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

• Soapbox

  11 ½ resolutions to break in 2009

  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 resolutions for micro business owners.

  • Published today
  • Peter Crocker
  • 9 Comments

• Marketing

  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.

  • Peter Crocker
  • 70 Comments

• Soapbox

  Small business forums: Are you in?

  Just last week we 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?

  • Published 09 December 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 3 Comments

• Soapbox

  Are you who you wanted to be?

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

  • Published 18 November 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 33 Comments

• Soapbox

  Are you 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.

  • Published 28 October 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 16 Comments

• Soapbox

  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. The result can be less than satisfying for all involved.

  • Published 07 October 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 35 Comments

• Marketing

  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.

  • Published 16 September 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 24 Comments

• Working Smarter

  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?

  • Published 26 August 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 12 Comments

• Networking

  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.

  • Published 05 August 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 21 Comments

• Technology

  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.

  • Published 15 July 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 24 Comments

• Working Smarter

  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?

  • Published 24 June 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 16 Comments

• Starting Out

  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?

  • Published 03 June 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 62 Comments

• Marketing

  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.

  • Published 13 May 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 14 Comments

• Stay Balanced

  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.

  • Published 22 April 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 12 Comments

• Marketing

  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.

  • Published 01 April 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 20 Comments

• Working Smarter

  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!

  • Published 11 March 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 21 Comments

• Starting Out

  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.

  • Published 26 February 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 22 Comments

• Solo Psyche

  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.

  • Published 05 February 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 31 Comments

• Marketing

  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.

  • Published 15 January 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 6 Comments

• Working Smarter

  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.

  • Published 11 December 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 20 Comments

• Solo Psyche

  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?

  • Published 20 November 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 28 Comments

• Working Smarter

  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.

  • Published 30 October 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 40 Comments

• Solo Psyche

  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.

  • Published 18 September 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 37 Comments

• Marketing

  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.

  • Published 28 August 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 18 Comments

• Marketing

  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.

  • Published 07 August 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 6 Comments

• Marketing

  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?

  • Published 17 July 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 42 Comments

• Solo Psyche

  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.

  • Published 26 June 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 5 Comments

• Starting Out

  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.

  • Published 05 June 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 8 Comments

• Technology

  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!”

  • Published 21 May 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 13 Comments

• Starting Out

  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.

  • Published 15 May 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 20 Comments

• Working Smarter

  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.

  • Published 24 April 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 28 Comments

• Working Smarter

  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.

  • Published 03 April 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 53 Comments

• Stay Balanced

  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.

  • Published 13 March 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 40 Comments

• Working Smarter

  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…

  • Published 20 February 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 21 Comments

• Working Smarter

  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'.

  • Published 09 January 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 7 Comments

• Working Smarter

  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.

  • Published 18 September 06
  • Peter Crocker
  • 6 Comments

• Marketing

  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.

  • Published 07 August 06
  • Peter Crocker
  • 8 Comments

• Starting Out

  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?

  • Peter Crocker
  • 20 Comments

• Technology

  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.

  • Published 26 April 06
  • Peter Crocker
  • 7 Comments

• Marketing

  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.

  • Published 24 February 06
  • Peter Crocker
  • 4 Comments

• Starting Out

  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.

  • Published 04 November 05
  • Peter Crocker
  • 15 Comments

• Working Smarter

  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.

  • Published 10 October 05
  • Peter Crocker
  • 2 Comments

• Marketing

  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.

  • Published 20 September 05
  • Peter Crocker
  • 1 Comment

• Starting Out

  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?

  • Published 03 September 05
  • Peter Crocker
  • 5 Comments

• Marketing

  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?

  • Published 22 July 05
  • Peter Crocker
  • 11 Comments