nDash.com is a content creation platform that provides brands and agencies with access to the world's top freelance writers.

nDash Writer Profile for Patti Podnar

Headline

Creating business magic by telling stories that connect your strategic goals with your customers' pain points

About Me

I'm an experienced content writer, strategist, and consultant. I've been writing longer than I care to think about. (Let's just say that my first "real" writing job involved a computer with green letters on a black screen.)  My work has appeared in numerous publications (not many bylines, unfortunately, since all work was for clients), including:

I also served as content strategist on "The Power of Digital Policy," a book by Kristina Podnar (we're friends and colleagues, but not relatives).

The Power of Digital Policy

Today, I'm thrilled to combine that first love with my other passion: business. My priority is to make sure that the content I write accomplishes your goals. If you're not sure what you want your content to accomplish, I help with that, too. That's why, before I start an assignment for you, I may ask what you want people to do, think, or feel after reading it.

Because the fundamentals of business and marketing (creating interest and awareness, solving pain points, creating new customers through education, etc.) hold true for almost all businesses, I'm comfortable writing for many different industries. 

Recently, I've been focusing on issues that every business will have to address very soon: AI, privacy, compliance, security, accessibility, etc. The importance of these topics will only increase as artificial intelligence and the metaverse become more intertwined in our business and personal lives. AI, in particular, presents some big challenges (as well as incredible opportunities!). There are a lot of writers who can address the tech side of AI. I'm the one who can write about weighing the risks and opportunities so that you can use AI in a way that benefits both you and your customers (while ensuring no harm to either).

Wondering if you need an industry expert rather than a writing/business expert?

It depends on your audience. If you're writing for people who do, finance, or regulate what you do, you may prefer an industry expert (with the exception of regulating online content -- that's one of my specialities, and I have access to leading experts in the field). If you're writing for people who will (hopefully!) buy what you do, you need an expert in business and marketing. That's also what I do.  

Not sure what you need?

Even better! There are plenty of great writers who can write what you tell them to write. I can, too -- but my real strength is on the content strategy side. I can write your blog posts, but I can also help you figure out who your audiences are (and how to avoid the curse of knowledge!), what they need to know, and how to write for their level of knowledge about your product or service. I can also help you stay out of trouble by pointing out compliance issues.

So if you don't know where to start, start with me! 




Industries I Write About

Industrial

Business

Technology

Science & Medicine

Lifestyle

Health & Wellness

My Writing Samples

What your content production agency needs to know about ESG

Discover how your content production agency is positioned to be the crucial link between modern ESG values and the audiences who prioritize environmental, social, and governance impacts above traditional business metrics.

https://www.ndash.com/blog/what-your-content-production-agency-needs-to-know-about-esg

How the humble pallet made today's global economy possible

The history of how palletization revolutionized shipping

https://blog.48forty.com/blog/how-pallets-made-todays-global-economy-possible

How Freelancers Can Help Your Agency Scale Up While Staying Agile

nDash blog

http://www.ndash.co/blog/how-freelancers-can-help-your-agency-scale-up-while-staying-agile

Remodeling with the Future in Mind: Aging in Place

Rollex blog

https://www.rollex.com/blog/remodeling-with-the-future-in-mind-aging-in-place/

Personalization vs. Privacy: How to Make the Case for Consent

New privacy regulations require that marketers obtain consent from their audience before sending marketing messages. How do you make the case for consent?

https://www.ndash.co/blog/personalization-vs-privacy-how-to-make-the-case-for-consent

Designing for Disaster Protection and Storm Proofing

Tips for homeowners

http://foxblocks.com/designing-disaster-protection-storm-proof-homes/

Supporting Government Green Initiatives with ICF Construction

Environmental benefits of ICF blocks

http://foxblocks.com/supporting-green-initiatives-government-icf-construction/

How an Oil Change Can Keep Your Car's Pistons Running Smoothly

Mr. Clean Carwash blog

http://www.mrcleancarwash.com/blog/pristine-pistons-how-an-oil-change-can-keep-your-car-engines-pistons-running-smoothly/

The importance of store execution in rolling out new technology

More and more retailers are bringing digital to the sales floor. Whether you're equipping store employees with proprietary devices or asking them to use their own, all the planning in the world won't matter if store employees don't execute properly.

https://www.retailzipline.com/blog/the-importance-of-store-execution-in-rolling-out-new-technology

Store execution and its impact on category management

This post describes the complexity of category management and how all the plans can fail at the store level if employees don't execute.

https://www.retailzipline.com/blog/store-execution-and-its-impact-on-category-management

Help Me Save My Space: Building Atriums

Kirei blog

https://kireiusa.com/blog/help-me-fix-my-space-open-atriums

What QA Managers Wish Agents Knew about Monitoring

Scorebuddy blog

https://blog.scorebuddyqa.com/us/what-quality-assurance-managers-wish-agents-knew-about-monitoring

Detailing: a Car Wash on Hyperdrive

Mr. Clean Carwash blog

https://www.mrcleancarwash.com/blog/detailing-a-car-wash-on-hyperdrive/

Designing Homes for Aging in Place

What architects and designers can do to help the aging population continue to live in their homes

http://foxblocks.com/designing-homes-aging-place/

Your Roadmap to an Easier, Faster Steel Siding Installation

Tips for installing steel siding

https://www.rollex.com/blog/your-roadmap-to-an-easier-faster-steel-siding-installation/

How to Have Difficult Conversations with Call Center Agents

Tips for coaching employees on improving their performance

https://blog.scorebuddyqa.com/us/how-to-have-difficult-conversations-with-call-center-agents

Smoke and Fire Safety Solutions for Elevators

How architects and designers can maximize elevator safety while minimizing the loss of space

https://smokeguard.com/blog/2018/september/25/specifying-for-safety-flexible-solutions-for-elevators-in-your-space

Designing for Longevity: Strategies for Commercial Buildings

How architects and designers can develop commercial buildings that can serve a variety of future occupants with different needs

https://nydreeflooring.com/2018/07/24/designing-for-longevity-strategies-for-commercial-design

Budgeting for Acoustics in Your Next Design Project

The importance of acoustics in employee satisfaction and performance

https://kireiusa.com/blog/budgeting-for-acoustics-in-your-next-design-project

Helping Clients Budget: Looking at LIfe-Cycle Cost

Encouraging "efficiency by design" by helping clients understand life-cycle costs

https://nydreeflooring.com/2018/06/29/helping-clients-budget-looking-life-cycle-costs

Flexible Design: Ensuring More Successful Office Spaces

How to design work spaces that can flex with the employers' needs

https://kireiusa.com/blog/flexible-design-ensuring-more-successful-office-spaces

How to Rock a Facebook Contest or Giveaway

Advice for running a successful contest or giveaway on Facebook, as well as a few precautions.

https://blog.woobox.com/2019/08/how-to-rock-a-facebook-comments-contest-or-giveaway/

Comparison of the most popular roof support bases

Roof support bases are critical for stability, but the material they're made with can make a big difference. This post covers the pros and cons of the various materials available and how to choose the one that's best for you.

https://www.phpsd.com/blog/comparison-of-the-most-popular-roof-support-bases

How to get started with construction management software

Construction companies are increasingly moving from analog to digital management solutions. This post offers tips for construction companies beginning the transition to digital.

https://www.sparkbusinessworks.com/blog/get-started-with-construction-project-management-software

12 construction software features your business needs

Construction companies may be a bit behind in the digital revolution, but they're catching up fast. Here are 8 features you should look for when choosing a construction software solution.

https://www.sparkbusinessworks.com/blog/8-construction-software-features-that-your-business-needs

12 questions to consider before buying a communication and task management solution

This post offers guidance on choosing a digital communication and task management platform. While it focuses on retail, the lessons could apply to any number of industries.

https://www.retailzipline.com/blog/12-questions-to-consider-before-buying-a-communications-and-task-management-solution

Hiring engineers during COVID-19: Take it remote, and make it equitable

Technology allows organizations to continue hiring during social distancing. And front-end testing helps increase the diversity of applicants. That's important because it's been shown that the makeup of development teams can create (or prevent) bias in machine learning.

https://www.codility.com/blog/hiring-engineers-during-covid-19-take-it-remote-make-it-equitable/

Signs your construction management software isn't working for you

How to tell if your business has outgrown your current construction management software (and what you need instead)

https://www.sparkbusinessworks.com/blog/signs-construction-management-software-not-working

5 benefits of custom construction management software

How custom software can help your construction company cut costs and improve profits

https://www.sparkbusinessworks.com/blog/7-benefits-of-custom-construction-management-software

Construction management software for builders and contractors

Describes how construction management software can help builders and contractors with things like scheduling, automation, etc.

https://www.sparkbusinessworks.com/blog/construction-management-software-for-builders-and-contractors

Ikea invests in impact bonds designed to help Syrian refugees develop job skills

At the 2019 World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, IKEA's philanthropic wing committed $7.7 million toward the development of an impact bond to provide vocational skills training for Syrian refugees living in Lebanon and Jordan.

https://www.overtureglobal.io/story/ikea-invests-in-impact-bond-designed-to-help-syrian-refugees-develop-job-skills

How to Answer the The Top 10 Journalist Interview Questions

Targeted to entry-level job-seekers, this post covers some common interview questions and provides guidance on how to answer them.

https://www.careeraddict.com/answer-the-top-10-journalist-interview-questions

Stay Calm and Step Away from that Facebook Quiz

This post describes how scammers can use the information you provide in these quizzes to guess your password or answers to your security questions.

https://pattipodnar.substack.com/p/stay-calm-and-step-away-from-that

You may have Sjogren's Syndrome if...

A list of random, weird things (like hearing your eyeballs click when you blink!) that, taken together, could mean you have Sjogren's Syndrome.

https://pattipodnar.substack.com/p/you-may-have-sjogrens-syndrome-if

How product knowledge affects store execution

Retailers depend on store teams to guide customers through the last few steps of the customer journey: choosing the right product and taking it home with them. When employees don’t execute those last few steps, it’s not because they don’t care. It’s usually because they don’t know enough about the product.

https://getzipline.com/blog/how-product-knowledge-affects-sales-execution/

5 steps to better store communication

Store communications should be simple, but competing agendas, message overload, and too much background noise often muddy the waters. Fortunately, taking these five steps can help you send clear, actionable messages that make it unscathed from headquarters to the right people on your store teams.

https://getzipline.com/blog/5-steps-to-better-store-communication/

Protecting your home while you're away

Things you can do to protect your home while you're on vacation.

https://www.rollex.com/blog/protecting-your-home-while-youre-away

Before you search for "Car Wash Near Me," check your schedule

Things to consider before getting your car washed: weather forecast, special occasions, conditions where you'll be driving, etc.

https://www.mrcleancarwash.com/blog/before-you-search-for-car-wash-near-me-check-your-schedule

How an oil change can keep your car's pistons running smoothly

The importance of regular oil changes in car maintenance

https://www.mrcleancarwash.com/blog/pristine-pistons-how-an-oil-change-can-keep-your-car-engines-pistons-running-smoothly

The importance of transmission fluid changes

Information on what transmission fluid does, why it needs to be changed, and how often you should change it.

https://www.mrcleancarwash.com/blog/mr-clean-car-washs-60k-service-transmission-fluid-changes-and-why-theyre-important

When car maintenance goes wrong during winter travel

The primary things that can go wrong during winter travel and what you can do to protect yourself and your family before leaving home.

https://www.mrcleancarwash.com/blog/when-car-maintenance-goes-wrong-during-winter-travel

Treat your towels with respect

How to care for the towels you use to wash your car (and why it's important)

https://www.mrcleancarwash.com/blog/treat-your-towels-with-respect

Top winterization services for your car

Tips for getting your car safely through the winter months

https://www.mrcleancarwash.com/blog/top-winterization-services-your-car

Auto detailing and safety: Restoring your headlights

Why scuffed, dirty headlights are dangerous and how you can save. money be restoring them instead of replacing them

https://www.mrcleancarwash.com/blog/auto-detailing-and-safety-restoring-your-headlights

How long will my car wax last?

Factors that affect how long a car wax will look fresh

https://www.mrcleancarwash.com/blog/how-long-will-my-car-wax-last

The details of car detailing: carpet cleaning

Different methods of carpet cleaning and why heat extraction works best

https://www.mrcleancarwash.com/blog/the-details-of-car-detail-carpet-cleaning

How a full-service car wash can protect your paint

How automobile owners can protect their car's paint by getting regular professional car washes

https://www.mrcleancarwash.com/blog/how-a-full-service-car-wash-can-protect-your-cars-paint

How a car detail can keep your car's leather seats looking new

Tips for how automobile owners can clean and condition leather seats

https://www.mrcleancarwash.com/blog/how-a-car-detail-can-keep-your-leather-seats-looking-like-new

Vehicle maintenance and a new-to-you car

Tips for how people who buy a used car can give it a makeover

https://www.mrcleancarwash.com/blog/vehicle-maintenance-new-to-you-car-edition

Car cleaning and what it has to with door jambs

What door jambs are, why it's important to keep them clean, and how to do so.

https://www.mrcleancarwash.com/blog/car-cleaning-and-what-it-has-to-do-with-door-jambs

Four places to install roof walkways

Why roof walkways are important for safety and the four most important places to put them.

https://www.phpsd.com/blog/4-places-to-install-roof-walkways

How an automatic car wash can help prevent scratches

Things automobile owners can do to prevent getting scratches on their cars and how professional car detailing can restore that like-new appearance.

https://www.mrcleancarwash.com/blog/how-an-automatic-car-wash-can-help-prevent-scratches

Car shampoo: Why it's. more than skin-deep

Why it's important to use shampoos made specifically for cars

https://www.mrcleancarwash.com/blog/car-shampoo-its-more-than-skin-deep

Experience

Partner

Content strategy and development across a wide range of verticals

Company: Podnar Consulting, LLC

I worked there from 10/2013 until now

Languages I Write In

Content I Write

Recommendations

Excellent writer!

In addition to being extremely thorough with her thought process and research, Patti's ability to create high-quality and timely content is exceptional. She does an outstanding job ensuring she explains the context behind her ideas, fleshing out areas of a piece where additional research is required, and nailing down reputable sources. Highly recommended!

Jenn Greenleaf, nDash

Creative, fast, and professional

Patti has been a great addition to the nDash community. She's an extremely versatile writer, with experience in a broad range of industries, and is able to quickly break down complex topics into clear, compelling prose. I'm very thankful for her contributions, and would highly recommend her to any brand seeking a professional writer and storyteller.

Michael Brown, nDash.co