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LinkedInHow I set up a fun, efficient copywriter office space
When writers start talking about their craft, the conversation inevitably turns to office space and equipment.
No surprise there. Golfers talk about their clubs. Runners talk about their shoes. And photographers talk about their cameras.
For copywriters, the tools of the trade are, basically, an office with a desk, computer, and other stuff. So naturally every writer is a little curious about how other writers set up their workspace.
Here’s a photo of my office. I didn’t clean up or arrange anything. I just walked to the other side of the room and snapped a photo. What you see is how my workspace looks on a typical weekday.
I’ve come to this arrangement after many years of experimenting with various configurations. This “command corner” setup is what I find to be most productive.
5 bilingual copywriting traps and how to avoid them
It’s hard enough to write good copy in one language. Writing copy that works in two languages is at least twice as hard.
I’ll be honest … I have little facility in other languages.
I spoke a little German when I lived in Europe and stumbled through Spanish class in high school, but whatever communication skills I have exist only in English.
Whenever I’ve faced a situation where my copy had to be used in other languages, I’ve always turned the job over to specialists who could do it right.
Here are some of the most common mistakes you should avoid if you’re ever in a bilingual copywriting situation for the first time.
My Path to Freelance Success (And So Can You)
Okay, I stole that headline idea from comedian Stephen Colbert. But it kinda makes sense if you read this whole post.
You see, I get a lot of emails from aspiring copywriters who want to know how to break into freelancing and find success.
And I have to admit, that’s a difficult question to answer. There is no one right path.
I’m not aware of any college curriculum that teaches freelance business practices. And I wouldn’t trust a professor to provide good advice on a topic like freelancing anyway.
Every freelancer I know has a different story to tell. Each has different advice.
I might suggest that you seek a job in marketing or advertising, get a few years of experience, freelance on the side for a while, then launch your own business. That’s because most successful freelance copywriters have some area of expertise that makes them more valuable than an ordinary writer.
But instead of pontificating about what I think you should do, why don’t I just tell you about how I actually came to freelancing? I had nothing like a plan, yet in a strange way, it was the perfect path for me to get to where I am today.
How to write a crowd-pleasing speech in 3 simple steps
The higher business people rise in the business world, the more likely they are to get invitations to speak.
However, they are also more likely to have no time to craft a speech, which is where good copywriters come in.
Arvid Westfelt shares his expertise on taking a highly consultative approach to writing a speech by following 3 simple steps.
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Have you picked up Dean’s free report yet? Then you know that the 10th astonishingly simple way to dazzle your clients and double your income is to be a trusted consultant.
What it means is you’re not just a pair of hands typing copy. You are selling expertise in the broader sense of helping your client succeed.
If you get to that much-envied position, chances are your client will ask you to help her with things that are outside your specialty.
It could be radio ads, investor relations — or writing a speech!
