Topics: salesletter, internet marketing, killer sales copy, sales copy, copywriting
Not so long ago, when the computer was first mass-produced for selling to the public, a lot of industry experts predicted that nobody will want a box that does nothing besides handling data and hogging up the entire garage. They were obviously wrong. Nearly every […]
Keywords: copywriting, copywriting software
Writing copy is your number one weapon when it comes to making serious money online. Sure, you can spend hours getting traffic to your site using the multitude of options available, but if your site doesn’t convert to a sale, a click or a sign-up - then you’ve wasted your time.
With […]
Keywords: copywriter, freelancer, business writer, copywriter coaching, copywriting
If you’ve done any freelance work in marketing, you may be familiar with the phrase “unique selling proposition” (commonly known as the “USP”).
The USP tells your prospect what differentiates your product from everyone else’s in your category. And it’s the single most important […]
Keywords: copywriting, freelance, direct marketing
Recently a copywriter named Chris asked me what she should do when a direct marketing campaign fails. “How do you bounce back in your freelance business after a client royally screws up a DM campaign?”
The short answer is that no copywriter wins all the time. The law of averages […]
Keywords: copywriters, fees, contracts, coach, freelance
This is valuable content from my free online newsletter, the FREELANCER’S BUSINESS BULLETIN. In the April 2004 issue I shared with my subscribers the secret to getting at least 50% of your freelance fee up front, plus a whole host of other important requirements for your […]
Keywords: copywriting, marketing, freelancer, writing,
Some beginning copywriters have asked for my opinion about offering potential clients a “free assessment” that consists of a free review of a marketing piece along with suggestions for improvement.
First let me say that the idea is not a bad one, and in fact it used to […]
Keywords: Copywriting, freelance, testimonials
A beginning copywriter recently asked the question, “How can my client quickly generate testimonials?”
The answer is the same for her client as it is for us: You must develop them!
I must confess that in my own copywriting business I was lazy in this department and had to scramble once I […]
Keywords: copywriter, negotiations, fees, clients
In this article I’ll share two financially ruinous negotiating tactics often made by beginning copywriters. Both came from my coaching students just this week.
Financially ruinous negotiating tactic #1 comes from a successful book author who is adding copywriting to his writing skill set. Here, paraphrased, is a comment […]
Keywords: copywriting, freelance, finding clients
Yes, it’s cold calling!
As is often the case, the shortest way to success is the most distasteful. But I can tell you from personal experience that making that call (until you get enough clients), can shave months off your start-up marketing efforts.
When I first began freelancing, I combined […]
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How disciplined are you?
If you’re like most freelancers, you love the “time freedom” of your lifestyle. No more punching a time clock or being chained to a desk. No more “hanging up quickly” when the boss walks by.
As a freelancer those days are gone forever…but one quickly learns that in order to make a […]
Keywords: copywriting, freelance, branding
Many years ago when I first began freelancing, I struggled over what to name my copywriting business. The first name for my one-man shop was Chris Marlow and Associates. Although there were no associates, I imagined it made me look bigger.
Years later when I thought I was much smarter, I […]
Keywords: copywriter, copywriting, clients
In my life, I’ve had two freelance careers, one that limped along miserably for a number of years, and one that took off like a rocket after only three months of marketing.
What happened in between was eight year of excitement, growth and misery at a high-powered direct response agency, […]
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In more than 20 years of copywriting for both business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) clients, I have found mid-size and large B2B clients to be generally easier to work with, and more professional than B2C. (I do not recommend working for small business in either B2B or B2C.)
In my experience, B2B companies tend be […]
Keywords: copywriting, freelance, marketing, lead generation, website
Freelancers who are trying to build their portfolios occasionally asked me, “What can I do with good work that was never used?”
The good news is, you should use it in your portfolio, if it’s work you’re proud of. Marketing professionals are used to seeing work […]
Keywords: copywriting, freelancing, marketing, chris marlow, target marketing
In the world of business, there are two dynamics that are constantly in motion, and they are…
1) A problem for which a solution must be found (owned by the client), and
2) The solution to that problem (owned by the service provider).
It’s […]