Tag: competitive copywriters

4 Freelance Copywriters Who Give Great Advice

There are many freelance copywriters who give great advice. If you braved the traffic, wind, and Trimet last Thursday, you met one of them. Formidable copywriter and content strategist Hank Hosfield spent nearly twfreelance copywriters who give great adviceo hours giving advice both practical and inspiring for new and veteran freelance copywriters at the Copywriter Conclave of Portland’s monthly meeting.

If you don’t have access to in-person resources, there are many freelance writing advisors on the Internet.  Many monetize that advice through coaching, online classes, e-books, and so forth.  Some are good and some are bad. Peter Bowerman (we’ve written about him before) is one of the best.  He’s written for corporations (such as Mercedes-Benz), and now a major line of his business is marketing to freelance copywriters like us.

I’ve encountered many freelance writers in my online travels, and I’ve interacted with four in particular who give excellent advice.  They share some traits:  many years of experience; impressive client lists; and a generosity of spirit.

SEO Copywriting

SEO Copywriting is based in Oregon (West Linn) and was founded by Heather Lloyd-Martin.  Heather has more than 20 years of marketing experience, and she was at the vanguard of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) copywriting.  Heather markets to businesses, but she also offers a SEO Copywriting Certification to freelancers.  Heather sends out a weekly e-newsletter, and there is an array of informative blog posts at her site.  She’s also on Twitter.

Dr. Freelance

I became acquainted with Jake Poinier, aka Dr. Freelance, back in 2010 when I started my own freelance copywriting business.  Jake started his freelance shop in 1999.  He releases the Dr. Freelance series of e-books, and his blog posts are informative and entertaining.  He’s also personable, and I’ve learned a lot from him.  One topic he frequently tackles is the touchy subject of freelance writer rates.  You can also find him on Twitter.

Writing Thoughts

Laura Spencer has more than 24 years of professional copywriting experience, with 1,400+ articles and blog posts to her credit.  Laura is a working writer who is also a coach for freelance writers, focusing particularly on messaging and communication.  Laura writes valuable blog posts that touch on many aspects of running a freelance writing business.  Yup, she’s also on Twitter.

Productive Writers

John Soares is another Oregon-based writer (he lives in Ashland).  As of this blog post, he is not taking on new coaching clients, but he sells an e-book designed to help writers discover a niche that is right for them. (Our own Sheila Ashdown has similar advice.).  John’s own niche is in “freelance writing for college textbook publishers,” which has served him well over the years.  He is (you guessed it) on Twitter.

I think there’s an obvious market need for writing advice.  I’m on the fence if a “freelance advisor” should focus only on other freelance writers as his/her market. I think you run the risk of giving outdated advice unless you still market to businesses/institutions. That doesn’t apply so much if you’re discussing basic grammar rules or “how-to” prospecting tips.

I’ve learned the most from writers still “in the game,” and that’s why I’ve highlighted Heather, Jake, Laura, and John.

How about you?  Who do you feel gives great advice for freelance copywriters?

Competition, Copywriters, and the Conclave

A group of copywriters and editors in the same group may seem like a strange idea. After all, aren’t we supposed to be competing for the same pool of clients? If you’re a professional writer or editor in Portland (or you’re just starting out), that might be the first thing that comes to mind when considering membership in the Copywriter Conclave of Portland.

When Amber James invited me to join the group back in 2011, that’s what I thought, too. The funny thing, though, is that I have gotten some of the best leads (and kind support) from this talented bunch of writers/editors.

We do sometimes pitch to the same local clients. But it’s not a big deal. After all, we don’t just focus on the PDX area. For instance, I’ve worked with clients in Panama and China.

Anyway, if a Portland client ever chose one of my peers over me, it’s because they needed a particular set of skills.

And, let me tell ya, this group has a formidable set of skills:


Lisa-Natalie Anjozian: Earth and Space Science Writer

Lisa-Natalie Anjozian writes for NASA (particularly the Goddard Space Flight Center). She also writes for small businesses, but not many writers can say they have written for NASA. Like Jeff Gunderson, she has a talent for taking complex concepts and making them understandable to everyone.

Sheila Ashdown: Book Editor, Ghostwriter, Writing Coach

Sheila Ashdown focuses equally on writing and editing (they require different mindsets, trust me). She has written marketing copy for Powell’s Books and numerous small businesses. She edits non-fiction and fiction books and offers multiple editing tiers depending on her clients’ needs. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of The Ne’er Do Well literary magazine.

Dylan Benito: Technical Writer

Dylan Benito currently works as a technical writer for Intel, a copyeditor for Oxford University Press, and she is also a freelance writer for local and non-local clients. She also spent several years as a bookseller for Powell’s Books. Somehow, she also finds time to be the Conclave’s treasurer.

Kirsten Collins: Grant Writer

Kirsten Collins is a fundraising expert who offers a consultative approach to her clients. Her services include comprehensive grants management, as well as project-based grant writing. She even sets up grant plans and handles donor communications, making life as easy as possible for her clients.

Jeanie Gosline: Marketing Copywriter

Jeanie Gosline currently writes copy for Nike.com and was a triple threat (proofreader/office manager/web coordinator) for Dissent Magazine during a critical four-year period (2004-2008). Her specialties include brand identity, web content, and marketing campaigns.

Jeff Gunderson: Water, Sustainability, and Natural Resources Copywriter

Jeff Gunderson writes engaging and laymen-friendly articles about complex technical processes. His clients include the University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center and Water Environment & Technology, the magazine for the Water Environment Federation. The three pillars of his consultancy are, “water, environment, building.”

Amber James: Marketing Copywriter

Amber James, the Conclave’s founder and fearless leader, has written for Nike, and she currently is the copywriter for Biamp Systems. Oh, and she was also recognized by the NCAA as the greatest female athlete in the entire history of the Division III indoor track & field championship. She brings that same level of power to her clients.

Kristin O’Neill: Marketing Copywriter and Consultant

Kristin O’Neill excels at matching a writing style to a particular audience. Like Amber, she has a sports background, and she’s written content for many small businesses, as well as a construction firm. She also dedicates hours of her time to marketing the annual Wordstock Festival.

Mike Russell: Marketing Copywriter

Mike Russell is a web copywriter who has written everything from white papers to faculty profiles. He also gives prospects a free report entitled, “5 Ways to Write a Bio that Sells,” that provides tremendous value to working professionals. He also has a keen interest in environmental writing and unconventional pizza.

Rachel Wright: Retail and Apparel Copywriter

Rachel Wright is a storyteller at heart and writes content that holds people’s attention. Her current focus is as a copywriter, editor, and content strategist. Her lucky clients include Nau, Roxy, and Nike. She’s also a talented and nuanced photographer.

Mahesh Raj Mohan: Marketing Copywriter

And then there’s me. I’ve written for the Oregonian and The Portland Spirit. I’ve created content for medical centers and physicians, and I’ve edited complete non-fiction manuscripts and novels.

If you want to know more about the Copywriter Conclave of Portland, or you’re ready to sign-up, go here. We want to know more about you!