To find out what you’re worth, you can start by shopping around to other people who do the same things. There are lots of sites that people can use to hire businesses, and often they let you see competitor’s prices. You may also speak to potential clients and ask for what they normally pay, though many will be tempted to give you a lower rate to get a better price.

Remember, just because someone does the same job as you, doesn’t mean you should charge the same as them. A writer who is a native English speaker is generally much more valuable than one who isn’t. Someone with twenty years experience often makes more than someone with two (but not always), and someone with proven results can make more than someone who is just starting out.

Just because you know what you’re worth doesn’t mean you can necessarily make that. When it comes to making what you’re worth, good marketing is key. There will always be people who can charge lower rates than you so it’s important that you don’t compete on price alone.

Let potential clients know what makes you different and why you’re worth more. The key is letting people know how good you are and convincing them that paying more for your services is going to help them make more money in the end.

Here are a few things to help you make your case:

* Samples – Samples of your work will help potential clients know that you’re good at what you do.

* Customer testimonials. This is one of the best ways to let potential clients know that your services are worth what you’re charging. If other previous clients have good things to say about you and your services, it will really vouch for you.

Charging what you’re worth can be scary, particularly during difficult times. However, with a little thought and planning there’s no reason why you can’t stand out from the competition – even with higher rates.
photo credit: Andres Rueda

By Alice Seba, Teacher at Internet Marketing Copy Makeover

If you sell any type of product, it’s no secret that copywriting skills (or a skilled copywriter on hand) goes a long way to selling more. We have just a few moments to grab a visitor’s attention, draw them into our offer and make the sale. We need to anticipate their objections and questions because most will click away to another seller instead of sending you an email to ask.

It sounds daunting, but it can be done by improving your own copywriting skills. But how do you do that?

Here are Your Three Tips:

1. Theory is Important: Getting to know the basics and then applying them to your own business is an important first step to learning to sell more through your writing. Start with a copywriting book or course that takes you from the beginning.

2. Study Others: Take a look at other sales copy that you find compelling and/or know that produces good sales results. Copy reaching a similar target market to yours is helpful, but GOOD copy in any market will give you very good clues to what works and what might not work.

3. Test Your Own: As you apply what you learn to your own copy, track the results. Copywriting isn’t an absolute science and some techniques may or may not work. Make sure you are testing your copy results to ensure you’re working toward continuous improvement.

These are the same basic steps I took when getting started. And actually, I still do these things because the cool thing about copywriting is that you can keep getting better all the time — and keep improving your response rates. That’s definitely good for business!

Recommended for Further Study:

For more help with your crafting copy that will bring you ultra-targeted prospects that will buy from you over and over again, check out Alice Seba’s Internet Marketing Copy Makeover. This one-on-one 4-week coaching program is customized to the needs of your unique business and shows you how to transform your current under-performing copy into an effective sales tool.

Download a Free Headline Tips, Sales Letter Template & Checklist at Internet Marketing Copywrite Makeover.

By Alice Seba, Teacher at Internet Marketing Copy Makeover

When I first heard someone say “swipe file” in regard to copywriting a few years back, I was horrified. If you’re not familiar with the term, it’s basically keeping a folder (printed or digital) of sales copy to refer to when crafting your own copy.

I know!

It seemed like people were suggesting that I keep a swipe file, so I could actually plagiarize the copy of others. It was totally shocking. But really, that is not the purpose of a swipe file. Keeping a swipe file is simply a learning opportunity to improve your own copywriting skills.

Here are three reasons why keeping a swipe file is a GOOD thing:

1. One of the best ways to dramatically improve your own copywriting, is to study the copywriting of others. Yes, getting a foundation in copywriting principles that can be found in copywriting books is important, but honing your skills comes from study and of course, practice. Studying shows you how people can create compelling stories, make copy flow and transition seamlessly and more.

2. Studying the copy of others increases your copywriting vocabulary. By studying copy, you start to see which words and phrases can be most powerful. Sure, you can buy lists of “power words” or “power phrases”, but seeing them in action really solidifies how it all works.

3. Just use your brain when you use your swipe file. Realize that every product and every target market is different. What works well with one, may not work well with others. Also, there is often some specific logic in using a particular angle, wording, etc. in copy – and you need to build your understandings of the WHY certain things are done in certain ways. Through basic and then in-depth study and practice, these things will become more obvious to you.

So…what’s in your swipe file? If you don’t have one yet, keep your eyes peeled for great sales copy to add to your file.

Recommended for Further Study:

For more help with your crafting copy that will bring you ultra-targeted prospects that will buy from you over and over again, check out Alice Seba’s Internet Marketing Copy Makeover. This one-on-one 4-week coaching program is customized to the needs of your unique business and shows you how to transform your current under-performing copy into an effective sales tool.

Download a Free Headline Tips, Sales Letter Template & Checklist at Internet Marketing Copywrite Makeover.