Photo by Ali Kate Cherkis
I’m a journalist by trade, and work as a writer and editor for international high profile brands.
I help people, brands and communities tell their stories. Creating brand-defining content and world-class editorial is my jam.
What can I do for you?
I write and edit hypertimely copy and content designed for tech-smart audiences—so your brand can shine brightly in the vast content universe.
I write all editorial, brand, and marketing copy. Anything with words basically. This includes blogpost and newsletter copy, social stories and caption copy, onboarding and landing page copy, micro copy (ux copy), App Store copy, personal and social bios, and longer form articles. I specialise in distinct short-form stories, interviews, memorable captions, headlines, subheadings and series.
I create and develop editorial + community strategy, messaging, tone of voice, values, and community guidelines for your brand.
I oversee all editorial content for global audiences on mobile and web.
I design omni-channel content which makes your brand sing.
What am I super pumped about?
Female-led companies wanting to make a difference in the femtech and new media space. Content teams aiming to re-define storytelling with a community-lead mindset.
Remote, flexible, part-time and freelance or project-based work is favoured.
Work with me if: You are interested in improving your brand through the power of good storytelling. You are looking to create communities as deep as they are wide, and are in it for the long game.
Look elsewhere if: You seek fast ‘viral’ growth, snackable content and trending topics.
What else do I have to offer?
I am an empathetic leader: building world-class editorial and community teams who feel inspired to do their best work and reach key company goals.
I have experience in fast-paced remote entrepreneurial environments working with international teams.
I write fiction, short stories, non fiction and poetry and have been short- and longlisted for writing awards.
I work 1:1 with select fine artists to develop their digital offering through storytelling and community.
Resume
Seven resume tidbits
I was Instagram’s first international hire, and built its first team of international community managers and editors in six markets.
I created and launched @vogue on Instagram as a community-first account, growing the channel organically from 0 to 500,000 followers in its 1st year, achieving highest engagement rate for Vogue on IG.
I spoke at leading industry conferences, events and gave media interviews for Digiday, VidCon, Worldwide Association of Women Journalists & Writers, GEN Summit, Digital Innovators Summit, The Photographer’s Gallery, and Marguerite Salon.
I designed and delivered my signature workshop, Tell Their Stories, to participants at journalism.co.uk, Frieze Academy, Swedish public broadcaster SRF, Farfetch and Association of Illustrators.
Outside of working in-house for companies like the Guardian, Vogue and Instagram, I created and produced short-form story content for Akram Khan Company, Tate, and Airbnb.
I cowrote an ebook called Connected: The power of modern community with two other community experts in 2013. I am working on its follow up, called Tell Their Stories.
My short story, Being Lavender Blue was one of ten prize winners for the Teens of Tomorrow young adult anthology from Odd Voice Out Press, published in 2021.
Experience
Storytelling Lead
Substack Inc
February 2022–present
Director Brand & Community
Beams
Jan 2020–August 2021
Consultant
Nexflix UK Brand Editorial
Nov 2019–Jan 2020
Head of Social Strategy & Storytelling
Vogue International, Condé Nast
Jan 2017-Nov 2019
Community Creative Producer
Instagram
October 2013 - October 2016
Community Coordinator
Guardian News & Media
Jan 2010 - October 2013
Education
PgDip Newspaper Journalism
Cardiff School of Journalism
2008–2009
BA English Lit & Philosophy
Bristol University
2005–2008
Skills & Languages
Leadership
Team building
Strategic Vision
Wordsmith
Social media insight
English
Portuguese
Spanish (intermediate)
Testimonials
Clients
“It’s been a joy working with Hannah this year. She has peeled back the layers of our brand, allowing us to identify our core raison d’être. She’s extremely skilled at turning nebulous ideas into succinct statements, which become a powerful toolkit for any brand. The Verbal Brand Identity document Hannah created for Unfabled continues to receive compliments from anyone we share it with (from FTSE 100 companies to world-leading brand experts), and I’m super excited to keep working together in 2022.”
“Hannah made me feel confident and excited about my social media account! She helped me discover what made my lifestyle so unique and how to share it with the world. It was always so great catching up with her during our meetings, as she is brilliant at strategizing for the future, yet so calm and down to earth. I would highly recommend Hannah!”
“Our session with Hannah was short of revolutionary - so enlightening and liberating, leaving us with a fresh new perspective and understanding of how to approach Instagram, how to have fun with it and how to engage with our audience with a new depth which we now feel sure will help our Instagram community to grow and flourish in the right way. ”
“I love working with Hannah, she is very quick, very sharp, reliable and very understanding! Hannah is a great help on my road! Thank you❤️”
Colleagues
“I invoke Hannah’s name regularly and reverently and I would recommend her to anyone. Her principles are still the bedrock of how we do launches for Vogue internationally, and still fit seamlessly with our Conde Nast global approach. Her community building skills and ethos fit seamlessly with brand building, tone of voice: and it was a central component of the work she did with Vogue.
She really is my hero!”
“Hannah is strategic, analytical and creative. She is extremely effective at getting projects off the ground and seeing them to completion.”
“I’ve never felt so supported by any other manager before. She gets the best out of teams and encourages healthy minds, habits and attitudes.”
“A thoughtful, analytical and empathetic leader. Her expertise on community and storytelling is unmatched. She always comes to the table with creative strategies. She takes time to listen to XFN needs and knows how to navigate ambiguous environments.”
“A talent to watch. Her journalism skills mixed with affable nature and ability to build networks across diverse groups were an editorial success.”
Say hey! ✌️
If you have an idea for a project or would like to get in touch to discuss working together, please send me an email and let's start talking...
i: @hannahray
