Resume Writers' Digest Website Revamped

We've revamped the Resume Writers' Digest website to make it easier to purchase our special reports, books, and back issues -- which fund the publication of the newsletter. You can also sign up for your free subscription to the newsletter on the website (or on this blog) and even download a sample issue to see what we're all about!

Warn Clients of the Danger of Social Media

All right, all right -- the upside of social media VASTLY outweighs the negatives.

But every once in a while, I come across a story of a job searcher who forgot that the Internet is PUBLIC.

Here's a story of a job searcher who got burned by a tweet on Twitter.

Remind your clients that while Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, Ning, Twitter, etc. are great ways to communicate with their networks, family, and friends -- that even things that they thought were private aren't 100% private ... so they need to "think twice; tweet once."

Using Your Client List

If your appointment book isn't full, the first place to turn to is your existing client mailing list.

Here are some tips for how to use your client list to generate repeat business as well as stimulate new clients.

• Find New Customers Like Your Best Customers. Look at your mailing list and analyze our customers. Are you doing a lot of business with 35- to 45-year-old women who are looking for MORE out of their careers? Think about how you can reach these women and you'll tap a whole new group of prospects.

• Do More Of What You Do Best. Look at your last 50 projects -- what kind of work were you doing for these clients? You might find that there's an opportunity to target a niche of prospects. For example, if you did a handful of follow-up letters for these clients, you might decide to contact ALL of those past clients and offer them a special on follow-up letters.

• Get Feedback. "Out of sight" is out of mind in business too. Contact customers to ask how their job search is going. You can write a letter or send a survey. These types of contacts help keep you top of mind and bring customers back (and generate referrals!)

• Offer an Annual Check-up. Your dentist does it ... so does your car repair shop. Contact your customers at least once a year to offer a resume "tune-up" so that they're prepared if the perfect opportunity comes around ... or the unthinkable happens, and they lose their job unexpectedly.

• Reactivate Inactive Customers. If someone hasn't done business with you in a while, send the person a special offer. It reminds them of your business and may help spark a renewed business relationship -- or a referral.

Career Bloopers

Rosa Vargas has put together an entertaining collection of "Worst Resume Mistakes" on her blog.

Feel free to use the "Comments" section on here to share yours!