⏱️ 7 most-asked questions and 30-second answers

[The Writer’ s Life]( August 30, 2018 Hi {NAME}, When you have a question, the best plan is to go to someone who knows the answer. Someone who's "been there, done that." The experts who partner with AWAI are all active, working copywriters and marketers … They're not professors, teaching strictly from past experience or "book knowledge." They're in the trenches every day, working with real clients on real-world projects. So whether you have questions about how to break in today … what's working now … or what clients want most … our experts have the answers. Today, B2B expert Steve Slaunwhite is here with the top seven questions he gets asked most about his industry — and his quick answers so you can get the information you need to move forward. B2B (Business-to-Business) is probably the most popular niche for writers today … With high demand, low competition, and incredible fees (even as a total newbie), it's the most accessible path for most writers — and the surest route to a six-figure income. Steve also answers questions every week on his podcast for our [B2B Writing Success]( community … which gives members the roadmaps, guidance, tools, and ongoing education needed to excel and make a great living writing B2B copy and content. Right now, you can test-drive the entire B2B Writing Success membership site for only $1. [>> All the details are here.]( To your success, Rebecca Matter President, AWAI --------------------------------------------------------------- Today's 7 Most-Asked Questions about B2B Copywriting By Steve Slaunwhite [Wooden blocks spelling out B2B Business] Whenever I attend a live event like [AWAI's Copywriting Bootcamp](, I speak to dozens of people about the Business-to-Business (B2B) copywriting opportunity. I answer questions in hallways, at breakfast, during walks on the beach and, yes, even in the elevator! The challenge with answering questions in the elevator, however, is that I'm forced to be concise, which is opposite my normal propensity to be wordy. Well, I try my best! Now's the ideal time to talk about the B2B opportunity — the demand is huge. I'd encourage you to take a look at it too. In case you have questions … Here are the seven most common questions I'm usually asked, and my ambitiously succinct answers to each. 1. What types of projects do B2B copywriters handle? When you write for a Business-to-Business company — for example, a forklift manufacturer — you can expect to write a wide range of marketing materials. These include ads, email campaigns, websites, social media posts, blogs, articles, case studies, and white papers. So if you love variety, you'll love B2B. 2. What's a "case study?" What's a "white paper?" A case study is a customer success story. It's basically an article, about 800 words, that describes how a customer is using your client's product and why they're so happy with it. It's like a long-form testimonial. A white paper is about eight pages. It typically talks about a new technology, a new solution to a problem, a list of tips, or a better way to accomplish something. For example, I recently wrote a white paper for a client titled: 7 Social Selling Tips for Real Estate Agents. 3. I've heard that B2B copywriting is less "hype-y." Is that true? Yes. The B2B writing style tends to be clear, conversional, fact-based, and focused on down-to-earth performance expectations rather than overblown promises. A sales manager isn't going to believe copy for a training product that claims to "give you the keys to a secret vault of selling tips that will explode your sales into the stratosphere!" No way. Instead, he's going to be swayed by a clear, persuasive explanation of the program features, and its benefits. By the way, that's why so many writers love B2B. They don't have to write icky, hyped-up sales copy. 4. How much money can I make as a B2B copywriter? There are many Business-to-Business copywriters who make well over $100,000 a year. In fact, a six-figure income is not merely an ideal that only a few B2Bers reach, it's a realistic goal that you can achieve within two or three years — assuming you put in the work to learn your craft and build your freelance business. And right now, there's a shortage of B2B copywriters on the market. So companies are eager to find good ones and pay them well. 5. Can you give me some idea of what to charge clients? Every project is different. However, to write an email campaign consisting of seven emails and a short landing page, it's not uncommon to get around $5,000. Once you get the hang of it, you can probably complete a project like that in two or three days. For a 800-word case study, where you would need to interview your client's customer, a $1,000-$1,500 fee is reasonable. Writing a blog or monthly e-newsletter for a B2B company can start at $900-$1,500 per month. 6. Should I pick a niche? If so, how? The good news is, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of potential niche markets to choose from. As a B2B copywriter, you can focus on writing for software companies, sales training firms, consultants, transportation companies, solar energy manufacturers, publishers, printing companies, whew, the list goes on and on. The best way to pick a niche is to leverage your background. If you've spent 10 years in the transportation industry, marketing managers of transportation companies are going to want to talk to you. Why? Because you're a copywriter who understands them. 7. How do I get started as a B2B copywriter? First, you need to learn your craft. That means learning the B2B writing style, and mastering how to write all the different types of projects — ads, emails, write papers, etc. Next, you need to learn how to land clients. Everything from setting up your website to reaching out to business owners and marketing directors and letting them know about your services. The good news is, these are skills you can master. So [find a good course or program]( that will help you, ideally one that teaches you all the basics you need to get started. Finally, you should keep up-to-date with best practices and current trends in the industry. Things keep changing, and when you're "in the know," you look more professional. So those are some of the answers I give when I'm asked about B2B. Like I said, I try to be short! But if you have more questions about the B2B copywriting opportunity, let me know. I'm happy to answer them in the comments section [here](. Countdown to Bootcamp — 48 Days to Go! Are You Ready for this Year's Copywriting Event of the Year?! [People celebrating at bootcamp] We asked AWAI's Chief Success Officer Ted Capshaw, one of the emcees for our upcoming Bootcamp, to describe the experience … "Bootcamp is The Bomb, Baby! No, really, it is! Informative. Inspiring. Connecting. Fun. And, overwhelming and exhausting … in all the right ways. "A perfect blend to help you vision out and start or continue your journey to the writer's life." We can't wait to see you in Delray Beach, Florida this October, so you can experience it for yourself … We've got an amazing lineup of experts, marketers, fellow AWAI members, and the AWAI team ready to help you take your copy career to the next level. It's safe to say this year will go down in the record books as the BEST BOOTCAMP EVER!! If you're not signed up yet, now is the time … There are only a few spots left. [>> Go here now and grab one of the remaining seats for the biggest Copywriting Event of the Year.]( Last Chance to Test-Drive B2B Writing Success for $1! Get instant access to the ENTIRE membership site including all the success roadmaps, the quick start writing guides, how-to videos, 150+ training webinars, the Job Board, tutorials, the tools … All of it! [Activate Your B2B Writing Success 30-Day Trial for $1 NOW.]( Last Spots Remain! Biggest Career-Boosting Event of the Year! Get million-dollar industry secrets and cutting-edge techniques straight from the experts who created them … Network with fellow writers of all levels and build a support team to keep you motivated and on track … PLUS land new clients – or your first client – at our ultimate job fair for freelance writers … Join us for our biggest writer's event of the year to get all this and more! [Access your invitation here.]( Test Drive AWAI's Copywriting Program for Only $29 If you've ever been curious about copywriting, now is your chance to test drive our flagship program, AWAI's Accelerated Program for Six-Figure Copywriting for just $29. When you master persuasive writing with our industry leading training, you'll be in big demand in this 2.3 trillion-dollar industry. You can make a good living, choose your own hours, and work from anywhere in the world. But hurry, this "test-drive" will be closing soon! 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