This is probably more for the U.S. copywriters (writers) since it's no secret the U.S. economy is puttering along miserably. But just because the economy is lame doesn't mean your business has to be. That means you don't go crawl in a cave and wait till all this unpleasantness blows over. It's time to take charge and fight back. It is time to re focus your marketing efforts, re group, re arrange and abandon generic marketing plans that cast too wide a net. This is what separates the freelance copywriting entrepreneurs with ingenuity from the mundane, boiler plate copywriters. Don't worry. I don't mean you. Not if you're reading this. The mundane, boilerplate copywriters are ignoring threads like this. So try these things to get you charged up and in high demand. 1. Try a new marketing idea. Keep your ears open and try new opportunities and new markets. Make up a mailer or newsletter and send it to business owners in the local market. Find addresses or ideas for your mailing list on craigslist, the yellow pages or buy a mailing list. Write for a county paper, write a press release about a recent accomplishment, write about a community event or something that would interest this target market. Send in an announcement to show up in the free section of the paper or volunteer to speak on a subject at a business club. What I'm saying is stretch your legs. Something good always comes out of your efforts. 2. Generate ideas and then focus on a few. Don't get on the endless treadmill of idea generation without any follow through. Look at the list, isolate two or three to start. Even one is good enough. If you need incentive, look for a group. For instance, if you wanted to do an ebook, look for something like the 30-day eBook Challenge Jenn had a few months ago. 3. Read something on a subject you've been wanting to know more about. Lay the foundation and then build on it. It's this sort of knowledge that translates into confidence and adds depth to the skills you already offer. I can tell you this works. I'm busier than ever and loving new challenges and new markets. I'm so glad I hit a slow month last summer because it inspired me to go in new directions. And I'm challenging you to do the same so you can reap the rewards. My new thing? I'm thinking about doing a copywriting challenge on my blog (http://webpreppro.com/blog/). We'd take a product category, a marketing strategy and define the target market. Then we'd generate some headlines based on the market strategy. I have a product in mind. I'd start things off and you guys would comment at each stage. Anybody up for it? I think we could get some SMOKIN' headlines and laugh like crazy. My favorite past time is laughing.
I actually like recessions from a freelance perspective. It's easier to sell yourself - companies lay off employees, but a lot of that work still needs to be done, and freelancers are a cheaper option from the company perspective. You just have to know how to pitch yourself. And on top of it, with the US dollar weaker now than it used to be, I've found business actually going up - just coming from more international clients. Works for me. It was actually a 14 day e-book writing challenge. And you're right about trying new things... there's something incredibly satisfying about it, especially when you learn something new or find something that really works when maybe you didn't expect it to. I think the challenge idea sounds intriguing.
I'm really liking this, too. I love finding out about other markets. And we'll see if we can have some fun with the copywriting process. I have an email in to a friend to use him for this with the promise that he'd get some cool stuff out of it.
Hear, hear! I totally agree with everything you've said. It is way too easy to fall into a rut - especially when the going is smooth. But when things get a bit rough, the tough old broads rise to the top, eh? Rather than just learn a new skill, my husband and I are actually about to take our business into the local marketplace. Combined we know way too much about the internet - perhaps it's time to share the knowledge (for a pretty penny, of course.) We'll be using existing skills in a new way, which I'm really looking forward to. Plus there is a great need in this area for full website development. I love to be needed. LOL I'll pop in on the challenge, but headlines aren't always my specialty. Maybe I just need a little more motivation. Rebecca
I haven't noticed anything affecting my current clients as far as a recession. What I have done, however, is add a new element, photography. Now I have two things that I enjoy that bring in income. I think that relates to number three. Learning something new really does add to your skill set and makes you a more valuable.
These are great ideas you guys. Internet author, you can pop in and do the marketing strategy part. I have to find a willing victim first. But I'll start a post when I get started.
I like the challenge idea. I don't really do copywirting so it would definitely be something new for me. Sounds like a good way to get some practice and laugh while doing it.
This is a wonderful idea! I'm afraid I missed the e-book challenge. I would find something like this tremendously helpful in developing more skills, and it would be nice to collaborate with everyone. I'll be on the look out! About marketing in different ways, I've actually got sitting on the side, ideas of marketing to local businesses. None of them have websites! I made a thread previously looking for anyone who would be interested in doing this as a team as I can write the copy, but still need designers/coders for the overall site.
I have a number of potential "products" to work with. I plan to start a "countdown" with a process outlined starting Tuesday or Wednesday. There were several posters interested in being guinea pigs. I just need to choose one that is fairly simple for this exercise. If you feel you are not great at one of the steps but better at another, you can simply post comments to the steps you want to participate in.
I'm definitely up for a contest -- writing is rather like a muscle. As for the "recession" in the US, I haven't found a slowdown, but a heightened interest in my services. Like some of you, I've also "gone local" with some awesome results. The trick is focusing less on "copywriting" and more on the results -- increased sales. Sales are good Isa Murphy