How Long Should an E-Newsletter be?

How long should an e-newsletter be? It depends on what your purpose is.

If your purpose is to use a newsletter to grab the reader's attention and then have them click through to your site for additional information, then shorter is probably better. Keep in mind, however, that there are a vast number of marketers doing just this, so your newsletter may soon be perceived as just one more piece of email clutter.

If your purpose is to build a loyal and growing base of readers, go for something a little longer. Put the value within the newsletter itself. Longer newsletters that contain useful information and are well written often build a large and loyal readership. If you have one of those newsletters, congratulations. And, if you plan on writing a newsletter like this, good for you but be patient, it takes time.

Direct Mail Copywriting Help, Tips and Support

Being a freelance copywriter is often a very solitary occupation. This can be very hard you when you are starting out—particularly when you are learning your craft. Enrolling in a freelance writing course can help.

Through most freelance writing courses you will receive constant feedback during and after the course. There are forums where students can ask questions and post comments within a community of other students.

Talking about your craft and perfecting it with the help of teachers and peers can help take the loneliness out of the occupation.

10 Ways to Make a 6-Figure Income as a Freelance Writer

In this article Bob Bly outlines his top ten tips to help freelance writers realize their dreams. (Bob earns over $500,000 a year as a freelance writer.) Here are his top 5 tips:

1. Get serious about making money.

2. Have a daily revenue goal.

3. Value your time.

4. Increase your personal productivity.

5. Outsource.

A Great Way to Promote Your Newsletter

One of the best and fastest ways to grown your list of newsletter subscribers is through a process called co-registration.

How does it work? You agree with other newsletters publishers to promote their newsletters if they promote yours. The process is simple...you just invite people to sign up for their newsletters on your own sign-up thank-you page. And they do the same for you.

If you have done some reading on newsletter writing, you will be able to create a compelling and successful weekly or monthly marketing tool. Make sure the information is currant and user friendly and your subscriptions will rise exponentially.

Break up the Content on Your Web Pages

It is harder to read text on a monitor than it is to read it on paper—be aware of that. While you might write a 150-word paragraph for print (and it would be fine) don't do the same online or the paragraph will look daunting. It will look like hard work and will strain your visitors' eyes. Break that block up into three or more paragraphs. Make the text on your pages appear to be easy to read.

It's not just about taking some print text and then breaking it up into smaller paragraphs. Do that, and your text won't read naturally, it won't flow. When writing for the web, you need to write in a way that breaks naturally into shorter sentences and paragraphs.

62 Freelance Writers Questions Answered

One of the disadvantages of being a freelance writer is that you work in isolation and may often find yourself struggling with issues that other writers have already resolved. Try obtaining the wisdom that these writers have to offer. How do you tap into the knowledge of other writers? Here are a few ways:

• Join writers' forums (you can find these groups on any search engine)
• Sign up for newsletters aimed at writers and copywriters
• Find books and courses that include plenty of feedback from working writers

Learning other writers' questions and answers about freelance writing can help you gain valuable insight. Utilize your peers.

How Much Do Copywriters Earn?

Interestingly, it is not necessarily the best copywriters who earn the most. It is the good copywriters who really know how to market their services well. Freelance copywriters can earn from $30,000 to $300,000 a year and over. The figure you earn will depend on a number of factors, including:

• How much experience do you have?
• How good are you ate marketing your services?
• What rates do you charge?

One essential resource when trying to estimate how much you should be earning each year, and how much you should charge per hour or per job is Chris Marlow's 2005 Freelance Copywriter Fee & Compensation Survey.

This survey tells you how much freelance copywriters earn in a year, how they estimate for their work, and how much they charge for a variety of different writing jobs both offline and on the web.

Your Mobile Office

Many freelance writers and copywriters enjoy the freedom of working from home and on the go. Do you have your mobile office set up so you can run your business efficiently from wherever you are? Can you send and receive faxes, collect phone messages, share information and updates, back up your work and keep in touch...wherever you are?

If you truly want to enjoy the freedom of being mobile, and work from anywhere, you need to pay attention to the fundamental communication and technology needs of seamlessly running your office while away from home or the office. Freelance writing jobs are out there waiting for you, but you need to be readily available to stay ahead of the competition. Here are just some of the factors to consider:

• Selecting the best laptop computer
• Phones, messaging and fax services
• Web services to manage your time, communications and accounting
• Internet connectivity options
• Fax-to-email services

The "Agora Model" for Online Business Success

Online businesses have tried all kinds of different business models in their search for success online.

Agora Publishing, instead of following typical online strategies, has instead followed a traditional, offline direct marketing approach. They don't stress over search engine optimization, but instead focus attention on building a house list of people they email to a size of over one million names.

Case studies have proved this method effective (one model produced over $100 million in sales last year alone).

Resume Writing & Travel Writing for Extra Income

• Does your writing work keep you busy every hour of your working day?
• Do you have some down time?
• Are there times you could be earning money, but don't have a paying job to work on?

If you want a source of excellent additional income, think about resume writing or helping people learn how to write a resume for money. The majority of people in the world need to work to make a living. Having a good resume is an essential part of getting a job and people are willing to pay top dollar to get well-written ones. Why shouldn't you get those top dollars? You'll be making more money and picking up valuable experience along the way.

Understand the Purpose of Your Web Site

The single most important thing you need to get clear in your head before you begin to write is : What are you trying to achieve with your site? Ask yourself the following questions:

• What are you trying to achieve with your site?
• Are you trying to make a sale?
• Are you trying to get people to sign up for your newsletter?
• Do you want people to bookmark your site and come back again and again?
• Do you want people to register in some way?

If you aren't clear about the purpose of your site, everything within it will be confused. It will meander around and your visitors will sense this. They will catch the scent of any ambiguity. Make it clear. Make it simple.

*Once you are clear about purpose, you will start copywriting with greater clarity.

Use a Hypnosis Program to Achieve More

You are getting very sleepy…

When you work for yourself, it's critical that you make the most productive use of your time possible. How can you do that? There are obviously a number of different approaches to take. However, hypnosis programs have been known to make profound differences on productivity levels, especially for freelance writers who need to improve their self esteem and core inner strength.

If you want to achieve peak performance when you sit down to work, or even if you suffer from writer's block, you might want to find out more about this self hypnosis program.

How to Get More High-Paying Clients

Being a successful freelance writer means more than simply being able to write well and deliver on time—you also need to have the marketing and promotional skills to attract high-paying clients and jobs. The number one weakness of most freelance writers is poor promotional skills.

If you get enough work and are happy with that, then you don't have a problem. However, if you have bigger ambitions and want to build a successful business that earns you a good six figures each year, get all of the advice that you can from people who know. Try talking to successful copywriters and signing up for programs (like the one offered by Bob Bly). Those with experience and success can help lead you down the path that they took.

Break up Your Web Content with Subheads

The use of subheads is a great way to break up large bodies of content online, however, make the subheads useful. Think of your reader scanning the page, looking for the specific piece of content he or she is interested in. Help them find that information with informative, useful subheads.

Remember, not everyone will read the whole page. Many will scan down, looking for one particular piece of content. When writing for the web, help people find it with strong subheads.

Online Retirement Opportunity - Freelance Copywriting

It is becoming painfully clear that our pensions alone won't give us the glorious retirement years we have been hoping for. In fact, millions of Americans, Canadians, and Europeans are now facing a retirement with no luxuries at all—just the bare minimum.

Is there a way to make things better? Absolutely. The key is to start saving with a second income, not a second job. Try a part-time source of income that will build you a nice nest egg before you retire, and will continue to generate income after you retire.

One of the very best second income generators is freelance copywriting. It doesn't matter where you are, what age you are or how 'educated' you are. Anyone with basic writing skills can do it. You just need to take the right copywriting course to get you started.

When Writing for the Internet, You are Accountable

When you write for print you can make all kinds of claims, you can even stretch the truth. You shouldn't, but you can. Write like that online and you'll be found out and punished in a heartbeat. The web is a shared space. All your readers, customers, and prospects are connected.

If they have an experience they don't like, they will share their displeasure through forums, lists and shopping comparison sites.

*This approach to writing online is essential when writing for the internet.

Keep your web content relevant

A web site is not the place to devote huge blocks of text to saying how wonderful you and your company are. It is not best used as a promotional medium, like a press ad or brochure. Visitors come to your web site not so much to learn about you, but to find something that THEY want.

*Writing for the web means writing with a different attitude, addressing different priorities. Talk less about yourself, and more about whatever it is your visitors are interested in.

A Rule for Copywriters: Know WHAT to Say

All too often online writers try to be too ‘clever' and try to be copywriters in the offline tradition. Your web site is not an ad! It is a place where you help people find what they want. In other words, don't stress about ‘how' to say something.

Focus on ‘what' to say when writing for the web. Be clear about the purpose of your web site and each page within it and understand what it is your visitors want. Only then are you in a position to write a clear, simple headline or body of text that says exactly the right thing.

The Words are the Most Important Element

In the early days of the internet, too many people thought that the emphasis should be placed on design and techno-gimmicks—they made a mistake. When people first arrive at your site, it's the text that draws their attention. They read the words, the copy. They want to find out what your site is about, whether it meets their expectations.

*Keep text in mind when writing for the internet.

Writing for the Internet: Use active verbs in your sales copy

This is an oldie, but a goodie (and it applies both to offline and online copy). If you want someone to do something, use an active verb at the beginning of key headings, paragraphs, links, and calls to action. Here are some popular examples:

• Sign up now.
• Download your free white paper.
• Subscribe here.
• Buy now.
• Choose from these three items.
• Find out how to get started.
• Discover the secret to...
• Solve your problems with...
• Start here.

One of the secrets to effectively writing for the internet is to spell things out for people. Unfortunately, not everyone can figure out how to do simple things without directions. Be assertive and explicative and you are likely to see more results.

Writing Press Releases: Don´t Be Cute

Press releases are not the right place to get all cute and personal with the editor or journalist to whom you are writing. Be careful that the language you use in your press release isn't too casual or chummy.

Keep in mind that successful editors and journalists have likely seen and read it all, and your efforts to be their buddy will likely fall on deaf ears. Also remember that they are looking for material they can easily transform into content for their publication (your tone should match as closely as possible to the tone of the publication to which you are writing).

Make it Easy for People to Buy Online

Want to know one of the key secrets of writing for the internet? Whatever you are ‘selling', even if it is a free newsletter, make it easy. If you want to get a decent conversion rate, you need to make it really simple for people to complete the task (this means that the process shouldn't require long explanations or lines of small print). If you find it hard to write the copy in a very simple way, then maybe the process itself is just too complicated.

If the process takes five clicks, see if you can rebuild it so that it takes just three, if it takes three, maybe you can do it in two, and so on. Once you have simplified the process, make you copy very clear, very simple...and make it sell.

How to Create and Edit RSS Feeds

The technology of RSS feeds is still at its early stages. However, more and more sites are adding those orange RSS buttons to their sites. What does it mean? It means people can subscribe to the latest content on your site and view that content through their own Feed Readers or through a web based feed reading service. It's a great way to alert people to new content, and get them back to your site.

How can you create, edit, update and upload your own RSS feeds? There are many services available. Browse around online and find one that's right for you (many even offer free trial periods so you can test them out).