May 31st, 2007 by Terri

Content writing and copywriting are different animals.

Writing content involves actually writing content, let’s say for websites.

Copywriting is designed to produce results and consist of sales letters or sales copy. In other words the letters are designed to sell - it is that simple.

Here are the 2 kinds of sales copy:

One is short copy and is typically about 5-7 printed pages. This copy is written to sell based on the merits of a product or service. If you are starting out as a copywriter you can expect to charge from about $100 to $500 for this. Experts, (people who have proof that their copy generates results) can receive from $800 to $2,000 for this service.

The other type of copy is long copy. Typically long copy is about 10-20 printed pages and sometimes even more. It basically hypnotizes a reader into a buying trance. A newer copywriter can easily charge $300 to $2,000 for this service. And experts charge $1,500 to $5,000 or more.

Now you have the distinction of copywriting vs. content writing.

Terri Levine
www.TheCopywritingInstitute.com

May 30th, 2007 by Kelly

I recently read a post from an aspiring copywriter. He has been trying to get a copywriting business started for some time now. He’s taken several classes, read books, participated in writing groups and forums. He feels he’s done all the training he can possibly do.

He’s frustrated (and probably a little depressed) about why his copywriting business hasn’t taken off. Why doesnt’ he have any clients? Why isn’t he “making it” as a freelance copywriter?

My question to him is….two fold.

You’ve taken tons of classes and learned all you can through books and in a classroom setting. 1. What actions have you taken to market yourself? 2. What action can you take right now, today, to get out and meet some prospects?

If you want to be a successful freelance copywriter you need to take some action.

Like Nike says….Just Do It.

Training is very important. To grow and get to the next level — to create what you want in your life — you need to do more.

If what you’ve been doing is no longer moving you forward, if you are no longer growing from it, do something different.

Take action.

Kelly and Terri

May 30th, 2007 by Terri

One of the things that copywriters complain about is finding their next client/s. A strategy I use that works really well is when I get hired by a client I let them know, that instead of spending all my time hunting for new clients, I work by referral. And then I ask them, if they are satisfied with my work, to refer me to others who I can do this work for.

After I begin the work, I ask them for a list of people they know who can also use my services. Then I contact those people and tell them I was referred to them.

This method works great!

Terri Levine
www.TheCopyWritingInstitute.com

May 29th, 2007 by Terri

The largest freelance market today is copywriting. Think of everything you see each day: brochures, ads, websites and pamphlets, etc. all of those things were written by somebody. Granted some of the time companies have in-house copywriters. Many others use marketing or PR firms, which hire many freelance copywriters and many hire freelance copywriters directly.

If you have not considered being a freelancer, take a moment and think about the advantages. Imgaine working full or part time and writing…you can work and live anywhere you want and you can work with the clients you enjoy and clients who pay you well.

As a freelance copywriter, you attract your clients by selling yourself and your ability to write and to complete the work on time.

Some freelance copywriters choose a specific niche to write for based on a topic or market they are more familiar with. For example I have a healthcare background and I write for healthcare publications.

Think about what kinds of copy you want to write and don’t forget copywriting covers a huge range of media including: television, radio, magazines, brochures, direct mail, etc. Due to the speed and growth of the Internet, more copywriters are needed to keep up with every web site and email shot. Everthing requires a copywriter to have put pen to paper or fingers on keyboards.

The Internet is still growing at a steady rate and that helps the copywriter to find clients and allows a freelance copywriter to work from home and earning a wonderful living writing.

Terri Levine
TheCopywritingInstitute.com

May 25th, 2007 by Terri

You might laugh all you want at this… I was about to get into bed and remembered I needed to plug my cell phone in to charge…so I snuck into my office, yes, naked… and then I thought of something really cool to write in a press release a client wanted, that I couldn’t wait to do it in the morning because I might forget… so picture me in the chair, naked, typing away and then sending out the release! Well I must admit this is my first press release that I did for a client in the nude. The client loved the release and asked me to write a few more, so I am continuing to get paid to copywrite (perhaps even naked!).

Terri
www.TheCopywritingInstitute.com

May 24th, 2007 by Terri

Many copywriters are afraid to price their services too high and some aren’t sure what to charge at all.

In my experience it is $1.00 per word.

Think of the income awaiting… websites, ebooks, brochures, manuals, workbooks, ads, books, booklets, and on and on.

Every business needs what you provide.

Entrepreneur’s need you to copywrite for them and most businesses don’t have an in-house copywriter.

The sky is the limit and the door is wide open.

I think copywriting is a great profession to add to what you already do and is perfect for people who want to stay at home or even work in corporations.

Prosperity and success are here for copywriters!

Terri Levine
www.TheCopywritingInstitute.com

May 23rd, 2007 by Terri

I am often asked to teach people how to write effective press releases and also asked by copywriting clients to write releases for them.

I have a little “secret” I have used in press releases for years and won’t give away the store here… I will, however, give enough information for so that you can shift your thinking about press releases.

Before you write a press release for yourself or for a client be sure you know the answer to this question: Who are your customers/clients (be specific)? Why do these people buy your products/services (be specific)?

These two powerful coaching questions will also give you insight to write more of a pitch story vs. a traditional press release.

You’d rather get them to write a story about your product or services or those of your client, yes?

Know that a copywriter or entrepreneur needs to write pitch stories vs. traditional press releases.

For now, start asking those two “secret” questions and you’ll get many angles to write pitch stories from.

Terri Levine
www.TheCopywritingInstitute.com

May 22nd, 2007 by Terri

Many people ask me how I got into copywriting. I haven’t shared the story publically and decided to today.

I grew up in a lower middle-class family in a small apartmen in Yonkers, NY. We didn’t get to do many things as money was always tight. We did have things we needed for school like pens and books and notebooks.

Each year I was thrilled to get a brand new notebook filled with lined paper! I would write for hours and hours. I’d write stories and poems and write letters to myself.

In school my teachers always found me writing during classes and several of them suggested to me that I would be a writer when I “grew up”. I didn’t go in that direction.

I went to college to be a Speech-Language Pathologist and worked in that profession for many years and later went on to hold marketing and administrative jobs in the rehabilitation industry. In those industries I had to use writing skills but found the types of writing I was doing utterly boring.

While working in the rehabilitation field and knowing that I wasn’t satisfied with this career, I hired a life coach. This coach showed me the world of coaching and I instantly knew that coaching was what I wanted to do and that I wanted to use my writing skills, listening skills, and my caring and compassion to serve others.

It was like awakening from a long dream! As soon as I hired a coach I began writing articles and special reports and then began working on my first book. I was amazed that I felt such freedom when I began to write as a way to express myself, serve others, and to attract coaching clients.

As I began to coach more people I found I had less and less time to do my writing. It was a challenge writing and coaching. I thought I’d have to choose one or the other. I decided that coaching was my passion and began to do so much coaching that I had to let my writing go. As I let it go, I yearned for it more and more.

One day I was giving one of my Work Yourself Happy seminars when I found myself saying to the audience, “Coaching isn’t just a one-on-one process. When you write and people read your message, this is a way to coach others and reach and impact greater masses”.

It hit me! I could do both!

I decided to schedule every Monday off as a writing day and a non-coaching day. As I began writing more articles, emerging best selling books and hearing the impact my books were having on others, I knew that my writing was an important way to coach.

Then people began asking me to ghost write books for them. As I accepted this task and saw those books rising in popularity I knew that writing copy was a key piece of what I do. I remember clearly my father saying to me when I was that young child with a notebook, “Terri, some day you’ll be paid well for your writing”.

I am delighted Dad was right and that coaching and copywriting are a perfect marriage for me.

Terri Levine

May 21st, 2007 by Terri

What is the right copy? How do you write the right copy? How do you know that the copy you write is going to be effective?

My formula for copy that is powerful is here for you to use:

1. Tell a story with drama and lots of color and visualizations so the reader jumps right into the copy

2. Ask the reader many questions and answer each one

3. Write about what people will get by using the products/services mentioned

This formula has assisted me to write copy quickly and to always be sure my copy has high impact.

If you want to turbocharge your copywriting find out more at www.thecopywritinginstitute.com

Terri & Kelly

May 18th, 2007 by Kelly

Prospecting is something that ALL business owners, including copywriters, must do on an ongoing basis.

Always make time for marketing.

Schedule a consistent amount of time each day or week and stick to it.

The key is creating systems that help you. Systems ensure your marketing happens even when you are super busy.

Beware of the times when you are super busy and you don’t have time for marketing — you’ll soon find yourself with too much time for marketing because you don’t have anyone coming into your funnel!

 Download this free special advisory and learn how to put three automatic marketing systems in place  www.thecopywritinginstitute.com/6figuresasacopywriter.html

Terri and Kelly