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CREATIVE SMALL BIZ

Turn your talent into a flourishing business.

For freelance writers and other creative professionals.

Published monthly, on the 15th of each month.

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Issue 108: August 15, 2005

Read this issue online at:

http://www.digital-e.biz/newsletter.html


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*** BLOG ***

WRITING NEWS, VIEWS AND TIPS:

Angela Booth's Writing Blog:

http://copywriter.typepad.com/copywriter/


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(For instructions to join or leave the ezine's mailing list,
scroll to the end.)
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In this issue:

THIS MONTH'S NEWS AND VIEWS

* Editorial: Start Your New Business TODAY

* Article: Top 7 Tips for New Businesses

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=> Editorial: Start Your New Business TODAY

You can start your business TODAY.

How? Get a customer.

Yep, that's all there is to starting a business.

I know that you're tempted to rush out and buy business cards and
want to take a course to be able to write a business plan so you
can borrow start-up funds, but that's not what business is.
Business is simple. It's buying and selling.

Your business can't start until you sell something, and the
easiest way to do that is just to do it.

Listen to Greg Gianforte on this SmallBizPod podcast, and get
inspired (you many need to copy and paste this long URL):

http://www.smallbizpod.co.uk/2005/07/smallbizpod-10-show-
notes.html


I'm sure that if you make up your mind, you can start your new
business within the next couple of hours. Call everyone you know,
and sell someone something.

Yes, this applies to writers too.


==> If you're starting a writing business

If you're setting up in business as a writer, the above applies
to you too. You're not a writer until you sell what you write.

This seems fundamental, but you'd be shocked at the number of
people who contact me because they want to start a career as a
writer and don't write. You can't sell what you don't write.

I laid out everything you need to write and sell in the Internet
age in this ebook:

http://www.digital-e.biz/ebook_copywriting_success.html

This month's article below gives you "Top 7 Tips for New
Businesses", but remember, if you haven't started/ sold, start
your business today, and then just keep going. :-)

Have a great month.

Best wishes from Angela

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=> Earn as you learn with Digital-e! <=

Sick of your day job? If you'd rather stay home and write,
Digital-e's email writing courses will help you to become a
professional writer. Write when and where you want. The weekly
payment plans on our e-courses and coaching programs make it an
affordable option to earn as you learn. (You'll have Angela at
your side to cheer you on. :-)) You'll find the part-payment
buttons on the appropriate course pages. Not sure how it works,
or if it's right for you?

Info on Digital-e's courses:

http://www.digital-e.biz/ecourses.html

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=> New coaching program: Write for the Web

With the long-awaited worldwide economic recovery underway, and
companies increasing their Web presence, Web copywriters will be
in huge demand. Get started writing for the Web today.

You can do it. Work from home, work for yourself, and make a
great income. This program offers personalized, fun one-on-one
coaching.

http://www.digital-e.biz/coaching.html


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=> Article: Top 7 Tips for New Businesses

By Mary Ellen Martelli

The marketing decisions you make for your new business are the
most important part of making your business a success. Marketing
is about building a strong presence, name recognition and
credibility through various methods. Here are 7 things you can do
to get a new business off the ground.

All of the time and money you invest in getting your business off
the ground is wasted if you don't make the additional efforts and
expenditures to market effectively. Marketing is the process and
procedures that get your name out to the public. Your advertising
is only a part of marketing. You should have a plan for at least
the first year of operations on a monthly basis. With a new
business, your marketing is about building a presence, name
recognition, status and reputation through a variety methods.

1. Have a Written Business Plan:

Having your business plan in order allows you to see a very clear
path to where you want your business to go. There are many
resources available on the internet to guide you in this process,
but basically, your business plan should include: Business
Description, Key Initiatives and Objectives, Marketing Strategy
and Budget, Business Overview, Location and Facilities,
Description of Products and Services, Industry Overview &
Outlook, Regulatory Issues Related to Your Industry,
Implementation Plan and a Financial Plan.

2. Begin Your Business Branding Immediately:

Have business cards, a logo, letterhead, brochure, signage and
collateral materials professionally designed and printed. It will
be worth the investment as your first steps towards building your
business's image. Steer clear of "do it yourself" products that
can be found in most office supply stores. Although it may seem
cost effective for a new business, the real cost comes in the
toll it will take on your company's image. For more advice on
Business Branding go to:
http://maremaxconsulting.com/brandingtips.html

3. Get a Business Website.

In today's marketplace, a business without a website is like a
house without a front door. If you don't have one, you're missing
out on a very big opportunity to drive business directly to you.
Have your website professionally written and designed. Make sure
it is an extension of your advertising and print materials. Your
branding has to extend and flourish on your home page.
Prospective clients should be able to utilize your site for more
information than what is already available to them through your
brochure, print ads, and other collateral materials. Update your
website often and give people a reason to return again and again.

4. Advertise with Consistency.

One of the most powerful keys to successful advertising is
frequency. A smaller ad that you run 10 times will generate much
more presence that an ad 10 times the size you can only afford to
run once. Start with local or regional newspapers or magazines,
and set up an ongoing plan that will allow you to build your
presence. Your advertising message has to speak to the consumer's
needs and most importantly give them a solid reason to call you.
But, more importantly, the message needs to in front of them on a
regular, consistent basis. Always be sure to use your web address
in all of your advertising.

5. Get Your Business Publicized:

. Send a press release to all local newspapers and magazines in
your area announcing the opening of your new business, plans for
Grand Opening, and services offered. Keep your press releases
short, double-spaced, and error free. . Write letters to the
editor and/or send out press releases on a consistent basis that
include a professional photo that is captioned (readers are much
more likely to view a photo if there is a caption to read). If
you, as a business owner, do something new, such as receive an
award, appoint someone in your business to a new position, join a
board or professional organization or offer your services to a
non-profit organization, be sure to get all the mileage you can
out of it by using it as a tool to communicate with the press. If
you can plan your marketing budget to include a few
professionally written and placed press releases, especially in
the beginning, all the better. . Also consider writing and
submitting articles to editors of related business journals and
local publications. They are often looking for articles from
local businesses. You'll get your name print, as a credible
source, which has a lot more standing than any ad you can
purchase in the same publication.


6. Network - Network - Network!

Face-to-face networking is one of your best sources of
advertising. Be sure to take advantage of every connection
opportunity you can. Getting involved will get your business name
out there. Become a member of the Chamber of Commerce and be an
active participant. Joining a committee, going to meetings,
networking breakfasts, and special events extends the
opportunities to interact with prospective clients. Volunteer to
join a local arts council, charity board, or school board. You're
not only servicing your community, you're putting yourself and
your business out in front of the public.

7. Assess and Redirect Along the Way.

Just because you have a written business plan doesn't mean you
should shut your eyes to anything but what you have written.
After several months of being fully operational, if you find your
business is taking off in one area more then another, you may
have stumbled onto a genuine need that wasn't being filled. Go
with it! Assess and redirect. If you find your newspaper
advertising is pulling more than your direct mail campaign it may
be time to adjust the advertising budget. First, be very sure
you're not being too quick to judge. Some areas of business take
longer to cultivate than others. Just as some advertising will
adjust according to season, campaign, and frequency.

Mary Ellen Martelli is President of MareMax Consulting, a full
service Advertising, Marketing & Website Consulting firm, located
in Southern New Jersey. You can reach her at her website:
http://maremaxconsulting.com/Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/

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=> HOLIDAY WRITING PROFITS START NOW

Looking forward to Christmas? If you're a writer, you're readying
your Christmas lists --- NOW.

No, not your lists of cards and gifts. :-)

You're making lists of all the material you'll be publishing over
the holidays. You're sending out magazine article proposals, and
shorties and essays for holiday/ New Year publication.

Most monthly magazines have a six to eight-month lead time, so
you're actually a bit late. You need get started NOW, to have the
checks rolling in in the coming months.

It's your choice of how you'll spend the holiday season. Just
think, you could be taking a holiday in the sun or in the snow,
plus buying your children and spouse (and yourself) the gifts you
want and need. A new big-screen TV. A stack of 50 DVDs. A new
notebook computer.

If you want to get started NOW writing and selling, I recommend
Pro Write's "Write and Sell Shorties --- mini essays and
articles, product reviews and more".

Here's an excerpt:

>>>>

=> Ten minutes equals $100

What would you think if someone approached you, and whispered:
"Psst! Got ten minutes? Want to make a hundred bucks?"

No, it's not what you think. :-) Let's add "writing" to the last
sentence. Yes, you can easily make a hundred dollars in ten
minutes.

Lest you think I've completely lost it, Reader's Digest pays MORE
than a hundred dollars for a hundred words, which will take you
much less than ten minutes to type. Reader's Digest at
http://www.rd.com/ pays $300 for a short snippet of around a
hundred words. That's three dollars a word for around ten minutes
of work. Not bad.

Reader's Digest is admittedly at the top of the Shorties tree.
Most markets which accept shorties (also known as news items,
briefs, and fillers) pay around what Yoga Journal at
http://www.yogajournal.com/ pays. For its brief yoga and healthy
living news items, events write-ups, and fillers, consisting of
150 to 600 words, YJ pays $50-150.

Yes, it's possible to make large sums of money tapping the
keyboard for short periods of time, and you don't need to be a
talented wordsmith, you just need to be aware and well-organized.
Many freelance writers make a career of writing short material
for publications. They make as much money and more as writers in
other fields. If you'd like to join this group of productive and
well-paid writers, read on.

You'll find publications which buy Shorties everywhere.

>>>

Start writing today for your best holiday season ever in
2004/2005. Join Pro Write for the " Write and Sell Shorties" and
other writing workshops. You CAN write, and sell.

Enjoy. See you on Pro Write.

http://www.prowrite.biz/

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