In reality, this is but a very small part of the home-based

newspaper clipping service. The really successful press clipping

services have contracts with companies and organizations that

want to keep current on any number of matters reported in the

papers.

Some companies hire clipping services in order to keep track of

what their competitors are doing. Other companies, including

businesses of all kinds, use clipping services as a means of

locating sales leads and new customers. National magazines and

newspapers are a;ways in ned of different or interesting

material, and frequently employ home-based clipping services.

To set yourself up in this kind of business, you'll need only a

pair of scissors and as many different newspapers and magazines

as you can subscribe to. A visit to your local public library

should be most informative relative to newspapers and magazines

available to subscribers.

You should also visit your local wholesale paper house, or make a

deal with te local stationery store to buy labels at a discount

price. You'll want to attach these labels to the top of each

clipping you send to your clients. On these labels, you'll want

to print the name of the publication th clipping came from, and

the date it appeared, as well as your on name and address.

The next step is simply to start clipping articles that mention

or talk about specific companies or people. File you clippings in

envelopes or boxes according to industries or types of

businesses, by company name, ad according to the names of the

people mentioned.

Once you have ten or more clippings that talk about a particular

company or person, put them in a envelope and send them to that

company's owner or public relations director. You should include

a short note with the clippings, explaining your service and your

fees.

Your should try to get your clients to agree to pay you a monthly

"reader's fe," for which you agree to look for anything in the

newspaper about him or his company or industry. Every time you

spot such an article, you of course clip it, and send it to him.

A minimum monthly "reader's fee" is usually $25,but it can vary

according to the number of publications you read, and thee number

of clippings found.

Generally, a clipping service that scans statewide publications

charge about $50 per client, or $100 per client for those wanting

clippings from national publications. These fees, of course, are

monthly fees, and you can easily see how you could make very good

money with just 20 or 25 clients.

To promote and build your business, you can scan your local

business services directory and send out a solicitation letter to

each of those listed. A couple days after you've posted your

sales letter, you should follow up with a phone call.

A short, to-the-point ad under "Business Personals" in your daily

newspaper will also bring in new clients for you. And as soon you

can afford it, go with at least a small display ad in the yellow

pages of your telephone directory.

You should definitely contact relations firms, advertising

agencies,and civic organizations in your area. Explain your

services and ask them if they have any special clients or needs

you can help them with. You'll find many of your local political

and "cause" groups very interested in receiving clippings about

their opponents.

Clipping services in one form or another have been around since

the advent of the printing press, and as stated earlier, they're

becoming more in demand. It's definitely the kid of business

anyone who knows how to read can set up ad operate with an

absolute minimum investment.