Janet Grosshandler
AWAI Member Since: 2010
Age: 50s
What's your current occupation?
Copywriter
What's your former occupation?
High school guidance counselor & non-fiction author
What was the first project you landed?
Writing a few small websites for family and friends. An advertorial and a sales email for a sports nutrition company. Real estate ad work. Then I wrote a spec submission for Precious Moments from an AWAI ad and here I am.
What are your current projects?
Working as the online copywriter for Precious Moments Inc. and its sister company Lifebook over the last several months, I learned so much. I did sales pages, landing pages, squeeze pages, email series of many kinds, marketing plans for campaigns, social media, blogs and articles. It’s been a great learning experience.
With that project slowing down, I also am writing blog articles and newsletters for an all-natural nutritional supplement for athletes.
And my biggest “baby” is my all-Facebook health and wellness site, Get Stronger, Girlfriend, which provides information products, e-books and health products for women ages 25-65+ to create a stronger life in every area of their lives. It’s in its start-up phase right now and I’m looking forward to seeing it grow.
Actually, Get Stronger, Girlfriend stated when Katie Yeakle asked me in an interview, “What else would you want to do with your copywriting?” I said I wanted to start an information-publishing site and here it is!
What has been your proudest copywriting moment?
There’s been two-
Landing the copywriting position with Precious Moments, such a respected and awesome company. I was thrilled and honored to be working with one of the top online marketing experts at a dream job.
And finally starting my information publishing “empire.”
What's your favorite niche to write for?
Self help, wellness, inspirational
What's your income goal for this year?
$75,000
What's your writing routine?
The mornings are a really good time to concentrate, but I usually write when I need to and want to. Could be 6 hours at night instead of TV. Maybe all morning because I have to go somewhere for the afternoon.
I make sure I get in a run at the beach as many days as I can. It clears my head and I get great inspiration when I am in my running "zone."
Please give us an example of how your life has changed since becoming a copywriter.
I haven't stopped smiling for a long time! Getting this copywriting position is absolutely a dream come true. There are two WOW factors here:
1) Getting to work with an expert online marketer who is leading me along, pointing me in the right direction and... 2) Working for a company that I have loved and has affected me deeply for almost 25 years.
I am doing more traveling for business and pleasure so that's fun. And as long as I have my MAC and WiFi, I'm golden!
What success tip would you like to share with your fellow writers?
Be relentless in learning and growing. Practice writing every day, join a peer review group, go to Bootcamp, join Circle of Success and work the AWAI programs. I was amazed at how much I absorbed in a short time. AWAI and Wealthy Web Writer are the guiding lights for me. All that gave me the confidence to go for more.
And also, just do it. Contact potential clients, put yourself out there. You are more ready than you might think you are. "All out massive action" will get you where you want to go.
When did you realize you were living the copywriter's life?
When I was asked to "fly to Chicago next week" which began my journey to this copywriting position, I felt like this corporate jet setter when I got on the plane.
For me, a day where I can write a bunch, take a run at the beach, spend time with my family, and get a very nice check in the mail- well, it doesn't get any better than that. I count my blessings every day and look forward to many more years of living this writer's life!
