I just finished reading an intriguing blog post about article marketing using affiliate links. While I see the logic, it’s a wholly foreign concept to someone who’s written ads, direct mail and Web sites for better than two decades.
Have It Your Way.
If you’ve read the Copywriter Underground for long, you’ll realize I’m hot on the concept of the Value Added Copywriter – the uber-writer who is as much marketing genius as word jockey.
My method of revenue generation is the polar opposite of article marketing.
Yet, at the intersection of these methods lies a common benefit – both are excellent ways for writers to rise above the trap of low-paying work.
And therein lies the beauty of the online community.
Perspective Is Valuable. And Free.
Every time I sort through my writer-related RSS feeds, I’m confronted by the reality that there are a lot of ways to make money as a writer.
It’s a hugely useful break from the business-related tunnel vision that afflicts almost all of us.
Those freelancers with longevity realize that the freelance writing life is as much a journey as a destination. Opening your mind to new ways of accomplishing your personal and business goals is how you make the journey interesting.
Am I going to abandon my current business model in favor of article marketing? Not on your life.
Did I find the seed of an idea in this deceptively simple, well-thought-out method (the page for which has been removed, so no link)Â – one that will help push me towards my personal and business writing goals?
Absolutely. It’s likely you could too.
Look Hard. Think Harder.
Take a hard look at your writing business (yes, you’re a businessperson, not simply a writer). Can you honestly say you’re writing dream projects for your dream clients?
If you’re honest, the answer to both questions is no. (The answer for almost everyone is “no.”)
But poke around on Deborah Ng’s site, or Diana Huff’s MarCom Writer blog, or Carson’s Content Done Better blog, or Michael Stelzner’s Writing White Papers blog, or Ann Wayman’s Golden Pencil site, or any of the other useful writer’s blogs, and you’d have to be blind not to hatch an idea or two of your own.
Each blog offers a valuable perspective, but the real value lies in the cross-pollination between them.
I’m tired of “resolutions” posts, but miraculously, that won’t stop me from making two suggestions for the new year.
Focus on writing tighter. And always search out new ideas, new methods and new perspectives.
Turn those perspectives into new horizons for your writing business (or your personal writing).
And make the journey more interesting.
[tags]writing, copywriting, writer, copywriter, freelance, freelance writer, freelance copywriter[/tags]
You’ve got me intrigued and inspired. But unfortunately, the link to the “deceptively simple well thought out method” goes to a “page not found”
I’m hanging out to know what the idea was 
Thanks for your blog.
Yup. He done me dirty and removed the page. Shot me right in the foot, so I’ll ditch the link too. Thanks for letting me know!
Tom,
I would also add that copywriters should specialize in something. I specialize in B2B marketing writing and consulting (although I do have a few B2C clients).
But one could specialize in all sorts of things: writing copy — and consulting with clients — on Websites designed and written for mobile devices. Or, how about writing email and newsletters geared toward the Blackberry or mobile phones? Or, a copywriter could specialize in real estate marketing or marketing consulting and copywriting for healthcare professionals such as dentists or doctors. My friend, Margie Dana, for example, has built an entire business being a resource (and the expert) on print buying.
The thing is, I think too many “freelance” copywriters think writing articles is the way to go. It’s not. One can find a ton of well-paying work helping companies market themselves. And the Internet has only made that need more pressing.
Diane;
I tend to agree, though I believe that over-specialization can land a writer in a rut.
There *are* a lot of opportunities outside of article writing (opportunities that pay better), and yet I’ve written enough articles over the years to know they can help keep you fresh.
Thanks for the thoughtful post!
Yeah, I pulled the rug out… Sorry. About two minutes after writing that, I realized I could put together a little report for some folks with a keen interest in the article marketing thing and sell it to them.
Different routes to prosperity, don’t ya know!
Really, it was only one aspect of the post that would have interested them. I probably could have edited the whole thing and left most of it in place, but I’m a believer in overkill.
I promise I will address the topic again. In an attention-whoring gesture, I will comment about the new “article marketing for writers” post here.
Carson
p.s. That little report netted me a few $K for about 1 hour of work. Ain’t that crazy?
Thank goodness I snagged a copy while it was up. I’ll give it back to you for a few $K…
If I had ideas that I could translate into fast cash more often than once every ten years, I would gladly toss a heap at you to avoid a complete re-write.
Alas, I already have my ever-shrinking nose back on the grindstone.
Carson
While you’re grinding, you owe me a post; I had to rewrite a big chunk of the thing after you took your post and ran for the bank…