Spring Is A Time For New Life

Since I began my career as a copywriter in 2001 it has opened up all kinds of new opportunities into my life.

I've also learned a lot about myself.

For starters, I love to teach and help other people succeed. As I look back on my career history through about 20 years, I've always been the one people turn to... to "figure out" or "learn" how to do something.

Last summer I was faced with a monumental challenge... to create a syllabus and course for a company that I truly credit with my copywriting success. American Writers & Artists Institute. You see, their sister company, Accelerated Training Services (ATS) asked me to create the Architecture of Persuasion: Structure of a Sales Letter course for them, and teach it.

I agreed to this challenge and it has been a very rewarding experience in my life. I also got the opportunity to help Michael Masterson write a book. One of my intentions had been to work on a project with him. I set that intention about 5 years ago and forgot about it. And last year it became a reality. He is a brilliant person and it was very rewarding to be a part of this project with him.

I just finished teaching my first complete round of the class for the Architecture course (16 live online sessions with 16 online rapid learning labs and assigned homework) and I'm happy to say it was a tremendous success. I jam-packed that course with materials, tools, and resources. I learned a lot in the process.

So what does this have to do with our new life on the road as full-time RVers?

Everything!

With my air card, my cell phone and my beautiful office in my RV I can virtually work anywhere. I can write anywhere and teach from anywhere. And now I'd like to introduce the copywriting lifestyle to other people who are interested in becoming RV full-timers... who are either retired or not... or anyone who just wants to know how to earn a living while enjoying their dream lifestyle.

Bob, my dear husband and best friend, is looking into several things he can "retire to" at the end of this year (writing is not his thing). As soon as he is ready -- we're packing the rig up, selling the house and getting out of Dodge (Denton actually)!

But I'm getting off track. I'd really like to show other full-time wannabies how they to can earn money and enjoy the freedom of full-time RV living... and make enough money to do it.

In the next few months I'm going to be putting a plan together and I'll announce it to my loyal blog readers first. I may put together a survey to see what these wannabies would like to know about.

Now you don't have to just be an RV wannabie who wants to know how to make money as you travel, you can be a copywriting wannabie and want to improve your skills.

You might say I'm combining my two greatest passions -- RVing and copywriting. I love challenges and adventure so I hope you'll join me in this one.

Keep checking back to see what's new.

Now, I have to get to work. I can't even find my desk anymore and I definitely need to take care of this. I have many projects in the works so organization is the key to doing a great job and meeting deadlines.

If you want to leave a comment on this or any other post, I'll be checking often and answer any questions you have for me.

Thank you for being a loyal member of my blog audience.

To Your Ultimate Success,

Vicky Heron

Direct Response Copywriter & Marketing Consultant

Ultimate Success Strategies, Inc.

http://www.copywritingspecialists.com/

http://www.vicky-heron.com/

http://www.howtogethealthynow.com/

http://a08110.uscgaux.info

“Navigating Your Path To Success!”

TIP: If you're serious about becoming a great copywriter fast, you need to know about this little known website. It's the place top copywriters go to see what's working, what’s not, and why... http://www.monthlycopywritinggenius.com/vh77

© 2005-2008 Copyright Ultimate Success Strategies Inc.

All Rights Reserved.

Be Careful What You Ask For – You Just Might Get It!

I know I promised to be in touch more often… I’d hoped at least every other day or even every day. But, until now I’ve been working some hellacious hours on some pretty big projects.

I’m glad to report all of it has been a labor of love and I have truly enjoyed it. Yes, even without a personal life since Thanksgiving I’ve enjoyed it.

I know I asked for it. I've always asked for more business than I can handle... but when it became a reality I didn't know what to do with it. I'll be more careful what I ask for in the future!

I just finished creating a course for Accelerated Training Services, a sister company to American Writers & Artists Institute. It is all about the Architecture of Persuasion and how that relates to the structure of a sales letter. And in the middle of all of this I helped Michael Masterson write a book based on this same subject.

It was an overwhelming experience and I truly learned a lot. I was like a bloodhound on the scent of its prey. I needed material to build this course and examples to put into this book. Until this year, I don’t think I truly understood the importance of a swipe file… I do now.

Now that the development is over with, I can relax a bit and enjoy teaching this course.

Now I’d like to switch gears…

As you may recall, in November we took our motorhome (a 31-foot Gulfstream) and caravanned with my parents and their 35-foot Bounder all the way to Yuma, Arizona.

Well, one day we decided to go “just looking” at RVs. My mom and I just love looking at the new floor plans.

We ended up at LeMesa RV and it was all over after that! We found the perfect motorhome for our soon-to-be full-time RV lifestyle. A 37.2 foot Damon Challenger with 3 slide out rooms. And in the back were two stuffed chairs that we removed. So right now I’m having a desk installed for my “mobile office.” I’m so excited!

Now I can truly work whenever and wherever I want. I had promised to show you picture of our

soon-to-be new home. And here they are…

If you see us driving through your area be sure and wave!

Oh yes, we also got us a little traveling companion. Since Bob and I met later in life, we were not able to have children together. We enjoy our shared grandchildren immensely, but they go home. So we got a little 5-month-old furry burrito (a Toy Chihuahua). Actually we named him Captain Jack. We're training on the leash and house training and both are coming along well.

I've been amazed at how fast this little fellow has wiggled his way into our hearts. He's a little champ and a great traveler!

Till next time,

Vicky Heron

Direct Response Copywriter & Marketing Consultant

Ultimate Success Strategies, Inc.

http://www.copywritingspecialists.com/

http://www.vicky-heron.com/

http://www.howtogethealthynow.com/

http://a08110.uscgaux.info

“Navigating Your Path To Success!”

TIP: If you're serious about becoming a great copywriter fast, you need to know about this little known website. It's the place top copywriters go to see what's working, what’s not, and why... http://www.monthlycopywritinggenius.com/vh77

© 2005-2008 Copyright Ultimate Success Strategies Inc.

All Rights Reserved.

Never Say Never

Wow--got back from our vacation trip to Yuma, Arizona and been working my tail off ever since. But, in all fairness I knew that would happen. I have several big projects going on right now and a few things I'm pursuing on my own to get ready for our full-time RVing lifestyle.

How many times in your life have you ever said, "I'll never be interested in ____." Or, "I never want to do _______ because it's way to complex for me to take on... too much of a learning curve."

Come on, join me in raising your hand. Over the years as I've enjoyed copywriting for all types of products and services, I always said I'd never write for the financial industry. Too complex. Financial just doesn't turn me on.

Then I read a sales letter that completely changed my way of thinking. It was written very simply but conveyed a powerful message. By the time I was done reading the letter, I understood exactly what they were talking about AND it changed the way I look at investing.

Before I continue, let me explain something about my husband. He's an accountant and a very conservative one at that. He does not believe in playing the stock market unless you can afford to lose money. He knows that investments that pay huge returns can also produce huge loses. And a gambler he is not!

But I'm going to have him read this letter (which is a subscription to an investment newsletter). I think this is something that may intrigue him. It may also be something he can have fun with when he retires in the near future. Believe it or not, he actually enjoys figuring out the budgets and stuff like that at work.

So I want to find something that will keep him stimulated, yet he can do it from the comfort of his easy chair in the RV as we're traveling to wherever our hearts desire. (I can't wait for that!) This may also be a way to supplement our retirement income.

I'll keep you posted on his reaction to this idea.

Now I've got deadlines to meet--I'll be back soon...

To Your Ultimate Success,

Vicky Heron
Direct Response Copywriter & Marketing Consultant
Ultimate Success Strategies, Inc.

http://www.copywritingspecialists.com/
http://www.vicky-heron.com/
http://www.howtogethealthynow.com/
http://a08110.uscgaux.info

“Navigating Your Path To Success!”

TIP: If you're serious about becoming a great copywriter fast, you need to know about this little known website. It's the place top copywriters go to see what's working, what’s not, and why... http://www.monthlycopywritinggenius.com/vh77

© 2005-2007 Copyright Ultimate Success Strategies Inc.
All Rights Reserved.

If you crave freedom--read this...

On November 4th, I talked about our up and coming trip to Yuma, Arizona. We were taking our 31-foot Gulfstream motorhome and caravanning with my parents (with their 35-foot Bounder). We all were very excited and could not wait. (Remember when you were a kid and you could not get to sleep on Christmas Eve because of the excitement and anticipation of Santa Clause bringing you presents? This was how Bob and I felt as our heads hit the pillows on the eve of our trip!)

At last, on November 10th, we woke up bright and early and gathered our remaining "last minute" items from the house, fridge, and medicine cabinet, shut off the water, unplugged electronics, and we were off.

The trip out was very nice. Weather was warm and sunny. Between Abilene and Midland-Odessa, Texas (can't remember for sure near what town exactly) we saw a couple of "windmill farms." Not the old-timers used to pump water... the kind used to generate electricity. There must have been hundreds (that we could see). All evenly spaced and stretching along for miles. They were on the lower lands and in the hills as well.

As we traveled along the interstates, we saw many windmill parts being shipped via 18-wheelers. Those windmills are huge! One blade is a large load for one of those big rigs. I hope they keep building them at warp speed so we can stop relying on petro products!

Even though gas prices are painfully high and we're driving a vehicle that gets 7-10 mpg, it's quite easy to keep costs down when traveling across country. You see, in an RV like a motorhome, you're totally self-contained. A house on wheels. A true mobile home you could say.

It was hot going out to Arizona so we spent the first night in a Wal-Mart parking lot in Odessa and cranked up the generator and enjoyed nice cool air-conditioning while heating up dinner in the microwave oven.

You'll love this one... I bought an inverter for my laptop. Now I don't have to keep an eye on my battery level. I just plug the computer into this inverter and plug it into the cigarette lighter and voila! Portable electricity for my portable office. I love this copywriting biz. Plus, I just installed a Bluetooth card into my new little portable printer. Now I can print without tethering the printer to my laptop. Talk about freedom!

On the second night, we stayed in a rest area at Lordsburg, New Mexico. Both Wal-Mart lots and rest areas are free. Just don't set up camp-you're only welcome overnight. And since Wal-Mart gas stations are usually the lowest priced around, it's a real win-win for saving a few bucks. This is where being fully self-contained comes in handy. No worry about hooking up to electric, water, or sewer. It's all on-board.

Day 3--arrived at sunny Yuma, Arizona. Mom and Dad have been winter "snowbirds" and coming to this same park (from Illinois) for 22 years. So when we all arrived it was a regular reunion. Of course, my parents stay until late March. With my husband not yet retired (but only a year or two away) we only had 2 weeks to spend there.

As you can imagine, with so many snowbirds flocking from the North to the South for the winter, there are a lot of RV dealerships in Yuma. In fact, in 1997, my parents went to Wal-Mart to buy new pillows. They noticed an RV show taking place in the parking lot so they decided to take a peek at the latest models... you know--just for giggles & grins :-) I still remember that day. They called me and told me they bought a new motorhome. I said, "You what???" Yes, they went to buy new pillows and ended up trading their older model for a new motorhome.

I couldn't imagine that... until...

Would you believe my husband has banned me from going and looking at RVs now? Why?

I'll tell you...

On Friday & Saturday, we all wanted to pass the time by looking at new RVs. Bob and I wanted to get ideas on what we wanted in our next rig. After all, we are seriously considering living in it full-time and as lovely as our 31 foot Gulfstream was, it was not a full-timer's ideal set up. Remember, as a copywriter, I can work from anywhere--as I said in a previous post.

As we were oooing and ahhhing over each rig we climbed into, it happened. I fell in love with my soul mate--Damon Challenger. Actually, Damon is the manufacturer and Challenger is the model of our new 37-foot Class A motorhome. Yes, we traded up!

It is huge with 3 slide-out rooms. It even has French doors on the bedroom. And best of all, it has a perfect place in the back of the bedroom for my mobile office. All Bob has to do is build in a desk and a few drawers and I'm all set. I even have big windows on 2 sides so you could say it's my corner office :-)

I'd like to show you how to claim this lifestyle for yourself. If you'd like to do what I'm doing, it's fun, lucrative, and extremely portable. I'm working on a plan to help you get started. As soon as I get it all put together, I'll reveal it to you!

In the meantime, I'd like to hear what your thoughts are on the RV lifestyle. Could you imagine living in a luxurious RV... traveling anywhere you want... anytime you want... for as long as you want? If so, do you know what you'd like to do to earn some extra $$$? Perhaps you only need some extra cash to supplement your retirement income.

Or maybe you have younger children at home and you home-school them. Believe it or not, people are seeing the country and living this lifestyle... even with children. If you have not seen the movie RV with Robin Williams yet, go rent it. We watch it often in our rig :-)

I'd love to hear from you. Please email me at vicky@copywritingspecialists.com with your thoughts and ideas. I look forward to hearing from you.

Oh yes, while I was in Yuma I met many people who travel around, working in different locations at different times of the year. For example, one lady works at the RV dealership during the winter months (and lives in her RV) and works in Alaska during the summer. No reason why you can't enjoy this lifestyle and freedom too... if you like new adventures and experiences.

Stay tuned for more...

To Your Ultimate Success,


Vicky Heron
Direct Response Copywriter & Marketing Consultant & AVID RVer
Ultimate Success Strategies, Inc.
http://www.copywritingspecialists.com/
http://www.vicky-heron.com/
http://www.howtogethealthynow.com/
http://a08110.uscgaux.info/

“Navigating Your Path To Success!”

PS-I wrote this post sitting at my kitchen table in the Damon. I started writing it in El Paso, Texas, and finished it by the time we hit Odessa, Texas. I've been working on other stuff too while Bob plugs into books on tape as he drives. He loves driving this beast when he can listen to books at the same time.

How would you like to do things like this? Let me know!

TIP: If you're serious about becoming a great copywriter fast, you need to know about this little known website. It's the place top copywriters go to see what's working, what’s not, and why... http://www.monthlycopywritinggenius.com/vh77

© 2005-2007 Copyright Ultimate Success Strategies Inc.
All Rights Reserved.

What was that Willie Nelson song about traveling?

Oh yes... On The Road Again!

This is our new theme song. Scroll down to my September 10th entry and you'll see a picture of our new motorhome. A 31-foot Class A with 2 slide-outs (rooms).

I'm so excited I can hardly get my work done. But I must! I'm writing this on the 17" HP notebook computer I bought in April (when we bought our motorhome) to use in my "mobile office." I just got my HP Portable 460 printer all hooked up to it with the wonderful Bluetooth technology so now I can print wirelessly from anywhere in the rig.

I have my trusty Verizon air card for Internet access and my cell phone to keep my finger on the pulse of my customers. I bought a wireless keyboard and mouse to use while we go on down the road. How fun does this sound?! I can kick back and work on the couch (or on the bed) while my husband drives to our destination.

My parents will be here in their 36' rig in a few days. Being from the frosty north, they are what's known as "snow birds." Like their migratory counterparts (Canadian Geese), these snowbirds travel south in their RVs to escape the harsh winter onslaughts.

Mom and Dad have been doing this for at least 25 years. Mom takes her keyboard and plays with fellow amateur musicians in "jam" sessions. They all take turns singing their favorite ditties while the rest of the group hums, drums, strums, and just about anything else they can turn into a musical instrument. I've even seen washboards and spoons being played as finely tuned instruments... well, maybe not finely tuned, but they were used instruments!

Their mission is to just have fun!

Next year we hope to have my husband, Bob, retire. That's why I'm all geared up with my portable office. So far, since April, we've spent time in our RV down in Teague, Texas, up at Lake Texoma, Lake Ray Roberts, Waco, Texas, Mountain Home, Arkansas, and now we'll be "On The Road Again" going to Yuma, Arizona.

The freelance writer's life is the reason I can do this. Thanks to the AWAI Six-Figure Copywriting Program program I'm able to live and enjoy my dream lifestyle. I've visualized this for several years now and it works.

I'm packing books to read and arranging client work to do while we're on the road. Once we reach Yuma, I'll take it easy and enjoy my family. Then we'll head home and I'll hit the "office" again as Bob puts the pedal to the metal.

I'll try to keep y'all updated on our trip. I started packing all of our food, clothes, electronic adapters, and all that good stuff today.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. We wish you a very joyous holiday season. Be safe!

To Your Ultimate Success,

Vicky Heron
Direct Response Copywriter & Marketing Consultant
Ultimate Success Strategies, Inc.

http://www.copywritingspecialists.com/
http://www.vicky-heron.com/
http://www.howtogethealthynow.com/
http://a08110.uscgaux.info/

“Navigating Your Path To Success!”

TIP: If you're serious about becoming a great copywriter fast, you need to know about this little known website. It's the place top copywriters go to see what's working, what’s not, and why... http://www.monthlycopywritinggenius.com/vh77

© 2005-2007 Copyright Ultimate Success Strategies Inc.
All Rights Reserved.

My Lunch With Joe Vitale

I just returned from my 5th AWAI Bootcamp and it was a great experience. They just keep making it better and better!

I don’t have an official count, but there must have been 200 to 300 people there (at least) all at varying stages of their careers. People like Beth Erickson, Monica Day, Krista Jones, and me have been around since the late 90’s and early 2000.

I remember my first bootcamp. I was nervous for several reasons. First, my flight was on the 3rd day the planes were allowed back in the air after September 11, 2001. So I had some trepidation about that. Also, 60 people were scheduled to be there and only 40 were able to make it. Many overseas people could not get their flights and some, understandably, just did not want to get on a plane yet.

Second, I had just bought the course and started working it in July of 2001. I was so overjoyed with what I was learning in the course that when I found out about the Bootcamp I signed up immediately.

Before I left for Delray Beach, I had almost finished the restaurant assignment… but decided to turn it in after I returned home--just “in case” I learned something to make it stronger.

Wow… Was I in for a treat! I came home and totally rewrote that assignment. And I received a near perfect score on it. While I was there, I learned about their coaching services from some of the members who had been in the program for much longer than I had.

I was in awe as they “got it” when questions were asked. I felt overwhelmed a bit but knew if I was going to be successful at this I needed to do what they were doing.

So I joined their coaching and success-building program.

Fast forward to the Bootcamps for the last couple of years and the people at AWAI really know what we as copywriters need and they deliver. I absolutely love listening to Herschell Gordon Lewis… as we say in Texas, he’s a HOOT the way he delivers his extremely valuable information!

And my beloved friend, Joe Vitale, was there for his second year. This year he was the keynote speaker. As usual, he over-delivered when it came to useful and powerful information. He truly loves people and it comes through with every word he speaks.

Before he left the next day, we had lunch together (we always find a way to connect for a spell when we are there). He was excited to hear about my intentions that were manifesting themselves in my life… like our recent purchase of our motorhome. Thanks to his book The Attractor Factor I’ve been able to make many intentions become a reality! As he said in his speech this week, make your intentions and don’t get attached to them. They will manifest themselves when the time is right in your life. Let go. One of my manifestations came to be after five years. But it did become a reality!

Now Bob and I have to find time in our schedules and in Joe’s schedule to go to “The Summit,” our campground we’re members of through our Coast to Coast membership. It’s only about 15 minutes from Joe’s estate. He made me promise to make it soon so we’ll go after the new year some time. I’ll give you the full report when we return.

Joe is such a sweetie and his lovely Nerissa is a gem as well. We’ll see his Catarium and maybe relax in his hot tub under the Texas stars. I’ll let you know and get some pictures.

It’s good to be back in my office. Things can really stack up when you’re gone for several days! One of the highlights of my trip was the number of people who came up to me and let me know they love my blog. To all of you… thank you. It means a lot to me. If you find my entries helpful or inspiring, please leave me a comment. I’d love to hear from you!

To Your Ultimate Success,

Vicky Heron
Direct Response Copywriter & Marketing Consultant Ultimate Success Strategies, Inc.

http://www.copywritingspecialists.com/
http://www.vicky-heron.com/
http://www.howtogethealthynow.com/
http://a08110.uscgaux.info

“Navigating Your Path To Success!”

TIP: If you're serious about becoming a great copywriter fast, you need to know about this little known website. It's the place top copywriters go to see what's working, what’s not, and why... http://www.monthlycopywritinggenius.com/vh77 © Copyright Ultimate Success Strategies Inc.
All Rights Reserved.

Duh... I Could Have Had A V-8!

I'm up to my eyeballs developing a course for a company. It's a much bigger project than I had anticipated.

But, I'm really glad I'm doing it. As you can imagine, when doing something like this you must do a lot of research. Well, yesterday I was reading some very well written articles on headlines. One was on Jay Abraham's site, http://www.abraham.com, titled "100 Greatest Headlines Ever Written."

Actually, it's very similar to the 100 headlines in Victor Schwab's book, "How To Write A Good Advertisement." I love that book! If it's still in print, you can get it here... How To Write A Good Advertisement

I HIGHLY recommend it!

I was also reading an article written by Daniel Levis, "How To Brainstorm Your Next Winning Headline."

One thing kept hitting me in the face as I read these great pieces... "Start where the reader is." I've read that in Michael Masterson's works too and for years now I've just wondered exactly what that meant. I hate to admit this to you...

I realize now that it all takes time and exposure to really GET this stuff. And hypey just doesn't cut it.

Do you want a bunch of one-time-wonder clients/customers, or do you want to form long term relationships with them? Which ones will give you the best lifestyle?

I'm sure you'll agree, keeping customers coming back again and again is the key to making a good living for yourself and your loved ones. And to do this you must really show people you care about them.

Hype does not do this. I call this "flash in the pan" writing. And I can tell the difference when I open my mail. If it's hype, it doesn't take me long to get bored and toss it. It feels like a carnival hawker with his long-handled cane--trying to "hook" me and reel me in to his booth so he can suck my pockets dry. No thank you!

On the other hand, when I open a piece of mail and I feel this is something that will really benefit me, and that the message is directly addressing a problem I'm having, I can't pick up my credit card fast enough. Know what I mean?

So, while I was doing this research yesterday I literally bonked myself on the side of the head and said, "Wow, I could have had a V-8!"

Why?

Because I finally get it... Starting where your reader is. It's powerful and it works. Let me give you a couple of examples from my research...

1. How To Give Your Children Extra Iron--These 3 Delicious Ways (The public already accepts that children's blood should contain plenty of iron. So this headline goes on from there--promising "extra" iron and "3 delicious ways" to get it. Delicious is a key word here because it immediately puts the parent at ease... the old parent vs. child battle over bad tasting medicine.

2. The Crimes We Commit Against Our Stomachs (Because most people already believe they often give their digestive process some pretty rough treatment, this rapport between the theme of the ad and the common belief of its readers, makes the "we" and "our" pratically equal in effectiveness to "you" and "your."

These two examples were taken from Jay Abraham's site mentioned above. It really helped me understand what it means to "Start where your reader is."

Let me know if this helps you too. If you have a comment to this article, I'd love to hear from you!

To Your Ultimate Success,

Vicky Heron
Direct Response Copywriter & Marketing Consultant
Ultimate Success Strategies, Inc.

http://www.copywritingspecialists.com/
http://www.vicky-heron.com/
http://www.howtogethealthynow.com/
http://a08110.uscgaux.info

“Navigating Your Path To Success!”

TIP: If you're serious about becoming a great copywriter fast, you need to know about this little known website. It's the place top copywriters go to see what's working, what’s not, and why... http://www.monthlycopywritinggenius.com/vh77

© Copyright Ultimate Success Strategies Inc.
All Rights Reserved.