Get more freelance writing gigs this way

This unique approach is delivering massive results for writers [The Writer’ s Life]( October 26, 2022 "Embrace what you don't know, especially in the beginning, because what you don't know can become your greatest asset." – Sara Blakely We talk a lot about the customer journey around here, {NAME} … The first reason is that it's the best way to SHOW just how many great well-paying opportunities there are for writers. The second is because it helps us write better … by focusing on where the writer is in the journey. Any time we meet the reader where they are, our copy is more effective. But today, our Learning Chief, Pam Foster, is going to approach it from a different lens … an approach that gets you MORE freelance writing gigs as a result. She's also going to be [live on Facebook at 12 p.m. ET today](, with a fun "game show" that will teach you how to spot writing opportunities every time you visit a website. Over to you Pam! [Rebecca Matter’ s signature] Rebecca --------------------------------------------------------------- Hi {NAME}, Pam Foster here! 👋 The term "Content Marketing" is well known these days, with many companies scrambling and investing loads of money to produce effective content that creates awareness, leads, sales, and retention. To stay competitive … they need to improve their web content, continually publish blog posts and other useful content, and even beef up their sales copy in a highly competitive market. It's not an easy task! For instance, in the blog post by Wordstream, "11 Content Marketing Challenges and How to Overcome Them," the #1 problem is INSUFFICIENT RESOURCES. Here's an excerpt from that Wordstream post for small-business owners: "Producing content is easy. Producing good content is much harder. It takes time and skill to produce quality content consistently. Many small businesses tackle their own content marketing efforts, and for good reason. Unfortunately, producing consistently great content can get in the way of other things, like actually running your business. Either you accept the time investment required to produce consistent quality content, or you'll have to pony up and pay someone to do it for you." The good news for you? Many companies are more than happy to "pony up and pay" for skilled content writers. That's YOU! But how does a company know which content is working … what could use a re-do … and what to produce next? You can guide them with content auditing services. Yesterday, Rebecca gave you an overview of [Site Content Audits](, which is basically a professional review of a company's website. During Site Content Audits, you use a 21-point checklist to evaluate the content strengths and weaknesses on a few pages of any site, and then report on missed opportunities to improve its performance (more leads and sales). Clients love this professional review because it helps them know exactly what to fix! Plus, you can earn up to $2,000 or more per site content audit. But we're not just talking about auditing client websites. Your value as a content writer extends way beyond that. You can offer a Content Marketing Audit across the full spectrum of a client's marketing approaches. What does "across the full spectrum" mean? Check out this AWAI Copywriting-Content Continuum showing you all the projects that clients need or use to make the entire customer journey as smooth and delightful as possible — moving prospects from awareness to buyer to happy customer. [AWAI copywriting continuum] You'll see that there are four main stages of the buyer's journey: Stage 1: Content That Builds Traffic/Awareness/Leads This is content that shows up when people are searching online for information on a certain topic — and they don't know which brand or company even offers solutions. For instance, a new parent interested in "green" or "eco-friendly" parenting may Google, "sustainable baby tips" and find a list of helpful blog posts from different companies, as shown here: [Google search results page] These blog posts aren't selling products. They're simply providing tips and checklists that will help the reader. And in one of these posts, they may offer a free e-newsletter with more tips. As a result, the reader (a potential prospect for the business) may subscribe to the e-newsletter and become a lead for that business. This only happens if the blog post is exceptional, and many are not. You'll be the professional guide who helps clients evaluate Stage 1 content. Stage 2: Copy linking to a Direct Sales Page Let's continue with our "sustainable baby" sequence. Now that the prospect has become a potential lead or buyer (via the e-newsletter subscription, for instance), she may receive emails with special offers on eco-friendly baby products. For instance, "Free diaper bag when you try our bamboo diapers." The prospect clicks on that offer and arrives at the next Stage. That's when Stage 2 content works well. Again, you'll be the judge. Stage 3: Direct-sales Copy (Buy/Order Now) This is the stage where sales are made. In our "sustainable baby" scenario, the prospect likes a particular eco-friendly diaper product description, including its many benefits, unique patented "Leak proof" system, and collection of 5-star customer reviews. The prospect can also watch a video showing how it's made of sustainable materials, reinforcing that it's a great product for her needs. At this point, she's convinced that it's the perfect choice, and she makes a purchase. And then, she moves to Stage 4. But wait! This sequence only happens with great sales copy. You'll make notes and offer ideas to make it stronger. Stage 4: Retention Copy and Content In this stage, the baby products company's mission is to keep this customer happy. The aim is to retain this customer's business, offer other reasons to buy from them, and even become an evangelist and tell other new parents about their remarkable products. Stage 4 content includes Welcome and follow-up emails, "insider" e-newsletters, perhaps video tutorials on how to use the new product, and so forth. If this content is great, the customer sticks around. If not? Well, you can imagine. Now, while this Continuum covers four main stages of moving your prospect from awareness to buyer to happy customer — all through different approaches involving content marketing and sales copywriting — There's ONE core location that's relevant throughout: the client's website. Audit the Client's Website First Most marketing efforts eventually lead to the client's main website — the hub of their online branding. That's where customers might "check out" a brand to see what it's all about … make it their go-to home once they subscribe to something … and even review FAQs or contact the staff. This means the website needs to be clear, customer-focused, competitive, and conversion-driving. It needs to support all the other marketing efforts. In other words, in an instant, the website needs to answer in the visitor's mind: - What or who is this company? - What do they offer that meets my needs? - Why should I choose them over competitive options? - What's a strong reason to engage here, or take the next step? - And what do I DO here to take that next step? This eco-friendly baby products company website is a pretty good example of answering these questions at a glance, on the first screen. [Screen shot of first page of an eco-friendly baby products company's website] But if these questions aren't clearly answered in your client's web content, many of the Continuum Stages will fall flat. This is why a [Site Content Audit]( should be priority #1. To sum up — when you're serving clients as a Content Marketing Consultant, you can charge a nice fee to evaluate and report on the strength and weaknesses of 5 different areas. Here's the math: 1 Website Content Audit (the client's core website): $2,000 + 4 Continuum Stages (the client's current marketing materials): another $2,000-$5,000+ depending on the number of materials. Total for all 5 areas: $4,000-$7,000+ per audit! Your content auditing service is just the beginning of a beautiful relationship … When you complete your audit and pinpoint various items to fix or add to boost results … you'll then become the go-to writer to tackle the next steps. You're positioned as way more than a "content writer" at this point. You're a company ally providing strategic content. Which means you can charge top dollar for your writing services. Everyone wins! Interested in learning more? I'd love to work with you! [Go here for details on my upcoming training.]( I'll have you ready to roll in just a few weeks with the skills, experience, my personal resources, and a plan to land those first all-important paid site audits. And if you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them later today when I'm [live on Facebook]( for my interactive "game show" … I'm going to show you how to do a simple audit of any website to see if it's missing any of the FIVE critical content areas it needs to be effective. I hope to see you there! Pam Foster AWAI Learning Chief Instructor, Site Content Audits Mastery & Certification CLOSING: Now Accepting New Members Your new life as a well-paid and in-demand writer is just one click away … A life that offers freedom, lots of fun, no more money worries, and so many unique, high-paying writing opportunities. But the clock is ticking … The discounted new-member pricing disappears in a matter of hours! [Get it before midnight tonight!]( What's Hot at AWAI … 🖐 [Knowing these five content "musts" will REALLY impress your first client!]( 🕖 [If you don't have a lot of time, start with this.]( 🤩 [To parent and pivot, engineer finds flexibility in copywriting.]( 👀 [Want to have your glass of wine … and get paid to write about it too?]( A lot can happen in just one week … [Social media post about writing success] The power of momentum – coupled with ACTION – is everything … We're glad that the rush turned into a win for you! Have your own story to share? Email us at mysuccess@awai.com, or [post it over in the Facebook group](, so we can celebrate your win too! TODAY: GAME TIME! Join our Learning Chief, Pam Foster TODAY, October 26 at 12 p.m. ET for an hour of fun … And learn how to get your foot in the door with ANY company in ANY niche! You'll also learn how to turn this fun activity into a $2,000 paycheck any time you do it in the future … [Click Here To Join]( Full Access for Just $1!!! This free blueprint shows you how to make $2,500 to $8,000 a month as a writer. And for just a buck, you'll gain access to every resource you'll need to execute that blueprint. All the roadmaps … All the articles … All the how-to videos … All the training webinars … The member forum, the job board, the tutorials, the tools … All of it! [Check It Out Now]( Featured Jobs SEO Content Writer – Abt Electronics Full-time, Glenview, IL We're looking for innovative, experienced SEO writers who know how to create articles that will rank on Google and drive purchase intent through high-converting, SEO-optimized copy. --------------------------------------------------------------- Content Writer – Creative Circle Full-time, Arlington, MA Create content/copy for campaigns across a variety of channels, including email, print, digital/social, and promotional items --------------------------------------------------------------- Copywriter – Creative Circle Full-time, Fairfax, VA Make recommendations for campaign strategies for message development and channel selection. --------------------------------------------------------------- You can find all of these jobs and thousands more on [WritersWanted.com](. Access is currently available with [The AWAI Method™]( and will be opened up to additional AWAI members in the near future. 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