It is very likely that you already have access to your first few high-paying clients.

Possibly even your “dream client”.

What’s more… they are likely ready, willing and eager to hire you.

Only two challenges exist:

First, they don’t know it.

Second, you don’t know it.

If you both “knew it”, then, you’d likely be writing for them right now instead of reading this.

Should we fix that? I mean, should we get you and that eager client together?

Yes! I think so, too!

I can show you how to do it in three simple steps.

But, first a story… or two ?

 

Your Attitude Determines Your Destiny

In the late 1800’s a man named Russell Conwell gave a speech called, “Acres of Diamond”.

(If you haven’t read it, it is well worth taking the time to study it. You can get a free copy here: Acres of Diamonds Ebook or you can listen to it here: Acres of Diamonds Audio)

The core premise of the speech is that all of us have access to everything we need to become wealthy… right now.

We don’t have to wait or go seeking elsewhere. God has given us each the resources we need to find joy, peace, and riches right where we are.

Before you read any further, you need to make a choice…

To accept or reject that idea.

If you accept it, you will find that it is true.  I mean, you’ll soon discover that you really do have access to all you need to create great wealth.

If you reject the idea, then you will soon find that the idea does not work in your life right now.

Yes, it is a simple choice. No matter what you choose, you will be right… at least for now.

Time and perspective will eventually reveal to you that the idea is sound.

You do, in fact, have access to all you need, right now, to become a very wealthy copywriter.

I don’t say that you are using those resources… or even that you know exactly how to use them… but you do have access to them.

If you choose to believe that truth, then continue reading.

If not… then you really need to keep reading!

Let me give you a few examples of the viability of this truth.

 

One Idea Changes the World Forever…

What Idea Will Change YOUR World Forever?

In 1973 (the year I was born, FYI…), there was an oil embargo that created a major energy crisis in the United States and other parts of the world.

To make matters worse, there was a general consensus among geologists that the world was using up too much oil and we were going to run out.  

At the time, the #1 consumer of oil was the automobile. Fuel efficiency averaged around 8 MPG… and American’s had a great love affair with road trips.

Gas was $0.36 a gallon… yes, you read that right… thirty six cents a gallon.

Then, in 1975 something wonderful happened…

Cadillac put a new, fancy thing in their Seville called an EFI, or Electronic Fuel Injector.

The EFI jumped MPG from 8 to 22.

By the early 1980’s every car on the road was sporting an EFI.

This wreaked havoc with geologist’s calculations… in effect, it tripled the earth’s oil supply.

Did we actually get more oil?

No.

Did we find ways to use what we already had better?

Yes.

Actually, the Corvette was the first car to use a fuel injector, back in 1950… and it was actually invented in the early 1930’s… but gas was cheap so no one really cared.

My point is…

the resources were already there.

We just needed to use them.

Here’s another example…

 

My First Client…

Without Website, Samples, or Testimonials!

When I first heard about copywriting, I wondered where in the world I would ever find a client.

Who would hire me? How would I get paid?

I happened to read Acres of Diamonds around that time and got to thinking, “What acres of diamonds do I have access to right now? How can I capitalize on them?”

As I thought about it, I decided to throw the net wide and tell everyone I knew about my skills and business.

I was super surprised to have an old political contact tell me that he knew several people who needed a good copywriter.

Within a few days I was talking to three different people.

One of them hired me and put me on retainer for $2,000 a month!

You might say, $2,000 is not “acres of diamonds” and certainly isn’t riches.

Maybe so.

But, I saw it differently.

You see, that client was a marketing and public relationship firm. They had hundreds of major clients… people like Google, Verizon, General Motors, Microsoft, and others.

I got to write for many of these companies.

And when I did, I put them on my list of clients and used some of my work for them as samples.

With those big names floating around my Information Packet, I felt confident contacting Sony, Corel, and other fortune 100 companies… and they felt confident hiring me. If Google trusted me, then why shouldn’t they, right?

Over the years, I’ve been able to leverage that first client in dozens of profitable ways.

It has helped me make well over a million dollars.

Here’s the point…

I had known Patrick (my political connection that got me the PR gig) for over five years…

and he’d know the guy at the PR firm for more than 8 years…

and the PR firm had been actively hiring copywriters for more than 3 years!

Everything I needed was already there.

I just had to reach out and grab it.

I just had to see it for what it really was.

One last story… actually a quote from one of my copywriting students.

 

“I Offered…”

He listened to a webinar that I did. In that webinar, I outlined a few simple strategies for finding clients… and talked about this idea of having your own private acre of diamonds.

He also attended a one day event I did in Austin, TX called, “Launch Your Writer’s Life in a Day”.

Here’s what he said,

“I participated in the Webinar yesterday and the Teleconference this morning and I must say, you are the most enthusiastic person I have had the pleasure to meet.

I am writing this because, the day after I got home from Austin, I stopped into a friend’s business and suddenly had an epiphany.

I offered to propose an email marketing campaign for her business (she currently doesn’t do any email marketing). I was surprised when she expressed great interest in my offer. I have several great ideas about the content and direction for the campaign. Thanks again!” ~ Mike Cambron, Spokane WA

The shop, the friend, the need… all of it had been there for years. Mike just hadn’t seen it for what it really was.

With new eyes, he now saw… and it turned into a nice client for him. Who knows where it will lead?

My question to you is this…

What ‘acres of diamonds’ are right in front of you?

I don’t know all of the diamonds within your reach, but I do know of one pile… and I’d like to show you how to reach out and grab it.

The your personal pile of diamonds is called “relationships”.

Over the years, you have met people, done business with them, associated with them, joined them at volunteer projects, etc…

What makes these relationships so valuable?

Four words:

Six degrees of separation.

Six degrees of separation states that everyone in the world is connected to each other by just six contacts.

In other words…

It is not likely that you know people that have an active need for copywriters.

You might… but not likely.

It is far more likely that they know someone… and it is 100% guaranteed that some of the the people that your friends’ friends know hire copywriters everyday.

That means that your best clients are already within your reach.

How to do you get to them?

There is a simple 3-step process.

And, believe me, if you have never actively engaged the power of six degrees of separation, you’ll be inspired and amazed at how effective it is at getting clients.

Here’s how you can make use of this right away.

 

Step One: Make a List

This is the foundation of your success.

You need to make a list.

This list should include EVERYONE you know now or have known in the past.

Basically anyone that would recognize your name… even if they need a little memory jogger like “My name is Joshua… you might not remember me, but we went to high school together.”

Again, list everyone.

You can use Facebook and LinkedIn to jog your memory and expand your list.

 

Step Two: Write a Simple Letter

This should be easy-cheesy since you’re a copywriter ?

The letter basically tells them you’re a copywriter… you’re looking for projects… do they have a need for a copywriter… or do they know someone.

Don’t make this complicated or overly involved… simple and straightforward is the best approach here.

I love to use this phrase to open…

“Can you help me out? I’d really appreciate it.”

People like to help, right?

And I love this phrase to close…

“Like I said, if you can help me with this, I’d really appreciate it. If not, I understand.”

These phrases are gentle, but very persuasive.

 

Step Three: Send It!

Yep… just send it. Don’t overthink this… don’t stress about it… don’t sit on it for a week (or months)… just send it.

You can send it via email.

You can send it through private messages on LinkedIn and Facebook.

You can twitter a shorter version of it… or tweet a picture of the letter.

You can print the letter and mail it.

You can pick up the phone, call someone and read it.

You can build a fire in your backyard and send smoke signals (though, I admit, this might be the least useful of my suggestions… lol).

Regardless of how you do it, just do it. Get the word out!!

When people respond (and they will) follow up with them.

In other words, repeat the process… make a new list with referrals you get, redraft the letter to fit your new audience and send it again.

This is not rocket science. But it works… and here’s why…

Carefully read this quote attributed to the German writer and statesman, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe…

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back–

Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.

All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.

Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it.

Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”  

Remember this… nothing happens until something happens.

The world does not know you’re a copywriter until you make the fact known.

So, begin at once. Be bold.

I think you’ll be shocked at the results.