Try this fun, high-paying writing project

4 reasons to write these “good news” stories [The Writer’ s Life]( August 19, 2021 Hi {NAME}, No doubt you've heard someone successful described as being "in the right place at the right time" … And I've got one of those opportunities for you today. The timing to become a well-paid writer with this project is perfect, thanks to four reasons Casey Hibbard outlines today. And you're in the right place to get the training you need to learn the simple writing skill that involves writing "good news" stories. The projects are short, simple, and fun — and ideal for new AND experienced writers. Plus, the demand is crazy-high right now — and so are the writing fees! ([Check it out here.]() But before I turn it over to Casey, I wanted to make sure you saw this crazy deal running today … When you sign up for a Barefoot Writer subscription, for only $11 … You'll also get FREE access to our Making the Leap program, which takes you from wherever you are now, and shows you exactly how to make a smooth transition to paid writing, so you'll have success right out of the gate … Not only that, but you'll get our 8 Steps to Copywriting Success Companion Workbook along with the program — giving you a protected place to write down the most important lessons and cement your next steps as a paid writer. AND you'll get The Fast Start Guide to a Thriving Copywriting Business. This popular video series has seven secrets to staying confident from the minute you declare your independence as a writer. Normally $297, it's all FREE with your Barefoot Writer Magazine subscription — which you can grab today, for just $11. [Click here to activate your discount today.]( To your success, [Rebecca Matter’ s signature] Rebecca Matter President, AWAI 4 Reasons Why There's Never Been a Better Time to Write Case Studies By Casey Hibbard [Happy woman sitting on living room floor while writing on laptop] In 2000, I was a freshly minted case study writer. I'd written a few of these fun, well-paying projects, and was hooked. I was interviewing my clients' happy customers and crafting compelling stories. Sign me up for more! In the pre-LinkedIn era, I began frequenting face-to-face networking events to find clients. But when I enthusiastically told people that I write case studies … blank stares followed. Back then, it was the rare marketer who had heard of customer case studies — mostly limited to savvy technology companies. I had to explain WHAT case studies were, WHY they were valuable, and then SELL prospects on working with me. It became exhausting. The good news for writers is, things are vastly different today. Customer case studies, aka success stories, have become an indispensable marketing tool. Hundreds of thousands of businesses create them. And if they don't yet, most know they should. Here are four reasons why there's never been a better time to be a case study writer … Reason #1: Social Proof Rules the Day People have always relied on "social proof," or word-of-mouth, to make decisions. Maybe your friend recommends a babysitter or restaurant. With that endorsement, you feel more confident making the same decision. But in the past 20 years, social proof has become more formalized and part of companies' marketing budgets. From buying blenders to hotels to software, we've come to rely on the experiences of others to help make decisions. Consider the power of reviews on Amazon, TripAdvisor, and Yelp. Think about the last major purchase you made. Chances are, someone else's experience influenced your decision. But beyond online review sites, countless businesses now actively create customer case studies to give buyers more peace of mind in their decisions. Because the more expensive, complex, or risky the purchase is, the more proof buyers need. What better way than a compelling customer story to show that a company delivers on its promises? Buyers agree. When the research firm Forrester asked Business-to-Business (B2B) buyers about the type of content that helps them make purchase decisions, 71% said "real customer or peer stories." Reason #2: Companies Can't Find Enough Good Case Study Writers So many organizations now create case studies that marketers just can't find enough skilled help. Trust me. Nearly every week, a new prospect contacts me about creating case studies. But I can't take on all the requests that come in. The market needs more qualified case study writers. Companies want someone experienced in the ins and outs of this unique kind of writing … Someone who can learn their solutions quickly … Ask the right questions in interviews … Craft a compelling story with measurable results … Match the story to the client's goals and key messages … And guide them through the process until they have a completed story ready for use. It's not hard, but it does take specific know-how. Reason #3: Written Case Studies Still Reign Writers frequently ask me whether video testimonials are replacing written case studies. After all, marketing and social media are rife with video. While customer stories lend themselves well to video, the price tag and logistics seriously limit its use. Consider this: Chances are, the vendor and customer are in two totally different places. That requires flying a video crew to the customer's site, bringing the customer to the vendor's location, or finding a quality video team based in the customer's location — for every story. None of this is easy, or cheap. That's one of the reasons why written customer stories still outpace video testimonials. Second, not everyone prefers video. In fact, one survey found only about 30% of buyers actually prefer video overwritten. A possible explanation: written stories are skimmable and consumed at the buyer's own pace, while video is not. I see this with my own clients. Even those who produce customer videos still develop written stories on those same customers. Reason #4: Nearly Any Type of Business Can Benefit In the early days of my freelance career, customer case studies were mostly a make-or-break marketing tool of tech companies attempting to stand out in a very competitive start-up environment. But those technology trailblazers set the precedent for the rest of the business world, and now TONS of businesses market with written customer stories — from business services providers to consumer companies. Spend a few minutes searching online for "customer case studies" or "customer success stories" and you'll see what I mean. Up will pop page upon page of hits. At the top, you'll see big names like Microsoft and Cisco. But keep going and you'll find all types and sizes of businesses. These are just the ones that come up in a search. There are countless others behind-the-scenes that already produce case studies, or know they need to. Those could be coaches, consultants, health providers, financial advisors, architects, building contractors, educational providers, and many more. Check out the AWAI website and you'll find [dozens of member success stories.]( Because just about ANY organization could benefit from marketing with customer stories. So there you have it. There's never been a better time to add case studies to your menu of writing services. But beyond all that, it's an especially rewarding and fun form of writing for those who enjoy storytelling. And who doesn't? Thinking about dipping your toe in the case study world? Drop me a note and let me know. Or, do you have any questions about getting started as a case study writer? [Share here so we can point you to other resources.]( Editorial Note: Casey is offering a limited number of up-and-coming writers the chance to be mentored in how to write "good news" success stories. This is your chance to work directly with her and gain the tools and knowledge you need to be a well-paid case study writer … in just 4 weeks! She'll mentor you on the winning formats, and even coach you on how to find quality clients when your training is complete. This is an unbelievable opportunity to work with an expert who's written more than 1,000 case studies — and be Certified to prove you've mastered this skill. Plus, you'll complete a live Spec Assignment for AWAI. And if we choose yours as one of the three we publish, you'll get a paycheck for $1,500! [Check out all the details before enrollment closes at midnight tonight.]( $297 In Writing Training – for $11!!! When you grab a subscription to Barefoot Writer magazine by midnight, for only $11 … [Spread of 12 Issues of Barefoot Writer Magazine] You'll get FREE access to our Making the Leap program, which takes you wherever you are today … And shows you exactly how to make a smooth transition to paid writing, so you'll have success right out of the gate. It usually costs $297, but you'll get it completely free today! [Grab it All for $11.]( Your Road to Writing Success Starts Right Here No matter where you're starting from right now, there's a roadmap to writing success tailor-made to fit your situation … So you'll always know exactly what your next steps are and how to achieve your goals. Plus, when you sign up and download YOUR roadmap to success today, you'll also get automatic access to ALL the proprietary tools, templates, formulas … Everything you need to get your writing business up and running! Get your roadmap, writing templates, and MORE — all for just $1. [Go Here to Get Started.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Trouble viewing this email? [View in your browser, here](. For questions or requests: [contact us online](. --------------------------------------------------------------- ©2021 American Writers & Artists Institute Do you know of someone who would benefit from reading The Writer's Life? Simply direct them [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- American Writers & Artists Institute 220 George Bush Blvd, Suite D Delray Beach, FL 33444 (561) 278-5557 or (866) 879-2924 Ensure your subscription delivery. 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