Are you interested in becoming a freelance writer because of the low startup costs? This is a definite benefit of a career in freelance writing. You don’t want to join the industry for this fact alone, but it is definitely something to keep in mind.
Even though startup costs are low it is important to provide yourself with the right freelance writing equipment. For some, this is already a done deal – they have what they need. For others, this means heading to the store to pick up a few items.
When it comes to freelance writing equipment there are two things you definitely need on your desk: a computer and printer. There is no way around this. Can you imagine working as a freelance writer without a computer? This would be next to impossible. Not to mention the fact that you would be putting yourself at a major disadvantage.
Most aspiring freelance writers already own both a computer and printer. They may have never used it for this purpose, but that does not matter. As long as both are reliable you can move forward with what you have. There is no good reason to rush out and buy thousands of dollars worth of equipment when starting a freelance writing career. This would be a big mistake. You are better off keeping the money for now, and waiting for your career to take off.
Do I need a dedicated phone line? This falls into the freelance writing equipment category. I have a separate line for business, but you should not feel like you have to do the same. In fact, I tell most freelance writers to forget about this when they are starting out. As you begin to earn more money you can think about getting a dedicated line.
If you want to succeed in the freelance writing world you need to provide yourself with the right equipment.
The most successful freelance writers earn the trust of every client. Is this something that you strive to do? If not, you should change your way. It is very important that every client trusts you. Sure, it can take some time to build this but over the long haul it should be a goal of yours.
Here are three ways to earn the trust of your clients:
1. Don’t disappear on them. Time after time I speak with clients that tell me horror stories about past contractors disappearing without a trace. If you take on a job make sure you are ready to complete it. To go along with this, don’t run and hide during the process. If a client calls or emails you, make sure you get back in touch with them as soon as possible.
2. Don’t skirt around questions. This goes along with number one above. To earn trust you need to be open and honest yourself. If a client asks a question of you answer it to the best of your ability. They may not like the answer, but at least you will show that you are being 100 percent honest. In return, you will probably get the same thing.
3. Meet every deadline. This goes without saying, but I am still surprised at how many freelance writers think it is a joke. If you agree to a deadline you need to do your best to meet it – no matter what it takes. Sure, there are times when you may need to request an extension but you do not want to make this a habit.
Have you found it easy to gain the trust of clients in the past? If so, stick with what you have been doing. On the other hand, if you have been struggling to succeed in this area you should fall back on the three tips above.
Over the years, hundreds of people have come to me asking for freelance writing advice. The worst emails are those from people who are giving up on their dream. They no longer feel that freelance writing is right for them, and for this reason they are moving onto another opportunity. While there is nothing wrong with moving on, remember this: you should have a very good reason for quitting your freelance writing career. If you don’t, it may be time to clamp down and stick with things for a bit longer.
Some people quit freelance writing because they have found a better job. For instance, freelancing offers a lot of freedom but some would rather go back to a 9 – 5 that gives them more “security.” As long as you are doing what makes you happy, that is the most important thing. Just make sure that giving up on freelance writing is what you really want to do.
On the other hand, there are freelance writers who give up because they just aren’t making the expected progress. These are the type of people who really disappoint me. They are very close to achieving success, but just don’t know if they can stick it out any longer. As you know, doubt is a very powerful thing. Even though you may feel like giving up, if you can stay with your career for just a bit longer things will eventually turn around. Unless you have another opportunity that you are comfortable with, giving up will probably make your situation, both with your career and financially, worse.
There is nothing wrong with moving on from freelance writing to a new career. Just make sure you have a good reason for doing so, and that you are not giving up because times are tough.
I am big on to-do lists. I have one for everyday of the week. Some people like to plan even further in advance. On Saturday, a member of my freelance writing course called and asked if it is a good idea to plan a week in advance. This got me thinking.
Before we go any further, keep this in mind: how you do things does not have to be the same as me, and vice versa. Just because I plan one way does not mean it is right. All it means is that it is right for me and my way of doing things.
The main issue with planning a week in advance is that you never know what is going to happen. Even when I plan one day at a time things can change and my entire list will need to be reshuffled. Planning a week in advance will make this even more common.
One thing you can try is putting a tentative schedule in place. In other words, plan a week in advance if it is what you want to do, but realize that things can and probably will change over that time frame. If they don’t, good for you. If they do, make sure you are willing to adjust. The last thing you want to do is have one change throw your entire schedule out of shape – this will lead to more harm than good.
In a very loose way I do plan out every week. But I have found it better to have a daily to-do list. This way I am not looking too far into the future, and every change that comes about is an easy one to deal with.
Do you want to make money from home? Are you looking for an industry that anybody can join? If so, you want to become a freelance writer. Doesn’t sound like me, does it? I am not one to say that it is simple to become a freelance writer. But after yesterday, I am starting to believe that I am the only one.
While doing some research for a client I came across three “make money online” blogs that suggested freelance writing as the simplest way to start a work at home career. Yes, I agree that freelance writing is a great career that you can work from home. But on the other side of things, this is not something that is simple to do. I hate to read the opposite because it means that people are actually thinking that the money will come quick and heavy – and most of us freelance writers know that this is not true.
Just because you have access to the internet does not mean that you can become a freelance writer. To go along with this, the internet is far from the only opportunity for writers to succeed. This is one of the first ways I know that a blogger has not thought through their statement about freelance writing being simple. If you believe that writing for the internet is the only option, you are wrong. Freelance writers earn in many ways. For instance, I write sales letters, press releases, marketing material, business plans, and much more. None of these projects are based exclusively online.
I don’t want this post to scare away aspiring freelance writers. I do want it to show that becoming a freelance writer is not necessarily the simplest way to make money online. Only those who have the skills and are truly interested in this career path will succeed. The rest are better off considering another opportunity that better suits their needs.
As a freelance writer your main task is to write content. But guess what? Your secondary task is to make the client happy, and this often times means edit after edit. I have some clients that love what I do and never ask for revisions – this is a good thing. On the other hand, there are some that are not as easy to work with. Instead, they ask for revisions no matter what I send them. This is part of being a freelance writer, and it does not bother me in the slightest.
What should I do if a client asks for revisions? This is a question that many people ask on a regular basis. Simply put, you should do what is being asked of you. Yes, it can be a pain in the neck to do more work before you get paid. Just remember that this will make the client happy. Along with this, it should increase your chance of repeat work.
What if a client is being unreasonable? While a difficult situation, you must deal with it nonetheless. You are bound to run into a client or two that appears to attempt to make your life miserable at all costs. Instead of getting mad, get on the same page as the client. Ask them what is wrong and how you can fix it. It is very important to know what the client expects. This way, you don’t leave any wiggle room after the revision.
Do you have a policy on revisions? This is something you may want to think about. I usually work with clients until they get exactly what they want. I know some freelance writers who will only revise the project once for free. After that, they charge a fee. Which option is best for you?
Some clients will ask for revision after revision. Some never ask for any. As a freelance writer you need to be ready for anything that comes your way.
Are you looking for a way to improve your freelance writing career? Do you just want to learn more about the industry and how to get started? No matter what type of information you want to collect, one thing is for sure: you can find it online.
I recently received an email from the team at ReliableWriters.com. They took the time to compile 73 of the best online resources for freelance writers. If you scroll down the list far enough, to the Establishing a Writing Business section, you will find my blog.
Out of all the freelance writing resource lists I have come across, this is truly one of the best. No matter what type of information you are looking for you should be able to find a link to the proper material in no time at all.
As a freelance writer you may face trouble from time to time. In fact, there will probably come a day when you feel overwhelmed and begin to question your career choice – this is to be expected. With this in mind, you should not expect to face freelance writing trouble day after day. This is not something that is common, and you will probably never find yourself in this situation.
If you are facing freelance writing trouble there are three things you must do:
1. Identify the issue and all surrounding details. Before you can fix any problem with your career you need to know exactly what you are up against. The more information you can collect about your problem the better off you are going to be.
2. Assess. Now that you know the problem you need to assess it from start to finish. Why are you facing this situation? Is it something that can get worse in time? Do you know what caused the problem? All of these questions can help you better assess your trouble.
3. Solution. Some people want to rush to this step. While finding a solution to your freelance writing trouble is very important, you have to take the time to identify and assess before you figure things out. A solution to every problem is out there. Are you going to find it?
This is a simplified plan for conquering any freelance writing trouble that you may face.
After quite a few emails I thought now would be a good time to write a short post on my freelance writing course. It seems that the end of the year is always extra busy when it comes to my mentorship program. Maybe there is a reason for this; maybe it is nothing more than coincidence.
At this time, I have two available openings. Out of the two members that recently left, one found a full-time job and the other decided that she was ready to go at freelance writing on her own. Both of them made great progress, despite ending up taking different paths.
If you are interested in grabbing one of these two spots, contact me as soon as possible. As usual, they will probably be gone within 24 hours.
Hope to be working with two more of you in the very near future!
Even though it may not sound like it, working as a freelance writer can become stressful. You have a lot of clients to service, and plenty of work to stay busy. Soon enough this can begin to wear you down. In this case, you need to think about taking some time off. Even one day away from the office can do wonders for your professional life. When you finally return to your desk you will feel refreshed and more ready than ever before.
If you work as a freelance writer and are thinking of taking a vacation, use these three tips:
1. Prepare in advance. For instance, if you know you are going to be out of the office on a certain day you should not agree to a deadline at the same time. If you do, you will probably miss it and end up with an angry client. You don’t have to plan very far in advance; just enough to give yourself time to set everything up.
2. Don’t work on your vacation. Okay, I am as guilty of this as the next person. I find it very difficult to stay away from my work even if I am on vacation. If you are like me, take your computer but only use it for a few minutes each day. When vacationing I will check email, but never get into the habit of putting in long work days.
3. Grab some ideas along the way. Every time I go on vacation I look for new things to write about. This could be anything from a travel piece on a particular destination to a basic article on flying, renting a car, etc. You never know when a great story will come about.
Being a freelance writer means that you have a lot of freedom. With this, you can take a vacation whenever you want. Try to use the tips above to make the most of your time off.
