Share What You Know—and Make Money!

“The teacher’s task is not to implant facts but to place the subject to be learned
in front of the learner and, through sympathy, emotion, imagination and patience,
to awaken in the learner the restless drive for answers and insights
which enlarge the personal life and give it meaning.”
– Nathan M. Pusey, American educator

In Issue #203

Editor’s Note: This will be an unusual week for Copy Protégé. Today, we’re bringing you an essay from a special guest, Don Hauptman, who is anything but a copywriting newbie. Don offers some very timely advice that anyone can benefit from. Enjoy, and more importantly, take Don’s advice! Friday’s issue will contain a special offer that can help practically every aspect of your business. Next week, we’ll return to our normal format, starting with an original essay from Krista. Have a good week!

Guest Essay: Share What You Know—and Make Money!
by Don Hauptman

Whether from your copywriting work, or the career you had before you made that transition, you possess a ton of valuable knowledge and experience. That wisdom is of potential value to others. You may be able to communicate it—and get paid in the process.

For more than 30 years, I was a freelance copywriter. Although copywriting generated most of my income, I simultaneously had several lucrative sidelines:

For each assignment—and most didn’t require a lot of time—I charged between $2,000 and $10,000.

You say you don’t have terrific public speaking abilities? No problem. To do these things, you don’t need to be a spellbinding speaker. I’m not, yet my presentations were always well received. What’s most important is the quality of the content you deliver.

How do you begin? Try this three-step procedure. For best results, do it in writing.

  1. Take an inventory of your background, experience, skills, achievements. Do you have a track record of proven accomplishments—for instance, writing copy that pulls, increasing profits, cutting costs, solving problems, coming up with innovative ideas?
  2. Determine who might pay you for that knowledge. Consider your clients first, then companies or organizations where you have contacts, and finally others you can research. Hidden opportunities lurk in the most surprising places. Think creatively!
  3. Match your expertise to the market’s needs and approach your targets. Make an offer or submit a proposal. If you know the appropriate executives, you have an edge. Cold calls are more challenging, but not impossible.

Aside from money, these “presentation activities,” as I call them, bring you numerous other rewards. I can testify to that from my own experience … .

First, don’t forget that when you speak, train, consult, and critique, you enhance your reputation and increase your credibility as an expert. That, in turn, helps you land new clients. In fact, speaking may be the single best self-promotional and business-building strategy.

In addition, you win applause and acclaim. You have the satisfaction of helping people, especially younger colleagues in your field. You’re stimulated and energized, especially if your regular work has become boring or routine. You might have opportunities for expense-paid travel, possibly worldwide. You benefit from all sorts of valuable contacts and synergies.

Finally, consider today’s scary economic climate. Diversifying in the above ways gives you an “insurance policy” of sorts against the sort of recessionary economy we’re now experiencing. Why? You have “multiple streams of income” and a wider portfolio of skills and services to offer. One or more may be exactly what clients need in bad times.

Don Hauptman is a longtime direct-response copywriter. He may be best known for his series of space ads headlined “Speak Spanish Like a Diplomat!”—a campaign regarded as an industry classic. The above article was adapted from Don’s just-published AWAI e-book The Versatile Freelancer: How Writers and Other Creative Professionals Can Generate More Income by Seizing New Opportunities in Critiquing, Consulting, Training, and Presenting.

Resource Referral: What Is A Versatile Freelancer?
by Monica Day

Like most children, my daughters are my greatest mirrors and teachers. They have made several comments lately that made me realize I need to de-mystify what I do for them.

The other day they were home from school and I had a coaching call. I explained in advance that it was a business call, and I needed them to not disturb me until I was done. Later they grumbled, saying, “it sounded like you were just chatting.”

Then, this morning, my daughter said she needed to go shopping for something. I told her it had to wait – it wasn’t a good week for shopping. To which she replied in frustration, “we need to get some checks.”

I realized that my kids don’t think I work! I just chat on the phone and bang away at the computer … and checks come. These activities don’t seem in any way related to them.

So when Don Hauptman’s just-published AWAI e-book came across my desk – I had to laugh. It’s called: The Versatile Freelancer: How Writers and Other Creative Professionals Can Generate More Income by Seizing New Opportunities in Critiquing, Consulting, Training, and Presenting.

Yes, I have to teach my kids a few things about how to make a buck. But how bad is it really that they see me doing things I love, teaching others how to do things they love, and money magically arrives in the mailbox?

Don’s book is amazing. He really shows you – step-by-step – how to take the existing knowledge you already have, tap into the contacts you’ve already cultivated, and make money!

In this economy, even the most introverted person ought to give this one a second look. The book, largely based on Don’s own 30-year career as a successful freelance copywriter, comes with a free bonus report and a 100% money-back satisfaction guarantee. Check it out.

NEWSFLASH: 25 Bootcamp Spaces Come Out of the Cookie Jar
by Monica Day

I have this friend, Mary, who had this old-fashioned habit of literally tossing a few dollars here and there into a cookie jar. “For a rainy day,” her mother had told her. It was such an ingrained habit that she herself didn’t think much about the money.

One day, after a series of unfortunate events in her life, she found a new boyfriend. They fell head over heels for each other. Neither was making a load of money at the time – and she was raising two children on her own. Times were lean.

Then, she remembered the stash.

One day she showed up for a dinner date – and surprised her new beau with two tickets to Paris paid for by … you guessed it … the contents of the cookie jar! They took a whirlwind vacation that sealed their relationship and provided memories for years. They just celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary – and that trip to Paris is one they have never forgotten, or regretted.

Well, it may not be quite as romantic, but it appears that Denise Ford’s mother taught her the same trick. We don’t know how she did it – but through some combination of luck, charm, and a defiance of physics, AWAI’s bootcamp magician pulled 25 seats out of her cookie jar!

Click here now if you want to claim one – they’re going to go fast, I’m sure. And if you call instead of click – make sure you let them know Monica and Krista sent you!

See you in Delray …