Did you ever notice that you face “hot†and “cold†times as a freelance writer? When you land one client another three are lined up to do business with you. But when you are in the middle of a drought it seems like nothing will ever change. Right now, I am facing one of those hot times with my freelance writing course.
Over the past few months I have kept the class full, and have been very happy with the progress that the majority of my students are making. Fortunately for those who have been asking, I have decided to let a few extra people into the course for the month of May. As each month goes by I become more efficient at running the course and dealing one-on-one with every member. For this reason, I am comfortable with allowing five more members to join.
Are you interested in taking one of the open spots? If so, contact me today to get started. With quite a few people on the waiting list I am confident that all five spots will be gone within 24 to 48 hours. Of course, if you have any questions I would be glad to answer them.
Even though “hot times†bring a lot more work it also means that I am helping more people and having more fun. I hope to have a few of you guys and gals as members starting in early May!Â
Are you having a difficult time closing deals? In other words, you get close to landing a new client just to have them go with somebody else. This is a common problem that many freelance writers face. Fortunately, there are ways around this if you know what you are doing. One of the best ways to close a deal is to offer to speak with the client on the phone. There are many reasons why this works:
1. When you are willing to speak with a potential client on the phone it shows that you are truly interested in the job. By showing that you care before you land the gig the client will feel good about working with you into the future. Do your best to get a potential client on the phone so you can show them just how much you want to get started.
2. You can sell yourself. One of the biggest benefits of a phone conversation is that you can sell your services. With an email you only get one chance, and you can only say so much. But during a phone conversation you can really sell yourself. You can tell the client all about your experience, while also giving details on how you can help them succeed.
3. You show that you are competent. As you know, anybody can say that they are a high quality freelance writer. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people getting scammed because of this. When you speak with a potential client on the phone you can prove that you know what you are talking about, and that you are the perfect person for the job.
Even if you are nervous about talking to potential clients on the phone you should still do so. Once you have a few conversations this will feel like second nature. Believe it or not, phone conversations can go a long way in helping you land new clients on a regular basis.Â
I strongly believe in taking breaks throughout the day. There used to be a time when I didn’t do this and soon enough I was burning out mentally and my wrists and arms were in pain. Since striking a balance between work and breaks my efficiency has skyrocketed. Not to mention the fact that my body feels better than ever as well.
Even though it may sound silly, you can cause great bodily harm if you do not take breaks throughout the day. When I was working hour after hour without a break my wrists, fingers, and elbows began to ache way more than usual. In fact, it got so bad at one point that I had to take a day off to regroup. As a freelance writer you need your hands and arms to be in good working condition at all times. After all, if you cannot type you are going to have a hard time becoming a success in this field.
Of course, breaks are good for your mind as well. There are times when I have to get away from my desk because my mind is racing with thoughts. If you are feeling bogged down and anxiety is closing in on you, the best thing you can do is take a break. Even though you may feel like you are wasting time, when you finally get back to work you will feel like a new man.
There is no denying that you need to work as much as you can during the day. I try to work eight hour days. Sometimes I work more, sometimes I work less, but this is what I strive for. To stay balanced I take several breaks including a longer one for lunch.
As you can see, it is very important to take enough breaks during the day to keep your body and mind fresh. Are you striking a good balance? Or do you need to make a change in this area of your career?
