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Excess Voice Newsletter
July 2007, Issue # 134
In this issue:
>> Intro: Web sites + Networking
>> Review: Personal Coaching for your Freelance Copywriting Business
>> Article: The power of making it easy
>> Survey: Hard Sell or Not?
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Greetings,
In the last issue I asked how the freelancers among us attract new clients. According to the responses received, the winning methods are networking and using one’s web site.
Networking is an old favorite and probably always will be. But the growth of web sites as a means to directly secure new work is more recent. If you’re not using your site as a primary means to attract new work, it’s probably time you thought about it a little more.
In this issue, the article is on the topic of making things easy.
And the review is an introduction to my new coaching service for freelance copywriters who want to accelerate the growth of their freelance copywriting businesses. Today is the launch day.
Finally, as always, please take a moment to respond to this issue’s survey.
Until next time,
Nick
Nick Usborne
>> Feedback: mailto:nick@excessvoice.com
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REVIEW: Personal Coaching for your Freelance Copywriting Business
Starting today, right now, my coaching service for freelance copywriters is officially launched.
I won’t be coaching people on how to improve their copy. There are plenty of other coaches doing that already.
Instead, I’ll be working to help freelancers build their freelance copywriting businesses.
This is a business coaching service, but aimed specifically at freelance copywriters.
Is there a need to help freelancer copywriters with their marketing and business skills?
I think so.
There are so many copywriters who have great writing talent, but haven’t found a way to turn those skills into a really profitable and enjoyable business. Being good at your craft is one thing, but turning that into a successful business is quite another.
You need to take ownership of the right niche. You need to know how to express your value. You need to know how to market your services, price your work and a whole lot more.
Am I qualified to help? After working for almost 30 years as a copywriter and 25 years as a freelancer...I certainly hope so.
Learn more:
http://www.asknickusborne.com/
Previous Reviews:
#1. The 6 Elements of a content-rich, money-making e-newsletter
This 16-page report gives you the information you need to build a content-rich e-newsletter. With great content you will grow your list and win the attention of your readers, year after year. And when you have your readers' attention...you then have the opportunity to make money by presenting relevant offers.
Learn more and buy...
http://www.freeiq.com/the6elements
#2. 7 Ways To Optimize the Performance of Your Home Page
This 16-page report covers 7 points to address when writing an effective home page. If you apply all 7 points you should see a significant lift in conversions from your home page to your second level and sales pages. These are the points I use myself when writing and optimizing home pages for my clients.
Learn more and buy...
https://freeiq.com/7waystooptimize
#3. The Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey, Volume 2.
This is the second volume of this survey, fully up to date, and with a lot more information on what to charge for 40 different types of freelance copywriting work, how to find new assignments, and more.
Read my review...
http://www.excessvoice.com/copywriting-fees-survey.htm
#3. Michael Masterson's Accelerated Program for Six-Figure Copywriting
This is the only copywriting course I wholeheartedly recommend to any copywriter who wants to write copy that drives results.
Read my review:
http://www.excessvoice.com/michael-masterson.htm
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ARTICLE: The power of making it easy.
If you want to truly tap into the power of online media, “make it easy”.
What do I mean by that? A few different things.
First of all, the web is an ideal medium for making things easy.
The web makes it easy to buy a book, easy to book a flight, easy to share stuff with your friends, and so on.
>> Great online business models succeed by make something easy
Online businesses can achieve explosive growth simply by making a particular service or function easy.
- Hotmail, back in the day, made it easy for people to have and use their own email account.
- AOL made it easy to get online for the first time.
- eBay makes it easy to sell stuff.
- YouTube makes it easy to upload and share videos.
All of these companies grew like crazy, simply because they made a popular task easy to do.
>> Web pages convert better when you make it easy
The same principle applies to your web pages. Google astonished everyone with their home page when it first appeared. It was clean and easy to use.
You’ve doubtless come across several sites where you took an action almost immediately, simply because they made it so easy.
More people will sign up for your newsletter if you make it easy. (In other words, ask for the minimum amount of information you need.)
More people will respond to your offer pages if you make it easy. (Cut out too many choices. Offer just one, simple option.)
>> Online copy works better when it’s easy to read
Now we come to the written copy on your web pages.
Once again, make it easy.
Far too often the copy on a home page, landing page or sales page is overly complicated. There is too much distracting information included.
Words are too long.
Sentences are too long.
Paragraphs are too long.
The total length of the copy is too long.
In other words, it’s not easy for visitors to quickly and simple absorb the core value being offered.
Why is copy so often long and complicated?
Because the copywriter is being lazy and not thinking hard enough before he or she begins to write.
To make your message easy to understand, you have to have a crystal clear picture of the core value proposition in your mind.
In other words, you should be spending more time thinking about WHAT to say, and less time worrying about HOW to say it.
Once you get clarity on WHAT to say, it’s not so hard to write the copy simply...and make it easy for your readers to understand your core message and take action.
>> Concluding thoughts...
This is a short article about a huge topic.
At every level of business online, huge improvements can be made by making something easier to do that it was before.
This applies at the level of your business model...and at the level of the words and images you use on each page.
It’s worth taking a little time looking at the key pages on your site and asking the question, “What could we do to make this easier for our visitors?”
** If you would prefer to read this article on the web, or would like to forward the url to a colleague or friend, you'll find it here:
http://www.excessvoice.com/article134.htm
>> Feedback: mailto:nick@excessvoice.com
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SURVEY: Hard Sell or Not?
Would you describe yourself as a hard-sell copywriter? Or are you more of a reasonable, conversational, soft-sell writer?
[ ] I write hard-sell copy
[ ] I'm more of a soft-sell writer
Comments:
(NOTE: Any comments and your name may be published in the next issue, or on the Excess Voice web site.)
Cut and paste your replies to me at mailto:nick@excessvoice.com
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NICK USBORNE'S SERVICES:
Yes, I do more than write articles and publish newsletters.
Ask me to write for your site, emails and newsletters.
http://www.nickusborne.com/copywriting.htm
Ask me to optimize your key offer pages...
http://www.nickusborne.com/consulting.htm
Check out my online marketing advice in audio and other downloadable media.
http://www.conversioninsights.com
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