Welcome to THE WELL-FED E-PUB!

The companion monthly ezine to the quadruple-award-winning how-to
guide, ÒThe Well-Fed Writer.Ó 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 14, ISSUE 4 – APRIL 2015
Publishing the first Tuesday of every month since May 2002  
Read it online at HERE.

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ATT'N SE FLCW'S: JOIN ME AT THE TALLAHASSE WRITER'S CONFERENCE IN APRIL!
I'll be doing 3 talks on the "Becoming Well-Fed" theme! Details HERE.

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2014 EDITION OF ÒTHE WELL-FED SELF-PUBLISHERÓ NOW AVAILABLE!
And itÕs a TRIPLE award-winner! Check out various book AND ebook
(multiple formats!) products/bundles HERE!

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ARE YOU PARTNERING WITH DESIGNERS? IF NOT, YOUÕRE MI$$ING OUTÉ
Get the real-world scoop on a low-effort flow of writing jobs HERE!
And email ME
to get a 25%-Off code (limited to the first 10 emailers!)

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NEW 1-ON-1 COACHING PROGRAMS: SAMPLE/SITE REVIEW & ÒSIDECARÓ!
Low-cost peace of mind and guidance. Details HERE.

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THE WELL-FED WRITER BLOG!
  Weigh in on ÒThere IS No Copywriting
IndustryÓ; ÒÔHire Other Writers! Make $25-50+ an Hour for Doing Almost
Nothing!Õ (if youÕre really luckyÉ)Ó; ÒWhy Writers DonÕt ÔDeserveÕ to
Make More than $5 to $10 an ArticleÓ; How Long Did It Take You to
Become a Profitable Commercial Writer?Ó; & More!

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THIS MONTHÕS MENU:

I. APPETIZER: WHAT'S YOUR "FOUR-MINUTE-MILE" BARRIER?
FLCWÕs Serious $ucce$$ Proves Earning Potential Is a Mental Game   

II. ÒFIELDÓ GREENS: GOT PR IN YOUR COPYWRITING MIX? (Part 2 of 2)
OH FLCW Expands His Biz, Offers Clients More Value, and Shares the ÒHow-ToÓ!

III. MAIN ÒMEATÓ COURSE: IS YOUR MARKETING PLAN WORKING? (Part 1 of 2)
CA FLCW Shares the ÒWhatÓ and ÒHow-ToÓ of Writing-Business Success

IV. DESSERT: SWEET SUCCESS STORIES AND TIPS
Graphic-Design Team Sees My Value, Asks Yours Truly to Join their Virtual Team!
TIP: Web Optimization Pro Offers Up Quick and Easy Fix for Writer's Block!
 
V. COFFEE, MINTS AND TOOTHPICKS
- MORE WORK WITH LESS EFFORT? Ebook Serves Up ÒHow-ToÓ!
- GOT ANY SUCCESS STORIES YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE? Email ME.
- THE WELL-FED E-PUB NEEDS ALL COURSES!
- The WELL-FED WRITER BLOG is RockinÕ!
- AWAI Copywriting (& Other) Courses: Register Here, Get Bonus CD!
- How Can My Mentoring Service Serve You?

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I. APPETIZER: WHAT'S YOUR "FOUR-MINUTE-MILE" BARRIER?
FLCWÕs Serious $ucce$$ Proves Earning Potential Is a Mental Game   

On May 6, 1954, Englishman Roger Bannister did something everyone knew
was impossible: He ran a sub-four-minute mile with a time of 3:59.4.
In 2005, Forbes named the feat, ÒThe Greatest Athletic Achievement of
the 20th century.Ó

WhatÕs really interesting is that this new record—this supposedly
impossible achievement—was broken just 46 days later. And, of course,
dozens of times since, leading to the current mark of 3:43.13, set by
MoroccoÕs Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999.

WhatÕs clear is that the original 4-minute barrier was a psychological
one—aided by doctorsÕ assertions that a runnerÕs heart would burst if
they attempted it. Yet, Bannister rejected that, and as soon as he
broke it, many others followed suit.

So many barriers are of our own creation. And in the writing field,
one of the biggies is money, and how much income is possible.

Swapped a few emails recently with an unusually successful FLCW,
who made over $200K in 2014 (and did it without being a workaholic).
In one note, he shared a juicy job that netted him over $400 an hour. In
another was this; read it carefully:

ÒIÕm having to say no to low-dollar jobs I just donÕt have time for.
So many people want $200 blogs. ThatÕs actually a decent rate for a
short blog that takes 1.5 hours or so, but it takes too many of them
to add up to real money.Ó


So, hereÕs someone saying that jobs paying an average of $133 an hour
arenÕt worth his time. IÕm not suggesting we all reject gigs paying $133
an hour, but rather, IÕm trying to underscore the connection between
someoneÕs beliefs and the results they get.

IÕve done pretty well in this field because I never cut my teeth on crappy
writing wages. I started cold in 1994, found out the Ògoing rateÓ was
$50/hour, and so that became my belief. I charged that right out of the
gate—and got it. ItÕs not cheap clients, a tough economy, or low-balling
writers standing in the way of you enjoying a good writing income. ItÕs
what between your own ears. ClichŽ? Maybe. Truth? Absolutely.

You want to average $150 an hour? Then, reject gigs thatÕll only net you
$100 an hour. Want to average $100 an hour? Reject ones paying $75
an hour. Heck, want to average $50 an hour? Reject those at $30. And
so on. Take a close look at what you believe about whatÕs possible
income-wise, and whatÕs your Òpre-1954-four-minute-mileÓ barrier. On
that happy income-boosting note, letÕs eat!  

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II. ÒFIELDÓ GREENS: GOT PR IN YOUR COPYWRITING MIX? (Part 2 of 2)
OH FLCW Expands His Biz, Offers Clients More Value, and Shares the ÒHow-ToÓ!

Part 2 of a great two-parter (Part 1 HERE) from my friend and accomplished
Jamestown, OH FLCW Gery Deer about expanding into PR. The guy knows
what heÕs talking about, so pay attention!

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In Part 1 last month, I shared the steps I took to diversify my copywriting
practice into the PR realm. Expanding your FLCW business by offering
Public Relations services can help you diversify in a seamless,
revenue-generating way.

Here are some areas into which I have expanded over the last ten years
or so, along with tips on why theyÕre beneficial to your clients.

Public Relations Feature Stories (Not basic press releases): Because
of media staffing reductions, particularly with newspaper publishers,
the old-styled, basic press release is likely to be overlooked. Instead,
provide a feature story, complete with quotations from principal players,
artwork, and, most importantly, adherence to Associated Press (AP) style.

Create the most polished content possible so the piece can be cut and
pasted into the publication with little effort by an already staff-poor editor.

Benefits to the client: Providing a complete, feature story will have a higher
SEO value online and nearly guarantees it will be used by media outlets,
in full, providing the client with higher potential exposure
.

Coordinated Marketing Content: Public Relations is one in link in a
long chain of marketing activities, and using multiple sources can
cause the outgoing message to be uncoordinated. For example, if Bob
handles the PR, Jennifer creates the business cards, and Josephine
writes web copy—but they donÕt talk to each other—the message will
likely be inconsistent, rendering it valueless.

When a client hires you to write marketing or PR content, find out whoÕs
handling other stages of the project and suggest you coordinate the
message to ensure it remains consistent and, above all, accurate.

Benefits to the client: A clear, coordinated marketing strategy promoted
via a consistent message will generate higher recognition and greater
return on investment.

Television Segments: Because of my connection with local broadcast
outlets, nearly all my clients eventually appear on TV. Using the PR
or marketing plan as a guide, a PR specialist can help the client
develop a segment topic, then write the script and coordinate the
appearance with the broadcast producers.

By creating the concept and focus for the segment, youÕve become the
ÒproducerÓ of the piece. In addition, there is usually no charge (by
the station) to appear on the program and, eventually, the full-time
producers will be calling you for content suggestions—further benefit
to your clients.

Benefits to the client: Television appearances can provide a level of
exposure and professional credibility unavailable through advertising.

Expanding your business might be a bit scary at first, but it will
give you greater opportunity to grow and earn more. Good luck!

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III. MAIN ÒMEATÓ COURSE: IS YOUR MARKETING PLAN WORKING? (Part 1 of 2)
CA FLCW Shares the ÒWhatÓ and ÒHow-ToÓ of Writing-Business Success

Part 1 of a solid two-parter on developing and implementing a marketing
plan, from Temecula, CA FLCW Maria Pease. Not necessarily Ònever-
seen-beforeÓ stuff, but building a commercial freelancing business
doesnÕt require groundbreaking approaches, but rather, consistent
application of the fundamentals, and thatÕs what this no-nonsense,
step-by-step piece offers.

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A marketing plan is a set of tasks you do on a consistent basis. For
any plan to work, you need to be clear about your objectives, and then
plan the tasks youÕll do regularly, to help you reach your goals. Over
time, youÕll discover whatÕs giving you the best results and tweak the
plan as needed.

Having a niche can help focus your marketing efforts even more,
because youÕll know what the needs are for that particular industry
and be able to use hot-button words that speak to their greatest
desires, all the while showing youÕre an authority in that niche.

Preparing Your Marketing Plan: Figure out what you want to accomplish
and write it down. Whether itÕs getting more clients or getting known by
your target market, knowing your goals will keep your mind free of clutter.
You canÕt get where you want to go if you donÕt know where that is.

Marketing plans have many moving parts, and having a variety of them
working together will yield the best results. Some of the tasks below
are easy to implement and, once set up, will entail occasional updates.
Others, youÕll want to do regularly. Commit to your marketing mix and
watch your business grow.

Website: A must for any business but even more so for solo pros. This
will be your marketing hub, so make it look professional, not
complicated. Be clear. If youÕre a B2B copywriter, say it on your home
page. ItÕs amazing how many websites IÕve seen where I canÕt figure
out what service theyÕre providing!  Be sure your contact info is on
every page of your site AND easy to find.

LinkedIn: There are plenty of social media outlets, but the best one
for business professionals is LinkedIn. Posting a profile is a big
job, but just plan it out, and do it over a few weeks. You can make
changes anytime so donÕt let the fear of not getting it right stop you
from doing it at all.

Email Signature: Easy to do, but it can make a big difference. Use
your name, business name, URL, phone number and a short tagline. Keep
it simple and focused. DonÕt be surprised if this simple thing leads
to great new clients.

Business Cards: Carrying them always means no missed opportunities.
You never know when youÕll meet someone who could use your service or
whoÕll know someone who can.

Press Release: Once youÕre open for business, announce the fact via a
press release and post it to the media outlets (OR send it to local
media if building your business locally. Been in business a while? Use
releases to highlight new services, or report any newsworthy
developments.

Direct Mail: This can be a soft approach (i.e., introduce yourself,
let them know what you do and ask a thought-provoking question) or a
more aggressive one, depending on your personality. Either way, itÕs
important to follow up with a call, email, postcard or another letter,
this time asking them to visit your website for a free report or to
take advantage of a free consultation.

Email Marketing: Two avenues. 1) An e-newsletter as a great
stay-in-front-of-clients plan. No selling here; make it fun to read,
provide useful info, and show you know your niche. Or, 2) Marketing
through email: short, inviting, personalized emails to prospects
softly selling them on why working with you will be a smart move for
their bottom line.

Cold Calling: Not for everyone, but if youÕre comfortable calling, do
it. You can get quick wins this way, but if you bruise easily, put
this on the back burner.

In next monthÕs installment, weÕll discuss creating a schedule for
putting the plan into action.

Maria Pease is a freelance copywriter & author of the Sam Parker
Mystery Series. She lives in Temecula, CA. Feel free to contact her at
http://www.freelance-writing-success.com & http://www.mariapease.com

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IV. DESSERT: SWEET SUCCESS STORIES AND TIPS
Graphic-Design Team Sees My Value, Asks Yours Truly to Join Their Virtual Team!
TIP: Web Optimization Pro Offers Up Quick and Easy Fix for Writer's Block!

A little success story of my own hereÉ IÕve been doing a bunch of work
for a husband/wife graphic-design team over the past few years. They
love what I bring to their value proposition, to the point that, a month
or so back, they approached with a sweet offer: They asked if IÕd be
interested in ÒjoiningÓ their team, and putting a brief profile of myself
on their web site.

This way, they can look bigger and more established, and start
pursuing even more ambitious projects. So, even though IÕm still
independent, it now looks like IÕm working for them. ItÕs the ultimate
compliment. Of course, I saidÉof course! They saw that my work made
their work better, their portfolio stronger, and their clients happier.

So, make those connections with folks like designers who need people
like you, as part of what they do, do such a good job, and be so easy
to work with, that their self-interest kicks in, and they realize how
much better their work will be (and, by extension, how much more of it
theyÕll get) by having you partner with them.

And get this: The designer IÕve been working with since 1994 (no typo)
has, in the past 3-4 months, steered me to over $6K in new work. This
thing has serious Òlegs.Ó    

Of course, I invite you to check out my ebook on the subject,
Profitable – By Design. ItÕll take you through all the ins and outs of
a marketing strategy that has been very, very good to me over the past
21 years. Details HERE. And email me for a code thatÕll save you 25%
off the regular price (offer limited to the first 10 responders).

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A quick and useful ÒEasy Web TipÓ we can all relate to, from Web
Optimization pro and SEO copywriter Katherine Andes. This one is a
great reminder for anyone who gets stuck for ideas (i.e., all of us,
at some point). Thanks, Katherine!

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We've all seen the movies where the writer goes through days (or
months!) unable to write anything. Anyone who has to write content of
any sort sometimes faces writer's block—that wonderful feeling of
sitting down at your computer, and hearingÉcrickets.

Commercial writing pros know the easy fix: Just start anywhere.

By simply writing anything, youÕll unlock the creative juices that lie
within you. Plus with commercial work there's a lot to jumpstart your
brain. For example, you can start simply by typing out the names of
the products you wish to promote. Then the brands.

Yes, it helps to do your homework first by doing thorough research and
information-gathering before sitting down to write, but even with a
great brief, there's always that moment of truth when I hesitate.  

Every writer is different. So do what works for you. And don't be afraid
to write awful stuff. Awful still unlocks you. And awful can be fixed.

To comment on this tip, go HERE.
To subscribe to ÒEasy Web Tips,Ó go HERE.
 
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V. COFFEE, MINTS AND TOOTHPICKS
- MORE WORK WITH LESS EFFORT? Ebook Serves Up ÒHow-ToÓ!
- GOT ANY SUCCESS STORIES YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE? Email ME.
- THE WELL-FED E-PUB NEEDS ALL COURSES!
- The WELL-FED WRITER BLOG is RockinÕ!
- 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? Ebook Serves Up 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. Details HERE.
And email ME to get a 25%-Off code (limited to the first 10 emailers!)

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GOT ANY SUCCESS STORIES YOUÕD LIKE TO SHARE?
While my call for submissions netted some things a few months back, IÕm
still a bit lean on success stories. Whether starting out or experienced, if
you recently had a noteworthy success (i.e., landed a new client—perhaps
in an unusual way—a new gig, new work from an old client, or anything
else that has a good lesson for your fellow FLCWÕs), send it on to ME.

100-300 words is great.    

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IÕM (STILL) 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 (200-400 words), TIPS (100-200)
and SUCCESS STORIES (150-300) to ME. Archived issues HERE

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The WELL-FED WRITER BLOG is RockinÕ!

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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!

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HOW CAN MY MULTIPLE MENTORING PROGRAMS SERVE YOU?
For details and testimonials, visit HERE.

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