Developing the right mindset

1. In order to become a successful online copywriter you have to develop the right mindset. The copywriting business is not a get rich quick scheme. It won’t make you a millionaire overnight. But if you follow a few relatively simple steps you could set yourself on the road to financial independence and possibly great wealth!

Action Planning

2. According to online marketing guru Steve Wagenheim, in an ereport entitled The Mindset Of The Successful Marketer , 95% of the people who try to run an online business fail. This is because, they have no plan and they have no idea of what they are doing. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail, and this could spell disaster for your earning potential as a copywriter.

3. Avoid this problem by focusing on a particular area of copywriting. Nick Usborne writes in The Top Ten Mistakes Made by Freelance Writers and Copywriters that it is “far better that you establish a clear niche, an area in which you specialise and then become an expert”.

4. In order to decide on which area of copywriting to specialise in you may want to refer to sites which provide detailed information on the different types of copywriting opportunities available. Business Planning

5. All successful online business owners have developed a realistic business plan for their ventures. Business planning will give you a clear sense of direction and enable you to measure success within your copywriting business. The Business Link website provides a template for writing a business plan in addition to clear guidelines on what information to provide in each section.

Goalsetting

6. Write down how you would like to develop your business within the next 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and so on. As a newcomer you might set yourself a financial goal to make at least £6,000 in the first year of your copywriting career.

7. Using Robert Bly’s calculations in 10 Ways to make a 6-Figure Income as a Freelance Writer, you will have to make £120 a week for 50 weeks. To achieve your weekly target you might plan to do two assignments a week at £60 each. Focus on Quality

8. Dr. Ken Evoy, creator of Site Sell Inc emphasises the importance of offering your customer high quality information. In doing so, you become a trusted expert and many customers will want to work with you. As a result, your income will actually soar. Once the word gets round you will establish credibility for yourself and you will be able to command higher fees.

Market Your Services

9. Go to copywriting internet forums such as Google groups and Yahoo Groups. Post an ad stating that you are offering a free copywriting service. Some online marketers will give your free service a try. Make sure you obtain testimonials for each project you complete.

10. Build a website to promote your copywriting services. Assemble the free copywriting assignments into a portfolio and provide a statement reflecting your work. Don’t forget to include the testimonials received from your customers.

You can drive traffic to your site in many ways:

* Consider delivering informative content for free article directories such as Go Articles and Ezine Articles. Don’t forget to include a hook to your website.

* Write a blog about your business using Blogger or WordPress.

* Send out news releases * Network on discussion boards get to know people in the community and swap services with other members

You can expand your work opportunities by signing up to a freelance writing agency such as Academic Knowledge.

As a copywriter and copywriter’s coach, it’s my responsibility to offer powerful, on-target advice to my “mentees.” For them as well as myself…and for you…I keep a keen watch on the world of freelance copywriting to pick up on changes and trends.I spent last month musing over numerous clues, statements, conversations, experiences, and purchased research pertaining to the business side of copywriting.

My conclusion? The world of copywriter marketing is changing rapidly …thanks to the Web.

I built my site in 1998. Back then there were few copywriters on the Internet. For a long time, when you keyed “copywriter” into Yahoo, my site would come in at the top along with Bob Bly’s and Ivan Levison’s. I’m sure there were others, but these are the sites I remember.

With so few copywriters on the Web, I enjoyed a virtual cornucopia of new clients for about four years, until copywriter newcomers started pushing my site down and down and down…until even I didn’t look for my site any more.

Like everyone else, I had to start driving business to my site, and as time wore on, it proved a marketing model that worked very well.

But I believe a radical shift is now taking place…

…one that implores you to forget thinking about your WEB SITE as the centerpoint of your marketing and make your FREE EZINE the centerpoint instead!

Why is this?

Because the ezine is emerging as one of marketing’s most powerful…and inexpensive…and superfast… marketing tools ever.

Note that free ezines have been around for a long time. Note also that there are hundreds of thousands of them! And note that YOU are subscribed to at least one

In the early days of the Internet virtually everyone looked upon this new medium…the Web…as one would look upon an extra-terrestrial. It LOOKS powerful, but where does that power come from?

Companies started pasting their employees’ bios on the Web until pirating ran rampant. Then they moved toward wimpy “online brochures.” Now enough testing has taken place and enough time has passed to offer clear direction on what works, what doesn’t, and what wins.

And guess what wins?

You guessed it…the ezine!

Knowing this, I’ve gone from suggesting that my coaching students create a highly-targeted, content-rich ezine (or blog), to requiring it.

My own experience with an ezine (thanks to my Freelancer’s Business Bulletin subscribers), proves the power of keeping in touch with a group of like-minded people. Because I work hard to bring useful content to my readers, my list grows steadily and my unsubscribe rate is low.

That said, here’s what you must know about marketing your freelance business in 2006 and beyond:

Today’s business-building writer should select one primary marketing method and strengthen it with other marketing methods that suit their temperament, location, goals, and target market.

I used to believe that one should pick two or three favorite marketing methods and do them exceedingly well.

Now I believe that new copywriters who are entering the business at ground zero, with no name recognition in their marketplace, should
use as many marketing tools as they can.

I still recommend direct mail as an essential marketing method because it’s the only way to handpick your target audience…to know that the people you’re reaching are of sufficient quality to deserve your time.

Your direct mailings and everything else you do…
participation in discussion boards, article publication, face-to-face networking, cold calls, public speaking, and so on…should drive sign-ups to your ezine.

And it’s from your EZINE that you do your most effective…and least expensive…selling. Over time, as your ezine readership grows, you can abandon your time-consuming direct mailings altogether.

More evidence that the ezine is becoming the world’s most powerful marketing tool…

While on vacation in Oregon I brought along some overdue reading. One piece was Part 2 of Clayton Makepeace’s interview with the legendary Gary Bencivenga. They’re discussing mailing formats, particularly that of the magalog.

Clayton says, “Everyone’s looking for the next big format breakthrough…”

And Gary replies, “I really think it’s here already. I think it’s an e-zine. I’m finding that with the clients I’m a partner with, I almost don’t want to do direct mail anymore.

“It’s too tough to send a 24-page magalog to a prospect who doesn’t know you. I don’t think that direct mail will ever be dead, but rising paper costs, rising printing, and rising skepticism argue against people responding to cold mailings that are trying to sell them something right on the spot.

“I think these factors argue instead for an elongated courtship of an e-zine that is of great value, where the selling process starts more subtly, a lot more softly. Perhaps in the future, the most profitable use of much direct mail will be to drive people into an e-zine relationship.”

Gary Bencivenga’s take on the ezine only strengthens my long-held position that a free ezine should be an essential part of any copywriter’s marketing toolkit.

Gary supports the age-old premise and marketing tactic that in lead-gen, you must lead your prospect down the path with high quality information that is valuable.

Here’s another prediction:

The Internet will create more competition for the freelance copywriter.

This sounds scary but it’s not. Direct marketers such as AWAI are reaching a vast market of people who want to transition from what they’re doing now to a career with greater flexibility, freedom, and financial promise.

On the surface, it may look like lots of new copywriters are flooding the market…and they are!

But most target the obvious markets…the ones we can readily see…such as alternative health and publishing.

And yes, you will see increased competition in the obvious markets as AWAI and other programs create more and more entry-level copywriters.

But this is a perfect example of tunnel vision. You see what’s before you…not what actually exists.

And that’s one of the things I do for my coachingstudents…I show them how to find lucrative hidden “pockets” in traditional copywriting niches.

But it doesn’t stop there.

I also show my copywriters how to discover exciting markets that other copywriters are unaware of…and under certain conditions, I can even show them how to CREATE their own niche markets!

So while it may seem that the market is flooding with new copywriters, the truth is that the new copywriters will flood only the obvious markets. The world of business is full of markets…hidden and not.

The Internet Has Made Marketing Faster, Easier, and Cheaper for Service Providers Such as Copywriters.

I have long marveled over the low cost of maintaining a Web site. Creating a presence in other Web venues (such as discussion groups and blog postings) is virtually free. You can write articles for free and distribute them online for free or at low cost. My own positive experience is proof that the effort to “show up” all over the Web is worth it.

And in a recent conversation with a successful nonprofit copywriter, I learned that email marketing can work well IF you have a reliable source for names and their email addresses.

To avoid spamming, you’ll need to find lists where prospects in a target market have “put their names and emails out there,” and would not be surprised by a cold contact coming in this way. If you’re in a niche market that has associations, this is the most likely place to find such a list.

Local Clients Can be a Good Source of Income for the Beginning Copywriter.

I used to advise against targeting local clients because they usually want you to come to the office for meetings and to “pick up the check.” It’s a bad use of your time, that’s true, but if you have a connection with someone local who you think would hire you, it’s money in the door, experience, and a sample for your portfolio.

And no, they don’t have to be in your niche market. You do want a “connection,” however weak. I once did fun work for Oregon specialty cataloger Norm Thompson. While they usually don’t hire freelance, they used me because I lived in Lake Oswego, which was a stone’s throw to their Wilsonville location.

If You Have the Stomach, Talent, and Opportunity for Public Speaking, Do It!

It’s one of the most effective marketing tools you can use. And because relatively few copywriters like public speaking (including me), there’s plenty of opportunity to get before groups that are eager to hear what you have to say.

Board members are always looking for their next speaker. Believe me, you will be welcomed! Just be sure to avoid groups that have little to offer, such as groups of other solopreneurs.

In My Opinion, Networking is Equal in Power to Doing Steady Direct Mail Mailings to Your Target Market.

And that means both online and off. This is where you definitely do want to stick to your target market, especially in any offline efforts. It’s simply too time-consuming to hob-nob with groups that you don’t have a strong connection with.

It bears repeating…

Make sure ALL your marketing activities send people to your free ezine.

This is the model everyone is using…first it was the small guys, then the mid-size companies caught on, then

I saw Agora’s Internet marketing model…now even the big guys are putting the ezine at the center of their marketing!

Just be aware that it takes “multiple touches” before you can expect to see your relationships turn into business. Some say to plan a minimum of nine touches, and for some copywriting markets, you may find that it takes up to two years of continued contact to gain the trust of your prospect.

THIS is why I now advocate using as many marketing tools as you reasonably can when first starting out…touch as many people as possible, always driving to your list…then touch your own list with frequent mailings (at least once a month), while staying in front of your audience in as many ways as possible.

When I say “use as many marketing tools as you reasonably can,” I don’t mean use everything at your disposal. We’re all human and we have time limits.

If you try to use every marketing tool at your disposal you’ll dilute your efforts. Best to pick those that are right for you from your burgeoning “package” of possibilities.

This is one place a good coach can help you accelerate your success…by showing you how to create a customized marketing plan. Copywriters are akin to marketers…and smart marketers craft marketing plans that maximum their exposure both online and off.

As a copywriter and copywriter’s coach, it’s my responsibility to offer powerful, on-target advice to my “mentees.” For them as well as myself…and for you…I keep a keen watch on the world of freelance copywriting to pick up on changes and trends.I spent last month musing over numerous clues, statements, conversations, experiences, and purchased research pertaining to the business side of copywriting.

My conclusion? The world of copywriter marketing is changing rapidly …thanks to the Web.

I built my site in 1998. Back then there were few copywriters on the Internet. For a long time, when you keyed “copywriter” into Yahoo, my site would come in at the top along with Bob Bly’s and Ivan Levison’s. I’m sure there were others, but these are the sites I remember.

With so few copywriters on the Web, I enjoyed a virtual cornucopia of new clients for about four years, until copywriter newcomers started pushing my site down and down and down…until even I didn’t look for my site any more.

Like everyone else, I had to start driving business to my site, and as time wore on, it proved a marketing model that worked very well.

But I believe a radical shift is now taking place…

…one that implores you to forget thinking about your WEB SITE as the centerpoint of your marketing and make your FREE EZINE the centerpoint instead!

Why is this?

Because the ezine is emerging as one of marketing’s most powerful…and inexpensive…and superfast… marketing tools ever.

Note that free ezines have been around for a long time. Note also that there are hundreds of thousands of them! And note that YOU are subscribed to at least one

In the early days of the Internet virtually everyone looked upon this new medium…the Web…as one would look upon an extra-terrestrial. It LOOKS powerful, but where does that power come from?

Companies started pasting their employees’ bios on the Web until pirating ran rampant. Then they moved toward wimpy “online brochures.” Now enough testing has taken place and enough time has passed to offer clear direction on what works, what doesn’t, and what wins.

And guess what wins?

You guessed it…the ezine!

Knowing this, I’ve gone from suggesting that my coaching students create a highly-targeted, content-rich ezine (or blog), to requiring it.

My own experience with an ezine (thanks to my Freelancer’s Business Bulletin subscribers), proves the power of keeping in touch with a group of like-minded people. Because I work hard to bring useful content to my readers, my list grows steadily and my unsubscribe rate is low.

That said, here’s what you must know about marketing your freelance business in 2006 and beyond:

Today’s business-building writer should select one primary marketing method and strengthen it with other marketing methods that suit their temperament, location, goals, and target market.

I used to believe that one should pick two or three favorite marketing methods and do them exceedingly well.

Now I believe that new copywriters who are entering the business at ground zero, with no name recognition in their marketplace, should
use as many marketing tools as they can.

I still recommend direct mail as an essential marketing method because it’s the only way to handpick your target audience…to know that the people you’re reaching are of sufficient quality to deserve your time.

Your direct mailings and everything else you do…
participation in discussion boards, article publication, face-to-face networking, cold calls, public speaking, and so on…should drive sign-ups to your ezine.

And it’s from your EZINE that you do your most effective…and least expensive…selling. Over time, as your ezine readership grows, you can abandon your time-consuming direct mailings altogether.

More evidence that the ezine is becoming the world’s most powerful marketing tool…

While on vacation in Oregon I brought along some overdue reading. One piece was Part 2 of Clayton Makepeace’s interview with the legendary Gary Bencivenga. They’re discussing mailing formats, particularly that of the magalog.

Clayton says, “Everyone’s looking for the next big format breakthrough…”

And Gary replies, “I really think it’s here already. I think it’s an e-zine. I’m finding that with the clients I’m a partner with, I almost don’t want to do direct mail anymore.

“It’s too tough to send a 24-page magalog to a prospect who doesn’t know you. I don’t think that direct mail will ever be dead, but rising paper costs, rising printing, and rising skepticism argue against people responding to cold mailings that are trying to sell them something right on the spot.

“I think these factors argue instead for an elongated courtship of an e-zine that is of great value, where the selling process starts more subtly, a lot more softly. Perhaps in the future, the most profitable use of much direct mail will be to drive people into an e-zine relationship.”

Gary Bencivenga’s take on the ezine only strengthens my long-held position that a free ezine should be an essential part of any copywriter’s marketing toolkit.

Gary supports the age-old premise and marketing tactic that in lead-gen, you must lead your prospect down the path with high quality information that is valuable.

Here’s another prediction:

The Internet will create more competition for the freelance copywriter.

This sounds scary but it’s not. Direct marketers such as AWAI are reaching a vast market of people who want to transition from what they’re doing now to a career with greater flexibility, freedom, and financial promise.

On the surface, it may look like lots of new copywriters are flooding the market…and they are!

But most target the obvious markets…the ones we can readily see…such as alternative health and publishing.

And yes, you will see increased competition in the obvious markets as AWAI and other programs create more and more entry-level copywriters.

But this is a perfect example of tunnel vision. You see what’s before you…not what actually exists.

And that’s one of the things I do for my coachingstudents…I show them how to find lucrative hidden “pockets” in traditional copywriting niches.

But it doesn’t stop there.

I also show my copywriters how to discover exciting markets that other copywriters are unaware of…and under certain conditions, I can even show them how to CREATE their own niche markets!

So while it may seem that the market is flooding with new copywriters, the truth is that the new copywriters will flood only the obvious markets. The world of business is full of markets…hidden and not.

The Internet Has Made Marketing Faster, Easier, and Cheaper for Service Providers Such as Copywriters.

I have long marveled over the low cost of maintaining a Web site. Creating a presence in other Web venues (such as discussion groups and blog postings) is virtually free. You can write articles for free and distribute them online for free or at low cost. My own positive experience is proof that the effort to “show up” all over the Web is worth it.

And in a recent conversation with a successful nonprofit copywriter, I learned that email marketing can work well IF you have a reliable source for names and their email addresses.

To avoid spamming, you’ll need to find lists where prospects in a target market have “put their names and emails out there,” and would not be surprised by a cold contact coming in this way. If you’re in a niche market that has associations, this is the most likely place to find such a list.

Local Clients Can be a Good Source of Income for the Beginning Copywriter.

I used to advise against targeting local clients because they usually want you to come to the office for meetings and to “pick up the check.” It’s a bad use of your time, that’s true, but if you have a connection with someone local who you think would hire you, it’s money in the door, experience, and a sample for your portfolio.

And no, they don’t have to be in your niche market. You do want a “connection,” however weak. I once did fun work for Oregon specialty cataloger Norm Thompson. While they usually don’t hire freelance, they used me because I lived in Lake Oswego, which was a stone’s throw to their Wilsonville location.

If You Have the Stomach, Talent, and Opportunity for Public Speaking, Do It!

It’s one of the most effective marketing tools you can use. And because relatively few copywriters like public speaking (including me), there’s plenty of opportunity to get before groups that are eager to hear what you have to say.

Board members are always looking for their next speaker. Believe me, you will be welcomed! Just be sure to avoid groups that have little to offer, such as groups of other solopreneurs.

In My Opinion, Networking is Equal in Power to Doing Steady Direct Mail Mailings to Your Target Market.

And that means both online and off. This is where you definitely do want to stick to your target market, especially in any offline efforts. It’s simply too time-consuming to hob-nob with groups that you don’t have a strong connection with.

It bears repeating…

Make sure ALL your marketing activities send people to your free ezine.

This is the model everyone is using…first it was the small guys, then the mid-size companies caught on, then

I saw Agora’s Internet marketing model…now even the big guys are putting the ezine at the center of their marketing!

Just be aware that it takes “multiple touches” before you can expect to see your relationships turn into business. Some say to plan a minimum of nine touches, and for some copywriting markets, you may find that it takes up to two years of continued contact to gain the trust of your prospect.

THIS is why I now advocate using as many marketing tools as you reasonably can when first starting out…touch as many people as possible, always driving to your list…then touch your own list with frequent mailings (at least once a month), while staying in front of your audience in as many ways as possible.

When I say “use as many marketing tools as you reasonably can,” I don’t mean use everything at your disposal. We’re all human and we have time limits.

If you try to use every marketing tool at your disposal you’ll dilute your efforts. Best to pick those that are right for you from your burgeoning “package” of possibilities.

This is one place a good coach can help you accelerate your success…by showing you how to create a customized marketing plan. Copywriters are akin to marketers…and smart marketers craft marketing plans that maximum their exposure both online and off.

With the advent of technology, copywriting already covers a wide range of media like television, radio, magazines, brochures, direct mail, and the like today. In fact, every word in every brochure, advert, website and leaflet you see is written by the copywriter. Before, copywriters are restricted to being in-house or by marketing / PR firms but now, there are so many freelance copywriters that offer their services.

But, doing a freelance copywriting job can be quite stressful. Just like all freelance jobs, freelance copywriting means that you have to sell or market yourself, your ability to meet a deadline or complete a job on time, and to budget resources by making use of your skills and knowledge.

Being a copywriter enables you to choose a specific or particular market sector or product and you are expected to write something or anything that your potential client wishes. In order to become a good and successful copywriter, you should have a great ability to research about a certain topic while understanding your clients and target customers.

Aside from having excellent research and understanding skills, you also have to have imagination and flair to keep you ideas running while keeping your clients happy.

BEING A COPYWRITER : Just like the existence of so many different copies to be written, there are also different types of copywriters in the market today. Some of which are those who have specialization in very specific forms of copywriting like direct mail or ad copy while there are those who take a more general approach by writing copies for any item that is available.

Today, freelance copywriters are known to write different forms of copy and are expected to produce great outputs. But, despite being demanding work, freelance copywriting can be a lot of fun and one of the best ways make great money if you have the skill, the connection, and the drive to be successful.

Aside from being an avenue to earn great income, freelance copywriting also offers you the ability to work from anywhere via Internet. If you are planning to become a freelance copywriter, then here are some tips that can help you do the job:

1. Get educated. If you want to delve into the world of freelance copywriting, then it is a must that you get any type of writing degree in English, Journalism, Communications, and the like. Having an education or a background on the career you wish to pursue can be a strong step in finding work as a copywriter.

If is it’s impossible for you to have a degree, try to get certifications or non-degree courses that teach copywriting basics offered by many colleges. Having a background on copywriting can serve as your credential once you venture into freelance work.

2. Get a pro bono work. If you don’t have any other experience, writing a copy or an item for free will provide you the experience you need. The copies you have written can also serve as sample copies once you market yourself as a freelance copywriter.

3. Try to get an internship. An internship from an establishment known to the field you wish to pursue can definitely back up your credentials once your venture as a freelance copywriter. Aside from giving you experience and first-hand knowledge, an internship may also lead you to a permanent employment with the company.

4. Consider various opportunities. Since the industry is booming, there are lots of freelance copywriters out there who serve as your competitors. If you are really into freelance copywriting, then you should always be updated with businesses and agencies that may need copywriting services. Make sure that you check local newspapers regularly.

If you do a web search on how to find a good freelance b-to-b copywriter, you will get dozens of results purporting to give you good advice. Many of them, however, seem to just list some boilerplate answers without really going deeper into the issue. This story may give you a slightly different angle.

Do your homework

First, determine what you want. Make sure you have enough background and clear objectives set before contacting potential copywriter candidates. Remember, you’re looking for professionals, and professionals hate a waste of their time just as much as you do.

Also, if you have a well-prepared backgrounder and a fixed target, it will position you as a client higher on the copywriter’s “most wanted clients” list than someone who makes the first contact empty-handed. Professionals like to work with professionals.

Forget your prejudices

With the World Wide Web, you are really operating worldwide. If your opinion is that you absolutely have to have a fellow New Yorker to do your job or “I can’t imagine working with a foreigner” or you couldn’t possibly consider anyone who hasn’t written anything for X Corporation, you might want to think again. Widening your perspectives may give you higher commitment, lower cost and better results you ever imagined.

Search, query, find out

Unfortunately, this is the most tedious part of your quest. Depending on how you formulate your search term — “b2b copywriter”, “b-to-b copywriter”, “business-to-business copywriter”, “freelance copywriter” etc — you will, in any case, get hundreds of thousands of results on Google, so some sifting, and thus putting in hours of work, is unavoidable.

Having accepted the workload, look at the copywriters’ websites. Are they structured logically? Do they give you enough information on their expertise, specialities, work process? Is their self-promotion text free from grammatical errors? Does it flow naturally? If there are testimonials on their websites, are they plausible? Call some of the people who signed the testimonials and check if they remember giving such a testimonial.

Do the people portray an easy-going, client-oriented image of themselves or do you get a feeling they are stuffy and conceited? Trust your instinct, your first impression is probably right.

Questions tell more than answers

No matter how well you have prepared your backgrounder, it will not answer all of a good copywriter’s questions. Don’t worry, that’s the way it should be. The important thing is to analyse how they get back to you. Are they asking relevant, specifying questions or boldly announcing that they can do the job? Be more interested in the people who ask questions than in those who provide answers off the cuff.

What, no samples or portfolio?

Many of the boilerplate answers to finding a b2b copywriter tell you to look for online writing samples. Smart copywriters who know their job, however, seldom put up writing samples on their sites. There are a number of reasons for that.

First and foremost, every client’s needs are specific. Even though the copywriter may have written copy for your industry, it is impossible to give all the background and the targets set for the piece accurately enough to give you a full picture of why the copy is like it is. The smart copywriter does not want to be judged on false premises.

There are also jobs that, while not being exactly secret, are not meant to be publicised outside the target audience, and the copywriter may have chosen not to place them on his or her site for the whole world to see.

You will do better if you contact your shortlist of copywriters and ask them to prove themselves. Give them your well-prepared backgrounder and then watch how quickly they respond to your query and whether they seem to understand what types of challenges your business faces. This is a better indication of their skills and commitment than an online sample which may or may not come close to what you’re looking for.

There are even copywriters who are willing to provide a free copy sample based on your brief if getting you as a client is important for them. Go ahead and ask boldly. This will give you a much better view of their capabilities of identifying your problem and their style of writing.

No need to jump in at the deep end

Many good copywriters offer a copy review service. Whether they call it copy review, copy critique, copy analysis or whatever, the point is: this service is a low-cost, risk-free way of finding out a lot more of the copywriter you’re interested in.

Give the shortlisted copywriters an existing marketing copy (of course not forgetting to state what it was supposed to achieve) and ask for a review. If you inform them that this is a competition that will result in choosing a long-term partner, you will probably get a very good price on the job, if not a free analysis.

Most good things in life are not free

Even if you don’t need to invest a lot of money in the project, finding your ideal b2b copywriter will take time, as pointed out above.

Being prepared to spend some money will help. If you’re really after a good, committed copywriter and building a long-term relationship, consider either the copy review route suggested above or offering every person on the list a small sum of money for a sample text. Within reason, of course. What you should aim at is a short landing page or a magazine ad, not expect them to provide a whole website for 100 dollars.

The benefit of investing a small sum of money will help both you and your copywriter candidates. You, because the sum is small. The potential copywriters, because you’re establishing a lot of credibility by being willing to pay for their effort.

To summarise: if you’re willing to put in a little time and perhaps even some money, your research will produce results. Honest, open-minded professionals feel comfortable with honest, open-minded clients. For a long-term partnership, a real win-win situation.

Resume writing is a niche that is often overlooked by the freelancer. Once considered an easy project, today’s resumes must be sleek, informative and attention grabbers aimed at attracting interest for the job-seeking client. Gone are the days of just listing work experience and personal attributes. Today’s resume is a highly effective marketing tool used to reinforce a job seeker’s credibility to the employment marketplace. It has one objective: to showcase the client’s unique talents and skill sets, and show a prospective employer exactly what the resume holder can bring to their firm.

The right resume gets the client in the door, after that, it’s up to them. As a resume writer, it’s your job to market your client in a way that him/her put their best foot forward and land an interview. Get him in the door with a great resume, and you’ve succeeded!

The Basics of a Great Resume:

Accuracy and quality writing are essential for the resume writer. First impressions really do count. Hiring executives use resumes to weed out potential candidates, and any grammatical or spelling slip will land your client’s resume in the trash. Never exaggerate a client’s experience or abilities on his/her resume, even if they want you to.

Brevity too, is important. Screeners often only give each resume a cursory glance for essential keywords such as “project management, team leadership, marketing, staff training”, and so on. Find the keywords that fit your client’s job search and be sure to include as many as possible in as little space as you can. Use adjectives sparingly. Many resume scanners will assume that you are trying too hard to make the applicant sound perfect when overusing adjectives to make up for a lack of ability. Keep it brief. Most employers prefer documents under two pages, of course relevance to the job being applied for is most important. Give the employer enough information to pique their curiosity about your client and call them in for an interview.

Presentation is another key resume quality. Stick to the facts, but try and present them in an interesting, yet professional manner. Make it as easy as possible for the resume scanner to locate all pertinent information (education, experience, job history), while finding a way to make your clients skills and experience stand out among hundreds of other applicants. Help your client distinguish themselves from the pack by demonstrating within the resume text that he or she has at least some of the key requirements needed for the position, identifying the client’s relevant and transferable skills; and clearly show how your client can develop the necessary skills and abilities to excel at the job requested.

Keeping these basic guidelines in mind when writing a winning resume for your client, remember, too, its content that matters most. Write a resume like you would a pro-active advertisement for your client, and you’re bound to find success as a resume writer.

There are many popular casino-style games, but nothing matches the growth and popularity of poker and how poker influences society. Poker writing covers limitless topics in the gaming world; and poker writing can be a blend of journalism, feature writing, sports writing, entertainment writing, travel writing, food writing, technical writing, and so on, depending on what you choose to write.

WHAT DOES FREELANCE POKER WRITING INCLUDE?

You might think “freelance poker writing” is exactly that: writing about poker games. You might also think poker writing is about writing for one specific market: poker magazines. This might have been true years ago, but not so today. The expanding market of online and offline poker and gaming magazines is one small fragment, out of dozens of paying markets, to find freelance work. The Internet has spawned many online writing opportunities, such as blogging, writing for poker and gaming websites, self-publishing, and writing SEO articles for companies and affiliates. And “poker writing” is more than writing about the games of poker. Poker writing encompasses the influences of poker, such as entertainment, technology, psychology, law, lifestyle, money, travel, and so on. Writing about poker and gaming, along with their influences on society, is limitless.

Many successful freelance writers tap into an arsenal of online and offline media outlets to sell their work, not just to poker and gaming magazines. Their recipe for success is simple: they write varied topics related to poker and gaming that don’t just fit into a specific poker magazine, but also fit (with some reslanting) into many other non-poker magazines and media outlets (i.e. trade magazines, regional magazines, newsletters, tourism guides, newspapers, websites, blogs, ebooks, etc.) that cover varied subjects (such as gambling, gaming, professional sports, sports betting, travel, lifestyle, women’s issues, money, finance, real estate, hobbies, and so on).

WHY POKER IS ON THE MINDS OF SO MANY PEOPLE

To write about poker, you need to know why it is on the minds of so many people. Why all the excitement? What do players see in a little game of cards? Many people fall in love with playing poker because it challenges the mind; poker games are thrilling and competitive; and let’s face it, we love the winnings. The winnings in poker games, even online, can trail with many zeros. What other game can you play with a $40 entry fee and win a couple of hundred thousand dollars, or as with WSOP winners, several million? It’s what lures the crowds to the game. Once players begin to play, everyone is a legend in their own mind. The enticement and excitement of winning drives players to want to play more. Typically, players just play more and more once they discover Texas Hold’em.

Even if you aren’t playing poker for the money, you will quickly become aware of the jackpots of money that poker players play for online and offline. Many people play poker because of the great challenges of the mind. Amarillo Slim (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amarillo_Slim), another legendary poker player once said, “Poker is a game of people….It’s not the hand I hold, it’s the people that I play with.” Most of the older players do play with dollar signs glinting in their eyes. On the other hand, if you read some of the articles written about Slim in the past, you’ll discover he enjoyed beating his opponents as much as anyone else.

Guru.com, CraigsList.com and Elance.com showcase job postings for many different freelance opportunities. If you have the skills to write on gambling, specifically poker, then you’ll never be short on writing gigs.

In fact, a search on a handful of job boards produced many writing opportunities, from blog posting, to writing articles on poker games and strategies.

POKER WRITING OPPORTUNITIES

If you want to write about poker and gaming, the opportunities are there. If you are educated about poker and you can write well, the opportunities will be endless. However, you have to be better than average to earn a decent income as freelance poker writer. You must know your “stuff” in this field.

Writing about poker and its players requires you to learn about the games of poker and about the players whom people want to read. For instance, Doyle Brunson and Amarillo “Slim” Preston are two old timers who many consider two of the last living legends of the game. However, Brunson pulls a crowd more so than Preston. People look for articles, books and information on Doyle Brunson because he is still an active player in Las Vegas. Furthermore, Brunson lives where poker rooms are on every corner, whereas Amarillo Slim lives in, well, you guessed it-Texas!

A freelance poker writer has many opportunities. For starters, a poker writer can write from home because of the online games and tournaments. The online poker rooms (the ones offering the large satellite tournaments) are newsworthy as are many of the sit and go tournaments that offer large purses. Writers find ample topics and stories to pull from in this capacity alone. People want to read what’s going on in the online poker rooms. As a new writer, you need to write as much as you can on the subject of poker no matter where people play it.

In addition to the newsworthy opportunities online, web content is a huge marketplace for freelance writers. Writers who can write content-rich articles related to poker and gambling are in high demand.

To succeed as a poker writer, you will need to find your niche. However, you don’t necessarily have to stay within your niche market. Many writers will write on poker and cover online and offline games. They’ll cover the World Poker Tour for an offline gambling magazine one day and write an informative “How to Spot a Poker Cheat” article the next day for an online website. Poker writers like the ability to remain diverse but it pays to have a niche.

For example, there are several writers on Elance.com who write web content for gaming websites but still pick up a couple of writing gigs offline in magazines and for newspaper articles. Respectively, several notorious authors and professional poker players write primarily as book authors and authorities on their game but occasionally they will snatch a writing column for an online poker website.

Don’t fool yourself into thinking the gigs you have online will allow the offline writing jobs to fall in your lap. You have to keep your options open. You will need to apply for most of the work you get, even after you become well-known within the industry. However, if you’re good, you’ll very seldom face competition for the writing jobs you want.

When you become established in your niche, clients, editors and colleagues will willingly generate referrals for you. In fact, if you are well-informed and can stand out as a leading authority on poker, you can create your own jobs if jobs don’t randomly come your way. You’ll be able to query an editor with ideas and convince the editor to publish your articles. You may be able to query a book publisher with a manuscript idea and have it accepted for publication.

In addition, the offline writing jobs on assignment are often lucrative. Most of the writing jobs on assignment will allow you to live like a high roller, or at the very least, a low roller with some great perks. Poker writers normally stay where the action takes place, which is commonly in a casino. If you’re covering a World Poker Tour event, you’ll likely stay in upgraded casino accommodations; after all, the casino knows you are writing on the event and they’ll likely want you to plug their plush rooms and their many amenities.

On assignment writing jobs will enable you to eat in marvelous dining restaurants, stay among the upper echelon of poker players in suites or upgraded rooms and enjoy hosted parties among poker players. Writing on assignment as a poker writer enables writers to stay in some of the most elegant resorts in the world while enjoying the lifestyle of the pampered poker player. And trust it when you see it in magazines and hear about it online, these professional players are pampered.

Before you obtain your first job assignment as a poker writer, you need to learn all you can about poker. Read everything there is to read. Listen to everything and anything you can on the subject. Flip on the TV set and watch some live game coverage and learn the terminology. Poker tournaments and poker coverage are constantly on TV, especially in the evenings and on weekends.

PERKS OF A FREELANCE POKER WRITER

Poker writers who travel to some of the casino destinations hosting world events such as the WSOP (http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com) or the WPT (World Poker Tour – http://www.worldpokertour.com ) find they can enjoy a lifestyle many freelance writers dream about. Not every freelance writer can endure the schedule of these writers. However, if you are a writer who can face the unpredictable scheduling of events in the World Series of Poker, have a great personality and excellent people skills, then your chances to live a jet-set lifestyle in the world of poker is better than what many writers might think.

Life is better as a poker writer than it is in most areas of writing. You will be rubbing shoulders with people in Sin City and many other casino destinations where money is no object. Remember, money is no object to a great number of poker players. Stakes are always high. With that in mind, remember who you are and where you are. Remember to capture the story, and not the party.

You will get a free ride pass as a poker writer if you can achieve a name for yourself in the poker world. You will have the things only high rollers can get just because the right people want YOU to remember their name. Naturally, this will only happen after you become recognized as a poker authority. If you strive to achieve it, you will know what the inside of the suites at the MGM and Paris Las Vegas look like because you’ll be staying in them. You won’t walk or hail a cab in Vegas. You’ll be riding in a limo, free of charge. Best of all, when you are on a job, you will drink and eat what you want and never see a bill. Welcome to success. Revel in it and know you’ve worked hard for it.