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November 14, 2009
The Right Way to Travel
Sell More Stories Series - Tip #4: How to Master Dealflow
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Dear Reader,
Now that you’ve targeted your article, spun an enticing pitch, and made the leap to send in your story, one of two things can happen:
1. You sell a story -- Yay!
2. You don’t sell a story -- Ok, try again.
But the next step is the same for both of these outcomes. You’ve got to create what copywriting guru Dan Kennedy calls “Dealflow.”
If you already have a line-up of potential markets for your stories and photos -- magazines where you think your articles will fit in, local newspapers, online publications, etc. -- then you’ve got Dealflow.
If something falls through, or if you never hear back from an editor on that last story you submitted, you’ve always got another publication in mind... another outlet to pursue.
And if you DO sell your article, you don’t stop there. You keep rolling on to the next thing, and keep the checks coming in.
Here are a few ways to develop your own Dealflow:
** 1. Introduce yourself as a travel writer at your local tourist board. Freelance writer Jennifer Stevens did this in her hometown, and landed three assignments -- and nearly $6,000 -- writing for a glossy in-flight magazine. (Read how she did it).
** 2. Find publications that fit your interests and line up a few article ideas. One great place to start is in our Featured Publication archives.
** 3. If an editor accepts your story for publication, pitch another story to that same editor when you send in your finished draft. Past Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop attendee (and now presenter) Roy Stevenson consistently sells over 100 articles a year -- in large part because he’s mastered Dealflow.
Whenever an editor gives him the go-ahead to write an article, he finishes it, sends it in, and pitches a new idea on its heels. Doing this gets him another article sale 52% of the time.
With the information we’ve shared this week, you already know more than the average travel writer. You have in your hands the actual formula to getting paid for your stories. All that’s left to do is give it a try.
Have a great weekend!
-- Bonnie
Bonnie Caton
AWAI Travel Division
P.S. Roy Stevenson shared his complete strategy for selling one article after another at the Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop in Denver. A lot of it has to do with writing one article and then tweaking it to sell again and again. Just over two years ago, he was only getting started... now he’s a full-time travel writer. Hear his presentations and follow along with his PowerPoint slides with the Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop-At-Home Package. And – until midnight on Monday only – get a FREE three-month membership to the ITWPA, too. We’re tossing it in as an added bonus. But only for two more days. You can get a hold of this deal at this special link.
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