Freelancefolder

20 Writing Mistakes that Make Any Freelancer Look Bad

Posted January 29, 2010 in Managing Clients, Writing 66 Rockin' Comments »

As freelancers, we try hard to put our best foot forward. We want to act and portray the image of a professional in our field.

Most of the time, we are successful at projecting a professional image. However, sometimes we sabotage ourselves. Our best efforts at professionalism are undermined in seconds by our own careless errors when we communicate with our clients. We’ve discussed the importance of good communication on Freelance Folder before, but this is the first time we’ve gotten down to the nitty gritty of discussing good grammar.

While your clients may not mind one or two typos in your emails, letters, and other communications to them (everyone makes a typo from time to time), frequent mistakes when you write to your client could give them the idea that you’ll be sloppy with their work. (It’s not just writers who need to be careful. Most clients expect you to communicate clearly and carefully regardless of the work that you will be doing for them.)

The good news is that most writing mistakes are easily fixed. In this post we’ll identify 20 mistakes to avoid. We’ll also point you to some resources where you can improve your writing.

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FreelanceFolder is Looking For Writers!

Posted October 29, 2009 in News, Writing 4 Rockin' Comments »

Are you an avid FreelanceFolder reader or someone who has always wanted to write for an audience of freelancers? Are you a top professional in your field with unique skills and the ability to write? Have you been freelancing for so long that you just have plenty of wisdom to share?

If any of that describes you, or if you just want to write for FreelanceFolder — then now is your chance. We are looking to expand our core FreelanceFolder team, and we are ready to hire two new paid writers on a long-term basis. Here’s what’s in it for you:

• Payment for every article written.
• Exposure to an audience of over 20k subscribers.
• Author by-line and photo on everything you write.
• Become a part of our team and help a lot of freelancers.

If you’re interested in applying to write for us, you can find all of the requirements and instructions after the read more link.

[Click Here to Read More...]

The Power of Good Communication

Posted October 27, 2009 in Managing Clients, Writing 24 Rockin' Comments »

Often times freelancers communicate primarily online, using methods such as e-mail and instant messaging. Many of us apply for and accept new work without ever speaking to a client on the phone.

The beauty of the internet is that employers are no longer limited to choosing local talent for their projects, and we freelancers can work for clients all around the world.

That same beauty and power, however, can also be a considerable disadvantage for freelancers who don’t grasp the importance of good communication. If used properly, good communication can compel a reader to action, stimulate the imagination, or even win a new client project.

In this post we’ll explain how to communicate more effectively over the internet, and how to use that improved communication to further your freelance career.

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How to Start a Freelance Writing Business — On Sale Now!

Posted June 16, 2009 in Getting Started, News, Writing 10 Rockin' Comments »

Our first Getting Started Guide is now available!

In this first guide, the talented freelance writer Laura Spencer guides you through starting your own freelance writing business. With over 19 years of writing experience herself, Laura has loads of information and advice for those just starting out.

Best of all, How to Start a Freelance Writing Business is on sale for only $12. Get your copy today, before we change our minds!

5 Ways to Instantly Become a Better Writer

Posted June 15, 2009 in How-To, Writing 32 Rockin' Comments »

Writing has always been an important skill in our culture, and the rise of the internet, email, and social media have made it even more important. Buyers are selecting sellers based on website copy, and many business deals are now made entirely through email. Being a good writer on Facebook or Twitter is like being the cool kid back in high school.

From writing on Facebook or Twitter, to writing articles for your business, you need to be able to express yourself clearly and effectively using the written word — your success depends on it. Becoming an excellent writer takes a long time, but there are some things you can do right away to see immediate gains.

Here are 5 things you can do to improve your writing instantly:

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What’s The Value Of Your Web Business?

Posted October 31, 2008 in Business, Writing 7 Rockin' Comments »

If you own a web-based business, no matter how small, then that business is worth something.

Traditionally, the net worth of a brick and mortar business is the value of the assets owned minus the value of the liabilities owed.

For a traditional business — which is likely to own equipment, inventory, and possibly even a building — the standard methods of valuation make a lot of sense.

For a web business, however, those methods of valuation may make little, or no sense.

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Are You a Writer, Freelancer, or Entrepreneur?

Posted October 2, 2008 in Business, Lifestyle, Writing 13 Rockin' Comments »

One of the most challenging things about being a freelance writer is that there isn’t really a well-defined career path laid out for you.

In a regular career, there are specific rungs on your ladder that are pretty well identified. For example, when I worked in IT, I started out answering phones for a help desk. After a few months and after earning some certifications, I moved up to desktop support. From there, it was a step up to being a systems administrator. I ended my career as a network engineer, just a stone’s throw away from going into IT management.

As a freelancer, though, my career has been more of a zig-zag pattern. I started out doing web content articles, which I still do today. Along the way, I’ve added certain types of skills and tasks, such as copywriting, website content, ebooks, sales letters, and even the occasional print article. In many ways, I’m still doing the same things today that I was when I started out.

Still, if I look across the entire path of my writing career, I can see specific points where it was time to make a decision about how that career would go. You might recognize some of these points from your own career. [Click Here to Read More...]

The Dark Side of Freelance Writing

Posted September 25, 2008 in Business, Writing 15 Rockin' Comments »

Last week we talked about changing your world, and about how it’s so important to freelance with integrity.

Today, I want to explore that idea a little further and talk about one of the most challenging situations freelance writers can face.

Let me say, from the start, that I believe in what I do. I am a freelance writer by choice. There are plenty of other careers I could be pursuing, but this is the one I love.

Let me also say that I believe in profit. There’s nothing wrong with getting paid, and getting paid well, for a job well done. In fact, if you aren’t getting paid what you’re worth, then it may be time to consider a career change.

Still, there are some freelance gigs that can be very alluring, but that can ultimately cause some problems with integrity.
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Freelance Inspiration: 10 Examples of Truly Exceptional Writing

Posted September 23, 2008 in Writing 17 Rockin' Comments »

Writing is one of those freelance careers that manifests itself in many places online — which makes sense, given that most of what we find online is written.

There’s one place, though, that writing is conspicuously absent. Showcase, Gallery, and Inspiration posts typically ignore writing and focus on design and art (probably because of all the pretty pictures). Despite not having much representation in this area, I’d bet that most writers need and benefit from brilliant examples just as much as the next guy.

So, this post is for all of you writers out there. Here are 10 examples of some incredibly good writing:

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