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The Copywriter Underground
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Tips, ideas and humor for the freelance copywriter. Voted a Top 10 Writer's Site, the Copywriter Underground combines straightforward ideas with wry humor.
Recent Posts Tagged With 'freelance copywriting'
The New Daughter vs. Writing Routine Death Match (or, Sleepless in Shasta)
It turns out that pitting our tiny new daughter against my previously comfortable writing routine results in the following: the wholesale slaughter of the routine. Embarrassingly, I had to read my own blog to discover where my last post left off (hin...
Eight Great Reasons I’m Still a Freelance Copywriter
I used to spontaneously craft lists just for fun, and today seems like the perfect day to revive the practice. And rather than beat around the bush, let’s just call this list the “Eight Gratifying Moments in the Life of Any Freelance Copy...
The Biggest Menace Facing Copywriters (So Far This Week): Sleepwriting
In my prior post, the concept of writer’s market oversaturation found a little traction, and today, I’m here to discuss the Biggest Menace Facing Copywriters Ever (So Far This Week): Sleepwriting (or Zzz-mailing if our wacky group of slee...
My Short, Sweet Thanksgiving Message to the Undergrounders
It’s easy to fire up a whole list of things we should be thankful for - our lives are easier by almost any measure than those who came before us - but this is a writing blog, so I’ll stay on topic. The simple truth is I’m thankful I...
Surviving a Bad Economy: Why Businesses Need You More Than Ever
In addition to the usual workload, I’ve wiled away my “spare” time developing and teaching classes in online marketing for entrepreneurs. And yes, answering emails from copywriters wondering what to do about our cratering economy. A...
The Ups and Downs of Freelance Copywriting: The Perils of Proposals
I’m beat. My wife and I both worked a very, very long work week. And when it lands hard on both of us at once, neither can pick up the slack. It’s not true, but the last few days, I feel like I’ve eaten nothing but cereal. Does it ...
Could The Feelance Writer’s Most Important Tool Be The Lowly Spreadsheet?
I just finished a conversation with a client who wanted to send me money. Sadly, they expect me to perform a written act of marketing before sending a check, and they wanted a project estimate. Long ago, I made a rule to never give off-the-cuff estim...
How to Pitch New Clients, How to Pick Them, and Why You’d Want to do Either
Say you wanted Double Chocolate Fudge ice cream, but the ice cream folks kept handing a single scoop of Mango Fruity Bubblegum across the counter. You’d leave and go where you got to pick the flavor, right? So why do so many copywriters passi...
I Decry Deceptive Mailing Practices in BrandWeek: Are Copywriters Really Responsible For Ethics?
Brandweek ran a story on deceptive marketing practices, and because of my outspoken advocacy of ethical marketing, I was extensively quoted. SHARETHIS.addEntry( { title: "I Decry Deceptive Mailing Practices in BrandWeek: Are Copywriters Really Res...
Guess I Didn’t Want to Work For Free Badly Enough
Copywriters are being asked to write for little more than the exposure, and many are apparently saying yes. If we value our work so little, why should our customers value it more? SHARETHIS.addEntry( { title: "Guess I Didn’t Want to Work For...
Writing More For Less? Maybe It’s Time to Ask For a Raise
What do you do when you're doing more copywriting work for a client -- but effectively getting paid less? The Copywriter Underground talks about "Project Creep" -- and how to avoid the revenue drains that follow. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Writi...
Pay The Damned Writer (A “Getting What Your Worth” Primer With Harlan Ellison)
Done any free work lately? Seen your work used in multiple places — without ever receiving a dime? The never-demur Harlan Ellison — a successful, outspoken and abrasive writer — tells it like it is in this short interview. Great stu...
The Best Reason EVER to Begin Your Freelance Copywriting Career (or, Why We Freelance)
AT&T is now offering realtime monitoring services to small and medium sized businesses. Big Brother's watching, and it turns out he's your boss... SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "The Best Reason EVER to Begin Your Freelance Copywriting Career (o...
