Archive for the ‘Writing Resources’ Category
Sep 30, 2009 Freelance Advice, General, Writing Resources
If you already write for DemandStudios.com and AssociatedContent.com, you would have heard about private clients from writers on those websites. Private clients are excellent to find as they can usually pay better for web content and SEO articles. What are private clients? They can be anything from individuals who need a blogger, articles for their website or marketing companies that need search engine optimized content either for their website or clients’.
We all have our different methods of obtaining work, but I can speak from my experiences. You should know that some private clients require writers to sign confidentiality agreements or provide additional information before work can be assigned. The work is often exclusive, meaning you are giving full-rights to the client. Charging for private work depends on the writer and the agreement signed. I have done work on flat fee basis or per word, that is something you’d have to discuss with your client. If you write for the websites mentioned, you will often hear from other writers how they have a private client. Where do they find these high paying jobs though?
You Own Website – I have talked about this extensively, but a freelance writer honestly needs a website. Not a blogspot blog or another free site. A professional website, that can serve as a portfolio and a way for clients to see samples. Do not send free, unpublished samples to anyone – unfortunately there is people looking to scam writers. Send your clients to your website, so they can see work you have done, which topics you can cover and the work quality.
The website can serve for marketing purposes too. My website has a services section where I explain exactly what I as a writer can offer. Freelance writers can be bloggers as well, it honestly helps with polishing SEO skills. I get plenty of private client work through my website,
Forums – Some writers will advise you to find a single niche and stick to it. I am against that. I believe you should be flexible to write about any subject, in any category and learn to research topics you have not covered before. You’ll be surprised at all the new things you will learn – but you will also show writing skills in covering those topics.
I have joined several different forums where I can advertise my writing services. For example, one forum is technology-related and this is an area I can write about while blind-folded. You will be surprised at how many website owners and entrepreneurs are hanging out in forums, looking for qualified individuals that can write web content for their websites.
Sales person – Be a sales person, not just a writer. Present yourself as an expert in a certain category, and show off your quality work. This can be used in direct approach to business owners, utilizing social media and doing some hard work through e-mail. Think about how many business owners are in your area. You could approach them in person, over the phone, e-mail or through a sales letter. Most businesses have a website but have no clue what SEO is or how it can benefit them. Explain this to them, and state that you can turn their website content into SEO friendly content that will bring Google attention to their business. To a business, this can mean beating out competition and bringing in more sales.
Offer other services besides writing, such as helping them out with social media. Do not be afraid to approach people directly and sell your services. It takes a little hard work but it always pays off. And if you do get a private client that is local, treat them well. They will always refer quality services to another business owner.
Textbroker and Elance – I like these two services because you can find decent work, but you can also build up a relationship with the clients through these two services. I have seen often writers being approached after completing and turning in good work.
Craiglist – Some will say that Craiglist is full of scammers, and honestly it does have its share of bad apples. It also has a lot of honest business owners and people who are looking for skilled writers. Be smart though, as I said before – do not send free samples to anyone! Send them to your website instead.
Do not be afraid to try something completely out of the box. Your approach may be different, but that does not mean it will fail. Be brave enough to try something different and work on your own technique. Your first try may not be as polished as your 5th, but it can bring in a good client that will be willing to pay top dollar for your services.
Tags: advice, assignments, Demand Studios, freelance writing, private clients
Sep 20, 2009 Writing Resources
EduBook.com is holding its very first writing contest! Anyone can enter, even if you are not currently writing for their website. The deadline to enter is October 9, and the winners will be announced on October 11th.
To enter, you have to submit one original article to EduBook.com, 500 to 1,000 words in length. Three winners will be chosen, and prizes will be given in cash. The total of three prizes given out will be $1,000! Your article can be on any topic, it is completely up to you. Write about your favorite subject or something that you are truly passionate about.
If you are interested in participating, please check out more details about the contest at http://www.edubook.com/contest/
Tags: articles, content, contest, edubook, money, payment, prizes, web, writing
Sep 3, 2009 General, Writing Resources
Are you a freelance writer trying to find a good paying lead or a new private client? Or are you in need of some good search engine optimization tips and writing advice? Check out writingjobresource.com.
I’m proud to say that my fellow Associated Content writer, Ann Olson, created this website to help out newbie and veteran online writers. Ann is an established and successful AC writer, with excellent SEO skills. I’m a big fan of her website, and plan to contribute with my own resources and tips. Not sure what Associated Content is all about? Read Ann’s How Associated Content Pays article for detailed information on their payment system.
*This is not a sponsored post
Tags: blog, freelance, jobs, leads, resource, website, writing
Aug 23, 2009 Blogging, Writing Resources
The idea of this post comes from Michy’s recent blog post on why writers should blog. I agree with Michy’s list of benefits, although I wanted to elaborate on some and add my advice on how a freelance writer can benefit from blogging.
Blogging does require less structure and it can help you warm up for writing an extensive article that requires some research.
Having a blog can also help you rant, complain or post a snippet of daily thoughts. I have said many times that blogging (and writing) is cheaper than therapy.
With blogging, a freelance writer does not have word-count or keyword requirements. It is your property and your writing outlet. Write whatever you are thinking about, at any given time.
You can write opinion pieces, since there are no requirements. Do you follow the news a lot or feel strongly about a particular topic? Blog about it. Open up your WordPress and click on a New Post. Then write whatever it is that you feel about politics, a political figure or anything else that may have come across your screen.
I especially enjoy networking and feedback that I get from readers. I will get questions e-mailed to me about a particular website that I am writing for. I have even received e-mails about articles I have written that someone wanted a further explanation on, or some of my research links. It gives your followers a way to know you better, as a person and not just another freelance writer who publishes articles for a million websites.
As I mentioned, blogging does not require keywords, but you can get keywords and keyphrases for writing articles! I use a WordPress plugin called StatPress, which is free to install and use. The StatPress plugin allows me to see my referrers, or websites that have linked to me, but also to see keywords someone entered in order for my website to pop-up on Google.
I get a lot of hits for Associated Content and Demand Studios, anything from how to apply to what these websites are about. I could easily turn these keyphrases and keywords into articles, and monetize them. Which means that my own blog is giving me free ideas that I can turn into web articles, page views and profits.
Also, your blog can help promote articles that you have published and that pay you a residual income. Websites such as Associated Content pay residuals for every page view, and you have multiple ways of linking articles on the blog. I for example use RSS Feeds to automatically update my published article list. Driving traffic to these articles from my blog means higher page views, which means a bigger monthly payment that will be coming my way.
In addition to earning a better income as a freelance writer, you can monetize blogs with Google Adsense, AdBrite, or by paid blogging. The amount of money you can make from your blog by monetizing varies, although a few dollars a month would be enough to pay for your web hosting fees. Know what that means? You can have a blog for free 
I think the two main concerns of freelance writers is not knowing how to build a blog site and being afraid that web hosting fees will cost them a lot. I use WordPress, which is completely free to install. I can even install it through my web host just by clicking on a single button. There are hundreds of free WordPress templates you can use too, and a web hosting plan is not that expensive either.
You would need two things: a web hosting plan and registered domain name. I do not particularly like GoDaddy.com, but they do have good deals on domain name registrations for as low as $6 a year. I would strongly advise not purchasing web hosting from GoDaddy, there are better companies out there. While my web hosting plan does not cost me anything, I can tell you that reputable companies sell plans for as low as $5.99 a month. And as I mentioned, you can monetize your blog and pay that $5.99 hosting fee, which means you have a free blog to play with.
I am sure that there are many more benefits of blogging that freelance writers can take advantage of. If I think of more, I’ll be sure to post them. My brain works in very random waves, but I promise you that I know what I am talking about when it comes to blogging. I’ve helped build thousands of websites over the last 11 years, and I have experienced first hand how article promotion through a blog can improve freelance writing income.
If you are a freelance writer and reading this, feel free to ask me any questions about blogs or how to start one. I would be more than happy to help a fellow writer out. That would be free too! Now, please start blogging!
Tags: advantage, benefits, Blogging, Fellow Writers, freelance
