Portfolio: Stories That Sell
01
/05
SEO Blog Writing
I craft long-form, SEO-optimised articles designed to rank well and engage readers. Using tools like Ahrefs and applying the latest search strategies, I’ve written content across health, food, and sports industries that balances keyword strategy with clear, compelling storytelling.
Shift Sleeping: How to Sleep Normally When Working the Night Shift
Brief
Crafted to support shift workers navigating non-traditional sleep schedules, this article from B SYNC provides clear, science-backed tips to help improve rest quality and overall wellbeing. It targets an audience of professionals and individuals balancing irregular hours and seeking practical guidance.
My Role
Condensed expert advice into an accessible listicle format ideal for a general readership.
Selected and structured 15 actionable tips—from managing light exposure and sleep environment to diet and routine adjustments.
Maintained clarity, readability, and search-friendly formatting for digital distribution.
Exerpt
“Get Exposure to Natural Light During the Day — This will help to keep your circadian rhythm in check and prevent your body from getting too used to sleeping during the day when adjusting to night shift.”
Notes / Intended Impact
Designed to offer tangible, daily strategies—like avoiding late caffeine, creating a relaxing sleep environment, and scheduling breaks—to support circadian alignment and better sleep quality.
Formatted for quick digital readability while also serving SEO purposes through clear headings and structured layout.
How to Get Started With TikTok Marketing for E-Commerce
Brief
This article from Velocitize introduces online retailers to the fundamentals of TikTok marketing—highlighting its growing influence on e-commerce and offering four practical ways to begin leveraging the platform. It’s designed for businesses looking to explore TikTok as a sales and brand-building channel.
My Role
Simplified TikTok’s core structure and its relevance for e-commerce.
Broke down the set-up process and marketing actions into four clear steps
Wrote in a concise, actionable style aimed at entrepreneurs and marketers new to TikTok.
Exerpt
“TikTok is a social media app that centers around creating and sharing short-form video clips… TikTok has become famous for its often humorous and entertaining clips, but now the platform is also focused on entering the world of e-commerce.”
Notes / Intended Impact
A starter resource for businesses curious about TikTok’s marketing potential.
Provides immediate, tangible steps for setting up business profiles and staying on top of TikTok trends—especially relevant given the platform’s rising e-commerce integration.
02
/05
Tech Content
From WordPress tutorials to marketing and social media guides, I create approachable, well-structured content that makes complex topics simple. My work has included “how to” guides, product explainers, and business-focused resources aimed at helping readers learn quickly and take action.
How to Customize a WooCommerce Checkout Page
Brief
Created to inform WordPress developers and site owners on practical ways to optimise their WooCommerce checkout experience, this blog post offers step-by-step guidance using the Checkout Field Editor plugin.
My Role
Researched plugin functionality and best practices for WooCommerce checkout customisation.
Structured and wrote a comprehensive 1,000+ word tutorial covering field management, positioning, and advanced settings using the Checkout Field Editor plugin.
Focused on clarity, usability, and actionable advice for a technical audience.
Exerpt
“You should also see three sub-options for Billing Fields, Shipping Fields, and Additional Fields. You can move these fields around by dragging and dropping using the icon on the left… by checking the checkboxes, you can mass enable or disable via the buttons above.”
Notes / Intended Impact
Designed to improve user experience for WooCommerce store owners by simplifying checkout forms and reducing cart abandonment.
Positioned for SEO visibility, targeting keyword phrases like “customise WooCommerce checkout page” and “add/remove checkout fields.”
Your Complete Guide to WordPress Database Optimization
Brief
Published on Hostinger, this tutorial is aimed at WordPress site owners and developers looking to clean and streamline their databases. It outlines why optimisation is important and walks through three practical methods—manual optimisation, WordPress’s built-in tool, and plugins—to improve site speed and performance.
My Role
Synthesized technical content into a clear, step-by-step tutorial spanning roughly 11 minutes of reading time.
Broke the content into actionable sections:
- Understanding WordPress Databases and how they impact performance.
- How to Optimise via manual commands (phpMyAdmin), built-in tools, or plugins like WP-Optimize.
- Preventing Future Bloat by managing spam, post revisions, transients, and unused data.
Wrote with clarity and accessibility in mind, ensuring technical users and inexperienced site owners could follow the guidance comfortably.
Exerpt
“Your WordPress database stores all of your site’s information. If it’s become bloated with extra data, that can slow down your pages… optimizing a WordPress database isn’t as complicated as it might initially appear—as many third-party plugins can help you with the process.”
Notes / Intended Impact
Equips readers with practical, reliable strategies to clean up their WordPress databases and maintain efficient performance.
Balances technical detail with user-friendly guidance—especially valuable for SEO-conscious site owners and developers.
03
/05
List Features
I produced fast, engaging articles tailored to digital audiences. From “top tips” lists to cultural roundups, these pieces are written to grab attention, encourage shares, and deliver information in a sharp, accessible format.
8 Steps for Getting Started with Visualization Meditation
Brief
This article, published by Pzizz, guides readers through a step-by-step visualisation meditation process to help ease stress and enhance restful sleep. It’s aimed at anyone struggling with insomnia or anxious nighttime thoughts, offering actionable tools grounded in relaxation techniques.
My Role
Researched the historical and neurological benefits of visualisation meditation.
Structured a clear, digestible tutorial in eight actionable steps, from mental imagery to sensory engagement.
Wrote in an engaging, accessible style to encourage adoption of the practice for better sleep.
Exerpt
“In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the essence of visualization meditation and its profound benefits and provide step-by-step instructions to help you experience the deep, restorative sleep you’ve longed for.”
Notes / Intended Impact
Provides a calming, structured entry point into meditation, especially suited for sleep-deprived or stressed readers.
Designed to support SEO by framing key benefits and steps in a reader- and search-engine-friendly layout.
4 Ways to Build Your Brand in the Metaverse
Brief
Created for Pretty Links, this article introduces readers to four actionable ways their online business can establish a presence in the emerging world of the metaverse—an increasingly relevant space for brand innovation and immersive engagement
My Role
Organised the content into four clear, strategic sections:
- Launch Metaverse-friendly products or content
- Ensure your website is metaverse-ready
- Create a digital representation of your brand
- Stay informed on metaverse trends
Wrote in an accessible tone, balancing trend-forward thinking with practical guidance.
Structured the piece to optimise readability and SEO, while aligning with Pretty Links’ audience of digital-savvy readers.
Exerpt
“The Metaverse is a virtual world built on top of the existing infrastructure of the internet… Users will do this via avatars, which are digital representations of people.”
Notes / Intended Impact
Guides businesses toward early adoption of metaverse opportunities, offering ideas like VR content, AR experiences, and avatar-driven branding.
Helping brands prepare digitally and strategically positions them ahead of a rapidly evolving tech frontier
04
/05
Long-Form Feature Writing
I produced fast, engaging articles tailored to digital audiences. From “top tips” lists to cultural roundups, these pieces are written to grab attention, encourage shares, and deliver information in a sharp, accessible format.
How Amber Hagerman’s Murder Led to a National Alert System
Brief
An in-depth feature for Front Page Detectives tracing the tragic 1996 abduction and murder of nine-year-old Amber Hagerman in Arlington, Texas—and how this case catalysed the creation of the national AMBER Alert system. The article weaves historical context with emotional resonance and systemic impact.
My Role
Conducted research into the Amber Hagerman case and its broader ramifications, including the evolution of public alert systems.
Crafted a narrative that balances respectful storytelling with factual clarity and broader social commentary.
Highlighted key moments such as Diane Simone’s initial concept for broadcast alerts and the nationwide rollout of AMBER Alerts.
Exerpt
“After Amber’s funeral, it wasn’t long before massage therapist Diane Simone, an ‘ordinary woman and mother,’ called a local radio station with an idea. If the local media could issue weather alerts that interrupted television and radio broadcasts, why couldn’t they do the same for abducted children? The idea won mass support … Later in 1996, America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response alert system … went nationwide.”
Notes / Intended Impact
lluminates a pivotal moment in U.S. public safety history by showing how one tragic event transformed media, technology, and policy.
Demonstrates my ability to write sensitively about real-world issues while maintaining narrative engagement and clarity.
Echoes of Salem: The Story of the West Memphis Three and Killing of a Trio of Boys
Brief
A deeply researched piece that explores how cultural fear and moral panic in the 1990s shaped the prosecution of the West Memphis Three. The feature weaves historical context, investigative detail, and the tragic murder case of three boys in Arkansas—all under the lens of societal hysteria.
My Role
Framed the narrative within the backdrop of 1990s America—including the “Satanic Panic,” metal and goth subcultures, and societal misunderstanding.
Crafted a respectful, immersive narrative describing the tragedy, the investigation, and broader cultural dynamics.
Balanced storytelling with journalistic rigor to highlight systemic bias, flawed police work, and the human consequences of panic-driven justice.
Exerpt
“To understand the story of the ‘West Memphis Three,’ it’s important to remember the cultural atmosphere that was prevalent throughout America in the mid-1990s. There was a sense of disconnect from society… Goths, punks and skaters were in the ascendency, and Middle America was horrified.”
Notes / Intended Impact
Illuminates how fear and moral panic can distort justice, leading to wrongful convictions.
Demonstrates my ability to elevate true crime writing through cultural backdrop, empathy, and narrative structure.
Showcases mastery of long-form storytelling with sensitivity and context.
05
/05
Entertainment Writing
I’ve covered entertainment news, written reviews, and conducted celebrity and creative industry interviews. This work sharpened my ability to write with speed and accuracy, adapt to shifting trends, and capture the voice of a passionate online audience.
Every Upcoming Star Trek Show and Movie, Ranked by Anticipation
Brief
A fan-focused feature for WinterIsComing.net published on February 20, 2022, surveying the most anticipated Star Trek content—including new series like Section 31 and Strange New Worlds, upcoming seasons of Picard, animated shows like Lower Decks and Prodigy, and even speculative projects like Ceti Alpha V and a potential live-action Trek comedy. The article offers a ranked look ahead at what 2022 and beyond could bring for Trek fans.
My Role
Compiled the most talked-about Star Trek projects across film and TV, structuring the piece as a ranked, narrative-driven countdown.
Balanced fan insight with up-to-date development news.
Wrote in a tone designed to engage fan communities—mixing enthusiasm with critical perspective.
Exerpt
“2022 is set to be one of the most significant years in the history of Star Trek… we not only have new episodes of established shows like Picard and Discovery, but also new series like Section 31 and Strange New Worlds, as well as more from animated shows Lower Decks and Prodigy.”
Notes / Intended Impact
This piece showcases my ability to anticipate fan interest and package franchise trends into a compelling, easy-to-digest feature. It’s a strong example of how I blend fandom knowledge with editorial storytelling.
Interview: Alfred Enoch on Raych’s Arc and Foundation’s Deeper Themes
Brief
Conducted a two-part exclusive interview series with Alfred Enoch (Raych in Foundation) for WinterIsComing.net. The first piece dives into the evolution of Raych’s character arc—from loyal son to apparent killer—while the second explores the broader themes Foundation addresses, like legacy, science denial, and societal responsibility. Together, these articles offer both character insight and cultural reflection.
My Role
Crafted thoughtful interview questions to draw out nuanced reflections on acting, narrative dynamics, and thematic resonance.
Captured complex emotional arcs and philosophical ideas, giving readers both an inside look at the character development and the show’s wider thematic ambitions.
Exerpt
From Raych’s story arc:
“It was a joy to play the arc that saw his character go from his father’s ally to an apparent killer… Raych is effectively trying to stay on top… he knows he can’t say what he wants to say.”
From Deeper themes of Foundation:
“There are so many ideas… the struggle of the individual in the context of legacy… duty and responsibility… How you navigate those tensions—that’s always a theme… everyone will take something different.”
Notes / Intended Impact
Blending personal storytelling with philosophical commentary, this two-article interview showcases my ability to engage on both narrative and intellectual levels and interview important individuals, putting their words into narriative.
©2025 Michael East