There was an interesting post on another copywriter's site last week with a similar question. Ryan Healy wanted to know what his subscribers are looking for when they're ready to hire a ghostwriter or copywriter. You can check out the answers to that question by clicking the above link.
Here's my take on this subject:
1. Know what you want. The more information you can give the copywriter, the better job she or he will be able to do for you. You should be able to communicate to the copywriter a basic overview of your project, its goals, the desired end result and some information about who your desired target market is and why they will be interested in this product or service. (Depending on the project - how complicated it is, what your timeline is, and even how much you want to spend - you should expect to receive a telephone consultation, email follow-ups and some questionnaires - all of which will help the copywriter to do the best possible job in the shortest amount of time for you.)
2. Have some background material prepared. Previous ad samples, copies of previous campaigns, testimonials or feedback from previous clients or people who have tested your product or service, research about the market, etc. Also, depending on the depth of the project, give the copywriter the product, or a good description of the process involved in delivering the service. (You can create pdf. documents and email these things most of the time - in the event you need to use snail mail or UPS, then make sure that you're giving the copywriter enough time to receive and go through them, and to work on your project.
3. Be available for questions throughout the project. Choose to set aside a little bit of time throughout the project - this accomplishes two things. First, it gives the copywriter the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers all at once. This makes the process of writing much smoother and it means that she or he is not waiting for an answer from you that delays the entire project. And secondly, it helps you to oversee the project itself and make sure that everything is on track for meeting your deadlines. You also can spot problems in the copy and correct them right then.
If you've got more questions about hiring a copywriter or ghostwriter, feel free to shoot me an email or leave a comment on this post, and I'll do my best to answer you!
Monday, June 4, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Why Should You Write Articles About Your Business?
You should be writing articles about your business for the following reasons:
1. To become a recognized authority in your field.
2. To draw traffic to your Website or blog.
3. To get backlinks to your Website or blog.
4. To tell your customers more about your products or services and educate them about why they should be hiring you, as opposed to someone else.
Becoming A Recognized Authority in your Field:
Writing articles is a good way to share your knowledge about your field, your hobby or your business. Article writing and marketing should be a part of your business marketing strategy.
Draw Traffic to Your Website or Blog:
This is another marketing and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Strategy. Every article you submit should have your name and a link back to your Website or Blog. People who are looking for your products or services will see your name and check out the url - and give you an additional chance to educate them.
To Get Backlinks to Your Blog or Website:
Every time you - or someone else uses a search engine to find more information about a specific topic, the information is presented based on several factors - one of which is how important the search engine thinks that Website or Blog is. And one of the factors that determines importance is the number of other sites that link to it. Using articles that have a link back to your Website mean that the search engines will rank your site as more important, and you'll be put higher on the search results page because of it.
To Tell Your Customers (or Prospective Customers) About Your Products or Services:
When you're looking for information about a specific topic, what happens when you end up on a Website or Blog that has nothing to do with what you're searching for? I don't know about you, but it pisses me off. When I do a search on Google, Yahoo, MSN or any of the other search engines, I want one thing - information. So do your customers. And by giving them answers to their questions - giving them good solid information, you're giving them what they want - and that means that they're going to be more likely to trust you and think of you, when they are ready to buy.
We'll explore more about this topic next time.
1. To become a recognized authority in your field.
2. To draw traffic to your Website or blog.
3. To get backlinks to your Website or blog.
4. To tell your customers more about your products or services and educate them about why they should be hiring you, as opposed to someone else.
Becoming A Recognized Authority in your Field:
Writing articles is a good way to share your knowledge about your field, your hobby or your business. Article writing and marketing should be a part of your business marketing strategy.
Draw Traffic to Your Website or Blog:
This is another marketing and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Strategy. Every article you submit should have your name and a link back to your Website or Blog. People who are looking for your products or services will see your name and check out the url - and give you an additional chance to educate them.
To Get Backlinks to Your Blog or Website:
Every time you - or someone else uses a search engine to find more information about a specific topic, the information is presented based on several factors - one of which is how important the search engine thinks that Website or Blog is. And one of the factors that determines importance is the number of other sites that link to it. Using articles that have a link back to your Website mean that the search engines will rank your site as more important, and you'll be put higher on the search results page because of it.
To Tell Your Customers (or Prospective Customers) About Your Products or Services:
When you're looking for information about a specific topic, what happens when you end up on a Website or Blog that has nothing to do with what you're searching for? I don't know about you, but it pisses me off. When I do a search on Google, Yahoo, MSN or any of the other search engines, I want one thing - information. So do your customers. And by giving them answers to their questions - giving them good solid information, you're giving them what they want - and that means that they're going to be more likely to trust you and think of you, when they are ready to buy.
We'll explore more about this topic next time.
Writing Articles Can Increase Your Sales
Joel Comm is well-known as an AdSense guru. In fact, I've got one of his books about AdSense, and use some of the techniques to improve my AdSense earnings.
I just found a video he did, talking about article writing and why having good, quality content on your Website or blog is so necessary.
And he recommends only one article directory for submitting your articles to. Curious which one? Check out the video, and then read my next post about article writing:
I just found a video he did, talking about article writing and why having good, quality content on your Website or blog is so necessary.
And he recommends only one article directory for submitting your articles to. Curious which one? Check out the video, and then read my next post about article writing:
Monday, February 19, 2007
Should You Hire a Ghost Writer?
If you're a business owner, you already have a million and one things to do - in fact, everytime I start thinking about all the things we do as business owners, I can't help but think about the diagram that business coach Rich Schefren created last summer - did you see it? Along with his manifesto, and the missing chapter, it was a great piece of work with a lot of good information to help small business owners take things to the next level. If you'd like to see Rich's business model (which sadly is the one that too many business owners use), you can find it here: Your Business Model Sucks
Now getting back to whether or not you should hire a ghostwriter...
You're already busy running your business, following your strategic plan, taking care of your current customers, and going after new customers. Chances are, you're doing a million other things too, trying to keep all the business balls in the air.
And maybe you have an e-book that you'd like to right, or you need a few articles written, to help bring visitors to your Website, brand you as an expert in your field and help you achieve your marketing or sales goals.
But what if you hate to write? Or your spelling really sucks? Or you spent 30 minutes staring at a blank screen with no idea of how to get started? Or what if you're just so darn busy that you don't have time to write articles yourself?
These are all valid reasons for hiring a ghostwriter.
So why haven't you hired a ghostwriter yet? Here are some of the most common reasons that I've heard - (I have a little survey that I ask new customers to fill out, and another one that I was using for people who visited one of my Websites, but decided not to hire me.) Do any of these resonate with you?
*I thought it would be too expensive
*I didn't know how to find someone
*I didn't know what to ask
*It's on my list of "Things to Do"
*I'm going to do it myself
*I can't afford to hire someone full time
*It would take too long to teach someone about my industry and market
Let's see if I can answer these questions for you, to save you some time.
1. I thought it would be too expensive:
Well, it depends on what you want to have written, what your timeline is, and what your budget is.
For example, you can go online to places like "Guru.com" or "elance" and put together a project and send it out to bidders. An average going rate for a 300 - 700 word article is between $3.00 and $10.00.
If you want a report, a case study, a white paper or an annual report, you'll probably pay between $300 and $1500. (But it depends on what you want, the amount of research that is involved, the depth and scope of the project, the time involved, etc.)
Ebooks can run the gamut of costs - anywhere from about $40 (for a short one) up to a couple of hundred dollars.
Only you can decide how much your time is worth, and if it would be more cost-effective for you to pay someone else to do the writing for you, while you work on the parts of your business that are bringing in revenue.
2. I don't know where to find someone:
Well, first off, you just did - since you are reading this article, let me just put in a plug for my services first!
And if we're not a good fit, I already mentioned guru.com and elance. But there are other places too. You can do a Google search, you could check out your local want ads, library, community college or Small Business Development Center. You might find a high school or college student who enjoys writing and would be willing to write for a few dollars. Maybe you know someone in your neighborhood. Once you start looking around, you'll find lots of people who have a talent for writing - but just remember, like with anything else, you get what you pay for.
3. I didn't know who to ask.
Again, let me just remind you that you've found someone. And it's easy to get started. You send me an email and give me an idea of what you're looking for, and we'll set up a good time for us to meet. I'll even call you for the first meeting, no charge or obligation.
4. It's on my list of "Things to Do".
Well, good for you. And since you're here, there's no time like the present! Feel free to drop me an email right now!
5. I'm going to do it myself.
Good for you! If you need some help, may I suggest you check out your local library, because they've got some great books on the subject of copywriting, ghostwriting and writing in general. Also, check out this blog, because I'll be adding some free tools and tips that you can use, and there are lots of other great copywriters and ghost writers with Websites that you can learn from as well. (And if that doesn't work out for you, feel free to come back here and send me an email and let's see if we'll be a good fit!)
6. I can't afford to hire someone fulltime.
When you hire a ghostwriter, you're hiring them to work on a specific project for you. When the project has been completed to your satisfaction, it's finished. In fact, that's one of the biggest advantages of hiring a ghostwriter. You don't have to pay employment or social security taxes, worker's compensation or do any of that pesky paperwork that has to be filled out when you hire an employee.
7. It would take too long to teach someone about my industry and my market.
If you're in the Internet marketing field, business to consumer field, or business to business field, chances are I already have some experience writing about your type of product or service, or at the very least, something pretty similar. But the point is, that as a professional writer, it's my job to learn - and to learn quickly - how to write the type of copy that will interest, inform, educate and move to action your prospects. I always guarantee my work - so if I don't get it completely right the first time, I'll fix it.
If you've got any other questions, feel free to drop me an email, and I'll do my best to answer them for you!
Now getting back to whether or not you should hire a ghostwriter...
You're already busy running your business, following your strategic plan, taking care of your current customers, and going after new customers. Chances are, you're doing a million other things too, trying to keep all the business balls in the air.
And maybe you have an e-book that you'd like to right, or you need a few articles written, to help bring visitors to your Website, brand you as an expert in your field and help you achieve your marketing or sales goals.
But what if you hate to write? Or your spelling really sucks? Or you spent 30 minutes staring at a blank screen with no idea of how to get started? Or what if you're just so darn busy that you don't have time to write articles yourself?
These are all valid reasons for hiring a ghostwriter.
So why haven't you hired a ghostwriter yet? Here are some of the most common reasons that I've heard - (I have a little survey that I ask new customers to fill out, and another one that I was using for people who visited one of my Websites, but decided not to hire me.) Do any of these resonate with you?
*I thought it would be too expensive
*I didn't know how to find someone
*I didn't know what to ask
*It's on my list of "Things to Do"
*I'm going to do it myself
*I can't afford to hire someone full time
*It would take too long to teach someone about my industry and market
Let's see if I can answer these questions for you, to save you some time.
1. I thought it would be too expensive:
Well, it depends on what you want to have written, what your timeline is, and what your budget is.
For example, you can go online to places like "Guru.com" or "elance" and put together a project and send it out to bidders. An average going rate for a 300 - 700 word article is between $3.00 and $10.00.
If you want a report, a case study, a white paper or an annual report, you'll probably pay between $300 and $1500. (But it depends on what you want, the amount of research that is involved, the depth and scope of the project, the time involved, etc.)
Ebooks can run the gamut of costs - anywhere from about $40 (for a short one) up to a couple of hundred dollars.
Only you can decide how much your time is worth, and if it would be more cost-effective for you to pay someone else to do the writing for you, while you work on the parts of your business that are bringing in revenue.
2. I don't know where to find someone:
Well, first off, you just did - since you are reading this article, let me just put in a plug for my services first!
And if we're not a good fit, I already mentioned guru.com and elance. But there are other places too. You can do a Google search, you could check out your local want ads, library, community college or Small Business Development Center. You might find a high school or college student who enjoys writing and would be willing to write for a few dollars. Maybe you know someone in your neighborhood. Once you start looking around, you'll find lots of people who have a talent for writing - but just remember, like with anything else, you get what you pay for.
3. I didn't know who to ask.
Again, let me just remind you that you've found someone. And it's easy to get started. You send me an email and give me an idea of what you're looking for, and we'll set up a good time for us to meet. I'll even call you for the first meeting, no charge or obligation.
4. It's on my list of "Things to Do".
Well, good for you. And since you're here, there's no time like the present! Feel free to drop me an email right now!
5. I'm going to do it myself.
Good for you! If you need some help, may I suggest you check out your local library, because they've got some great books on the subject of copywriting, ghostwriting and writing in general. Also, check out this blog, because I'll be adding some free tools and tips that you can use, and there are lots of other great copywriters and ghost writers with Websites that you can learn from as well. (And if that doesn't work out for you, feel free to come back here and send me an email and let's see if we'll be a good fit!)
6. I can't afford to hire someone fulltime.
When you hire a ghostwriter, you're hiring them to work on a specific project for you. When the project has been completed to your satisfaction, it's finished. In fact, that's one of the biggest advantages of hiring a ghostwriter. You don't have to pay employment or social security taxes, worker's compensation or do any of that pesky paperwork that has to be filled out when you hire an employee.
7. It would take too long to teach someone about my industry and my market.
If you're in the Internet marketing field, business to consumer field, or business to business field, chances are I already have some experience writing about your type of product or service, or at the very least, something pretty similar. But the point is, that as a professional writer, it's my job to learn - and to learn quickly - how to write the type of copy that will interest, inform, educate and move to action your prospects. I always guarantee my work - so if I don't get it completely right the first time, I'll fix it.
If you've got any other questions, feel free to drop me an email, and I'll do my best to answer them for you!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)