Dianne Murray – Content Producer
Take a few moments to get to know one of our talented wordsmiths, Di! When she’s not juggling social media campaigns and writing content for eDMs and websites at Orion, Di spends her free time with her family, training for running events… and eating lamingtons! It’s safe to say Di has bucket loads of energy, and we love that she can pour some of it into her role at Orion.
How long have you been a Content Producer and how did you get into the industry?
I worked as an Executive Assistant for years and years and later a Marketing Coordinator. Increasingly, I was the ‘go to’ person for writing and proofreading tasks – tenders, contracts, press releases, blogs, social media posts, etc. I developed a love for all things content and copywriting, and decided to take a leap down the freelance copywriting path, which then led me to Orion Creative… and I haven’t looked back!
Was there a defining moment that made you want to become a Content Producer?
Not one moment in particular, but certainly a series of moments where I came to realise writing and creating content was my favourite part of any job.
Do you follow any content specialists on social and blogs that you admire or who have influenced you?
Kate Toon has a pretty big presence in the copywriting and SEO world. I follow her on social media and she’s constantly imparting little pearls of wisdom that inspire, as well as offering practical tips.
If you weren’t a Content Producer, what would you be doing?
I’ve never been the kind of person who had a defined career path set out. With the curve-balls life throws at you, I firmly believe you should be open to new opportunities that arise. I could have quite easily been led down the small business path – running a little reader’s café or B&B in the mountains. But that’s for retirement ? – I truly do love my job and the variety it brings!
How long have you been working at Orion Creative?
I’m a freshie at Orion! I started in July 2018.
What would an ‘average day at the office’ look like for you?
First: coffee! I usually pick one up on my commute to the office. Then I get cracking with checking emails and my old-school paper diary to prep for the day. I prioritise my current projects – from writing content for EDMs and websites, through to managing social media campaigns, piecing together communication plans and development of campaign concepts, no two-days look the same. And that’s the beauty of this role – it goes beyond standard copywriting.
What’s the biggest or most complicated project that you’ve worked on at Orion so far?
I’m currently working on a huge 12-month project for one of our large multinational technology clients – an internal program to incentivise their Partners. It began with a lot of strategizing and we’re now deep into rolling out different aspects of the campaign. From the creation of a new website and behind-the-scenes dashboard, through to regular eDMs, promotional material and prize research, I’ve loved honing my short and long copy skills, as well as project management and a touch of event management too! It’s incredibly rewarding to see it all come together – and it’s a seriously fun theme too (Formula One) so it’s a great one to work on day-to-day.
What do you like to do in your spare time? What goes on during weekends?
I’m currently training for a trail running event, the UTA. Most weekends I hit-up our local trails for a few hours – trying to increase my distance and prep for the big event! Of course, this training comes second to the sporting commitments of my children – netball on Saturdays and AFL on Sundays. Yup, it doesn’t get more Aussie than that!
Fave movies/TV shows/bands? What are you watching/listening to these days?
Probably my favourite movie of all time would be Shaun of the Dead. Simon Pegg = genius. I’m also a sucker for the Bourne franchise and the Hunger Games. As for TV shows – Shameless (US version), the Orville and Brooklyn Nine-Nine are excellent watching, as is Ricky Gervais’ new series, After Life. Just brilliant!
I’m super random (and obsessive) with music. A mixture of new and old is always playing at home and in the car… sometimes on repeat! Lots of terrible singing and dance-offs in our family.
What are the top 5 things that would make your stranded-on-a-desert-island list – that you just couldn’t live without?
- My husband and children (cliché but true!)
- Clean clothes and towels to remove icky sand granules
- Endless supply of Hendricks G&T… with cucumber, not lemon ?
- My copy of ‘the Handmaid’s Tale’ that I’ve been trying to finish reading for almost a year!
- Lamingtons… lots and lots of lamingtons
What are some fun or little-known facts about you that would surprise us?
- I’ve lived in 5 different countries – Australia, England, Scotland, France and Canada.
- I broke my femur when I was 11 years old (snow-skiing) and my right leg remains about an inch shorter than my left leg.
- I ran the San Francisco marathon in 2009.
Who would win a fight between Thor and Spiderman?
Thor… because Chris Hemsworth!
What colour would you be in a crayon box and why?
I guess I’d be yellow – just because it reminds me of the outdoors and being cheerful.
If you could be any animal in the world, what animal would you be and why?
Maybe a bee… granted, that’s an insect, but it’d be a fairly nice existence cruising around gardens all day long, before heading back home to the hive.
