Archive for the ‘Copywriting’ Category
It’s Time To Set Some Goals. Are You Ready?
September 22nd, 2007 at 6:01 pm by Livvie
September is a busy time! End of summer, last vacations, back to school shopping, and back to school.
For a short time, our normal schedules are put on the back burner. Then when things began to return to normal, it’s time to get back “into the groove”.
This time of year is the perfect time for goal setting. The fall is coming, the air is crisp, colors are magnificant, and inspiration is everywhere!
During this three month time period before the beginning of a new year, it’s time to look at what you want to accomplish in the next year and time to put down the steps you need to take to get you there.
It’s like the saying…money is not the end, but the MEANS TO the end. In other words, it’s not just money you want, but what the money will allow you to do or accopmlish.
So, we can have our goals, but unless we put into steps what’s needed to get us TO the goals, we’re just spinning our wheels.
Start with where you are right now. What did you accomplish to this point this year towards your goal? Don’t forget to pat yourself on the back for accomplishing these items…good job! If there are some things you didn’t finish/accomplish, then start right there.
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Consistency…Is Everyone On The Same Page?
May 25th, 2007 at 11:13 am by Livvie
Ever needed information, asked several different people, and received several different answers?
Even more confusing, how about asking several different people who work in the same office and still receive several different answers?
This happened to me in a practice I was with. It concerned bleaching or whitening the teeth. The patient had received instructions from the assistant as she was being dismissed in the back.
As the patient was checking out, she asked the front desk to explain it to her again and received a different set of instructions.
Confused by the information, when the patient got home, she called the office, spoke to another person and received…you guessed it…. a third set of instructions different from the first two.
This time she asked to speak to the office manager, explained to me what had happened, and expressed her disappointment in the office.
Follow Up Contacts – Commerical Freelance Writing
November 5th, 2006 at 4:16 pm by Livvie
Follow up contacts are by far much easier to initiate than cold calling due to the fact the people you are contacting already know or have heard about you from the initial contacts made. This means:
1) You aren’t having to spend as much time to initiate the contact
2) You already are known by the business/person you are contacting
3) Your name is in front of them again if they need you
4) Each contact is another step in building and strengthening your relationship with the person you are reaching
Make sure when you are making either initial or follow up contact that if someone asks you to follow up at a certain time, you make a note on your calendar, in MS Outlook , or wherever you keep your appoitnments, especially if these people ask you to “touch back with them in a couple of months” if you hadn’t heard from them. Then make sure you contact them at the appointed time. I’ve had contacts that actually thanked me for remembering to contact them!
Key lession to learn: Initial contacts are needed obviously, however follow up contacts can offer even greater rewards!
Keep up the contacts!
Cold Call Campaign Update
August 11th, 2006 at 3:03 pm by Livvie
Even though cold calling sends shivers down some spines and cause some to break out into cold sweats, it really does work.
In Peter Bowerman’s Well Fed Writer: Back For Seconds cold calling is a subject he endorses extensively due to it’s “law of averages” for success.
Granted you must be making, as Bowerman puts it, “….a TON” of calls for the averages to work, but the point is, it works!
The beauty part of it is you are just saying a 20 second message and it’s amazing how receptive the prospects can be to receiving the calls. The more you call, state your message and move on to the next call, the more proficient you become in delivering your message.
Now how about it? Go ahead–pick up that phone and see how many people are glad you took the time to contact them! How will you know??? YOUR phone will be ringing with inquiries in no time.
Happy Calling!
Beginning a Cold Call Marketing Campaign
July 31st, 2006 at 8:38 am by Livvie
I know many writers have a problem making cold calls and would rather go to the dentist for a root canal than make the calls.
For me, the cold calls are very easy. This is because coming from a dental front office background I made confirmation calls to confirm dental appointments everyday for years.
One of the easiest ways to make cold calls is to have a short 15 – 20 second message (script) stating the purpose of your call. I have two scripts, one for actually speaking with the contact and one for leaving a message on their voice mail.
In both scripts I reference my web site www.WriteBusiness.net for them to be able to see samples, a brochure and more information.
When creating your script write as though you were writing it for a client…present the value and benefit to the prospect and sell your services. You can do this.
Have your list of people ready that you will be contacting. This can be a list using the Yellow Pages, the Book of Lists, or a list you have created from gathering prospects. For example using the Yellow Pages, you may be contacting Graphic Designers. When the person answers the phone, introduce yourself and begin reading your quick script. If the person is interested in seeing your work ask for their e-mail address that you may send them the link to your website. Then send the information to them immediately after ending the call.
Make sure you set up a way to manage the information for those you contact, those you actually spoke with, the ones requesting additional information, and those you leave a voice mail. Record any names given and make sure you use their name in any additional contact made or sent. Be personable and remember you are building relationships starting with these initial contacts.
During those first 2 weeks you will also do warm follow-up calls or e-mails to prospects you previously contacted and those you sent requested additional information. Working the cold calls and warm follow-ups will allow you to see what type of responses both bring.
So with that said…let’s get those phones to ringing!
