In most of my complimentary consultations, I’m asked a variation of, “is this the type of writing/marketing/editing your content marketing business does?” When I started my business, at the end of the recession, the answer was almost always “yes.” These days, it’s more of a qualified “yes.” I don’t consider myself a generalist, but I’m
A business “rebrand” is the most challenging and rewarding inbound query a freelance copywriter can receive. I’ve owned my freelance writing and editing consultancy for five years, and the changes to how businesses market themselves has been nothing short of extraordinary. In the past year, I’ve been approached by three large enterprises to help them
A few weeks ago, a financial advisor friend of mine and I had a conversation about the terminology of our respective professions. I mentioned how a few people seemed ambivalent about calling themselves copywriters, and some had started using the term, “content strategist.” “Copy” is a journalism term and one that evokes smoky newsrooms and
(A version of this blog post first appeared at the Copywriter Conclave of Portland. Happy Holidays folks!) If you don’t have access to in-person resources, there are many freelance writing advisors on the Internet. Many monetize that advice through coaching, online classes, e-books, and so forth. Some are good and some are bad. Peter Bowerman
My freelance copywriter and editor networking group, The Copywriter Conclave of Portland, recently engaged in a lively and free-wheeling discussion about prospective clients and proposals. We were able to attract prospects and even get to the proposal stage, but sometimes, the almost-projects fell through shortly thereafter. We all determined that some unseen, emotional aspect comes
Inbound marketing is a powerful way to grow your business, especially if you’re a freelance copywriter. I was thrilled when my first prospective customer found me after I’d written a blog post. It happened when I was two months into my nascent freelance writing career. My prospective client and I scheduled a call, we hit
(Image Credit: “Light Bulb No. 2” by Chuck Coker) My networking group, The Copywriter Conclave of Portland, keeps a regularly updated blog chock full of valuable information for me, my fellow “Conclavists,” and our clients. I’ve been thinking a lot about what Conclave founder Amber James brought up in April: the ideal client. Amber mentions
(I recently wrote a blog post at the Copywriter Conclave of Portland website. I’ve copied it here for readers of my blog.) A group of copywriters and editors in the same group may seem like a strange idea. After all, aren’t we supposed to be competing for the same pool of clients? If you’re a
Last month’s Enlighten Writing blog post discussed why I don’t think writer/editors should work for free. I discussed the importance of a market rate. But what is a market rate? And how does a writer or editor determine her or his market rate? The Business Dictionary defines a market rate as, “the usual price in
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