Freelancers: Advice on Creating Multiple Income Streams

Many freelancers have several income streams -- whether it's working a full-time job and writing on the side, or doing the writing and design for their web design business.

The Skinny on Creating Multiple Income Streams

Whether you have several income streams from the same business, or pursue two different ventures altogether, what it adds up to is splitting your time, money and energy between two businesses, which leads me to the following.

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Freelance Writing Seminar: Learn exactly what to do to earn $100, $150, $200/day or more as a freelance writer, editor and/or copy editor in our upcoming seminar. Details. It's a career anyone who can read and write can start -- with the right information.

$10,000 in one year from one "client" alone; From $0 to $600K in profits in two years: Learn how these successful freelancers carved out profitable careers in our highly popular newsletter, How to Start a Successful Freelance Career. Subscribe today. FYI, you get a FREE ebook on article marketing when you subscribe.

Gain clients, web traffic and brand awareness. How? Let us interview you for our popular newsletter? Full details. Read the first issue here.

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I recently became a contributor to Yahoo Answers, which by the way, is an excellent way to build your credibility and convert prospects into paying customers.

What is Yahoo! Answers? Those seeking answers to questions write in with their concern, and anyone - hopefully with knowledge -- answer them. You get credits for Best Answers, which increases your visibility. Learn more here.

The top contributor in the category I like, Business & Finance, is Isabel Isidro, the co-founder of PowerHomeBiz.com http://www.powerhomebiz.com/, an online magazine for home business entrepreneurs.

PowerHomeBiz.com, by the way, is one of the best sites on the web for dispensing information on starting a business - any type of business - from home. At any rate, a user wrote in with the following question on YahooAnswers:

Question: I have two ideas for a very niche but underserved market and I'd like to get my foot in the door now with both of them. They are two very different businesses that target the same market. When both are up and running they can actually support each other.

One is a publication and the other is clothing manufacturing. The publication could potentially serve as an advertising medium for the apparel.

Should I focus on one first? If so, which one should I start with?The reason I want to do both at the same time, is that I'm worried other competitors may get there before me - the old "don't steal my idea" syndrome..:)

Mucho Gracias

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Answer: My answer to the question, "Is it wise to start two businesses at the same time?"

Dear Amitaf:

I can tell you from personal experience that you should definitely NOT start two businesses at the same time -- even if they are in the same niche. I did this a few years ago, and I barely escaped with one business intact. One was an editorial staffing agency. The other was an online, ethnic crafts business, EthnicHomeDecor.com, which did not survive.

Get one off the ground first and make it profitable. Then, start the second one. Why? Two reasons:

(1) Money: You don't want to split your resources. Marketing -- of any business -- will take up a huge chunk of your startup capital. Most entrepreneurs don't have enough of this to go around. Don't split it between two enterprises. Use it to build a solid foundation for one business.

Once that one is successful, it could support the other one -- especially as they are in the same niche.

(2) Time: As you probably know, starting a business takes herculean effort. I've owned two businesses over the last 10 years and I can tell you, it's exhausting. It takes all of your energy to grow one business to the point where it not only gets past the initial stage, but grows into a self-supporting entity.

Dividing your time between two is like putting in half the effort -- even though you will be working twice as hard. Give 100% to one first. Then, take the profits from that to finance the second.

As for other people stealing your idea(s), don't worry about that at all. Why? Again, two reasons.

Why You Shouldn't Worry About Others Stealing Your Ideas

(1) Follow-through: While many think an idea is great, most are not proactive enough to follow through. As I'm sure you know, a great idea is one thing -- doing the work of researching the feasibility of an idea, putting together a business plan, and actually doing the work to get the enterprise open is something else altogether.

Many don't have what it takes to get past the "this is a great idea!" stage.

(2) Passion: The fact that you're so excited by this idea that you have gotten so far as to contemplate opening not one, but two, businesses around your idea says that you're passionate about it. This will leave most in the dust right there.

Passion and hard work eliminate most would-be "idea stealers," so, again, don't even worry about it.

I hope I've given you enough insight to make your decision. Whatever you decide, good luck!

###END OF RESPONSE###

FYI, this was chosen as the best answer from all those who responded, which got me added points on my very first try - tres cool!

Many freelancers flit from idea to idea in an effort to build enough of an income to sustain themselves. But, experience has taught me that giving my all -- time, energy and money -- to one venture, if done correctly, is much more profitable in the long run.

That's why I like working within a niche. You can create several income streams within it to make a really good living. Eg, I'm a freelance writer and have created several income streams as a freelance writer -- my ebooks and on- and offline seminars are two. I have a couple of more in the works over the next few years.

However, if I hadn't built my reputation in one, I'd never have been able to do the others. Remember, people buy expertise -- what you can do for them.

Remember, flitting from one thing to the next dilutes your expertise (brand, marketing); it doesn't enhance it. So, stick with one thing long enough to piggyback off of its success.

Good luck!
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Upcoming Features in Inkwell Editorial’s Newsletter

July 18: Paula Mooney: Blogger who helps other bloggers “make money, get readers and increase their blog’s ranking.” Paula will reveal how she makes money online, and how she’s built a very popular blog in only a few month’s time.

If you currently have a blog, or are thinking about starting one, you won’t want to miss this interview!

August 15: Meryl K. Evans. I tapped Meryl for an interview because she’s found success in the B2B niche. Meryl has written for some pretty notable clients, eg, PC Today, O’Reilly and Pearson to name a few.

This is where the real money in freelance writing is folks (B2B). I’m as anxious to see what she has to say as I hope you are!

September 12: We ring in the “editorial season” by interviewing Gordon Graham, aka “that white paper guy.” Gordon writes and edits white papers and case studies.

He charges $90/hour just to edit a white paper and a minimum of $4,000 to produce a white paper from scratch.

Now, do you see why I had to interview him?! Most freelancers don’t even dream of making this type of money. I can’t wait for this interview.

NOTE: As editorial is cyclical and slow during the summer, in July and August, the newsletter will be published once. In September, we go back to our twice-monthly publishing schedule. Subscribe today so you don't miss anything!
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Copyright Notice: May be reprinted with the following, in full: Yuwanda Black is the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com: THE business portal for and about the editorial and creative industries. First-hand freelance success stories, e-courses, job postings, resume tips, advice on the business of freelancing, and more! Launch a Profitable Freelance Writing Career in 30 Days or Less -- Guaranteed! Log on to InkwellEditorial.com.
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How to Get an Expert to Agree to An Interview

In yesterday’s post, we discussed three ways to find interviewees for your newsletter. Here, we'll go over what to say to them to get them to agree to be interviewed for your newsletter.

How to Get an Expert to Agree to An Interview for Your Newsletter (Website, Ebook, Sales Material, etc.)

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Freelance Writing Seminar: Learn exactly what to do to earn $100, $150, $200/day or more as a freelance writer, editor and/or copy editor in our upcoming seminar. Details. It's a career anyone who can read and write can start -- with the right information.

$10,000 in one year from one "client" alone; From $0 to $600K in profits in two years: Learn how these successful freelancers carved out profitable careers in our highly popular newsletter, How to Start a Successful Freelance Career. Subscribe today. FYI, you get a FREE ebook on article marketing when you subscribe.

Gain clients, web traffic and brand awareness. How? Let us interview you for our popular newsletter? Full details. Read the first issue here.
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Following are three areas you should cover when approaching a subject you want to interview for your publication.

1. Who You Are: Unless you 100% know for sure that your subject knows who you are, introduce yourself.

If you want to interview this person, nine times out of ten it's because they're pretty successful - which means that they're busy. So, a request for an interview from "Jim" means nothing to them.

Introduce yourself in a professional manner, which leads me the second area you want to cover, your profession:

2. What You Do: Mention your website, blog, newsletter, etc. in your initial correspondence. Provide a brief bio with links to further information so the interviewee gets a thorough overview of who you are and what you do.

This will allow them to make an informed decision based on sound information. Remember, it's innately self-serving to link yourself to those who are successful and/or who are a good reflection on you. So, make it easy for your target to say yes.

Your website should be professional. Your correspondence should be professional. Your blog should be professional. These are all reflections of you - and ultimately of the person you want to interview. Make it a good one.

3. Why You Want to Interview Them: Tell the prospect why you want to interview them. Tell them from a what's in it for them view, not a what's in it for you.

Eg, "As you provide job for freelancers and my site is about the business of freelancing, I'd like my subscribers to hear your take on the subject."Many interviewees, especially if they have a website, are promoting something.

Whether it be their services, their ebooks, speaking engagements, etc. So, they're only too glad to do an interview to get their name in front of more prospects - especially if it's worded in the right way.

ACTUAL "REQUEST FOR INTERVIEW" LETTER

Following is a letter I wrote to a Clark Covington of Internet Research Associates, whom I interviewed for the second issue of my newsletter, How to Start a Successful Freelance Career. It covers all three areas mentioned above.

Dear Mr. Covington:

I read about your organization in the AssociatedContent.com forum. I came across the post by Kathy Browning.

My name is Yuwanda Black and I'm the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com and InkwellEditorial.blogspot.com. The site and its accompanying blog are all about the business of freelancing.

We serve as an internet portal, providing advice, case studies, seminars, e-books, etc. to those who want to freelance -- full or part-time.

All that being said, I'd like to feature you in an interview -- as you provide work-from-home opportunities for freelancers. If interested, please answer the following 8 questions. Of course, I'll let you know beforehand when it will be published, and will send you a link to the post once it is live.

I look forward to hearing from you. The questions are pasted below.

Sincerely,
Yuwanda Black, Publisher
InkwellEditorial.com
InkwellEditorial.blogspot.com

Simple, direct and to the point. So far, everyone I’ve asked for an interview has complied. Fingers crossed to your success in querying interviewees.

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Upcoming Features in Inkwell Editorial’s Newsletter

July 18: Paula Mooney: Blogger who helps other bloggers “make money, get readers and increase their blog’s ranking.” Paula will reveal how she makes money online, and how she’s built a very popular blog in only a few month’s time.

If you currently have a blog, or are thinking about starting one, you won’t want to miss this interview!

August 15: Meryl K. Evans. I tapped Meryl for an interview because she’s found success in the B2B niche. Meryl has written for some pretty notable clients, eg, PC Today, O’Reilly and Pearson to name a few.

This is where the real money in freelance writing is folks (B2B). I’m as anxious to see what she has to say as I hope you are!

September 12: We ring in the “editorial season” by interviewing Gordon Graham, aka “that white paper guy.” Gordon writes and edits white papers and case studies.

He charges $90/hour just to edit a white paper and a minimum of $4,000 to produce a white paper from scratch.

Now, do you see why I had to interview him?! Most freelancers don’t even dream of making this type of money. I can’t wait for this interview.

NOTE: As editorial is cyclical and slow during the summer, in July and August, the newsletter will be published once. In September, we go back to our twice-monthly publishing schedule.

TOMORROW'S POST: Tomorrow we'll explore the topic, "Is it Wise to Start Two Businesses at the Same Time?" Many freelancers have several income streams -- whether it's working a full-time job and writing on the side, or doing the writing and design for their web design business. I'll offer some sage advice -- learned from first-hand experience, of course.

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Copyright Notice: May be reprinted with the following, in full: Yuwanda Black is the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com: THE business portal for and about the editorial and creative industries. First-hand freelance success stories, e-courses, job postings, resume tips, advice on the business of freelancing, and more! Launch a Profitable Freelance Writing Career in 30 Days or Less -- Guaranteed! Log on to InkwellEditorial.com.
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Newsletter Profits: How to Find Experts to Interview for Your Newsletter

I recently relaunched my company's newsletter, How to Start a Successful Freelance Career.

One of the reasons I initially stopped publishing the newsletter was because I wanted to revamp it. A major change I wanted to make was to providing more first-hand information -- from more than just myself.

I think one of the best ways to learn something is to ask someone who is already doing that exact thing. So, my logic behind revamping the newsletter was to include more industry experts, success stories, "How I did it" insight, etc.

All of this being said, I knew that I was going to have to find appropriate professionals to interview. Following are three ways to find experts to interview for your newsletter (or website, or ebook, etc.).

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Freelance Writing Seminar: Learn exactly what to do to earn $100, $150, $200/day or more as a freelance writer, editor and/or copy editor in our upcoming seminar. Details. It's a career anyone who can read and write can start -- with the right information.

$10,000 in one year from one "client" alone; From $0 to $600K in profits in two years: Learn how these successful freelancers carved out profitable careers in our highly popular newsletter, How to Start a Successful Freelance Career. Subscribe today. FYI, you get a FREE ebook on article marketing when you subscribe.

Gain clients, web traffic and brand awareness. How? Let us interview you for our popular newsletter? Full details. Read the first issue here.
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3 Ways to Find Experts to Interview for Your Newsletter

Hit the Web: Of course, this is the first place to go. The web offers a variety of ways to find excellent interviewees. Employing the suggestions below, you will never run out of experts to interview.

On a side note, I often wonder how anything got done before the internet. Can you imagine being a freelance writer without the internet? But, I digress.

General Search: You may be thinking, "Go to the web and do what?" Well, if you have no clear-cut path, start with the title of the professional you want to interview.

For example, as my newsletter focuses on creative freelancers, my targets are freelance writers, graphic designers, editors, illustrators, web designers, playwrights, etc.

So, my Google search may include phrases like "freelance writer"; "freelance graphic designer"; "freelance web designer"'; etc.

Then, simply start visiting the websites of those who pop up and contact them, asking if they are willing to be interviewed in your newsletter.

Forums: Forums are another great place to find experts to interview in your newsletter. That's how I found the interviewee for the premiere version of my newly relaunched newsletter, Michelle L. Devon of AccentuateServices.com.

I came across Michelle's post about how she'd started her freelance career with Elance.com, raking in $10,000 in one year from this job site alone. This allowed her to go on to build a successful career as a writer, editor, novelist, etc.

Freelancers who participate in forums tend to be very good interviewees because they often give in-depth information and analyses. This is probably because they like, and are accustomed to, sharing and exchanging information.

Comments Section of Websites: Look in the feedback section (if there is one) of websites you frequent and click on the hyperlinks of those who've left comments.

This is a good place to find quality interviewees because: I) they obviously have opinions they want to share; and ii) they're probably interested in, and know about the same things you're interested in (after all, you found them on a site you frequent).

First-hand Information Leads to Newsletter Profits

The internet puts first-hand information literally right at your fingertips. Use it to create a must-read publication your subscribers will depend on. This opens up several revenue streams for you as an online entrepreneur.

Good luck if you decide to give it a go.

TOMORROW'S POST: Now that you know why interviewing experts leads to profits, find out what to go about effectively interviewing them. Tomorrow's post will cover 3 areas you should touch on when interviewing experts for your newsletter.
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Copyright Notice: May be reprinted with the following, in full: Yuwanda Black is the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com: THE business portal for and about the editorial and creative industries. First-hand freelance success stories, e-courses, job postings, resume tips, advice on the business of freelancing, and more! Launch a Profitable Freelance Writing Career in 30 Days or Less -- Guaranteed! Log on to InkwellEditorial.com.

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Turn Website Reviews into Easy Cash - FREE Website Review Template for Freelance Writers

On Friday, I published a Product Review Template here. I also created a Restaurant Review Template freelance writers can use to cut their writing time in half - and essentially double their income on these types of projects.

Here, I'll lay out a website review template, which will, hopefully, do the same thing. Marching on: The Website Review Template.

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Freelance Writing Seminar: Learn exactly what to do to earn $100, $150, $200/day or more as a freelance writer, editor and/or copy editor in our upcoming seminar. Details. It's a career anyone who can read and write can start -- with the right information.

$10,000 in one year from one "client" alone; From $0 to $600K in profits in two years: Learn how these successful freelancers carved out profitable careers in our highly popular newsletter, How to Start a Successful Freelance Career. Subscribe today. FYI, you get a FREE ebook on article marketing when you subscribe.

Gain clients, web traffic and brand awareness. How? Let us interview you for our popular newsletter? Full details. Read the first issue here.
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I've only written one website review -- NameCheap.com. So, I'm going on limited experience here. But, as several ideas for other website reviews come to mind, following is the formula I'm going to follow:

Section I: Here, I list why I use the site and/or why I'm reviewing it. I don't like to review things I haven't used and/or am not extremely familiar with. For me, it's an ethics issue.

Nowadays, with more and more pay-for-review websites, blogs, etc. abounding, many do so. This is fine - if you come clean with your reader. After all, the beauty of a review is that the reviewer has some first-hand knowledge of the innerworkings of the product/service.

Section II: Features. What the product is, how it offers its service, the price, unique benefits, why it's better than XYZ site, etc. For example, in my review of NameCheap.com, I write:

NameCheap makes it easy for you to transfer domain names - to and from - them. They describe how to enter server information for your hosts by giving easy-to-understand examples. If you're a non-techie, this is extremely helpful. And, the best part of this - it's extremely affordable, starting at $8.88 (the same price as registering a domain name).

What you choose to highlight about a product/service will depend on how/why you use it, so be sure to list some things you may not think are important.

A catch-all category like: "Other Features That May Interest You" will allow you to list two or three more things about a website that you've never even given a second thought to.

You may surprise yourself. Digging for this type of information may expand how you use a website.

Section III: Dislikes. Here you may list things you don't like about a site - as well as tips, hints, advice, and/or suggestions for the webmaster to consider. Most site owners love feedback - they practically beg for it - positive and negative.

Dislike Tip: When listing a dislike about a site, going outside of your scope of use is not advised simply because how can you write about something that you don't know about. However, feel free to offer tips and suggestions on things you'd like to see on a site.

This section is not for dislikes only - after all, you may have nothing bad to say about a site. So, suggestions on things you like to see added work well here.

Section IV: Conclusion. This section is optional, but I like to leave readers with an overall impression of my experience with the site in this section. A simple one or two-line paragraph works fine.

Eg, my wrap-up for the NameCheap.com review I did: "All in all, a great site to register your domain name."

TOMORROW'S POST: Want to publish a money-making newsletter? Interviews with experts are one way to go about it. Tomorrow, we'll discuss how to go about finding appropriate experts to interview in your newsletter who will increase your subscriber and referral rates -- and your product purchases. Information is where it's at folks -- and first-hand info is KING!
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Copyright Notice: May be reprinted with the following, in full: Yuwanda Black is the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com: THE business portal for and about the editorial and creative industries. First-hand freelance success stories, e-courses, job postings, resume tips, advice on the business of freelancing, and more! Launch a Profitable Freelance Writing Career in 30 Days or Less -- Guaranteed! Log on to InkwellEditorial.com.
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Quick Money-making Freelance Writing Template

Usually, I don't post on Fridays because I figure no one is reading anyway. BUT, this is so good I thought, why save it. Eventually, it'll be discovered!

Following is a quick money-making and time-saving freelance writing template, AND a site you can write for immediately to pick up some easy cash.

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you probably know that I submit articles to AssociatedContent.com (AC). For the uninitiated, AC is a media site that pays writers for articles.

You can write about anything you want -- from politics to sports to entertainment to business. As long as the article is 400 words and well-written, it has a good chance of being published.

The pay will not make you rich -- it ranges from $3 to $50/article -- but the beauty of this site is that if you want to churn out kickaround money, or even write enough to make it a part-time or full-time gig, you can.

Now, my template. I've done a few reviews here and there (product, restaurant and website). In order to cut down on the writing time, I created templates. So, instead of spending 45 minutes on a review, I can now write one in 20 minutes or so.

My reviews average around $5/each, so that's a quick $15/hour -- again, nothing to write home about, but enough to cover car gas and a make a margarita run with a girlfriend. Following is the template -- in the form of an article I submitted to AC.

Hope you can put it to good use! And, feel free to pass it on.

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Freelance Writing Seminar: Learn exactly what to do to earn $100, $150, $200/day or more as a freelance writer, editor and/or copy editor in our upcoming seminar. Details. It's a career anyone who can read and write can start -- with the right information.

$10,000 in one year from one "client" alone; From $0 to $600K in profits in two years: Learn how these successful freelancers carved out profitable careers in our highly popular newsletter, How to Start a Successful Freelance Career. Subscribe today. FYI, you get a FREE ebook on article marketing when you subscribe.

Gain clients, web traffic and brand awareness. How? Let us interview you for our popular newsletter? Full details. Read the first issue here.

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As a freelance writer, I'm always trying to maximize my time. A couple of months ago, I realized that I could cut my writing time practically in half by using templates for things like Product Reviews, Restaurant Reviews and Website Reviews.

As I wrote a series of Restaurant Reviews at one sitting, I created a Restaurant Review Template - to rave reviews. Here, I'll lay out a Product Review Template.

Product Review Template

Section I: In this section, I usually relay why I bought and/or needed this product to begin with. Providing this type of background information lets readers know where you're coming from, so to speak.

For example, I'm a runner. In my product review of Lady Speed Stick, I tell readers this so they can judge the effectiveness of it - for their lifestyle. This also adds to your credibility as a user.

Section II: Components/Special Features of the product. Here I'll list such things as price, outstanding functions, unusual functions, how I've used it, etc.

For example, in my review of my digital camera, the Canon PowerShot S200, one of the things I listed that I liked about the camera was how easy it was to use it. I wrote:

Literally, it's point and shoot. There's no figuring out lighting, how to minimize/maximize color, whether to use a flash, etc. The camera does all of this "thinking" for you.

There may be many features of a product, so how do you decide what to write about? I list the features that I liked - and why. Again, providing up-front information like why you purchased this product will give readers of your review valuable insight into why you chose to highlight this feature.

As a catch-all, you can list other features in a separate paragraph, like I did in my camera review piece, under the "Other Cool Feature" category.

What you list here may very well be THE selling point to another reader.

Section III: Here, I usually list things I dislike and/or would change about the product. I always explain why, because, again, what may be a dislike to you may be a selling point to other potential buyers.

For example, in my review of my new cell phone, the Nokia 6030, I wrote:

The fonts on this phone are small compared to my other phone. There's no way to increase the size, and as someone who has less-than-perfect vision (alright, I could probably qualify as legally blind!), that's annoying, especially first thing in the morning.

Section IV: The wrap up. Here I give my overall conclusion of the product - if I would buy it again, the thing I enjoy the most about it and if I would recommend it to others - and why (always provide the why).

MONDAY'S POST: Monday, I'll publish a Website Review Template.
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Copyright Notice: May be reprinted with the following, in full: Yuwanda Black is the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com: THE business portal for and about the editorial and creative industries. First-hand freelance success stories, e-courses, job postings, resume tips, advice on the business of freelancing, and more! Launch a Profitable Freelance Writing Career in 30 Days or Less -- Guaranteed! Log on to InkwellEditorial.com.

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From $0 to 600K in two years -- Interview with Internet Entrepreneur Clark Covington

Today the second edition of Inkwell Editorial's recently relaunched newsletter, How to Start a Successful Freelance Career, was published.

In this issue, I interviewed Clark Covington who is a successful internet entreprenuer and founder of Internet Research Associates, a firm that hires freelance writers, editors, etc. He tells us how he went about it achieving his success, among other things.

IE, what employers look for in freelancers.

EXCERPT

1. What prompted you to start your company, Internet Research Associates (IRA)? I was moonlighting as a freelance writer while teaching college Speech and English classes. After several frustrating years of adjunct pay with no benefits with little opportunity for advancement, I started IRA.

3. What types of clients use your services? Everyone from real estate agents to e-commerce storeowners utilize our services.

Click here for instructions on how to subscribe and read the entire interview.

Read the first issue here. We speak with one freelancer who earned $10,000 in one year from one source alone, launching her freeance career full-time!

My mission with the newsletter is to inspire you to pursue your freelance dreams. However, not in a vaccuum. But, by dispensing first-hand information from those who have been where you want to be.

Editorially yours,
Yuwanda Black, Publisher
InkwellEditorial.com
InkwellEditorial.blogspot.com
P.S.: Inkwell Editorial Ebooks, Seminars & More
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Want to start a profitable career as a freelance writer? Our work-from-home ebooks contain all the information you need to get started right way! Log on to order. It's fast, simple, safe and secure.

FREE Ebook on Article Marketing: If you write and distribute free content, learn how to increase your income via this free e-book. Full details.

Freelance Writing Seminar: Employers tell exactly what they're looking for in freelancers -- and more! Get the details here.

Gain clients, web traffic and brand awareness. How? Let us interview you for our popular newsletter? Full details. Read the first issue here.
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Copyright Notice: May be reprinted with the following, in full: Yuwanda Black is the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com: THE business portal for and about the editorial and creative industries. First-hand freelance success stories, e-courses, job postings, resume tips, advice on the business of freelancing, and more! Launch a Profitable Freelance Writing Career in 30 Days or Less -- Guaranteed! Log on to InkwellEditorial.com.
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3 Ways Googling Your Name Can Lead to Cash

Googling your name can lead to cash – and other goodies. How? In the following three ways:

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Want to start a profitable career as a freelance writer? Our work-from-home ebooks contain all the information you need to get started right way! Log on to order. It's fast, simple, safe and secure.

FREE Ebook on Article Marketing: If you write and distribute free content, learn how to increase your income via this free e-book. Full details.

Freelance Writing Seminar: Employers tell exactly what they're looking for in freelancers -- and more! Get the details here.

Gain clients, web traffic and brand awareness. How? Let us interview you for our popular newsletter? Full details. Read the first issue here.
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1. Projects: I’ve received a few projects from Googling my name. How? When I Google my name, depending on why my name appears on a certain site, I’ll propose a referral relationship with the webmaster.

For example, say I Google my name and find one of my articles on a web designer’s site. I’ll approach the web designer, asking them to use me as content provider for their web site clients.

Some web designers don’t provide copy for websites; others do. Either way, approaching them can work in your favor because web designers who don’t provide copy usually refer clients to freelance writers. And, web designers who do provide the content usually farm it out to freelance writers.

So, if the web designer likes your work enough to have it on his/her site, it’s almost like a warm referral. Sending a brief email like the following will do:

Dear Webmaster:

My article, How to Find the Perfect Web Designer, is listed in the “Articles” section on your site. As you enjoyed the article, I wanted to make you aware of my services as a web content provider.

With 14+ years of experience as a freelance copywriter, I provide top-notch, on-time copy to a wide variety of clients. I specialize in the small business, real estate and mortgage sectors, but write across a wide spectrum. For samples of my writing, view my online portfolio at http://inkwelleditorial.com/.

First-time clients receive a discount, and references are provided on request.

Continued success with your business, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,
Yuwanda Black, Publisher
InkwellEditorial.com
InkwellEditorial.blogspot.com
P.S.: Want to get more clients quickly and easily? Subscribe to Inkwell Editorial's popular newsletter, How to Start a Successful Freelance Career, and get the ebook, 7 Ways a Freelance Writer Can Expand Your Profits – No Matter What Your Business Is! absolutely FREE our gift. Simply email us with a "Yes, subscribe me!" and your FREE ebook will be on its way.

NOTE: In every correspondence, use a P.S. Why? According to the article, Effective Database Marketing, on AddressCorrector.com:

Readership studies of conventional letters show that after the headline and the hook in the first paragraph, the postscript is more read than any other part of the letter. It should be used to emphasize one of your product or service's strongest benefits, a deadline, or some other critically important aspect of your offer. Have it in bold or underlined, so that it will stand out.

2. Reviews of your products: Many times when you Google your name, you will find it on other blogger’s sites, other freelance writer’s sites, etc. In cases like this, you can approach the site owner for a book review, for example.

Say you publish an e-book and are in the beginning stages of marketing it. Reviews and testimonials are instrumental in getting sales. Send the site owner a free copy of your e-book and ask them to review it for you. Many won’t, some will.

You can use the feedback to either: (i) implement changes; and/or (ii) as a testimonial (with the reviewer’s permission, of course).

3. Build Web Presence: Finally, a passive way to achieve traffic to your site, over time, is to comment on other’s blogs, websites, etc.

For example, if a site owner has referenced one of your articles, or mentioned your site, write in to thank them and/or provide additional insight. Leaving your name, signature line and link to your site builds your web presence, which, over time, leads to more sales of your product/service.

There are billions of websites on the Internet. Getting noticed is extremely difficult. Googling your name and leveraging those contacts who already know about you can go a long way to increasing your income.

Good luck!
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Copyright Notice: May be reprinted with the following, in full: Yuwanda Black is the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com: THE business portal for and about the editorial and creative industries. First-hand freelance success stories, e-courses, job postings, resume tips, advice on the business of freelancing, and more! Launch a Profitable Freelance Writing Career in 30 Days or Less -- Guaranteed! Log on to InkwellEditorial.com.
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Freelance Copy Editing Job ($35/hour)

Copy editor fluent in Jamaican Patois needed to edit a short children's picture book.

The lead character, Malik, is Jamaican. It's a young reader's picture book. Only Malik's spoken portion needs to edited so it is true Jamaican Patois.

All payments made via PayPal. Pay: $35/hour. Please advise.

To Apply: Send resumes to solybesos@yahoo.com. Put "Jamaican Copy Editor" in the subject line.
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P.S.: Want face time with employers who hire freelancers? Get face time -- and so much more -- in Inkwell Editorial's forthcoming Commercial Freelance Writing Seminar. Details.

P.P.S.: Have you read the story of the freelancer who made $10,000 in one year from one source alone when she was just starting out? Click here to read the inspiring story. THEN, subscribe to Inkwell Editorial's popular newsletter, How to Start a Successful Freelance Career, for more stories of successful freelancers. Details on subscribing can be found here.

I Hate My Freelance Writing Career! (Part II of II)

Part I of this post examined how doing too much can make you hate your writing career – and how you can combat that.

Here, in Part II, two more reasons you may hate your writing career will be examined – and offer solutions to the problems.

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2 More Reasons You May Hate Your Freelance Writing Career

Working on Projects I Don’t Care For: Lately, I’ve been working on a lot of projects that just don’t excite me.

To be honest, a lot of what I do doesn’t excite me, per say, but it’s work I don’t mind. During my slump though, it just seemed that the projects – one after the other – were things that I just didn’t like at all.

It was mentally exhausting gearing myself up to work on them.

The reason I’ve been taking on practically any and everything is I want to get out of debt within the next two years – all except for my mortgage. Read about that goal here.

While I have a reason for buckling down and doing work I really don’t enjoy, it was taking a toll on me mentally.

Solution: Either reset goals, or change your mindset. I opted to change my mindset by refocusing on my goal and really ingesting how it’s going to feel to be debt free except for my mortgage.

Now, I have to admit, this is hard -- really hard. And, this is where being a Type A Personality really comes in handy. We’re really good and setting goals and achieving them – no matter the sacrifice.

Putting Dreams on Hold: During this whole process – taking on projects I didn’t like, doing too much – I wasn’t doing anything that gave me personal joy. I was putting my dreams on hold. Eg, training for this year’s marathon.

I had a car accident in February that’s interrupted my training schedule. I don’t know if you know anything about athletes, but when we’re unable to work out, we can get cranky and depressed.

I’d forgotten this. Even though I’m only able to train at a measured pace, now that I’m back on the track, I feel joyous again!

Solution: Do something just for you; chase a dream. This is particularly important when you’re going through trying times.

The Most Important Thing You Can Do To Break Out of a Writing Funk

One of the things I’ve noticed is that I get frustrated when I work without a plan. Many of us go through life without one. We just kind of do our thing – day after day, week after week, month after month.

But, have you ever stopped to think, “Where is this road I’m on taking me? Where do I want to be in 3 years, 5 years, 10 years?”

If you don’t have a life plan – get one – now! It can center you like never before. I talk about how having a life plan helped me make a decision when an “opportunity of a lifetime” was dropped in my lap. Read about it here.

Planning forces you to focus on what’s really important to you. If you’re in a writing funk, it usually has nothing to do with writing, and everything to do with your life.

Here's hoping you never "feel the funk," or get out of it soon if you're already there.

Monday's Post: How Googling Your Name Can Lead to Cash

EXCERPT: There are billions (yes, billions!) of websites on the Internet. Getting noticed is extremely difficult -- if not impossible. Googling your name and leveraging those contacts who already know about you can go a long way to increasing your income. We'll examine three ways to leverage this name recognition -- and put cash in your pocket!
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Copyright Notice: May be reprinted with the following, in full: Yuwanda Black is the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com: THE business portal for and about the editorial and creative industries. First-hand freelance success stories, e-courses, job postings, resume tips, advice on the business of freelancing, and more! Launch a Profitable Freelance Writing Career in 30 Days or Less -- Guaranteed! Log on to InkwellEditorial.com.
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I Hate My Freelance Writing Career! (Part I of II)

If you’ve lost your passion for your writing career, here’s why and how to get it back -- with a vengeance!

In my 5/10 post entitled “What to Do When You’re Tired of Writing,” I kvetched about being tired of writing. I had just run out of steam. I had no desire to do it – in fact I dreaded it.

I recently got my writing groove back. I actually look forward to turning on my computer. So, I asked myself, “What happened? Why do I feel so differently now, when I was considering a career change just a few weeks ago.”

After examining the issue in detail, I discovered a few things that I think other freelance writers can learn from.

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Reasons You May Have Lost Your Writing Passion & How to Get It Back

Doing Too Much: The main reason I was burned out on writing is that I was doing too much. To understand this a little better, you have to understand my (your) personality. I’m a Type A personality.

According to the article, Type A Personality Traits: Characteristics and Effects of a Type A Personality, on About.com: “. . . the following characteristics are the hallmark characteristics of Type A Behavior (TAB):

Time Urgency and Impatience: [Type A’s] are always painfully aware of the time And how little of it they have to spare. Type A behavior often includes . . . competitiveness [and] strong achievement-orientation.

The traits about Type A personality that really personify me is time and strong achievement-orientation:

Time: I’m constantly aware of how much time I don’t have – and am always trying to pack in more, more and more. This leads to frustration and exhaustion.

Strong achievement-orientation: I’m an over-achiever. I always have been. The older I get though, the more I realize that it works just as hard against you, as for you, if you don’t control it.

I always have a million ideas floating around my head – and never enough time to implement them. For example, I had driven myself to update all of Inkwell Editorial’s e-books, am re-launching our newsletter, am putting together a freelance writing seminar and have ideas for three more e-books I’m itching to get started on.

This is just off the top of my head. There is more in a “To Do” folder sitting on my desk. This makes me frustrated; I feel like I’m falling behind, so I drive myself harder. This leads to exhaustion – mental and physical.

If any of this sounds familiar, how can you combat it?

Solution I: Scale back. That’s what I did. I just took a few days off. While I was off, I queried myself why I was driving me so hard.

The answer is, I have goals that I want to accomplish and I’m so afraid of not getting there that I just push, push, push. I had to remind myself that if I were doing everything I can, what I want would come. I just have to trust in that.

Solution II: Examine your personality. Ask if your intrinsic makeup is causing you to approach your freelance writing career in such a way that it’s causing you problems.

In my case, I’m not the type [Type A] to leave things to chance. I’m a proactive – not reactive writer, which is why I don’t have the patience for magazine writing, for example. Why? Because you have to query and wait.

I’m much more comfortable as a commercial freelance writer, which is more immediate. I usually approach the client (proactive), I have control over the deadline, the invoicing, the editorial changes, etc.

Knowing your personality makes you more aware of how you need to handle your freelance career for maximum happiness – which leads to increased profits.

TOMORROW: Part II of this post will examine two more reasons you may hate your freelance writing career – and what you can do about it.
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Copyright Notice: May be reprinted with the following, in full: Yuwanda Black is the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com: THE business portal for and about the editorial and creative industries. First-hand freelance success stories, e-courses, job postings, resume tips, advice on the business of freelancing, and more! Launch a Profitable Freelance Writing Career in 30 Days or Less -- Guaranteed! Log on to InkwellEditorial.com.
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Freelance Writers: How to Divide Your Marketing Budget for Maximum Profit

I've been a freelance writer since 1993, and owned two other businesses over the last decade. You might call me a small business junkie. I love business and reading and/or listening to discussions about marketing is one of my all-time favorite past times.

You can never learn too much about marketing when it comes to small business is my belief. In that vein, I was listening to the Dave Ramsey show on the radio one day. The show's focus on this day was on small business owners.

A small business owner called in with a really interesting question I think freelancers could learn from. He said that he had set his marketing budget for the year, and he wanted to know how to spend it for maximum effect. His query went something like this:

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"I have $12,000 to spend for fiscal year 2008. I want to know if I should spend $1,000/month for 12 months, or if I should spend more on special deals during a certain period, or if I should pump up our marketing during our busy season?"

Excellent question and one that many of us freelancers probably don't think about in too much detail The reason I thought it was such an excellent question is because editorial (especially freelance writing), is a seasonal industry, as outlined in the article, The Work Flow Cycle of the Editorial Industry, on InkwellEditorial.com.

From approximately mid-June through Labor Day and from Christmas through the end of January are usually pretty slow.

February through the end of May is usually very busy, as is September through mid-December. iven this, how would you divvy up a marketing budget?

NOTE: Even if you don't have a marketing budget to speak of, knowing when to increase your promotional efforts - whether it's writing and distributing free articles or giving away copies of an e-book - can mean a big increase in your income.

Step 1: Know the cycle of your industry. Don't spend money during slow times. Use free promotional methods. Eg, send them articles you've written for possible publishing, distribute a free newsletter, write and disperse press releases, etc.

Step 2: Strike when the iron is hot! As in, spend the bulk of your ad dollars during high season.

Step 3: Prepare in advance: Eg, knowing that things pick up in September, target your marketing venues 3-6 months in advance. Many outlets offer discounts for early placement and for bulk placement.

Hence, you get the best bang for your buck by being the early bird. You may be able to extend your ad run by 20, 30 or 40% by placing it early. Eg, instead of placing an ad for 12 weeks, you get 16 or 20 for the same price by being early.

Step 4: Track your advertising: Placing ads early also gives you enough time to put an ad tracking system in place.

What is tracking an ad? Eg, say you send out 500 postcards - 250 with one message and the other 250 with a slightly different message. You want to see which one pulls better, so you put a tracking code, eg, IW-A on one batch and IW-B on the second batch.

After a certain time, say 2 weeks, you go back and see which one responded to your call of action better.

Successful advertisers are constantly tweaking their message because even a half-percent increase in response can mean hundreds or thousands of extra dollars. The kicker: it can be as simple as a one or two word change that makes the difference. As you advertise and market more, you will get better and better at doing this.

In conclusion, knowing when to market is as important as knowing what to say in your advertising material. So, learn the cycle of your industry and use your ad dollars accordingly.

EXCERPT FROM TOMORROW'S POST: If you’ve lost your passion for writing, here’s why and how to get it back -- with a vengeance!

In my 5/10 post entitled “What to Do When You’re Tired of Writing,” I kvetched about being tired of writing. I recently got my writing groove back. I actually look forward to turning on my computer. So, I asked myself, “What happened? Why do I feel so differently now, when I was considering a career change just a few weeks ago?”

After examining the issue in detail, I discovered a few things that I think other freelance writers can learn from.
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Copyright Notice: May be reprinted with the following, in full: Yuwanda Black is the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com: THE business portal for and about the editorial and creative industries. First-hand freelance success stories, e-courses, job postings, resume tips, advice on the business of freelancing, and more! Launch a Profitable Freelance Writing Career in 30 Days or Less -- Guaranteed! Log on to InkwellEditorial.com.
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Editor-in-Chief Job Opening: An Opportunity of a Lifetime, Or Not?

I recently had what some would refer to as the opportunity of a lifetime. My blog led to an Editor-in-Chief’s job offer. Read about it here. I turned it down. You can read why here.

I struggled with the decision – something foreign to me because I can usually decide almost immediately if an opportunity is right for me.

As I wrote in my 5/8/07 post, “I've learned a few things about myself in this process [the process of passing on a major opportunity]”, which I promised to expand upon in a future post. So, here goes.

What Passing on the “Opportunity of a Lifetime” Can Teach You

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Don’t be a schizophrenic entrepreneur: As I said in the aforementioned post, I’m somewhat of a schizophrenic entrepreneur. Meaning, I like to try many different things.

But, this will get you nowhere fast. While there’s no harm in trying many different things, if you want to achieve real success, sticking with one thing and building it will get you there much faster.

Many freelancers/entrepreneurs/small business owners fail at this one simple thing. They flit from one thing to the next – hoping the next idea will be “the one,” never giving their all to any one thing – over a period of time.

Think of it this way, if trickling water – over time -- can reduce a mountain to pebbles, why would you assume it couldn’t make you successful?

Form a plan, work it consistently and watch your business grow. That's the real key to success.

Fear inhibits truth: What I mean by this is, I was so afraid of giving up “the opportunity of a lifetime,” that I failed to see (at first), that it wasn’t the right opportunity for me.

Having a life plan will go a long way towards helping you to recognize what’s right for you when opportunities are presented.

Life presents many detours along the way. To avoid getting sidetracked, ask yourself if the opportunity at hand fits in with your long-range life plans. If not, pass. UNLESS, your life goals change.

And this is fine – just make sure the change is something you want because it will lead to greater happiness, not because of the opportunity at hand. Why? Because if, for whatever reason, the opportunity doesn’t pan out, you still have your life plan to contend with.

Even if an opportunity only takes you a little farther down that road, at least you’ll be a little closer to your end goal – not off on a detour that takes you farther away from it.

Getting older is a blessing: I don’t know if this holds true for everyone, but I delight in getting older. I see my truth more clearly. Hence, I’m able to choose wiser what is right for me – not my family, my friends, or my professional associates.

Being comfortable in my own skin, which for me, has come with age, has made me treasure and value me – a lot more than I ever did before.

When you think that the earth is billions, perhaps trillions of years old, and we get 70, 80 or 90 years on it – if we’re lucky – you want to make every decision count – towards happiness.

The next time an opportunity of a lifetime – or any opportunity comes your way – as the photo indicates, "Don't let the situation confuse you." Reflect on your truth and choose the path that is right for you. For, you can’t make anyone else in your life happy until you give that gift to yourself.

TOMORROW'S POST: How to Divide Your Marketing Budget for Maximum Success

EXCERPT: I was listening to the Dave Ramsey show on the radio one day. The show’s focus that day was on small business owners. a caller asked a really interesting question that I think freelancers could learn from. He said that he had set his marketing budget for the year, and he wanted to know how to spend it for maximum effect.

His query went something like this: “I have $12,000 to spend for fiscal year 2008. I want to know if I should spend $1,000/month for 12 months, or if I should spend more on special deals during a certain period, or if I should pump up our marketing during our busy season?”
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Copyright Notice: May be reprinted with the following, in full: Yuwanda Black is the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com: THE business portal for and about the editorial and creative industries. First-hand freelance success stories, e-courses, job postings, resume tips, advice on the business of freelancing, and more! Launch a Profitable Freelance Writing Career in 30 Days or Less -- Guaranteed! Log on to InkwellEditorial.com.
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How to Name Your Newsletter for Maximum Profit & Subscriber Signup (Part II of II)

In yesterday’s post, we discussed two stumbling blocks you may come across when trying to name your newsletter.

Here, we will discuss two more stumbling blocks, how to overcome them, and how to tell when a name is right. Here goes:

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c) Another Stumbling Block: Falling in love with a name that doesn’t fit. I started to name the newsletter This Freelance Writing Life. I also thought of calling it simply, The Inkwell Editorial Newsletter, which was the name of Inkwell Editorial’s last newsletter.

The reason I decided against This Freelance Writing Life is that while it was somewhat catchy and had “freelance writing” in the title, it didn’t speak to the “what” of the freelance writing life.

The lesson here: The name should clue potential subscribers into what the newsletter is about – in as specific a way as possible.

d) Another Stumbling Block: Branding your brand or attracting new subscribers. The reason I decided against naming the newsletter The Inkwell Editorial Newsletter is that it would fail to attract new subscribers.

While the name mentioned my company, Inkwell Editorial – which is important – those who didn’t know about Inkwell Editorial would have no idea what the newsletter was about. Thus, I’d have to work harder to attract new subscribers.

The lesson here: An effective name should do both – further your brand AND attract new subscribers.

The name How to Start a Successful Freelance Career will attract subscribers who know nothing about Inkwell Editorial – because their interest is peaked by the subject matter, which the title clues them in to.

How to Determine When Your Newsletter’s Name is “Right”

Perhaps the number one thing to remember when you are trying to come up with a name is to think of your prospects’ wants, needs and problems.

Don’t think of your newsletter as “your publication,” think of it as a solution to problems for a specific group. And, in simple terms, what “one liner” would clue them into what your newsletter is all about.

Many times, a name will just fit – you’ll know it in your gut. Following the advice above will put you well on your way to choosing an effective, profitable name for your newsletter.

Sometimes, a name may not be one you’re crazy about. But, it will be one that will increase your profits and enlarge your subscriber list – which, if you write for profit, should be your main goal.

Good luck!
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Copyright Notice: May be reprinted with the following, in full: Yuwanda Black is the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com: THE business portal for and about the editorial and creative industries. First-hand freelance success stories, e-courses, job postings, resume tips, advice on the business of freelancing, and more! Launch a Profitable Freelance Writing Career in 30 Days or Less -- Guaranteed! Log on to InkwellEditorial.com.
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How to Name Your Newsletter for Maximum Profit & Subscriber Signup (Part I of II)

Inkwell Editorial will publish a new newsletter* starting tomorrow entitled, How to Start a Successful Freelance Career. Sign up and receive a FREE e-book. Details.

I vacillated on the name, which surprised me because I’ve been writing about marketing and business for over a decade. I know tried and true marketing “isms.”

So, what made me wishy washy on the name? My passion. It got in the way. This happens to most small business owners. No matter how smart we think we are, sometimes, our passion gets in the way of solutions.

Once I figured this out, I decided on a name quickly. Following is some in-depth advice on how to name your newsletter for maximum profit and subscriber signup.

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Steps to Naming Your Newsletter for Maximum Profit & Subscriber Signup

Ask yourself, "What does it do?" Several things can cause you to stumble when it comes to naming your newsletter or e-zine, eg:

a) You don’t want to alienate any potential readers: For example, my genre is freelance writing. I don’t want to alienate any freelance writer. BUT, although I write within a niche, it’s a broad niche.

So, I need to speak to those my products are mainly targeted to. And, that tends to be freelancers who are just starting out.

So, because my primary market within the freelance writing community is those who are just beginning (ie, have less than three years of experience), the name How to Start a Successful Freelance Career, fit perfectly.

Remember, your newsletter is a marketing vehicle. So, treat it accordingly and speak directly to your core audience at all times.

b) You want to be everything to everybody: This is the flip side of the previous point.

Trying to be everything to everybody will cause you to publish a newsletter that is of no measurable benefit to any one group.

When you hone in on one group, you can solve a multitude of problems for them, making you a go-to source. This leads to trust, which leads to referrals -- which eventually leads to sales.

So, make your newsletter extremely valuable to a few, rather than marginal to many. A good example of this is Darren Rowse’s site, problogger.net. If you want to know about blogging for money, this is the first site you should visit – and possibly the only one you’ll ever need to.

Many are afraid to speak to a niche because they’re afraid they’ll run out of things to write about. I had this fear with my first newsletter – and when I started my blog over two years ago.

But, you know what? LIFE will supply you with endless topics. Not to mention your subscribers. I get questions that I never would have thought of from readers of my ebooks, blog and website.
AND, when you really focus on a group, you will begin to think broader and deeper about their lives – over and beyond say, their freelance writing needs.

You will start to think, for example, of how their freelance writing needs impact other areas of their lives. This is when you really start to make yourself valuable to readers.

For example, primarily, readers of my material want freelance writing advice and tips. BUT, they want it to increase their income because they want to spend more time with their families, get out of debt, leave a job they hate, etc. These are their real desires.

Case Example: I recently did a few articles on freelancers and debt. On the face of it, these two topics don’t go together. But, thinking about the totality of my readers’ lives, it makes perfect sense.

Freelancers have sporadic incomes. Many use credit cards – and other types of credit – to weather dry spells. So, the articles, How to Get Out of Debt on a Freelance Salary and Debt-Free Living: A freelancer's Personal Tale of Getting -- & Staying -- There were not only timely going into the slow summer season, they were necessary.

When you start to think about the breadth of your prospects’ lives, you will literally be overrun with ideas.

In conclusion, select a niche and go deep within it, instead of playing on the surface. Your readers will thank you for it -- in sales, subscriber sign-ups and referrals.

*Inkwell Editorial published a newsletter a couple of years ago on a sporadic basis.

Tomorrow: Part II of this post. We will discuss more things that can block you from coming up with an effective name for your newsletter/e-zine, how to combat them, and how to tell when a name is “right.”
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Copyright Notice: May be reprinted with the following, in full: Yuwanda Black is the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com: THE business portal for and about the editorial and creative industries. First-hand freelance success stories, e-courses, job postings, resume tips, advice on the business of freelancing, and more! Launch a Profitable Freelance Writing Career in 30 Days or Less -- Guaranteed! Log on to InkwellEditorial.com.
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Publishing E-books for A Living: How to Ensure an Income for Life

I’ve been a freelance writer since 1993. Many writers write because it’s their calling. They love it and can’t imagine doing anything else.

Unlike these gifted souls, I write because I have a knack for it and it allows me to order my life around my work, not my work around my life. This is why I love publishing e-books for a living.

Besides the benefit of working in my jammies, the number one advantage of publishing e-books for a living is residual income. Once an e-book is written, it can earn you money for years to come.

What do I mean? Let me explain by way of a personal story.

POST CONTINUED BELOW
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Publishing E-books for A Living: How & Why I Started

I published my first e-book, How to Really Make a Living as an Editorial Freelancer, in 2002. It was prompted by all the inquiries I received about freelancing after 9/11, when many in the publishing, advertising, communications industry lost their jobs.

By way of background, at the time, I owned an editorial staffing agency in New York City, Inkwell Editorial. After 9/11, the industry I staffed (publishing, advertising, media, communications, etc.) suffered a severe downturn.

As no one was placing ads, magazines were cutting back, dot-coms were going out of business and advertising agencies were trimming the fat. All of this meant many writers, copy editors, creative directors, editors, copywriters, etc., lost their jobs.

Many turned to freelancing – but few knew how to go about it. So, I wrote the e-book to shed some light on it.

That one was received so well that I followed up with a companion e-book, Advice from Successful Freelancers, which featured advice from real freelancers on how they succeeded.

To date, I’ve published 6 e-books, one e-course and numerous reports, pamphlets and guides – all focused on the business of creative freelancing.

Publishing E-books for A Living: How to Ensure an Income for Life

Once you write and publish an e-book, you can make it an income-generating enterprise for years to come. How? By doing the following:

A) Update Your Publications: Keep your e-book(s) relevant by regularly updating the material. The initial writing is the hard part. Updating it every few years will give readers a reason to re-purchase from you.

You can even offer discounts to those who bought the original publication.

B) Publish a Line: What I mean by this is, publish in a niche. For example, my e-books are all about the business of freelancing.

Each title focuses on a different aspect of this topic – whether it’s getting a website, learning effective marketing techniques or first-hand advice from other freelancers.

The wonderful thing about publishing a line is that the more products you offer, the better chance you have of making a sale. By listing all of the titles you offer at the end of each publication, you can effectively cross promote with little to no effort.

C) Create Other Products: Like what? Seminars, workshops, CDs, DVDs and e-courses.

The beauty of e-books is once they’re written, you have the bones of a seminar, workshop or DVD right there in front of you. Rewrite and rearrange the material to fit the different format.

Some people like their products live (eg, a seminar, workshop); some like to listen to it in the car on the way to work (CD), some prefer to work at their leisure (e-course).

Again, cross market all of these, which brings me to my next point -- marketing in general.

D) Market, Market, Market: This is an on-going thing. Put together a marketing schedule you can following week in and week out – for months on end.

Create a blog, publish a website, do a podcast – whatever it is, do it consistently and watch your sales grow.

Publishing e-books for a living is a wonderful way to ensure an income for life – and allow you to have a life. Good luck if you decide to give it a go.

Wanna know the steps to take to publish a successful e-book? Read this post.

Good luck if you decide to publish an e-book of your own!
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Copyright Notice: May be reprinted with the following, in full: Yuwanda Black is the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com: THE business portal for and about the editorial and creative industries. First-hand freelance success stories, e-courses, job postings, resume tips, advice on the business of freelancing, and more! Launch a Profitable Freelance Writing Career in 30 Days or Less -- Guaranteed! Log on to InkwellEditorial.com.
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