Thursday, October 11, 2007

Help for Small Business


I spent yesterday morning attending a workshop presented by S.C.O.R.E. (Service Corps Of Retired Executives). Their presenters gave their time to help those of us starting businesses to get it right. Taxes, business plans, marketing strategies – all of this and many more topics were covered in the 4-hour workshop at the local community college.

If you plan on starting a freelance writing business, I would highly advise scheduling a 1-hour consultation with one of their consultants. It is free and can get you going in the right direction in order to open a profitable business. Now that I am serious about building my business, I plan on paying their consultants a visit every now and then to make sure I am on the right track.

The people at SCORE are doing a great service to those of us who are creative, but need some help with the practical side of business. Give it a try if you are serious about becoming a freelance writer while you support your military spouse.

As a result of the workshop, I have a different-type of poll this week. I need help naming my business and who better to ask than military spouses? Since the word “mom” is in my blog, I am frequently asked if I have a son or daughter in the military. I like the name, Writing Military Mom, but I want to make sure those who need my services can find me more easily. I would like to keep the word military in there somehow. On the other hand, the name evokes the question, “Do you have a son or daughter in the military?” which then starts the conversation in which I can explain that I am a proud military spouse. Help me come up with the perfect name by answering the question:

What should I name my copywriting business?

Here are some ideas:

Writing Military Mom
Writing Military Spouse
Writer Gal
The Last Word
Word Wrap (not sure about this one)

Help me and if your suggestion is chosen, you will win an autographed copy of my novel, FIRST SATURDAY. It is out of print until I find an agent for paperback rights and movie options, so this is the only way you can get it. So, get creative and help me name my business.


Good luck!

6 comments:

Lea Dales Photography said...

who are you targeting?
military mostly then go with first one
love number 4

Kim Marcille said...

I agree with the targeting question. If you intend to write for a broader audience, not sure the word "military" will convey your message. Could use Military Precision, with a tag line like Copy that Sells, or On Active Duty, or On Base Copy, or Campaign Copy, or Copy That. Any of those work? :) Good luck!

Anonymous said...

I dare say "The Last Word" is probably taken. Since your target market is primarily military families, I would keep Military in the name and stick with number one or number two.

Melonie said...

The Last Word - or Last Word is the most generic if you plan to market your services outside of the military. To be honest, I don't know that including "mom" or "spouse" is necessary in a business name unless you are specifically marketing only to parenting/marital publications and businesses. There does come a point where we have to separate our family from our business. I personally feel that information about being a military spouse goes best on my bio. (For example, Susie Wordsmith is a military spouse, homeschooling mama, and freelance writer. Her work has been published in Super Duper Parenting, Military Families United, and dozens of other fine publications. Catch her blogging at SusieMilitaryMom.com.)

Hope you find just the "write" name for your biz!

Anonymous said...

Word Wrap would be easy to say with a C.

Rosemary said...

I was brainstorming with someone over the weekend. We came up with the word "Pieces" since that's what I write. Perspectives Copywriting was cool, but there is already a Perspective. Then there was Media Mom (my idea), which is the title of a column for the Chicago Tribune. Ideas anyone? The book is still sitting on my desk, aching to be signed and sent to you!

Rosemary