Idea Generator

How many articles will you write this Fall?

Specifically, how many articles will you write that address the problems of your ideal clients? I guess that depends on how much growth you would like to see in your business!

Well-written, targeted articles have the power to generate a following of people who need the exact solutions that you provide. 

By consistently keeping in touch over time with this great content, you are providing value that will help build a long-lasting, trusting relationship with your newsletter subscribers and blog readers. And that means they will be much more receptive when you offer to help them further with your paid services.

That's one powerful marketing tool! And that's why I've been bringing you so much information about this topic lately.

Sometimes having the information isn't enough

I know that some of you have been reading my Article Marketing Fundamentals articles and applying the tips right away. And I know that some of you haven't. I really don't want any of you to miss the boat on this essential marketing strategy!

That's why I would like to share my brand new 7-step Article Marketing Success Strategy with you in a personalized, one-on-one telephone session. I will be doing a class on this material at some point, but likely not until 2010. If you don't want to wait, this is for you!

In our 30-minute call, I will go through the 7 steps and ask you some questions about your business so that we can create an article marketing strategy just for you. Then, I'll give you an article template that you can use again and again to carry out that strategy (and please don't forget to use your Top 10 Article Generator!).

Here's what my birthday wish contest winner had to say about her recent session:

"After my Article Marketing Strategy session, I was excited about new prospects and immediately began brainstorming about ideas to write about, as well as how to focus my business. I feel that I have so much more to go on than I did prior to the call. I now have direction for my efforts. Thank you for the session, Linda!" - Lydia Dean-Reese

Your 30-minute personalized Article Marketing Strategy session is only $75.

But what should you write about?

While we will definitely have some time to talk about the types of articles you could be writing, I'd like to offer you some more assistance with that. So for an additional $22, I will create 5 customized article templates for your business, complete with attention-getting titles designed to attract YOUR ideal clients, and fill-in-the-blank questions that will make writing your articles a snap.

A personalized article marketing strategy with 5 customized article templates, wow! That could really launch your article marketing efforts this Fall. Think of how many more people you could be reaching if you were to grow your list this way. This bonus package is yours for only $97.

That's sounding better, but there's still something nagging at me. Once you write the article, how can you be sure it's ready for prime time, as they say? How will you be sure it's the best it can be?

Live editing session - for a limited time only

How about this? I will meet you for an additional 30 minutes, when we will do a live editing session of one of your articles. You will be able to watch and work with me as I review your article and polish it to a glorious shine.

Then, I'll send you a clean copy of your new-and-improved article, along with a PDF document showing all of my tracked changes and comments about what I did so that you can continue to learn and improve your writing. I will also send a step-by-step editing checklist you can use to improve all of your articles.

I really want you to succeed with this and take action quickly. That's why I've made these live editing sessions a time-limited offer. You MUST purchase the $97 customized template package by 8:00 p.m. Eastern, this Thursday, September 10th. After that, the option for the live editing session will disappear.

As well, you must schedule your live editing session by the end of October. Use it or lose it! That is how I will hold you accountable to take action between our sessions.

P.S. [Added September 6, 2009] Here's what you get with each offer:

Article Marketing Strategy Session ($75)
- 30-minute one-on-one telephone session
- 7-step Article Marketing Success Strategy, with tips on how to apply it in your own business
- Article template you can use to create articles

Article Marketing Strategy Session with Customized Templates ($97)
- All of the above, plus:
- 5 customized article templates for your business, with attention-getting titles and fill-in-the-blank questions

Bonus offers if you purchase the $97 option by 8 PM, Thurs, Sept 10th
- 30-minute live editing session, when you can watch and learn as I polish your article, so that you'll be able to edit your own work and write better to begin with
- Step-by-step editing checklist

WHY grow your list? Linda Claire Puig explains...

This is a guest post by Linda Claire Puig, my co-counselor for the Pink Spoon Telecamp:

WHY Grow Your List? (Count the Many Ways)

by Linda Claire Puig, president, Claire Communications

List-building tips are all over the Internet these days. You can learn for free (including my Momentum articles from June 30, 2008, and July 10, 2009), you can buy e-books on the topic or you can take high-priced courses.

But are you really clear on WHY it's important to continually focus on growing your list?

When you understand what's possible with a bigger list--not just a bigger list, but a bigger relevant list--you open to new potential...for your business, for your life.

It's easiest to explain with an example. Let's say you have a list of 200 people that you keep in touch with on a regular basis. (You are sending a newsletter, aren't you?) You decide to run a $350 group program and announce it to your list by sending a promotional email. Seven people sign up and earn you a total of $2,450.

In marketing circles, those seven new clients represent a very good "conversion rate" of 3.5%. Conversion rate is the ratio of people who purchase to the total number of people on your list.

Now let's say your list grows to 3,000 (still a relatively modest list size), and you offer the same $350 group program. If your 3.5% conversion rate remains the same, you will now sign up 105 new members for your group, for a total earnings of $36,750. You may have to run concurrent groups to accommodate all the new business, a nice problem to have!

But even if your conversion rate dropped to 2%, you'd still sign up 60 new members for your group, for a total of $21,000 in earnings.

So $2,450 vs. $21,000...FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF PROMOTIONAL EFFORT!

Three important mentions here:

1) It's NOT all about a having a HUGE list. Smaller lists can be more responsive than their bigger counterparts. So decide on your income goals, determine your conversion rate history and let that help you determine how big you want to grow your list.

2) Don't forget that while you may attach numbers to your goals, building your list is ultimately NOT a numbers game. It's about building relationships with people who you would like the opportunity to serve. If you approach it this way, you will have a growing list that is always a relevant list.

3) Your list will not grow just because you wish it so. You may set a list-building goal for your year, but you won't meet it unless you take specific, focused action toward that goal. The very FIRST place to start is to have a great pink spoon...something that addresses a pressing need for your audience that you can give away in exchange for their contact information.

There are other reasons to grow your list that go way beyond numbers and dollars. Tell me, how do you help people? What are your gifts? With a larger list, your influence and your ability to help more people also grows.

Bottom line: No one is served by your list (or you!) remaining small.

------------------------

To learn more about what makes a great pink spoon, how to use it to grow your list and generate more business -- and to create your own pink spoon under the guidance of two marketing communications experts -- please register here for the Pink Spoon Telecamp.

Pink Spoon Telecamp - Pack your bags, registration is open!

I'm so pleased that over 1,200 people have already subscribed to listen to "Help! My Website's Not Working!" - the free teleclass that I presented last week with Linda Claire Puig.

The recording and handouts are still available to you and they're free! Just sign up at www.pinkspoontelecamp.com/pinkspooncall.html and confirm your request so that you can gain access to this great information.

In the meantime, we've thrown open the gates on the Pink Spoon Telecamp, a brand new program that we put together to help you turn your website into the successful business-generating tool it needs to be.

You'll find all of the information on this page:  Pink Spoon Telecamp.

Please act quickly, because there is a payment plan that will disappear on August 18th, and a bonus offer that is only available to a limited number of campers. See you there!

Article Topic Generator - it's new!

Are you wondering how I'm coming up with the Write from the Headlines posts I've been writing recently?

You can do the same thing - and not just with news headlines, but by looking for article topics in all areas of your life. I've put together a few tips on how to do that in the Article Topic Generator section of the newly redesigned Top 10 Article Generator.

What's new about it? Well, it LOOKS a lot snazzier, thanks to my graphic designer extraordinaire, Victoria Vinton, and I updated and improved the content as well. My aim was to make it as easy for you as possible to keep cranking out more Top 10 articles!

This new Top 10 Article Generator will be available from my website (which, by the way, is ALSO new - check it out) at the end of the month.

If you don't want to wait that long, you can grab it sooner by taking advantage of the Done For You Giveaway event.

I'm giving away a HUGE grand prize of my writing services for the event, and you'll get a copy of the new Top 10 Article Generator just for entering.

Register for the event now and then visit the page again on Wednesday, April 15th for a link to my special page where you can enter and claim your Top 10 Article Generator.

Are you ready to have some amazing business services Done For You?

Ok, so a week or so ago I told you: "Whatever you do, don't hire me to help with your articles or blog posts!"

I've got some more information for you today, but the real excitement is coming on April 15th. Here's today's scoop:

The “Done for You” Giveaway of the Century is shaping up to be an amazing event, and I’m so excited to be part of it! (I’m giving away an incredible grand prize of my ghostwriting services!)

If you haven’t already pre-registered, click below to be among the first to know all of the glorious details:

http://www.doneforyougiveaway.com

Besides my own prize, here are some of the other products and services you’ll have access to when the Giveaway starts on April 15th.

Here are a few recent additions:

• Home page rewrites
• Done-for-you books
• Expert-maker interviews
• Ready-to-send e-courses
• Teleclass promotion
• Schedule C creation
• Social media profile set-up
• Article submission

That’s in addition to all the other gift opportunities that await you, including: Quickbooks set-up, audio production, ready-to-present workshops, video production, ghostwriting (that's me!), ezine template design, speeches, blog set-up, shopping cart service & assistance and much more.

The giveaway is all about ACTUAL services and ready-to-go products that will make your life easier as they move your business forward.

Pre-register now so you don’t miss it!

http://www.doneforyougiveaway.com

To your success!
Linda

Whatever you do, don't hire me to help with your articles or blog posts!

Really, don't do it!

That's because next month, April 2009, I am giving away an unbelievable prize that could elevate your marketing efforts to brand new heights and catapult you right into the spotlight in front of your target market.

So whatever you do, don't schedule a Claim Your Expertise session or polish up your writing with a Power Edit. Just wait for more details about my fantastic prize.

Want the Secret to Good Writing?

If you want to know the secret to good writing, please visit www.forcoacheswhowrite.com for your FREE copy of my new special report, Readability Secrets for Coaches Who Write.

If you sign up now, you’ll also be treated to an exclusive sneak peek at The Customizable Style Guide for Coaches Who Write: Look Smarter, Write Faster and Get Better Results from Your Writing. On Tuesday morning, I’ll be sending out an 8-page preview of the book, but only to people on the list!

Happy writing!
Linda

Market Your Book Like a Pro, with my friend Lynne

I met Lynne Klippel through Andrea Lee (Lynne published both of Andrea's books), and since we made contact a few months ago, we've been talking about ways to put our talented heads together.

For now, I'm proud to be an affiliate of her upcoming Book Marketing Blitz. It's a perfect match for my ghostwriting clients who now have a great book, but aren't sure how to sell it. OR, for my prospective clients, who are thinking of hiring me to ghostwrite or edit their book but are hesitant for the same reason.

Lynne's Book Marketing Blitz will help you sell more books and design a book marketing plan just like the multimillionaire big guys do...only it won't cost you an arm and a leg!

She's put together an amazing array of speakers for this webinar-based seminar.  In fact, you can enjoy 18 hours of book marketing instruction from some of the biggest names in the business from the comfort of your home.

You can listen to a very useful interview with a book cover designer just for checking out the website, so go and grab your free gift now.

You'll be glad you did!

PS - Just in case you're interested in earning some extra money to pay for your book expenses, you can become an affiliate of this program after you register.  How about that? Learn great information AND earn some great money...

AWeber set-up help for delivering your email newsletter and automated follow-ups

If you're interested in an email delivery system for your e-courses, newsletters and special announcements, AWeber is a great solution.

I used their trial and could see they have a great service, and that's why I became an affiliate. The only reason I don't use it personally is because I send all of my emails through my shopping cart system, 1ShoppingCart.

If you don't need a shopping cart, but you're ready to grow your business with newsletters, e-courses and other automated follow-up strategies, AWeber might be just what you're looking for.

And now Lisa Wells, VA and tech support person extraordinaire, is offering a special package to get you set up. Check it out at:

http://www.coast2coastbusiness.com/aweber-support.html

Now Available - printable Top 10 Article Generator worksheet ("on the go" version)

Someone just wrote and said they'd be taking the Top 10 Article Generator away on vacation (great idea, actually! I always find traveling very "fertile" for brainstorming and new perspectives).

That made me realize that the MS Word "fill-in" form version really doesn't travel well - it's meant to be used on-screen.

In case there are more of you who'd like the chance to work on your Top 10 article away from your computer, I've now included a printable Top 10 Article Generator worksheet when you sign up at:

http://www.writeatop10article.com

I hope you enjoy using the tool and find it useful!

Remember, if you'd like to polish or refine your writing, I can help! Book your Power Edit session today or visit http://www.youtalk-iwrite.com for more details.