Taking my own advice

I just wrote a self-promotion for the job boards. Here it is, pasted below. Feel free to try something like it -- just put it in your own words. Notice how I use the letter to drum up interest, scare away clients I won't want anyway, and put a time limit on it. Who knows if it will work, though -- I'll let you know. Here it is:

David E. Morgan
PO Box 686
Louisville, TN 37777
david@morganletters.com
Tel/fax: (865) 982-4156
Skype: Ecrivain4536

October 29, 2005

This web and print copywriter will spank your previous direct marketing efforts by 25-45% any day of the week!

Dear Marketer,

I understand you're looking to hire a copywriter. I might be your guy.

I'm not looking for a “job,” so if you're looking for someone full-time...

Consider this: An in-house copywriter costs you more in the long run

Say you hire a college kid for $20 an hour. How much time and money will you spend training her? Plus you'll pay for her vacations ($1600 a year)...holidays (about $800 a year)...sick days (up to $2000 a year). Not to mention health benefits and paying into her 401(k)!

If for some reason you want to get rid of her down the road, what a hassle that can be! You might have to pay her again just to go away.

Plus – she'll never really have to perform. Only freelancers who “swim with the sharks” on a daily basis ever have to “put up or shut up.”

A freelancer will save you a lot of money – especially this one: If my promo doesn't beat your current control piece, you don't pay. End of story.

As I'm sure you can imagine, this offer is getting quite a bit of attention...

So I'm not going to offer it for long. You have till noon, Wednesday, November 2.

My name is David Morgan. I'm a direct response copywriter. I trained under Bill Bonner, Michael Masterson, and John Forde when I worked at Agora Inc. in Baltimore.

I went freelance after a few hits, then I “retired” to teach school, work at a drug rehab, and travel. I came back to freelance copywriting in April, 2005.

The only reason I'm writing you at all is this: Hurricane Wilma took the roof off two of my clients' offices.

They'll be back open soon, so this week is the only week I will even consider doing a spec assignment. Call me now.

Want to see samples? I have plenty!

Just click here or go to http://morganletters.com/promos. Please fill in the estimate form on the “bio” page and let me know where you found me, or just call (865) 982-4156.

Want me to come in and chat or sit in on a creative session? Sorry...

Forget it. That's a deal-breaker. I can earn over $1,000 a day working from home. Think I'm going to come sit around in your office and wait for you? That's lost money and I can't be bothered...

There's nothing we'll need from each other we can't figure out by a friendly 20-minute conference call. Don't waste my time and I won't waste yours. Your results are guaranteed so you have nothing to lose. Deal?

Call me ((865) 982-4156), email (david@morganletters.com), or check out my sites. Even if you don't hire me, you should at least subscribe to my free weekly newsletter full of copywriting tips.

-David

P.S. Here's my site information...
http://www.morganletters.com/: Free weekly newsletter for copywriters and those who hire them.
http://www.copycorner.blogspot.com/: Daily blog to increase productivity and profitability of copywriters.