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Cardboard Sign Reads:

"Copywriter For Hire"

Mike Muller from St. Louis wrote in response to Saturday's ecolumn...

How do you promote yourself everyday?

Is it through...

- forums?

- local business groups?
- cardboard signs?

I know you need to promote yourself each day. I'm wondering how everyone does it. I know some things I'll do locally, to promote myself.

Good question. First let me say…

I think one of the most common mistakes for copywriters is not doing some promotional work everyday. That doesn't always mean contacting prospects. It might just involve getting another page done on the first draft of your self-promotion site.

That said, I was talking with Ryan Healy (www.ryansblog.com) about this a while back…

In November of 2005 he almost found himself without any work.

He blamed it on not spending enough time promoting his site.

It's easy, when your schedule's full, to think client work will just keep on coming in.

Since March, I was on retainer with a large cooperation in Toronto. They paid between $2,000-$4,000/month (depending on projects).

Last month, a new marketing director stepped in, and I stepped out. We had finished the main direct-response pieces they needed. Now I'm lacking that regular flow of income.

Lesson: Always have a line up of prospects camping out in your backyard.

Back to Mike's email. You suggested...

Cardboard signs?

I recommend that you use a colour marker. Preferably pink. In fact, I was so moved by your idea, that I spent the morning trying it out. I didn't land any clients. Not even a free consultation. Maybe I need to change my headline?

Forums? If you could find a forum full of your target audience, it might work. I'd recommend getting into some membership-only forums. Free forums are not always the best place to find high-paying clients.

Local business group? I've never joined the local business group, but it might be worthwhile. In fact, I could see that proving fruitful. You need to have enough confidence to stand your ground against opposing view points. Like, when someone tells you that no one reads anything longer than 12 words anymore.

Best method I know, if you are new at this, is the program the North American Copywriting Association is putting together. It shows you how to enter high-paying markets that don't know it yet, but desperately need your help.

You can start receiving $1,000 cheques (plus royalties) immediately for projects that take maybe twenty hours to complete. If you do it right (which isn't hard), in six months those same projects could turn into $2,000 or $3,000 cheques. Even $5,000, with the right clients.

Email Shaune Clarke at shaune@dynamicresponsemarketing.com for more info or to reserve your place. He's seriously thinking of limiting this program to 100 people.

Here's the big point to remember: Decide on ONE self-promotion strategy. Follow it through.

I diluted my efforts by going in too many directions. I could have made twice as much money this year, by following that one piece of advice.

Focus and follow through. Find success. Then you can go in another direction - if you want - leveraging the results of your first campaign.

Capture, captivate, convert!

John A. Manley

PS: Shaune's testing this program, thoroughly, with a select group of people. If he's happy with it, come September, it should be available to the public. Even copywriters who are earning six-figures or more, are signing up for this program. You can email Shaune at shaune@dynamicresponsemarketing.com.

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