The Marketing Spotlight

My copywriting career started on a part-time basis twenty years ago when I started my own business as a carpenter.

The ads produced by my local newspaper, and the advice I got from the phonebook sales rep, just didn’t do much to generate leads or sales. They cost me a lot of money, and I had a hard time tracking my return on investment.

That’s why I started writing my own ads.

It turned out that people were really interested to know that I do all my own carpentry, and that I rigorously check the work of other trades people. Customers also like that I’m always willing to show them how I do things – you shouldn’t have to hire someone for every little change or adjustment.

Friends who had their own businesses soon started asking for my help with their ads and letters they sent to customers. And that’s the way it ran for the next twenty years. Doing my own ads, and giving people help and advice whenever they asked.

Then I turned 40 and started to wonder if swinging a hammer is what I want to be doing when I retire. You can imagine how quickly I decided against that. But I wasn’t too sure about following the advice of friends and going into copywriting full-time.

After all, I don’t have any university degrees and I’ve never worked for an ad agency. All I’ve ever done is run my own business based on honesty, making sure my customers are satisfied, and using my own ad copy.

Then I found out about Don Mahoney (Co-founder, American Writers and Artists Inc.). He was a cabinet maker who switched to copywriting, and has made tremendous success for himself and his clients. That was enough to make me take a closer look.

Since going full-time as a copywriter in October 2007, I have landed the Ontario General Contractors Association as a B2B client, and March of Dimes Canada and the Toronto Bruce Trail Club as Fundraising clients. These and other clients have hired me for my ability to create powerful sales copy, deliver informative editorial copy, and provide a keen understanding of the entire buying cycle.

March of Dimes Canada hired me to consult on its quest to clarify its image and increase public awareness of their programs. I made several changes to their program flyers, and direct response letters to achieve those objectives.

I can do the same thing for you and your business. Contact me today to find out how.