1. Need experienced SEO copywriters? Give us a ring.
2. Need more than just writers? We can help.
3. Make 'em laugh, make 'em cry. Drive your sales by touching your clients' emotions.
4. Make someone else's gift giving even easier with eBay®.
5. Tip: Crop pictures in Word.
6. Recipe: Mashed potatoes.

We're Hsuan-min Chou and Blythe Howard-Chou, founders of Jumping Bean Communications. Do you know someone who can use our marketing writing or technical writing services? Forward this newsletter to a friend or colleague, or point them to www.jumpbean.com.

1. Need experienced SEO copywriters? Give us a ring.

We know, SEO (search engine optimization) is old news. You think every copywriter can write copy that not only sings, but also gets you high rankings in search engines.

Common thought is that all you need to do to write effective SEO copy is throw keywords all over a page, add your product and company name—a few commas and semicolons for good measure—and voila, you have SEO-ready copy, right? Right?

We've been writing SEO copy for almost 10 years
We started out optimizing copy for Ameritech (with our good friends at Barking Dog Communications), where we learned what to ask, how to interview, and what keywords to keep and cut (because not all keywords are good keywords). We took this knowledge and experience and have put them to use for our clients.

Give us a ring at 773-562-6093
We'll get you started on copy that gets you results!

For more information on what not to do when writing SEO copy, check out http://www.businessknowhow.com/internet/keyword-mistakes.htm

ADV: 5-star rated Transtastic Auto Repair "has definitely made loyal customers out of us," says Liz T. For quality oil changes and other car maintenance, call Steve at (773) 661-5100. Tell Steve you saw this ad on Jumping Bean.

2. Need more than just writers? We can help.

Want to refresh your Web site? Develop a set of brochures and sales slicks? Or assemble a direct mail campaign? To execute these projects, you need more than just copywriters. You may need a whole team of writers, graphic designers, PR strategists, Web developers, database gurus, interface builders, and perhaps even an SEO specialist.

Not sure you have the time to coordinate the search?
Look no further than Jumping Bean. When you use our copywriting services, you can also take advantage of our extensive connections throughout the Chicagoland creative community. Thanks to our expanding circle of creative contacts, we can now provide you with options for a complete team of professionals. So you'll save time and energy instead of looking for creatives yourself.

We can point you to creative professionals
Our ever-expanding network includes creatives with the skillset and experience you need to get your marketing projects off the ground. For more information, call us at (773) 562-6093, or send an email to info@jumpbean.com.

If you missed that issue on writing help documentation your clients will love, just visit the Archives page. You can find that, plus all past issues of "bean news!"

3. Make 'em laugh, make 'em cry. Drive your sales by touching your clients' emotions.

What really gets your customers to buy your product or sign up for your service? The benefits your product/service brings. And the price, sure. But these tie into emotions.

Get results by targeting just one or two emotions
You can make your letter or brochure more powerful by targeting just one or two emotions (desire or greed for instance) and blending them into your copy. At Jumping Bean, we write copy that makes your customers want, crave, and desire what you have to offer.

Use emotions to make your collateral even more powerful >>

4. Make someone else's gift giving even easier with eBay.

No, you're never going to wear that Cliff Huxtable-like sweater your mom bought you. Or that waffle iron that wasn't even on your wedding registry. But you know, there is always someone out there who wants that stuff.

So, this season, make someone else's gift giving even easier, and sell your junk on eBay! And with our help, you can improve your sales by making sure your eBay listing includes:

• What you're selling
• What's so great about it

• THANKS, perfect transaction. eBay buyer: spency0n6p

  Why someone would want it

Do it now and tell us what you want to sell!

Garage filled with baby clothes? Yet, your "baby" is 18? Sell them now on eBay! Learn more about our eBay services!

5. Winter special: 10% off

Because we'd like everyone to have a happy holiday season, we're extending our special 10% off direct mail now through December 31!

Why you need direct mail
Direct mail is used to grab your customers' attention fast, get them in your door or on your site, and persuade them to buy your product or service. And to sweeten the deal, the offer has to be something your customers can't refuse!

Offer is good until December 31! Call or email us today! Take a look at some recent dm pieces we've done.

Interested in doing non-profit work? The Taproot Foundation is looking for creatives!

6. Tip: Crop pictures in Word

Got a great picture of your cat that you want to place in your holiday cards? The problem is, along with your pretty black cat, you see the litter box (dégoulas), an old sock filled with catnip (tacky), and discarded kibble she didn't want to eat (mmmm, kibble).

No one wants to see that, especially Grandma Chou and Grandma Howard. So what do you do? Look for a new, less cute picture? Or why not just crop out the detritus that surrounds your objet-d'art?

Here's how you crop a picture in Microsoft® Word >>

Make your day run more smoothly and efficiently with our timesaving tips. Got a tip? Send it to tips@jumpbean.com. You might see it in the next issue of "bean news!"

7. Recipe: Mashed potatoes

One of my most favorite side dishes is mashed potatoes. I can eat it with anything. Chicken, roast beef, burgers, steak, maybe even sushi (you know, those wasabi mashed potatoes are pretty tasty). And it's the perfect accompaniment to your turkey!

Ingredients

• 3-4 large baking potatoes
• salt
• 3 tblspn butter
• 1/2 cup milk (or cream, which makes it VERY rich)

Impress the in-laws with my silky smooth mashed potatoes >>

Expand your culinary world by trying one of our recipes. If you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share, send it to recipes@jumpbean.com, and you just might find it in the next edition of "bean news!"

ADV: 5-star rated Transtastic Auto Repair "has definitely made loyal customers out of us," says Liz T.

For quality oil changes and other car maintenance, call Steve at (773) 661-5100. Tell Steve you saw this ad on Jumping Bean.

New Clients
Active and Able
The Beloved Community
  (Taproot Foundation)
MediaBank
Specialty Services
Spencer Stuart
Walgreens

Thanks...for your work in the short time you were here. We'll certainly keep you in mind... for additional freelance help.

Manager
Corporate Branding and Creative Services
Discover Financial Services

Play and Feed a Hungry Person!

Did I overhear right that you were leaving after today? Bummer... You were a great help.

Copywriter
Walgreens

You did a wonderful job and I know The Beloved Community appreciated it!!!

Account Director
Taproot Foundation

Hsuan-min's writing style is approachable and easy-to-read—quite an accomplishment when writing about software and technology concepts!

Carolyn Calzavara
Director, Global Marketing
Decisions Made Easy

Excellent product, packaging, and shipping. Would gladly do business again.

eBay buyer: gravyshoes

Amy has definitely expressed her positive feedback with your work and is impressed with your strategic copywriting abilities!

Recruiter
Visa Account
Direct Mail Agency

Hsuan did a wonderful job writing the copy for our Web site. He was creative and detail oriented, met all of our deadlines, and was a joy to work with. We were very pleased with his work and would definitely use him again.

Kim Schilf
President
Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce
Read the case study

Thanks for the awesome piece! I'm completely happy with Blythe and Hsuan's work.

Jonathan Howell
Graphic Designer
Photoplay Design