1. Pull it all together
2. Update the company brochure
3. Regularly update the company web site
4. Agree and release press releases and articles
5. Organise product, people and client photo shoots
6. Produce emails, letters, advertising

and other marketing stuff, not least of which was having the time to update any of the social media sites.

What’s more he hadn’t got the time to bring someone in occasionally and ask them to do some web site copy, or the brochure or emails or anything else.

He couldn’t afford someone full-time and yet he knew he needed to do the marketing. The problem being that if he brought someone in they were only used occasionally and never really got to know his business.

You could tell he was immensely frustrated.

The frustrations mounted, even while getting business

And as he said it wasn’t all about buying a web site, yes he might get some people buying through it.

It wasn’t about tweeting the latest offers, although he was sure he’d get some business.

What it was all about was being able to integrate the lot into a more powerful way of using all the bits and bobs he had.

That meant every piece of marketing supported every other piece of marketing.

Dealing with the right avenues of marketing at the right time was frustrating

It was so that rather than having to deal with all the different marketing related companies such as a PR company, an advertising agency, a marketing company, a printing company, a social media agency, a graphic design company and Uncle Tom Cobbley he could just tell someone his vision of where he wanted to be with marketing and leave it to that one person to pull it all together. They would deal with the PR company, advertising agency, and everyone else whilst maintaining his strategic view of the company direction and marketing thrust.

In a large company that would be the sales and marketing director, or other such person. In the smaller companies (his turnover is about £1 to £2 million) they don’t exist and they wouldn’t even be affordable.

Marketing headache relief

And the solution as he saw it was to employ someone on a part-time basis who’d had marketing experience from social media to marketing strategy and had the ability to manage outside agencies and the ability to write web copy as well as direct mail.

A tall order we both agreed. Until it slowly dawned on both of us that I was that person!

So the new marketing action man is your truly!

So what now?

Luckily I already know his business so I can be productive from day one. First task is to see about an ecommerce site, where I’ll also ensure that the marketing elements we need are included at the design stage rather than an add-on after the fact.

What next?

I thought it was such a good idea that I want to offer it to other businesses who don’t want to pay the significant sums such as person would want if working full-time.

So if you’re interested in having an ex-programme director/marketing strategist/direct mail and email copywriter/blog writer and WordPress blog builder coordinating and implementing the marketing you want email me on marketing at acornservice.com

It could be a lot of fun and very profitable for both of us!

So with the aim of reminding myself and helping others I’ve compiled a further 5 tips to help you write.

#6 – Start Before You Write

Preparation is one of the keys to making the best possible use of your writing zone.

So, before your writing zone time starts make sure you’ve listed out everything that’s in your head. So that means creating or amending your to do lists. If your zone starts at 9am like Michael’s it’s better to write your to do list the previous night and then add on the very few thoughts you have in the morning.

#7 – Bank Inspiration

Any writer needs some inspiration at one time or another. With blogging or copywriting you can easily come across other posts or marketing materials that make you go Ah-Ha! Put those away in a special place and take them out if inspiration dries up.

#8 – Don’t Avoid Sidetracks

When I’m writing I can suddenly find that I’ve an idea for another article, post or other piece copy. Recognise it’s an interruption and deal with it by quickly noting it down and returning to your other writing. I use TextPad to note down everything and it means that when I come back to my writing I’m not continually wondering (a) whether I’ll remember the idea or (b) what I should write into it.

#9 – Give Yourself A Deadline

Whatever you write give yourself a deadline. That is if you’re writing an article write down the article title/working title and put down the date you’ll have completed it by.

This is part of pre-planning your work week. Your subconscious then piles on sufficient pressure to make you undertake your task and (usually) complete it by the deadline.

And by the way, your subconscious doesn’t know the difference between a completely made up deadline or one imposed by your client or your editor!

#10 – Edit Afterwards

When you’re writing don’t worry too much about grammar, spellings or structure just let the flow of your ideas spread across the page. Maybe you’ve a tendency to be long-winded and you know your pieces should be shorter. Or you use too much jargon. Whatever, your normal excuse for editing is realise it’s an excuse and just write and write some more.

Once your zone time is finished…

Then you can edit. Although don’t edit out the passion or creativity. Simply bring in a little more structure, make sure spellings are correct and grammar is reasonable.

LiveJournal tags: Writing Tips, Copywriting, Writers, Michael Stelzner, Problogger

IceRocket tags: Writing Tips, Copywriting, Writers, Michael Stelzner, Problogger

Technorati tags: Writing Tips, Copywriting, Writers, Michael Stelzner, Problogger

del.icio.us tags: Writing Tips, Copywriting, Writers, Michael Stelzner, Problogger