Tweet This!
How to Turn Copywriting into
a Family Business
Whooda thunk that when I was squeezing out my four little puppies, I was actually creating a copywriting empire? Certainly not me!
But one by one, my kids have somehow fallen into this crazy biz. Maybe it was the “Pick the Control” games where I would lay out my test panels on the floor and have them guess which was the new control – and reward the winner with a prize …
… Maybe it was the “how does this sound” questions as I read my copy out loud for their feedback …
… Or maybe it was the many hours spent in my office doing homework, coloring, watching T.V. as I worked on yet another promotion package.
Whatever it was, it’s paying off.
So let me introduce you to my gang:
Daughter #1: Traditional route. Went to a 4-year college and wanted a career in the public relations field. To support herself, she worked for me and later interned with one of my clients. Along the way, she learned to write and edit copy. Right before graduation, she got a job offer for a full-time position at a publishing company.
That’s when she experienced her “Aha” moment.
Did she really want to be tied down to a 9-5 job that allowed her only 2 weeks of vacation a year? Or go for the freedom of freelancer – working wherever and whenever she wants and taking unscheduled vacations and days off?
That was a no brainer for her.
She said no to the traditional rat race and hung up her freelance shingles. One of her smartest career decisions was attending Clayton Makepeace’s amazing seminar. Why? Because that’s where she found her first client and her freelance career was launched!
Two years later, she’s the president of CopyMill Marketing. She writes premiums, special reports and edits e-books and newsletters. At 23, she’s now a newlywed as well as a world traveler. When I invited her and her husband to join the rest of our family on an impromptu trip to Ireland, she jumped on it! No need to request time off from a boss. All she has to do is pack up her laptop!
Daughter #2: Unconventional Route. This one started off on the college road and worked for me to pay her bills. I taught her to write landing page copy and she was getting pretty good at it. She always had a flair for design, so when the AWAI annual conference came up, she decided to take their graphic design course. That’s where she was bitten by the freelance bug.
After 2 years of college, she decided it wasn’t for her. Instead, she wanted to start her own freelance graphic design company. So she took out a loan from her mother, bought a MAC, QUARK and INDESIGN graphic software and Crown Ink Design was born. Now, she designs landing page copy, e-books, brochures, and business cards to name a few. At 21, this kid is racking in more dough on a part-time schedule than most folks make after working 10 years full time!
She’s keeping her schedule part-time to allow her to pursue her other passions. She volunteers as much as 70 hours a month in Bible education work with our congregation. Plus, she’s traveled to Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, and Sri Lanka. And while I can only spare 10 days to visit Ireland – she’s staying there for a whole month! What’s more, her clients don’t even realize she’s “away from the office”!
Daughter #3: Not sure of a route. This one knew college wasn’t for her. But she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. She worked in the restaurant field for a while, but hasn’t quite found her passion in life yet. No worries, at 19, she’s got plenty of time.
She doesn’t consider herself a “creative” person, although she does like to take pictures for fun. When I needed an assistant, I hired her as my “Girl Friday” – doing anything and everything I needed to make my life easier. She reviews my copy, helps edit my e-books and does much of my Internet research. She also takes specific photographs I need for my promotions. In fact, she’s already sold a few of them to my clients!
Although she looks at this assistant job as temporary, “until something better comes along”, she’s learning valuable skills that will help her in just about any career she chooses later.
Recently, she heard about the AWAI photography course and got excited about it. So, I made a deal with her. If she successfully completes the course, I’ll spring for her to attend the annual seminar – even if it’s Paris, France!
Son #1: Soon to be en route. This one is a junior in high school and he’s determined to become a firefighter like his dad. But for the past few years, his after-school job has been working with me. I made him go through the entire interview process. He even had to write a letter to convince me to hire him. It was hilarious – and I saved that first “sales letter” along with other treasured memories.
He’s also good with computers, so I made him my in-house I.T. & fix it guy. He also helps me brainstorm ideas for new covers. If his ideas work, he gets a bonus. I recently tested one of his headlines on a health package. It didn’t win, but it was close. I figure even if he doesn’t get into copywriting, he’s going to know a heck of a lot more about alternative health and sales writing than most 16 year olds!
There you have it …
That’s how I accidentally created a copywriting empire! And if you’re starting off as a copywriter – and you have kids – do them a favor and make it a family business from the get go. Teach your kids your trade while you’re in training too. Make it fun and they won’t even know they’re learning.
It’s no coincidence there are families of police officers … lawyers … or doctors. Why can’t you have a copywriting family? It’s a much safer job, with flexible hours and you never have to make house calls!
Here’s to Creating Success Your Way!
Carline Anglade-Cole
Guest Contributor
THE TOTAL PACKAGE
Carline Anglade-Cole writes multi-year controls in the alternative health field for clients including Healthy Directions, Health Resources, True Health, Soundview Publications and Sun Chlorella USA.
She is the author of How to Write Kick-Butt Copy: Straight Talk from a Million-Dollar Copywriter, Anatomy of a Kick-Butt Control: How to Create a Winning Promo from Start to Finish and Which One Won? How to Write Kick-Butt Headlines and Boost Response!
She also provides phone consultations and “mini-boot camps”. Put her 20 years of direct mail experience in mailing list strategies, new product development and creating kick-butt controls to work for your company!
Contact Carline directly by visiting her website at www.CarlineCole.com
Looking for resources related to this article? Try some of these.
Looking for more guest articles? Check these out.
Looking for past issues of The Total Package? Click here for our archives.
 |
Want to share or reprint this article? Feel free. Just give us full attribution and a link to our Home Page when you do. |
Attribution Statement: This article was first published in The Total Package. To sign-up to receive your own FREE subscription to The Total Package and claim four FREE money making e-books go to www.makepeacetotalpackage.com.
6 Comments »
Join the Discussion!
Let us know what you think. Or ask us anything. Or offer your own sage advice.
The only rule: RESPECT THIS HOUSE! Postings that contain abusive language and/or personal attacks will be cheerfully VAPORIZED. One cross word and – POOF! – your well-thought-out post will be gone in a puff of smoke.
– Clayton
Comment by Anita — May 15, 2008 @ 9:46 am
Thanks for this post, Carline. I have four kids too so it was nice to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of your business. My oldest (age 15) helps me out with computer graphics sometimes.
Comment by Len — May 15, 2008 @ 10:48 am
Thanks for another great article, Carline. Ever since I made the switch to copywriting, my wife (who’s also a writer) has been intrigued by the business. And our 10-year old daughter has already written a successful ad of her own. Who knows… we might be on our way to our own little "empire!"
Comment by Carline — May 15, 2008 @ 11:39 am
Hey moms & dads: Here are a few tips I didn’t include in the article but also found helpful: #1: Make sure your kids send thank you letters when they receive a gift. Not just a note but a letter saying why they liked the gift, what they plan to do with and how appreciative they are for it. This is a great way to get them into the art of writing a story.
#2: If your kids work for you or they want an increase in their allowance — make them write you a letter to convince you to give them the raise. What they’re doing is actually writing a sales letter. And if they get the raise — it’s a winning package! Plus, you’ll have fun reading those letters years later when they’re all grown up. Hope this helps! And thanks for your feedback! — Carline
Comment by Autumn Beck — May 16, 2008 @ 3:43 pm
Oh my goodness that was great! I can’t wait to see where my "puppies" will be in 10, 20 years. Our 6 year old is already pretending to be a copywriter!
Comment by Cathy Sutter — May 18, 2008 @ 10:09 pm
Carline, this is wonderful. It also makes me wish I was one of your children–which would be biologically impossible since I’m older than you… LOL
Comment by Shane Arthur — September 16, 2009 @ 2:15 pm
Are you presently adopting?
Shane