Summary: Addressing industrial wastewater management strategies

In October 2023, I worked with a client on an article entitled “Addressing industrial wastewater management strategies” for Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine. The article discussed the creation of industrial wastewater and the importance of wastewater management. Water is a limited resource, and government regulations are becoming stricter about wastewater disposal and management, so it’s important to pay more attention to this matter.

Here are some of the topics covered:

• Changing market conditions
  • Most municipal governments own and operate their wastewater systems, and set their own standards for wastewater management. They can also pass their own sewer use by-laws.
  • …companies must treat their industrial wastewater before reusing it or releasing it into the environment. This means setting up their own wastewater treatment facility or engaging with a third party to treat their industrial wastewater.
  • Water use and wastewater management play a critical role in companies’ environment, social, and governance (ESG) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance.
• Strategies for wastewater cleaning
  • Companies can make better use of their existing technology to adapt to process changes. … tertiary filtration… involves polishing the final effluent prior to discharge into the environment.
  • Decanter centrifuges are effective in separating solids from liquids within a single continuous process. They are commonly used for the sludge thickening and dewatering process in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants.
  • Spiral heat exchangers recover the heat energy from the wastewater, which can then be reused within the plant (e.g., to maintain the temperature of biological digesters).
• Challenges and future outlook
  • …companies can use membrane bioreactors to “polish” their wastewater to a very high level, making it completely clean when it is discharged into the natural environment.
  • …per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are also known as microplastics… have been found in many major sources of water across Canada, including the Great Lakes

David

Lessons learned from The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker

To be an effective writer, you must learn how to notice the world around you – what people say, how they behave, the details of events, interesting things about places you go, how you feel and think. Noticing is part of being a writer.

That’s why I recommend reading The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker. Following the exercises and meditations in the book will help you to see the world with fresh eyes. You will become more curious, think more clearly, listen more carefully, and become more creative.

You can pick up a copy of this book at your local bookstore or borrow it from your library. It’s on my bookshelf right now.

Here are some activities (and lessons learned) that will help you as a freelance writer:

• Spot something new every day
• Look at something slowly – don’t just glance and walk away
• When visiting a museum, consider what you would buy / burn / steal; look at what is not art, or what you could turn into art
• Draw what you see rather than taking a photo – it will force you to slow down and pay attention to details
• Similarly, write with a pen instead of a computer
• Look at things from different perspectives – as a historian, vandal, bad guest, improv performer or child
• Make an auditory inventory – write down what you hear and where you heard it
• Take a scent walk – pay attention to what you smell
• Practice digital silence – get offline
• Walk around with an expert – listen to how they describe what they know best
• Take a long walk in an unfamiliar area – you can even walk in different parts of your neighbourhood
• Be a local tourist – I’ve always wanted to take a bus tour in my area
• Eat somewhere dubious
• Read plaques
• Let a stranger lead you
• Give your time to someone
• Ask five questions, give five compliments
• Write a letter to a stranger – you can also write an email or post online (don’t be creepy)
• Meet a friend halfway

David

Lessons learned from Everybody Writes by Ann Handley

Everybody Writes by Ann Handley is the go-to guide for attracting and retaining customers through stellar online communication. This book is so good that I considered buying the newly updated version (I resisted because I have a lot of books).

You can find this book at the library or your local bookstore – it’s definitely worth buying but it’s a must read. Ann also has a newsletter which is worth the read.

Here’s some of what I learned from reading this book that would be of value to freelance writers:

• Writing is a habit, not an art – write often and when you are fresh
• Place the most important idea at the beginning of each sentence
• Set and follow a writing process – do what works for you
• Figure out WHAT you want to say before you figure out HOW you want to say it
• Use a framework to organize your writing before you write – create an outline or a bulleted list
• Embrace the ugly first draft – write your thoughts down and walk away (DO NOT EDIT)
• Consider what the reader wants – develop empathy for their experience
• During the editing stage, delete all unnecessary words and ideas
• Write a strong lead to set the tone for the writing and to hook the reader
• Finish strong – include a conclusion or call to action
• Show, don’t tell – tell a story rather than explaining features and benefits
• Use familiar but surprising analogies – avoid cliches, talk from experience
• Keep it simple but do not be simplistic – cut the fluff but don’t talk down to the reader
• Readability = short sentences and paragraphs, bullet points, subheads, visual elements
• Set deadlines and word counts – give yourself parameters to work within
• Use active voice as much as possible – also, strong verbs and fewer adverbs
• Cut wordy phrases – don’t write to fill the page
• Break some grammar rules – be flexible
• Limit moralizing
• Tell your story, not a generic story that can apply to anyone

David

Lessons learned from Atomic Habits by James Clear

Atomic Habits by James Clear is one of those books that has received a lot of hype. I believe the hype is justified.

If you’re a freelance writer, then you should definitely read this book. Pick it up at your local library (be prepared to be on a waiting list) or pick it up at the bookstore.

If you don’t know about Atomic Habits, this book provides practical strategies to teach you how to master the tiny behaviours that lead to great results.

Here’s what I learned that would benefit freelance writers (and other self-employed pros):

• Focus on a system for setting habits rather than specific goals
• Focus on who you want to become (e.g., a prolific content writer) to establish the best habits
• The four parts of a habit are cue, craving, response, and reward – knowing these key elements and being aware of your habit will enable you to establish the habit
• First law of behaviour change: Make it obvious – Make the cues for your habit obvious (e.g., writing every morning)
• Second law of behaviour change: Make it attractive – Be part of a culture (e.g., writing group) that makes the desired behaviour normal
• Third law of behaviour change: Make it easy – Reduce the friction associated with good behaviours (e.g., it should only take 2 minutes to perform the habit)
• Fourth law of behaviour change: Make it satisfying – Set up a game of tracking your behaviour so it feels good to keep going (e.g., fill the boxes on a calendar for every day you write)
• Find an accountability partner (another writer) who will make you pay for inaction
• Align habits with your natural abilities (make it easy)
• Reflect on and review your progress – be conscious of your performance over time
• All you need to do is get a bit better (just 1%) every day to see results
• Decide who you want to be, and use small wins to prove you can be that person
• Follow this implementation formula: I will BEHAVIOUR at TIME in LOCATION
• Happiness is the absence of desire
• Your actions reveal how badly you want something – if you don’t put effort toward something, you don’t truly want to achieve it

David

Lessons learned from Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t by Steven Pressfield

If you’re a writer, then you should own Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t by Steven Pressfield. It will teach you empathy, as well as the ability to “switch back and forth… from your own point of view as writer… to the point of view of your reader…”

Pick this book up at your local library, or order it from a local bookstore. It’s worth adding to your bookshelf.

The book teaches the universal principles of storytelling – every story must:

• Have a concept – it should be unique and from your perspective
• Be about something – no stories about nothing
• Have a beginning, middle, and end – seems obvious, but some stories are lacking in one of these areas
• Have a hero and a villain – they don’t have to be people
• Have an inciting incident – something must happen to drive the story
• Escalate through each Act in terms of energy, stakes, complications, and significance – the story should build along the way
• Build to a climax related to the clash between hero and villain – the story needs to reach a peak moment or conclusion

David

Looking for help in telling your business’ story? Let me know – contact@davidgargaro.com

Lessons learned from The Practice by Seth Godin

Everyone should be familiar with Seth Godin’s work. He has a well-known blog, and has written a number of excellent books on marketing and related topics. I have a few of his books on my shelf.

A couple of years ago, I read Godin’s The Practice, which is described as a “roadmap to the journey taken by every artist, writer, maker, and entrepreneur — a powerful call to action for those who seek to make change.”

You can find this book at the library and most bookstores will carry it or order it for you – it belongs on your bookshelf as well.

Here’s what I learned that should interest freelance writers:

• Skill is not the same as talent
• Creativity is an action, not a feeling – it’s about doing, not thinking about doing
• Start where you are – SO IMPORTANT
• Make an impact on SOMEONE, not EVERYONE – write for and to a specific person
• Asking “Why?” teaches you to see how things got to be the way you are
• Choose your clients and choose your future – don’t rely on others choosing to hire you
• Intentional action is design with purpose
• Consistency is the way forward – keep doing what you need to do to advance every day
• Writer’s block is a choice – you can always choose to write something
• Ignore the sunk costs of past work – let bad projects and bad writing go
• Chop wood and carry water – do the work
• You don’t need more good ideas; you need more bad ideas
• Don’t worry about making it better – just make it
• Knowing is a shortcut to skill
• Change one small thing, not the world

David

Need help with writing better content? Let me know – contact@davidgargaro.com.

Lessons learned from Guerrilla Marketing for Writers by Levinson, Frishman and Larsen

Freelance writers must also be freelance marketers, where they are their own clients. Developing marketing knowledge and skills will help freelance writers to market their services to prospective clients.

Some time ago, I read Guerrilla Marketing for Writers by Jay Levinson, Rick Frishman, and Michael Larsen. The book contains a number of techniques for creating marketing strategies. Many of the tips are geared toward book writers, but freelance writers can apply the strategies as well.

This book is a bit dated as it was published more than 20 years ago, but there is some valuable information within. Check your local library or online bookstore for a copy.

Here’s some of what I learned that would be of value to freelance writers:

• The quality of your content is the most important aspect of your marketing – focus on writing great content
• Commit to your marketing program, as it is an investment in your future
• Consistency is the key to marketing success
• Be patient with your audience and with your marketing efforts
• Try and apply different marketing tools and strategies to see what works, then focus on the ones that produce results
• Run your business to create convenience for others – help others in their business
• Always measure your marketing efforts to judge and improve its effectiveness
• Create and sustain involvement with your audience
• Learn to be dependent on other businesses and encourage them to be dependent on you
• Develop and improve the skills and resources needed to do (and market) your work
• Always get consent from those you market to

David

Need help with writing and editing articles, blog posts, case studies, and web pages? Let me know – contact@davidgargaro.com.

Lessons learned from The Freelance Content Marketing Writer by Jennifer Goforth Gregory

Some time ago, I read The Freelance Content Marketing Writer by Jennifer Goforth Gregory. This is an excellent book, and a must-read for all freelance writers, especially if you’re involved in content marketing. Jennifer also has a Facebook group, which you should check out as well.

Buy the book from your local bookstore. Yes, you can borrow it from the library, but it’s so full of useful content, it’s worth owning.

In a nutshell, this book provides tips and strategies on succeeding as a freelance content marketing writer. It includes useful step-by-step processes, templates, and more.

Here’s what I learned:

• Content marketing is different from copywriting – content marketing involves creating content to inform rather than sell
• As a content marketer, your goal is to create trust in your client’s brand
• Effective content marketing requires knowing the audience and voice of your client
• Writing within a niche enables you to write from a place of authority
• Take an audience-first approach to working with clients and writing content
• Identify a target market and niche before creating a marketing plan
• Draft a marketing plan that addresses your needs, goals, and time constraints
• Organize your clips by profile and quality
• Use words and phrases on your website that potential clients will use to find you
• Change the tone of a piece first when rewriting content for clients

David

What content marketing mistakes are you making in your business?

Photo by Judit Peter on Pexels.com

Most business owners and their employees understand the value of content marketing. Writing great content and promoting it to your target audience will attract followers and customers.

But you can’t just publish the occasional blog or case study and expect it to pay off. Content marketing takes consistency and effort to see results.

Getting results with your content marketing requires you to do the right things AND avoid doing the wrong things. You can derail your content marketing efforts by making one or more of the following key mistakes:

• Giving up on content marketing too soon
• Ignoring or abandoning your existing content
• Failing to invest in content marketing

Giving up on content marketing too soon

Giving up early when efforts don’t pay off immediately is pretty common. People quit all the time when they don’t see results right away – exercising, writing, investing, job hunting, etc.

Content promotion requires time and repetition to be effective. You can’t publish a couple of blog posts and expect customers to flock to your business.

Create a content calendar. Outline what and when you will you publish over the next three months. For example, you could publish:

• 1-2 blog posts per week
• 1-2 case studies per month
• 5-10 social media posts per week
• 1 white paper per quarter
• 1 newsletter every 1-2 weeks

Keep track of what is important to measure over time (e.g., open rate, visitors, comments). And keep going. Results take time with content but it is effective in building an audience.

Ignoring or abandoning your existing content

Shiny object syndrome is a real thing. People gravitate to whatever is new and interesting now. They often forget what they’ve bought (or published) in the past.

The same goes for content. If you’ve been publishing blog posts, articles, case studies, newsletters, and other content for some time, you will have built up a nice library of content.

Too often, that content goes to waste. It’s forgotten in the library, never to be referenced again.

That old content has value. It attracted readers and customers before, and it can do it again. Share the knowledge you’ve already developed.

Turn old blog posts and case studies into social media posts. Pull out some nuggets of wisdom and share them with the world. This will attract new readers as well as existing customers.

Update existing content when something has changed within your company, industry or marketplace. Remove anything that no longer applies. Refresh and republish that old content.

Check for broken links or email addresses. Replace and update any links so that they lead prospects to where you want them to go.

Update or change calls to action. A new CTA can make a difference and pull in new clients.

Make use of your assets. Don’t let them go to waste.

Failing to invest in content marketing

Once upon a time, I worked at a publisher that invested almost nothing in content marketing and advertising. Most of what we did was free or very cheap, and made use of a limited budget. I wrote a newsletter that got some traction but the only investment was my time.

When we ran ads or invested in promotion, we saw measurable results. For example, we did a campaign to pull in students at a university over one school year. We saw an increase in sales. The owner decided not to repeat the promotion because he did not want to “waste” money.

Content marketing requires investment of time, resources, and money. Yes, you can do a lot for free or cheap, but you still have to invest someone’s time and effort to create the content, as well as to promote the content, and then follow up on results. That takes money as well (employees and freelancers are not free).

It is an unfortunate truth that some business owners think customers will just show up after putting up their website. Successful content marketing requires real dollars and real time. You must hire someone to do the work required in content marketing – content strategy, writing, design, publishing, tracking, following up, and so on.

Don’t pawn off content marketing to someone who is busy with other duties. Assign part of your advertising and marketing budget to an employee, contractor or agency. Make them responsible for content marketing.

Content marketing requires investment to work over time. Put your resources into content marketing to get something out of it.

David

Lessons learned from The Writing Life by Annie Dillard

I read and took notes on The Writing Life by Annie Dillard, which is a series of essays on different parts of writing. It’s a bit on the spiritual side, but still a worthy read for freelance writers.

Check out the book at your local library or bookstore. They will order a copy for you if they don’t carry it.

Here’s what I learned that would be of value to freelance writers:

• Writing is like building. You start by creating a structure, but as you go you may discover that your original structure won’t hold. Sometimes, you can shore up the weak spots. Other times, you have to tear it all down and start over.
• We almost always throw away what we start with – we erase our original words.
• Sometimes, we need internal motivation to write – other times we seek external motivation to push us forward.
• Aim past the words you want to write. Look further than what is in front of you.
• You don’t have to live in what you are writing. Write about what you know or did, not where you are now.
• Play the edges – don’t always play safe.
• Solve these two problems: Can it be done? Can you do it?
• Do not hoard or save your best ideas and words for later. Write them down now, wherever you are in the story. There will be something more later. If you don’t use it now, you could lose it forever.
• Sometimes, you will swim against a current. Keep going until you reach your goal or you will drown.

David