How and where a business can grow...

The first few years of copywriting, I didn't keep very good track of where my clients came from or how many of them there were. I can't go figure it out now because the computer I was using in those years completely died. That information is long gone.

In the early days I was writing for a variety of businesses and learned about careers I'd never thought about in the days when I was a real estate agent. 

That was fun, but it didn't take too long for me to migrate back to real estate.

Since 2012 I've kept track, and I think what I've learned is interesting. 

First, from 2012 to 2013 the number of copywriting clients I served increased by 23%. From 2013 to 2014 the number increased by 84%. 

I've also learned where REALTORS(R) who are most likely to want my services live: More than half of my clients live in California, Florida, or (a distant third) Texas. The other half are spread over 24 other states. 

I do also have a few clients in Canada, and have written for agents in Singapore, Panama, and Australia. 

In the three years (and two months) I've tracked, I haven't had have even one client in Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Kansas. Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Oklahoma are also absent from my little map. (Yes, it's on my desk and I color in the states.) 

So what's the difference? Why are agents in California and Florida more likely than any others to hire a copywriter. (Or is it just me - not ALL copywriters?) 

Is it the fact that high prices in those states make us comparatively more affordable? Is it the tough competition? Or... is it just because there are more agents in those states?

I write a LOT of agent bios - and I think I know the reason for that. Writing about yourself is the hardest thing to do, so even agents who write well, blog all the time, and fill their websites with high quality content often look to someone else to write their bio.

And then there are brokers who hire me because they want well-written bios on their websites - I've written 22 of them for one client and have 2 more waiting for my attention. 

One thing I know for certain - If it weren't for the Internet, I wouldn't be able to do what I do - or at least wouldn't be able to earn a living with it. 

So, even though I get frustrated with technology, I give thanks for it every day. I also give thanks for Active Rain - the site that gives me the opportunity to stay in touch with the very people who need me. 

April UPDATE: Regarding my question about why the majority of my clients (and newsletter subscribers) come from only 3 states - and why I have no clients or subscribers in several states. 

Yesterday I read a comment in a blog post from someone in South Dakota - she said they now have about 2 1/2 years worth of inventory. Contrast that to Southern California, where agents report having only about 2 1/2 months of inventory. 

Perhaps the answer lies in both population and competition. Most agents want and need new listings, but it can't be as exciting or urgent in an area with an over-abundance of listings.