Popcorn Content - Using Twitter to promote your freelance writing or copywriting business.: Recent Comments

Comment on Make a deeper, richer impression on prospective clients by using Twitter.

3freester — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:32:30 GMT

Prospective clients are aware of this. They know they have to filter what they find on your web site and blog. They understand that you will be presenting yourself in the best light possible. Then they have to figure out whether it’s all smoke and mirrors, or if you really are the real deal.

3freester

Comment on Using Twitter to build your personal, freelance brand.

Merrill Clark — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:37:53 GMT

I just started using Twitter a few weeks ago, so I guess time plus quality tweets will eventually tell how effective it really is.

Comment on Using Twitter to connect with key influencers.

Merrill Clark — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:46:17 GMT

Nick,

I just recently started using Twitter with my goal to establish personal relationships that turn into professional relationships that ultimately turn into paying clients.

I'm not sure how it will work, but your comments make complete sense, and there was very little of your time spent writing your tweet.

I'm trying to find a balance of personality and business in my tweets.

I guess time will tell.

Thanks for the great insight.

Merrill

Comment on Twitter and the fracture of isolation.

rusliesophian — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:15:24 GMT

I'm a full time script writer and novelist, I use to feel same way when most of the time you're alone in order to finish up your work.

Comment on I’m looking for examples and case studies of how using Twitter has resulted in some kind of positive business outcome.

Sylvain Perron — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:55:39 GMT

We do our recruiting via Twitter and have been very successful finding rock stars...we're still looking, and using Twitter!

Comment on Use Twitter to expand your freelance network.

Nick Usborne — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:06:05 GMT

I don't think that need be a problem, so long as you address what seems to be almost every freelancer's Achilles heel - time management.

This is an issue I address in my Writing Rituals guide.

Best wishes,

Nick

Comment on Use Twitter to expand your freelance network.

Susan Weiner — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:46:35 GMT

Isolation is a risk of freelance writing. Twitter seems like a good addition to an array of techniques for reducing that isolation. But how do you work one more technique into your schedule without burning up too much time?

Comment on The Twitter conversation is multi-directional, continuous and fragmented.

Christy — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:53:05 GMT

Having conversations on Twitter forces us all to slow down and think
through what we want to say. It also helps us parse through discrete
pieces of a conversation, one at a time, in order. I can remember
having fights where I spew for 10 minutes and realize I misunderstood
something on point 1 of 3,456 points I just made in my favor. ;-)

When we're forced to only speak for 140 characters, we are forced to
do that "active listening" thing that cognitive behavioral scientists
are always talking about. If I say 140 characters, I must wait for a
140-character response from you before I continue. Your response makes
it clear whether or not you understood me. I can either clarify or
continue, stepping through my complaint in smaller chunks (remember
the "finding a book in the library" discussion?).

This helps slow down the emotional spiral into anger or another
extreme reaction. I tend to get elated less on unfounded claims when
parsing through a discussion on Twitter. I've learned to be more
patient, too.

This has impact in customer service.
When someone complains using Twitter, he
only has 140 characters to log that initial complaint. This forces the
complainer to focus on the issue at hand, and whittle out the personal
attacks. Then, someone who responds can deal much better with that
initial 140-character complaint. Rather than allowing someone to rant
onandonandon for 20 minutes without getting to the point, Twitter
customer service also slows down that emotional spiral that results in
verbal arguments, too.

@linkerjpatrick mentioned on Twitter that he has looked back on some forum
posts and email responses that are also victim of the emotional
spiral. Endless ranting is _not_ healthy. Popcorn conversations help defuse
the rant and remove the emotional response, allowing the conversation
to focus on the factual and the bottom-line requests.

Popcorn content can shape things outside social media. I'm actually looking forward to
people talking in person much like they talk on Twitter... in smaller
chunks, listening more.

Comment on Make a deeper, richer impression on prospective clients by using Twitter.

Nick Usborne — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:32:28 GMT

Jonathan, hi

Thanks for contributing.

As for your cheeky comment, you appear to have skipped over this part in my post.

"Based on their sites, both freelancers appear to be equally qualified."

Best wishes,

Nick

Comment on Make a deeper, richer impression on prospective clients by using Twitter.

Jonathan Kranz — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:15:31 GMT

Imagine this scenario: A company is looking at the qualifications of two competing copywriters. One of them has a list of Fortune 500 clients the length of his arm. The other has lots of Tweets.

Which freelancer do YOU think is more likely to get the job?