Week One: Prospect List and Marketing Materials

So, as I’ve been sitting here every night at my computer with a spreadsheet and a document open, along with a minimum of three chat boxes and trying not to freak the fuck out.

I’ve realized that it’s okay to chat while I work as long as I don’t allow the chatting to override the work. It keeps the Freak Monster at bay. I think I will use my blogger blog to chronicle the process of becoming a full-on freelance writer. Trying to use 43things but I’m having a hard time with it. Also, as much as I’d love to put all my goals on there, I have a strong aversion to having my everything up for anyone to see. If I could block my goals so not everyone could see them, that would be cool.

I broke my phone last night. Turns out, it’s still usable to a minimal extent. I did buy a used old Verizon phone at the thrift store for 10 bucks. And it works. Why? Because Verizon won’t let me upgrade my phone without an additional 2-year contract and their cheapest phone is $130-150 (bullshit). Since my contract ends in June, I really don’t want to do that. Most likely, I will be changing service.

So am dealing with marketing materials for myself and a prospecting log. So, I’ve read a lot of books on freelancing, writing, yaddah, yaddah. Currently, I’m reading “The Well-Fed Writer” by Peter Bowman. So far, it’s my favorite because it feels organic and practical. He wrote it when he had only been freelance writing for about 2-3 years. Although his background is in Marketing and Sales, it was good to get a freelance writing book from someone who wasn’t an ad man for 20+ years at some high profile agency.

I was relieved when he said it’s difficult getting clips from your clients (hell, it’s hard getting clips from an in-house department four steps away!). He also made a few points that I don’t like but know are true. Mostly in terms of drumming up business but it’s the stuff I hate doing: networking, calling people, all that face to face stuff. That’s why I’m a writer. Oddly, I do tend to be in professions where I am supposed to be a people person.

Made a decision not to go with a company name and just use my name. Now wondering whether I need a brochure or not. Mostly, because I don’t really want to create a brochure. Why? Because I actually have to think about what it is I want to do: how I am a great resource, why and all that. Essentially, I have to focus my product and services and figure out how to market myself. Somehow, I have no problems doing this for other people, and quickly, but it’s painful for myself.

On the flip side, although I am terrified at the prospect of calling a ton of people and selling myself to them in 10 seconds or less, I’m really excited about my prospects. I have a handful of high powered friends I can ask for referrals. Cold calling isn’t that bad after the third or fourth one. It’s the anticipation of it that sucks.

I looked at a few copywriters’ sites today to check out my colleagues/the competition. There are a few who are amazing and the rest are seemingly decent or not-so-great. The websites also range from great to horrific so I think I’ll do okay with what I have planned.

So these are my projects for the week: prospect list and marketing material fodder.