Marketing | Words on the Page

4 Ways to Put More Marketing Cash in Your Pocket

Posted on March 25, 2013 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Through My Prayers by The Avett Brothers One more week to sign up! 8 Steps to Conference Marketing Success self-study course: Broken out into easy-to-follow sections, the course shows you every step in the process of marketing at conferences. You’ll learn how to choose a conference, when and what to communicate with…

Marketing and Your Image

Posted on March 22, 2013 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Hypnotize by The White Stripes There’s still time to join the 8 Steps to Conference Marketing Success self-study course! Broken out into easy-to-follow sections, the course shows you every step in the process of marketing at conferences. You’ll learn how to choose a conference, when and what to communicate with potential clients, and…

6 Ways to Get More from Your Marketing

Posted on March 20, 2013 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Cruel and Beautiful World by Grouplove Want the highest return on your marketing investment? A recent survey of Chief Marketing Officers at Fortune 1000 companies showed that in-person meetings and events delivered the highest return on investment than any other marketing effort. One place to find a concentration of potential clients is the conference.That’s the…

4 Places to Spend Your Marketing Budget

Posted on March 13, 2013 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Today’s Cross by Frightened Rabbit New Self-Study Course: Learn how to market and gain clients by attending conferences! Limited-time offer on the 8 Steps to Conference Marketing Success e-course — plus a one-month membership to the 5 Buck Forum! Click here to get started now. I don’t know about you, but it usually takes me…

Marketing Down a One-way Street Going Up

Posted on March 11, 2013 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Almost Famous by Eminem Special Announcement: Learn how to market and gain clients by attending conferences! Limited-time offer on the 8 Steps to Conference Marketing Success e-course — plus a one-month membership to the 5 Buck Forum! Click here to get started now. I need a few fewer weekends that leave me feeling more spent…

How to Totally Suck at Marketing

Posted on March 8, 2013 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Eyes Wide Open by Gotye Special Announcement: Learn how to market and gain clients by attending conferences! Limited-time offer on the 8 Steps to Conference Marketing Success e-course — plus a one-month membership to the 5 Buck Forum! Click here to get started now. Interesting day yesterday — interesting in that train-wreck…

Marketing Rule of Seven: Revisited

Posted on March 6, 2013 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Blue Eyes by Middle Brother It’s been a slow start to the week. I’ve had plenty of time to focus on some marketing, and so far this week I’ve had more responses from potential clients than I had in all of February, what with those 51 LOIs. Pretty cool when their…

5 Marketing Myths That Are Killing Your Writing Business

Posted on March 4, 2013 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Setting Free the Bears by John Irving What’s on the iPod: Life by The Avett Brothers March has come in like a lamb. Okay, here it’s more like a cold lamb looking for a scarf, but it’s been mild. Hopefully that will change come Wednesday when we’re expecting what could be a…

Anticipating Need

Posted on February 14, 2013 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Super Bass by Nicki Minaj It’s been a busy week. I’ve completed two projects and started a third, plus talked with prospective clients on how I might be able to help them. I’ve even had some time for personal projects, though I had to schedule time to get to them. And…

Monthly Assessment

Posted on January 31, 2013 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Bleeding Out by The Lone Bellow Windy! Jeez Louise it’s windy out. Remember Hurricane Sandy? More than that. See, in Sandy, it went over us. Here, we have the cold air hitting the warm air. It was 66 degrees yesterday. Today it’s going to 28 with snow. No wonder I can’t…

Cathy Miller

January 31, 2013

January has been the month of long on promise and short on delivery – at least in the income department.

On the good news side, I heard from four prospects from marketing campaigns I have done and had another query from an old client. No signed contracts yet although the old client has committed to a big project and is starting the contracting process. This is a public entity so that means it is a loooong process.Last time it took 6 weeks to get a fully executed contract + the deposit.

Of the four prospects, two look very positive and one I am dying to hook up with so fingers crossed.

I have an ongoing blogging project with an existing client and an article for another regular, and a resource document for a long-time client.

It's been a strange couple of months, but hope springs eternal.

Devon Ellington

January 31, 2013

Up and down, but definitely better, financially, than December was. Still trying to recover from the bounced check, and the play is demanding more for me in non-writing terms than expected, which sucked energy out of some of the writing.

Mostly, I'm just feeling tired and burned out, but there's a lot that needs to get done in the next few weeks.

Gabriella F.

January 31, 2013

Yeah, my January was about the same as yours. It was short on work and pay, but it was also expected. It didn't help either of us that we got sick, sick, sick, no?

My February, however, is gangbusters, with so much work that I'm in that "how-will-I-get-it-all-done?" zone. But things always get done. Hooray for that.

I had one client ask me for my rates on project-managing several pubs from start to finish, but I haven't heard back. It'd be nice if those came through, but I'm not counting on it.

Another client also had a staffer leave, and I'm taking on her weekly newsletter work indefinitely. Not crazy about the project, but I can do the work, and it's a nice regular gig.

No formal marketing right now since I seem to be doing really well (I can hear you saying that's a bad idea!)

But I have started lunching with two other writers and a graphic designer, and we share ideas on work, contacts, etc. I'm finding that personal contact helpful. No business, but still worth it.

Paula

January 31, 2013

It's been an eventful month. The biggest news is I finally got LatePayer to pay and immediately dumped them from my client roster. One weight lifted, but another fell: I needed to make up the $3k per year I used to (slowly) earn from LatePayer.

The minute I decided to dump LatePayer once he paid, three potential clients seemed to come out of nowhere. One was a job listing I sort of replied to. (Instead of replying as directed, I got the editor's attention with an LOI.)

Queries: Sent several ideas to Favorite Editor (resulting in four assignments), and one to the editor I sent the LOI to. He immediately wanted to assign my idea, but it fell through when the photo shoot couldn't be coordinated in time for their schedule – and the topic couldn't be pushed to the next issue. Drat.

LOIs: In addition to the LOI above, I followed up on the LOIs I sent in December.

Existing Clients: Turned in two articles to Favorite Editor and am working on those four new pieces. Wrote two columns. Had another long-time editor ask if I'd be open to more work this year.

New Clients: Although my first pitch fell through, the new editor asked me to keep sending ideas. I'm also wrapping up my first batch of four short articles for a new local client that's running 10 special issues this year.

Referrals: I actually had referrals! Three, in fact. Two people referred me to the local editor I mentioned above. And my sister referred me to one of her clients who just launched a new business. No work there yet, but it sounds promising.

Earnings: I should have a payment from Favorite Editor soon for the two pieces I turned in this month. If that arrives today I'll be over last year's monthly goal, but a couple hundred dollars shy of my new monthly goal.

Bottom Line: I'm currently working on projects that easily surpass my new monthly goal. With any luck there are no late payers in the bunch! But the marketing must continue.

anne wayman

January 31, 2013

January is ending well for me… some surprise money, one good new client and the start of a query on a booklet that if they don't buy I'll do myself.

Our weather has been strange, but promised wind hasn't' hit us.

Lori

February 1, 2013

Cathy, hope is what drives this little engine. 🙂

Devon, it's that time of year. Burned out is kind of normal in January/February, right? Hang in there.

You feeling better yet, Gabriella? I'm starting to thanks to penicillin, amen. LOVE that you lunch with creatives! What a great way to network.

Paula, glad you finally got that money! Sounds to me like losing the loser isn't going to hurt at all. Three referrals? Super!

Anne, it doesn't hurt that we're getting our ducks in a row on the forum projects, either. 🙂 Glad January was good to you.