A member on my copywriters forum started a thread on what makes my forum so popular. Everyone chimed in with some great answers, and I appreciate the feedback.

(The cool thing about it is, that very thread also reached an important milestone. It was the 10,000th one! Talk about a coincidence, eh?)

But then someone asked:

“Michel, can I ask how you initially got the word out about your forum?”

My answer revealed a bit more than what the member anticipated. Instead of talking about how my forum became so popular, I went on a tangent and explained the step-by-step process I used to book copywriting projects.

The answer was so well received that I decided to reprint it here.

Now, you may be wondering what promoting a forum has to do with promoting my copywriting services. Keep reading because you’ll soon understand why…

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Recently, a coaching client asked me about dealing with prospective clients over the phone.

This copywriter understood the importance of communicating with prospects and answering their pre-sale questions. However, like me, he preferred to avoid the telephone and asked me if his strategy was sound.

Free consultations are often a necessary step in securing clients in your early days as a copywriter before you’ve established your expertise and developed a reputation.

It’s natural that potential clients want to get a feel for your style and standards with a “getting to know you session.” Quite often, they will want to do this via a phone consultation with you.

I’m a big believer in opening the lines of communication, and I also like to pick up the phone to speak with a client when writing copy.

But before a client hires me, I prefer to remain off the phone. Why? Because the telephone can be counterproductive and even hurt your business.

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Just a quick little note that we added a “prelaunch” blog, where we will be adding previews, news, samples, and posts about the official launch of Success Chef.

While you’re there, subscribe to the RSS feed or join the email list, and view the special 70-minute prelaunch video tutorial. But if you want a sample, here’s the first 15 minutes or so of that hour-long video tutorial…

Click the video above (or the “play” button at the bottom-right corner) to start watching this video now. To view the remaining 50 minutes, click here.

Just an update on things.

I’m typing this from my hotel room in Anaheim, California, where my wife and I are speaking at a seminar. My Internet connection is shoddy and intermittent, so I can’t do much right now. Even typing this blog post feels like pulling teeth.

To my coaching students, I will be answering your emails once I return to my office, or this weekend if I have a chance and the connection improves.

I will be back early next week, posting an explosive new article on how to double or even triple your profits using an amazing twist on something we already do as copywriters and business owners.

In the meantime, glide on over to my new site, Copywriters Library, where I have over 6 hours of audio interviews with master copywriters Gary Halbert and John Carlton, and 2 of my complete books reprinted free for you.

The other day I was asked, “How do I motivate a potential joint venture partner to bite? When you have a great idea and you’ve located the perfect partner, how do you motivate them to do business with you?”

In my last post, I talked about the power of a USP and how to define one. Being unique, or having an interesting twist or hook, will definitely up your chances of getting noticed.

But regardless of how you approach your prospective partner, whether it’s through an email, fax, or phone call, or by snail mail or FedEx, it is important to craft the offer in a manner that shows the benefits to your joint-venture partner.

However, there are a few extra tricks to motivate a potential partner.

Here are some of them…

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With spam incessantly inundating our inboxes and people’s attention spans constantly shrinking, some have claimed that email marketing is on the way out.

I say “nonsense.”

In fact, it’s because of those very reasons that email marketing is now stronger than ever before. I personally know of some marketers who have made literally millions of dollars with email marketing alone in recent weeks.

I’m talking about legitimate, law-compliant, optin email.

Remember, the most common use of the Internet is still email — not instant messenging, social networking, or browsing websites. It’s often the very first thing people do when they log onto the web.

Granted, the biggest stumbling block is to increase your “open rate” (i.e., the percentage of people who actually open your emails). And to do so you first need to get your emails delivered and overcome overzealous spam filters.

But once they do reach your readers’ inboxes, the most important step in getting your messages through to your audience is with good copy. And like a good headline in sales copy, it all starts with the subject line.

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If you remember, a few months back I launched my email-based coaching program. Shortly thereafter, I’ve reached the number I wanted to enroll in the program, and so I closed the doors.

Since then, however, I’ve wrestled with the idea of reopening it to allow a few new members. Why? Partly because I’m very picky when choosing people with whom I work closely, and partly because I’ve received numerous requests asking me about it.

In fact, since closing my doors I’ve received 52 requests to join my program.

Yes, fifty two! I counted them.

So I’ve relaunched my email-based coaching program, but only to a few select applicants. With this program, you can ask me unlimited questions, to which I will answer personally — as long as your subscription is active.

Here’s what this amazing programs includes:

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