Hello!
I am Ian R Close – a freelance content creator and digital marketing coordinator currently based in Scotland. I have also lived in New Zealand and Portugal. I am passionate about enriching travel experiences, discovering interesting cultures and great tasting coffee (a V60 filter with the single origin El Salvador, please).
I am currently working on a documentary about feminism in the Middle East. I am also setting up a series of photography-based tours in Edinburgh, having previously run a successful photography tour in Lisbon.
Why Pengwings? I have a weird walk which is sometimes compared to the way penguins walk, so I’ve developed an affinity with the animals. I also just really wanted a logo that involved a penguin with airplane wings.
This blog features posts about my three main passions, all coming together to hopefully tell a larger story of how you can thrive through travel, cultural understanding and coffee.
Want to check out my other work? I’ve attached links to some of my writing and video work below.
Freelance Portfolio
Blog and Article Writing
Where Sidewalks End
What to expect when visiting a hippy commune in New Zealand (February 2019) – https://www.wheresidewalksend.com/hippy-commune-new-zealand/
Wone Internship
Q+A with Rafic Daud from UnDandy (August 2018) – http://wone-internship.com/qa-with-rafic-daud-from-undandy-by-ian-robert-close/
Qweerist
Queer Travel: a Guide to Glasgow For The LGBTQ+ Community (July 2018) – http://www.qweerist.com/news/queer-travel-a-guide-to-glasgow-for-the-lgbtq-community/
Visiting Russia: Is It Safe for LGBTQ+ Travellers? (June 2018) – http://www.qweerist.com/culture/visiting-russia-is-it-safe-for-lgbtq-travellers/
The Podcast Host
Keyword SEO for Podcasters: How To Help More Listeners Find Your Show (April 2018) – https://www.thepodcasthost.com/promotion/keyword-seo-for-podcasters/
Shut Up And Go
I’m from Scotland, and here are my thoughts on Brexit – https://shutupandgo.travel/here-are-my-thoughts-on-brexit
WayWiser
New Zealand Mountain Safety Council: Tips for Tramping on Shaky Ground (October 2016) – https://waywiser.co.nz/mountain-safety-council-tramping-on-shaky-ground/
Kettle Mag
’71: A fast-paced account of the height of the Troubles (October 2014) – https://www.kettlemag.co.uk/71-a-fast-paced-account-of-the-height-of-the-troubles/
The majority of Scots want devo-max – but what will get get? (October 2014) – https://www.kettlemag.co.uk/the-majority-of-scots-want-devo-max-but-what-will-we-get/
Is Eurostar a great way to travel the continent? (September 2014 – written for Eurostar in exchange for a free return journey to Brussels) – https://www.kettlemag.co.uk/is-eurostar-a-great-way-to-travel-the-continent/
Dare You Double Up? How to Work Tailored Denim (August 2014) – https://www.kettlemag.co.uk/dare-you-double-up-how-to-work-tailored-denim/
Five conflicts that are never making the news (August 2014) – https://www.kettlemag.co.uk/five-conflicts-that-are-never-making-the-news/
Website Content Writing
Whisky Auctioneer
Laphroaig (June 2018) – https://www.whiskyauctioneer.com/distillery/laphroaig
Glenfarclas (June 2018) – https://www.whiskyauctioneer.com/distillery/glenfarclas
Glenrothes (June 2018) – https://www.whiskyauctioneer.com/distillery/glenrothes
Dickins Edinburgh
Stockbridge Area Guide (September 2014) – https://www.dickins.co.uk/areas/staying-in-stockbridge-edinburgh/
Fountainbridge Area Guide (September 2014) – https://www.dickins.co.uk/areas/staying-in-fountainbridge-edinburgh/
Central New Town Area Guide (September 2014) – https://www.dickins.co.uk/areas/guide-to-central-new-town-edinburgh/
Video
Edinburgh Tool Library
Edinburgh Culture Review
Okareka Dance Company
Ghost Writing
Due to the nature of these projects I cannot upload them to my portfolio, however I have been given permission to talk about them and in some cases can send first draft examples privately.
Travel Content Collective (September 2018 – Present)
I write travel related content about day trips and tours that can be made from various locations across the world.
Boostly (July 2018 – Present)
I currently assist Boostly with writing content for their blog. Content is focussed on the area of hospitality marketing – usually about hotels and other holiday rentals.
Guidora Guides (June 2018 – August 2018)
I wrote travel guides for Guidora giving travel tips for two separate cities outside of Europe. These were then sold on Amazon.
TMRP SEO (June 2018 – Present)
I assist them by writing SEO product lists of around 3000 words per article in a variety of topics from toys to leaf mulchers.
Edwards Millers (May 2018 – August 2018)
A small digital marketing agency based in the UK, I assisted them with writing newsletter content for a variety of small business clients.
Digital Marketing
I have also provided digital marketing services for:
Hollabox (June 2018)
I advised Hollabox on their Instagram video strategy, providing a two hour consultation in how to maximise advertising budgets and increase organic reach for their content on the platform.
Okareka Dance Company (June 2015 – May 2018)
An Auckland, NZ based dance company, I assisted with their social media, website management and interactive marketing.
500 Miles (August – December 2014)
An Edinburgh, UK based charity providing prostheses for patients in Malawi and Zambia. I helped them with their Facebook, Twitter and Google+ campaigns for their fundraising event.
