Chris Marlow publishes a free newsletter for consultants who want to land the high quality, high value clients.
GetGreatClients.com
Is the Non-Profit Niche for Copywriting All It’s Cracked Up to Be?
January 26, 2010 by IBI · Leave a Comment
Since 2003 I’ve helped many new copywriters select the niche that’s right for them, and those niches have been strong and varied.
Nutraceuticals is big, and so is financial; technology is popular, as well the technology sub-niches of software, hardware, and to a much lesser degree, telecom.
In addition to the more obvious markets I have copywriters specializing in the human potential industry, the seniors market, marketing communications (marcom), publishing, the government, white papers, veterinary, insurance, global markets, and more.
As a niching expert, I know there are dozens of niches open to the freelance copywriter, but the one that has continually stumped me…the one I haven’t been able to safely recommend…is non-profit.
Although I’ve written for non-profit a number of times throughout my agency and freelance career, the pay was paltry (or none), and few of my colleagues had much to say about the niche.
Yet there are those who sing its praises. And many copywriters are drawn to the niche, energized by the idea of doing good and getting paid for it.
After four years it had become apparent to me that the only way I’d be able to recommend this niche, or not, was to do a formal study. So I did.
I wanted to answer some basic questions:
In order to get reliable information, I identified five non-profit copywriters who would represent a healthy cross-section…everyone from the “dean” of non-profit himself to a newcomer who’d recently found success in this niche.
I interviewed each of the copywriters with the express purpose of learning the truth about working in this niche; and each knew the purpose of this report was “truth” over sales; that his or her response would influence the course of copywriters’ careers for years to come.
I wanted to know the good and the bad, the pearls and the warts! And my interviewees gave me both, with generosity, honesty, and candor.
In addition I sponsored a survey of non-profit copywriters, who revealed their incomes, their niche markets, and shared a flood of passionate and cautionary advice about working in this niche. Between the interviews and the survey, a clear picture began to emerge…
A picture that looks something like a map of the United States…one whole homogonous entity made up of numerous smaller entities…revealing a very strong but complicated market!
Some of the findings:
That’s because, according to non-profit copywriter Alan Sharpe, the new generation did not grow up in a culture of giving, so its going to be more challenging for non-profits to gain the funds they need.
Says Alan: “…the parents of baby boomers are the last generation to give out of habit…my parents’ parents and your parents’ parents…they were basically raised to give…
“And that’s not true today. You’ve got 15-year-olds, 20-year-olds, 30-year-olds… You can approach a 20-year-old and ask them for a donation for Hurricane Katrina and they’ll say, ‘Well, how are you going to use it? How can I be sure? Can you email me photographs of my donation at work?’”
So as non-profits find it more and more challenging to collect funds, they will find talented freelance copywriters more valuable to their marketing initiatives.
Other finding on this niche include:
“ChrisNotes: The Truth about copywriting for non-profits” offers six months of research and analysis, 78 pages of survey data (16 questions posed to 54 participants), interviews with successful non-profit copywriters, including the “dean” of non-profit copywriting Jerry Huntsinger, and today’s reigning guru, Mal Warwick; and analysis and commentary by myself, copywriter’s coach Chris Marlow.
“ChrisNotes: The Truth about copywriting for non-profits” is designed to help freelance copywriters determine if non-profit is a good niche for them…one that will fill them up emotionally, financially, and perhaps even spiritually…or not.
A niching mistake can be a critical mistake, and can even destroy a fledgling career. It takes time and money to build a business. Knowing with certainty that your chosen niche is the right fit is the first step to business success.
Is the Non-Profit Niche for Copywriting All It’s Cracked Up to Be?
January 25, 2010 by IBI · Leave a Comment
Since 2003 I’ve helped many new copywriters select the niche that’s right for them, and those niches have been strong and varied.
Nutraceuticals is big, and so is financial; technology is popular, as well the technology sub-niches of software, hardware, and to a much lesser degree, telecom.
In addition to the more obvious markets I have copywriters specializing in the human potential industry, the seniors market, marketing communications (marcom), publishing, the government, white papers, veterinary, insurance, global markets, and more.
As a niching expert, I know there are dozens of niches open to the freelance copywriter, but the one that has continually stumped me…the one I haven’t been able to safely recommend…is non-profit.
Although I’ve written for non-profit a number of times throughout my agency and freelance career, the pay was paltry (or none), and few of my colleagues had much to say about the niche.
Yet there are those who sing its praises. And many copywriters are drawn to the niche, energized by the idea of doing good and getting paid for it.
After four years it had become apparent to me that the only way I’d be able to recommend this niche, or not, was to do a formal study. So I did.
I wanted to answer some basic questions:
In order to get reliable information, I identified five non-profit copywriters who would represent a healthy cross-section…everyone from the “dean” of non-profit himself to a newcomer who’d recently found success in this niche.
I interviewed each of the copywriters with the express purpose of learning the truth about working in this niche; and each knew the purpose of this report was “truth” over sales; that his or her response would influence the course of copywriters’ careers for years to come.
I wanted to know the good and the bad, the pearls and the warts! And my interviewees gave me both, with generosity, honesty, and candor.
In addition I sponsored a survey of non-profit copywriters, who revealed their incomes, their niche markets, and shared a flood of passionate and cautionary advice about working in this niche. Between the interviews and the survey, a clear picture began to emerge…
A picture that looks something like a map of the United States…one whole homogonous entity made up of numerous smaller entities…revealing a very strong but complicated market!
Some of the findings:
That’s because, according to non-profit copywriter Alan Sharpe, the new generation did not grow up in a culture of giving, so its going to be more challenging for non-profits to gain the funds they need.
Says Alan: “…the parents of baby boomers are the last generation to give out of habit…my parents’ parents and your parents’ parents…they were basically raised to give…
“And that’s not true today. You’ve got 15-year-olds, 20-year-olds, 30-year-olds… You can approach a 20-year-old and ask them for a donation for Hurricane Katrina and they’ll say, ‘Well, how are you going to use it? How can I be sure? Can you email me photographs of my donation at work?’”
So as non-profits find it more and more challenging to collect funds, they will find talented freelance copywriters more valuable to their marketing initiatives.
Other finding on this niche include:
“ChrisNotes: The Truth about copywriting for non-profits” offers six months of research and analysis, 78 pages of survey data (16 questions posed to 54 participants), interviews with successful non-profit copywriters, including the “dean” of non-profit copywriting Jerry Huntsinger, and today’s reigning guru, Mal Warwick; and analysis and commentary by myself, copywriter’s coach Chris Marlow.
“ChrisNotes: The Truth about copywriting for non-profits” is designed to help freelance copywriters determine if non-profit is a good niche for them…one that will fill them up emotionally, financially, and perhaps even spiritually…or not.
A niching mistake can be a critical mistake, and can even destroy a fledgling career. It takes time and money to build a business. Knowing with certainty that your chosen niche is the right fit is the first step to business success.
Chris Marlow publishes a free newsletter for consultants who want to land the high quality, high value clients.
GetGreatClients.com
Is the Non-Profit Niche for Copywriting All It’s Cracked Up to Be?
January 24, 2010 by IBI · Leave a Comment
Since 2003 I’ve helped many new copywriters select the niche that’s right for them, and those niches have been strong and varied.
Nutraceuticals is big, and so is financial; technology is popular, as well the technology sub-niches of software, hardware, and to a much lesser degree, telecom.
In addition to the more obvious markets I have copywriters specializing in the human potential industry, the seniors market, marketing communications (marcom), publishing, the government, white papers, veterinary, insurance, global markets, and more.
As a niching expert, I know there are dozens of niches open to the freelance copywriter, but the one that has continually stumped me…the one I haven’t been able to safely recommend…is non-profit.
Although I’ve written for non-profit a number of times throughout my agency and freelance career, the pay was paltry (or none), and few of my colleagues had much to say about the niche.
Yet there are those who sing its praises. And many copywriters are drawn to the niche, energized by the idea of doing good and getting paid for it.
After four years it had become apparent to me that the only way I’d be able to recommend this niche, or not, was to do a formal study. So I did.
I wanted to answer some basic questions:
In order to get reliable information, I identified five non-profit copywriters who would represent a healthy cross-section…everyone from the “dean” of non-profit himself to a newcomer who’d recently found success in this niche.
I interviewed each of the copywriters with the express purpose of learning the truth about working in this niche; and each knew the purpose of this report was “truth” over sales; that his or her response would influence the course of copywriters’ careers for years to come.
I wanted to know the good and the bad, the pearls and the warts! And my interviewees gave me both, with generosity, honesty, and candor.
In addition I sponsored a survey of non-profit copywriters, who revealed their incomes, their niche markets, and shared a flood of passionate and cautionary advice about working in this niche. Between the interviews and the survey, a clear picture began to emerge…
A picture that looks something like a map of the United States…one whole homogonous entity made up of numerous smaller entities…revealing a very strong but complicated market!
Some of the findings:
That’s because, according to non-profit copywriter Alan Sharpe, the new generation did not grow up in a culture of giving, so its going to be more challenging for non-profits to gain the funds they need.
Says Alan: “…the parents of baby boomers are the last generation to give out of habit…my parents’ parents and your parents’ parents…they were basically raised to give…
“And that’s not true today. You’ve got 15-year-olds, 20-year-olds, 30-year-olds… You can approach a 20-year-old and ask them for a donation for Hurricane Katrina and they’ll say, ‘Well, how are you going to use it? How can I be sure? Can you email me photographs of my donation at work?’”
So as non-profits find it more and more challenging to collect funds, they will find talented freelance copywriters more valuable to their marketing initiatives.
Other finding on this niche include:
“ChrisNotes: The Truth about copywriting for non-profits” offers six months of research and analysis, 78 pages of survey data (16 questions posed to 54 participants), interviews with successful non-profit copywriters, including the “dean” of non-profit copywriting Jerry Huntsinger, and today’s reigning guru, Mal Warwick; and analysis and commentary by myself, copywriter’s coach Chris Marlow.
“ChrisNotes: The Truth about copywriting for non-profits” is designed to help freelance copywriters determine if non-profit is a good niche for them…one that will fill them up emotionally, financially, and perhaps even spiritually…or not.
A niching mistake can be a critical mistake, and can even destroy a fledgling career. It takes time and money to build a business. Knowing with certainty that your chosen niche is the right fit is the first step to business success.
Chris Marlow publishes a free newsletter for consultants who want to land the high quality, high value clients.
GetGreatClients.com
Is the Non-Profit Niche for Copywriting All It’s Cracked Up to Be?
January 24, 2010 by IBI · Leave a Comment
Since 2003 I’ve helped many new copywriters select the niche that’s right for them, and those niches have been strong and varied.
Nutraceuticals is big, and so is financial; technology is popular, as well the technology sub-niches of software, hardware, and to a much lesser degree, telecom.
In addition to the more obvious markets I have copywriters specializing in the human potential industry, the seniors market, marketing communications (marcom), publishing, the government, white papers, veterinary, insurance, global markets, and more.
As a niching expert, I know there are dozens of niches open to the freelance copywriter, but the one that has continually stumped me…the one I haven’t been able to safely recommend…is non-profit.
Although I’ve written for non-profit a number of times throughout my agency and freelance career, the pay was paltry (or none), and few of my colleagues had much to say about the niche.
Yet there are those who sing its praises. And many copywriters are drawn to the niche, energized by the idea of doing good and getting paid for it.
After four years it had become apparent to me that the only way I’d be able to recommend this niche, or not, was to do a formal study. So I did.
I wanted to answer some basic questions:
In order to get reliable information, I identified five non-profit copywriters who would represent a healthy cross-section…everyone from the “dean” of non-profit himself to a newcomer who’d recently found success in this niche.
I interviewed each of the copywriters with the express purpose of learning the truth about working in this niche; and each knew the purpose of this report was “truth” over sales; that his or her response would influence the course of copywriters’ careers for years to come.
I wanted to know the good and the bad, the pearls and the warts! And my interviewees gave me both, with generosity, honesty, and candor.
In addition I sponsored a survey of non-profit copywriters, who revealed their incomes, their niche markets, and shared a flood of passionate and cautionary advice about working in this niche. Between the interviews and the survey, a clear picture began to emerge…
A picture that looks something like a map of the United States…one whole homogonous entity made up of numerous smaller entities…revealing a very strong but complicated market!
Some of the findings:
That’s because, according to non-profit copywriter Alan Sharpe, the new generation did not grow up in a culture of giving, so its going to be more challenging for non-profits to gain the funds they need.
Says Alan: “…the parents of baby boomers are the last generation to give out of habit…my parents’ parents and your parents’ parents…they were basically raised to give…
“And that’s not true today. You’ve got 15-year-olds, 20-year-olds, 30-year-olds… You can approach a 20-year-old and ask them for a donation for Hurricane Katrina and they’ll say, ‘Well, how are you going to use it? How can I be sure? Can you email me photographs of my donation at work?’”
So as non-profits find it more and more challenging to collect funds, they will find talented freelance copywriters more valuable to their marketing initiatives.
Other finding on this niche include:
“ChrisNotes: The Truth about copywriting for non-profits” offers six months of research and analysis, 78 pages of survey data (16 questions posed to 54 participants), interviews with successful non-profit copywriters, including the “dean” of non-profit copywriting Jerry Huntsinger, and today’s reigning guru, Mal Warwick; and analysis and commentary by myself, copywriter’s coach Chris Marlow.
“ChrisNotes: The Truth about copywriting for non-profits” is designed to help freelance copywriters determine if non-profit is a good niche for them…one that will fill them up emotionally, financially, and perhaps even spiritually…or not.
A niching mistake can be a critical mistake, and can even destroy a fledgling career. It takes time and money to build a business. Knowing with certainty that your chosen niche is the right fit is the first step to business success.
Chris Marlow publishes a free newsletter for consultants who want to land the high quality, high value clients.
GetGreatClients.com
Is the Non-Profit Niche for Copywriting All It’s Cracked Up to Be?
January 23, 2010 by IBI · Leave a Comment
Since 2003 I’ve helped many new copywriters select the niche that’s right for them, and those niches have been strong and varied.
Nutraceuticals is big, and so is financial; technology is popular, as well the technology sub-niches of software, hardware, and to a much lesser degree, telecom.
In addition to the more obvious markets I have copywriters specializing in the human potential industry, the seniors market, marketing communications (marcom), publishing, the government, white papers, veterinary, insurance, global markets, and more.
As a niching expert, I know there are dozens of niches open to the freelance copywriter, but the one that has continually stumped me…the one I haven’t been able to safely recommend…is non-profit.
Although I’ve written for non-profit a number of times throughout my agency and freelance career, the pay was paltry (or none), and few of my colleagues had much to say about the niche.
Yet there are those who sing its praises. And many copywriters are drawn to the niche, energized by the idea of doing good and getting paid for it.
After four years it had become apparent to me that the only way I’d be able to recommend this niche, or not, was to do a formal study. So I did.
I wanted to answer some basic questions:
In order to get reliable information, I identified five non-profit copywriters who would represent a healthy cross-section…everyone from the “dean” of non-profit himself to a newcomer who’d recently found success in this niche.
I interviewed each of the copywriters with the express purpose of learning the truth about working in this niche; and each knew the purpose of this report was “truth” over sales; that his or her response would influence the course of copywriters’ careers for years to come.
I wanted to know the good and the bad, the pearls and the warts! And my interviewees gave me both, with generosity, honesty, and candor.
In addition I sponsored a survey of non-profit copywriters, who revealed their incomes, their niche markets, and shared a flood of passionate and cautionary advice about working in this niche. Between the interviews and the survey, a clear picture began to emerge…
A picture that looks something like a map of the United States…one whole homogonous entity made up of numerous smaller entities…revealing a very strong but complicated market!
Some of the findings:
That’s because, according to non-profit copywriter Alan Sharpe, the new generation did not grow up in a culture of giving, so its going to be more challenging for non-profits to gain the funds they need.
Says Alan: “…the parents of baby boomers are the last generation to give out of habit…my parents’ parents and your parents’ parents…they were basically raised to give…
“And that’s not true today. You’ve got 15-year-olds, 20-year-olds, 30-year-olds… You can approach a 20-year-old and ask them for a donation for Hurricane Katrina and they’ll say, ‘Well, how are you going to use it? How can I be sure? Can you email me photographs of my donation at work?’”
So as non-profits find it more and more challenging to collect funds, they will find talented freelance copywriters more valuable to their marketing initiatives.
Other finding on this niche include:
“ChrisNotes: The Truth about copywriting for non-profits” offers six months of research and analysis, 78 pages of survey data (16 questions posed to 54 participants), interviews with successful non-profit copywriters, including the “dean” of non-profit copywriting Jerry Huntsinger, and today’s reigning guru, Mal Warwick; and analysis and commentary by myself, copywriter’s coach Chris Marlow.
“ChrisNotes: The Truth about copywriting for non-profits” is designed to help freelance copywriters determine if non-profit is a good niche for them…one that will fill them up emotionally, financially, and perhaps even spiritually…or not.
A niching mistake can be a critical mistake, and can even destroy a fledgling career. It takes time and money to build a business. Knowing with certainty that your chosen niche is the right fit is the first step to business success.
Chris Marlow publishes a free newsletter for consultants who want to land the high quality, high value clients.
GetGreatClients.com
Is the Non-Profit Niche for Copywriting All It’s Cracked Up to Be?
January 23, 2010 by IBI · Leave a Comment
Since 2003 I’ve helped many new copywriters select the niche that’s right for them, and those niches have been strong and varied.
Nutraceuticals is big, and so is financial; technology is popular, as well the technology sub-niches of software, hardware, and to a much lesser degree, telecom.
In addition to the more obvious markets I have copywriters specializing in the human potential industry, the seniors market, marketing communications (marcom), publishing, the government, white papers, veterinary, insurance, global markets, and more.
As a niching expert, I know there are dozens of niches open to the freelance copywriter, but the one that has continually stumped me…the one I haven’t been able to safely recommend…is non-profit.
Although I’ve written for non-profit a number of times throughout my agency and freelance career, the pay was paltry (or none), and few of my colleagues had much to say about the niche.
Yet there are those who sing its praises. And many copywriters are drawn to the niche, energized by the idea of doing good and getting paid for it.
After four years it had become apparent to me that the only way I’d be able to recommend this niche, or not, was to do a formal study. So I did.
I wanted to answer some basic questions:
In order to get reliable information, I identified five non-profit copywriters who would represent a healthy cross-section…everyone from the “dean” of non-profit himself to a newcomer who’d recently found success in this niche.
I interviewed each of the copywriters with the express purpose of learning the truth about working in this niche; and each knew the purpose of this report was “truth” over sales; that his or her response would influence the course of copywriters’ careers for years to come.
I wanted to know the good and the bad, the pearls and the warts! And my interviewees gave me both, with generosity, honesty, and candor.
In addition I sponsored a survey of non-profit copywriters, who revealed their incomes, their niche markets, and shared a flood of passionate and cautionary advice about working in this niche. Between the interviews and the survey, a clear picture began to emerge…
A picture that looks something like a map of the United States…one whole homogonous entity made up of numerous smaller entities…revealing a very strong but complicated market!
Some of the findings:
That’s because, according to non-profit copywriter Alan Sharpe, the new generation did not grow up in a culture of giving, so its going to be more challenging for non-profits to gain the funds they need.
Says Alan: “…the parents of baby boomers are the last generation to give out of habit…my parents’ parents and your parents’ parents…they were basically raised to give…
“And that’s not true today. You’ve got 15-year-olds, 20-year-olds, 30-year-olds… You can approach a 20-year-old and ask them for a donation for Hurricane Katrina and they’ll say, ‘Well, how are you going to use it? How can I be sure? Can you email me photographs of my donation at work?’”
So as non-profits find it more and more challenging to collect funds, they will find talented freelance copywriters more valuable to their marketing initiatives.
Other finding on this niche include:
“ChrisNotes: The Truth about copywriting for non-profits” offers six months of research and analysis, 78 pages of survey data (16 questions posed to 54 participants), interviews with successful non-profit copywriters, including the “dean” of non-profit copywriting Jerry Huntsinger, and today’s reigning guru, Mal Warwick; and analysis and commentary by myself, copywriter’s coach Chris Marlow.
“ChrisNotes: The Truth about copywriting for non-profits” is designed to help freelance copywriters determine if non-profit is a good niche for them…one that will fill them up emotionally, financially, and perhaps even spiritually…or not.
A niching mistake can be a critical mistake, and can even destroy a fledgling career. It takes time and money to build a business. Knowing with certainty that your chosen niche is the right fit is the first step to business success.
Chris Marlow publishes a free newsletter for consultants who want to land the high quality, high value clients.
GetGreatClients.com
Is the Non-Profit Niche for Copywriting All It’s Cracked Up to Be?
January 22, 2010 by IBI · Leave a Comment
Since 2003 I’ve helped many new copywriters select the niche that’s right for them, and those niches have been strong and varied.
Nutraceuticals is big, and so is financial; technology is popular, as well the technology sub-niches of software, hardware, and to a much lesser degree, telecom.
In addition to the more obvious markets I have copywriters specializing in the human potential industry, the seniors market, marketing communications (marcom), publishing, the government, white papers, veterinary, insurance, global markets, and more.
As a niching expert, I know there are dozens of niches open to the freelance copywriter, but the one that has continually stumped me…the one I haven’t been able to safely recommend…is non-profit.
Although I’ve written for non-profit a number of times throughout my agency and freelance career, the pay was paltry (or none), and few of my colleagues had much to say about the niche.
Yet there are those who sing its praises. And many copywriters are drawn to the niche, energized by the idea of doing good and getting paid for it.
After four years it had become apparent to me that the only way I’d be able to recommend this niche, or not, was to do a formal study. So I did.
I wanted to answer some basic questions:
In order to get reliable information, I identified five non-profit copywriters who would represent a healthy cross-section…everyone from the “dean” of non-profit himself to a newcomer who’d recently found success in this niche.
I interviewed each of the copywriters with the express purpose of learning the truth about working in this niche; and each knew the purpose of this report was “truth” over sales; that his or her response would influence the course of copywriters’ careers for years to come.
I wanted to know the good and the bad, the pearls and the warts! And my interviewees gave me both, with generosity, honesty, and candor.
In addition I sponsored a survey of non-profit copywriters, who revealed their incomes, their niche markets, and shared a flood of passionate and cautionary advice about working in this niche. Between the interviews and the survey, a clear picture began to emerge…
A picture that looks something like a map of the United States…one whole homogonous entity made up of numerous smaller entities…revealing a very strong but complicated market!
Some of the findings:
That’s because, according to non-profit copywriter Alan Sharpe, the new generation did not grow up in a culture of giving, so its going to be more challenging for non-profits to gain the funds they need.
Says Alan: “…the parents of baby boomers are the last generation to give out of habit…my parents’ parents and your parents’ parents…they were basically raised to give…
“And that’s not true today. You’ve got 15-year-olds, 20-year-olds, 30-year-olds… You can approach a 20-year-old and ask them for a donation for Hurricane Katrina and they’ll say, ‘Well, how are you going to use it? How can I be sure? Can you email me photographs of my donation at work?’”
So as non-profits find it more and more challenging to collect funds, they will find talented freelance copywriters more valuable to their marketing initiatives.
Other finding on this niche include:
“ChrisNotes: The Truth about copywriting for non-profits” offers six months of research and analysis, 78 pages of survey data (16 questions posed to 54 participants), interviews with successful non-profit copywriters, including the “dean” of non-profit copywriting Jerry Huntsinger, and today’s reigning guru, Mal Warwick; and analysis and commentary by myself, copywriter’s coach Chris Marlow.
“ChrisNotes: The Truth about copywriting for non-profits” is designed to help freelance copywriters determine if non-profit is a good niche for them…one that will fill them up emotionally, financially, and perhaps even spiritually…or not.
A niching mistake can be a critical mistake, and can even destroy a fledgling career. It takes time and money to build a business. Knowing with certainty that your chosen niche is the right fit is the first step to business success.
Chris Marlow publishes a free newsletter for consultants who want to land the high quality, high value clients.
GetGreatClients.com
Is the Non-Profit Niche for Copywriting All It’s Cracked Up to Be?
January 21, 2010 by IBI · Leave a Comment
Since 2003 I’ve helped many new copywriters select the niche that’s right for them, and those niches have been strong and varied.
Nutraceuticals is big, and so is financial; technology is popular, as well the technology sub-niches of software, hardware, and to a much lesser degree, telecom.
In addition to the more obvious markets I have copywriters specializing in the human potential industry, the seniors market, marketing communications (marcom), publishing, the government, white papers, veterinary, insurance, global markets, and more.
As a niching expert, I know there are dozens of niches open to the freelance copywriter, but the one that has continually stumped me…the one I haven’t been able to safely recommend…is non-profit.
Although I’ve written for non-profit a number of times throughout my agency and freelance career, the pay was paltry (or none), and few of my colleagues had much to say about the niche.
Yet there are those who sing its praises. And many copywriters are drawn to the niche, energized by the idea of doing good and getting paid for it.
After four years it had become apparent to me that the only way I’d be able to recommend this niche, or not, was to do a formal study. So I did.
I wanted to answer some basic questions:
In order to get reliable information, I identified five non-profit copywriters who would represent a healthy cross-section…everyone from the “dean” of non-profit himself to a newcomer who’d recently found success in this niche.
I interviewed each of the copywriters with the express purpose of learning the truth about working in this niche; and each knew the purpose of this report was “truth” over sales; that his or her response would influence the course of copywriters’ careers for years to come.
I wanted to know the good and the bad, the pearls and the warts! And my interviewees gave me both, with generosity, honesty, and candor.
In addition I sponsored a survey of non-profit copywriters, who revealed their incomes, their niche markets, and shared a flood of passionate and cautionary advice about working in this niche. Between the interviews and the survey, a clear picture began to emerge…
A picture that looks something like a map of the United States…one whole homogonous entity made up of numerous smaller entities…revealing a very strong but complicated market!
Some of the findings:
That’s because, according to non-profit copywriter Alan Sharpe, the new generation did not grow up in a culture of giving, so its going to be more challenging for non-profits to gain the funds they need.
Says Alan: “…the parents of baby boomers are the last generation to give out of habit…my parents’ parents and your parents’ parents…they were basically raised to give…
“And that’s not true today. You’ve got 15-year-olds, 20-year-olds, 30-year-olds… You can approach a 20-year-old and ask them for a donation for Hurricane Katrina and they’ll say, ‘Well, how are you going to use it? How can I be sure? Can you email me photographs of my donation at work?’”
So as non-profits find it more and more challenging to collect funds, they will find talented freelance copywriters more valuable to their marketing initiatives.
Other finding on this niche include:
“ChrisNotes: The Truth about copywriting for non-profits” offers six months of research and analysis, 78 pages of survey data (16 questions posed to 54 participants), interviews with successful non-profit copywriters, including the “dean” of non-profit copywriting Jerry Huntsinger, and today’s reigning guru, Mal Warwick; and analysis and commentary by myself, copywriter’s coach Chris Marlow.
“ChrisNotes: The Truth about copywriting for non-profits” is designed to help freelance copywriters determine if non-profit is a good niche for them…one that will fill them up emotionally, financially, and perhaps even spiritually…or not.
A niching mistake can be a critical mistake, and can even destroy a fledgling career. It takes time and money to build a business. Knowing with certainty that your chosen niche is the right fit is the first step to business success.
Chris Marlow publishes a free newsletter for consultants who want to land the high quality, high value clients.
GetGreatClients.com
Is the Non-Profit Niche for Copywriting All It’s Cracked Up to Be?
January 20, 2010 by IBI · Leave a Comment
Since 2003 I’ve helped many new copywriters select the niche that’s right for them, and those niches have been strong and varied.
Nutraceuticals is big, and so is financial; technology is popular, as well the technology sub-niches of software, hardware, and to a much lesser degree, telecom.
In addition to the more obvious markets I have copywriters specializing in the human potential industry, the seniors market, marketing communications (marcom), publishing, the government, white papers, veterinary, insurance, global markets, and more.
As a niching expert, I know there are dozens of niches open to the freelance copywriter, but the one that has continually stumped me…the one I haven’t been able to safely recommend…is non-profit.
Although I’ve written for non-profit a number of times throughout my agency and freelance career, the pay was paltry (or none), and few of my colleagues had much to say about the niche.
Yet there are those who sing its praises. And many copywriters are drawn to the niche, energized by the idea of doing good and getting paid for it.
After four years it had become apparent to me that the only way I’d be able to recommend this niche, or not, was to do a formal study. So I did.
I wanted to answer some basic questions:
In order to get reliable information, I identified five non-profit copywriters who would represent a healthy cross-section…everyone from the “dean” of non-profit himself to a newcomer who’d recently found success in this niche.
I interviewed each of the copywriters with the express purpose of learning the truth about working in this niche; and each knew the purpose of this report was “truth” over sales; that his or her response would influence the course of copywriters’ careers for years to come.
I wanted to know the good and the bad, the pearls and the warts! And my interviewees gave me both, with generosity, honesty, and candor.
In addition I sponsored a survey of non-profit copywriters, who revealed their incomes, their niche markets, and shared a flood of passionate and cautionary advice about working in this niche. Between the interviews and the survey, a clear picture began to emerge…
A picture that looks something like a map of the United States…one whole homogonous entity made up of numerous smaller entities…revealing a very strong but complicated market!
Some of the findings:
That’s because, according to non-profit copywriter Alan Sharpe, the new generation did not grow up in a culture of giving, so its going to be more challenging for non-profits to gain the funds they need.
Says Alan: “…the parents of baby boomers are the last generation to give out of habit…my parents’ parents and your parents’ parents…they were basically raised to give…
“And that’s not true today. You’ve got 15-year-olds, 20-year-olds, 30-year-olds… You can approach a 20-year-old and ask them for a donation for Hurricane Katrina and they’ll say, ‘Well, how are you going to use it? How can I be sure? Can you email me photographs of my donation at work?’”
So as non-profits find it more and more challenging to collect funds, they will find talented freelance copywriters more valuable to their marketing initiatives.
Other finding on this niche include:
“ChrisNotes: The Truth about copywriting for non-profits” offers six months of research and analysis, 78 pages of survey data (16 questions posed to 54 participants), interviews with successful non-profit copywriters, including the “dean” of non-profit copywriting Jerry Huntsinger, and today’s reigning guru, Mal Warwick; and analysis and commentary by myself, copywriter’s coach Chris Marlow.
“ChrisNotes: The Truth about copywriting for non-profits” is designed to help freelance copywriters determine if non-profit is a good niche for them…one that will fill them up emotionally, financially, and perhaps even spiritually…or not.
A niching mistake can be a critical mistake, and can even destroy a fledgling career. It takes time and money to build a business. Knowing with certainty that your chosen niche is the right fit is the first step to business success.
Chris Marlow publishes a free newsletter for consultants who want to land the high quality, high value clients.
GetGreatClients.com
Is the Non-Profit Niche for Copywriting All It’s Cracked Up to Be?
January 19, 2010 by IBI · Leave a Comment
Since 2003 I’ve helped many new copywriters select the niche that’s right for them, and those niches have been strong and varied.
Nutraceuticals is big, and so is financial; technology is popular, as well the technology sub-niches of software, hardware, and to a much lesser degree, telecom.
In addition to the more obvious markets I have copywriters specializing in the human potential industry, the seniors market, marketing communications (marcom), publishing, the government, white papers, veterinary, insurance, global markets, and more.
As a niching expert, I know there are dozens of niches open to the freelance copywriter, but the one that has continually stumped me…the one I haven’t been able to safely recommend…is non-profit.
Although I’ve written for non-profit a number of times throughout my agency and freelance career, the pay was paltry (or none), and few of my colleagues had much to say about the niche.
Yet there are those who sing its praises. And many copywriters are drawn to the niche, energized by the idea of doing good and getting paid for it.
After four years it had become apparent to me that the only way I’d be able to recommend this niche, or not, was to do a formal study. So I did.
I wanted to answer some basic questions:
In order to get reliable information, I identified five non-profit copywriters who would represent a healthy cross-section…everyone from the “dean” of non-profit himself to a newcomer who’d recently found success in this niche.
I interviewed each of the copywriters with the express purpose of learning the truth about working in this niche; and each knew the purpose of this report was “truth” over sales; that his or her response would influence the course of copywriters’ careers for years to come.
I wanted to know the good and the bad, the pearls and the warts! And my interviewees gave me both, with generosity, honesty, and candor.
In addition I sponsored a survey of non-profit copywriters, who revealed their incomes, their niche markets, and shared a flood of passionate and cautionary advice about working in this niche. Between the interviews and the survey, a clear picture began to emerge…
A picture that looks something like a map of the United States…one whole homogonous entity made up of numerous smaller entities…revealing a very strong but complicated market!
Some of the findings:
That’s because, according to non-profit copywriter Alan Sharpe, the new generation did not grow up in a culture of giving, so its going to be more challenging for non-profits to gain the funds they need.
Says Alan: “…the parents of baby boomers are the last generation to give out of habit…my parents’ parents and your parents’ parents…they were basically raised to give…
“And that’s not true today. You’ve got 15-year-olds, 20-year-olds, 30-year-olds… You can approach a 20-year-old and ask them for a donation for Hurricane Katrina and they’ll say, ‘Well, how are you going to use it? How can I be sure? Can you email me photographs of my donation at work?’”
So as non-profits find it more and more challenging to collect funds, they will find talented freelance copywriters more valuable to their marketing initiatives.
Other finding on this niche include:
“ChrisNotes: The Truth about copywriting for non-profits” offers six months of research and analysis, 78 pages of survey data (16 questions posed to 54 participants), interviews with successful non-profit copywriters, including the “dean” of non-profit copywriting Jerry Huntsinger, and today’s reigning guru, Mal Warwick; and analysis and commentary by myself, copywriter’s coach Chris Marlow.
“ChrisNotes: The Truth about copywriting for non-profits” is designed to help freelance copywriters determine if non-profit is a good niche for them…one that will fill them up emotionally, financially, and perhaps even spiritually…or not.
A niching mistake can be a critical mistake, and can even destroy a fledgling career. It takes time and money to build a business. Knowing with certainty that your chosen niche is the right fit is the first step to business success.
Chris Marlow publishes a free newsletter for consultants who want to land the high quality, high value clients.
GetGreatClients.com
-
FOR SALE
