THE WELL-FED E-PUB

THE WELL-FED E-PUB: August 2009 Issue (New "Well-Fed Writer" Now Out!)

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 “Freelance Commercial Writer” – the designation for anyone who freelances for businesses (as opposed to writing magazine articles, short stories, poetry, etc.), and typically earns $50-125+ an hour.

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VOLUME 8, ISSUE 8 – AUGUST 2009

Publishing the first Tuesday of every month since May 2002

Read it Online at: http://www.wellfedwriter.com/ezine/aug2009.html

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“THE WELL-FED WRITER,” 2009 EDITION – NOW AVAILABLE!

368-page beauty includes heavily updated content of BOTH original “Well-Fed Writer” titles. FR.EE e-Bonus & U.S. Shipping. http://www.wellfedwriter.com/ordertwfw.shtml.

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ONE SALES LETTER, 77 RECIPIENTS, $80K IN NEW COPYWRITING BUSINESS??

All the details: http://savagemarketing.com/64000/cmd.php?af=761186

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Check out The WELL-FED WRITER BLOG! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog

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I NEED YOUR GREAT STORIES FOR THE EPUB! I’m seriously low on ALL courses and would love to get your success stories, strategies, tips and features. See “Coffee.”

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MISSED MY TELECLASS? “Thriving as a Freelance Commercial Writer”

38-PAGE instant download just $12! www.wellfedwriter.com/jan07tstranscript.shtml.

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THIS MONTH’S MENU:

I. APPETIZER: GOT PROVEN MONEY-MAKING INFORMATION?

Turn Your Successes into Salable Info Products & Add Juicy Income Streams!

II. “FIELD” GREENS: GOT BARTER? SMART WIN-WIN IDEA FOR TIGHT TIMES

FLCW Trades Writing/PR Services for School Tuition – Both Sides Win!

III. MAIN COURSE: SOCIAL MEDIA PRIMER FROM THE TRENCHES

OH FLCW Provides Real-World Look at the Big Three Social Media Tools

IV. DESSERT: Sweet Success Stories and Tips

Nashville FLCW Uses Pro Bono to Raise Visibility and Open Doors to Paid Work!

TIP: SF FLCW Taps Networking Groups’ Directories to Make Promising Inroads!

V. COFFEE, MINTS AND TOOTHPICKS

- THE WELL-FED E-PUB NEEDS ALL COURSES!

- The WELL-FED WRITER BLOG is Rockin’! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog

- MISSED MY TELECLASS? Full 38-PAGE e-Transcript – Just $12!

- AWAI Copywriting (& Other) Courses: Register Here, Get 2 Bonuses (no charge!)

- How Can My Mentoring Service Serve You?

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I. APPETIZER: GOT PROVEN MONEY-MAKING INFORMATION?

Turn Your Successes into Salable Info Products & Add Juicy Income Streams

Nothing like a new book launch (http://www.wellfedwriter.com/ordertwfw.shtml for details) to remind one of the outstanding financial potential of information products. Create solid, detailed, practical how-to information – based on your (or others’) successful firsthand experience – people can realistically put to work to duplicate the outcomes you’ve described, figure out how to get the word out to the right audiences, and you can nicely supplement your income (or better!). AND boost your industry profile in the process. Happily, that’s how it’s unfolded for me.

When I started my copywriting business in January 1994, I just wanted to pay my bills by writing. Like most of you, I suspect. No five- or ten-year plans, and certainly no thought of writing a book. But as I built a viable writing business, I kept records of how I did it – ostensibly to conduct seminars down the line. But at some point, I realized, “Whoa. I’ve got enough for a book here.” And I made sure that that book was indeed, detailed and practical, and provided a proven blueprint that could in fact be duplicated. Things to keep in mind when creating your own info product – especially the “proven” part.

I must confess, I always bristle a bit when someone, after meeting me and discovering I write how-to books, asks, a bit too smugly, “So, do you actually do the kind of writing you sell books about, or do you just make money selling how-to guides?” Yes, in fact, I DO do what I’m writing about, I’ll reply, thank you very much. Though given the bloated ranks of “all-hat-no-cattle” charlatans peddling products they know little of (which always blows my mind), you can’t blame them for asking the question.

But write of what you know, and know of what you write, and if what you know can make people money, you’ll do fine. Have you had unusual success with a certain strategy, technique or approach to your commercial writing business? Did you start out in some way (i.e., part-time while holding a full-time job; in a small town or rural area; from a specialized background – education, engineering, law, sales, journalism, etc.) that would resonate with many others in the same boat?

If so, put those pearls of wisdom on paper (or in an ebook) and let the world know about it – whether by writing articles for publications (mine absolutely included), blogging or Twittering about it, or doing talks, workshops or teleseminars about it.

It’s always smart to diversify your “work portfolio” with new income streams – and never more so than now. And “passive” ones (i.e., create something once, sell it many times over) are especially sweet. On that happy note, let’s eat!

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II. “FIELD” GREENS: GOT BARTER? SMART WIN-WIN IDEA FOR TIGHT TIMES

FLCW Trades Writing/PR Services for School Tuition – Both Sides Win!

Got this cool and timely barter strategy a FLCW who prefers to remain anonymous. Check with your CPA to see if bartering must be claimed as taxable income.

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Peter: In the current economy – and after my last tax bill – I decided to try some barter. In exchange for my three kids’ tuition at a private Catholic Montessori school, I will be doing their promotion, marketing, appeal letters, brochure, web copy, etc.

For starters, it reduces taxable income. Instead of working to earn the money to pay for tuition, I am working for the school directly. I had already done a huge amount of volunteer work for the school over the years, so I just developed a proposal (like I would for a client) and the board approved it. I set up an agreement with a specific number of hours per month, and placed a dollar value on that work. That way, there are boundaries – and clear expectations and outcomes. I can still work for other clients as well. It can be done for soccer club fees and all kinds of things parents pay for!

PB: I love ingenious ideas like these in times like these. This is a classic win-win: the school gets the marketing support they need to keep enrollment healthy while this writer gets schooling for the kids – and no money changes hands. Is anyone else doing this? If so, would love to hear about it!

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III. MAIN COURSE: SOCIAL MEDIA PRIMER FROM THE TRENCHES

OH FLCW Provides Real-World Look at the Big Three Social Media Tools

Got this great social networking piece from Columbus, OH FLCW Laura Rees (rees@romacreative.net, www.romacreative.net). I liked how she simplified the differences and advantages of three tools in a way I haven’t seen elsewhere. And she now helps FLCW’s get the most out of social media through a new site/courses, etc. Check out www.couplajerks.com.

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Networking can be one of the most valuable ways to get new clients: people are more likely to buy from people they know and trust. And one of the best ways to stay in touch (without repeated calls, emails or coffee invites) and get to know potential clients and partners (and them, you) in a non-threatening way are social media tools like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. A few tips to get you started.

LINKEDIN (www.linkedin.com): A social networking site for professionals, where you can use your profile to promote your own personal brand, tell contacts what you can offer, cross-promote a personal website or blog, and show others who you’re connected to. It’s a great place to research potential clients, see who you might know in common, and keep track of where people are working and their current contact information.

When I meet people at networking events, I spend some time chatting with them and we exchange business cards. Later, I invite them to connect on LinkedIn and send a personal message. Now I have a record of their information, and since most people have a picture on their profile, it’s easy to connect names with faces. The best part is that now I have access to their network of contacts, and they can see mine.

Bottom line value? Expanding my LinkedIn network has allowed me to get many referrals and warm introductions I wouldn’t have had otherwise. It's also given me a lot of great opportunities to make introductions for other people.

FACEBOOK (www.facebook.com): While LinkedIn is targeted to professionals, Facebook is far more personal. People discount FB as a business tool, but usually because they end up only connecting with people they know or knew in the past. I don’t connect with people as readily on FB as I do on LinkedIn, but once I’ve met someone a few times, I “friend” them on FB. I learn who they are, what they’re into, and what’s important to them. Think of it as market research: you want to know as much as possible about your target audience. And FB’s chat feature lets you know who’s online when you are: it’s an easy way to say hello to someone you wouldn’t normally cross paths with.

Bottom line value? Facebook helps you interact and build relationships with people, while giving you credibility as a real person – not just a business.

TWITTER (www.twitter.com): The best way to describe Twitter? A giant conversation you drop in and out of. Unlike FB or LI, where you usually start with an established relationship, Twitter is a great place to connect with people you’ve never met. It’s a 24-hour networking event. To find people to “follow” (i.e., connect with), you can ask people in real time if they’re on, and then follow them. Or use the search function to find people with similar interests or in a certain location. Because I use Twitter as a tool to make local connections, as a rule, I try to follow people who live in my city.

But isn’t it just a bunch of people talking about what they ate for lunch? Who cares? No one, but what I DO care about is what my potential clients are doing, who they’re meeting, and yes, what they’re eating. Just like Facebook, Twitter is a goldmine of market research data that people volunteer – all day, every day.

Of the three, I’ve been most successful on Twitter. I’ve met a TON of people locally, and have gotten several paying clients. And it lets me keep my name and expertise out there in front of my audience, without my having to actively sell.

Bottom line value? Twitter exposes you to new people and lets you interact with them continuously, giving you valuable information about what your target market is doing and what’s important to them.

PB: Laura’s recently launched www.couplajerks.com (gotta love the name; helps to have a sense a humor, says Laura), dedicated to teaching freelancers how to use social media profitably – something to consider in these tighter economic times. Check out the above link for her free guide to building a better LinkedIn profile.

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IV. DESSERT: Sweet Success Stories and Tips

Nashville FLCW Uses Pro Bono to Raise Visibility and Open Doors to Paid Work!

TIP: SF FLCW Taps Networking Groups’ Directories to Make Promising Inroads!

Got the following cool success story about where pro bono might lead from Nashville, TN FLCW Shannon Cournoyer (shannoncournoyer@yahoo.com). If you’ve got plenty of work, you may not have to work for free, but Shannon clearly sees it as a strategic move to raise her industry profile and build her business. Following that is a great tip from San Francisco FLCW Caitlin Moriarity (www.caitlinmoriarity.com) about using the online directories from several local networking groups serving women entrepreneurs as prospecting tools. Ladies, why not do the same thing in your area?

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Peter: I agreed to do some pro bono work for a locally-based national charity serving children. They needed publicity to bring in money for their projects which include a CD they're putting together with orchestra music in the background and celebrity voices as the characters in a story. This charity's publicist told a friend about me. Overnight, I went from writer to publicist on what will probably be the biggest benefit concert of the year in Nashville. Faith Hill, Keith Urban and Dierks Bentley were the headliners. The concert sold out and gave me great credits in an industry I've discovered I love. It's also opened doors with some new commercial writing clients. The first charity? I got to be in Ben Vereen's dressing room at the symphony hall when he recorded the voice for his character. Don't necessarily say 'no' because it's pro bono - it gave me a very cool ride.

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Peter: When I started out as a FLCW, I signed up for a couple of business networking groups for women entrepreneurs. The local chapters in my city aren't very active. Still, I've been reading their newsletters and checking out their websites.

I discovered that both groups have online directories for members, sorted by category. You pay to place your own listing, but anyone can look at other people’s profiles. I immediately started prospecting among the women-owned web/graphic design and marketing firms listed in these directories, and I made sure my cover letter mentioned how I’d found these businesses.

The response has been amazing. Within one day of my initial marketing push, I’d gotten a 15 percent response rate, 20 within two days! Everyone seemed flattered to be contacted, and appreciated the chance to work with a fellow female entrepreneur. I've already doubled my list of “hot prospects,” made some good connections on LinkedIn, and have set up phone meetings for next week. And just talking with these ladies is really fun – they’re all smart, savvy, know what they want and aren’t afraid to go after it.

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V. COFFEE, MINTS AND TOOTHPICKS

- THE WELL-FED E-PUB NEEDS ALL COURSES!

- The WELL-FED WRITER BLOG is Rockin’! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog

- MISSED MY TELECLASS? Full 38-PAGE e-Transcript – Just $12!

- AWAI Copywriting (& Other) Courses: Register Here, Get 2 Bonuses (no charge!)

- How Can My Mentoring Service Serve You?

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I’M SERIOUSLY LOW ON ALL WELL-FED E-PUB COURSES!

Got a great strategy, approach or specific expertise you’re willing to share? Turn it into a Feature (MAIN COURSE) for the EPUB (400-500 words; query first). ALSO, send your “GREENS” (200-300 words), TIPS (150-200) and SUCCESS STORIES (200-300) to peter@wellfedwriter.com. Archived issues at http://www.wellfedwriter.com/ezine.shtml.

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The WELL-FED WRITER BLOG is Rockin’! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog

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MISSED MY TELECLASS? “Thriving as a Freelance Commercial Writer”

38-PAGE e-Transcript! $12: www.wellfedwriter.com/jan07tstranscript.shtml.

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AWAI COPYWRITING (& OTHER) COURSES: Register Here, Get 2 Extra Bonuses!

Six-Figure Copywriting, Graphic Design, Internet Writing, Fundraising, Health Market and more! TWO Bonus CDS: http://www.wellfedwriter.com/awai.shtml.

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HOW CAN MY MENTORING SERVICE SERVE YOU?

For details and testimonials, visit www.wellfedwriter.com/Mentoring.shtml.

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