Picked up Some New Clients Today at a Networking Event

Woo hoo!  I picked up a couple (perhaps three) new clients today at a networking event at Forza in Lakewood.  And at least twelve of today's attendees agreed to post my copywriting flyer (the one with tabs; I sent them to some of you) where they have businesses so I can get some local clients.  (All of my clients currently are virtual clients in other states and countries.)  I will pay the flyer posters 10% of any project I get through their efforts if they put their names and phone numbers on the back of each of the tabs so I know who refers new customers to me.  The same goes for any of you reading this who are willing to post flyers for me. I've already paid Matt Leger $25 for a $250 project he referred to me, so he can confirm the veracity of this offer.

I also am getting a TV-quality static ad designed by a professional, one that can be posted at Forza for very little per month. I'm looking forward to having that happen just after the first of the year. If you'd like the same deal, contact shon@defaction.com. Tell him I sent you.  He's really good.  I've seen his stuff.  I'll attach what he did for me right here:

A lot of the people at the network meeting have had him do their business cards and other printed materials. 

2012 is going to be my breakthrough year; I can feel it.  I'm going to put myself out there in a big way (locally) and see if I can get off the online freelance websites for good this year. They are catering to people who don't care if they get great material as long as it's cheap.  I don't do "cheap". What I write works. It resonates and converts. That's what matters most to reputable businesses.

Some start-ups don't know what good copywriting is or what it costs, so they make mistakes and get burned by bottom feeders. THEN they come to me.  I listen and counsel and salve wounds; then I explain the obvious: you get what you pay for. It's as true in copywriting as it is in any other industry.  Pay low, expect to have to replace it sooner. (In the case of copywriting, expect to replace it almost immediately unless you want to cripple your business!)

I re-wrote an insurance agent's site a couple years ago. I usually don't do insurance sites but I felt so sorry for this fellow, I just had to. He got ripped off royally by an off-shore ESL (really crappy) writer; I couldn't even understand many of the sentences that were on his website, they were so poorly written.  It was just pathetic.  He didn't know what to do. I did.  And I did it.  He practically genuflected (virtually).  He was SOOOO appreciative.  I think it's one of the few times I got a bonus on a project; he was simply amazed by the difference. It wasn't easy making a silk purse out of that particular sow's ear, but it felt great to do it.