After living abroad for more than two decades, I’ve finally decided to go home.
I grew up in what I used to call “a small town,” though I’m not sure Southington, Connecticut qualifies as small.
With over 43,000 residents stretched across 36 square miles, it’s only a fraction of Seoul’s massive sprawl and population, but it’s still hard to call it a “small town.”
Do small towns all have amusement parks, ski resorts, just about every major restaurant franchise and at least half a dozen Dunkin Donuts?
Maybe they do now.
After all, I’ve been gone a while…
Welcome to the Southington Project
Let me explain what “The Southington Project” is.
Briefly, I’m looking to learn from, help and support local businesses in and around Southington Connecticut (my hometown) by providing free copywriting materials.
I’ll write ads, emails and website copy to help small (and large) businesses boost their online presence. This is only running for a limited time and will go toward helping build a specific “small town portfolio” of client samples.
The full story,
As an artist, I often think of things in “project” form.
Whether it be a mural painting or illustration commission or even an exhibition, breaking everything down into action plans has always worked well for me.
So,
I’ve set this up as a project as well
This project has 4 key points.
(did you try clicking on those “buttons” above? Sorry about that)ð
- PROMOTE
- ENGAGE
- NETWORK
- REDISCOVER
These four points will keep my goals attainable.
Yes, I have other projects going as well.
The big project is titled “Mike’s Project 2025” (no relation…)
That’s the giant to-do list of everything we need to get figured out and accomplished before my wife and I can leave Korea and move to the US.
The Southington Project is one branch of this larger target.
PROMOTE
These four keys are not in any particular order, but promoting is the major point of what a copywriter does.
We (copywriters) produce persuasive writing that can educate, tempt and encourage people to take action. The action could be anything from clicking on a link or visiting a specific doughnut shop, to making a major purchase.
I’ve decided to work on Southington-based businesses as my niche.
There are fantastic companies in this town.
From manufacturing, which was the heart of Southington when it was first formed, to fine dining, and from tattoo shops to real estate agents, there are so many interesting businesses in this town!
But many of these businesses could use a bit of help.
“All businesses need copy”
This is one of the common mantras of copywriting.
ClichÃĐ maybe, but so true.
- Facebook & Instagram posts
- You tube & TikTok videos and clips
- Newspaper ads (yes, I know Southington is still printing)
- Website and blog pages
Everywhere you want to share information about your business…
the better the words, the higher your engagement will be.
“If you build it, they will come”
“If you build it, they will come” is a lie.
Business owners are brave, sure.
It takes guts to reach for that “American dream.”
And they’re usually smart, too.
They’ve got an idea for something people need.
BUT…
Bravery and good entrepreneurial spirit don’t always equal knowing how to get people to see what you’re offering, though.
Not everyone knows how to promote themselves.
You can
- make a great product
- have the best yoga program
- or create the perfect bagel sandwich…
but who’s gonna know about it?
Who’s gonna come if you aren’t able to attract attention?
Do you need a giant marketing agency?
Or some fake AI program that will spit out robot-talk?
No.
You need someone who can spin words together well enough to grab people.
If you’ve got a business based in Southington, which also includes Marion, Milldale and Plantsville, I’d love to help out.
Oh, and the first one’s free!
More on that later...
ENGAGE
The word engage also comes up a lot in the copywriting world.
After all, the goal is to get people to “engage” or “act on” what you’re pushing.
But this word has quite a few definitions.
- “occupy, attract, or involve (someone’s interest or attention)”
But I especially like this one:
2. “participate or become involved in”
Example: “organizations engage in a variety of activities”
A little about how I’ve done this in the past:
I opened and ran a small business (an art academy) here in Seoul for a number of years.
It was named Jankura Artspace.
“Jankura” comes from my Southington High School art teacher, Ms. Jankura.
I named it in her honor and continued to keep her in mind each and every day.
Through this I came to learn about Southington Bread For Life and made small donations to help some of the less fortunate in my home town.
I made these donations, (when I could), as Jankura Artspace.
- This was a tiny way of staying connected.
- This was a tiny way of paying Southington back.
- This was a tiny way of allowing Ms. J to help too.
As part of the Southington Project, I’m hoping to connect and participate more with the public.
I plan to get involved in as much as possible, in fact.
There are organizations like Bread for Life that I’ve been looking into and plan to reach out to.
I want to help in any way I can.
I want to engage with the public.
I want to participate.
I want to be part of Southington again.
NETWORK
Connecting with people is important.
Recently I’ve been joining Facebook groups, following Instagram accounts and getting in touch with local Southington businesses and entrepreneurs.
I hope to connect as well as reconnect with people.
I’ve lost touch with so many people over the years.
I’ve never been one for small-talk, so it’s easy for me to lose touch.
I hate talking on the phone, too (sorry mom and dad) ð
Many people only see me when I make a rare trip home every few years.
So, I’m going to try harder.
- With family and friends, I’ll make attempts to reconnect.
- With Southington businesses and groups I’ll reach out.
In other words, check your inboxes ðĐ
REDISCOVER
Like I said, I’m not sure what my town really is or what it has become.
Is Southington a “small town?”
Was it ever a small town?
I can’t wait to be a tourist
in my own hometown.
So much has changed.
I’ve been back for quick visits a handful of times over the last 21 years.
But I’ve never taken time to really dig in.
I haven’t had a chance to explore.
All that is gonna change.
I’ll be doing research before we get there, of course.
I’ll be learning everything I can.
There’s the Barnes Museum to the Quinnipiac Tribe to learn about, and even dinosaurs!!!
There is definitely history to explore in Southington!
There is much to learn
My roots are there in Southington.
Family.
Old friends.
I want to rediscover these as well.
But are there new friends to be made as well?
Or will it all be too foreign to me after being away so long?
And…
- Are there dog-friendly cafes?
- Are there art clubs?
- Will there be a class of ’95 high school reunion?
- What’s the “townie bar”, and will I be welcome?
So many questions…
Questions are great, though.
They mean I want to learn.
But I do need help…
- PROMOTE
Like I said, I’ll be reaching out to small businesses mostly, but anyone who needs help with marketing their company, course, group or even sports team can use a bit of help saying just the right thing.
Just the right words, in just the right order…
can make a HUGE difference in how you get noticed
And getting noticed…
is the first step in boosting sales or engagement (there’s that word again)
Oh YEAH…
I mentioned something was free, right?
Yes. Free.
I’ve already begun reaching out to and helping a few small businesses in Southington.
I’m putting together small packs of free copywriting samples.
These are mostly Facebook & Instagram ads and a few bits of website copy.
I’m hoping to get enough small businesses in the area to start using my free service as a way of
- building a portfolio specifically of Southington brands
- collecting testimonials (positive reviews) that I can use to further promote my copywriting business
- helping businesses and entrepreneurs shine online
Want to participate?
Have a business or service to promote?
Let me write something that’ll help your business shine.
If you like what I write,
copy & paste it into your posts and ads or plug it into your website.
See how it work. If you get more clicks, awesome!
If not, we’ll tweak it and try again.
If you really like it,
- refer me to others who need copywriting
- write a review or testimonial
- hire me to keep helping you engage your audience
- ENGAGE
Speaking of engagement, I’d love to learn about other non-profit and charitable organizations in the area that could use some help.
I don’t just mean with copywriting though.
When I get back to the US, I’m really hoping to help out physically as well.
I’m 47 years old right now, but if Jimmy Carter could swing a hammer to help build homes for the less fortunate, so can I.
So let me know where I can help.
- NETWORK
I’ll need help here too.
Like I said, check your inboxes.
But if I don’t reach out, feel free to reach out to me.
- REDISCOVER
I’ll gain a thousand pounds (gotta get used to using pounds again) if I have to try out every single new restaurant in town.
Please save me the trouble of buying larger pants.
Let me know where the best bagels are.
Who has the most amazing steak?
I need cheesecake bad, too.
And Pizza?
I know this is a hot topic in Southington.
And I am willing to try every slice… ððð
but again, think of my waistline ðĪŠ
Of course, I want to enjoy all the tastes of Southington
(fritters I’m coming!)
but I also want to know which places
have great food and drinks
so I can work with them as well.
Throw those recommendations at me!
And that,
in a very large nutshell,
is the Southington Project
It is a gameplan of some of the networking points I want to establish long before I arrive in my cozy “little” town next year.
If you or anyone you know are interested in helping me accomplish the goals mentioned above…
please feel free to reach out.
If you can’t help, but still want to say “hi”
that’s actually one of the goals too ðð
My copywriting portfolio is constantly growing but samples are available here
Mike Stewart Writes 