Party Like it’s 1776

I’m looking forward to a four-day weekend, thanks to Independence Day.

How about you?

My son will be attending his first major league baseball game. He’s not even four yet, but I think he’s going to have a great time. Especially seeing the marvelous fireworks show above the stadium after the game.

I can’t wait.

That will be our second fireworks show of the weekend. The first will be on the fourth, naturally.

The Fourth of July is a great time to celebrate our freedom.

But I didn’t always grasp this…

I used to question the American traditions of cookouts and swimming and fireworks on July 4th. I wondered if spending our time on those frivolous activities somehow diminished the real meaning of the holiday, distracting us from honoring our freedoms established by our founding fathers in the Declaration of Independence.

But I no longer think that way. A few years ago, I found this quote by John Adams, and ever since then, I’ve enjoyed Independence Day more than ever.

Here’s what John Adams said:

(You’ll notice Adams says “the second day of July” here. For some reason, Adams always thought the 2nd was the correct holiday. But his quote applies equally to the fourth of July.)

“The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”

Happy 237th Birthday, America!

But that’s not all I’m celebrating this month…

July 2013 also happens to be the first birthday of this business and this blog.

Happy 1st birthday, Kaboomis Copy!

The first year has been quite an amazing ride. Tough at times, yes, but that’s okay. Easy doesn’t push you to grow…I wouldn’t trade this past year for anything.

I’ve learned a lot about working for myself, as well as content marketing and blogging.

But there is still lots more to learn. Lots to achieve. And lots of things on the horizon to be excited about.

Year two is going to be even better.

Here’s a few reason’s why I say this…

*First, a new website is underway. Hopefully, the construction will be speedy. Coming soon to a computer near you, Kaboomis Copy will be located at this new domain: kaboomiscopy.com

You can go to that domain right now and set up an email alerting you when the new site is available.

*Also, an eBook resource for freelancers will be available soon.

*And there are some other things cooking that I want to remain a secret for right now.

Freedom Requires Responsibility

My goal for the next fiscal year is to serve my clients better than last year.

I want to help more business owners understand the power of content marketing.

I want to help more websites increase their ROI.

I want to help newbie bloggers dive in and be courageous (and profitable) with their blog.

I want to help freelancers find success in eight months or less.

And I want this blog to better serve the needs of those who subscribe to it.

All of this is my responsibility. But the hard work is well worth the freedom this business provides me and my family. I get to spend the first few hours of each day with my children, and this has been one of the best results Kaboomis Copy has provided this past year.

And none of it would be possible without the help from my incredible wife and the wonderful support from her family and mine too. I couldn’t have done it without you all. Thank you so much! I love you all.

1776-2014

The old patriotic American cliché still rings true today: freedom is not free.

If you have big plans that require some hard work over the next twelve months, I salute you. We live in a country that still provides opportunity for those who have ambition and a willingness to roll up their sleeves and put in some hard work.

Think about where you would like your business to be by July 4th, 2014. If there is any way I can help you achieve your business goals through my copywriting or content marketing services, please send me message, and I’ll get back to you promptly.

Here’s to a fun-filled holiday. May you create some family memories these next few days, and may we all never forget just how blessed we are to live in this amazing republic we call the United States of America.

God bless,

Matthew “Kaboomis” Loomis

How Falling Down the Stairs Gave Me a Fresh Perspective

Foot swelling like a boss after a spill down some stairs.

by Matthew Loomis

It’s Tuesday. 11 a.m. I’m heading back downstairs to my office.

Coffee mug in hand. Third cup. Creative juices starting to churn. Eager to get back to my computer.

Working from home, my feet start down the familiar shaggy carpet steps.

Whoooops! Bam! Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

Unexpectedly, I find myself sitting at the bottom of those same stairs, with three-fourths of my coffee splattered on the wall.

What just happened?

After a Chevy Chase-like back flip and bumpy ride down a comedic “12 step program” to the bottom, I am amazed to still be alive.

Confused and a bit dazed, I pick myself up off the floor and look around… Find a couple of scrapes on the right arm. But no bones sticking out or heavy bleeding.

So, as a card-carrying member of the Man Club, I declare myself perfectly fine. Lucky, but physically intact, thank God.

But then…

Starting to walk, I notice some pain in my left foot. Or is it the ankle? Somewhere in that area, from what I can tell. Wherever it is, I conclude my injury is minimal. The pain may be noticeable, but only causes a slight limp. Nothing major.

I go back to my office, sit down in my computer chair, and return to work.

90 minutes go by.

Ready for a quick break, I stand up.

Uh oh.

Now, my ankle is useless. Swollen. Unable to support any pressure at all. My ability to walk is gone.

The next two days are spent using crutches to get around and depending heavily on my wonderful wife. My mother-in-law provided lots of support too.

Some Good News

Today, I had some x-rays done and a podiatrist informed me that nothing is broken. With some prescribed medication and consistent foot rest, the faint glow of progress can be seen in the distance.

The Takeaway from This Pratfall

Here is what I learned from my spill down the stairs:

1. More listening. Less macho. — I called my wife right after falling. And she advised me to take an anti inflammatory (ibuprofen) and rest the ankle by keeping it raised up.

So what did I do? Took no medication at all and sat in an upright chair for over an hour, so the blood could rush down to the injury.

Bonehead.

If I had listened, maybe the swelling would not have been so great.

2. Keep the stairway clear of all objects.

Have you ever lived with two kids ages 3 and 18 months?

Some of you can relate to this… My kids enjoy throwing things down the stairs. So, our staircase to the basement often looks like a mine field of shoes, toys, etc.

But, I’m not blaming my darlings here. The fall was my fault. I need to do a better job keeping the stairway clear. I must sniff out ISDs (Improvised Slippery Devices). For the sake of everyone’s neck.

Kaboomis Copy Perseveres

Although I may have been slowed up a bit this week, business has pressed on.

I am so grateful that my injuries were not extensive and needing weeks to heal. I have a new respect for people who use crutches for weeks at a time.

Or permanently.

It is not easy. Those who rise above life-altering injuries and keep a good attitude, despite their need for a cane or wheelchair, deserve utmost respect.

I salute you.

I also salute my wife for not beating me over the head with, “If only you would have listened to me.” She has been such a sweetheart these past two days, bringing me things I normally can get myself… Making sure I take ibuprofen and Tylenol regularly… Reminding me to keep off the foot as much as possible… Driving me to the doctor.

She is such an incredible wife. More than I deserve.

52  Hours Later

For the first time since the accident, I’ve been able to return down those steps. As I write this from my office desktop, things are starting to get back to normal.

This whole thing has given me a stronger sense of gratitude as we head toward the Easter weekend.

Hope everyone reading this enjoys a wonderful holiday.

May your staircases remain clutter free, and may your coffee remain in the mug… Not on the wall.

Freelance Tips: #3 Develop a Love For Learning Like Isaac Asimov

image: philsp.com

by Matthew Loomis

Isaac Asimov was one prolific dude.

His writing credits include over five hundred books–written or edited, along with an estimated count of 90,000 letters and postcards. (Today, we call this email.)

His body of work includes science fiction (I, Robot is a well-known example), mystery, fantasy (both novels and short stories.) He wrote fiction for adults and children.

Asimov also penned non-fiction books covering science, astronomy, mathematics, the Bible, William Shakespeare’s writings, and chemistry.

In fact, no writer can match his record of at least one book in all of the Dewey Decimal System’s 10 major library classifications.

Niche writer? Hardly.

If alive today, Asimov probably would either laugh at the niche writing notion or shrug his shoulders and continue covering topics that interest him.

What does this have to do with freelancing in general?

Everything.

Did you know Asimov was a successful freelancer?

He’s possibly the most successful freelance writer who ever lived. His secret to success not only helps freelance writers, but all freelancers, including Designers, Political Consultants, Life Coaches… any freelancer who wants to reach new heights in their self employment.

(Side note for my fellow writers: I’m not saying you should try to be like Asimov. Niche writing is great if that’s what you want to do. I’m just saying, don’t think you absolutely have to choose a niche to be successful. If you can produce great material on a lot of different topics, then by all means, do it.)

Note that Asimov didn’t work his entire life as a freelancer. His early adult years were spent working in academia as a professor. He held a job while writing on the side well into his forties. It was a gradual process for him to be able to leave his job and work full-time as an independent writer.

Are You a Freelancer-to Be?

I’m a writer, so naturally, I’m going to gravitate to using other writers like Asimov as examples. If you are not a writer, Freelance Tip 3 is still for you.

Because the Asimov Secret to Successful Freelancing works for IT consultants, Business consultants, Web Developers, Photographers, Accountants…. every freelance specialty you can list.

Go ahead here and take a closer look at the most prolific writer in American history. You will be glad you did.

Isaac Asimov as a young man.

So, how did a guy born in 1920 accomplish what you dream of doing? 

Let’s break it down.

Do Freelancers Need Genius Genetics? 

Was Asimov born with a greater brain capacity than the “average” person?

Well, Asimov was an intelligent guy. In fact, Mensa International accepted him, and he even served as a VP of the group for a time. But he didn’t gloat about this, and actually hesitated on claiming membership, describing the group members as “brain-proud and aggressive about their IQ.”

So, although blessed with a keen mind, this alone did not make Asimov a great writer. Here is one simple way we can know this: Not every member of MENSA is a good writer. 

You probably know a few folks with a high IQ who can’t write a single clear, concise and compelling paragraph, right? Or maybe they write amazingly concise and clear, but their copy is dry. Unfeeling. Unemotional.

Boring.

Maybe the genius you know works as a scientist or inventor. Possibly an engineer, doctor or a corporate CEO. They were born with brains and are good at what they do…but trying to read something they wrote puts you in a coma.

A natural genius can have difficulty relating to an audience as a writer, just as some do when they speak.

That’s good to know, right? A relief, really… We don’t have to start out as a child prodigy in our field to go on to freelance greatness.

So, IQ is not the Asimov secret.

Do You Need More Degrees Than a Thermometer?

Asimov also had plenty of formal education on his resume. MA in chemistry. PhD in biochemistry.

A ha! Going to a good university must be the Asimov Secret to Freelance Success, right?

Wrong. Consider this about Asimov the writer…

He was not an English major, didn’t attend the Iowa University’s Writers Workshop, and had no MFA diploma on his office wall.

So, formal education (getting the right degree) is not the Asimov secret.

Then how does a guy churn out high quality writing covering so many different topics, genres and styles, without the college major of English, Journalism or even Communications?

This leads us to the Asimov Secret to Freelance Success:

“Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is.”

So said Isaac Asimov.

You see, Asimov’s success as a science fiction writer started when the young Isaac began reading “pulp science fiction magazines” as a gradeschooler. This early reading material served as the foundation for Asimov’s eventual freelance career.

Self education was something he practiced his entire life, devouring books on various subjects like other kids collected baseball cards.

Asimov was amazing. He wrote 14 history books. And he wasn’t even a history professor! That fact didn’t limit his thinking like it would so many others. “Well, history wasn’t my major in college, so I couldn’t possibly write a book about history.”

Instead, he taught himself history, and wrote books like The Roman Republic (1966), The Egyptians(1967), and The Near East: 10,000 Years of History (1968).

Asimov definitely benefited from his devotion to self-education. All it took was a craving for learning that’s stronger than a tree craves water.

Asimov enjoying the freelance lifestyle.

Do You Burn to Learn?

To become a successful freelancer in your chosen field, and more importantly, to remain successful for years, you must burn to learn.

A nonnegotiable commitment to self-education is required.

Because whatever field you work in, things are constantly changing. If you happen to be freelancing in the same line of work you studied in college, your education is not over. Maybe you told yourself you would never crack open a book again on graduation day…if so, you must break that pledge immediately.

Self education is extremely vital.

As a freelancer, I have a daily routine of self-education. I read at least 3 web articles per day that somehow relate to copywriting, inbound marketing, content marketing, branding or advertising. At least three…some days I read more.

I also invest in online coursework to learn more about my freelance work. AWAI is my personal favorite source.

Plus, I read lots of books. Classics like Ogilvy On Advertising, Advertising Secrets of the Written Word, and The Copywriter’s Handbook. Also recent works like 55 Ways to Promote and Sell Your Book on the Internet, Branding Faith, and Ignore Everybody.

Also, it’s good to attend seminars and conferences whenever possible.

Self Education Must Be Your Desire

Although this is not the only tip you need to succeed, self-education is definitely an important one that cannot be left out. If you do, your freelance business will fail.

Things change much too quickly today to think you know it all. Regardless of how much success you’ve already had in your freelance career, your current knowledge and business practices could be completely outdated in a year or two.

One of the best ways to stoke the fires of learning inside you is to embrace change and accept it as an inevitable part of your line of work. 

For as Isaac Asimov said, “It is change, continuing change, inevitable change, that is the dominant factor in society today. No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be.”

What are some ways you practice self-education in your chosen freelance career? Do you “burn to learn”? Tell us in the comments.

 

Freelance Tips: #2 Inbound Marketing Your Business Like a BassMaster

image: anglingfish.net

by Matthew Loomis

Last time, we looked at Freelance Tip 1: Networking, both online and in-person.

Next, we will focus on marketing yourself. But not just any marketing. As a freelancer, my recommendation is to use a fishing pole a lot more than a firearm.

I’m serious here, and will explain my analogy in a moment.

How you go about spreading your brand story is important.  This has been going on since Business married Publicity.

But marketing keeps changing and evolving rapidly. Techniques that worked swimmingly just a few years ago are quickly losing effectiveness now.

You want to make good use of your time and use a marketing plan that works, right?

Let’s look at the two primary ways freelancers can market their business and talk about why one is better than the other.

Inbound Marketing or Outbound Marketing?

Today, you can be a hunter (outbound marketer), or a fisherman (inbound marketer.)

Which style of marketing do I use?

Let’s just say my motto is: Live Bait Before Bullets

Picture Elmer Fudd Selling Door-to Door

Outbound marketing reminds me of a hunter with his trusty shotgun. He goes out looking for big game, finger on the trigger, blasting anything that moves.

Aggressive. Direct. Indiscriminate. Ruthless.

image: businessinsider.com

Like the sales reps of a bygone era, he/she is on the prowl, looking for a trophy.

I’ve done direct sales like this in the past and learned a lot from it, but there’s a problem… today, outbound marketing turns a lot of people off. Particularly people under 40 who are highly skeptical of anything that looks like direct sales.

Outbound marketing is an umbrella term that includes all “old school” sales and marketing techniques. Strategies like…

• Advertising (conventional ads for television, radio, print, billboards, etc.)
• Email blasts to an unsolicited (bought) list of unknown people
• Cold calling – Pretty much everyone I know hates doing it.
• Telemarketing (“Hello, Ma’am. Do you have time for a survey?)

All of these things cost money, and most freelancers don’t want to spend their hard earned cash on traditional advertising or telemarketing research trying to measure what people want.

If you are just starting out as a freelancer and don’t know a lot about inbound marketing, outbound marketing, and the differences between the two, don’t fret over it. There are some great websites that can teach you what you need to know. I give three great examples with links at the end of this article.

More On Cold Calling 

Personally, I have done a lot of cold calling in my past work history, and I’ve never been one to dread cold calling. But still, for the most part, I have avoided cold calling people since I started Kaboomis Copy.

If my memory is correct, I think I have made 2 or 3 cold calls during the first 8 months of freelance.

All of my clients so far have come through tip #1.

Now some freelancers still believe in cold calling. That’s perfectly fine. If you enjoy it and find that it works well for you, then you should do it.

Just make sure you are prepared before you dial the number. A freelance copywriter named John Wood wrote a great article called 11 Tips to Help You Get New Clients Through Cold Calling. His pointers actually would work for most types of freelancers.

I’m not saying I will never make a cold call again. I just find that if you practice all eight of my freelance tips, you won’t need to do much cold calling. Normally, I call people I don’t know only if someone I do know has given me a name and number. When I call the prospect, I say “so-and-so said I should contact you.”

(Want to know all eight of my freelance tips? Subscribe to my blog, and you won’t miss the six tips coming out later.)

Advertising 

Let’s face it, Freelancers starting out may not want to put tv, radio, billboard, or web ads into their budget.

That’s why some resort to the inexpensive classified ads or free websites like Craigslist.

I haven’t spent a dime on conventional ads, not even the classifieds. I also avoid Craigslist.

Why? Because platforms like Craigslist rarely connect freelancers with quality clients.

Outbound marketing techniques like this can attract the wrong people…folks who are not really that serious or they won’t pay you what you’re worth. They end up wasting your time.

Stay clear of these types of websites and spend your time attracting the right people to your freelance business. How that’s done is coming up soon.

Sending Out a Mailer

Another form of outbound marketing is mailing brochures, postcards, fliers, etc. to people who have not requested them. 

Recently I read a blog from a guy who freelances as a creative director. He has worked in advertising and marketing for a lot of years. Anyhow, on his blog, he showed a photo of his new marketing packet that he was sending out to people. It was basically some portfolio samples put together in a really slick, nice looking package.

I wish he would have shared how much money he spent on his packet. And I would love to know the actual numbers on the return of this investment.

Chances are he won’t share that information.

Sending out expensive mailers is something you do if you have a lot of money to spend. But even if you do, your mailing will probably not get a response over 3%.

Considering his postage costs, along with the printing costs of the packet, does he get a good return?

Maybe.

Wrapping Up What NOT to Do

So, in a nutshell, these are things you don’t need to do in 2013 to be a successful freelancer…

• Spam emails (Unsolicited)
• Conventional Ads
• Mailings
• Cold Calls

So then, what should a freelancer do to market their service?

Go fishing.

Inbound Marketing

What’s great about inbound marketing is how the techniques don’t take a big slice of your business budget, yet they work.

Fishing (inbound marketing) puts more food on your table than hunting (outbound marketing) these days.

In the 21st Century, Elmer Fudd has sold his rifle and bought the best G. Loomis fishing rod he could.

Here’s a Short Definition

Inbound Marketing: Basically, you are using techniques that draw in prospects to you, instead of pushing out to hard sell. Instead of  hunting for prospects like Daniel Boone looking for a rabbit, you are methodically fishing for clients by casting out lines, with tantalizing bait dangling on the end, throughout  various fishing holes all around Lake Internet.

Then you patiently wait. Or you keep casting, using a new shiny lure that’s state-of-the-art and scientifically tested to attract big fish.

The “bait” is known as good content, and this entire approach is now being called content marketing.

image: 123rf.com

Content marketing is all about casting out helpful information (content) online at no cost. This info needs to be good, interesting and entertaining, like a big fat worm on a hook is to a catfish. Whatever type of fish it is you are hoping to catch, they will bite at some point if you keep your line in the water.

Turn Your Website or Blog Into a Bait Shop

Content marketing “bait” examples include a blog like this one. Also, web landing pages, white papers, videos, and podcasts. If done correctly, these forms of content turn up in search engine results, which draw people into your brand.

This is effective because the fish out there who find and follow your business online obviously  have an interest in what you provide. They will swim around your site on a regular basis if they smell tasty morsels of content.

Again, you are not hard selling people like a hunter looking for bear, or one of those goofy hillbilly’s who use dynamite in a lake to blast the fish unconscious.

Instead, you consistently provide content that attracts the right people and keeps them hanging around.

Like a fishing pro.

If your content is stellar enough, and you are patient, those folks will eventually (bite) buy your service.

image: floridasportfishing.com

And if you do inbound marketing the right way, those clients will become evangelists of your brand. They will provide the best advertising possible–word of mouth (large mouth bass?). Testimonial. 3rd person horn tooting.

Priceless.

Inbound Marketing 101

Here are the tools needed to get started making inbound marketing work…

Do you have a website/blog? No matter what type of freelance business you run, you need to set up a blog. You can create a blog for free to get started. But over time, you will eventually want to invest a little bit into a more attractive and functional website/blog.

Whatever you do, just make sure you don’t throw up garbage “SEO content” on your site. You will lose prospects and simply look ridiculous. (What I’m talking about here are web pages filled with keyword laced copy that’s so poorly written, nobody wants to read it. Google now punishes those types of web pages with their new algorithms.)

Doing that is no different from putting an empty hook in the water and expecting a bite.

If you are not a Copywriter, writing web copy may be something you need help with. If that’s you, go ahead and hire a web writer to assist in creating website copy that flows like a bucket of minnows.

Make sure you publish epic content. Then use these two inbound marketing techniques to help build an audience to your blog.

1. Leave engaging, intelligent comments on other blogs. You know what these comments look like when you see them… they add to the conversation, provide additional insights, ask the right questions, or use humor to draw in more conversation. Blog comments that come across as self promotion, display links to your website, or simply say things like, “Yeah, I agree. Good work,” will not do much for you.

2. Guest blog on other websites/blogs. This will expose you to a wider audience, build credibility, and provide links back to your blog. Be sure to collaborate with the blog host and follow any guidelines they might give you.

Social Media

Another inbound marketing tool is having social media accounts for your freelance business. You need these to help promote your brand, primarily through driving traffic to your website, but social media is also useful for the all important inbound marketing goal to engage with your audience, develop a relationship and build trust with them, using transparency and a generous attitude.

Be sure to get started using Twitter. Google+. Facebook. Pinterest. Instagram. YouTube. All free.

Emails

With inbound marketing, you can still use emails to promote yourself. You just don’t want to send the emails out to purchased lists or people who never showed interest in your service to begin with.

Instead, you want to use opt-in email, or permission marketing. An example of this could be sending a newsletter to your customers. These emails will be more personalized than the general spam email approach.

If you are just starting out as a freelancer, you can build up an email list by having a Contact Form somewhere on your website. These provide a quick and easy way for people to give you their name and email address.

Of course, most people don’t bother to type in that information unless they get something in return. A great inbound marketing technique to build an email list is to provide something for free, like a free report, or maybe an eBook…It really could be about anything you think will prompt your target market to eagerly leave you their email address.

image: colourbox.com

Inbound marketing is what freelancers need to succeed.

Just like a professional fisherman needs a quality fishing pole, a tackle box filled with attractive “bait,” and the right touch to reel in the big ones.

This article serves as a starting point for beginner freelancers and freelancers who are not yet practicing inbound marketing. There is much more we could cover… If you want to go deeper into inbound marketing and content marketing, here are some of the best sources you can find on the web:

HubSpot

Copyblogger

Content Marketing Institute

Following these expert sources will keep you educated on the latest news, trends and techniques of inbound and content marketing.

Happy fishing.

P.S. – Subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss Freelance Tip 3.

Freelance Tips: #1 Networking Online and Networking In-Person

by Matthew Loomis

Today marks exactly the 8 month anniversary of Kaboomis Copy.

To celebrate this occasion, I decided to share 8 things about freelancing I have learned along the way (so far), and offer them as helpful tips for other freelancers.

This series of freelance tips will be helpful for two types of people:

1. Current freelancers who want to grow their business.

2. People with jobs who are seriously looking at going freelance full-time.

If this is you, let’s jump right in.

Visions of Freelance Bliss 

Many people who have never been self-employed dream about doing the work they love from the comforts of home and actually getting paid for it. They smile from one wet ear to the other wet ear when they talk about it. It’s pretty adorable, actually.

I used to be one of those gullible souls. Nothing wrong with that. We all have dreams, but we often don’t know the full scope of what it takes to reach them.

Some people get thrown into freelance due to a job layoff, which is like learning how to swim after being dropped into the middle of Lake Erie.

If that’s you, don’t panic. Other people’s freelance mistakes and hard knock lessons can serve as a flotation device for you.

If you are still employed, count your blessings, but make sure you start taking swimming lessons NOW, so you’ll be able to jump into freelancing prepared.

True Short Story that Opened My Eyes

A few years ago, I was working as a staff writer for a well-known televangelist. Suddenly, my managing editor at that time announced he was leaving the job and diving into full-time freelance writing from home.

I thought this was pretty cool. He was going to “live the dream.”

We stayed in touch. Emails. A few phone calls. A lunch. I followed his blog that first year. Things seemed to be moving along for him in a positive direction.

I was surprised when he published a blog article a year into his freelancing called The Year of Falling Apart. Thank God he had the courage to share this. (His article has been recently updated.)

Extra Bonus Tip For Freelancers  

My friend’s first year of freelancing story has been helpful to me. How so? Because it reminds me to enjoy the freelance journey as you grow.  

Working as a freelancer is not for everybody. If you value predictability, a steady stream of income, being around a bunch of people every day, or free donuts, then maybe you need to stay in a job situation?

I almost included “safety” in my description of a job, but in today’s world, is that really true? How “safe” is it to have your income completely in the hands of other people and at the mercy of one source?

Just something to think about. If you’ve read this far, you are probably serious about freelancing.

Remember that freelancing is not a destination. It requires much from those who choose the adventure (like self-discipline and courage.) You will encounter many highs and lows along the way. (Dry spells. Difficult clients.) But, if you will listen to what my friend is telling you through his story, and take heed to the freelance tips and stories I’ll be sharing over the next few weeks, you can learn to persevere and be a successful freelancer.

Practicing this bonus tip of enjoying the freelance journey will strengthen you and you will start…

• Tapping into your faith and believing your needs (bills) will be met
• Defining what type of work you want to do
• Determining the monetary value of your time and your talents
• Setting boundaries with clients
• Refusing to be all things to all people

What Is Your Freelance Dream?

The tips I’ll be sharing work for all types of freelancers.

Accountants. Architects. Illustrators. Photographers. Tutors. Typists.

I happen to work as a Copywriter.

At first, my plan was to cover all eight tips in one article. But it became clear this topic needs to be a series.

So today, we will cover Tip #1. If you haven’t subscribed to my blog, you should. That way, you’ll be sure to capture all 8 tips over the next few weeks.

Now, let’s start with the most obvious of the eight tips. Some of you already know this, but many of you still don’t get it. And some just need a reminder.

This tip is crucial. Don’t take it lightly.

Successful freelancing tip #1: Courageously Network Online & Face-to-Face

Sounds simple and obvious. Almost makes you want to say, “Duh.” But how many people actually do this CONSISTENTLY, month after month, and year after year?

Only the successful freelancers.

Networking is absolutely vital if you want to grow as a freelancer. Just like any other business, customers do not come knocking on your door through osmosis.

There are two primary ways to network–by internet or in person.

Millennials and introverts love the internet. Extroverts and baby boomers like getting out and doing it face-to-face.

You need both, regardless of your personality type.

Networking With the Internet (Specifically Social Media)

A website is important, but that’s like your home online. If you never leave your home, you will lose money.

Here, I’m talking about networking online through social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Let’s start with LinkedIn.

As I said in an earlier blog, before freelancing, I didn’t pay much attention to LinkedIn. But it didn’t take long for me to see how useful this social media platform is for the self-employed.

So, I revamped my profile and started using LinkedIn.

In fact, my profile ended up in the top 5% most viewed profiles of 2012. What’s amazing is that I didn’t even start using LinkedIn until July, so all that 5% action happened in 6 months. I obviously tore up LinkedIn.

But there’s a reason why I did and continue to do so.

Results.

Several great business relationships I’ve made started and evolved through LinkedIn. Clients are found here. Seeds I have planted along the way continue to grow and produce fruit, thanks to LinkedIn. Some relationships are still incubating, but I know they will eventually lead to paying projects.

You never know how quickly each relationship will develop, but if you will patiently tend to your LinkedIn profile, good things will happen.

Some day I’ll write in more detail how to network using LinkedIn. I use some uncommon techniques.

You also should be using these other social media platforms:

Twitter – Not only can you meet new clients here, but this is also a must-have tool to market yourself. Awhile back, I gave some tips on how to do this.

Facebook – Some freelancers spend little to no time here. My take on it is this: As long as Facebook continues to have a mega audience, I want to make sure my business has a presence there. 

Glad I do. A couple of clients have come through here.

So when it comes to Facebook, remember: Visuals are important for getting the best ROI with your Facebook business page.

Speaking of Facebook, I also am a member of a forum for copywriters of all persuasions on Facebook. This is a great place for me to “network online” and learn from others in my freelance field who are going through the same things I experience.

Also, I get lots of motivation through this forum by reading posts from other members who share their successes. Many times, after visiting this site, I am fired up and ready to press on to greater levels of success. And it’s really cool to receive support from other writers when you need a little encouragement.

Whatever field you freelance in, find a forum like this to network.

Google+ – Surprised? You shouldn’t be…. Freelancers who know the latest on this unique platform have gotten over themselves and started using Google+ consistently. Some freelancers still think it’s a waste of time–to their detriment.

Copyblogger has been putting out some great articles on Google+ lately. You should check them out if you want your freelance business to rank high in SERPs and not get left behind in the SEO jungle.

Another social media platform to network with is Pinterest. I hear it’s a good place to be, but I haven’t set up there yet. But I will.

Be sure to treat each of these social media platforms differently. Each has its own unique personality. Study up on those differences.

Okay, so all of this sounds great for those who don’t want to leave their house and just work their freelance business from a computer, doesn’t it? Sure, that can provide a certain amount of business, but I don’t recommend using it alone.

Despite our awesome technology, you should still do this…

Network Face-to-Face with People

One of the best things I’ve done to help market my freelance business is to join a networking group. Last September was my first meeting. Ever since then, once a month, I get out of the house and I go to this midday meeting. I wear something nice and make sure I have plenty of business cards to hand out.

In person meetings like these not only help you find clients, they also do a lot to help you believe in freelancing. How? Well, you will be forced to publicly talk about your business. You may feel funny at first. Lack some confidence. But, if you will keep showing up to these meetings and persistently talk out loud about your freelance business, your confidence will grow.

For me, not much seemed to be happening the first couple of meetings. But over time, I have developed several great relationships. And here’s a bonus–a couple of these relationships have already led to paying projects. Others will eventually.

Don’t try to figure out all the details. Just go to your networking meeting and generously give yourself away. Inbound market yourself in the flesh. 

There are all sorts of networking groups you can join. Determine which one(s) will be a good fit for you. Consider the type of service you offer and the type of folks who will be attending.

Networking clubs can be large, city-wide groups that are easy to join and provide social events during evening hours, while others are niche groups you may have to qualify for based on religion, industry, political affiliation…lots to choose from.

The group I attend these days is a spiritually based group. Whatever group works for you, do it.

Since joining my group back in September, I keep finding new benefits . Each meeting, I not only get to continue developing relationships with other professionals in various industries around my city, but there are always new people to meet at every event.

I met a client through this group who has sent me three projects so far in 2013. We enjoy working together, and he’s someone I respect and actually learn from, because he’s been a full-time freelancer for almost twenty years. He is living proof that the freelance dream is possible.

Meanwhile, another guy I met through this group asked me to serve on the board of his charity, because the mission of his organization is something I’m passionate about. I do some pro bono work for them, which is a win-win situation. And, since I started serving on this board, I’ve met additional quality people. Made some new friends.

Plus, it gets me out of the house even more. I don’t feel cooped up and cut off from society as I work from home, thanks to these two groups.

So, if you are concerned about feeling lonely and isolated as a freelancer, be sure to JOIN A NETWORKING GROUP.

Last Key Point: Don’t rule out networking with others in your field. I have received referrals from other copywriters. I treat these word of mouth referrals, whether from other copywriters or from anyone else, like GOLD.

I have also received projects from other copywriters who needed some help with their workload.

So, treat others in your field REALLY WELL. Don’t be stuck up or try to hoard everything. That’s doesn’t get you anywhere.

Wrapping Up Tip #1

Be sure to incorporate networking, both online and face-to-face, into your freelance business plan. Have you done that? What’s holding you back? Have you seen results doing this? Tell us in the comments below.

P.S. Next week, we will continue with more Free Tips for Freelancers. Seven more tips coming your way–if you are subscribed to this blog. If not, you might miss them.

10 Tips On Google+ Marketing; “Plus” a Cool Infographic with 64 Branding Strategies

by Matthew Loomis

Here are 10 Google+ tips to help you market your business.

1. Connecting your Google+ bio to your blog’s home page will greatly improve SEO. Your photo will appear with your blog posts in search results after linking your blog to your Google+ bio.

2. Google+ gives you the ability to organize your connections into precise, specific categories, called Circles.

For example, you could arrange different groups like Family, Friends, Business, Politics, Star Trek, Cat Lovers… whatever fits your life. You can then send posts strictly to specific circles (so your feline-hating Uncle won’t see your latest hilarious cat video.) You can also scroll the different news feeds individually.

3. Hangouts are a great tool to demonstrate your expertise on whatever topic you want to share. Look like a boss by offering free webinars. Use the Hangouts On Air feature and broadcast your presentation anywhere through YouTube simultaneously with Google+. This creates unlimited audience potential.

4. Hashtags! Unlike Facebook, Google+ provides the same hashtag search advantage as Twitter. So, be sure to use them to help your SEO mojo.

Just don’t name your child hashtag like these parents did.

5. Always link your blog posts to Google+ and make the post available to the public, not just your circles. Why? Because not only will your posts be found globally with Google search, the people in your Google+ circles will find your content high up in their Google search results.

6. The Ripple Effect: Like throwing a rock into a placid lake, Ripples are an overlooked feature that can help you spread your message out to a wider audience. Ripples help you find Influencers who have a large following. When you find someone who can help spread your message, be sure to add them to your circles and engage with them.

7. Increase your engagement on Google+ by writing long posts. If this type of post is filled with great information, the post will get lots of shares. This can effectively promote traffic to your blog. For example, you could write an epic post then link back to your blog for further resources. And don’t forget to use hashtags.

8. Direct Connect is the most powerful feature of Google+… but it’s still in the early stages and not available to everyone at the moment. Basically, this allows you to add people to your circles directly from your Google searches. Direct Connect will be more available over time, according to Google.

9. You can tag people and brands on Google+, just like Facebook. This helps you create engagement with associates and friends along with companies you want to connect with. For example, when you collaborate on a project, tag the folks and brands you worked with when you post about it.

10. Connect your photo to your search results. As mentioned in #1, you can help people find you by simply connecting your Google+ page to your blog. First impressions matter, so be sure to use a good photo, preferably one that is colorful and get’s noticed on the Google search white page.

Learning Google+ is essential in the long run for those who are serious about effectively marketing their business online.

Like the tortoise racing the hare, Google+ may appear to be “behind” in the social media race, but could very well end up passing the competition and winning the race.

And now, here’s the really cool Infographic I promised that lists 64 Google+ branding strategies. Created by Maria Peagler.

 

12 Days of Copywriting

12 Days of Copywriting (photo credit: blogs.babble.com)

 

by Matthew Loomis

 

On the 1st day of Copywriting

my true love sent to me

An iPad under the tree.

 

On the 2nd day of Copywriting

my true love sent to me

2 new contacts

And an iPad under the tree.

 

On the 3rd day of Copywriting

my true love sent to me

3 proposal requests

2 new contacts

And an iPad under the tree.

 

On the 4th day of Copywriting

my true love sent to me

4 new projects

3 proposal requests

2 new contacts

And an iPad under the tree.

 

On the 5th day of Copywriting

my true love sent to me

(Pregnant Pause)

5 BRILLIANT IDEAS !!

4 new projects

3 proposal requests

2 new contacts

And an iPad under the tree.

 

On the 6th day Copywriting

my true love sent to me

6 nights a working

5 BRILLIANT IDEAS!!

4 new projects

3 proposal requests

2 new contacts

And an iPad under the tree.

 

On the 7th day of Copywriting

my true love sent to me

7 cups of coffee

6 nights a working

5 BRILLIANT IDEAS!!

4 new projects

3 proposal requests

2 new contacts

And an iPad under the tree.

 

On the 8th day of Copywriting

my true love sent to me

8 SEO keywords

7 cups of coffee

6 nights a working

5 BRILLIANT IDEAS!!

4 new projects

3 proposal requests

2 new contacts

And an iPad under the tree.

 

On the 9th day of Copywriting

My true love sent to me

9 hundred retweets

8 SEO keywords

7 cups of coffee

6 nights a working

5 BRILLIANT IDEAS!!

4 new projects

3 proposal requests

2 new contacts

And an iPad under the tree.

 

On the 10th day of Copywriting

my true love sent to me

10 percent R-O-I

9 hundred retweets

8 SEO keywords

7 Ccups of coffee

6 nights a working

5 BRILLIANT IDEAS!!

4 new projects

3 proposal requests

2 new contacts

And an iPad under the tree.

 

On the 11th day of Copywriting

my true love sent to me

11 happy clients

10 percent R-O-I

9 hundred retweets

8 SEO keywords

7 cups of coffee

6 nights a working

5 BRILLIANT IDEAS!!

4 new projects

3 proposal requests

2 new contacts

And an iPad under the tree.

 

On the 12th day of Copywriting

my true love sent to me

12 new referrals

11 happy clients

10 Percent R-O-I

9 Hundred retweets

8 SEO keywords

7 cups of coffee

6 nights a working

5 BRILLIANT IDEAS!!

4 New Projects,

3 proposal requests,

2 new contacts

(Deep Breath)

And…an…i..Pad..under..the..treeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Getting the Most Out of LinkedIn: 7 Ways Freelance Writers Can Enhance Their Results

by Matthew Loomis

I’ll be honest with you…

While working a full-time writing job for several years, I didn’t pay much attention to LinkedIn.

I knew it was there. I had a profile up. I would get their weekly email… But I rarely logged in to the site and didn’t keep my information updated along the way.

But once I started freelance writing full-time back in July, it didn’t take me long to see how valuable LinkedIn really is.

If you are a freelance writer, you should definitely be using LinkedIn–considered by most to be the premiere social media website for business professionals. It currently has over 100 million users.

Some of you already know this, but I’m sure there are plenty of others out there (like me just a few months ago) who lack appreciation for LinkedIn because you don’t know everything that it can bring to a freelance writer’s table.

I’m still learning new things about LinkedIn, so I know this article doesn’t cover everything. But if you are a freelance writer that’s skeptical about LinkedIn, keep reading. I’m going to share some information here that just might cause you to take a second look at this amazing business tool.

My Personal LinkedIn Testimony

A little over a month ago, I spruced up my profile and began using LinkedIn seriously and consistently. I kid you not, the first day I tweaked my profile, a new “connection” I had just made two hours earlier called me. He wanted to offer me some freelance work.

This let me know pretty quickly that spending some time using LinkedIn would be worth the effort.

Since that first day, I have made some great contacts. For example, just in the last week, two local recruiters who work with freelancers have contacted me. They want to help me find work.

That’s when the clouds parted and I had this epiphany: You know, this whole LinkedIn thing is looking crucially sweet. Probably should keep using it.

LinkedIn is Not Facebook, Twitter or Google+

When using LinkedIn, you should approach it as a unique social media platform that must not be treated the same way as other social media sites.

LinkedIn is a place where you converse and network with BUSINESS colleagues, not your friends and family. So, posting the latest silly cat video will likely turn off most of your connections–and keep others from linking to you. Remember, when using LinkedIn, sticking to business is the smart way to go.

Okay, so maybe you have not yet created a profile, or you have, but it needs dusting off. Either way, here are some tips on…

How to Create a Solid Profile that Attracts Clients

What you see here is only the beginning of my profile.

Here are four steps to help you create a good LinkedIn profile:

1. Choose the Right Photo

The last thing you want to do on LinkedIn is post a profile picture of yourself holding a drink and shaking your tail feathers. Save those for Facebook. Please.

Instead, you will want to use a good head shot of yourself, preferably one where you are looking into the camera.

Although LinkedIn is more “business” in nature, it is still a “social” network, so it is best to let others see your handsome mug, because people want to see who they are dealing with.

I’m surprised at the number of profiles I’ve seen of people with no photo at all. That’s never a good thing with social media.

2. Share Your Unique Story/Personality In Your Summary

You can have some fun here if you choose. The summary is where you want to give a concise and compelling overview of your expertise and what your business is about. You can also use the summary to define your potential clients and paint a picture how you can serve them.

Whatever it is you want to say, just be yourself. This helps to attract the right clients for YOU.

3. Fill In All Areas of Your Profile

The more areas of information you share on LinkedIn, the greater your connections will be, because your background interests and skills will help you relate to more people.

4. Take Advantage of the 3 Links You Can Post

You get the opportunity on your LinkedIn profile to post up to three links. Go ahead and use them–leaving this empty doesn’t help you make connections. You could post a link to your Twitter, Facebook and Blog. Or you could just post links to three web articles you penned…whatever you choose to link to is your decision, just be sure they relate to your career.

Putting a little more effort into your profile can be just the spark to drastically improve your experience with LinkedIn.

Once you do that, here are some additional ways to generate business with LinkedIn.

5. Make Connections

If you like to hide in the corner of the room during a party, please don’t do that with your LinkedIn presence, because you will not get much out of it. Start connecting with others.

An easy way to get moving would be to import the email addresses in your yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail or AOL email accounts. Also, you can add someone’s email address into the “Add Connections” tab. Both ways will send LinkedIn invites to those people you know.

Over time, you may see some of your Twitter or Facebook followers also connecting with you on LinkedIn. Be happy about that–witnessing cross-pollination of your social media platforms is a beautiful thing. LinkedIn will provide those people who follow you on Twitter and Facebook with additional info about your business that they may not have known otherwise. This helps you generate more business.

6. Get Recommended By Your Clients and Colleagues

LinkedIn has a powerful feature called “Recommendations,” which Twitter doesn’t have and Facebook just recently added to their business pages.

Being able to display testimonies from clients about their positive experiences working with you is a fantastic way to establish credibility and build trust with new prospects who are checking you out.

To get recommendations on LinkedIn, the easiest way is to give out copious recommendations to others. Most people will want to return the favor.

Or you can ask former clients and colleagues for one. When asking, I would not just click the “request recommendation” button that sends the other person an automated message, “Would you give me a recommendation?” I think that is too easy and impersonal. If you don’t take the time to write a personal message to someone, do you think they will be motivated to take the time to give you a recommendation?

7. Responding to People Who View Your Profile

Over to the right of the page you will see the box called Who’s Viewed Your Profile?

There is a feature on LinkedIn where you can see other members who are not connected to you but who have stopped by to look over your profile. I have the basic (free) account, which does not show every person, but I find that it does reveal enough people each week to keep me from upgrading to a paid account.

When someone you don’t already know looks at your profile, you can check out their contact information on their profile and see if they list an email address. Many people do. If so, send them a personal email and ask if they need copywriting services. I did this last week with eight people, and I ended up making a good connection with someone.

I have read that a feature called InMail can be very effective as a way to send personal messages to people who are not already one of your connections, but InMail is not available with the free service. You may want to upgrade your account for this feature. I hear it has an excellent response rate.

What Do You Think?

So, that’s my experience with LinkedIn so far. As a freelance writer, I plan to continue using it and learning all I can on how to get the most out of it for my business.

I would love to learn from your experiences on LinkedIn. Do you have any tips or stories you want to share on this? Please leave your comments. The good, bad, or anything in between.

4 Painful Sacrifices You Have To Make to Be a Freelance Writer

You may miss some of the perks that a job provides…like meetings.

 

by Matthew Loomis

So, you want to be a freelance writer, huh?

Before you go and give your two-week notice, there are a few things you need to know up front before typing that resignation letter.

Yes, its great being your own boss, and many perks come along with freelancing from home, like Bermuda shorts in February…a carless  morning commute from your bed to the bathroom…catching an episode of Dr. Phil while you’re “on a break”…but freelance writing is not all peaches and cream.

Nothing is perfect. Freelance writing involves letting go of a few things you might enjoy now if you are a staff writer. From my experience, I discovered there are four important sacrifices that inevitably occur when you switch from job writer to freelance writer. These are four things you will have to give up, like it or not.

Please take the time for some thoughtful consideration as to whether or not you can realistically make these adjustments in your daily working life. You may want to lay in a hammock and sip hot cocoa while reading this.

Sacrifice #1. No Juicy Gossip.  No Idle Chit-Chat.

I know it sounds painful, but unless you have a water cooler at home and an unlocked front door that allows the neighbors, salesmen, and mail carriers to drop by and give you the latest scuttlebutt, the level of gossip, rumors and small talk in your life will greatly diminish.

No more inside scoops delivered in hushed voices on important topics like how Shirley in HR just hired her brother. Or details on why Dwayne didn’t get the promotion.

It’s true. You will even have to give up hearing the latest rumors on the big layoffs coming down the pike.

Are you sure you can live without that? You need to be honest with yourself.

It’s no picnic working for yourself. I mean, you have to actually learn how to enjoy serenity and long stretches of quiet contemplation, where your creativity has time to sink its cleats into the subject matter and take off like an Olympic sprinter, instead of constantly slipping on those tantalizing interruptions, er, conversations that get thrown into your office workday, providing frequent breaks in your train-of-thought.

It’s something to think about…you need to see both sides here.

When you work from home, there’s no busybody dropping  by your desk to inform you about Tony’s embarrassing power point presentation. It’s just you getting busy with work and checking off that to-do list.

Sounds weird, doesn’t it? Like a whole different universe.

Working from home…it’s just…you….and your…work…and more…productivity. (It’s tough to even type those words.)

Freelance writing is not for the faint of heart. It might take you weeks, even months, to adjust to the golden silence.

Anyhow, I don’t mean to keep blabbing about this, like the guy who sits next to you at work and thinks you can’t wait to hear every detail of what he did over the weekend…

Just keep in mind that it takes some effort to pack up your fishing gear and leave the crystal blue stream of idle chatter. When you are freelance writing on your back porch in flip-flops, there won’t be any momentary breaks to water that creeping gossip “grapevine” you are so accustomed to having close by–like an office decoration.

If you can’t handle that, you should strongly consider keeping your job.

Sacrifice #2. You Have to Buy Your Own Snacks

This is pretty brutal.

As a self-reliant freelance writer, you will no longer have the luxury of strolling down to the company break room to pick up a free bagel provided by one of your employer’s vendors every Tuesday.

No more slices of delicious three-day-old rhubarb pie that someone left on the break room table with the “Enjoy!” sticky note on the plastic cover.

Also, your days of mooching off the free coffee will be history. But the good news here is that you won’t have to throw a quarter into the styrofoam cup every four months to relieve the guilt.

And no more “borrowing” other people’s half and half from the frig. You will be forced to start buying your own creamers.

Oh, and let’s not forget the big bowl of candy someone in your department is always keeping stocked with Jolly Ranchers and Werther’s Originals…sorry, dude. You’ll need to add those to your grocery list once you go freelance.

This can be a difficult adjustment for some freelance writers. Ask your doctor if being responsible for your own snacks is right for you.

Sacrifice #3. You Have to Use Your Own Bathroom 

That’s right. Keeping your bathroom clean and well stocked with toilet paper will now be your responsibility. This adds more pressure to your workday.

You probably don’t have a urinal at your home, so if you are a male, this will create extra cleaning work for you.

Just another challenging and unavoidable part of being a freelance writer.

While at your job, it’s nice to sometimes find every single bathroom stall occupied in your department bathroom, so you have a great excuse to stroll over to that other bathroom all the way over on the other side of the building. Nice, plausible reason to take a walk at work without raising any eyebrows.

Poor, pitiful freelancers have quick and easy access to their home restrooms, so when they want to take a walk, they have to trek around their neighborhoods, or the park, walking trails, or beautiful forests, at anytime during the day.

Are you sure that’s what you want?

Sacrifice #4. You Don’t Get to Go to Very Many Meetings

As a writer, I’m sure this really bums you out.

What writer doesn’t love sitting in a conference room listening to 9 people talk in circles? There is nothing more inspiring to a writer. I can’t think of a better way to get the creative juices flowing.

Most writers absolutely love scheduling their afternoon around meetings on things like new project management software, changes in their healthcare plan, and best of all–the emergency meeting where you get told that all the writing you’ve been working on for the past three weeks is getting changed or not used at all.

That is pure heaven to writers. The more meetings, the merrier.

But that’s all taken away from you when you work for yourself. Most of your meetings will be with yourself. You get a meeting here and there with others. Mostly virtual meetings. Online meetings. Phone meetings. Power lunches. Meetings that aren’t near as much fun as the inspiring pow wows that a job provides.

So, I would not rush into freelance writing if meetings are dear to you. Just shooting you straight, bro.

Think Long and Hard Before You Decide 

Becoming a freelance copywriter is a life altering experience.

I hope that all of the excruciating pain and suffering I have experienced as a result of these four sacrifices will help others to make the right decision.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to clean the bathroom and put a rhubarb pie in the oven.

Copywriting For Your Darlings: How the Three Cs Help Your Business (Your Baby) Stand Out From the Crowd

The Three Most Important People In My Life

by Matthew Loomis

Words matter.

That’s why I gave my children unique and compelling names.

You see, I could have given them names like Bob or Elizabeth, which are two perfectly good names many people give their kids. Nothing wrong with that.

But I didn’t want my children to have “regular” names.

Like Matthew, for example (my own name.) Sure, it’s a fine name. I’m happy with it.

A lot of other people are happy with it too, as Matthew (a.k.a.  Matt) consistently makes the top ten list of favorite baby names here in America, decade after decade. Like me, you have probably known many other “Matts” throughout your lifetime.

So, what does that tell us? Well, one thing for sure… Matthew is a popular name, but it’s also common. Unoriginal.

What’s In a Name? Everything.

And if you randomly asked people on the street what the name Matthew means, most wouldn’t know the answer. (I will touch more on the importance of this in a moment.) In case you’re curious, Matthew means “gift from God.”

Interesting, eh?

We may know what our name means, but we usually don’t give much thought to the meaning of other people’s names. For example, I don’t have any idea what Jeffrey, Logan, Taylor, Stacey, Tina, Makayla or Roger means. But when I hear a name like Royale (which is my wife’s name), I immediately have an idea of it’s definition. (It means “royalty.” Pretty straight forward.)

Or if someone is named Running Bear, Sitting Bull, Sky, River, or Meadow…these are all words in the English language that immediately give you a word picture to grasp the message conveyed behind the word.

The way parents choose names today seems to be more about personal preference, the way a name rolls off the tongue, or other factors like carrying on a family tradition. Nothing wrong with doing this…

As long as you are not a copywriter looking for the perfect word(s) to convey a message on a web page, print ad, brochure, sales letter, email or blog.

Normally, when we pick names for our children, it’s all about us–what we want, what we like, and we don’t care what anyone else thinks about our choice of a name.

When I “wrote” the names of my children, I was actually thinking beyond myself and the child. I was also thinking about the “audience”, or the people in life that my children would encounter.

I wanted the “audience” to be moved by the words making up the name. I wanted people to experience an emotional reaction and feel compelled to a call to action whenever they heard these names or saw them in print. I wanted to make the audience think. To be inspired.

That’s why I named my children…

Drumroll Please (For Those Who Don’t Know)

Courage. Integrity.

I don’t know, maybe it was the writer and word lover in me…Or maybe it’s because I like to be different.

Or, maybe I’m a little weird.

Could be a combination of all those reasons, but anyway, while researching and brainstorming name ideas, I thought about how my children would hear, write, read and speak their name millions of times over the course of their life. Whatever name they ended up with would be their personal “brand,” so my wife and I wanted to select names that were unique.

So, Courage is the name of my son, and I have a daughter named Integrity.

Okay…but what does this have to do with copywriting?

Glad you asked.

The Three C Formula

From a writing standpoint, let’s look at these two words I chose to name my kids. Each one accomplishes three important writing objectives—what is known as the three C’s of copywriting…

• Clear – There’s no confusion about the meaning of Courage or Integrity, unless you don’t speak English at all.
• Concise – Each name packs a succinct, powerful punch through the use of just one word. A second word isn’t necessary to convey the message.
• Compelling – Each word stands out, attracts attention and gets noticed.

This is how I approach every piece of writing.

The copy needs to be clear, concise and compelling.

Words matter.

The right words increase your sales by thousands or even millions of dollars, while the wrong words cause your sales to drop.

As Mark Twain once said back in 1888, ” The difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter–it’s the difference between the lightning bug and lightning.”

Zap!

If you need to put a bolt of electricity through your sales copy that brings in a thunderous ROI, email me. Today.

Oh, and as for any future names for additional children…my wife and I are not sure about adding a third crumb cruncher, but if we do, I already have a boy’s name picked…

…which is under wraps for now. *wink*

What is your take on this topic? I would love to read your comments.