Direct Mail Marketing

I just wanted to share with everyone my latest direct mail campaign. I thought this was clever (my husband thinks I'm crazy). He said a lot of people "won't get it". Do you?

Benefits of Hiring a Freelance Writer

Affordability

Most small and mid-size businesses don’t have the need to hire a full-time writer. In addition to the payroll costs, consider the taxes, benefits, and office space that would be required to employ another person. Ad agencies also charge rates that are outside the budgets of many companies. A freelancer has very low overhead and can reflect that in their rates.

Quality

Freelancers live or die by word-of-mouth advertising. They work hard to create quality copy so you tell your colleagues about them. Freelance writers also produce copy for a wide variety of industries and are able to bring a fresh perspective to your business. A freelancer becomes an extension of your marketing team.

They know what works and require very little of your direct involvement. Your time is better spent doing your thing. However, if you need personal attention and additional advice a freelancer is more likely to be in a position to interact with you. Small and mid-size businesses have to compete with large corporations to get attention from ad agencies. Unlike an agency, when you work with a freelancer you have the benefit of directly interfacing with the person that is producing your copy.

Turnaround

Freelance writers want to work and are almost always available. Most freelancers are not tied down to a strict 9 to 5 schedule. I’ve gotten phone calls at 8pm and I’ve done writing on Sunday afternoons. If I don’t work, I don’t get paid. Freelancers are highly motivated entrepreneurs. A freelancer can’t afford to hold on to a project for long periods of time. If they don’t do their work, no one else will do it for them. If you are really in a rush, a freelancer’s rush charge will be significantly less than that of an agency.

Picture of Me!

I was just checking out Kristy's website. She's got a picture of me on there! I haven't gotten my proofs back from her yet, but I guess I got a sneak preview. She also did one-year-old pictures of my son. (That's him on her photography page.) C'mon, you know you're curious! Go check it out.

Thanks Kristy!

Chimney Mechanix

I'm very excited to be working with Jasper from Chimney Mechanix. He is the owner of a local chimney service company. Jasper was literally born into the business. He is really good at what he does. If you haven't had your chimney inspected this year be sure to give him a call.

Keep an eye on his site as we work on it.

Marketing Plans

I thought I’d let you in on what’s up my sleeve.  I’ve been busy with a few marketing ventures as of late. They seem to be consuming my time, but I think they are worthwhile endeavors. I keep reminding small business owners that this is not the time to cut back on marketing. I need to follow my own advice.

I had some dress shirts embroidered by Quality Images. They turned out really nice. Maybe the shirts will strike up a conversation or two.

I’m getting some car magnets made by B&J Custom Graphics. Both of these local companies were highly recommended to me. Their prices are reasonable and I like dealing locally as much as possible.

I’m looking forward to a photo shoot I have scheduled with K Design and Photography on the 20th. Kristy is going to be taking some new bio pictures for me.

Kristy and I are also planning on getting her website online. She’s great with design, but needs a little help with the content. Be watching for links to her new site.

Why Hire a Copywriter?

They say that if you build a better mousetrap the world will beat a path to your door.

Not true! For one thing, have mousetraps really changed over the years? If I were to buy a mousetrap I’d pick the basic cheap one over a fancy, brightly-colored trap for twice the price. On the other hand, if the new and improved mousetrap highlighted it’s eco-friendly materials, humane methods, and guaranteed results, I’d probably spring for it (pun possibly intended).

Today just about anyone can build a mousetrap or offer professional mousetrapping services. Each of those companies probably has a website and a direct response marketing campaign. Yours has to be better than theirs are.

There it is! That’s the big marketing secret. (Well, one that I’ll let you in on here. Stay tuned for more.)

Tangent Alert!  ***Do you have a professional looking website? Today people Google before they flip open the phonebook. If your business doesn’t have a website-- stop reading this right now and go get one! (You don’t really have to stop reading. In fact you should read this, but I want you to know how important a website is! Ok, off my soapbox and back on subject.)***

You are really good at doing your thing. You have the passion, persistence, will, drive, and ambition. You have all the ingredients necessary to succeed at doing your thing. Entrepreneurs raised me. I know that you are a different breed.

How do you stand apart from the competition? How do they know you are so great? In addition to truly offering the best mousetrap or service, you need to succinctly present the features and benefits your customers receive from choosing your company.

As we become better at the thing we do- we surpass our contemporaries. A successful businessperson knows they can’t be good at everything, nor do they want to. As your business grows your time becomes more valuable. You should be doing your thing. A recent client of mine likes to quote Ross Perot. He says that you don’t have to be good at everything to succeed. You just have to have the right people.

Let me give you an example of how the mind works.

One day a man named Andrew (okay, he’s my husband) was on the phone patiently explaining to a friend how to do an automotive repair. Now, I consider myself a car enthusiast. We attend several car shows a year.  I've had several articles about cars published.  I could change my oil or a tire, should I choose to do so. My brother is a racecar driver. My parents’ business sponsored racecar drivers when I was growing up. We went to the races every Sunday night. Yet, I had no idea what Andrew was talking about.

Andrew was so frustrated that his friend couldn’t figure out how to do this “simple” repair. Andrew said, “It’s so easy. You just look at it and you can tell how it comes off and how to change it.”

I told Andrew I wouldn’t have been able to figure it out either. He still couldn’t understand why his friend didn't get it, after all, it was so simple. I said, “Well, I can’t understand why you can’t spell. To me it just comes naturally.”

Words. Writing. Yeah, that’s my thing. And I do it well. Call (715) 584-6773 or email me today. I’d love to help you do your thing and make sure everyone knows to get their mousetraps from you.

Check out my website!

I’m a firm believer in, “No website should be stagnant.” That means mine, too. I like trying new ideas. I've been playing around with the colors and theme and I added some content.  Check it out and let me know what you think.

New Email Address!

I wanted to let everyone know that I have a new email address.  You can now write to terra@fletcherfreelance.com.  I thought it was about time I set up a mailbox through my domain name.  I still have (and use) my fletcherfreelance@live.com address.