Entries Tagged 'Personal' ↓

One of the benefits of a Mastermind group is getting the perspectives of the other members.

And on Thursday’s Mastermind, Ray Edwards said, “Get on Twitter.”

So I did.

As you know, I’ve not said very nice things about Twitter in the past. And I’m still not sold on it.

That said, I took Ray’s advice and set up a Twitter account during the Mastermind call. By the time the call was over, I had 20 followers, which I thought was kind of cool.

Anyway, when I set up my account, I discovered all the other “Ryan Healys” of the world had already snatched up my name and its variations.

So I dredged up an old nickname from my wrestling days in high school: Healy Monster.

If you’d like to follow me on Twitter, you’ll find me here:

==> http://twitter.com/healymonster

Update: Michel Fortin just caught wind that I joined Twitter. Here is what he said:

Which, by the way, if you decide to follow me, you ought to follow Michel as well. I love his insights into business and life in general. Here’s his Twitter profile:

==> http://twitter.com/michelfortin

-Ryan M. Healy

P.S. I know it’s been quiet around here. That’s because the last two weeks have possibly been the busiest weeks of my entire freelance career.

And when client deadlines loom, my blog takes a back seat. Look for new posts next week.

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A few months ago, I came up with 12 questions for copywriter Stephen Dean to answer.

Well, “stuff” got in the way. Stephen went on vacation. I got busy with projects. Etc.

The delay actually turned out to be a good thing. Because I asked Stephen to interview me.

You’ll find the questions I asked Stephen, along with his answers, below.

And you’ll find the questions Stephen asked me, along with my responses, on his blog. (See the link at the end of this article.)

1. What do you LOVE about copywriting?

Wow, a lot of things just went through my mind. I’m an information junky, so getting deeply involved in a new topic each time I take on a new topic is fantastic brain food.

When you get a project for Real Estate investing, or stock investing, or natural health and so on… you get paid to sit there and research these things heavily. That’s really fun for me.

Copywriting can also be like putting a puzzle together that doesn’t have a “correct solution.” So it becomes an art and a science. I do love that.

2. What do you HATE about copywriting?

The isolation! I’m often envious of people whose work involves a lot of socializing. Most of the time I’m working it’s just me and the computer.

That said, because of copywriting, I have a lot of time outside of work to see friends.

3. What is the single best investment you’ve made in your copywriting career?

By far, it was hiring Michel Fortin to be my coach. I started writing copy when I was young, so my biggest weakness was experience. Hiring Michel allowed me to zap that problem.

So I highly recommend getting a copywriting coach to anyone just starting out. It’s incredible how helpful it is to have someone with more experience take a look at your work as you go.

4. What’s the biggest MISTAKE you’ve made in your business?

I could mention a lot. Not raising my prices fast enough. Not following up with every client to get real performance numbers for the copy to put on my sales page (still need to be doing that).

But another I’ve noticed lately…

I stayed in the “Make Money Online” niche for far too long. And by “stayed,” I mean that’s pretty much all I wrote for. That was fine when my fees were lower. And there still is a lot of work here…

…but as I raised my rates and was approached by more clients in different niches, the only work I had in my portfolio was for one niche. They doubted I could write in their niche and I lost work because of it.

5. What’s the biggest trend impacting copywriters today?

I think everyone’s paying attention to online video. Are copywriters going to be writing scripts in the future? Will copywriters produce videos?

There aren’t many “video copywriters” out there yet, but this could change soon. I don’t see video completely replacing written copy, but it could become a vital component.

One problem with video is that you can’t skim it. That’s terrible for someone like me who skims sales letters. So I only see it complimenting the sales process.

6. What are some untapped markets or opportunities for freelance copywriters?

For US copywriters I’d guess it’d be UK clients. With the dollar falling at the rate that it is, it seems like clients from the UK keep getting a significant discount courtesy of The Federal Reserve.

7. What’s your #1 tip for finding quality copywriting clients fast?

Do a Google search and check out the sites that are using Adwords. Look for sites that are obviously employing copywriters and get their physical address (usually by looking up their WHOIS information for their domain name). And then start sending them promotional material through postal mail.

It can get more complicated than that. You can see how big their Adwords budget is and if they’re involved in several different markets (which means they’ll probably continue to expand)… but that’s a good start.

This way you’re targeting and choosing clients who have money and experience working with a copywriter.

8. Why do you blog? Is it to attract clients, sell information products, or something else? Explain.

Hmm… Neither, either or both.

To be honest I forget why I started blogging. I’d just come home from Ryan Deiss’ seminar in Dallas so maybe I was encouraged there.

I can tell you why I blog now. The ultimate goal is to establish myself as a copywriting authority and get clients. More and more clients are finding me by searching for copywriters through Google… this would be difficult without a blog.

And since I have several hundred posts, these clients can see that I’ve been around a long time and know what I’m doing. So it helps them to trust me, which is important because sales copy isn’t cheap and they’re going to approach hiring me carefully.

At the same time, having a blog with decent traffic gives you quite a bit of freedom. I could stop writing copy tomorrow and change my focus to selling products.

Because I have a steady flow of traffic I wouldn’t need to start all over again.

9. What’s your #1 tip for instantly boosting conversion rates?

This probably isn’t what you’re looking for. But it’s the first thing that came to mind: Find a higher quality traffic source.

If your copy is converting at 3% from traffic on Adwords, you’re likely to get higher than a 10% conversion from an endorsed mailing. So it’s important to seek out those partnerships when you see that sales are coming in.

10. Is there more money to be made in selling secrets or keeping them? Why?

This is an amazing question because I’ve been thinking about it lately too. James Brausch seems to sell his entire business, doesn’t he?

Is it because he thinks “competition” will help his business or does he think most people won’t act anyway? (Truthfully, I guess that’s not an either/or.)

I definitely have not come to my own conclusion about this. Could KFC sell their secret recipe and stay dominant? They sure don’t think so, check this out off their web site:

“For years, Colonel Harland Sanders carried the secret formula for his Kentucky Fried Chicken in his head and the spice mixture in his car. Today, the recipe is locked away in a safe in Louisville, Kentucky. Only a handful of people know that multi-million dollar recipe, and each is obligated to strict confidentiality by contract.”

In this case, they may be right. Could they continue to get people to pay franchise fees if the secret was spilled? Or keep someone else from offering franchises with the same recipe?

While I’d like to believe in an “open source” business, I’m still not able to get over my instinct that you can make more money by keeping some things secret.

I can guarantee I’ll be pondering this for a long time however.

11. Where do you see yourself two years from today?

Hmm… well I like to shoot big. So in 2 years I see myself leading a team of copywriters putting out 10-20 letters a month… and hopefully most of those will be for my own products/services.

I also hope to be taking a lot more cruises and other various vacations!

12. Where can people learn more about you?

StephensBlog.com is where I discuss copywriting, business and life. I have a free split test software that I give away in exchange for an email address. I read all comments left on my blog.

It’s also where you can find out more about my “Sales Boostin’ Services!”

******

If you liked this interview, or if you’d like to read my responses to Stephen’s questions, go to this link now:

==> 12 Questions with Copywriter Ryan Healy

-Ryan M. Healy

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In the last week or so, I’ve gotten two new testimonials because I took the time and effort to ask.

One is from a client I worked with 18 months ago. He recently contacted me about a potential upcoming project.

The other is from a client I’ve done four projects for since spring of this year — with a fifth one pending.

******

“Ryan epitomizes professionalism and courtesy in addition to delivering some of the best converting copy we have ever used. We used Ryan for the first time almost 2 years ago and his copy and ads are still in use today, a true testament to the quality and conversion rates we continue to experience with his copy.”

Clint Holland, Camden, SC
www.Debt-Free-in-Three.com

******

“We have used Healy Marketing for several direct marketing pieces including email, direct mail and newspaper for our education seminars: National Grants Conferences, The Trump Institute, and Robert Shemin’s Unlimited Riches.  Ryan’s copywriting has provided us successful results on time and on budget. I would highly recommend him for your direct marketing campaigns.”

Sandy Goldman, Boca Raton, FL
Executive Director of Marketing
The Trump Institute

******

Forgive me for a little “shameless self promotion” — I was just super excited about these testimonials.

-Ryan M. Healy

P.S. I noticed a few people clicking through to Clint’s web site. For the record, I didn’t write the sales letter posted there.

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Normally, I wouldn’t post this type of news.

But it’s critical that you know what’s happening in the U.S.

Today, the Constitution died. Or, more accurately, it continued its slow death.

In fact, the news article on Digg has been “dugg” more than 12,000 times. I think that’s an all-time record (although I haven’t been able to verify it yet).

Here’s the link:

http://digg.com/political_opinion/The_Constitution_Dies_Tomorrow

Also, it’s important to note that President Franklin Roosevelt declared an economic emergency in 1933 to remove us from the protection of the Constitution. This was an important turning point in history.

But today’s historical vote to extend warrantless searches and wiretapping is certainly an acceleration in the loss of our freedoms.

Be watchful.

-Ryan M. Healy

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Here’s a poem I wrote when I was 20. Lines from it have been coming to mind frequently these days, so I thought I’d publish it here.

It has nothing to do with business, but you might enjoy it anyway.

Creed - by Ryan M. Healy

I
To move the hearts of men;
To change the soul within;
To remove the facades that cage
Our ways at a tender age;
To return to the days of old,
When tales around the hearth were told;
To gather the scattered coals
That have lost their heat
In scattered defeat
Into a banked and blazing shoal.

II
To please the God that’s true;
To bid my flesh adieu;
To reveal the strong hands that made
This ordered earth in seven days;
To return to the times of old,
When stories of our God were told;
To gather the scattered coals
That have lost their heat
In scattered defeat
Into a banked and blazing shoal.

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This morning I woke up to a nice surprise.

Ed Rivis shared my book promotion with his blog readers while I was sleeping… and entrepreneurs from across the pond turned out in spades!

Turns out, Ed once slipped a couple discs in his back, so he felt obliged to support my “Save a Back” campaign.

If you don’t know who Ed is, you ought to spend some time reading his blog. Here’s a link:

==> Web Marketing Strategy for Small Business Success

In the mean time, I’d like to give you…

Another FREE Gift

A few weeks ago, Ben Settle interviewed me about how to fill seminars. Or “put butts in seats,” as it’s commonly said. He recently posted the interview on his web site.

The interview is only 25:16, but packed with tips you can use immediately to get more seminar attendees. You don’t even have to opt-in to get it. Just click the link below…

==> How to Fill Seminars: Free Audio Download

-Ryan M. Healy

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The legal name of my business is Gambit LLC. Last week, when I cashed some checks at the bank, the teller came back with a grin on his face.

Teller: “Are you the business owner?”

Me: “Yes, I am.”

Teller: “Did you name your business after Gambit, the comic book character?”

I get this question a lot… because nobody knows what “gambit” means.

I hated to let the teller down, but I had to. I realize Gambit is the name of a Marvel comic book character, but he was not my inspiration. And I told the teller so. I went on to explain that…

Chess was my inspiration.

I love the game of chess. Unfortunately, not many people share my interest in the game. It’s a nerd’s game, I guess.

This is also why most people don’t know what gambit means.

In chess, a gambit is a sacrifice made to improve your board position.

So a player may choose to sacrifice a bishop if it sets up a move that might allow him to pin down the queen. This is just an example. There are literally hundreds of different gambits that can be made in the game of chess, depending on the circumstances.

This is why, when I quit my job back in 2005, I viewed it as a gambit. I was sacrificing my job to improve my overall “board position” in the game of life.

This gambit set me back in the short-term. But it gave me the possibility of improving my situation over the long-term. I felt that the sacrifice was worth it. Turns out, it was more than worth it.

What gambits have you made in the game of life? How did they turn out?

-Ryan M. Healy

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Among the many comments I’ve received about “the eight-month letter,” there have been numerous suggestions. In fact, one reader dug up the letter on Google, read it, and then sent me an email asking me to refrain from publicizing it. This reader wrote me by email saying…

After reading your letter, my personal suggestion and sincere hope on the matter of it’s public posting is this: please reconsider.

This reader’s email was so sincere and heartfelt that it did give me pause; I once again examined my reasons for wanting to share the letter, and its possible repercussions.

For a moment, I considered creating a private email list to which people could sign up if they wanted access to the letter. I thought this might have been a prudent course of action.

But based on the direction I received today, I plan to publicize the letter here on this blog on Monday, January 21. The title of the post will be “The Eight-Month Letter Revealed.” There will be a link in the post to the letter.

-Ryan M. Healy

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I got my first job at age 12. Every Saturday, I’d go down to the model homes in my neighborhood and water all the plants inside the homes. There were four homes, and I could usually complete the task in an hour. For my efforts, I’d get five dollars. At the time, it felt like a lot.

My next job at age 14 was working in a warehouse. I pulled orders, packed boxes, and did other various tasks. I rode my bike about five miles one way to get to my job. I’d go after school a few times a week. The pay was better, and for the first time, I was making over $100 every two weeks. I enjoyed the job, but quit when I got stuck with a bad manager.

At age 15 I went to work for Auntie Ann’s Pretzels in the mall. I worked the cash register, rolled pretzels, washed dishes, sliced and squeezed boxes of lemons to make lemonade, etc. Again, the pay was higher and I enjoyed the work for the most part. I got frustrated with labor laws though. I remember my boss telling me I couldn’t work the ovens until I was 16, and not to work the dough mixer until I was 18. I rebelled and did everything anyway. I thought to myself, “How can the government say what I can and can’t do? I can work an oven at home. Why not here?”

Some days, during the holidays, I’d work 12 hours with one 15-minute break to scarf down a pretzel and some Coke. I loved the challenge of keeping the production levels up and serving all the people. Later, after I had left, I found out labor laws also capped the number of hours you could work at age 15. I’m grateful to this day that my boss was unaware of those laws. I wanted to work, and no government was going to tell me I couldn’t.

I left the pretzel store at age 16 to work at a snowboard shop called Rocky Mountain Snowboards. I didn’t make the switch for money, but because I loved to snowboard. I worked at RMS for three years. I sold snowboards, skateboards, and inline skates, and did some tune-up work on all of them as well. I loved the job. It was great for finishing out my years in high school, but I could see it really wasn’t leading me anywhere I wanted to go. Plus, in my third year of work at the snowboard shop, I began dating a girl who is now my wife. I knew I couldn’t get married on such a small hourly wage. That’s when I began to get serious about my jobs.

So at age 18, I took a job installing wire closet shelving as a stop gap. I knew I wouldn’t keep the job long, but it paid much better. I had a lot of time to think. It was just me and the owner. When we’d stop at a house, I’d unload the shelving and stage it in each closet of the house, including the pantry, if there was one. The owner would use a jig to drill holes in the closets. I would install the hardware and snap the shelves into place. Then we were off to the next house. We’d do six to 12 houses a day, literally hundreds of pounds of wire shelving.

Finally, after seven months, I quit to engage in a serious job search. I spent six weeks submitting my resume to companies and calling on job opportunities. Finally, after a lot of dead ends, I landed a job with a temp agency. How I got the job was kind of funny. I had seen an advertisement in the paper for a certain position. The qualifications were listed. I was proficient in each area that was listed. So I applied.

When I showed up, the interviewer asked me a few questions, including my college background. When he didn’t hear the answer he was looking for, he told me, “Well, it doesn’t seem like you’re a good fit for the job. Sorry.”

Something inside of me snapped. I told him, “Look, you put an advertisement in the paper asking for someone with certain qualifications. I have those qualifications. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have responded to your ad. If you’re not looking for someone with those qualifications, then don’t lie about it. And stop wasting my time.”

All of a sudden, the interviewer’s demeanor changed. “Well, hold on a second. Let me see what I can do,” he said.

A series of tests followed. I aced all of them. That’s how I got the job with the temp agency, which then placed me in a job at Merrill Lynch. I was 19 at the time.

Honestly, my first position at Merrill Lynch was too easy. All I did was review incoming forms to make sure they were filled out completely. I also checked for a valid plan administrator signature on each form. I had to reference two binders full of signatures. Soon, I had memorized hundreds of different signatures and could pass most forms without checking the binders.

This position lasted a two or three months. I did so well that Merrill Lynch decided to hire me. So I went from being paid by the temp agency to being paid by Merrill Lynch. I also began receiving their benefits. My first official job as a Merrill Lynch employee was in the Payroll department. I processed incoming 401(k) payrolls for various companies who paid Merrill Lynch to be their record keeper.

I spent a year in the position before being promoted into the Client Service department. In my new capacity, I still worked with 401(k) clients. But instead of processing the payrolls, I worked directly with the HR departments at the companies. I investigated issues, conducted compliance testing, wrote report calculators, helped with IRS audits, etc. It was a challenging position. I probably would not have left, except a reorganization put me with not one, but two bad managers. They were both trying to “manage” me, which is to say they were trying to get me to do most of the work while they sat in a closed-door office and did nothing.

I was already considering leaving Merrill Lynch when John Holzmann contacted me about the possibility of working at his company. John and his family had been friends of my family’s for a long time. John and his wife Sarita owned a homeschooling company called Sonlight Curriculum. At the time, John was looking for a marketing guy. He knew of my entrepreneurial bent and my interest in writing, so he thought I might be a good fit.

After a brief test-run, I got the job. I was 23 at the time. Ultimately, my work with Sonlight is what launched my freelance copywriting career. For three years, I did all of the Internet marketing for Sonlight. I wrote copy for the web site and annual catalog. I managed the Google AdWords campaigns. I helped strategize how to grow the company.

But having a job wasn’t for me. The entire time I was an employee, I was always wanting to do things differently than the company was. It was frustrating to not be able to act on all my ideas. I also disliked having to get permission for everything, including simple things like semi-annual dentist appointments.

Finally, when the opportunity presented itself, I quit my job at Sonlight on April 19, 2005. I have been self-employed ever since.

-Ryan M. Healy

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