Welcome to THE WELL-FED E-PUB!
The companion
monthly ezine to the quadruple-award-winning how-to
guide, ÒThe Well-Fed WriterÓ (http://www.wellfedwriter.com). Serving up food
for thought and tasty tips for the prospering FLCW*. Come on in, sit anywhere
and bring your appetite!
*FLCW, peppered
throughout the ezine, stands for ÒFreelance
Commercial WriterÓ—anyone who freelances for
businesses (vs. writing magazine articles, short stories, poetry, etc.),
typically earns $50-125+ an hour, and is the sole focus of this
e-newsletter.
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VOLUME
11, ISSUE 12 – DECEMBER 2012
Publishing
the first Tuesday of every month since May 2002
Read
it Online at: http://www.wellfedwriter.com/ezine/dec2012.html
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THE
WELL-FED ÒHOLIDAY BUFFETÓ IS OPEN (BUT ONLY UNTIL 12/20/12)!
Two
dynamite Ò2-in-1Ó holiday gift packages (+ F.R.E.E Priority shipping) for you
AND the aspiring FLCWÕer on your gift list! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/holidaybuffet.shtml.
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THIS
MONTH ONLY! ÒPROFITABLE – BY DESIGN!Ó EBOOK – 25% OFF!
Get
all the Òhow-toÓ on creating your own lucrative, long-lasting and
low-maintenance partnerships with graphic designers—and save 25%! But
ONLY until 12/31/12! Details here: http://www.wellfedwriter.com/partnerwithdesignersebook.shtml.
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ATTN: WESTERN OHIO FLCWÕS & SELF-PUBBERS!
– IÕM HEADED YOUR WAY!
IÕm talking on self-publishing & commercial
writing near Dayton, OH on 12/27/12.
Cost $5! Come join us—details at http://wellfedwriter.com/seminars.shtml
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NEW 1-ON-1 COACHING PROGRAMS: SAMPLE/SITE REVIEW
& ÒSIDECARÓ!
Low-cost peace of mind and guidance: http://wellfedwriter.com/mentoring.shtml.
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Check out The WELL-FED
WRITER BLOG! Weigh in on ÒWhy Estimating Copywriting Projects is Like Learning
to Play TennisÓ; Ò5 Reasons You ArenÕt Where You Want to Be
as a Commercial FreelancerÓ; and more! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog.
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I DESPERATELY (YEAH,
REALLY!) NEED ALL E-PUB COURSES!
Landed a great client? Used
a successful marketing strategy? Tapped a lucrative market or unusual project
type? Got a powerful biz-building tip? A cool success story?
I need MAIN COURSES (500-600 words; query first), GREENS (200-300 words), TIPS
(150-200) and SUCCESS STORIES (100-300). Send to peter@wellfedwriter.com.
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THIS
MONTHÕS MENU:
I. APPETIZER: GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF
SELF-EMPLOYMENT!
Study Affirms the Fast Growth and High
Satisfaction of Independent Workers
II. ÒFIELDÓ GREENS: THE ÒCOLD-CALL
180Ó—FROM LOATHER TO LOVER
Budding FLCW Changes Tune on Cold Calling;
Has New Tool in Biz-Building Box!
III. MAIN ÒMEATÓ COURSE: ARE YOU
TUNED INTO RADIO OPPORTUNITIES?
MD FLCW (& Radio Host) On How to
Maximize Radio as a Business-Builder!
IV. DESSERT: Sweet Success Stories and Tips (Two-Fer!)
Bay Area FLCW Lands Gig Only After Her Planetary Chart
Passes Muster with Client!
TIP: Ideas for Landing Work Are All About Keeping Your Radar
Up!
V. COFFEE, MINTS AND
TOOTHPICKS
- MORE WORK WITH LESS EFFORT? New Ebook
Serves Up the ÒHow-ToÓ!
- THE WELL-FED E-PUB
NEEDS ALL COURSES!
- The WELL-FED WRITER
BLOG is RockinÕ! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog
- AWAI Copywriting (& Other) Courses: Register Here, Get
Bonus CD!
- How Can
My Mentoring Service Serve You?
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I. APPETIZER: GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF
SELF-EMPLOYMENT!
Study Affirms the Fast Growth and High
Satisfaction of Independent Workers
Recently got a tasty bit of good news about the freelancing
trend from Portland, OR FLCW Mike Russell (http://www.pivotalwriting.com).
According to the ÒState of Independence in AmericaÓ Study (just Google that
name), from MBO Partners:
1) NEARLY A MILLION MORE: Since 2011, the independent
workforce has grown from 16 million to more than 16.9 million and is
expected to hit 23 million by 2017.
2) INDEPENDENCE IS SATISFYING: 71% of
respondents indicated having high levels of satisfaction with their
independent lifestyle, vs. 60% from the 2011 report.
3) INDEPENDENT WORKERS ARE LESS DAUNTED: Not only are
more Americans choosing independent work life, they have less worry about
finding new work, marketing their businesses, and sustaining an independent
career into the future.
Yes, working for yourself takes strong stuff, but if youÕve
chosen this path, youÕre part of a huge and rapidly growing trend. And, all I
can say is, ÒYou want to be here.Ó
Sure, everyoneÕs got different obligations, and hence, different
life options. But, if you know youÕre really good at something (maybe writing?)
people will pay a good wage for, then you will ALWAYS have more job security in
self-employment than youÕll ever have in the salaried kind. One final
noteÉ
DonÕt rob yourself of this life by believing, ÒI donÕt have
the marketing personality, so IÕll never succeed.Ó As I say in the book (AND believe
with every fiber of my being): ÒBeing successful as a freelancer is far more
about a PROCESS than a PERSONALITY; itÕs far more about a lot of things you
have to DO than some way you have to BE.Ó If youÕre going to believe something,
believe THAT. On that happy note, letÕs eat!
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STUCK FOR A GIFT FOR AN ASPIRING WRITER? Or yourself? The
Holiday Buffet, offering Ò2-in1Ó gift bundles for you AND your Ògiftee,Ó is open until
12/20/12. Check it out at http://www.wellfedwriter.com/holidaybuffet.shtml.
And donÕt forget: my popular ebook on building profitable partnerships with
designers, (http://www.wellfedwriter.com/partnerwithdesignersebook.shtml),
ÒProfitable – By Design!Ó is 25% off until 12/31/12. If youÕve been
waiting to save, grab it now!
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II. ÒFIELDÓ GREENS: THE ÒCOLD-CALL
180Ó—FROM LOATHER TO LOVER
Budding FLCW Changes Tune on Cold Calling;
Has New Tool in Biz-Building Box!
Got this encouraging account of an initial foray into cold
calling from Chicago FLCW Mark Underdahl. ItÕs not
about smashing success (yet); itÕs about getting beyond oneÕs aversion to a
historically proven prospecting strategy, and discovering youÕre capable of it
after all. Course, none of this surprises me. When youÕre a professional
calling other professionals about a professional service YOUÕRE offering, itÕs
a whole different ballgame than your garden-varietyÉahemÉÒtelemarketer.Ó Thanks, Mark!
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I always used to HATE cold calling. It could be the #1
reason why I didnÕt continue with the few sales jobs I had in my work history.
In fact, when I read your thoughts in TWFW about cold calling, I thought,
"Well, thatÕs a method I can skip."
However, your book still went on to encourage it. So
then I figured it canÕt hurt, and maybe I should try it. Your approach was way
different than I had seen before. I wasnÕt getting business any other way,
not even a lead. I took your basic presentation, tailored it for me, and
after a few tries, it felt really natural—something I couldn't seem to
master in other situations. In short, IÕve actually ENJOYED the process.
Now, IÕve only made fewer than 30 calls, and over half
of them graphic designers. I got five leads, all of whom
agreed to keep me on their list. I emailed a few of them four samples.
That's obviously not translating into jobs just yet, but for me, this is very
encouraging. Thanks again for this book. I know I'll refer to it constantly.
It's given me even more ideas for services to offer, that I'm pretty confident
I can do.
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III. MAIN ÒMEATÓ COURSE: ARE YOU
TUNED INTO RADIO OPPORTUNITIES?
MD FLCW (& Radio Host) On How to
Maximize Radio as a Business-Builder!
Great piece on getting the most
from radio appearances from Baltimore FLCW (and radio host) Wendy Meyeroff. When Wendy first
contacted me with this idea, she wrote: ÒIÕm amazed at how many people,
especially small-business owners, do NOT take advantage of this opportunity,
and if they do, how ill-prepared they are. Guesting on radio is great for
finding new business. It's a tool often overlooked, especially now with social
media. It can cost little or even nothing.Ó And WendyÕs
looking for guests!
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I started hosting a radio show in August 2011, called ÒPiggy
Bank PromotionsÓ (http://www.piggybankpromotions.com).
The show is designed to help small business owners and so-called ÒsolopreneursÓ market their businesses as effectively as
their much better funded competition, but on tighter budgets.
Sitting in the hostÕs chair at PBP (instead of pitching
ideas, which is what IÕve done on the PR side) has shown me what it takes to be
a successful radio guest. So hereÕs a simple 10-point checklist to get you on
the air and make your advice worth listening to:
1) GO LOOKING FOR THE GIG: Sounds obvious, right? But donÕt
bet on it. I canÕt tell you how many small business owners dismiss the value of
radio as an extremely cost-effective way to promote their business.
2) FOCUS ON LOCAL MARKETS: Odds are, youÕre not ready to go
national, so just Google Òradio, (your city)Ó and youÕll find a list to start
with. On your first few shows, you may be more nervous, so if youÕre with a
small local outlet and you goof up, itÕs easier to learn there and move ahead,
and THEN be ready for a major audience.
3) CONTACT THE RIGHT WAY: I love talking to people, but donÕt
generally have time. Because I typically ask people to reach me by email, youÕre
not going to make friends by calling me. Reach a talk show host in their
preferred manner.
4) PICK A SPECIFIC TOPIC: I get too many generic pitches
like, ÒI can talk about Social Media.Ó Yeah, so? Which
aspect of social media? So you can discuss LinkedIn. OK, fine, but what about
it? Starting and moderating a LinkedIn group? 5 specific tips for gaining recognition as a LinkedIn leader?
Hosts prefer specific topics.
5) PREPARE A BACKGROUNDER: I always send upcoming guests an
email reminder of the showÕs date and call-in info, and ask for a bio (2-3
sentences) along with several questions theyÕd like me to ask. If a program
doesnÕt ask for that, just send an FAQÕs sheet. They may use some, or it might
spark some ideas in their mind about what to ask.
6) DO NOT BAIL ON THEM! Once youÕve booked a date, keep it.
You never know when IÕll get bigger. Piggy Bank has grown by 300% since it
launched and besides, I have a CBS colleague. Together, there are options that
can bring you 25,000 listeners.
7) BE PREPARED: Even if you can prepare questions ahead of
time, expect segues, additional questions, perhaps interruptions. Have extra
info to give, like stats or examples to embellish your talk, but donÕt sound
like a commercial. Remember theyÕll mention your bio and your contact info.
8) ITÕS OKAY TO SAY, ÒI DONÕT KNOWÓ: You canÕt be an expert
in everything. But if you have ideas where listeners can get the info theyÕre
seeking, thatÕs great.
9) CAN YOU PROVIDE ANY OFFERS? For example, on the PBP
website, youÕll find articles youÕre welcome to download and keep, plus a short
booklet on how to do some of your own PR. Giveaways can be solid handouts (e.g.,
an ebook) or even a service (like a 30-minute free consultation
or review).
10) DO THE FOLLOW-UP: If the showÕs pre-recorded, ask when
itÕll air. Then help promote it through your LinkedIn, website, Twitter and/or
Facebook pages (also great for pre-show announcements.) After, send a thank-you
to the host and/or press liaison. Always ask if you need to get special
permissions to use the recording as a giveaway.
The bottom line: as small business owners, we canÕt just
expect the clients to come to us, no matter how good we are. So donÕt ignore
this great promotional outlet. Good luck!
Wendy Meyeroff is the owner of WM
Medical Communications, Inc., in the Baltimore area. She has been providing
copywriting, custom content and marketing strategies to national clients since
1987. Her wide range of expertise in health communications includes solopreneurs, hospitals, Health IT, non-profits and Fortune
500. For more information, visit http://www.wmmedcomm.com.
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PB Note: WendyÕs looking for guests of two kinds on PBP—peopleÉ
1) With knowledge on a specific marketing tool that even the
small biz on a tight budget can embrace. For example, Ò5 tips on using LinkedIn
effectivelyÓ; ÒJudging if YouTube is right for youÓ; ÒChoosing/using a graphic
designerÓ; ÒWhen doing web Ôon the cheapÕ hurts more than helps,Ó etc.
2) Who can talk about business/lifestyle resolutions that
give you time or free up money for marketing. We had one guest on time
management, another on caregiving.
Pitch Wendy at wendy@piggybankpromotions.com
(put ÒPBP ideaÓ in subject line).
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IV. DESSERT: Sweet Success Stories and Tips (Two-Fer!)
Bay Area FLCW Lands Gig Only After Her Planetary Chart
Passes Muster with Client!
TIP: Ideas for Landing Work Are All About Keeping Your Radar
Up!
Big thanks to Bay Area FLCW Linda Jay Geldens
(http://www.LindaJayGeldens.com)
for the following combo kooky success story/tip. Can you top this? IÕd be
surprised. And her tips on landing new work point to keeping your eyes and ears
open and your radar up. There really IS work all around us if we just take the
time to notice. Enjoy!
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Hi, Peter: I recently got a new client with several big
editing projects, some of which will involve quite a bit of writing. What makes
this story interesting is the unusual requirement I had to meet in order to
secure the gig: the author asked potential editors and writers to email
their birth dates (day, month, year), plus the time and the city or town of
their birth, if known.
Apparently, the editor sheÕd worked with last year had a
harsh, hurtful style, and was completely out of sync with her Òwriting
psyche.Ó This year, the author decided to base her choice
on her astrological advisorÕs review of the competing editorsÕ
astrological facts, to ensure that hers and the editorÕs planetary charts were
in alignment!
Fortunately for me, everything was copasetic between our
charts and I got the job. We're actually having a lot of fun working
together. Still, I bet that only in California would I have to jump
through such an out-of-this-world hoop to secure a free-lance job!
Here are a few examples of creative approaches IÕve used to
find interesting clients:
1) I once attended a computer conference in Silicon Valley;
the Apple Computer internal newsletter was prominently featured on a table at
the back of the room. My well-trained editorÕs eye zeroed in on a plethora
of errors in the text. I set up an appointment with the editor, and simply
said, ÒYou need me!Ó as I placed my edited pages in front of him. He
hired me on the spot, and I was the Apple Computer internal
newsletterÕs freelance editor/writer for over a year.
2) Occasionally I email companies (in a humorous, tactful
way) about mistakes IÕve spotted on their Websites, mentioning the fact that
I'm an experienced proofreader. This tactic has led to a
few assignments.
3) The CEO of a training company was the featured speaker at
a professional dinner I attended. Intrigued by her ideas, her
humor, and her delivery, I walked up to her after the talk and asked if I
could work with her team as a freelance writer and editor. ThatÕs how I
became her go-to person in the editorial arena six years ago, and I still am.
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V. COFFEE, MINTS AND
TOOTHPICKS
- MORE WORK WITH LESS EFFORT? New Ebook
Serves Up the ÒHow-ToÓ!
- THE WELL-FED E-PUB
NEEDS ALL COURSES!
- The WELL-FED WRITER
BLOG is RockinÕ! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog
- AWAI Copywriting (& Other) Courses: Register Here, Get
Bonus CD!
- How Can
My Mentoring Service Serve You?
****************************************
MORE WORK WITH LESS EFFORT? Ebook Serves Up ÒHow-ToÓ (& for 25% OFF!)
ThatÕs not hype. ItÕs how my business has worked for the
better part of 18 years, thanks to some juicy partnerships with graphic
designers. The result? 1-2 jobs virtually every month with little or no effort
on my part. Get all the details (and for 25% off until 12/31/12) at http://www.wellfedwriter.com/partnerwithdesignersebook.shtml.
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IÕM
DESPERATELY LOW ON ALL WELL-FED E-PUB COURSES!
Got a great strategy,
approach or specific expertise youÕre willing to share? Turn it into a Feature
(MAIN COURSE) for the EPUB (500-600 words; query first). ALSO, send your ÒGREENSÓ
(200-300 words), TIPS (150-200) and SUCCESS STORIES (100-300) to peter@wellfedwriter.com. Archived issues at http://www.wellfedwriter.com/ezine.shtml.
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The
WELL-FED WRITER BLOG is RockinÕ! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog
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AWAI COPYWRITING (& OTHER) COURSES: Register Here, Get Your Choice of Bonus CD Program! Six-Figure
Copywriting, Graphic Design, Internet Writing, Fundraising, Health Market and
more! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/awai.shtml.
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HOW CAN MY MULTIPLE MENTORING PROGRAMS SERVE YOU?
For details and testimonials, visit http://www.wellfedwriter.com/mentoring.shtml.
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