It’s our intent to give you an idea of the sorts of writing we can do for you with these samples. They are not inclusive of all we have to offer. Please contact us if you have questions- we love to discuss what we can do for you.
Emails
This email was written by Alan and is intended to be sent to prospects who have signed up to get the free report from a landing page you’ll find further below. The email encourages the prospect to take further action to learn more about the financial product “Budget Brainiacs”
Subject: Next Step for Kids Financial Success
Hello [Customer Name],
Thank you so much for signing up for the free guide Tips for Teaching Children About Money. It’s chock-full of tips on engaging children with learning about their finances, and I know you’ll find it a big help in preparing them for the future.
Speaking of the future, I am sure you are wondering how you can use your new Knowledge. Wondering what step you can take on their road to financial success.
I am pleased to tell you the next step is just a click away.
By taking this next step, you can gain access to a powerful web-based program designed to help teach kids how to manage their finances. A program that lets them practice managing money without risk. A program they’ll be eager to engage with and learn from.
Sound good?
If it does, then Budget Brainiacs is the program for you.
How do I know?
We’ve helped hundreds of families just like yours prepare their children for their financial futures.
You don’t have to take my word for it- here is what T. Bazell, one of our happy customers, tells us:
“Every day, my kids ask… ‘When are we going to do Budget Brainiacs?’… It’s such a relief to know my children will be well-prepared for managing their money when they embark on their own lives as adults.”
Click here [link to sales page] to find out more about Budget Brainiacs and how you can take that next big step forward on your child’s journey to financial literacy.
Thanks,
[CEO Budget Brainiacs]
P.S. For a limited time, we are offering a special bonus when you sign your kids up for Budget Brainiacs! Click [link to sales page] now to find out more
This next email was written by Alan to a prospect who is interested in learning freelance writing. The email encourages the prospect to learn more about a class that will teach them to write the very kind of email they are reading.
Subject: Our expert shows you how to make big money writing emails
Hey [Recipient’s Name],
I’ll get to the point — you’re ready to dive into the world of freelance writing. You’ve done your homework, and you know businesses, big and small, send out an avalanche of emails every day. And you know they need skilled writers to craft emails that captivate, persuade, and drive action.
Writing emails can be your golden ticket to a fulfilling and financially rewarding career.
Just imagine having the power to create emails that grab attention and make businesses say, “We need more of this!” That’s the secret sauce to becoming a highly sought-after email writer. You just need to find a way to gain those skills.
Introducing “How to Profit From Emails” — the game-changer you’ve been waiting for.
Why This Program? Let me spill the beans on why “How to Profit From Emails” is THE program you need:
-Learning from the Best: Our program is designed and taught by a writer who has had nothing but success writing emails that have helped to rack up millions of dollars in sales. He’s a master of the art of crafting emails that generate results and revenue.
-You’ll gain an in-depth understanding of how all the parts of an email combine into one effective whole that brings in business.
-We’ll also include a set of bonus materials to help you refine your skills even more.
-Personalized Feedback: We’re not about throwing you into the deep end. You’ll receive personalized feedback to help you reach your full potential.
The Price Tag? Here’s the kicker — for a limited time, you can get your hands on this invaluable program for an unbelievably low price. That’s right, a small investment in your future as a freelance writer can lead to substantial returns.
Ready to kick-start your career and join the ranks of successful email writers making a real impact?
👉 [Link to Sales Page]
Why Wait? Imagine this: A few months from now, you could be cashing checks for writing emails that companies can’t get enough of. You’ll have the skills, the templates, and the confidence to take on the world of email writing.
So, are you in?
Join the ranks of writers who are thriving in the world of email marketing. Grab “How to Profit From Emails” and start your journey towards becoming a sought-after email writer today!
To your future,
[Email Salesperson]
P.S. Make sure you take advantage of this lower price offer soon- a deal like this won’t last forever, Click [Link to Sales Page] to get all the details.
Simple Online Ad
This is an example of a Pay-Per-Click (PPC) ad written by Laurie for a report about kids and financial literacy. It is intended to lead to the landing page example below.
Headline(s): Teaching Children About Money | Free Report on Kids and Money | Improve Financial Literacy
www.freekidsmoneyreport.com
Many people don’t learn to manage money until they grow up and regret not learning sooner. This free new guide will show you how to make sure your child isn’t one of them.
Landing Page
The following is a landing page written by Laurie. The above online ad is set up to lead to this landing page, where the prospect can get the free guide “Tips for Teaching Children About Money”. Downloading the free guide would then trigger the ‘Budget Brainiacs’ email example above to be sent to the prospect as the first step in a funnel series.
Set Your Child Up For Financial Success Now!
Many people don’t learn how to manage money until they are grown… and regret not learning it sooner. Your child doesn’t have to be one of them.
GET YOUR FREE GUIDE
Name:_______________
Email:_______________
[Background is a picture of a happy-looking piggy bank with dollar bills sticking out of it]
Lay the foundation for financial success with our FREE guide Tips for Teaching Children About Money.
-Since only 30 states require schools to offer financial literacy programs, and just 17 states require students to take one of these courses in order to graduate, there is a reasonable chance your child will not learn this information in school.
-Not sure where to start the conversation about money? This guide offers approaches for a variety of different age groups, from kindergarten to high school!
-Know that you are getting the latest, most up to date information- our guide is written by Paulette Mahon, MBA – a banking executive who is also a mom!
Whether your child is in elementary or high school, now is the perfect time to start learning how to make responsible decisions about money. Speaking of responsible decisions about money, Tips for Teaching Children About Money is FREE – so what are you waiting for?
Blog Posts
This blog post by Alan is about balancing your family and training to be a copywriter, while still holding down a day job. It’s based on experience gained while starting this writing business.
5 Steps to Balance Learning Copywriting with Family and Work
Imagine this… After a long day of work, you’re sitting in front of the computer, eagerly learning all you can about copywriting. You are looking forward to when your day job is no longer part of the equation, but for now, you’re trying to get in every minute that you can. Suddenly, the reason you want to get away from your day job and spend more time at home crawls into your lap and looks at you with big, sad eyes.
You’ve become her target audience, she knows how to get your attention – and she hasn’t been getting as much of it as she would like lately. Kids can be an important impetus to make the change to a new career in writing. They are equally important during the time when you are making the change. There can be a lot to balance, but it is important to make the transition as painless as possible for them.
I imagine that at least some of you out there are actively trying to balance a day job, learning new skills to begin a career writing, and being a parent. More of you are potentially thinking about it. I thought I could help my fellow aspiring writers by sharing five important things I’ve learned so far on this journey.
1. Get buy-in from your spouse/partner.
No one can do everything all on their own. Holding down a 40-hour a week job while trying to start a new career is a lot of work. Add in being a and you leave the idea of ‘a lot of work’ far behind you. Something will, no matter how hard you try, slip through the cracks.
Get your spouse/partner to share the dream, though, and they’ll help you catch anything you miss, support you when you need it, and help you with the kids. Mine certainly did.
2. Communicate with your child about what you are doing, and why,
Just like your spouse/partner, you’re going to need buy-in from your children. When I first started this career, my daughter immediately noticed the new draw on my time in the evenings, and she was more than a bit concerned I suddenly had less time to spend with her.
Once she expressed her concerns to me, I sat down and explained to her what I was doing, and why. I told her I was trying to build a better future for us, one where we would have more time to spend together in the long run. Once she understood, her concern level went down. Overall, having her buy-in has proved to be every bit as essential as having my spouse’s.
3. Schedule writing time around your children’s sleep time.
When scheduling writing time, aim for when your child is asleep- I am writing this while my daughter sleeps. If you are a morning person (not like me), try getting up early and get some writing in before they wake up. If you are an evening person (me), write after they go to bed.
I still watch training videos while she is awake- I’ve found it easier to pause a video when my daughter needs me and get back to it after I have assisted her than it is to pause the flow of my writing and get back into it. Sometimes she even watches them with me!
4. Make a point of scheduling non-writing time with your family.
There is much said and written about the importance of establishing a routine and scheduling time to write- and for good reason. It is, however, equally important to schedule time to not write and instead spend time with your family.
A nice day trip to a museum, family movie night, and a pleasant walk together in the neighborhood are all things we’ve scheduled and done together as a family- and they have done wonders making everyone feel valued and keeping anyone from feeling neglected.
5. Leave your day job at your day job.
I was often tempted to keep up with my day job in the evenings… Checking my email for example. While this might seem a quick and innocent use of time, it would have taken up time that I could’ve spent with my daughter, or time I could’ve used working on my copywriting skills. It would also have been a distraction… The contents of those emails could’ve diverted my focus from my family and my training.
Once I realized this, I made a conscious effort to leave my day job at work, where it belongs. After all, it already had 40 hours of my waking hours a week. Giving it any more would have been unbalanced.
In conclusion, I’m not saying the big, sad eyes won’t happen, but I hope these tips will help you feel more confident about making the transition smoother for your whole family- they certainly helped mine. They should also help even if you are transitioning to a career other than copywriting. Thanks for reading, and please feel free to comment below.
This blog post was written by both Alan and Laurie and is about choosing the correct yarn for knitting projects.
“The Art Behind the Art: Finding the Right Yarn for Your Project”
Ah, the joy of knitting. The soothing click of needles as your beautiful new creation takes shape stitch by stitch. However, if you have made the wrong yarn selection, the beautiful creation might never emerge; instead, you will end up with a frustrating mess.
Choosing the right yarn is crucial as it often holds the key to a project’s success. Selecting the right yarn involves more than just color or texture. it’s a blend of science and creativity, where understanding the yarn’s properties and your project’s needs intertwine.
Understanding Yarn Weight
Your first consideration should be the “weight” or thickness of the yarn. This will determine the final look and feel of your project, from a diaphanous cobweb shawl to a chunky sweater. Yarns come in various weights, from delicate laceweight to chunky roving.
- Laceweight and Fingering: Ideal for intricate shawls, delicate scarves, or lightweight garments. Most yarns made specifically for socks fall into the “fingering” category.
- Sport and DK (Double Knit): Versatile for sweaters, hats, and baby clothes—striking a balance between lightness and warmth.
- Worsted and Aran: Perfect for cozy blankets, cardigans, or accessories, this is an excellent compromise between speedy knitting and everyday wearability.
- Bulky and Super Bulky: Heavyweights that quickly knit into warm, chunky items like hats and cowls – or even home decor pieces!
Consider Fiber Content
The type of fiber greatly influences the characteristics of your knit. Each fiber has its own properties, and understanding these properties can help you choose the correct yarn to achieve your desired end result, whether it is a drapey cardigan or a pair of cozy slipper socks.
- Wool: The true classic, prized for warmth and elasticity. This category is broader than one might think at first glance, since wools run the gamut from luxuriously soft Merino to fluffy, warn Southdown to coarse, sturdy Romney.
- Cotton: Ideal for warm weather projects and provides excellent stitch definition, but thicker cotton yarns can be much heavier than wool yarns of the same weight. Cotton also lacks “memory,” meaning that cotton garments are more likely to stretch out of shape. As a plant fiber, it is also highly absorbent.
- Alpaca: The wool of a domesticated South American camelid, alpaca is luxuriously soft and can make wonderfully cozy winter garments. Due to a different fiber structure, alpaca tends to drape more than its sheep counterpart.
- Silk: Produced by silkworms, this is technically a protein fiber like wool or alpaca. Silk adds sheen and drape to your knit but may lack elasticity.
- Acrylic: Budget-friendly and easy to care for, modern acrylic yarns are a far cry from acrylics of decades past. They can mimic a wide variety of natural fibers, from shiny silks to fluffy mohair.
Gauge and Texture
Gauge refers to the number of stitches and rows per inch using a particular yarn and needle size. Getting the gauge right ensures your finished piece matches the pattern’s dimensions. You can knit a swatch to test your gauge and avoid any unpleasant surprises later on.
Gauge can also impact durability. For example, a pair of socks and a sweater knit with the same yarn weight might use different size needles. Socks are typically knit with a very tight gauge – loosely knit socks would wear out quickly, while a sweater knit to the same tight gauge ideal for socks would be stiff and uncomfortable to wear.
Texture is important, too. Smooth yarns highlight intricate stitch patterns, while textured yarns add depth and interest to simpler designs.
Project and Yarn Compatibility
The project’s intended use determines the yarn characteristics you’ll want to prioritize. Here are a few things to consider:
- Durability: Will the item withstand frequent use or washing?
- Breathability: Is it for a warm climate or a winter essential? More breathable is better for warmer weather.
- Color and Dye Pattern: Solid-color yarns are ideal for intricate stitch patterns, while exuberant dye patterns can elevate more basic designs.
Tips for Choosing the Right Yarn
- Feel the Yarn: Literally! Touching and squishing the yarn in your hands will give you a real feel for its texture and softness.
- Check the Yardage: You want to make sure you have enough yarn for your project, so make sure you check the yardage specified on the pattern. It’s better to have a bit too much than come up short. Also, be sure to check the dye lot so your project doesn’t randomly change color in the middle!
- Consider Yarn Substitution: You can substitute yarns, but you’ll want to make sure they match the weight of the original. Also, when making substitutions, you should take into consideration how changing the fiber content of the yarn you are using might change your finished project. For example, knitting a cardigan out of alpaca yarn instead of sheep’s wool will give you a heavier garment with more drape.
Casting Off
Choosing the right yarn is like selecting the right ingredient for a recipe. Just as a poor-quality cooking wine can ruin a whole dish, the wrong yarn choice can be the difference between a beloved garment and one that gets hidden in the back of the closet. By understanding yarn weight, fiber content, gauge, and project needs, you;ll be able to choose the right yarn with confidence!
Happy Knitting!
This blog post is from a blog Laurie ran for three years, about needle arts and creativity.
11-11-2020
Socks and Soldiers
Happy Veterans’ Day!
I racked my brain thinking about what to write this week – my works-in-progress are still in progress and I haven’t really anything to show. My thoughts shifted to what I wrote last week, and it occurred to me that some of the silver lining I wrote about last week actually ties into today’s holiday.
We are celebrating the men and women who fought to defend our country, and a common theme in many of the knitting histories I have on my shelf is that war-time knitting has been a staple in our culture for generations, especially socks.
I was first introduced to the concept in the book Molly Learns a Lesson. The character (whose stories take place during World War II) reacts negatively to the idea of knitting socks with her classmates to send to soldiers and tries to wiggle out of the project because socks are so hard to knit. Everything else I have read suggests that the reality was otherwise.
Unless all of those essays are propaganda, when our country has gone to war, knitters have picked up their needles with enthusiasm: women, men, girls and boys.
I don’t think any of those essays ever really explored why knitting a sock or sweater for a soldier in one’s free time was such a popular activity.
Sure, knitting a sock in public made one look patriotic, but I think it goes deeper than that, and it all ties into the connection I made in last week’s post between pandemic mask-making and wartime sock knitting.
I recall a few months ago, a co-worker commented that she had felt stressed the previous evening, so she made some masks to relax. I imagine knitting socks on the homefront had a similar effect on generations of women (and men and children): the inherently calming properties of working with one’s hands combined with doing something to help out in a situation in which one otherwise feels helpless.
The phenomena isn’t limited to knitting, either. My fifth grade English teacher brought in a lovely crazy quilt once with an interesting story. One of the women in her family had sewed uniforms at home during the Civil War, and had used the scraps to make the quilt. I seem to recall reading that before mass-production, women sewed shirts for soldiers as part of war efforts, but I can’t pinpoint where I actually read it.
However, it makes me wonder: before knitting was invented, what was the analog for sock knitting? There has to have been something.
Spinning and weaving were considered virtuous activities for Roman women. As they sat in the atrium of the house with their spindles and looms, were they making tunicae for their sons and brothers defending the empire and stretching its horizons? Each time the spindle dipped down to the floor, were they thinking about how the cloak they were making would keep someone warm in Gaul or Germania or Brittania?
I wonder if there are veterans out there who have their own stories to add to this. Interviewers seem interested in details of battles, not the sorts of hand knits soldiers were sent and how they felt about it. I think this is another piece of the story we’re missing.