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March 26, 2014 by Donna Thornton Leave a Comment

Improve your Personal Life with a New Career | Inspired Action

For some of us, improving our personal life is finding a new career. If we are working in what we love to do, that rubs off on the way we view things and gives us a better perspective on life. You have to consider the many ways of success we can practice to become a well-rounded person finding his or her dream job. You have to believe in you and what you want. Make it your reality.

With a solid plan, whether to change jobs or start a new business can become a reality. You should never let the fear of change stop you from achieving something that you really want. New is overwhelming for most of us, but if you take time out to research and do proper networking, you’ll find the transition will be less stressful.

Find a career you love

Whether your in mid career, a student, new to the work force, or an entrepreneur it gets difficult to gain satisfaction and accomplishing your full potential when your stuck doing something you hate. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, so why not do something that you like doing. Keep in mind that doing what you like is often complicated but if you would like to improve your personal life here are a few steps:

Decide why you want to change careers

It is important to know whether you are moving away from something or moving towards something. It is difficult to identify your ideal job when you are overwhelmed by negative issues from your current situation. If you are making a career change, keep all of your options open to make a fresh start.

What are your goals?

Write down a normal aspect of a normal day. Outline what it is exactly that you want. Such as what is your work schedule, the positions and tasks, what is your ideal salary to live comfortably, and are you an entrepreneur at heart. Continuously write these goals in a notebook or journal.

What are your interests?

Your interests do not mean this should be your new job or business, it is just the beginning of self exploration. The key is to identify what truly interests you and how you can incorporate those interests into the work field. What are your favorite hobbies? What books do you like to read? What sections of the newspaper to you turn to first? What are your favorite television shows? After keeping track of this for a week, you should discover a trend that should narrow down to two or three topics of interests.

What are your abilities?

Write down a list of abilities that come easily to you. By doing something that your good at will not only greater your chance of succeeding, but give a sense of satisfaction to your work. You will find that you have hidden abilities. Once you pull up those hidden abilities use them, see how you like them and put them to good use.

Many people walk through life failing to realize who they are and what they are capable of doing to its entirety. Do not be afraid to learn who you are. It will take some time. It took me over thirty years, but it was well worth the trial and errors made along the way to learn who I am.

January 2, 2014 by Donna Thornton Leave a Comment

Copywriters: 5 Critical Mistakes You May Be Making in Your Consulting Business

By Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero

Think you have what it takes to be an consultant or a coach? I wasn’t so sure I knew when I first started in 1999. All I knew was I desperately wanted to work from home to raise my two sons after my divorce. It took a lot of trial and error to get to the stable and profitable business I am running now. There are some things I learned along the way I wish I knew much earlier in the game.

One thing I learned is that writing is a very small part of being a successful entrepreneur. Don’t get me wrong. You DO need to know how to write. But your success depends largely on your savvy as a businessperson. How do I know? Because I’ve played it from both sides of the street. And I didn’t begin to enjoy success until I started doing some very distinct things in my business.

Please let me share with you some of the mistakes I made starting out so you can avoid those pitfalls yourself…and catapult to success much faster than it took me.

Mistake #1: Don’t attract new clients
When I first started out in 1999 I had exactly one client. He kept me very busy…for awhile. Then, without warning, he suddenly shifted his business to 100% offline and began using a copywriter with more experience in that area. I floundered for 10 months before I got back on my feet again from that blow.

Solution: NEVER stop marketing yourself. Even if you have a full practice, don’t stop getting the word out. Write articles and press releases. Do interviews whenever possible. Start an ezine and/or a blog so your name is always out there. Don’t get caught flat-footed.

Mistake #2: Don’t effectively manage your clients
At first I was so grateful to have any clients that I let them call all the shots – regardless of what was in my best interest. It took me a long time to realize every client is not a match for me. Sometimes they were unreasonable in deadlines. Other times they would call me at all hours…including 6 a.m. and even on the weekends. (Until I learned to communicate better and eventually even fired a few clients!) Bottom line is you can never have enough communication.

Solution: Have the client fill out a detailed questionnaire to open up lines of communication or have a long phone interview (which you record). Get a feel for his or her expectations. Add an extra cushion to your deadline. If possible, get a gatekeeper (assistant) to set up a schedule so you can focus on what you do best – writing.

Mistake #3: Poor time management
Eager to please, I often did not give myself enough lead time for an assignment. I’d say, “I’ll do it!” before I looked at the reality of my schedule. So I’d have to pull all-nighters or miss important family events. I was incredibly stressed and not a lot of fun to be around.

Solution: Plan your daily schedule BEFORE you go to bed at night. Turn off email until you’ve made some headway with your copy. And use a kitchen timer to work in increments of 35 minutes (studies show after that frame your mind craves distraction). When the ding goes off, get up, stretch and clear your head.

Mistake #4: Not getting paid enough
Face it…in your business you do a lot more work than most people realize. You have to do deep research in your industry, around your competition, and with your own target market. You have to attract leads. Then you have to write powerful copy that crawls inside the head of the prospect and leads them to a specific action. You should get paid what you are really worth – no exceptions.

Solution: Value yourself enough to get paid what you’re worth.

Mistake #5: Don’t invest in yourself
I have read the classic “Think and Grow Rich” 16 times. Every time I read it, I learn something new. I have watched the motivational movie “The Secret” 6 times to date. I go to seminars (even when I’ve heard the speakers before). Because I learn something new every time. I have a huge marketing library of books, binders, home study courses, CDs, DVDs, MP3s and I listen to them over and over. Again, every time I go through the material, whether it’s new or old, I learn something new.

Successful people in all walks of life invest in themselves. It’s one of the keys that separates them from the less successful. (Trust me, at times it hurt to part with the massive amounts of cash I’ve laid out for this education. But the payoff happens every time. Just do it.)

Solution: If you’re looking to attract more money into your business, start by investing in yourself. Think LONG TERM. As the old adage says, “If you’re not growing, you’re dying.”

Author Resource -> Copywriting guru Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero has been helping entrepreneurs and copywriters get their marketing messages razor sharp since 1999.

Get free access to 5 tips to turn your “blah” sales message into red-hot copy that ROCKS… at RedHotCopy.com

December 26, 2013 by Donna Thornton Leave a Comment

Copywriter Trick Unveiled: How to Write Better Copy Faster | Business Inspiration

By Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero

“Talent alone cannot make a writer. There must be a man behind the book.” Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Goethe

I’m going to share with you a method guaranteed to get your copy razor sharp in a hurry. It’s an old trick I learned in journalism school, and it works great to get those creative juices flowing. Since I’ve been
using it regularly again, I write circles around my former output times. The words are just at my fingertips.

How did I do it? (More importantly, how can you do it too?) Well, you probably already know you must havecuriosity to become a good writer. Take your natural curiosity to the next level and become an avid observer. When you’re driving, look at the car next to you on the road. Pick up a can of beans in the grocery store. Check out your shampoo while in the shower. Notice the colors and smells. What qualities does it have that sets it apart? What would make someone want to buy what you’re looking at?

You’re surrounded with opportunity to sharpen your writing skills. It’s easy.
Here’s how –

Describe appearance of product
Identify Features (look for complementary and contrasting qualities)
Single Out Main Benefit
Create your Benefit Statement or Summary

Let your imagination go. This is only an exercise. If it were a real product, of course you’d do your research. But our goal isn’t to actually sell this copy to a client. It’s designed to open up and free your mind.

THE RULES:

You don’t have to write down your observations. Just practice doing
them. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your writing improves.
Limit yourself to five minutes on each “product.”
Brainstorm. Do NOT edit yourself until you’re done.
Stop on time.

Here’s a case in point. Today, I took Shadow, my border collie/chow mix, on a hike through the mountains. (I should say, he took me. If you’ve ever walked a trotting pony on a leash, you have an idea what it’s like to walk Shadow.) So, while being drug behind my dog, I noticed pretty yellow weeds lining the path. I picked those to represent my “product” and played my copywriting game.

DESCRIBE APPEARANCE: butter-colored spray of petals, braided green stem, burst of color, gently moving with the breeze.

IDENTIFY FEATURES: soothing, calming, appealing color contrast to trees, heaviest around the path as though guiding hikers

SINGLE OUT MAIN BENEFIT: Rejuvenating

BENEFIT STATEMENT: “After hiking with these soothing butter-colored wildflowers lining the trail, you’ll return rejuvenated and ready to face the day.”

Maybe not award-winning copy, but with practice I’m sure I’ll do better on our next walk.

Author Resource -> Copywriting guru Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero has been helping entrepreneurs and copywriters get their marketing messages razor sharp since 1999.

Get free access to 5 tips to turn your “blah” sales message into red-hot copy that ROCKS… at RedHotCopy.com

December 18, 2013 by Donna Thornton Leave a Comment

12 Lessons I Picked Up from the Big Seminar | Business Inspiration

By Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero

“People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a confession of their character.” Ralph Waldo Emerson ~So you just dropped a tidy sum to attend the Big Seminar (or some other three-day event). Now it’s over and you’re exhausted. Your client work is backed up. You have a fistful of business cards to connect with. And your family would like some face time. Time to get back into the swing of life, right? Wrong.

I go to A LOT of seminars. Rubbing shoulders with my colleagues, talking over dinner and debating ourhottest industry issues at a live event is honestly one of my secret weapons to success.

Here’s a checklist of 12 lessons from the Big Seminar you can apply to future events to maximize your momentum:

Collect business cards – Just remember these are not “business cards”. They are “people”. Each card you collect is attached with an obligation to listen to that person and follow up.
Write a note to niggle your noggin – Take a second right then and there to write something on the back of their business card that will remind you of your conversation. Don’t trust yourself to remember. These events can be draining. Just make a note.
Categorize each business card – Take 4 rubber bands and put each card into one of these categories: a) potential client, b) joint venture, c) general and d) stalker/creepy person (hopefully this is a small pile). Piles “a” & “b” should be a priority for you to follow up with when you get home. Pile “c” can take a few days but don’t forget them. And pile “d” you can destroy privately.
Keep a portable notebook or recorder with you – You’re going to get some brilliant ideas. Save them for posterity immediately. Also make sure you make a note of any follow up action you promise. Personally, I keep a spiral bound index card booklet with me. The paper is firm enough it doesn’t rip. Then I can detach them at home and sort out my thoughts. Some people actually keep a small digital recorder around their necks. Great idea!
Take lots of pictures and upload online – I have the tiniest little Casio Exilim camera that’s no bigger than a credit card. And I take a ton of pictures. People LOVE seeing them later. Be sure to get their name, business and website (A lot of folks have more than one website. Ask first).
Show genuine curiosity – You never know when you are a good fit for someone’s business. Or if you might form a new friendship. Ask each person you meet something about themselves or their business. Then shut your mouth and really listen. (It’s good practice).
Do something unexpected – This isn’t just some karmic ideal. It’s a very real business (and life) principle. A great example of that was what my husband, John did for Marlon Sanders. You can read details on my blog. In a nutshell, John was just being John — paying attention to his surroundings and responsive to people. He had no idea who Marlon “was”. Well he helped get Marlon out of a bind before his presentation without any expectation. Marlon not only mentioned my business from the stage in front of over 400 people, but he dedicated an entire ezine to lionizing John, including a link to my site. (Thanks to Marlon, John now has god-like status in our house).
Get away from the same old crowd – It’s tempting to hang with the people you know. Especially when you don’t see your online friends that often. That’s fine. Just make sure you take some spins around the hallway and forge some new friendships, too.
Take mini breaks – You’re getting bombarded with a lot of information and a lot of different energies. It’s easy to get depleted. Mini breaks will keep you going. But don’t miss an entire presentation if you can help it. You will undoubtedly miss the biggest aha moment of the seminar.
Do NOT make deals or promises – The excitement makes this a hotspot of deal-making, but don’t. Not yet. Talk about it. Brainstorm. Come up with different scenarios. But don’t talk money or legal issues until you’re back in a sane, stable environment — like home.
DO buy extended packages from the speakers – I didn’t “get” this when I first started going to seminars. First of all, you will never remember everything you heard from a speaker. Total immersion is the only way to really get those lessons to soak in. Secondly, you always get a much better deal onsite! If you’re moved by a speaker, then let that person teach you his or her expertise. Seminars are the best places to find and connect with your mentor. (Now that I think about it, every mentor I’ve had I met in person at a seminar first. Hmmm. I don’t know if that’s so for everyone, but I believe in the power of taking a piece of a dynamic, successful speaker home with you.)
Plan to take 1-2 days off work for follow up. – Here is where 90% of the people miss the boat. You have all those business cards and connections. Remember the categories and the notes we made? Now it’s going to be easy for you to follow up. Send out a short, friendly email to categories, “a”, “b” and “c”. (I try to add a personal touch to each one, but you don’t have to. It’s time well spent, though. Taking that extra minute really separates you from the masses.) However, if you send out a group blast, be sure to use the BCC (blind carbon copy) so you don’t expose everyone’s emails – that is a huge pet peeve of mine. This is a nice time to have those photos uploaded.

Warning: Do NOT sign them up automatically for anything, even free stuff like an ezine or e-course. It’s okay to include a link to your site in your signature line or the P.S., but don’t assume they want your materials unless they opt in. A phone call or a postcard will make you stand out even more.

Like I said, seminars have become my business bread and butter. They can work for you too.

Author Resource -> Copywriting guru Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero has been helping entrepreneurs and copywriters get their marketing messages razor sharp since 1999.

Get free access to 5 tips to turn your “blah” sales message into red-hot copy that ROCKS… at RedHotCopy.com