VOLUME 23, ISSUE 5 – MAY 2024
THIS MONTH’S MENU:
I. CURSE OF KNOWLEDGESTRIKES AGAIN
eSim Supplier Talks to Themselves, NOT Their Customers
II. TOP 5 2023 “HIGH-INCOME BUSINESS WRITING” PODCASTS
Small-Biz Coach Serves Up Profit- and Confidence-Boosting Gold
III: NO WRITING SAMPLES?
Veteran Copywriter: Be Your Own First Freelance Writing Client
I. CURSE OF KNOWLEDGE STRIKES AGAIN
eSim Supplier Talks to Themselves, NOT Their Customers
Had a frustrating experience recently after purchasing an eSIM card in advance of an upcoming overseas trip.
You buy an eSim for a particular country or region, and on the date you specify, its data becomes active in your phone in that country or region.
After purchase, I received a confirmation email, and while I’d set my “data-start” date, the instructions noted: “You can activate your eSIM at any time.”
A few days before my trip, I decided to activate it, understanding that the data allotment wouldn’t hit until the specified date. But when I activated it, the new eSim hijacked my local one, becoming my default Sim.
Obviously, not what I wanted. And given that it wasn’t an issue they’d warned buyers about, there were no instructions on how to correct it.
In a chat with their support staff (no phone support, of course), I pointed out that their own email noted that while the data would start on the requested date, that we could activate it at any time.
Clearly bad advice if one wanted to avoid the issue I encountered.
The rep completely understood, and apologized, yet it was nonetheless mystifying as to how this potential issue hadn’t occurred to them before. Wouldn’t it have made infinitely more sense to tell people:
“Activating your eSim will make it your default eSim, replacing your local one, so it’s best to wait till you’re ready to use it to activate it.”
Just one more of countless examples of the Curse of Knowledge in action: a company talks to customers from their perspective (i.e., one of total understanding of their product), instead of from the customer’s perspective (who knows little or nothing).
Always step back from ANY copy you write and ask, “Am I making any unwarranted assumptions about the knowledge level of the reader?”
With the exception of esoteric writing for an “in-the-know” audience, you’ll never go wrong assuming that reader knows nothing.
II. TOP 5 “HIGH-INCOME BUSINESS WRITING” PODCASTS
Small-Biz Coach Serves Up Profit- and Confidence-Boosting Gold
A few months back, Ed Gandia—friend, colleague, “business-building coach for writers and copywriters,” and regular E-PUB contributor—listed his top 5 podcasts from 2023.
Click the links below to get full details on the subjects discussed and Ed’s high-profile podcast guests—and to listen!
As Ed noted, “These episodes not only garnered the most listens but also sparked the most engaging discussions among our audience.” Here they are…
High-Income Business Writing’s Top 5 Podcast Episodes of 2023
#312: How to Land More of the Right Clients by Rethinking Your Selling Mindset and Process
Check it out here.
#322: A Realistic Way to Develop Passive Income Streams as a Writer
Listen to it here.
#315: Jonathan Stark on Getting Higher Fees with Greater Confidence
Listen to it here.
#310: Patti DeNucci on How to Enjoy Better Conversations
Check it out here.
#320: The Resilient Mindset—What It Takes to Thrive in the Face of AI and Economic Uncertainty
Listen to it here.
Thanks, Ed! Enjoy…
III: NO WRITING SAMPLES?
Veteran Copywriter: Be Your Own First Freelance Writing Client
Great advice for “newbies” from 20+-year CT FLCW (and regular E-PUB contributor), Jennifer Mattern—seasoned PR writer and founder of the acclaimed All Freelance Writing site.
If you’re launching a new freelance commercial writing business, you might be missing an important marketing tool: a portfolio. But no worries. You can build a collection of writing samples even before you’ve landed your first client.
Some writers build early clips with anything from volunteer work to mock samples. Consider another approach, though: being your own first client.
Your freelance business will need commercial writing of its own. For example:
– SEO-optimized website copy for your professional site
– Blog posts
– Sales page copy for your services
– A white paper or report targeting your prospects
– An e-book or guide (which you can sell AND use as a promotional tool)
– Email marketing copy
Think about the project types you want to sell. Then create them to promote your own services. And use those as the first samples in your portfolio.
A big plus of this approach is that you have complete insight into the target audience and the results of each project.
Use those numbers in future case studies or in revised sales page copy to convert even more new clients.