In the last four days, I’ve worked on brochures for two of my clients which are designed to jump-start sales in a slow economy.

Not only is this a refreshing change from the gloom and doom news headlines I keep reading, but it’s a far more accurate portrayal of what’s really going on in the world of business.

People are still buying from and selling to each other, yes, it’s true. Being involved with real-life marketing for real-life companies helps put everything back into perspective. If you think that the economy just shriveled up and died, you’re wrong.

I’ve got one client (an ad agency) who I’m partnering with on a brochure for their client which offers “stimulus savings” on home improvement projects.

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Popularity: 86% [?]

Let me guess. You’ve got that nagging feeling that it’s time to update your resume again. You’re thinking that you owe Monster and Hot Jobs and at least a few other people an appearance if you want to keep your head in the employment game.

Well, I want to point out something to you about resumes. This is important stuff for you to consider as the job market changes and the world as we know it turns on its head!

Resumes are OUT, websites are IN. Which is NOT to say that you shouldn’t have a resume… you want to keep all your bases covered. But you should also begin creating your Living Portfolio - even if you’ve never once thought of yourself as a consultant.

If you have a career, that means you’re formally trained in SOMETHING - so start acting like the expert you are, and this WILL be a testament to your qualifications for any job, be it temporary or full time.

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Popularity: 65% [?]

1. Work virtually. Copywriters, graphic artists and web designers are easily accessible via the internet. We communicate by phone and email, and pass files electronically. That means no overhead expenses for you to cover - no utility bills, computer upgrades, and NO medical plan!

2. Streamline your communication. Work out designated check-points in the project where you can review drafts, ask questions and supply missing information. Avoid sending email “blips” that confuse instead of clarify - this is a huge time sucker!

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Popularity: 94% [?]

Recently, Heidi Richards, founder of WE Magazine for Women, listed this blog in her “101 Women Bloggers to Watch” roundup!

THANK YOU, Heidi, for including Entrepreneur’s Breakfast. It’s an honor and a pleasure to be associated with such an enterprising woman as yourself, as well as mentioned in the same breath as this group of empowered and dynamic professional women.

WE Magazine is a veritable smorgasbord of must-have tips, tricks and tools to help the modern woman make informed decisions in both her personal and professional life. Women who read WE are bosses, business owners, mothers, lovers, sisters, daughters, friends. They’re coaches, crafters, consultants, artists, athletes, health enthusiasts, hobbyists, and technology gurus.

Most of all, women who read and contribute to WE Magazine have a passion for living and for making a difference in the world!

To read the complete cast of amazing woman bloggers on Heidi’s Hot List, click here.

Popularity: 100% [?]

by Dina Giolitto

It’s tempting, when the news headlines are screaming about government financial bailouts, to just sit there with your mouth hanging open as you ponder what might happen to your 401K.

However, in tough times, the LAST thing you should be doing is waiting for further instructions.

If you were a Boy Scout (and even if you weren’t), then you’re no doubt familiar with their catch phrase: “Be prepared.” That’s about the best advice anyone can give. And it’s especially relevant when managing a business.

When people start to clutch their purse strings more tightly, and supply and demand turns on its head, here’s what you need to do RIGHT NOW to ensure that your company stays afloat in trying times.

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Popularity: 95% [?]

If there’s any time to dream up a theme for your marketing, it’s NOW, before the holidays hit. Yes, we’re only just approaching fall… but before you know it, the malls will be decked with holly and teeming with Santa Clauses. Are you prepared for the deluge of competition?

Large corporations begin planning for their holiday campaign launches in the thick of summer!

Here’s a Christmas toy catalog cover that I worked on “back in the day.” I’m quite certain that the air conditioning in my cubicle was kicking when I wrote this.

Your holiday marketing event needn’t be an expensive or time-consuming affair. With a little creative input from you, Wordfeeder.com can help you launch a holiday campaign like this to drive more business in December!

So, the holiday season looms, and with competition fierce in a tough economy, it’s time to get out there, get known, and get more clients. Here are some holiday ideas you can implement in a hurry…………

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Popularity: 67% [?]

Join Me for a 4-Month Exercise in Productivity & Profit Building

The above sounds so corporate-bland, doesn’t it? All it means is that I’m setting a goal for myself to make X amount of income by the end of 2008.

The goal will continue on indefinitely, but December 31, 2008 will be the “check point” where I assess how it’s coming along, and if I can meet or maybe even exceed my goal. If I find that I’m in excess of my goal, super! Maybe I’ll set a higher goal and then try to reach that next.

If I miss my target income, then I’ll know that what I need to do is hire teams of people and set up automated systems that do the work for me - so that I CAN use my time more profitably.

Are you with me here? Do you want to try it?

Let me explain this process. It’s not new, I did not invent it; it’s just something that’s a really smart thing to do but we all tend to forget.

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Popularity: 59% [?]

I don’t know about you, but I resisted setting up a profile on Facebook for the longest time. I mean, who has time for such frivolous activities?

Not to mention, I had tried setting up a page for Wordfeeder.com on Myspace - but I found that something was decidedly missing. “Thanks for the add! Thanks for the add!” (Okay, now what?)

I finally caved in and started using Facebook about a month ago. And I must confess, the mere act of “getting back in touch” with people has resulted in a few copywriting gigs that may not have materialized otherwise.

Facebook IS different than Myspace. The best way for you to find out how different, is obviously to stop reading this and start using it. But in case you need more convincing, let me share with you some things you can do to promote interest in YOU and what you do.

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Popularity: 43% [?]

Facebook, Ryze, LinkedIn, Myspace… what’s the point?

Can social networking REALLY work to get you clients? Or is this just a way for wily webmasters to bring hits and attention to THEIR websites, so they can pull in more ad and membership revenues?

Last week, a fairly new copywriting client asked me the above question. Then he said to me, “I emailed you to work on my project because I remembered you from Ryze.”

I was active on Ryze… oh, three years ago? And yet this person remembered me after three years, sought me out, and here we are doing a website project together.

This is not the first time I’ve gained a new client due to having “put in my time” on the social networks.

In my humble opinion and experience, I would say that the more of a standout social networking experience you create, and the more you put into making your profiles professional… the more thought you give to creating posts that add value and meaning to others’ professional lives… the more you’ll get out of social networking.

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Popularity: 84% [?]

The short answer is yes, but only if used properly.

When I began my online writing career the trend with keywords weighed heavily in favor of putting as many relevant keywords into your copy as possible. This was great for search engine rankings, but made for awkward - if not impossible to read- copy.

Thankfully, search engines today don’t favor pages that are stuffed with keywords, and the practice can even get you banned.

So how, and where, do you use keywords so that you get good search results while still retaining copy that people want to read?

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Popularity: 27% [?]