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 1 – MAY 2012 – Our 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY!
Publishing
the first Tuesday of every month since May 2002
Read
it Online at: http://www.wellfedwriter.com/ezine/may2012.html
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ATTN:
ATLANTA & THE WORLD; THREE WORKSHOPS IN MAY & JUNE!
IÕll
be delivering three workshops (two ÒvirtualÓ and one live) over the next few
months. Check out the Non-Fiction Writers Conference, the Self-Publishing
Online Conference, and a workshop in Atlanta. Details: http://www.wellfedwriter.com/seminars.shtml.
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ÒWARM
EMAIL PROSPECTINGÓ PROGRAM NOW LIVE!
Ed
GandiaÕs killer program promises to make prospecting
less stressful, more profitable, and end the Òfeast-or-famineÓ cycle: http://warmemailprospecting.com/dap/a/?a=189
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PARTNER
WITH DESIGNERS FOR A LOW-EFFORT FLOW OF WRITING JOBS!
Details
here: http://www.wellfedwriter.com/partnerwithdesignersebook.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! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog.
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THIS
MONTHÕS MENU:
I. WELCOME APPETIZER: A PILE OF BUSY COMMERCIAL WRITERS!
Happy Trends: Yours Truly Hearing from More & More Overloaded
FLCWÕs
II. ÒFIELDÓ GREENS: THERE'S MONEY IN TESTI(MONI)ALS!
Chicago FLCW Reminds Us How
Testimonials Help Set Us Apart
III. MAIN ÒMEATÓ COURSE: MISSING AN EASY EXTRA INCOME STREAM?
WA Design Freelancer Serves Up a Smart Alternative Freelance Scenario
IV. DESSERT: Sweet
Success Stories and Tips
IA FLCW Lands Work From First Cold Call Ever Made (Two Years/2300
Calls Ago!)
TIP: OR FLCW Shares Demo for Low-Cost
Contact Management (CM) Program
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. WELCOME APPETIZER: A PILE OF BUSY COMMERCIAL WRITERS!
Happy Trends: Yours Truly Hearing from More & More Overloaded
FLCWÕs
Happily, IÕve
been hearing from a LOT more FLCWÕs out there, telling me how busy they are. In
the Dessert course of this issue, youÕll hear from a woman whoÕs landed so much
work from her cold-calling efforts that sheÕs working most every weekend.
IÕve got a
friend right here in Atlanta, whoÕs been a somewhat unintentional FLCW for six years.
She was let go from her position as director of corporate communications for a
$1 billion real estate development firm in 2006. She started freelancing to
make ends meet, while still searching for another full-time position.
Somewhere
along the way, she stopped looking for that job, realizing that doing so would
mean a serious reduction in her now-exponentially enhanced quality of life.
ItÕs a common tale. Anyway, sheÕs been absolutely buried of late, almost
unhealthily so, but chuckles at all the Òtimes-are-tough-for-writersÓ talk out
there.
Course, the
fact that she teaches a few business communications classes at a local
university each week, AND is building another business at the same time, adds
to her crush (ladies, if you use minerals make-up, check out her new product,
which slowly but surely, is getting traction; www.mineralsmate.com).
Same
Òtoo-busyÓ story from another writer, this one a woman in Ohio, whose story
will appear in a future E-PUB. She wrote to ask what she could do about being
so busy, sheÕs working all the time, had to cancel a weekend trip, etc.
After
sharing a scenario I suspect many would swap for, she said: ÒTruth is, there is
a ton of work out there. I donÕt think thereÕs ever been a better time for
writers. But you and I both know the work doesnÕt fall in your lap. It takes
effort to get the ball rolling.Ó
Yes it
does. I recently got an email from someone whoÕd read my book, but then tried
to build his business on the online jobs sites (a.k.a. Bottom-Feeder Central)
and content mills (i.e., the $5-per-article writing ghettos out there). AND
wrote asking how a writer could make a living when he had to compete with that.
Well, you
can make a living because, in our field, youÕre NOT competing with that. YouÕre
not bidding on job sites, where the jobs are few and the writers many (a recipe
for bargain-basement rates). WeÕre out there, ferreting out the work, because
well-paying jobs arenÕt advertised.
WeÕre
developing stronger, more varied skills that thousands of other writers donÕt
have, so we can stand out. Yes, all that takes a lot more effort, but as all these
stories illustrate, it can pay off in spades. On that happy note, let's eat!
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II. ÒFIELDÓ GREENS: THERE'S MONEY IN TESTI(MONI)ALS!
Chicago FLCW Reminds Us How
Testimonials Help Set Us Apart
Got this great piece about
the power of testimonials from veteran Chicago freelancer Jennifer Brown Banks,
pro blogger at http://penandprosper.blogspot.com/, columnist
at www.technorati.com, and managing editor of http://Coffeehouseforwriters.com. If youÕre not pursuing client testimonials as
you should, thisÕll help get those efforts on track!
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In todayÕs competitive writing climate, while strong
skills and an impressive resume and portfolio are essential, savvy writers
know they need every advantage they can get. Unique, well-crafted
testimonials posted to your site, when combined with other marketing
strategies, can give you that competitive edge, while boosting your
credibility and your bottom line. Why theyÕre effective:
Choosing a service provider can be daunting. With so
many writers offering similar services, and (in a tough economy), writing buyers
want to know:
1) Why should I choose you
to create my marketing communications materials?
2) What are your creative
strengths?
3) What separates you from
the competition?
Testimonials can answer those questions, giving
clients greater confidence in hiring you.
Here are 3 Tips to greater success through
testimonials:
1. BE CONVINCING: Show your
"swagger". Provide a variety of strong, impressive statements
that speak volumes about the diversity of your assignments,
client base and competencies.
2. BE STRATEGIC: Take control. Many clients
may be happy to sing your praises, but may have grueling schedules or an
inability to express themselves well enough on paper to adequately
prepare a testimonial that truly highlights your true worth.
The solution? Ask to do it for them. Have them complete
a satisfaction survey, or give them ÒguidedÓ questions
to identify your strengths and distinguishing qualities as a service
provider. Once completed, submit for their review and approval.
3. BE SPECIFIC: The more detailed, the better. For example, if you create Web
content, an effective testimonial might reflect the percentage of
increased traffic your "great articles" have generated, or gains
in readership for your client's site.
Note: With ghostwriting projects, writers may be
unable to reveal the identity of clients served (particularly high-profile ones).
In these cases, including initials and a title adds authenticity, while
maintaining confidentiality.
When done well, testimonials are a
cost-effective way to "work smarter, not harder,"
and get more visibility with minimal effort and expense.
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III. MAIN ÒMEATÓ COURSE: MISSING AN EASY EXTRA INCOME STREAM?
WA Design Freelancer Serves Up a Smart Alternative Freelance Scenario
Always love getting stuff from
Ferndale, WA designer (and former FLCW) Mike Klassen
(http://www.mikeklassen.com). MikeÕs the author of: ÒIncrease
Sales & Build Deeper Connections: Maximizing Your Content to Boost Sales
and Generate Better-Quality LeadsÓ (download at no charge at above
link). Here, Mike reminds us that there are other ways to get in the door of
clients who donÕt have the budget to hire us. Enjoy!
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I'm eight years into my freelance career. But it was only in
the last year that it occurred to me that if I'm skilled enough to handle
projects for clients, I'm skilled enough to give them great advice if they're
going to handle projects themselves.
Some businesses simply can't afford to hire you to write for
them. They may want to
hire you, but the budget just doesn't allow it. Or, they have someone already
on the payroll whoÕs Ògood enoughÓ at writing. You
know the type.
So while you COULD write that business off, why
not offer a consulting service to improve results and spare them some potential
embarrassment? Since you're not doing the actual writing, your rate should be
more attractive.
While I now work as a direct market designer, the consulting
benefits that both designers and writers can offer are the same. Here are some
of the benefits I list on my site:
1) Spotting
things they might miss or think should be obvious to the reader
2) Showing
them techniques to boost response and sales they might not know about
3) Helping
them past obstacles affecting the success of their marketing materials
Check out my consulting page to see how I did mine: http://mikeklassen.com/consulting/
Another benefit of consulting?
It gives a business an easier entry point to working with you. Maybe theyÕre
not sure they want to put a large project in your hands yet. Consulting allows
you to show your knowledge and better position yourself if they ever decide to
hire a freelancer.
I had one case this year where a client, after reading
my suggestions on his magalog, went ahead and
hired me to implement those suggestions. That was a consulting
fee and a project fee. As a writer, instead of hiring you to
start a project from scratch, you might just edit a piece theyÕve written.
They save a pretty penny and make sure that whatÕs going
out in front of customers and prospects has been
through a professional review (so they donÕt embarrass themselves).
No, it may not be as good as if you'd written it from the start, but
if that editing dramatically improves the piece (more than likely),
theyÕve gotten a taste of what a professional can deliver, and they might
just give you the whole project next time.
If you have the knowledge to do projects for clients, you're
more than capable of consulting for clients who insist on doing projects
themselves.
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IV.
DESSERT: Sweet Success Stories and Tips
IA FLCW Lands Work From
First Cold Call Ever Made (Two Years/2300 Calls Ago!)
TIP: OR FLCW Shares Demo
for Low-Cost Contact Management (CM) Program
Great
piece from Iowa FLCW Andrea Price (www.compasswriting.com)
about landing work from her first cold call ever (two years earlier), and the
power of cold calling in general to generate, in her case, almost too much
business! Note her comment about using cold calling because she didnÕt have a
big network to tap. Cold calling really CAN be the great equalizer for those
without a grapevine.
After Portland, OR
FLCW Mike Russell (http://www.pivotalwriting.com)
shares a great tip about an excellent, amazingly low-cost ($2 a month!) contact
management program (CM), and Mike even provides a helpful video demo. Thanks,
Mike! Good stuff.
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I just got hired by
the first person I ever cold called – almost two years
and 2300 calls ago! I stayed in touch through a series of follow-up calls,
mailings, and my e-newsletter. She hired me because her current writer was, as
she put it, Òabout to become unemployed.Ó You never know when one of your cold
calls will turn into money.
IÕve been getting
lots of other business from my calling efforts as well. After just over a year
in business, I landed my first big gig ($6000), and I just raised my prices
thanks to all the other projects that keep pouring in. IÕve been working every
day including weekends for months now just to keep up. My phone rings almost
daily as both new and existing clients call with projects (proof of PBÕs ÒmojoÓ
philosophy). ItÕs great to see all my calling and
marketing efforts really paying off.
I didnÕt have a
network when I quit my day job to become a fulltime FLCW (in the middle of this
recession). IÕve built my business almost exclusively on cold calling. And I
hate talking on the phone!
Back when I nervously
placed that first call, I was 100% convinced I sounded like a newbie and this
woman would somehow see right through me. Maybe that was true, but it doesnÕt
matter. When a need came up, my name was still on her radar. IÕm the first to
admit that cold calling isnÕt much fun, but you canÕt argue with the results.
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Unless you're an Excel ninja, the thought of tracking dozens,
if not hundreds, of prospective client relationships with a spreadsheet makes
your skin crawl. Thank Gaia for cloud-based (read: No software to install or
manage, and instant data backup) www.SalesForce.com
(then Sales Cloud).
With their uber-affordable Contact
Manager service (especially during the current promotion), you can have a
refined organizational system that will ensure better relationships and better
impressions with prospective clients. What's more, you'll follow through, on
time, every time, automatically log all email correspondence (when linked with
Gmail), and have ample room for growth and sophistication later.
SalesForce
QuickStart guide:
1. Learn the import wizard first. It's a great way to absorb
SalesForce's terminology, and saves lots of time when
you're developing a new list.
2. Work smarter with Òmerge tags.Ó After uploading all
clientsÕ contact info, merge tags will automatically personalize emails, making
mass e-mailings fast and easy.
3. Make it a habit. Every time a promising business card
lands in your hand, transcribe its data into SalesForce,
ensuring a tidier workspace, and a happier sales funnel.
To get you started with that import wizard, I've put
together this quick demo video:
http://pivotalwriting.com/resources/salesforce_import_wizard_walkthrough/
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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?
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MORE WORK WITH LESS EFFORT? New Ebook Serves Up the ÒHow-ToÓ!
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. And I put all the how-to details down on paper. Check it out at http://www.wellfedwriter.com/partnerwithdesignersebook.shtml.
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IÕM
SERIOUSLY 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 MENTORING SERVICE SERVE YOU?
For details and testimonials, visit http://www.wellfedwriter.com/mentoring.shtml.
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