Today at Noon ET: Making money as a writer in 2023

Brian Clark is going to show you how to take advantage of the REAL content marketing opportunity [The Writer’ s Life]( May 19, 2023 "The entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it, and exploits it as an opportunity." – Peter Drucker We've got a rare treat for you today, {NAME}! At noon ET, you get to learn directly from the legendary content marketing pioneer himself, Brian Clark, how to seize the REAL opportunity in content marketing today … One that quickly ups your earning potential in a really big way. You'll discover: - How recent changes have created new opportunities for freelancers. - What clients need now IN ADDITION to brilliant writing. - The perks of shifting your business to this new model. - How to elevate your career fast. - And of course, so much more! [Go here for access instructions to this FREE training!]( Content is at the core of all digital marketing today … you're surrounded by it! Blog posts, articles, emails, e-newsletters, social media updates, case studies, white papers … And knowing how to write content can keep you very busy. After all, businesses need an endless supply of it. But with AI tools like ChatGPT gaining more usage, writers are fearing the future. We've talked a lot about this over the last few months … AI's inability to write with empathy, know your stories, or connect with readers … In short, it's a tool, not a replacement for good writing. ([You can learn more about the future of writing in an AI world here.]() But AI is also creating a HUGE new opportunity for you … Because AI is only as good as the writer using it. The more you understand about the strategy behind what content is needed and why, the more valuable you will become — and the more you will be paid. Making those decisions is strictly a human thing … not an AI thing. In today's issue below, AWAI Success Jen Phillips April takes you inside the role of a content strategist. I like to think of understanding strategy as having "insurance" for your writing career — and your income. But the $5,000 paydays + retainers make it pretty enticing too. 😁 [>> I go into more detail on the opportunity here.]( And don't forget to join us at noon ET! Rebecca Matter President AWAI Writer Flash Sale: 80% off (+ $297 FREE training) We've made it SO easy to reach your goals this year … - A year's membership in the Barefoot Writer Club (80% off) … - And our brand-new "Over the Shoulder" Trainings for Digital Copywriters — a $297 value, FREE! You'll get roadmaps, blueprints, and how-to trainings … Inspiration, motivation, and endless success stories … Emotional support, celebration, and friendship from a private community … AND step-by-step guidance from a master copywriter, through the top three easiest projects for new writers! [Get it ALL for just $49 here! [Expires at midnight!)]( Content Marketing Is a $107 Billion Opportunity By Jen Phillips April [male freelance writing working at desk] In an era where you can buy pizza, shoes, or houses online, how do companies find their customers — and vice versa? With content. From social media posts for the latest sneakers to customer success stories for Business-to-Business (B2B) software, it's all content. Imagine a typical day in your life … You get up in the morning and check your phone. Weather, time, recent messages, headlines. Now that you know you haven't missed anything important, you get up and brew a cuppa. By lunchtime, you've probably seen 4,000+ ads already. Between billboards, radio ads, and online advertising, humans have learned to ignore most of it. Yet, we still watch videos, read blog posts, and listen to podcasts. In other words, we consume content in many forms. Some of that content is from brands we trust and buy from. Companies create images, videos, and downloadable content to answer their customer's questions and help them decide yes, they want to buy this product or service. Of course, creating the right type of content requires understanding who the customer is, what they care about, and what type of content they want. That's where a Content Marketing Strategist comes in. A strategist builds the who, what, why, how, and where behind the created content. More on that in a moment. First, let me share some of the numbers behind this huge opportunity. Content Marketing Is the New Advertising Just a decade ago, having ANY content could catapult a business to the top of the search engines. Companies that had a modern website, used email marketing, and had a social media presence were cutting-edge. Now, those are table stakes. Research giant McKinsey says the pandemic moved online adoption ahead by a decade, in a phenomenon labeled "The Leap." With in-person meetings at a standstill, companies needed to figure out how to connect with their potential customers. Many of them found good online content like blog articles, email marketing, and other educational materials to impact sales. One business leader said they saved a million dollars in 2020 by not attending trade shows. Instead, they turned to online content to connect with their customers. According to Statista, the content marketing industry will reach 107 BILLION dollars by 2026. And no company wants only one, two, or 10 pieces of content. They need MUCH more. That's because each piece of content has a purpose. Overall, content informs, creates interest, and builds trust and credibility with potential customers. Here are some of today's dominant content types, as well as the fees content writers can earn for these short copy projects: Articles — $150 to $800 Blog posts — $200 to $500 Case Studies — $1,250 to $2,000 White Papers — $2,000 to $7,500 E-newsletters — $900-$2,000 a month Special Reports — $1,500 to $5,000 Video Scripts — $100+ per minute for how-to video scripts Social Media — $2,000 for a monthly retainer Infographics — $100 to $750 (text only) Since businesses often need a mix of content types for each product and for each target audience, a content writer can be very busy, even just for one client. Content Leads the Prospect on a Journey Now, while many businesses recognize the need for a high volume of engaging and shareable content, many of them struggle to connect the content to incoming revenue. That's where a good Content Marketing Strategy comes into play. For instance, you're not just writing a blog post for fun. You're writing a blog post that answers prospective questions and helps the prospect take the next step in the buying process. Communications like emails, social media posts, articles, blog posts, videos, ads … the list goes on and on … are considered touchpoints on the customer's journey to making a purchase. In the Business-to-Business (B2B) world, a recent report by Forrester found that the average number of touchpoints before a sale has risen from 17 to 27! Think of your own buying habits. You probably read reviews, compare brands, and ask for recommendations before buying something new. Brands know this and that's why they produce videos, blog posts, comparison guides, and so much more. No matter the product or industry, there are masses of content about it. And ideally, every piece of content connects the dots between the content and the customer's needs. That's where the content strategy comes into play. A strategy implies there's a bigger picture in mind. According to Copyblogger, "A content marketing strategy is a plan for building an audience by publishing, maintaining, and spreading frequent and consistent content that educates, entertains, or inspires to turn strangers into fans and fans into customers." A strategy addresses the question, "What does the prospective customer need to hear next?" and sets up a series of content pieces that will lead the prospective customer toward a purchase or specific action. For example: - Perhaps the prospect became interested in the company's product or service by reading an article … - Then they went to the website and signed up to receive the free e-newsletter … - While they were on site, they read a few blog posts … - Interested, they clicked on a link to check out a case study … - Further intrigued, they downloaded a white paper … - Next, they started receiving emails that included links to a special report and informative videos … - Then, they got an email offering the opportunity for a product demonstration or a discount to make a purchase … Each different piece of content in each step is so critical, taking the prospective client by the hand and leading them on a journey closer and closer to the sale. This is especially important in Business-to-Business (B2B), where the sales cycle can take a long time and require input from multiple departments. And businesses that have a documented content marketing strategy report higher levels of overall content marketing success compared with those that have a verbal strategy only, or no strategy at all, according to the B2B Content Marketing Benchmarks, Budgets, and Trends Report by Content Marketing Institute and MarketingProfs. The report also showed that 61% of organizations struggle to create content that appeals to the different stages of the buyer's journey. Besides creating new content, a SEMrush Survey found 51% of B2B companies put "improving content" on their 2023 lists. I know writers who are taking older blog posts and refreshing them with new statistics and stories. In all, there are unlimited opportunities to help companies create a revenue-generating plan. And that spells a big opportunity for you if you can help them create that strategy. What Is the Role of a Content Marketing Strategist? As a Content Marketing Strategist, you're thinking about your prospective customer, coming up with ideas for content based on questions they might ask, and determining what content will help them take the next step toward a purchase. You're planning those steps on their journey. Combined, the pieces of content should create a full picture of the product, like putting together a puzzle. Do they need a blog series, each building on one other? Or do your customers want videos? What about repurposing a webinar into a blog post so it reaches a wider audience? When you're creating the strategy, you can make even bigger money because you're not just a writer; you're a Consultant. A Content Marketing Strategist can make $5,000 per month on retainer from each client. Do that 12 months for one client, and you're already at $60,000 per year. Two clients, and you're into six-figures. Content Marketing is now a $107 billion industry and growing rapidly. There's money to be made as a content writer — and there's even more available when you become a strategist who helps businesses create a cohesive plan that generates revenue from their content. With the proper training, you could be cashing in on this growing opportunity and having a lot of fun at the same time! [Check out the details on our newest live training here.]( What's Hot at AWAI … 👀 Don't miss our Inside AWAI session, A New Model for Making Money as a Writer in 2023 and Beyond, TODAY at noon ET! [Grab access instructions here!]( 👉 [THIS is one of the most in-demand copywriting niches today.]( 🤔 [Why asking questions is CRUCIAL to success.]( 👀 ICYMI: Looking for the perfect niche for new writers? This might be what you're looking for. [Watch this interview today.]( 🤩 [Retired school counselor finds extra income through copywriting — from Costa Rica.]( So excited! [Social media post about being excited about having first real discovery call and sending the proposal] Way to go, Carla! We are rooting for you every step of the way. 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! Free Training: A New Model for Making Money as a Writer in 2023 and Beyond [Inside AWAI Expand Your Earning Potential as a Strategist featuring presenters Pam Foster and Brian Clark] Join us live, today at 12 p.m. ET 👇 [Access Instructions Here]( Bootcamp REVEALED May 23rd @ 11 a.m. Eastern! Join Rebecca Matter and the gang to get inside the 2023 copywriting event of the year … and see why three days in October could end up being your most profitable ever! You'll also discover tips and strategies to rocket your career forward, how to connect directly with clients looking to hire, and more! [Go here now to RSVP (it's free!)]( Featured Jobs You can find these jobs and thousands more on [WritersWanted.com](: --------------------------------------------------------------- Content Writer — Creative Circle Full-time, St Charles, MO Create engaging content for website, blogs, landing pages, articles, social media brochures, and sales collateral. --------------------------------------------------------------- Content Writer — Design-peak-com Full-time, Remote Deliver strategically sound conceptual content (blogs, case studies, emails, social posts, website). --------------------------------------------------------------- Content Marketing Writer — KTek Resourcing Contractor, Remote Generate engaging thoroughly researched original content with strong writing and visual storytelling to support product launches, investor education, and marketing campaigns. --------------------------------------------------------------- Trouble viewing this email? [View in your browser, here](. 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