Marketing Managers and Royalties: How to Market Yourself By Paul Hollingshead

Here's something I've seen work for new writers …

Develop relationships with a core of marketing managers who do the kind of work you're interested in – financial, health, etc. This really isn't as hard or intimidating as it might sound. Remember, you have the potential to give them something they want desperately – their next control.

One way to introduce yourself is to simply call them on the phone. You can track down phone numbers by looking in the phone book, a local business directory, or a publication that is dedicated to creative industries. If the appropriate person isn't listed, call the company's main number and ask for the marketing director.

Then, once you make contact, getting your foot in the door is as easy as offering to write a letter for royalties only. (But you'd better be confident that you're ready to write – a bad letter or two and few will ever give you that chance again.)

Royalties should be your main selling tool. Offer to write a package for little or nothing up front – and only get paid royalties if you get the control. A new writer may get $1,500 to $5,000 to write a letter. But if it's a winner – and it mails four or five times to 300,000 names – your pay for the job will be between $24,000 and $30,000.

[For more Getting Clients information, check out our website at http://www.awaionline.com/. The forum is a great place to find ideas as well as network with other students. You can also find numerous other ideas on the "Get Ahead" page and in the "Student Area".]