Entries Tagged 'Getting Clients' ↓

Just a quick message to let you know that John and I are now accepting students into our “Secrets of Freelance Copywriting Success” coaching program.

We’ve already gotten a number of phone calls.

Some folks have already joined — and will get a special bonus session about “How to Get Good at Direct Response Copywriting and Marketing” because they acted fast.

Others have said they would love to be a part of the coaching program, but the price is out of reach.

If you feel this way, simply keep in mind that it will be hard to convince clients to invest money in you if you’re not willing to invest money in yourself.

The folks who actively participate — and implement what we teach — will get results. There’s just no way around it.

To learn more about the program and why you should strongly consider joining, please go here:

==> http://www.copywritingcode.com/lessons/

My Best,

-Ryan M. Healy

P.S. We are limiting the number of students to 48. We may fill all the spots and we may not. Either way, we will stop accepting registrations at 12 noon on Thursday, August 7.

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I really thought it would be easier to select a winner. I really did.

But after spending hours (literally) reading and re-reading the entries, I realized just how much thought, emotion, and passion each person put into their entry.

And each time I eliminated one of the entries, it caused me a twinge of pain. I just hated having to delete a good contest entry.

Anyway, there were many excellent entries, but ultimately we had to choose just one.

Wait. Scratch that.

Actually, we decided at the last minute to select TWO people — partially to ease our consciences, and partially to say thank you.

But let me tell you how we made the decision.

First, I took all the entries and put them into a separate text document. It is important for you to know that I stripped out all the names.

I then read every single entry at least two times — some of them more than that.

I began to whittle the entries down during the second reading. Then I deleted more entries during my third reading. Etc.

Finally, I had a list of seven names.

I took my list and then compared it to the list John had created on his own, apart from me.

There were a few names in common.

From there, we simply discussed our reasons for choosing the final two winners.

With that in mind, here are the two people we selected:

1. Nicoline Lentze - Entry #50

2. Sudheendra D. - Entry #60

Both winners have been notified by email that they were selected for free spots in our upcoming coaching program.

If you would like, you can read their contest submissions here.

My Best,

-Ryan M. Healy

P.S. John and I are extremely grateful to each person who took the time to enter the contest. To say thank you, we will be emailing each of you a surprise bonus gift. It should arrive early next week.

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I’ve got a big announcement today.

That’s because John “Angel” Anghelache and I have created a new contest that gives you the chance to win a free spot in our upcoming “Secrets of Freelance Copywriting Success” Coaching Program, which starts the beginning of August.

If you are serious about becoming a successful, “booked solid” copywriter, then I guarantee you will want to enter this contest.

How can I say that with such confidence?

It’s because entering the contest is quick and easy. Not to mention 100% FREE.

To enter, here’s what you need to do. Simply post a comment below and answer these two questions:

1. WHY do you want to become a successful freelance copywriter (besides the money)? I’m looking for the ultimate reason you got interested in copywriting in the first place. What does all that money get you?

2. HOW will participating in our 6-month Coaching Program help you?

If you can answer these two questions, you have a shot at winning the prize.

What exactly will you win? Simply this…

• FREE entry into the 6-month Freelance Copywriting Coaching Program starting in August 2008 (valued at $???)

Think about this for a minute. If you invest just a few minutes of your time to answer the two questions above, you could potentially walk away with free spot in our program.

If you apply what we teach you, it is entirely possible for you to land five, 10, or even 15 (or more) clients before the program is complete.

If each client paid you $2,500 (extremely conservative), you’d be winning the equivalent of $12,500 to $37,500… and that’s just for the first 6 months!

You’ll be able to continue profiting from the skills we teach you for the rest of your life.

I’d say that’s a fair trade, wouldn’t you?

Here’s what I want you to do now…

Scroll down to the section below that says “Leave a Comment.” Be sure to add your full name and email address so I can contact you in case you win. Answer the two questions. It should take you no more than 5 or 10 minutes. But the pay-off could be huge…

DEADLINE: Saturday, July 19th, at 12 noon Mountain time.

Any entries received after the deadline will NOT be considered.

John and I will choose a winner based on what we feel is the best response to these questions. How we pick the winner is at our sole discretion and whim.

The winner will be chosen and notified Saturday night, July 19th, by 9 p.m. Mountain time.

I’m really excited to kick off our Coaching Program with this contest, and look forward to hearing from everybody.

Be sure to check back Saturday night to see who the winner is.

Alright, then…  on your marks… get set… GO!

-Ryan M. Healy

P.S. If you don’t yet know what we’re including in the Coaching Program, you can listen to our two-part audio series here:

==> Details About the “Secrets of Freelance Copywriting Success” Coaching Program

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John “Angel” Anghelache and I wanted to offer you yet another strategy for generating leads for your copywriting business (or any business for that matter).

Why?

Because after releasing Video #3 and #4, we had some objections. Stuff like, “Well, of course that strategy works for you, but it would never work for me!”

So John whipped up this report in response to those objections. He titled it, “How to Flood Your Business With Even More Copywriting Prospects.”

Now, before you write this headline off as “hype,” I encourage you to read the report. (At 4 pages, it’s a quick read.)

I’m confident that anybody who applies this strategy in the right newspaper or magazine WILL be flooded with prospects.

So… apply this strategy at your own risk, okay?

Here’s the link to grab the report:

==> http://www.copywritingcode.com/lessons/flood.pdf

My Best,

-Ryan M. Healy

P.S. If you think of someone who could benefit from this lead generation strategy, please forward the PDF to him or her. Thanks!

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John “Angel” Anghelache and I have just released yet another complimentary training video. And this one is all about setting copywriting fees and finally getting paid what you’re worth.

When you watch this video, you’ll learn:

• A Simple Formula for Determining What You’re Worth.

• 3 Easy Ways to Charge Fees.

• How to Increase Your Fees Fast.

• Beyond Fees — How to Double or Triple Your Income in 12 Months.

• 4 Rules for Commission-Based Copywriting.

This 18-minute training video is 100% FREE when you sign-up here:

==> http://www.copywritingcode.com/lessons/

Will we try to sell you something after you opt-in?

Of course.

John and I are getting ready to release a coaching program for freelance copywriters later this month.

The free training videos we’re releasing are our way of giving back to our readers and subscribers while at the same time getting freelance copywriters to raise their hands and say, “I’m interested.”

Now, the coaching program will not be for everybody. And the number of students we will accept is limited.

So if it turns out you ARE interested (and it’s totally okay if you’re not), then you’ll want to stick with us for just a little while longer. We plan to release more information about the coaching program in a week or so.

In the mean time, I strongly encourage you to watch training Video #4: How to Raise Your Copywriting Fees & Finally Get Paid What You’re Worth.

Why?

Because this video — along with all of the others — provides real, practical value that you can implement starting today.

Just yesterday evening, I received this email from Matt Hegedus. He writes:

As you can see, even experienced copywriters are getting a lot of value and insight from these free training videos. And I think you will, too.

You can get instant access to “The Copywriting Fee Video,” plus all the others, when you sign-up here:

==> http://www.copywritingcode.com/lessons/

My Best,

-Ryan M. Healy

P.S. We love hearing from you! Make yourself heard by leaving a comment below.

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When I was 18 years old, I joined Amway.

I called close to 100 different people in my warm market, and I even hunted down unsuspecting “prospects” in public places like Barnes & Noble.

Embarrassing, I know.

During that time of my life (from age 18 to 21), I listened to scores of motivational tapes. One of them, more than any of the others, left its mark on my thinking.

It was a tape by Burt Gullick, who at the time was a Diamond in the Amway business. On the tape, Burt described Amway as “the goose that laid the golden egg.” He then proceeded to explain this metaphor.

Is Copywriting Your Goose?

Basically, Amway had provided Burt with a means of achieving his freedom. It provided him with a level of wealth and time independence he hadn’t been able to find anywhere else.

After achieving success in Amway, Burt used his income to invest in other opportunities. One of them I remember vividly because it was so unusual.

What did Burt invest in?

Landfills.

Yep, Burt used his Amway money to buy trash dumps. The model (as I remember it) went like this:

• Buy land near a city.
• Charge waste management companies to dump trash on the land.
• Collect monthly income from the waste management companies.
• Sell land later for a profit.

As you can imagine, this story really stuck with me. Here was a guy who had achieved success in Amway, but then reinvested his money in other opportunities.

Essentially, Burt Gullick diversified his income streams.

And wisely so!

But the other key point was that Burt needed “the goose” to get to a point where he had other opportunities to invest in.

As I’ve reflected on this story, I’ve decided that for me, copywriting is “the goose that laid the golden egg.”

I say this not because I’m done being a freelance copywriter. Fact is, I intend to continue as a freelance copywriter for quite some time, even though I may cut back on my workload.

Rather, I say this because copywriting has given me a greater income than I could have found in a job; more time flexibility than almost any other self-employed profession; and more opportunities than I know what to do with.

I have achieved a measure of success within the field of freelance copywriting. But more importantly, this success has positioned me for even greater success in the future.

Obviously, a career as a freelance copywriter isn’t for everybody. Neither is a career in Amway.

But ask yourself, “What is my goose? Where will my golden egg come from?”

There are many different “gooses” that can lay golden eggs. The trick is to find one that fits your skills, preferences, and personality. Once you find it, stick with it — and really put forth your best effort.

Because, if you do, your “goose” could easily become a stepping stone into bigger and better things for you in the future.

-Ryan M. Healy

P.S. Think freelance copywriting might be for you? Then you’ll want to watch the free training videos posted here.

P.P.S. Questions about running a freelance copywriting business are continuing to come in daily. If you’ve asked a question, John and I will do our best to respond as quickly as possible. Thanks.

P.P.P.S. Video #4 is going to be released tomorrow, July 1. In this video, I reveal some methods and strategies for commanding copywriting fees you can be proud of. If you’re on the notification list, you’ll be automatically emailed when the video is posted.

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John “Angel” Anghelache and I were talking today. Many questions that copywriters have submitted to us haven’t been answered yet. So we decided it was time to answer them. This time, John provides the answers. -Ryan

Q: “How does one get clients when their cash reserve won’t permit mailing out packages? Even if one could mail out packages, how does one persuade the client they are capable of doing the job?” -Ruth

John’s Answer: Resort to a combination of email and phone calls. Send an email with an abbreviated version of your pitch. Then follow up with a call.

Samples are one way to persuade clients. Put together a portfolio of ads. Even if they are “mock ups”. Something is better than nothing.

Ryan’s 2 Cents: If you decide to mail out some packages, Ruth, make your copy more conversational. Instead of saying, “How does one get clients?” say, “How do I get clients?” When you use the word “one” for a person, it sounds like a mid-term exam.

Q: “I’m the only breadwinner in my household and on my job I have very little ‘free time’ to do anything else. By the time I get home from work most of my prospects are gone for the day.

“I’m still a copywriter in training and it seems you would be required to bang the phones following up on your lead generation letters etc. to land some jobs. Any advice is greatly appreciated!” -Emette

John’s Answer: Get someone else to do the follow up calls for you. Have them schedule a phone meeting with the prospect when you will be available. There’s no shortcut here. You have to talk to prospects to turn them into clients.

Ryan’s 2 Cents: Hi, Emette. I’ve been in your shoes. If I were you, I’d schedule follow-up calls during my lunch hour. I’d take an early or late lunch if necessary. I’d make phone calls from my car, then eat lunch at my desk after making my calls. (I’ve actually done this.)

Q: “Tracking down the decision-maker.” -Paul

John’s Answer: Do research on the company. Find out who the decision-maker is. Contact them directly. They will either talk to you or hand off the project to someone else. Playing “phone tag” is part of the game. A good offer compels prospects to get in touch with you.

Q: “Time management people always say to just set a limit and make it be done. But me, hours later I’m still working away at an article. How the heck are you supposed to do that?” -Tracy

John’s Answer: There are tricks to writing faster. One is to use a template. Another is to set a timer on your desk. Write for a specific period of time. Then go on to another part of the writing job. You’ll get faster the more you write.

Ryan’s 2 Cents: Sounds like you might be a perfectionist, Tracy. In addition to what John suggested, try to establish what is good enough. Stop writing once you’ve reached the “good enough” level. Then test the copy to see what kind of results it gets.

Q: “Can you give us an in-depth discussion on building our niches and USP? For example, should I just say I am a copywriter who specializes in writing sales letters for the I.T. market? The concern I have here is that I might only receive projects from the IT sector even though I am equally qualified to serve the financial sector, aviation and aerospace, and the oil and gas industry.” -Raj

John’s Answer: Customize your offers to different markets. When approaching the I.T. market, talk about your experience in that market. When approaching the financial market focus on your experience there.

It doesn’t make much sense anyway to present yourself as a financial copywriter when going after the I.T. market. The key is to customize your self-promotions.

Q: “How difficult would it be to break into freelancing for established ad agencies in NY City or elsewhere? What do you think might be the right approach? Who would be the best person to contact at an ad firm? What kind of fee arrangement should I look for? Is this a crazy idea? Thanks for your input!” -Chris McMorrow

John’s Answer: First off, define what kind of ad agency. Conventional or direct response? There are huge differences between the two. I would go after direct response agencies. Compile a list of Creative Directors for various agencies. Send them a letter with a relevant offer.

(Hint: They only hire freelancers to unload work when in-house copywriters are swamped.)

Take whatever they pay. Usually, it’s somewhere in the $2,000 range or so. Go for the experience. The money will come.

-John L. Anghelache

[Editor's Note: We've now released three videos about finding and landing copywriting clients. The first video is free. You can watch it here. If you'd like to see all the videos as they are released (including Videos #2 and #3), please enter your name and email in the form that appears underneath the video. Thanks. -Ryan M. Healy]

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It took a little longer than I expected, but John Angel and I finally got the video up and running and ready for you to view. Its rather lengthy title is…

“Video #1: Ryan Healy and John Angel Answer Your Most Important Questions About Building Your Copywriting Business.”

Basically, we took some of the best questions from those that were submitted, created a PowerPoint presentation with answers, and then recorded a screen capture video with Camtasia.

The video is 23 minutes long, but I think you’ll find it’s worth watching. And when you go to view the video, make sure you take a look at what we have planned. There are at least 4 more videos we’ll be releasing… and a few surprises I can’t mention yet.

Anyway, here is the link to watch the “Answers” video. It is 100% free content, no opt-in required. (Although if you would like to be notified when new videos are released, you can join a the separate list we’ve created.)

==> http://www.copywritingcode.com/lessons/

Enjoy!

-Ryan M. Healy

P.S. If you have additional questions, comments, or feedback, feel free to leave a comment on this blog post. Thanks.

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If you’re a copywriter and you’d like more (or better) clients, pay close attention…

My friend and fellow copywriter John “Angel” Anghelache will be unveiling our freelance copywriter success coaching program in the next few weeks.

Until then, we plan on giving you a bunch of high quality content about what it takes to land more high-paying clients.

For now, I just wanted to give you a heads-up on what to expect.

We haven’t decided exactly what we’ll be giving away, but it may include an educational teleseminar, reports, audios, and possibly a video about how we get consistent copywriting gigs… *IF* John and I can figure out how to create one! (Hey, we’re copywriters, not A/V experts!)

In the mean time, I want to know what questions you may have.

Just click the “Comments” link below and type your question right now. Your question can be about anything related to building a freelance copywriting business.

And it’s okay if you have more than one question. Write as many questions as you have.

Keep in mind that John and I have produced millions in sales for our clients… and have worked with scores of clients — a total of 97 between the two of us. (Heck, John is one of the few copywriters who can say he wrote copy for the late Gary Halbert.)

Translation: We’ve had time to learn what works and what doesn’t. And we can help you, too.

So let me know whatever questions you may have about building, running, and profiting from a freelance copywriting business. Thanks in advance for your help.

-Ryan M. Healy

P.S. If you don’t want to use your real name when you ask your question, just use your initials in the Name field.

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