13:00:37 From Thomas Wolfe : loud and clear 13:00:38 From Jeff : Howdy Susan! 13:00:59 From Victoria : Hi Susan 13:01:04 From zeljko : Hi 13:01:09 From Jeff : My favorite treats were pizza and milkshakes. Nothing's changed. 13:01:25 From Thomas Wolfe : chocolate ice cream 13:01:27 From Thomas Wolfe : Woo! 13:01:41 From Victoria : chocolate mint ice cream 13:01:44 From Melanie Cook : banana milkshakes 13:02:00 From Jim Rogers : Since I'm from Chicago, it will always be pizza. 13:02:22 From Alexa : Thanks--Glad to be here. Banana split/sundaes :) 13:02:54 From hollyowens : Hi! Cinnamon rolls. 13:03:11 From Jeff : I got sidetracked but am back on course 13:03:38 From hollyowens : I’ve finalized my website and about to submit it. Really excited to see it coming together:) 13:03:50 From Victoria : W -I finally am starting to make peace and get some traction with Squarespace. It's been a struggle. 13:04:02 From Janet : W - I think my website is done and am about to submit it too. 13:04:13 From Jim Rogers : W - Getting some inquiries back from my emails. Nothing serious, but at least people are responding. 13:04:19 From Thomas Wolfe : W - completing session seven this week, finalizing selecting my first ten prospects and drafting emails this weekend 13:06:07 From Melanie Cook : Got a quote from ProofreadNow. About to submit website copy for proofreading. 13:06:35 From Thomas Wolfe : W - Also, I had professional pictures taken for my website, very happy I did 13:06:39 From zeljko : w - revisioning my web site copy from pure technical to more marketing style - it looks much better 13:06:53 From Jim Rogers : As a side note, I really appreciate the responsiveness of the FB group. I've been a part of other master mind FB groups before and they were dead or not helpful. So everyone definitely use it. 13:10:27 From Janet : I - I’m working on being done on the website and not perfect. :) SO I can submit it. 13:10:42 From Jim Rogers : I - Working through session 5. I was delayed this last week or so because I'm struggling with work schedule + family needs. But getting back on that and sorting out some options. 13:11:10 From zeljko : i - Arranged WordPress settings and hosting of web site 13:12:48 From hollyowens : I - about to revamp my Linked In but thinking I should get the feedback from my website first and then apply that 13:14:18 From Jeff : Q: Susan, I'm terrified to talk with these businesspeople. I don't know how to tell them what they want to hear. I'm not good at reading between the lines when people speak. I guess that's because I'm so straightforward. I'm nervous to have phone conversations. Once people work with me, they love me because I'm helpful, dependable, professional, and a great listener. The problem is just gaining their initial trust. 13:15:32 From Thomas Wolfe : Q - so, my niche is IT, and my website is IT focused. How do i spin it so it makes sense to prospects who don't do IT to use me as a freelance writer? 13:15:33 From Victoria : Q What version of Squarespace should I order? 13:15:55 From Jim Rogers : Q: I haven't gotten there yet, but are the prices on the master schedule good for people of our skill level or should we adjust them? (There might be more info in that session that I haven't seen yet, so just let me know if that's the case). 13:18:36 From hollyowens : My website is ready to be submitted for review. But before I do…I know we already discussed my niche last time, and I got clarity, but my only reservation is wanting to make sure my niche is not too narrow now and that there is work for writers in this niche. I write on my home page, “My name is Holly Owens, and as a health writer I help you create the powerful marketing content you need to help your patients, families, and health practice succeed. This might include anything from website content to emails to health feature articles.” So, I’m asking: 1. What’s the most reliable way to check the viability of this particular market? Look at websites? And I do see many practices with websites, many of which have lots of health content and blogs, etc. But wouldn’t many small health practices already have a marketing/content person on staff? 13:19:40 From Jeff : Yes! Thanks so much, Susan! 13:31:04 From Thomas Wolfe : @Victoria I used Wix, they have four tiers, I didn't choose the fanciest tier, I chose the cheapest one that also included analytics, which I think will be important for tracking website hits, etc. I also made sure the tier I chose included tech support, which i have aleady needed! 13:31:22 From Thomas Wolfe : @Victoria Squarespace probably has very similar tiers 13:31:24 From Jim Rogers : Q: (When it's time for a second round) I have a few people in my network who run B2B marketing agencies. On FB, I asked if I should contact them. Susan replied "Approach them with the intent to simply inform them of your new endeavor." Any ideas on how I should word this when I communicate with them? 13:31:56 From salih : Hi Ed. I joined but no voice 13:33:25 From salih : I need help! 13:36:31 From salih : Thanks 13:38:52 From zeljko : Q: I work on my web site, but at the same time I started discussions with some IT managers that direct me to more technical than marketing writing in the software industry. I feel that a mix of these types of writing is my option - niche is determined, but writing types are diverse (it is OK for my experience). Is it OK to promote these types of writing in the beginning, or to be more focused on one type? 13:39:06 From hollyowens : Yes, thank you. Great ideas! 13:39:26 From Thomas Wolfe : yes 13:39:27 From hollyowens : Yes 13:39:59 From Thomas Wolfe : I had to turn my volume way up to hear, but it's loud and clear 13:40:11 From Jeff : Q: I'm looking for agencies...mainly B2B, but I'm also open to B2C. 3 questions: 1) Where do I find them, both generally and on LinkedIn; 2) How much annual revenue should they have before I'm sure they can afford freelancers? (You had answered that first question on FB a couple of months ago but I couldn't find the answer.); and 3) My focus is B2NPO and I realize there won't be a strong need for that at agencies. So how do I get past that and convince them to give me a shot? I realize that most writers at agencies write stuff that's all over the map, both in terms of project type and niche. 13:40:47 From salih : I hear you Susan. Thank you 13:44:36 From zeljko : thanks for answer, I think the same way, let's start and see how it goes on 13:46:13 From Thomas Wolfe : @ Jeff - Session 5 is sample emails 13:49:08 From Thomas Wolfe : sorry, I ment Jim... 13:51:25 From Thomas Wolfe : @Jeff - Session 5 also has two great videos that Susan did on how to really leverage LinkedIn 13:53:43 From Jeff : Thanks again, Susan. Great stuff! Sorry if I asked too many questions...To Thomas: Thank you, my friend. I am working through those LinkedIn videos. They're great! 13:53:58 From Thomas Wolfe : I found them very insightful! 13:55:38 From hollyowens : What is an “Executive Summary”? 13:59:14 From hollyowens : V- the idea of creating an Elevator pitch and how to research the market 13:59:15 From Jim Rogers : V: Short work sessions are better than no work sessions :) 13:59:35 From Thomas Wolfe : V - the simplicity of the approach Ed and his team lay out. All the templates, and the videos on LinkedIn too! 14:01:06 From Jeff : V: You gave even better answers to my questions than I had hoped, Susan! Now I'm not so nervous about talking with business people. Thank you! 14:01:09 From Melanie Cook : V. Tom's question and your answer about how to approach his niche and also opening the conversation up to other B2B companies. 14:01:45 From Janet : V - the information is always great even when I don’t have questions I get answers. 14:01:54 From salih : Q: I need some clarifications on lists of friends, family and so on in session 4 14:02:31 From zeljko : v: Discussions on diverse writing options and about using agencies. Thank you for your answers and discussions. 14:04:39 From Thomas Wolfe : @Susan - That's good to hear, I've been procrastinating for about a week on finalizing my first ten prospects and drafting the emails 14:05:50 From Janet : Q - I’m going to approach some shops in town that are hemp resellers do I need business cards to leave with them? 14:10:36 From Jeff : Sharing your past struggles and fears helps us feel normal. Three cheers for Susan! Hip, hip, hooray! 14:10:43 From Janet : Cool, thank you. I think I’ll do a quick brochure - I have a grapohic design background 14:11:05 From Thomas Wolfe : agreed Jeff! 14:12:25 From salih : Thanks Susan. This is encouraging and enthusiastic for me. Right now I'll do it 14:12:40 From Melanie Cook : I noticed Vistaprint also has a build-you-own website option available. 14:13:23 From Melanie Cook : I think i'll take a look at the free trial and just see. 14:13:35 From Thomas Wolfe : I've used VistaPrint before for Business Cards. They are on point 14:14:04 From Thomas Wolfe : A - send out those emails! 14:14:10 From Victoria : A. Finish my website. Finally. 14:14:25 From Thomas Wolfe : :) 14:14:35 From Janet : A: just posted my website fro review - now stay off of it. Start Lesson 4. 14:14:43 From hollyowens : A -Submit website, linked in revamp, fill out starter list in session 4 14:14:58 From Jeff : A: Start looking for agencies and finish your videos on LinkedIn 14:15:16 From zeljko : A: To finish Web Site 14:16:45 From zeljko : you pronounce my name correctly, if it is possible :) 14:16:52 From Janet : later