Keywords: copywriting, competition, coaching, marketing, freelance
As a copywriter and copywriter’s coach, it’s my responsibility to offer powerful, on-target advice to my “mentees.” For them as well as myself…and for you…I keep a keen watch on the world of freelance copywriting to pick up on changes and trends.I spent last month musing over numerous clues, statements, […]
Keywords: copywriting, freelance, negotiations
There are two financially ruinous negotiating tactics often made by beginning copywriters.
An example of financially ruinous negotiating tactic #1 comes from a successful book author who is adding copywriting to his writing skill set. Here, paraphrased, is a comment he made to me:
“My client seems unhappy with the work. I’m thinking […]
Keywords: copywriting, freelance, copyright
I was recently approached by a copywriter who was confused about the proper use of copyright. He explained that the client had hired him for work, then canceled the job part way through, paying him for work done to date.
Perhaps because the work was unfinished, and thinking
there may be some future […]
Keywords: Copywriting, freelance, testimonials
A beginning copywriter recently asked the question, “How can my client quickly generate testimonials?”
The answer is the same for her client as it is for us: You must develop them!
I must confess that in my own copywriting business I was lazy in this department and had to scramble once I decided to […]
Keywords: unique selling proposition, copywriters, copywriting
At the foundation of every selling message, whether a brochure, print ad, or direct mail piece, should be a unique selling proposition (commonly known in marketing circles as the “USP”.
The USP tells your prospect what differentiates your product from everyone else’s in your category. And it’s the single most […]
Keywords:
In more than 20 years of copywriting for both business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) clients, I have found mid-size and large B2B clients to be generally easier to work with, and more professional than B2C. (I do not recommend working for small business in either B2B or B2C.)
In my experience, B2B companies tend be […]
Keywords: copywriter, negotiations, fees, clients
In this article I’ll share two financially ruinous negotiating tactics often made by beginning copywriters. Both came from my coaching students just this week.
Financially ruinous negotiating tactic #1 comes from a successful book author who is adding copywriting to his writing skill set. Here, paraphrased, is a comment he made to […]
Keywords: copywriting, freelance, moonlighting
There’s a lot of overtly self-serving marketing taking place in the “new copywriter’s space” of the Internet, and I don’t want to add to that.
So permit me to give you my very considered perspective on the question “Can I transition into copywriting by moonlighting?”
I’m happy to report that the answer to […]
Keywords: concepting, ideas, copywriting, coach
For many copywriters, correctly pricing their work is a constant struggle. When it’s time to offer a price, a myriad of negative influences - both internal and external - descends upon them. Sometimes the result is disastrous.
I know this from personal experience. At the beginning of my freelance career, some […]
Keywords: copywriting, niche market, coach
In times past, copywriters typically wrote for niches with a high need and heavy respect for copywriters. The obvious places to look for work were direct marketing agencies, corporate marcom (marketing communications) departments, and publishers, to name a few.
But today, work opportunities for copywriters have expanded greatly. That’s because clients became […]
Keywords: copywriting, freelance, direct marketing
Recently a copywriter named Chris asked me what she should do when a direct marketing campaign fails. “How do you bounce back in your freelance business after a client royally screws up a DM campaign?”
The short answer is that no copywriter wins all the time. The law of averages in the […]
Keywords: copywriting, freelance, marketing, lead generation, website
Freelancers who are trying to build their portfolios occasionally asked me, “What can I do with good work that was never used?”
The good news is, you should use it in your portfolio, if it’s work you’re proud of. Marketing professionals are used to seeing work in all of its […]
Keywords: copywriting, freelance, finding clients
“Come down on price on this one and there’ll be more work to come.”
This come-on is a favorite of potential new clients who either have no money, or are justifiably trying to keep costs down.
Either way it doesn’t matter to the copywriter because both circumstances ask the copywriter to sacrifice his […]
Keywords: Copywriting, freelance, marketing, internet marketing, website
Over the years, I’ve had several copywriters ask me how important it is to have an “agency quality” website. My answer is always the same: it’s very important if you are prospecting other than locally.
When you prospect locally, the client can meet you personally. But when you prospect […]
Keywords: copywriting, copywriters, pricing, tools, marketing, fees
In my work as a copywriter’s coach I often talk with new and even seasoned copywriters who express their deeply hidden yet oft-nagging fear of “not measuring up.”
I explain that every copywriter has to go through this (sometimes long) phase, and tell my own story of crippling insecurity.
My worst […]
Keywords: copywriters, fees, contracts, coach, freelance
This is valuable content from my free online newsletter, the FREELANCER’S BUSINESS BULLETIN. In the April 2004 issue I shared with my subscribers the secret to getting at least 50% of your freelance fee up front, plus a whole host of other important requirements for your freelancer’s business.
It was […]
Keywords: copywriter, copywriting, clients
In my life, I’ve had two freelance careers, one that limped along miserably for a number of years, and one that took off like a rocket after only three months of marketing.
What happened in between was eight year of excitement, growth and misery at a high-powered direct response agency, and a […]
Keywords: Copywriting, freelance, marketing, networking
I want to share with you the two most powerful marketing methods I’ve found for the copywriter. And they are (drum roll please)…direct mail and… networking!
In my coaching program I have my students go through an intensive 24-session web/mail marketing program that gets them the high quality leads they need for […]
Keywords: copywriting, freelance, high-paying jobs, lead-generation, B2B
Where The Money Is:
For freelancers who are primarily interested in earning a very high income, it’s smart to look to industries that mail very large quantities. Industries that mail very large quantities can do so only if they have a very large pool of buyers.
And consumers are […]
Keywords: copywriting, freelance, marketing, e-zine, internet marketing
I want to share with you the solution to a marketing problem recently expressed by three of my coaching students…and that is how to create a powerful online newsletter (ezine) for cultivating quality clients.
I realize this is not the only source of information you can find on how to […]