Curious...

If time, money and resources were NO OBJECT, who would you market your copywriting services to? What target markets?

1. Internet marketers (ok, that one's obvious)
2. Direct Marketers
3. Publishers (newsletter, specialty books, etc) think Rodale
4. Ad Agencies

Let's build a list...

Feel free to add comments about particular markets -- your experience, response, etc.

I have an idea brewing in my little brain. I'll share more on it if you guys will help build this list of "DreamList Copywriting TARGETS."

If time, money, and resources were NO OBJECT, I wouldn't be working at all...

Okay, okay...the more serious answer that comes to mind is...I wouldn't be marketing my services at all, I would either develop a huge product of my own to launch, or JV with someone who had something like that...

That still doesn't really answer your question...but that's the answer that comes to mind first.

I enjoy writing for the Internet, but I think my first choice would be publishers. I've always loved that market, and writing for publishers is on my list of things to do.

Billionaires.

Non-Profits/Charities

AND

As John stated...Billionaires

The list of companies you guys have listed are businesses that generally know the value of a good copywriter.

Most business owners and corporations can't get their ego's out of their asses. They want to brag and shout to the world how great their businesses are. And have no clue what a good direct response ad can do for them. It is an expensive and costly idea to convince most companies to run direct response advertising (I'm figuring this out, talking to sales managers of technical companies about creating lead generating systems for expensive products)

Has anyone tried doing a Gary Halbert? Read his newsletter titled "Multi-Level Marketing sucks" Make a list of local companies who sell high end products and have a customer list.

Basically what you do is write a sales letter to the list and get them to either buy or come in to a store to see a new item. This item is marked up (by you) and your commission is the mark up.

My point is...I think there are thousands of way's to make money off of knowing how to write a bitchin sales letter.

Think outside of the box...I got a free hot dog from a street vendor for explaining to him how to word an upsell. (Although I think I should get a free hot dog everyday). The upsell was would you like cheese or chili on that. And after watching a few people come in...I think he will make an extra $60 - $70 a day from that.

Or try something bigger...If you see a contest being run...contact the company. Chances are they have no clue what to do with the names they are getting. Offer to write a letter to 500 of the names that didn't win the prize...but that they are getting a valuable second prize... (you can fill in the rest).

I walked pass a spy store the other day and a bell went off in my head. (They sell mini cameras you can fit inside a button...and wirelessly transmit the video to a website) I walked in and asked to speak to the owner.

I said I'd like to create a promotion selling $1500 camera equipment for you...

The headline writes itself


Do you think your spouse is cheating on you?

"How to Catch Your Spouse Cheating ...on Video...So you dont' have to pay a cent in your divorce"...and keep the kids.

Basically we are coming up with a package of a small teaching seminar on how to set it up the spying system...and obviously buying the equipment from him.

Good TIMES!! (The things you can do with a camera system like that will keep you busy for a lifetime)

You want a car? Try this. Go to car dealers and say you want to help them sell more cars. Run small lead generating ads in the classifieds and on craigslist. Instead of a phone number use an autoresponder email address as the call to action. They get a (Gary Halbert type of car pitch). The car can be in your garage and they can come by and try it out. (Then you get the dealership to give you another car and you repeat)

Anyhow, this kind of stuff is fun...you meet some good people (and bad) and make some good money.

The key to getting this to work is to NOT say you are an advertising expert...or marketing expert. You are an investor. You will pay for the advertising, nothing comes out of the other guys pocket (except your giant commission).

Walk away from losers...you do not need them. I have never used a contract, but I do know what will happen if I don’t get paid.

I will write them a letter that says.

“I'm happy you are making more sales.

I am not happy you are not living up to your side of the bargain. As you can see, I know a few things about persuading people to buy from your store. However, I also know how to persuade people (many people) to never ever do business with you again.

Please deposit my agreed upon commission by the end of the week.”


That’s it.


Cheers.

Hey Techwriter,

Great job on thinking outside the box.

I'll second that...nice post there Techwriter, and thanks JP for starting a good thread!

I guess what my Hungarian friend Tom says about Canadians, and BC in particular is true!

Jane

Wow! You gave some very powerful and dramatic prospecting ideas, Techwriter. Perhaps your second calling is teaching copywriters how to build their practices!

My response to your original post, JP is that the common denominator of your original list is that each entry is a center of influence. So we should focus on centers of influence.

Another idea:

I have a background in insurance sales. Insurance companies have the most boring, unimaginative copy................

The silence that you just heard was because I fell asleep thinking about their ads. I would try to focus my insurance or financial services copywriting on niche markets rather than broad markets.

Rob Lehrer