2007 May

Need a proofreader? I found a great one

5/31/2007 By Joan Leave a Comment

I write so much copy, that I could keep a proofreader busy 24 hours a day.

I seldom use proofreaders. But I found one who did a fabulous job reviewing my sales page for Publicity Hound University, my new training course for assistants, virtual assistants and summer interns. She’s Philippa Jarecki, at left, of AwaywithWords.ca, and I found her on my Publicity Resources List.

After she read the sales page, she suggested 67 changes, and she listed them all in an email. In addition to finding many piddly little errors, she also found a few major ones. And she made me aware of how much I need a proofreader.

Total cost: $59.33. Money well spent. If you need a good proofreader, call Philippa at 604-288-7942. Or email her.

Filed Under: Publicity Resources, Writing Articles

Going green? Let everyone know

5/31/2007 By Joan 1 Comment

If your company is switching from paper to ceramic coffee cups, from paper to cloth napkins in the cafeteria, recycling almost everything, or doing anything else in the category of “going green,” be sure to spread the word.

Journalists, in particular, love to jump on almost any story about saving the environment. You can pitch to business journals, your local daily and weekly newspapers, and local TV stations. Alternative weeklies also love stories like these.

Don’t foget the bloggers and podcasters.

Nonprofits and charities, start pitching your “going green” stories too. Consider submitting green-related public service announcements.

Schools, what unusual projects are kids doing this summer to save the environment?

Refer to your editorial calendars to see which special sections might be the best fit for your story idea.

Filed Under: Blogs, Business Promotion, Newspaper Publicity, Nonprofits, Photos & Graphics, Pitching the Media, Public Service Announcements, Publicity on the Internet, TV Publicity, The Local Angle

Copywriters: How to attract high-paying clients

5/31/2007 By Joan Leave a Comment

I’m a student of direct-marketing sales copy, and I’ve been studying everything I can get my hands on.

One of my teachers is David Garfinkel, whose home study course I bought several years ago.

He emailed me tonight and told me about a free audio he’s offering, in exchange for your name and email address. It will teach you how to attract high-paying clients. You can hear him interview master copywriter John “Angel” Anghelache who explains:

* Who’s a good client and who’s not

* How to approach those clients

* How to maximize the value of every client relationship—for yourself and for the client

His tips are timely during the summer months, when it’s particularly difficult to find new business.

I haven’t listened to the audio, but I love everything David offers. If you’re a freelance writer who specializes in sales copy, you might want to listen.

Filed Under: Business Promotion

Author needs help writing a sales letter

5/29/2007 By Joan 8 Comments

Patricia Dischler of Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin writes:

“I am the author of ‘Because I Loved You: A Birthmother’s View of Open Adoption’ (Goblin Fern Press, 2006). This book is part memoir, part guidance/advice. I share the story of placing my son for adoption in 1985.

“I have been focusing on marketing directly to adoption agencies and pregnancy centers, gaining endorsements from most national adoption offices. Once I get them to read the book, they’re hooked, and sales come in. But getting an agency to take that first step is tough. I have a national list of these agencies and have been sending emails and mailings, but most often these campaigns result in very little hits to my website and sometimes no sales at all. I am thinking that while I can write a good book, I really need some help writing copy that sells books.

“I think that whole ‘compel them to buy’ factor is missing in my material, and I am looking for someone who can help me with this marketing. While there seems to be lots of help out there with publicity (press releases, etc.) I haven’t located anyone for marketing–writing ads, mailings, emails, etc. that sell. Can your readers help me out?”

The Publicity Hound says: Most authors who write wonderful books can’t write a sales letter worth a lick. If you don’t have time to study the art of writing sales copy, hire a writer.

OK all you sales copy writers. This is the time to market your services and tell Patricia what makes your copy so great. How about offering specific links where we can see what you’ve written?

Then give us the cold, hard numbers. If your sales letter is online, what’s the lead-click conversion and the click-sale conversion for a particular sales page? Do you split-test? (If you’re serious about your sales copy, you certainly do. Just a few small changes in one headline can quadruple sales fairly quickly.)

If you don’t do any of that, you can still explain what makes you so great.

Also, check The Publicity Hound’s Resources List. Even though there isn’t a specific category for sales copy writing, several writers, public relations companies and others write sales copy.

Filed Under: Authors & Publishers, PR Consultants/Publicists, Publicity Resources, Publicity for Niche Markets, Publicity on the Internet

Costco Connection covers books, authors

5/28/2007 By Joan Leave a Comment

Thanks to book marketing guru John Kremer for reminding authors that Costco Connection, the monthly magazine published by the giant warehouse club exclusively for its members, can be a great publicity vehicle for authors.

In the current issue of John’s ezine, he lists contact information for about a dozen editors at the magazine, most of whom have written about authors or books within the last few months. Costco’s June issue features several book-related articles.

If you’ve written a book, or you’re planning to write one, a Costco membership could be worth it, just to get the magazine, learn who writes for it, and start pitching.

Filed Under: Authors & Publishers, Magazine Publicity, Pitching the Media