The Confident Copywriter

Posts Tagged ‘professional writer’

If you’ve been trying to get in on the conversation on Facebook or Twitter, but you’re left feeling like a wallflower at the prom, welcome to the club.

Social media is no fad (as many once thought). It’s here to stay, and must be integrated into any current or future marketing plan…yes, even for copywriters. Especially for copywriters! You don’t have to become an addict; just proficient enough to use and benefit from these revolutionary marketing tools.

Social media is a proactive opportunity to be in the right place at the right time…when someone needs YOU.

Think of it like this: Your neighbor invites you next door for a party. As you walk in the door, you see hundreds of other guests. They are clustered around in groups, heads together, talking quietly about something seemingly important. You murmur hello and scurry to find the host. You ask her, “What’s everyone buzzing about?” She responds, “Everyone in that room is a business owner. They all have the same problem…finding a qualified, professional writer. That’s why I invited you!”

I want to go to that party!

Social media networking offers the unprecedented opportunity for one lone person to begin personal and professional friendships…which lead to provocative threads of conversation….which lead to creating resources and individual networks…which lead to in-depth exchanges…that eventually lead to building off- and online communities…which can achieve big goals: increased profits, an impact on the greater good, worldwide attention for your favorite cause, etc…the likes of which has never before been available without a huge advertising budget.

When combined with other hot tools, like podcasts, videos, ‘meetups’, or a newsletter, the results can be even more astounding.

The value of social media is not profits. I can hear you analytical types right now, wondering how ROI can be measured from these efforts. The value of social media is “goodwill”…and the camaraderie that, since the dawn of man, has formed the real foundation for success. The profits come later.

Social media is the golf course of the 21st century. And you never get rained out.

If you don’t really know why your job board Profile and Portfolio are important, we’ve got work to do.

Your Profile describes who you are, where your talents lie, and what you bring to the table. In other words, why the buyer should hire you. There are a wide variety of styles evident in the Profiles. Some people post their resumes. Some give a long-winded explanation of everything they’ve done professionally. Some try to write ‘creative’ descriptions.

For those who even bother to post a Profile, of course.

Why is the Profile so important? The Internet, Elance and your freelance work occur in a virtual vacuum. No one can see you. No one can come to your office or meet you for coffee to size you up. There are no verbal or visual cues to help the buyer decide if he or she ‘likes’ you and wants to do business with you.

Truth be told, no one can be 100% sure you’re even who you say you are.

Certainly there’s an implication of professionalism. But from the buyer’s point of view, you could be anybody. So it’s extremely important to use every tool at your disposal to establish yourself as a real person… a professional writer… a dependable freelancer who will really do the work for which you have been paid.

The best way is through your Profile, which allows you to:

• toot your own horn
• provide alternate contact options (to prove you’re really real and available)
• post your history/resume (although I don’t recommend doing this…exactly)
• convince the buyer you’re the best choice
• assure the buyer that you can get the job done as promised
• highlight your writing abilities through your self-description

Most people have no idea what to write in their Profile, and this is the main reason they ignore it. The answer? Tell the truth, but do it with enough bravado that you don’t look like a complete and total newbie. And for heaven’s sake, don’t say you’re a newbie! If you’ve written in the past, whether for pay or for free, you’re NOT new to writing. You’re only new to the job board.

Your Profile really has nothing to do with you and everything to do with the client. Concentrate on talking about what you’re going to do for the client. Take the focus off ‘me, me’ and make the client feel secure that you can do the job.

Avoid sentences like, “While I’ve never written about the mating habits of the blue-nosed buggaboo, I feel confident I can do a great job for you.” Don’t tell the buyer what you haven’t done (unless they ask you directly). Tell them what you have done and what you can do… for them
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