clue communications =
technical writing + technical editing
+ websites

Clue Communications is a consulting firm specializing in technical writing, technical editing, and websites.

No matter what the audience, novice user to technically savvy, no matter what the medium, paper manuals to online tours, we create deliverables that are clear, concise, and creative.

Let us solve your documentation puzzles.

Clue Communications was established in 1996 by Colleen S. Pars, an
award-winning technical communicator with over 20 years experience. Colleen’s strength is her unique combination of technical skill, artistic talent, and attention to detail. Colleen graduated summa cum laude from the University of Illinois-Urbana and has also attended the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and the School of the Art Institute in Chicago.

Skills

Tools: Acrobat, C, COBOL, CorelDRAW, CSS, Dreamweaver, Excel, HTML, Information Mapping, JavaScript, Photoshop Elements, PowerPoint, RoboHelp, SEO Strategy, SharePoint, Smalltalk, Visio, Word, XHTML, XML

“...have never seen a better job of documenting how a system got created and how it was designed.”

Awards: Multiple Awards of Excellence, Achievement, and Merit from the Society for Technical Communication (STC) Chicago Chapter

Deliverables Produced: Brochures, Class/Method/Function Libraries, Complex Graphics such as Network Schematics, End-User Documentation, Getting Started Manuals, Installation Guides, Help Desk Support Manuals, Job Aids, Newsletters, Online Help, Online Product Tours, Marketing Materials, Programmer Documentation, Quick Reference Guides, Reference Manuals, Release Notes, Search Engine Optimized Content, Style Guides, Technical Specifications, Templates, Troubleshooting Guides, Websites, White Papers, Wikis

“I am elated right now! I just used Colleen’s instructions...a huge thank you, thank you, thank you for all your hard work. The instructions could not have been any easier to follow or understand.”

Industry Experience: Advertising, Automotive, Banking, Equine, Finance, Human Resources, Insurance, Law, Real Estate, Software Development, Telecommunications, Training

“Good document. Good format (like the pictures). Good work. Thanks again.”

Management Experience: Supervised multi-manual, multi-department, multi-writer projects from conception to completion.

Services

  • Technical Writing
    Our strong technical skills, documentation experience, artistic talent, and attention to detail give us many arrows in our writing quiver.

    We can write Programmer Documentation for the savviest developer including: Class/Method/Function Libraries, Complex Graphics such as Network Schematics, Help Desk Support Manuals, Reference Manuals, Style Guides, Technical Specifications, Templates, and Troubleshooting Guides.

    We can write End-User Documentation targeted to the skill-level of your customers including: Getting Started Manuals, Installation Guides, Job Aids, Online Help, Online Product Tours, Quick Reference Guides, Release Notes, and Wikis.

    We can write Marketing Materials that showcase your product in the best possible light including: Brochures, Newsletters, and White Papers.
  • Technical Editing
    Don’t like to write? Top of your engineering class, but slept through rhetoric? Think the Chicago Manual of Style is a fashion magazine?

    We get excited about an elegantly crafted sentence and can offer you Technical Editing Services ranging from a simple copy edit to a complete rewrite.

    We can make your documents clear, concise, and creative. We can employ a consistent voice and visual style. We can add graphics to bring clarity to your ideas.
  • Websites
    Let us leverage our technical and creative skills to build you a unique website. Our specialty is sites for smaller businesses that help establish a professional image, generate new sales, or educate visitors about services.

    Our technical writing background helps us to give you a site that is easy to navigate, targeted to your audience, and with well-organized, Search Engine Optimized content.

    Our creative background allows us to provide a solid design, creative flair, and compelling graphics. We can incorporate your existing logo, or create a new one just for you.

Samples