Award-winning journalist and freelance copywriter, Susanna K. Hutcheson, presents news, thoughts and ideas on the world of business, marketing, copywriting and much more.

You Get Power by Being Generous --- in the Right Way.

Power in business is important. Power isn't money. It is better. It means you have control. You are sought after. Your opinion matters.

There are many ways to get power. But one way is by being generous. I don't mean generous in buying
things like computers, television sets and junk. I mean generous in paying for things and services that will bring you power. Paying people who can help you.

Why do important people give to the leaders of both political parties? Why do people give to different causes? Ever notice that stadiums are named after someone who gave a ton of money to a school or institution? It wasn't named for someone just because he or she was a nice person.

Who gets the most business? The person who pays the least he can for professional help or the person who pays full fare and gets the best? That's right. You get what you pay for. When you don't pay full fare for what you get, you may think you're getting a bargain. But the person who accepts your paltry sum resents you and doesn't give you the best of which he is capable. So you have no power in the situation.

Think about it.
Susanna on 04.26.05 @ 06:04 PM CDT [link]

Why Pay for a Copywriter?

I get e-mail like the following from time to time:

Dear Sir,


I am starting a New Company from 1st April. Name of company will be "Shri
XXX XXX".


I am doing a business of web development, designing, cd presentation etc.



Please suggest me slogan for my new company.


Thanking You,

Well, to begin with, the fool doesn't even know I'm a woman, not a "sir." So this tells us a lot about him. I know he's not worth my time but just to play around a bit, I send him my quote.

"I can't afford that", he replies by e-mail. (I'm surprised he even answered!)

I write him back --- still playing --- "How much can you afford?", I ask.

No reply.

See, here's the thing. Many very foolish, very pitiful, very unsuccessful failures don't value the very people who could make them rich --- the people who can sell with words. They want to pay us crumbs. I say f-ck 'em. Why should I make them rich and myself poor? Indeed!

I wonder if these same wretched souls would tell their surgeon he'd have to lower his fee if he wanted their business? If his life were in the balance, would he pay anything to get well? To live? Of course he would. He loves himself.

Yet he won't pay the person who can give him wealth and success. He's a bloody fool! And there are lots of them out there.

Another guy wrote me back and said he could get lots of cheaper writers than me. You bet he could. And he'll get exactly what he pays for too. He's a fool.

I admire people, smart people, who know they have to pay high fees to get where they want to go. Success is not a cheap affair. It is not for skin flints. Microsoft pays very high fees and salaries for copywriting and marketing. My clients pay high fees. And they get their money's worth. They get a truck load of value that other people don't get. They understand and appreciate value.

The difference in my clients and the skin flints is that my clients are very successful and very smart. And it's my job to make sure they stay that way.


Susanna on 04.03.05 @ 11:54 AM CDT [link]