|
|
Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! |  |
|
Katie Yeakle, Co-Founder of AWAI, Shares What It's Like to Start a Copywriting Company
Written by: AWAI’s The Golden ThreadArticle Overview: Intriguing interview with the Co-Founder of American Writers & Artists Inc. (AWAI), Katie Yeakle, on her experience with starting her company.
 |
Free Download - How to Build Your Business At "Mind-Boggling" Speed Using Video Marketing By AWAI’s The Golden Thread |
Katie Yeakle, Co-Founder of AWAI, Shares What It's Like to Start a Copywriting Company
Tell me about your current business. What are you doing exactly?
We publish and market home-study programs that offer people freelance job opportunities. Our flagship program, AWAI’s Accelerated Program for Six-Figure Copywriting, shows people how to write winning sales letters. And, as with all our programs, we offer insider tips and strategies for getting started and succeeding in the industry.
When did you start the business?
1997
What were you doing before this, and is this your first business?
I was a direct-mail marketer for a large international publishing company.
Where did you get the startup money?
We were very lucky in that we didn’t need much money to get started. My partners and I created the copywriting program and promotion ourselves. And, we made deals with publishers to promoto our product on a revenue-split basis. Those early sales were our initial cash flow.
Who are your main competitors? How do you compete against them?
We were one of the first companies to offer they type of training we do. In the last 11 years, established copywriters have since started marketing programs based on the experience and expertise. As far as competing … we were the first and we are the most established. I think the support we offer our members is what makes us stand above the growing crowd. But, here’s a secret. Competition is good in our industry. As soon as someone understands the tremendous opportunity copywriting offers … and wants to become a copywriter … They want to learn as much as possible.
How has your experience in running the business been different from what you expected?
More people management than I care for.
Is there anything you wish you had done differently?
No … The business has grown organically. Even mistakes have been useful in helping us improve our products.
What have you done that has been very effective in helping to grow the business?
Hired the best people I can find … incentivize them … give them plenty of room to shine.
What advice would you give to somebody else who wanted to start a similar business?
Ready, Fire, Aim is the mantra we live by. My mentor, Michael Masterson, recently wrote a book on the topic. Don’t wait until everything’s perfect … the stars are aligned just so. Test your idea as quickly and inexpensively as possible … Because you aren’t in business until you make your first sale.
Katie Yeakle Reveals What Never to Put in Your Resume
What Does the Current Economic Crisis Mean to Your Future
Start-up Financing & Equity: What is Dilution?
A Goal Plan Thats Designed to Ensure Success
Why Every Business Big or Small Should Take Advantage of Shareholder Agreements.
|
About the Author: AWAI’s The Golden Thread RSS for AWAI’s The Golden Thread's articles - Visit AWAI’s The Golden Thread's website  Click here to visit AWAI’s The Golden Thread's website   For Emails That Work Avoid These Disaster Words Lights Camera Action Get Paid to Write Short Video Scripts Industry Spotlight Health Supplements Katie Yeakle CoFounder of AWAI Shares What Its Like to Start a Copywriting Company 6 Surefire Ways Copywriting Can Build Your Business |
Related Forum Posts
How to valuate a business
- Hi Garth - here is how we did it at Northern Crown Capital when I was helping them raise venture capital for Toronto-based entrepreneurs. Assume the start date is 2003 so 2008 projections are 5 years out:
How Northern Crown Capital Valuates a Business
2008 Financial Projections
Earnings Before Tax
$5,865,000
Tax Rate
42%
Taxes
$2,463,300
Net Earnings
$3,401,700
Amount Seeking to Raise Today
$3,500,000
Discounted Value of Future Opportunity, 5 Years Out
2008 P/E Ratio
15
Value of Company in 2008
$51,025,500
Discount Rate Applied
30%
Year 2008
$51,025,500
Year 2007
$35,717,850
Year 2006
$25,002,495
Year 2005
$17,501,747
Year 2004
$12,251,223
Value of Company at Investment in 2003
$12,251,223
Less: Investment Amount
$3,500,000
Present Value
$8,751,223
Discount for Risk & Private Company
40%
Less: Discount for Risk & Private Company
$3,500,489
Private Company Value
$5,250,734
Present Value (What the Owner Keeps)
$5,250,734
60.00%
Financing (What the Investor Gets)
$3,500,000
40.00%
Total
$8,750,734
100.00%
I hope this helps!
Seek Venture Capital & Funding
- Hello,
Greetings from India.
I am Seeking Venture Capital for Offshore Software Company Start-up. Need advise along with Business Model Sample.
I have a basic outline for an offshore company.
1. Technology - like Microsoft Dot Net, Java, LAMP
2. Talent Team - Found Good Technology Developers.
3. Where I can get the leads/potential customers - Leads have been identified who are willing to move forward offshore projects.
4. I do not have resources like funding. It is a very critical factor to me
Industries: Manufacturing, Real Estate, Retail, Insurance, Distribution & Logistics, Healthcare, Industry Associations and Software Product Development, Agricultural Industries and Etc.
Services: Offshore Software Development Company.
Offices to be located: Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India and USA.
Products/Services/Applications in areas like POS & Billing, Sales & Distribution, Production Planning, Material Management, Inventory Control, Plant Maintenance, Purchasing, Accounting and Logistics. Dynamic Web Programming with Database Driven Content Management Systems, Online Stores for E-Commerce, B2B Solutions, Community Portals, Website Redesign and Development, Custom ERP with Enterprise Wide Functional Modules such as Marketing, CRM, Accounting, Inventory Control, Sales & Distribution, Production Planning, Purchase & Stores, Logistics and Supply Chain.
Seek your further questions and help.
Thank you,
Best Regards, Jayapratap.
Hi everyone
- Hi everyone.I am Alex,SEO Analyst on XSEO Company.Nice forum.
Re: Should you hire ambitious workers or employees with no goals
- According to Guy Kawasaki, he says "you should only hire and keep people that you'd hustle over to and engage in a conversation...Life is too short to work with people you don't naturally like-especially in a young, small organization" ("The Art of the Start" pg 112). I think the reverse is also true and I wouldn't want to work for anyone I didn't like or want to talk to if I saw him/her outside of the office.
In addition, Kawasaki also says "Steve Jobs has a saying that A players hire A players; B players hire C players; and C players hire D players...This trickle-down effect causes bozo explosions in companies. If there is one thing a CEO must do, it's hire a management team that is better than he is" ("The Art of the Start" pg 101). Kawasaki's quote is definitely in favor of hiring the ambitious worker, but do most CEO's even have the humility to admit that someone is better than them?
Re: How can I promote my site?
- To promote website online you need to hire professional SEO expert because you have to perform the below activities for your website promotion:-
Start On page optimization which includes the following task:-
1. Meta tag optimization
2. Header Tag Optimization
3. Alt tag Optimization
4. Content Optimization
5. Anchor Text Optimization
6. URL Optimization
7. Navigation Optimization
After On page optimization, Start off Page Optimization which includes the following task:-
1. Link building
2. Directory submission
3. Classified Ads submission
4. Article submission
5. Press Release submission
6. Social Bookmarking
7. Business Listing
8. Local Listing
9. Blog Optimization
10. PPT Creation & Optimization
Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.
Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.
by: 
Lesson #3: “Tell ‘em quick and tell ‘em often”
Searching for the Stars: How Yang and Filo Took Their Business to New Heights
Salesperson Wimp-Out: I Need Help 
February 2012 Top 100 Leadership Experts to Follow on Twitter
Please Stop Calling it Coaching!
Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Halloween Howl Seven by Author Paige Agnew
Severance and Separation Agreements
Qualities of Leadership Part 1
Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.