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Freelance Writer Gets Word-of-Mouth Referrals

August 27, 2009 By 3 Comments

Being a freelance writer is a great job. Actually, it’s not a job because it’s so much fun! The perks of the business are setting your own hours; working with clients from diverse industries, working with clients around the world, and helping clients gain new business through word-of-mouth referrals. Most small business owners are backwards about being forward when it comes to referrals. This is where a freelance writer comes in handy.

Word-of-mouth referrals are a great way to grow your business. The use of words on your print materials such as business cards, brochures, and postcards can make the world of difference. Think of a freelance writer as your muse who can bring your business of out the deep, dark forest and into the bright world of small businesses.

Networking events are the most popular way to obtain word-of-mouth referrals. When you had out your business card make sure it stands out by using a catchy headline or quote. A skilled freelance writer can whip up a snappy headline and tagline in no time. For example, if you’re a health and wellness coach you may have a headline such as “Health Equals Wealth” and a tagline such as “Investing in Yourself Today will Yield a High Return Tomorrow.” This eye-catching headline and tagline is sure to spark interest.

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Most small business owners don’t know how to get word-of-mouth referrals or they’re too shy to ask. Don’t be shy about promoting your business. Stand by your business and be confident. Even if you stumble at first, you’ll find your footing. It may help to write out a note card to take with you to ensure that you hit all of the key points. Remember, you’ll only have about 5-minutes to speak about your business.

Using the services of a freelance writer to get word-of-mouth referrals is a step in the right direction. After all, these are people who write for a living and enjoy it. They’ve written countless blogs, articles, headlines and taglines, and other materials they’ll be able to get your message across.

It’s important to communicate with your freelance writer to ensure they convey your message to your audience. You’ll have to spend some time meeting either in person or over the phone if you want to receive plenty of word-of-mouth referrals.

Business referrals can come from anyone. You could be at the grocery store and strike up a conversation with the person in front of you in the checkout line. He or she may require your services. When you present your business card, give the person two or three cards. Ask for referrals. You have nothing to lose.

You may consider giving clients an incentive to give your business referrals. You could give them a discount on their services, provide them with a gift card, or give them a gift certificate to a restaurant. There are many ways to say ‘Thank You’ for the referral.

A freelance writer can assist you with referrals. If your current marketing materials are not working, contact your freelance writer to see what revisions are necessary. Perhaps it’s time to hire a new freelance writer, one with a multitude of experience and creative ideas that seem to go on forever!

Rebecca

How’s your word-of-mouth referrals?

Filed Under: Clients, Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Networking Tagged With: , ,

Web Designer Hooks Up with a Freelance Writer

August 25, 2009 By 1 Comment

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A great partnership is one between a web designer and freelance writer. A web designer could have clients that require help with their web content such as blogs. Many small business owners are not even aware of what a blog is. If a web designer “hooks up” with a freelance writer, it could be a match made in heaven.

Small business owners are very busy growing their business. Most of them don’t have time to write each day let alone every other day. Instead of trying to write articles or blogs with little or no success, hire a freelance writer. Ask your web designer if he/she knows of a great freelance writer. They probably do.

A web designer may not have time to write for their clients. Referring a freelance writer to clients is a win-win situation. Clients receive compelling web content, and the web designer doesn’t worry about being asked to write web content.

A freelance writer enjoys writing. Most small business owners don’t enjoy writing. In fact, some think of it as a chore — something on the “to do” list. Don’t do something that will make you miserable. Contact your web designer and ask them to refer a freelance writer to do the writing for you.

It’s best to find a freelance writer who’s skilled in blogging and understands SEO to drive traffic to websites. One that knows and understands social media (I do) is even better. You could ask for a consultation on how to set-up social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social media sites.

Search engine marketing is just as important. Small business owners may consider utilizing Google AdWords, Yahoo! Search Marketing, or Microsoft adCenter. Chances are a writer will be able to provide you with a consultation on how SEM can help grow your small business.

The partnership of a web designer and freelance writer can be a fruitful one. They can refer business to each other and both can grow their small business. It’s a bonus that each is skilled in technology. A web designer knows the importance of SEO and how colors and design play an important role in getting traffic to a website. The freelance writer will understand how to incorporate keywords into a blog or web content which will increase traffic to a website. Of course, eMotional and Compelling ad copy helps as well!

Rebecca

What client needs help with their website? Refer them to Rebecca @ savvywriter.rebecca@gmail.com.

Filed Under: Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing Tagged With: , , ,

Healing Arts Professionals Touch More People with a Blog

August 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment

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The healing arts profession has taken the world by storm. More and more people are entering into hypnotherapy, reiki, massage therapy, and other professions. Your website alone is not enough to make you stand out from the crowd. Most people surfing the internet are looking for information that can help them improve their lives. If you don’t incorporate a blog within your website, you could be missing out on potential clients.

Blogging is easy to do. There are many blogging systems that you could use such as WordPress, Blogspot, Typepad, and many others. WordPress is the most popular blog choice. You have the choice between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. If you use WordPress.org, you’ll need to register a domain name or link it to your website.

Blogging Tips and Tricks

  • Keep blogs between 350 – 700 words. A blog over 700 words is best broken up into two blogs. Some readers’ eyes will start to “glaze over” if a blog is longer than 700 words.
  • Incorporate videos, podcasts, and graphics into your blog. This is a great way to spice up your blog. Keep videos and podcasts short; the minimum is 15 minutes.
  • Write a blog daily or every other day. It’s best to post a blog each day. If time is an issue, write a blog every other day. You may want to have blogs in “reserve” in case you take a vacation or are teaching at a conference like Hayhouse’s I Can Do It.
  • Attention getting headlines will draw readers to your website. You want to hook your readers with eye catching headlines. These are headlines will make visitors stop and read your blog.
  • Provide unique content that will actually help your readers. Many people are saying the same thing just in a different package. Make your blog and content unique. It’s all right to regurgitate what’s already being said, but set yourself apart from other healing arts professionals with unique content.
  • Incorporate SEO (search engine optimization) into your blog. Research keywords and meta tags for your website. If you don’t understand this, consult with someone (hire me!)
  • Make sure to incorporate an RSS Feed on your website so visitors can subscribe to your blog. Invite visitors to sign up for your blog this way they’ll receive the latest information.

Blogging can enhance your website. Many companies are starting to incorporate blogs. Years ago they wouldn’t have thought about putting a blog on a website. Technology moves at a rapid pace. If you don’t keep up, you could lose potential clients and business. More importantly, you miss out on the opportunity to help more people than you already have.

Rebecca

What is stopping you from creating a blog?

Links

Filed Under: Freelance Writing, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: , , , ,

Go Green or Go Out of Business

August 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Going green is not going away anytime soon. With all of the reports on global warming, people are taking measures to do what they can to improve the planet. This may mean dumping small businesses that are not doing their part to conserve and preserve the environment. If you’re not on the going green band wagon, you may want to jump on before you small business is left in the dust!

Small business owners who don’t take advantage of the going green phenomenon can be left out in the cold. Consumers are becoming more aware of environment and conservation efforts; therefore, they’re looking to businesses to clean up their act. If not, they’ll be tempted to shop at a competitor.

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Small businesses going green can actually increase their profits. Implementing an electronic billing system will decrease the amount of trees that are cut down and the amount you spend on sending out invoices, postage, envelopes, and everything else that goes with a paper invoice.

Ways to Green Your Business

  • Buy office products and equipment that have the “Energy Star” logo. For example, energy saving light bulbs can save you money on electricity. The cost for these products is getting more reasonable;
  • Clean you office with green products. Soaps, hand soap, detergents, and dish soaps are becoming more environmentally friendly. These products will reduce the amount of pollutants in streams and rivers;
  • Become a paperless office. Use email to send reports. Print emails that you must keep for your records. Only print one copy of a report and send it to everyone that needs to see it. Proofread on the screen (might be difficult for some writers) and print less drafts and letters;
  • Recycle paper products such as magazines, newspapers, printer and copier paper, and paper and plastic bags. Recycling will reduce the amount of waste in landfills and save natural resources;
  • Allow some employees such as copy writers and graphic designer to telecommute from home (either on a full-time or part-time basis). It’s been proven that employees will more likely be more productive from home than in the office. Companies and employees save on gasoline consumption along with preserving air quality and road maintenance;
  • Recycle old computer equipment. Dell and HP have implemented “asset recycling” programs; they take back your old equipment when you purchase new computer equipment. Staples and Office Depot offer e-waste recycling programs;
  • Ask landscapers and lawn treatment companies if they use green products. Lawn treatment chemicals are becoming more green friendly because the cost is about the same in the long run;
  • Get educated about going green. Resources are available to help small businesses find ways to become “greener” companies.

Small businesses that don’t choose to go green may slowly go out of business. Eventually consumers will become inundated with advertisement and information about “green living” that they’ll expect businesses to change their ways. If not, you could watch your dollars go out the window to your competitors down the street.

Savvy Writer Rebecca

What are you doing to “go green” with your small business?

Filed Under: Clients, Overcoming Obstacles, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: ,

Travel and Tourism Promotion Boosts The Bottom Line

August 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment

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I recently drove to Northern California; the East Bay and South Bay areas of San Francisco. Don’t ask me why I chose to drive 12 hours instead of boarding a plane. It was a grueling drive because I was the only driver. I think I’m done with road trips for some time. I did contribute to the economy by spending most of my money on gas!

What surprised me about my visit to Northern California is the lack of travel and tourism promotion. I stayed at an independent hotel and they had no travel information. I looked around the lobby and front desk, but couldn’t find any. I thought this was odd since it was not a BIG hotel chain. They did offer free WiFi and provided a computer and printer in the lobby for guests. Still, it would have been nice to have some travel brochures that provided me with information about the area.

Small businesses within the travel and tourism industry can benefit from advertising and promotion. If you own a bed and breakfast, independent hotel, spa and salon, or restaurant, make sure to have promotional material readily available for guests. It’s a good idea to have a couple of travel brochures about the area as well.

If you want travelers to spend money in your community, you’ve got to help them out. Some travelers like to “fly by the seat of their pants” (I sometimes do) and don’t plan every little detail when they travel. How will they know what historic sites to visit? Where will they dine and shop? How can they improve your area’s economic situation if they don’t know what to do or where to go? This translates to lost dollars for your community.

Of course, I was in the area known as Silicon Valley. Maybe the area doesn’t need any improvement to its bottom line because the techie companies are “pumping cash” into the local economy.

Travel and tourism promotion along with great customer service can improve the bottom line of a small business. Promoting your business will ensure that travelers come back to your establishment. Have plenty of brochures at the front desk or in the lobby. When it’s time to check out, travelers can take a brochure with them. Remember, word-of-mouth is still a viable means of advertising.

Savvy Writer Rebecca

How do you promote your business to travelers?

Filed Under: Clients, Tips and Tricks, Travel Writing Tagged With: ,
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