NOTE: This month, IÕm
sending out the E-PUB on the first Wednesday instead of the first Tuesday, to
steer clear of the "day-after-the-holiday-weekend" email crush!
Normal schedule will resume next month.
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Welcome to THE WELL-FED E-PUB!
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
10, ISSUE 9 – SEPTEMBER 2011
Publishing
the first Tuesday of every month since May 2002
Read
it Online at: http://www.wellfedwriter.com/ezine/sept2011.html
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NOW
AVAILABLE! ÒPROFITABLE – BY DESIGN!Ó (EBOOK)
All the Òhow-toÓ
on partnering with designers and creating a LOW-MAINTENANCE INCOME STREAM. http://www.wellfedwriter.com/partnerwithdesignersebook.shtml.
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ÒCOLD-CALLING FOR THOSE
WHO HATE (EVEN THE IDEA OF) COLD-CALLINGÓ!
F.R.E.E. Teleseminar
with Wendy Weiss (ÒThe Queen of Cold CallingÓ), October 12, 2011 (4 p.m. EST). More
details coming soon (and in the Appetizer), so stay
tuned!
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Check out The WELL-FED
WRITER BLOG! Weigh in on ÒAre You Guilty of ÔEsoterrorismÕ?Ó
ÒThis WriterÕs Clients Give Him a Check Every Month (Thanks to a Tough
EconomyÉ),Ó ÒMeet Someone Like This and Your
Copywriting Business Will Soar,Ó and more! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog.
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ÒTHE
WELL-FED WRITERÓ (2010 EDITION) HAS WON FOUR AWARDS!
To
Order (FR.EE Bonus/U.S. Shipping): http://www.wellfedwriter.com/ordertwfw.shtml.
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I NEED YOUR SHORT
(100-200 words) SUCCESS STORIES for the E-PUB!
Landed a great client?
Had a successful marketing campaign? Done something else that boosted your FLCW
income? Send them to peter@wellfedwriter.com.
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THIS
MONTHÕS MENU:
I. APPETIZER: FR.EE TELECLASS ON
COLD-CALLING FOR WRITERS – 10/12!
Hate Even the IDEA of Cold Calling?
ÒThe Queen of Cold CallingÓ Wants Your Ears!
II. ÒFIELDÓ GREENS: 3 COOL WAYS TO USE LINKEDIN GROUPS
SEO Pro Shares How She Uses LinkedIn Groups to Build Her Biz/Solve
Problems
III. MAIN ÒMEATÓ COURSE: THE SOCIAL
MEDIA CAVEAT
Montreal FLCW Reminds: Social Media
Will Never Trump Face-to-Face
IV. DESSERT: Sweet
Success Stories and Tips
OR FLCW Sets Her Writing Sights on
Sportswear Giant and Scores!
TIP: Excerpt & Book
Giveaway: Best FR.EE Online Tools & Apps!
V. COFFEE, MINTS AND
TOOTHPICKS
- MORE WRITING JOBS 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: FR.EE TELECLASS ON
COLD-CALLING FOR WRITERS – 10/12!
Hate Even the IDEA of Cold Calling?
ÒThe Queen of Cold CallingÓ Wants Your Ears!
So, I recently heard from yet another happy soul whoÕd had a really
positive cold-calling experience. Like so many, heÕd built it up to be this horribly
petrifying experience bound to leave him traumatized for weeks, if not longer.
And lo and behold, once he picked up the phone, what do you know, ÒIt wasnÕt
that hard! And people were actually nice! And no one yelled at me! And I even
got some interest!Ó Is there an echo in here?
No, itÕs far from the only way to
build your business (think direct mail and networking – both grapevine
and in-person, for startersÉ). AND, yes, it can be, as they put it so elegantly
here in the South, a big-ass waste of time. IF itÕs done haphazardly, without a
good strategic game plan or serious thought given to the ideal client you want
to reach.
It can also be less productive if
you donÕt craft a strong benefits-oriented Òverbal taglineÓ to deliver to a
prospect that quickly gets their attention – one that speaks to whatÕs
important to them (i.e., ÒI help companies craft marketing materials that
communicate powerfully to their target audience and drive the desired
actionÉÓ).
But when done right, and done enough,
it works, because the Law of Averages is ironclad. And, letÕs be clear: contrary
to the ridiculous assertions of some out there, cold calling is not dead. Far from it. I know, you so desperately
WANT to believe itÕs dead so you can cross it off your list as a bona fide way
to build your business. Well (as they also say in the south), that dog wonÕt
hunt. And one woman who laughs heartily at the very idea of its premature
demise is Wendy Weiss, a.k.a. ÒThe Queen of Cold CallingÓ (http://www.wendyweiss.com).
Heck, WendyÕs built an entire
mini-empire around the practice of phone prospecting, which, if it were indeed
expired, would be an awfully neat trick. Well, I corralled Wendy into doing a
no-charge teleseminar geared toward copywriters on Wednesday, 10/12, at 4 p.m.
EST, entitled ÒCOLD-CALLING FOR THOSE
WHO HATE (EVEN THE IDEA OF) COLD-CALLINGÓ. Details will be coming soon, but for now, put it on your calendar!
A key focus of WendyÕs talks are the
myths surrounding cold calling, most of which most of you are likely laboring
under. It promises to be an enlightening and demystifying session. And while you
may never become a cold-calling evangelist, at the very least, youÕll see it in
a new light and see fit to make it part of your marketing arsenal where it belongs.
Oh, and by the way: this teleclass is not some Òpromo
teaserÓ for some hugely expensive cold-calling workshop. Wendy does have a
kick-butt info product, but itÕll set you back little more than a decent dinner
out, and with FAR more value. Stay tuned!
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II. ÒFIELDÓ GREENS: 3 COOL WAYS TO USE LINKEDIN GROUPS
SEO Pro Shares How She Uses LinkedIn Groups to Build Her Biz/Solve
Problems
I periodically run an ÒEasy Web TipÓ from
CA-based web optimization/SEO pro Katherine Andes (to get her tips regularly,
visit http://www.andesandassociates.com). Her stuff is always quick and useful. I learn
something every time, and itÕs the kind of stuff that can make you look really
smart in front of a client. In this piece, she details the specific ways she
uses the LinkedIn ÒGroupsÓ feature to her benefit. A good
follow-up to Cathy MillerÕs two-part primer on LinkedIn (see the July and
August 2011 issues archived at http://www.wellfedwriter.com/ezine.shtml).
Enjoy!
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While LinkedIn has really proven its value for me, whatÕs benefited
me most are the Groups. You can join groups associated with your
field, interests, and professional needs. I use Groups in three
ways:
1. To Connect with Potential Customers.
I join groups where my potential clients hang
out (i.e., furniture and flooring dealers and
local business groups). I follow discussions and contribute
posts when I have something to say – usually discussing helping
businesses with their websites. I donÕt try to sell, just network and
build relationships.
2. For Professional Support. I join groups with other
SEO copywriters/content developers. When I have a
professional problem I can post a question to the group. Because
some of these groups are very large, the Òcrowd-sourcingÓ aspect
means IÕll get good cutting-edge answers, which enables me to better
serve my clients.
3. To Solve Unusual Problems Inexpensively.
Last year, while working on a web
site built on the tricky Joomla platform,
something went wrong with the navigation. Found a Joomla support
site where a fellow said he could help me for $85. Reasonable, given
this problem had been vexing me for a week.
But, how about LinkedIn (where the help is free)? I hopped
on LI, joined a Joomla group and posted
my problem. The next morning, there were several replies in my inbox,
most of which I couldnÕt understand. But one answer from a
ÒMohammed in EgyptÓ looked simple enough. I followed his steps,
and within a minute my problem was solved. How cool is that? I'm in
California and in less than 24 hours a fellow from the other
side of the world helped me for free.
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III. MAIN ÒMEATÓ COURSE: THE SOCIAL
MEDIA CAVEAT
Montreal FLCW Reminds: Social Media
Will Never Trump Face-to-Face
Canadian Nick Usborne (http://www.nickusborne.com)
is one of the good guys in our field. HeÕs a go-to expert in general commercial
writing, online copywriting, monetizing web sites and smart use of social
media, and has created solid, info-rich programs for all the above. I came
across this article of his a few months back. I know Nick is a social media
fan, but not in the fawning, irrational,
ÒitÕs-the-only-marketing-strategy-worth-pursuingÓ way so many seem to be, and
this piece epitomizes that. Enjoy!
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Let me preface this
by saying IÕm a big fan of social media as a business tool for freelancers, or
for any other kind of solopreneur or business. The
smart use of social media can be a great way to connect with people in your
industry and reach out to potential customers, clients or partners. HoweverÉ
The smart use of
social media involves achieving absolute clarity over how you use it, when you
use it and how much time you spend using it.
An extreme exampleÉ
You could easily spend hundreds of hours on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn,
build up to 10,000 connections, and derive zero benefit from your efforts. As I
watch some people tweeting dozens of times a day, I think, ÒWhy? WhatÕs his
strategy? What benefit is he deriving from all this time spent? WhatÕs his
ROI?Ó
Create a social media
strategy. Decide why youÕre using it. Set goals, then spend
your time on achieving those goals. Track the time you spend on social media,
and make sure youÕre getting a good ROI. Now letÕs talk about lunchÉ
Imagine you have
lunch with colleague, peer or old client. Or an existing
client. Or a possible, future client. You spend
a couple of hours over your meal. ThatÕs 120 minutes of face time and talk
time. A little talk about family stuff. A little moaning about the economy. A then some talk about
what you are doing, the clients you have, the kind of work you are picking up,
the kind of work you hope to be doing soon.
Maybe at about minute
89, your lunch guest says something like, ÒHey, I should hook you up with my
pal Frank. HeÕs the marketing manager over at Xyz Corp, and I know heÕs looking
for the kind of expertise you offer. IÕll get you guys together.Ó
That took 89 minutes.
How long would it take you on Twitter, Facebook or Linkedin?
Regardless of the
time spent, consider the power of the referral. An introduction through
LinkedIn is very nice. But it has nothing like the power of someone saying,
ÒFrank, you should talk to Nick. I have known him for years and the other day
we were having lunch, and he was talking about this new service he is
offering.Ó
Your 10,000 social
media connections are weak, vague, misty, fleeting and ethereal. These people
donÕt really know you. They have no reason to go out of their way to help you.
TheyÕre not your real friends. They donÕt care about you. But when you get to
know someone over the years, and have lunch each month, and hear about how
their kids are doing at school, that creates a very strong connection.
How much time do you
spend on social media each week. 6 hours, maybe?
ThatÕs three lunches. Which would be the better use of your time? For most of
us I think the answer is to do both. Just donÕt get so tied up with social
media that you forget the power of real-life, personal relationships.
For information on
how to use social media strategically, with clear goals in mind, check out: http://www.nickusborne.com/social-media-expert.
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IV. DESSERT: Sweet
Success Stories and Tips
OR FLCW Sets Her Writing Sights on
Sportswear Giant and Scores!
TIP: Excerpt & Book
Giveaway: Best FR.EE Online Tools & Apps!
Great success story from
Portland, OR FLCW Amber James (www.ajamesediting.com),
who went after what she wanted. Who are you
listening to? How about yourself! After AmberÕs piece are several great f.r.e.e. tools from San
Diego-based Beth ZiesenisÕs (a.k.a
ÒYour Nerdy Best FriendÓ; www.askbethz.com)
new book, ÒUpgrade to FR.EE: The Best Fr.ee & Low-Cost Online Tools &
AppsÓ (http://amzn.to/Upgrade2Free).
BethÕs kindly agreed to give away two copies of this
excellent and exceptionally useful reference to a few creative E-PUB readers. Check
out the entry details below! And even if you donÕt win, check out the book at the
link above. YouÕll thank me!
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When I decided to become a FLCW, I simultaneously decided
I wanted to write for a particular sportswear giant out here in Portland.
Ideally, I thought I'd like to be hired as a regular employee,
and freelancing for them would only be second best. Having met the
right people, at the right time, and done good work for this company since
2008, I finally, FINALLY have a regular, monthly, freelance
contracting gig with them!
ItÕs pretty much the best of both worlds: I provide content
every month for a specific content team, get paid monthly, and still
maintain the flexibility of being a freelancer. This is the kind of
copy I love to write (short and punchy) and itÕs even about a topic IÕm
interested in: womenÕs running. Having been a collegiate sprinter and
then becoming a FLCW, I have literally combined two passions into
one. This wasnÕt planned. I didn't even think to ask for this perfect
project. All this wonderfulness has convinced me beyond a doubt that
itÕs possible to combine two seemingly unconnected interests into
reliable, soul-fulfilling income. IÕm also an aspiring short story writer.
Stay tuned!
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THREE FREE TECH TOOLS EVERY WRITER SHOULD HAVE
As a commercial freelancer, you must fight off a world of
distractions so you can be focused, productive and organized every time you sit
at the computer. Here are three free tech tools that every writer needs to make
computer time more productive.
1) Evernote (www.evernote.com):
Think of Evernote as your online idea binder. Once
you set up a free account, you can throw websites, notes, files, snippets of
text and more into your binder to access from anywhere – your computer,
tablet, smartphone, etc. When you get a few moments to write, everything you
need is just a click away.
2) NutshellMail (www.nutshellmail.com):
As a writer, establishing a presence on social media sites is essential, but
who has time to check every site multiple times a day to interact? Set up a
free account with NutshellMail, and your latest
interactions from major social media sites including Twitter, Facebook and
LinkedIn will be organized and delivered to your inbox at any interval you
request.
3) Jing (www.techsmith.com/jing):
Tired of writing out feedback and updates to clients? Use this handy fr.ee.bie to take a screenshot of your work, then annotate
with arrows and notes (e.g.; ÒThe typoÕs right HERE!Ó). Or record a short video
of your screen while you scroll through a document or website with your
feedback as a voiceover.
Beth Ziesenis is ÒYour Nerdy Best
Friend,Ó offering advice on the best free and bargain tech tools to improve
productivity and simplify your life... without breaking the bank.
WIN THE DEFINITIVE TECH TOOL GUIDE!
Want more free tools? ÒUpgrade to Free: The Best Free & Low-Cost
Online Tools & AppsÓ (http://amzn.to/Upgrade2Free)
shares 300+ tools, including PeterÕs own decidedly non-tech favorites! And IÕm
giving away two copies! Email giveaway@askbethz.com
by 9/20/11, and in five words or less, tell me why you
deserve a copy! Winners will be announced in October EPUB. Even if you donÕt
win, check out the book!
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V. COFFEE, MINTS AND TOOTHPICKS
- MORE WRITING JOBS 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 WRITING JOBS 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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