Welcome to THE WELL-FED E-PUB!
Serving up food for thought and tasty tips for the prospering writer. Come
on in, sit anywhere and bring your appetite!
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VOLUME 5, ISSUE 10 – OCTOBER – NEW BOOK RELEASE!!
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“THE WELL-FED SELF-PUBLISHER”: NOW AVAILABLE!
Book (hard copy and ebook versions) PLUS phenomenal companion ebook (“The Well-Fed SP Biz-in-a Box”) available at www.wellfedsp.com!
ALREADY BOUGHT/READ THE BOOK? DID YOU LIKE IT? IF SO,
Might you run on over to Amazon and write a review? I’d be
most grateful! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/0967059860/ref=cm_cr_dp_pt/102-8104184-3297769?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
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“WELL-FED SELF-PUBLISHER” TALK IN ATLANTA! (Remember 11-11-11!)
I’ll be doing a “Well-Fed Self-Publisher” mini-seminar in Atlanta on 11/11 at 11 am.
Details: Dessert & http://www.wellfedwriter.com/SeminarDates.shtml
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THIS MONTH’S MENU THEME: BE PROFESSIONAL & BE “WELL-FED”!
I. APPETIZER: Success Is About Who You Know and How You Work! (Part 2 of 2)
The Power of Cultivating Connections & Being an “Easy-to-Work-With” Writer!
II. CRISP “FIELD” GREENS: STOP SURFING & START WORKING!
Atlanta FLCW Finds That a Strong Work Ethic Gets Noticed and Rewarded!
III. MAIN COURSE: STOP TALKING & START WRITING!
Corporate Writing Buyer Shares BIG Pet Peeve: Chatty, UN-methodical Writers
IV. DESSERT: Sweet Success Stories and Tips
TIP: Phoenix FLCW Finds Contacts on Popular All-Purpose Site & Association Sites!
LA FLCW Gets Creative About Turning Cold Calls into “Warm Calls”
V. COFFEE, MINTS AND TOOTHPICKS
- November “Well-Fed Self-Publisher” Appearance in Atlanta! (11-11-11!)
- AWAI Copywriting (& Other) Courses: Register Here, Get 2 Bonuses (no charge!)
- ATTENTION, Magazine Writers: November’s EPUB Is For You!
- Well-Fed E-Pub Needs All Courses!
- Want Some Well-Fed Business Cards To Spread The Word?
- How Can My Mentoring Service Serve You?
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I. APPETIZER: Success Is About Who You Know and How You Work! (Part 2 of 2)
The Power of Cultivating Connections & Being an “Easy-to-Work-With” Writer!
In last month’s Appetizer (http://www.wellfedwriter.com/ezine/sept2006.html), we talked about the power of connections, and how being in the right place at the right time with the right contacts can put some nice change in your pocket. Yet, what makes you “referral-worthy” in the first place and on an ongoing basis is the quality of the experience you’re delivering to your clients. And thanks to a sudden influx of stories related to this topic, I’m making this the theme for most of this issue.
Was talking the other day with the graphic designer (the one I discussed last month) who set the wheels in motion to significantly boost my bank account recently. She was dishing a bit on another copywriter she used who’d call her 10 times a day with questions about the project or to just “talk about the project” (see the Main course for more on this faux-pas). She said, “You’ve totally spoiled me. You’re so easy to work with. Your work is always excellent, as is your attention to detail. It’s always delivered when you say it’ll be, no typos, and you work with virtually no supervision.”
Well, how about that. Nice to hear. Not that I think I’m doing anything unusual, but, compared to what she’s finding elsewhere, I am. And think about it – you deliver that kind of experience to a client, and ultimately, make them look very good, and they’re not going to want to go anywhere else.
And she’s not alone. Same thing happened a few weeks back with my long-time (13 years) graphic designer. She’d hired a writer when I was tied up and was complaining that his first draft was late and filled with typos. I can’t fathom turning in copy after promised or in anything other than pristine condition. Sure, I’ve had my share of typos in copy over the years – we all have. But those occurrences are few and far between, and I’m pretty mortified when I realize it. Apparently, a lot of other creative folks aren’t similarly encumbered by such old-fashioned concerns. Do they truly believe that people won’t notice? If so, I want some of what they’re smoking.
My friend actually said, “I’m getting another round from him today, and I’m crossing my fingers that it’ll be better.” It’s as if that’s what many creative professionals have come to expect from vendors. Not this vendor. Yes, some writers are better than others, and the quality of my work IS a major driver of continued referrals, but so are the reliability and attention to detail, and those are things ANYONE can deliver right out of the gate, regardless of their experience or lack thereof. Logical, right? Let’s eat!
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II. CRISP “FIELD” GREENS: STOP SURFING & START WORKING!
Atlanta FLCW Finds That a Strong Work Ethic Gets Noticed and Rewarded!
Got this great account from Atlanta FLCW Honey Rubin (honeyrubin@mindspring.com) about how a proactive “how-can-I-help?” attitude can lead to job security. Enjoy!
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Several years ago, I was one of eight freelancers who supported a long-term publishing crunch, on-site, at an international firm’s home office. As soon as I completed a job, I walked a circuit asking the graphic designers and other employees if they needed any help, often returning to my workstation with a new assignment. That’s why I noticed that one freelancer was web surfing his own interests. At first it seemed a cool way to clear the mind for the next job! Then I realized it was his dedicated pastime. When I finally said something, he explained (with no embarrassment or remorse) that the employees knew where he was when they needed help. It’s not surprising that as the workload diminished, he was one of the first to be released, and I was the very last. This sweet gig lasted 18 months because, as the VP said, I was really there for them.
In another similar situation, a second freelancer was called in to help with a crunch. Again, while I was focused and working, she spent so much time on the phone, handling personal business or serving other clients, that the department manager finally came to her workstation. I have enjoyed steady work with this team; she will only get a return call if NO ONE else is available, and the team members are unable to handle the load with long hours! I’m living proof that our work ethic affects our success.
PB: In a setting like this, sure, someone surfing might not be noticed. But, someone NOT surfing and seeing where and how they could be put to use WILL get noticed.
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III. MAIN COURSE: STOP TALKING & START WRITING!
Corporate Writing Buyer Shares BIG Pet Peeve: Chatty, UN-methodical Writers
I have a very good friend in corporate communications in Chicago, who recently shared some exceptionally valuable “client-side” advice to folks like us. Read and heed.
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I have TWO freelancers, a writer and a newsletter producer,
who both tend to talk incessantly when they call about projects they’re working
on. The conversations are very one-sided, and I can almost hear feelings get
crushed as I rush them off the phone to get back to what I was doing. I’ll assign
the writer (who’s in another state) a project, and, before I know it, I’m
screening his calls and hoping to converse via email only. When he does catch
me (read: when I feel guilty enough, finally, to answer his call), he talks
FOREVER about every minor nuance and detail of the assignment, his other
assignments, the topics of those stories or speeches, who’s going to be making
them, etc. In the time it takes to converse over the weeks about the story I’ve
assigned him or other details of his career, I COULD HAVE DONE THE ASSIGNMENT MYSELF.
The newsletter production person has shared with everyone in my
department all the gory details of her personal life (bad marriages, bad
divorces, bad dating). Now, we really LIKE this woman otherwise, but it’s hard
to answer the phone when we’re busy, which is most all the time. The rule of
thumb in our department is that if she calls, you better have 30-45 minutes to
listen to her talk about anything and everything. Yes, I need to say something,
and I no doubt will, soon, but that aside, the bottom line is this: Make sure
you understand the details of the assignment up front. Then, take charge, own
the assignment, and leave your client alone until its time to talk revisions or
other directions to take. If you tie up your clients’ time long enough on an
assignment they’ve given you, they’re likely to just do it themselves the next
time!
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PB: The overwhelming percentage of you reading this will undoubtedly say, “I’d never do anything that ridiculous,” and you probably wouldn’t (extreme examples DO make the point). That said, don’t kid yourself that most clients are okay with SOME of that. Assume they’re not. Ideally, what they really want is for any writers they hire to get all the necessary input in the first and only meeting, at which point, they go away, and don’t show back up again (by phone or in person) until the agreed-upon deadline, when they deliver copy that looks good AND hits the mark. Are you giving them that?
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IV. DESSERT: Sweet Success Stories and Tips
TIP: Phoenix FLCW Finds Contacts on Popular All-Purpose Site & Association Sites!
LA FLCW Gets Creative About Turning Cold Calls into “Warm Calls”
These great tips for building your prospect list comes from Phoenix FLCW Dea Lazaro (info@1212media.com, www.1212media.com). Sometimes, the best ideas are just a mouse click or two away. Enjoy!
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Hi Peter: I wanted to share a great way I’ve found a few contacts and leads: Craigslist! (www.craigslist.com). Although the phone book is a great tool, I’ve been able to identify smaller and medium-sized agency contacts this way as well. I look in the “marketing/PR” or “writing jobs” section of the site and see if I can find contacts this way. Sometimes I get a phone number, most of the time an email, almost always a contact name. Do a Google search on the company name or website name, and I usually find a phone number. Plus, it’s free! And of course, you could use this search technique in the other job category fields on the site, or even in other cities. You get the idea.
Another one: I’ve also found many names and contact information by searching the Job Bank archives of my local trade organizations. IABC, STC, PRSA and Ad Club all have websites for their local chapters here in Phoenix. In most cases, you don’t have to be a member to access their job postings, and most of the sites archive listings for a few weeks. The postings usually have pretty extensive contact info (i.e., website, email, phone number, etc.). I’ve used the sites to add more names to my call list and I will begin another round of calls tomorrow. Just wanted to share; feel free to pass it on!
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Got this cool piece about creative client prospecting from my good friend and excellent LA FLCW David Tandet (david@frontlinewriting.com, www.frontlinewriting.com). To follow our issue’s theme, note that David’s competence (and his client’s willingness to affirm it) is at the heart of this approach. Where might you apply a similar strategy?
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“It’s about keeping your radar up.” If I’ve heard you say it once, I’ve heard it a thousand times, coming back to me from outer space or wherever your radar waves end up. Well, the message finally registered last week. Here’s the deal: I’m ghostwriting a weekly column in a local publication. The column is actually a weekly ad space purchased by a local medical center. I write the 500-word column to fill the space and get paid by the PR firm who does all of the medical center’s PR. I suddenly realized almost every advertiser in the publication carrying the column would NOT be a cold call if I introduced myself as the “project manager” – a designation no one who’s paying me has a problem with.
With one eye on clients’ deadlines, it’s easy to get tunnel vision around the day’s work, but to follow another bit of your advice: keep marketing. If anything, the easygoing approach from someone connected to a fellow advertiser has my prospects more eager to talk to me. They know I can do the job AND that I understand their target audience. My client at the PR firm has her own email and phone extension at the medical center that I give to prospects (of course, I also give out my URL). Anyone who gets a dose of her (she’s more than happy to vouch for my project management skills) AND takes a look at some of my writing samples sees that I can hold my own.
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V. COFFEE, MINTS AND TOOTHPICKS
- November “Well-Fed Self-Publisher” Appearance in Atlanta! (11-11-11!)
- AWAI Copywriting (& Other) Courses: Register Here, Get 2 Bonuses (no charge)!
- ATTENTION, Magazine Writers: November’s EPUB Is For You!
- Well-Fed E-Pub Needs All Courses!
- Want Some Well-Fed Business Cards To Spread The Word?
- How Can My Mentoring Service Serve You?
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“WELL-FED SELF-PUBLISHER” TALK in ATLANTA! (Remember 11-11-11!)
I’ll be doing a no-cost “Well-Fed Self-Publisher” mini-seminar at the main Atlanta Public Library on Saturday, November 11, 2006 at 11 am. Details: http://www.wellfedwriter.com/SeminarDates.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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ATTENTION, MAGAZINE WRITERS: NOVEMBER’S EPUB IS FOR YOU!
I’ve gotten a regular little spate of EPUB submissions lately from former or current magazine writers talking about leveraging their experience into a more commercial direction. After about the third, I said, “I need to do a themed issue with this stuff!” So, if that’s YOUR background too, and you’re interested in perhaps moving in more lucrative writing directions, I think you’ll find the November issue most interesting. Stay tuned.
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WELL-FED E-PUB Needs ALL COURSES!
“GREENS” (200-300 words), MAIN COURSES (400-500; query first), TIPS (150-200) and SUCCESS STORIES (200-300) to peter@wellfedwriter.com.
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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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NEW Subscribe/Unsubscribe feature. To Subscribe (YAY!), Unsubscribe (boo!) and/or update your address for the E-PUB, visit: http://www.wellfedwriter.com/ezine.shtml.
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BIG THANKS!
THANKS again to Susan Cochran in Atlanta for her great editing/proofing prowess on the E-Pub. Need a good editor/proofreader? susan_cochran@mindspring.com, www.cochrancompany.com.