Peter Crocker: Copywriter Sydney 

Sydney, New South Wales
www.businesscopywriter.com.au

Peter specialises in business communication.

After escaping advertising agency land in 2002, Peter started a small copywriting business that works with organisation of all sizes to write websites, brochures, advertising, promotions and more.

During his nine years in the industry he has worked as a copywriter and project manager for clients such as Microsoft, Telstra, Holden, Nestlé, Vodafone, IBM, Nescafé, Jim Beam, Canon, eBay and a wide range of smaller businesses.

Peter's memorable quote
"Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue."

Articles by Peter

• Could you sell your business?

  You’ve worked hard, built up a good customer base and established a profitable niche for your business, but is it actually worth anything? Would anyone buy your business?

  • 23 June 09
  • Peter Crocker
  • 34 Comments

• I’m still addicted to email. Are you?

  In my last newsletter Confessions from an email addict, I spilt the beans on my compulsive email behaviours. Despite some frank self talk and bold promises, I’m sorry to report that my email addiction continues.

  • 02 June 09
  • Peter Crocker
  • 22 Comments

• 23 simple tips on writing for the web

  Writing for the web is not the same as writing for a brochure or magazine. There are many essential differences that you need to consider. Here are 23 simple tips I’ve picked up over the years.

  • 22 May 09
  • Peter Crocker
  • 7 Comments

• Confessions from an email addict

  When I woke up the other morning at 3am to go to the bathroom, I thought it would be a routine pit stop. How wrong I was. Seeing the office door ajar, I quietly crept in and did the unthinkable.

  • 12 May 09
  • Peter Crocker
  • 73 Comments

• From little things…

  In our newsletters, we often talk about the importance of celebrating victories. This week, we’re going to give ourselves, and you, a pat on the back for the success of our online forums.

  • 21 April 09
  • Peter Crocker
  • 4 Comments

• Lose the busy competition

  Meetings, deadlines, multi-tasking, smart phones, caffeine and chaos: it seems business is all about busyness. Ask people how they are and you’ll often get “Mate! Busy!”

  • 31 March 09
  • Peter Crocker
  • 29 Comments

• How great companies turn crisis into opportunity

  In a recent interview in Fortune magazine, management guru Jim Collins, author of business classics Built to Last and Good to Great, discussed what a business needs to thrive through uncertainty.

  • 10 March 09
  • Peter Crocker
  • 14 Comments

• The importance of search engine optimisation SEO

  Here’s a quick experiment that will speak volumes about the importance of search engine optimisation (SEO). The results may be inspiring, frustrating or ho-hum all at the same time. I call it window shopping the competition.

  • 17 February 09
  • Peter Crocker
  • 10 Comments

• How to sustain the holiday feeling

  Even as January ends, my street is still dotted with discarded Christmas trees, drooping fairy lights and half-deflated Santas. I know how he feels. With the tan faded and toys broken, how can you sustain that holiday feeling?

  • 27 January 09
  • Peter Crocker
  • 8 Comments

• New year's resolutions for micro business owners

  Okay, so they’re easy to make and virtually impossible to keep, but with every New Year comes resolutions. At Flying Solo we put our heads together and came up with these 11 ½ practical New Year's resolutions for micro business owners.

  • 06 January 09
  • Peter Crocker
  • 27 Comments

• 

  Four unique corporate gift ideas

  If you struggle with Christmas present ideas for clients, here are four unique gifts that have worked well for me.

  • 17 December 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 73 Comments

• Small business forums: Are you in?

  We have officially launched Flying Solo micro and small business forums, and we’re pleased to say that hundreds of you have jumped feet first into the conversation. But what are the business benefits in participating in online forums?

  • 09 December 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 3 Comments

• Career paths: Are you who you wanted to be?

  The other day, I caught the end of a radio report on recent research into career paths and happiness. The researchers asked: “Are you doing what you’ve always wanted to do?” and, “Given the chance, would you change careers?”

  • 18 November 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 35 Comments

• Self promotion: Making it easy to get found

  A recent experience reminded me just how many businesses make it unnecessarily difficult to be found by their prospects. In a world that’s increasingly obsessed with Google ranking, let’s not overlook the basics of self promotion.

  • 28 October 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 18 Comments

• False economy: Beware the lure of the quickie

  So your customer rings and says, “I need something fast, cheap and cheerful, nothing fancy. Could you have a quick look?” Don’t believe it. This is false economy and the result can be less than satisfying for all involved.

  • 07 October 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 35 Comments

• Business quoting: 10 secret line items revealed

  The world of big business is renowned for mysterious fees and charges. But here amongst small business, the use of hidden line items is running rampant! Here's an exposé of the black art of business quoting.

  • 16 September 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 24 Comments

• Improving business productivity

  As a soloist, it can sometimes be easy to confuse activity for productivity. Are you on track to achieve your goals this year or do you need to focus on improving your business productivity?

  • 26 August 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 12 Comments

• Does business networking work for you?

  Have I mentioned how much I dislike business networking? It’s odd, because I love nothing better than learning about other people’s businesses and gasbagging about my own.

  • 05 August 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 22 Comments

• Effective business websites

  In my web browser, I have a folder called ‘business websites I like’. It contains random sites that, for one reason or another, drew me in. Looking back at the list, they have three ingredients in common that make them effective business websites.

  • 15 July 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 24 Comments

• Effective time management: Prioritising time

  With so many different things seeking your time and attention, it is not always easy to determine the best way of prioritising time. Do you have effective time management skills?

  • 24 June 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 16 Comments

• Career satisfaction: Do you love your work?

  The philosophy of “Do what you love” and “Find your passion” implies if you’re not bouncing out of bed each day with fire in the belly then you’re in the wrong career. But are we chasing an impossible dream? What is your level of career satisfaction?

  • 03 June 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 64 Comments

• Get serious about online marketing strategies

  In the 2008 Understanding Micro Business survey, you told us online marketing strategies such as websites and social networking were among the top ways to find new clients. Yet only 53% of us soloists have a website we’re happy with.

  • 13 May 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 16 Comments

• Everybody runs their own solo business

  Whether you’re leading a team from the corner office, crafting clothes from the kitchen table, working in a shop or bringing up children, I hereby declare you a solo business owner. You are the CEO of You Inc.

  • 22 April 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 12 Comments

• The importance of communicating with clients

  There’s a simple email you can send to your clients or customers that they are guaranteed to love. If you want to be perceived as switched on, reliable and trustworthy, then read on to find out more about the importance of communicating with clients.

  • 01 April 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 21 Comments

• Business cost management: Stop leaking money

  Although you may not think business cost managment is the most exciting topic, it is something you need to consider if you want to make sure your business is not leaking money!

  • 11 March 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 21 Comments

• Why start your own small business?

  When talk turns to starting your own small business, there’s never a shortage of peopleo tut-tuting to themselves... “Most small businesses fail you know.” “Never go into business with family.” “Don’t borrow from friends.” And so it goes on.

  • 26 February 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 22 Comments

• The downside of being your own boss

  You stroll into your boss’ office, flick your resignation letter nonchalantly onto the desk and explain precisely what they can do with their stinking job. Then you swan out to cheers of your workmates. Or so goes the fantasy of being your own boss.

  • 05 February 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 31 Comments

• Use the power of channel marketing

  Selling products or services direct to customers is all good and well. But could you be missing out on a potentially larger and more lucrative marketing opportunity? Here I will discuss the power of channel marketing.

  • 15 January 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 6 Comments

• Business accountability: Whipping time

  Well, it’s past 10am on 11 December so the whip’s out! It’s time to see if the power of business accountability has worked for the 39 brave souls who set deadlines to achieve one important task before the end of the year.

  • 11 December 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 20 Comments

• Business commitments: Is your word your bond?

  ‘Gumps’, the oldest member of my family, is a 91 year old country stockman. Back in the day, he did big deals on nothing more than a handshake. But it seems business commitments and promises are getting increasingly casual. Is your word your bond?

  • 20 November 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 28 Comments

• Business accountability: Set deadlines!

  Forget “New Year’s resolutions”. What about “This Year’s resolutions”? I’d like to suggest a short and simple exercise which will use the proven power of business accountability to help you set deadlines and achieve something extremely important.

  • 30 October 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 40 Comments

• Work satisfaction: Do you love what you do?

  How do you know if you really love your work? There are two points in the week that are sure-fire indicators of your work satisfaction.

  • 18 September 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 38 Comments

• Generating new business through sampling

  My last newsletter on proactive marketing looked at selling to existing customers with the phrase "I've got an idea for you." But what about using a similarly proactive approach with generating new business? This can be done using sampling.

  • 28 August 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 18 Comments

• Proactive marketing: I've got an idea for you

  In one of our weekly polls, 43% of respondents said they would like to increase their flow of new business. To do this, thinking tends to focus on "How and where can I find new customers?" But there is an alternative - proactive marketing.

  • 07 August 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 6 Comments

• Billing clients in six minute increments

  Being a soloist, there are many factors to consider when billing clients. How do you work out how much to charge your clients?

  • 17 July 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 43 Comments

• New business projects: Do you need to believe?

  As soloists, we tend to have a fair bit of influence over what new business projects we take on, and what jobs we let through to the keeper. This is one of soloism's great attractions.

  • 26 June 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 5 Comments

• Business start up tips: Things I'm glad I did

  For those that missed it, in my last newsletter on business start up tips I listed four things I wish I'd done from day one of my solo business. This time, on a more positive note, I'm looking at five things I'm glad I did.

  • 05 June 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 8 Comments

• Why the online brochure is not dead

  At the risk of suffering the wrath of website developers and online marketing consultants the world over, I’m going to go out on a limb and say “There is nothing wrong with a simple static online brochure website!”

  • 21 May 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 13 Comments

• Business start up tips: Things I wish I'd done

  Hindsight is a beautiful thing, isn't it? I've been in my solo business for five years now and in looking back, can see four simple business start up tips that I wish I'd implemented from day one.

  • 15 May 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 21 Comments

• Part 2: Being accountable - Setting deadlines

  In my last newsletter I wrote about the importance of being accountable and setting deadlines for getting things done.

  • 24 April 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 28 Comments

• Being accountable: Setting deadlines

  Why is the builder’s house half built? Why does the mechanic’s car need a service? Or in my case, why hasn’t the copywriter’s website been refreshed for… well, a long time. It's all about being accountable and setting deadlines.

  • 03 April 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 53 Comments

• Setting priorities: Your money or your life

  Being a solist means there's always work that can be done to grow your business, so setting priorities and achieving the right work life balance can be difficult.

  • 13 March 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 40 Comments

• How to stop procrastination

  Do you have difficulty knowing how to stop procrastination? Procrastination is something that used to happen to me all the time, and it completely infuriated me…

  • 20 February 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 23 Comments

• Strategic review: The soloist 'away day'

  If you've been around a corporate environment, you'll be familiar with the concept of the 'off site', 'away day', 'strategic review', 'conference', or 'executive retreat'.

  • 09 January 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 7 Comments

• The key to a successful business is not talent

  The one fundamental attribute you need to run a successful business as a soloist is to be good at what you do – good, but not necessarily great.

  • 18 September 06
  • Peter Crocker
  • 6 Comments

• Six simple steps for solo business branding

  Credible business branding has been revealed as a big issue for soloists. Is it our problem if people don’t take us seriously? I think it is. Here are some ways we can show the world we mean business.

  • 07 August 06
  • Peter Crocker
  • 8 Comments

• 

  The highs and lows of working for yourself

  Working for yourself from home is often glamorised as a life of freedom, leisure & balance. A world where shiny silver laptops roam free and hours are spent at the beach. But what’s the reality? And is it all worth it?

  • 05 June 06
  • Peter Crocker
  • 21 Comments

• Listen to music while you work?

  If you listen to music while you work and you have a broadband connection (preferably unlimited), read on. I’m sure plenty of you are way ahead of me, but this is easily the best thing I’ve found on the net in the last year or so.

  • 26 April 06
  • Peter Crocker
  • 7 Comments

• How business partnerships can work for soloists

  Can business partnerships help you grow your business without getting paid? Possibly. One way is to help a client build a business by putting the value of your expertise on the line.

  • 24 February 06
  • Peter Crocker
  • 4 Comments

• Is now the right time to start your own business?

  How do you know exactly when the time is just right to take the plunge and start your own business? The answer is surprisingly simple: never.

  • 04 November 05
  • Peter Crocker
  • 15 Comments

• Faster decision making by caring less

  Soloists are generally 110% passionate about what they’re doing. Passion is a good thing, right? Maybe not when it comes to effective decision making.

  • 10 October 05
  • Peter Crocker
  • 2 Comments

• Business branding: Are you really a Nudie Virgin?

  When it comes to your business branding, rather than trying to emulate others, it's more revealing to look in the mirror.

  • 20 September 05
  • Peter Crocker
  • 1 Comment

• The joy of starting a side business

  “Ditch the corporate job and go it alone” they say “Life is not a rehearsal!” But realistically, it’s hard to chuck in a good job. Have you considered starting a side business?

  • 03 September 05
  • Peter Crocker
  • 5 Comments

• Four steps to getting customer testimonials

  Getting Impressive customer testimonials on your website or marketing collateral is a very powerful way to win new business. But how do you get them?

  • 22 July 05
  • Peter Crocker
  • 12 Comments