Melanie Lundheim

U.S.-based Minnesota Corporate Freelance Writer melanie@goodcopyfast.com | 952-974-5299

How to Give Away Your Content and Win Online

Give Away Your ContentThey say “content is King” in the World Wide Web. Yet, if you give away your content online, how can you succeed? Here are two rules of thumb, relayed to me by my writing and Internet marketing mentor, Bob Bly:

“Your free content tells your readers what to do. Your paid content tells them how to do it.” – Internet marketing consultant Wendy-Leigh Montes de Oca

“You can also tell people how to solve a minor problem when you’re selling the solution to a bigger problem.” – Internet marketing guru Terry Dean

So set some of your best content free online. In the process, you’ll demonstrate your thought leadership, add value to your clients, and start to see your website traffic and sales soar.

 

 

 

Melanie Lundheim Shares Freelance Writing Tips at the U of MN

Melanie Lundheim Today the University of Minnesota Department of Writing Studies hosted an event: ”What can I do with a Certificate or Master of Science degree in Scientific and Technical Communication?”

The guest speakers included a technical writer, an IT professional, a recruiter of technical professionals, and me, Melanie Lundheim, corporate freelance writer that specializes in communicating about technical subject matter in lay terms.

Graduates and undergraduates interested in technical communications were in attendance, where they learned about what hiring managers look for in candidates, what should be in their writing portfolios, and the outlook for technical communicators.

View a narrated version of my presentation: “Tips from a Six-figure Freelance Writer: Your Future is Bright!” 

 

 

 

 

Good Copy Fast Quick Tip: Write Like Your Audience Speaks

We’ve all heard about the benefits of conversational writing. In marketing communications, just remember to use your audience’s tone, rather than your own. Here’s how:

  1. Observe how your audience speaks
  2. How does their style differ from yours?
  3. Make your message resonate with, rather than intimidate, your audience

In general, easier-to-grasp communications are more effective. So think
“use,” instead of “utilize,” or “get,” instead of “obtain.”

What’s unique about your audience’s conversational style? Share at
the Good Copy Fast Facebook page.

Make Your Dreams Come True . . . and Benefit a Charity While Doing So

Dianna Huff

My associate, Dianna Huff, is an accomplished copywriter and author of Women Achieving Dreams, a downloadable ebook I recently purchased and plan to read soon. Until I can write a full review on it, here’s more information about the book in Dianna’s own words:

If you’ve found yourself saying, “I can’t” or if you’ve put your dreams (big or small) on hold for “later” or “someday” or “after the kids are grown,” then Women Achieving Dreams will inspire you to make your dreams come true – now, today. 

And, you’ll benefit a non-profit, too.

Each story in this wonderful and unique e-book is personal,
moving – and inspirational. You’ll learn about Judy, who
suffered a trauma no parent ever wants to go through when she
lost access to her son when he was four years old. Instead of
dying inside, she remained strong for the day when she would be
reunited with him.

Then there’s Wendy, who was told she would never walk again – or
have children. Wendy, I’ll have you know, runs triathlons . . .
and she’s the mother of six kids. That’s because she refuses to
let anyone define who she is. 

Purchase Women Achieving Dreams: 

http://profitablefemaleconsultant.com/dreams-ebook

While writing this book, I visited the self-help section at
Borders to see if anything else like it existed. 

Instead of finding books that inspired me, I found books that
made me feel . . . hmmmm . . . the word neurotic comes to mind.
Women who eat too much. Women who love too much. Women who think
too much. (Since when is thinking too much a bad thing?!)

Women Achieving Dreams is a celebration . . . a celebration of
women, just like you and me, who made their dreams come true
through strength, perseverance, and creativity. 

Lois, for example, cut the “golden handcuffs” one day after
hearing advice from an old man at Burger Heaven. Even though she
had a son to support and parents in need, she quit her
high-paying job to start her own ad agency in her New York City
apartment.

Despite being abandoned by her parents, living on government
assistance, and supporting two children, Carolyn put herself
through school and then started her own company – and quadrupled
her income.

Women Achieving Dreams is full of stories like these.

Purchase Women Achieving Dreams: 

http://profitablefemaleconsultant.com/dreams-ebook

When I wrote Women Achieving Dreams, I knew I didn’t want to
give it away, but I also knew I didn’t want to profit from it. 

That’s why when you purchase Women Achieving Dreams, you’re
really making a donation to Girls Fight Back, a non-profit
foundation that teaches young girls self-defense. Since its
founding, GFB has helped over one million women around the globe.

Do something good for yourself and for the young girls coming up
behind you – purchase Women Achieving Dreams. And begin making
your dreams come true.

Thank you,

Dianna Huff

Quick Tip: Cross-pollinate to Great Creativity

Cross-pollinate to Great CreativeNeed a creative, new way to promote an old product? Mix up the message.

  1. Observe what else the product is like. Example: a pump is like a heart.
  2. Research what’s written about hearts.
  3. Apply these messages to pumps.

Tie a heart theme into your entire pump campaign, and enjoy your genius.
Happy Valentine’s Day!

Share where you’ve seen cross-pollination at work at the Good Copy Fast
Facebook page.

Quick Tip: Energy Flows Where Attention Goes

Inside your mind, what do you say to yourself?

1. Write down your inner dialogue
2. Cross out all negative and false statements
3. Add goal-aligned affirmations

Remember the quote by Taneo Sands Kumalae: “Energy flows where attention goes.” Just like you look forward while driving, focus your full attention on what you want to manifest in your life. Edit out the rest.

P.S. In her radio broadcast, Leadership and Life Coach (and my step-mom) Marcia Hyatt shares Nick Nissley’s quote: “We become the stories we tell ourselves.” She asks, “Am I living out an old story or am I creating a new chapter.” Listen to the short program.

What’s your story, and how is it bringing you closer to your dream? Share at the Good Copy Fast Facebook page.

Fast and Fearless Communication Effectiveness

My friend “Emily” had a nightmare that one of her two-year-old twin daughters had disappeared at the mall. The next day, her nightmare came true. She was vigilantly watching her girls in a busy play area at the mall when one disappeared from her sight.

At first, Emily calmly looked for her daughter by the slide, around corners, and in tunnels. Still, no sign of her daughter. Rather than fear looking like a fool, Emily assertively yelled for help, explaining to all within earshot that her daughter was missing, what she looked like, and that the emergency was real.

About 30 adults heard Emily, who referred to her other twin for an exact description of the missing girl. Several kept their eyes on the immediate area to make sure no one left with her child while Emily searched a nearby hallway, asking everyone she came across if they had seen her child.

Someone said there was a little girl in the restroom. Sure enough, it was the missing twin, happily playing by the paper towels. Emily was more than relieved!

Whether the twin had innocently wandered off, or someone attempted to take her, we’ll never know for sure. But what ultimately saved the day was Emily’s fast and fearless communication.

How to Write Web Copy that Converts

Melanie Lundheim's Hook, Line and Sinker Method of Converting

Melanie Lundheim's Hook, Line and Sinker method of converting casual website visitors into paying customers

It’s great to be a communicator in the digital age, when we get to broadcast our messages to the world with a single mouse click. The only downside: there’s TMI (too much information) online.

 

As readers, we get inundated with email messages and blog posts, or easily sucked in to websites like Facebook and YouTube.

 

As Internet marketers, we’re even more challenged to capture and hold readers’ attention, get our messages across, and close sales.

 

Convert Using the Hook, Line and Sinker Method

So how do we convert casual website visitors into paying customers? Use my “Hook, Line and Sinker” method. Here’s how:

 

  • Hook readers with a title that grabs their attention and piques their interest, followed by a lead that manufactures need, invokes emotion, and strikes their pain points.
  • String ‘em along (Get it? The “line.”) with engaging, scanable copy that convinces readers how much your solution will benefit them.
  • End with a sinker, which is your call to action that compels readers to take your bait and act now.

 

Lure ‘em In

The Hook, Line, and Sinker method – to me – is more fun than actual fishing. This doesn’t say much, I suppose, since my idea of hell is having to handle slimy worms while waiting to disturb innocent fish – swatting away bloodthirsty mosquitoes all the while. But you get the idea: convincing people to purchase both challenges and gratifies!

 

Gear Up

So here’s my call to action for you: refer to this format and craft your pitch. Once it goes live, share your success with us at the Good Copy Fast Facebook page. Happy sales!

 

For more in-depth information about my Hook, Line and Sinker method, view my article, Writing for Conversion: The Hook, Line & Sinker Method at Liz Lockard’s blog.