Media Kits: Downloadable Advertising

Fortune 500 companies have press kits available on their websites. So do most of the sites that comprise the Russell 2000. Even small, one-person service providers make press kits available in the hopes of getting some free “ink.” And why not? Print media needs green content just as much as web sites so, if you [...]

Closing the Sale: What Are The Obsticles?

It took a long time to get here. To the point of sale (POS). The visitor has browsed, added several items to her shopping cart and is ready to make a purchase. Are you ready to capture that sale? Does your site instill confidence and deliver benefits visitors won’t find at the local mega-mall? [...]

Stay In Touch With Your Regulars

 
As you start to build your web writing business, stay in touch with past clients. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate like a newsletter, though newsletters certainly show initiative. No, a simple e-mail now and then can bring a long-lost client back into the fold, or court a new repeat buyer to become a [...]

Once You’ve Landed The Gig: Now What?

Stay In Close Touch With Clients

You finally get an assignment. All of your marketing has finally paid off with a paying assignment. Most excellent, and good for you. But now what?
How do you engage the client, define the project parameters and discuss the difficult topic of payment – something even the best client hates to [...]

Web Writing: Know Your Target Market and Hit The Bull’s-Eye

If you’ve been writing professionally for more than two weeks you know what the demographic is. For the rest of you, the demographic is the sweet spot of your client’s market. It’s your target audience.
And the better you understand that target the more effective your writing. It’s all about pushing the right buttons to compel [...]

Hiring A Web Writer: 10 Tips

Your website is often your first (and only) introduction to a potential new buyer. That’s why it’s critical that everything on the site look and sound professional. Good product pictures, easy-to-navigate tool bar, a simple few-step checkout and, yes, good copy.
You might not think professional copywriting is important. You could do it. Or maybe your [...]

Use Consumer Tesitmonials to Sell the Goods

“Best toothpaste I ever used.” Vera A, New Haven, CT
“This computer is FAST.” Walter Mason, Iowa City
As a web writer, part of your job is to move the goods and services tomake money for your clients. That’s what you’re being paid to do. But that doesn’t mean you have to do all of the selling. [...]

Engaging Your New Client: The Discovery Phase

 
Congratulations! You landed a web writing gig and you’re about to discuss the project with your new client. Usually these chats take place by phone since your client could well be a few time zones away.
 
Now, during this initial conversation – sometimes called discovery – your objective is to ask the right questions and take [...]

Become An Authority: Build Your Web Writing Creds

 
You may have a sleek-looking site design for your writing, SEO or other service buisiness and wonder why you don’t see better conversion ratios – even if you are the best  service provider looking for some business via the world wide web.
 
The issue may not be your site, its design, navigation accessibility or content. The [...]

Land the Assignment With Good Words and Good Advice

 
A good web writer – one who drives traffic and gets repeat gigs – understands that s/he brings more than writing skills to the web-based assignment. You have to know everything from SEO and SEM to how to convert a visitor to a buyer.
 
It’s a different world in here, and as a successful web writer, [...]