—which then makes you wonder why the heck you blew $2500 on that 30" Apple® Cinema Display in the first place!

Don't fret. In Microsoft Word it's quite easy to zoom in on the text. Sure, you can use the Tool menu, select Zoom, and choose how much you want to magnify the text. But who has time for that? To make your text easier to read, press the Ctrl button on your keyboard, and use the wheel on your mouse to zoom in, zoom out. It works with most Microsoft Office programs and many other Windows programs as well (Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc.).

Got a tip? Send it to tips@jumpbean.com. You might see it in the next issue of "bean news!"

6. Recipe: Asparagus pudding

You're probably looking at this and saying to yourself, "I don't even LIKE asparagus. Why would I want to turn it into a dessert?" Well, that's what Blythe and I thought when we were at a sushi restaurant on Roscoe. We tried it out of curiosity... and WE LOVED IT!!! Not too sweet. Not at all veggie. Yet, it MUST be good for you. So we're saving you the $60 sushi bill and bringing it to your home.

FULL RECIPE

What other recipes would you like to see? Send your favorite to recipes@jumpbean.com, and you just might find it in the next edition of "bean news!" Expand your culinary world by trying one of our recipes.

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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
LP Presbyterian Church
Motorola
Specialty Store Services
Spencer Stuart
Walgreens

You are doing a wonderful job!! You'll have to let me know "who" gets this positive feedback so you can have good referrals going forward!!

S.G., Manager
Motorola

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

T.G., Manager
Corporate Branding and Creative Services
Discover Financial Services

Nice work. I really like the tone [of your catalog copywriting].

VP New Business
Specialty Store Services

Play and Feed a Hungry Person!

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

B.S., Copywriter
Walgreens

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

J.R., 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