Finding the Time to Write
Posted November 6, 2011 in Productivity, Writing
A few years ago I started my career as a full-time writer. The direction of my new job was not a surprise, since I have never wanted to do anything else for as long as I can remember. However, the way I started to freelance as well was something that just fell into my lap and was far from what I had originally expected to turn to.
While the opportunity is an amazing one, and I would never choose to do anything else, it isn’t always easy. In fact, keeping to a strict schedule so I can get to all of my work on deadline can be downright nightmarish at times–mainly, because it isn’t always so simple to keep yourself accountable and on track without a task master flicking the whip behind you.
In this post, I’ll share some of the techniques I use to find the time to write.
7 Cs of Effective Web Writing–a Checklist for Freelance Writers
Posted October 21, 2011 in How-To, Writing
Freelance writers are common, but a relatively small percentage of these freelancers really understand their job and responsibilities.
If truth be told, it may seem that anybody can write. This seems especially true for those with reasonable English comprehension (which is a given if English happens to be your first language).
And even if English is not your first language, chances are that you may still be pretty good at writing once you understand that it is the preferred business language all over the world. Don’t forget that English is also the language of TV shows, motion pictures, and an infinite supply of wonderful books and literature.
But, is writing really so easy that anybody who knows English can do it? To be honest, it is really easy if you think that the main purpose of web content is just to fill cyberspace. However, writing becomes quite a job if you understand how many purposes a simple page of text is really supposed to serve. The writing challenge applies to almost all forms of writing, including articles, blog posts, or sales pages. But this post focuses on content writing.
In this post, let’s take a look at the seven Cs of effective web writing.
Should You Do Ghostwriting?
Posted October 20, 2011 in Writing
If you’re a freelance writer, you may have thought about adding ghostwriting to your freelance writing services.
But, exactly what is ghostwriting? And, what are some of the advantages and disadvantages of doing this type of writing? Is it ethical? Are such jobs available?
If you’re like many writers, you’ve heard of ghostwriting, but you don’t really know a whole lot about it.
In this post, I’ll answer some of your questions about ghostwriting and invite you to join a discussion on ghostwriting ethics.
5 Ways to Build a Better Website
Posted October 11, 2011 in How-To, Writing
By now you realize how important your website is to promoting and marketing your freelancing business.
Your business website positions you as an authoritative and skilled freelancer in your field. It captures leads into an automated email service or customer relations management software.
It provides information to visitors who may be interested in hiring you. It answers their basic questions, so you don’t have to do it yourself. It acts like your sales representative, working 24/7 to get you more leads and prospects.
But how do you make your website better, so it can accomplish all these things more efficiently and effectively?
That’s what I’m going to tackle in this blog post.
20 Useful Tools and Resources for New Freelance Writers & Others
Posted September 30, 2011 in Tools/Resources, Writing
The huge variety of tools and resources available that can be useful to a writer just starting his or her freelance career can be overwhelming.
The choice is so great that sometimes you just don’t know which tool to add to your writer’s toolkit first. This post should help with that problem.
However, it’s also worth noting that only a few of the software tools and other resources that are out there are unique. Most software packages are variations of already established solutions.
In my opinion the following list, grouped by categories, showcases some of the most useful resources of their kind. Some of these resources are even free!
Becoming a Better Freelance Writer–Lessons Learned from Failure
Posted September 29, 2011 in Freelance Stories, Writing
I started off with freelancing in college to pay the bills. The only jobs around campus paid too little, demanded too much. Since I had a minor in English literature, it was only fitting that I moonlight as a freelance writer (which also stoked my ambitions to become an author).
This is my story of how I became a freelance writer and of what I learned in the process.
3 Reasons Why I Am a Little Wary of Freelance Writing as a Career Choice
Posted September 25, 2011 in Writing
I am an Internet Marketing expert by profession and a part-time freelance writer (though I limit myself to writing sales copy or blog posts for reputable blogs only).
Even though I write just for the fun of it, when I compare the income and break it into hourly rates I find myself earning a little bit more as compared to what I’d get from an average SEO campaign for a small business (note that I am talking about hourly rates and not the overall earnings).
Now, writing is far from being a walk in the park, but it is a little simpler and less of a fuss than an SEO campaign that includes many different tasks like Keyword Research, Competitor’s Analysis, Link Building, Planning, and monitoring the search engine rankings for hundreds of keywords such as “123 company name discount” or “4companyname coupon.”
Still, if you ask me, I’m a little wary of choosing writing as my primary job. Here’s why …
How to Avoid Common Freelance Writing Business Mistakes
Posted September 18, 2011 in How-To, Writing
Freelance writers are just like other independent contractors who do something for a living, they’re going to make business mistakes.
While I’m definitely a more optimistic than pessimistic individual, I can’t help but look for dangers lurking in the weeds, hence the reason for discussing this matter.
As a freelance writer for more than 20 years, I’ve made my share of mistakes along the way, something I hope you can learn from. Whether it was taking on too much work at one time or not charging enough for such work, I’d like to think I’ve grown a little since venturing into the freelance world back in the late 1980s.
In this post, I’ll provide some tips to help you avoid some of those mistakes.
Freelancers: Fix Your Communication Errors Now
Posted September 7, 2011 in Writing
If you’re a freelancer with excellent communication skills, then you’re ahead of the pack. You’re more likely to have an easier time marketing your services. You’ll have smoother client relations. And you can charge more than competitors who jeopardize their credibility and professionalism with poor communication.
How can you be a better communicator?
Below are some of the most common communication mistakes I’ve seen freelancers making. Read through the list, identify which errors you make, and make an effort to avoid making them again.
Try searching "Getting Clients" or "Productivity"
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