Day One:Getting Down to

BusinessPresented by

Maya Payne Smart

Today’s Agenda

• Thinking like an entrepreneur• Setting up shop• Making it official• Protecting your assets

Goals for Today• Grasp the importance of having an

entrepreneurial mindset• Know what equipment and supplies you need

to get started• Learn when and how to incorporate your

business and register with local, state and federal authorities

• Understand the true cost of doing business

Thinking Like an Entrepreneur

The Entrepreneurial Mindset

• What are you going to sell?• Who are you going to sell it

to?• How are you going to find

them?• How are you going to build

relationships with them?• How are you going to sell to

them?• How are you going to stay

in touch?

Raising Your Business IQ

• Read business publications• Talk to business owners• Seek out business advisors• Understand and create financial reports

What’s your business worth?

Setting Up Shop

Balanced Budget

The Right Stuff

Buyer Beware

• Efax or stand alone fax• Stationery• Magazine subscriptions (Blasphemy!)• Voice recognition software• Distant conferences

Making It Official

Choosing a Legal Structure

• Sole proprietorship• Partnership• Corporation• S Corporation• Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Why Incorporate?• A business entity won’t protect an individual from

wrongs (negligence, libel, copyright infringement)• A sole owner, officer or employee of a business will

NOT be liable for breach of contract if you observe corporate formalities and execute contracts properly• Make the business the contracting party• Sign as a representative of the business with your title• Strict segregation of corporate funds• Don’t refer to the company and yourself

interchangeably in contracts

Registering a Business Name

• Naming conventions (sole proprietor, partnership, corporations)

• How to register your business name with the state

• When and how to register a fictitious name, or DBA name

Tax Matters

• Employer identification number (EIN)• State and local tax registration

Business Licenses and Permits

• State business and occupational licenses• Local business and occupational licenses• Signage permit• Alarm permit

http://business.gov/register/licenses-and-permits

Protecting Your Assets

• Health Insurance• Disability Insurance• Commercial Insurance• Media Perils Liability Insurance

Questions?Please e-mail me at maya@writingcoach.com.

Day 2:Building Your Team

Presented by Maya Payne Smart

Today’s Agenda

• Identifying your business model• Documenting your work flow• Defining your ideal role• Delegating the rest (up, down and

sideways)

Goals for Today

• Understand that you must have great clarity about your goals in order for others to help you

• Recognize that no one succeeds alone and that your network determines your net worth

• Learn when and how to foster strong relationships with people inside and outside of your company

Model 1: Freelancing

Model 1:Freelancing

Model 2:Author/Speaker

Model 2:Author/Speaker

Model 3:Freemium

Model 3:Freemium

Documenting Workflow• Generate story idea

• Pitch to client

• Negotiate contract

• Conduct online research

• Schedule interviews

• Conduct interviews

• Write article

• Proofread and fact check

• Submit to editor

• Revise

• Invoice

• Remind

• Collect

• Deposit check

How Work Disappears

• Define what’s important• Neglect the unimportant• Automate what you can• Do your job• Delegate the rest

What’s Your Job?• Generate story idea

• Pitch to client

• Negotiate contract

• Conduct online research

• Schedule interviews

• Conduct interviews

• Write article

• Proofread and fact check

• Submit to editor

• Revise

• Invoice

• Remind

• Collect

• Deposit check

Delegating…

You Can’t Delegate…• Working out• Eating well• Relaxing• Friendships• Family• Ultimate responsibility

Getting Unstuck

• What’s standing between you and this action step?

• What pay off are you getting from staying stuck?

• How can your team help you move forward?• What can you do to minimize fear/anxiety/risk

so you are motivated to act?• What next steps can lead to the big leap?

Questions?Please e-mail me at maya@writingcoach.com.

Day 3:Marketing for

JournalistsPresented by

Maya Payne Smart

Today’s Agenda

• Choosing a niche• Defining your target market• Pursuing sales• Minding journalistic ethics and standards

Goals for Today

• Understand why specialization pays• Grasp the importance of market research• Learn tried and true methods for building

your platform and broadening your network• Recognize ethical issues

The Process

Get Niche Quick

Why?• Builds expertise

• Improves the quality of your stories

• Shortens your research time

• Allows you to negotiate higher pay

• Attracts assignments and resources to you

How To

• Monitor news in your niche with RSS feeds

• Attend conference and events related to your niche

• Pursue assignments in your niche

• Blog in your niche (see beatblogging.org for best practices)

One Niche, Multiple Expressions

What’s Hot Now?

Source: Magazine Publishers of America

Walking the Line

Journalist Marketer

Freelance Marketing

Freemium Marketing

What’s Your Story?

Selling Your Story

• Articles• Websites/Blogs• Speaking• Professional groups and directories• Social media• Conferences and events

Staying Connected

Questions?Please e-mail me at

maya@writingcoach.com.