Business History Books » Business Consulting » Do you have the same problems?
Do you have the same problems?
Question:
> Determine which publications, etc. bring you the most valuable information > time and time again. Focus your energies on these sources and let others go > in the recycle bin. > Hope this helps,
Yes, it does, thank you! I’ll have to dig out some resources for the UK and a few other countries, as both newsletters go to people in different countries. Sara
Response:
>Marketing managers may complain about the dearth of good copywriters, but >half the problem, in my opinion, is their unwillingness to pay the freight. >Top copywriters in the Northeast US earn $75.00 to $100.00 per hour and up,
Another reason marketing managers complain about the dearth of good copywriters is their inability to explain to writers what they want. I’m a marketing writer for a healthcare company and a good portion of my job is not writing great copy, but reading the minds of executives. But I suppose mindreading is part of great copywriting. John Romberger
Response:
> > 1) Can’t find good freelance copywriters > There are several places to find some on the net: > 1. misc.writing newsgroup > 2. http://www.freelancers.com/helpwanted.html > 3. http://www.usprnet.com/ > 4. http://www.iabc.com/messages/job_postings/1.html
You forgot one… misc.business.marketing.moderated <G> If I recall correctly, several of the regulars here, including the inestimable Mr Block, are engaged in just that line of endeavor. Maybe he should get his subscribers a copy of Free Agent and point them here. I’ll bet they could get some help with that niggling "results" thingy too. };-}=- Paul — Netrepreneur’s Digest http://www.soos.com/$tree/ Get a Free Postcard of Your Web Site (and other free offers) at http://www.soos.com/$tree/forum.html
Response:
Snip > 1) Can’t find good freelance copywriters > There are several places to find some on the net: > 1. misc.writing newsgroup > 2. http://www.freelancers.com/helpwanted.html > 3. http://www.usprnet.com/ > 4. http://www.iabc.com/messages/job_postings/1.html > Additionally, most local chapters of Public Relations Society of America > (PRSA) and International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) have > job lines to which employers can post listings.
Thanks very much for the web sites. The third is particularly useful. Keith Serry
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > : Marketing managers may complain about the dearth of good copywriters, but > : half the problem, in my opinion, is their unwillingness to pay the freight. > : Top copywriters in the Northeast US earn $75.00 to $100.00 per hour and up, > : based on their ability to deliver marketplace results. I have been > : freelancing successfully for six years, but still find many prospective > : clients balking at my fees. > : > : Despite that, I’m able to attract enough customers who understand what > : they’re paying for to make a comfortable living. > If I may ask, how do you manage to get the customers "who understand > what they’re paying for"? I ask because this was a problem for me in my > resume-writing business (now on hiatus because of school). Did you have > to use some persuasion or was it a case of customers assuming they’d get > good service for what they’re expected to pay?
I’d like the answer to this, too. We face the same thing in video production. Since everyone and his dog has a camcorder, people seem to feel that they can produce an effective video themselves despite inferior equipment and lack of experience. A branch of a Big Six consulting firm approached me about doing 20 minutes worth of meeting openers for an executive meeting. The amount they’d budgeted: $250. This kind of thing generally starts at $1,200-1,500 per finished minute! No, I didn’t take the job. The national HQ of an international firm wanted a training video done. They took bids from local producers and, the last I heard, planned to have the camerawork done by "some guy from supply!" (At this point, Mr. Holmes starts to froth at the mouth. The medical attendants, on alert for such a problem, shoot a tranquilizer dart into his thigh. A few minutes later, he resumes in a much calmer, somewhat groggy way.) I wish I had a solution for you. My approach has been to abandon the lower end of the market that relies so heavily on price. Funny how, when I raised the fee, there was no resistance. People who create websites probably face the same challenge, given the number of "do-it-yourself" site-building programs out there? How do you folks help people see that your expertise justifies the extra investment? — Steve Holmes, Steve Holmes Productions (helping companies communicate through award-winning video) Iowa City, IA, USA http://www.shpvideo.com (to reply, remove my feelings about spam in the above address)
Response:
: Marketing managers may complain about the dearth of good copywriters, but : half the problem, in my opinion, is their unwillingness to pay the freight. : Top copywriters in the Northeast US earn $75.00 to $100.00 per hour and up, : based on their ability to deliver marketplace results. I have been : freelancing successfully for six years, but still find many prospective : clients balking at my fees. : : Despite that, I’m able to attract enough customers who understand what : they’re paying for to make a comfortable living. If I may ask, how do you manage to get the customers "who understand what they’re paying for"? I ask because this was a problem for me in my resume-writing business (now on hiatus because of school). Did you have to use some persuasion or was it a case of customers assuming they’d get good service for what they’re expected to pay? The MacNut
Response:
Marketing managers may complain about the dearth of good copywriters, but half the problem, in my opinion, is their unwillingness to pay the freight. Top copywriters in the Northeast US earn $75.00 to $100.00 per hour and up, based on their ability to deliver marketplace results. I have been freelancing successfully for six years, but still find many prospective clients balking at my fees. Despite that, I’m able to attract enough customers who understand what they’re paying for to make a comfortable living. Gordon Beck Author, "Write on the Money!, the career switcher’s guide to becoming a $75,000 a year freelance business writer." http://members.aol.com/careertip
Response:
> I publish two newsletters, and I’ve just finished looking at the results > of my annual survey from them. The newsletters go to marketing directors > across the world, and I’d like to know if you have the same problems they > have identified. The top five my subscribers listed in no particular > order were: > 1) Can’t find good freelance copywriters
There are several places to find some on the net: 1. misc.writing newsgroup 2. http://www.freelancers.com/helpwanted.html 3. http://www.usprnet.com/ 4. http://www.iabc.com/messages/job_postings/1.html Additionally, most local chapters of Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) have job lines to which employers can post listings. > 2) Lack of time for writing marketing materials
This could be outsourced. > 3) Not getting expected results from marketing both off and on-line
Who are your targets? What are your goals? What are you achieving? What would you like to be achieving that’s different? What are some tactics you can employ to get the desired result? > 4) Ad and marketing agencies charging too much for doing too little
Hold them accountable. What exactly will they produce? What is satisfactory for both parties? How do you determine if a campaign is successful? > 5) Info overload
Determine which publications, etc. bring you the most valuable information time and time again. Focus your energies on these sources and let others go in the recycle bin. Hope this helps, Terri Firebaugh — Firebaugh Communications http://www.firepub.com Public Relations Author/Book Tours High-Tech Health/Fitness Womens Issues Small Business
Response:
> I publish two newsletters, and I’ve just finished looking at the results > of my annual survey from them. The newsletters go to marketing directors > across the world, and I’d like to know if you have the same problems they > have identified. The top five my subscribers listed in no particular > order were: > 1) Can’t find good freelance copywriters > 2) Lack of time for writing marketing materials > 3) Not getting expected results from marketing both off and on-line > 4) Ad and marketing agencies charging too much for doing too little > 5) Info overload > I’m interested to know your views, …
You can’t win You can not quit You can’t breakeven I wish you good luck!
Response:
1) Not much problem in the Chicago area finding freelancers to write copy; but the best people usually are the busiest and command more money than the average. 2) Lack of time for doing almost anything. Too much demand for "new business development" and not enough time for taking care of current clients. 3) On-line marketing seems, no pun intended, hit and miss. Many Web sites are getting good numbers of hits but it’s hard to track the effectiveness unless the visitors specifically makes a request for additional information through the home page e-mail links or responds via tollfree phone number and is asked by the operator how they learned about the business. Still, no business should be without an on-line presence. 4) Fees paid should be judged by results obtained. Just like those higher priced freelance writers, if they deliver expected or better than expected results and deliver on time, then you pay more for the service and quality. Does Harrod’s charge too much? It’s a matter of value received and perception of value received.. 5) Info overload. I look at it another way. Knowledge is power and the more sources of information the better the chances to find useful data, sales leads, concepts, and so on. But just like the response to item #2, there’s not enough time to sort through everything. Thank goodness for on-line search engines.
Response:
Hello! I publish two newsletters, and I’ve just finished looking at the results of my annual survey from them. The newsletters go to marketing directors across the world, and I’d like to know if you have the same problems they have identified. The top five my subscribers listed in no particular order were: 1) Can’t find good freelance copywriters 2) Lack of time for writing marketing materials 3) Not getting expected results from marketing both off and on-line 4) Ad and marketing agencies charging too much for doing too little 5) Info overload I’m interested to know your views, so that I can compare them with those of my subscribers. By way of a bribe, if you would like a copy of our report on Internet Marketing Solutions, drop me a line. It’s a print document rather than an e-mail one, so if you’re outside the UK, it might take a few days to get to you. It used to be an e-mail thing, until some people ripped off the contents, and made out they had written them. Such is life. Thanks in advance, Sara Edlington Editor and Information Publisher