I'm Back! Sort of . . .

Finally, after a long hiatus, the new wordpress design for InkwellEditorial.com is up and I'm blogging again . . .

BUT . . . the site is still a work in progress. To see what I mean, visit me in my new home.

Thanks for sticking with me.

Yuwanda

P.S.: This will be my last post here on Blogger. This blog has been folded into the new site, so bookmark it. All the the posts will remain live here though. Over the next few months, I'll be transferring all the posts over into the new design but until then, you can still dig through the archives. There are 4+ years of posts here -- tons of great info on freelance writing, so have at it!

P.P.S.: Don't forget to join me in my new home, and once again, thanks for your patience.

Blog Hiatus Until September

Catch me on SeoWritingJobs.com! This is where I'll be blogging until my main site, InkwellEditorial.com, has been switched over to WordPress. You can search for new media jobs here as well. This is one of my new niche WordPress sites (part of the virtual real estate (minisites) empire I'm building for passive income).

I fretted over this decision for a few weeks, but finally decided to just trust my gut and go with it. This blog will not be updated again until Tuesday, September 1, 2009. Following is why.

Learning WordPress

I've finally started to learn WordPress and will use this new knowledge to begin the daunting task of integrating this blog with its accompanying website, InkwellEditorial.com. Once all the pages have been migrated, they will exist under one roof -- finally.

My website dates back to 1999. While it's undergone a few style changes, it was built using FrontPage, which is an obselete software now. And, this free blogging platform (Blogger) no longer fits my business model.

While I naively thought I would be able to finish updating the site in one month, my personal projects have prevented this, which brings me to my next point . . .

Personal Projects: Ebooks, Minisites and Affiliate Programs

I have quite a few personal projects I've been working on that take up an enormous amount of time. Couple this with client work and there just aren't enough hours in the day. My personal projects are starting to outearn the income I make from client projects, which is why I've continued to pour so much more time into them.

Remember, these are projects that earn me "passive" income. Passive is in quotation marks because they do require some effort (eg, article marketing, site design and setup, etc.). But, compared to what I put into them timewise, the return is phenomenal.

I still have ebooks to write, affiliate programs to test and minisites to build. This is why I wanted to learn wordpress so that I don't have to rely on a web designer every time I wanted to design and build a site to promote a product.

Now that this is underway, I can go full steam ahead.

Shedding Responsibilites to Secure a Future

Recently, I resigned from a long-running blog gig. And, I've been very picky about the client projects I take on. This is because I want to focus more on securing my financial future through my own endeavors; not client projects.

As a freelance writer, you never really have to retire. But I've said here many times that I want the option of retirement at 50 (that's 7 years away for me). I'm sure I'll always work -- it's just a part of my nature -- but I want it to be a choice, not something I have to do.

My stepfather always impressed upon me and my sisters that you never get rich working for someone else. And while being rich is not a goal, financial security is. And that means making money from my own products and endeavors, not depending on the next client gig to come through.

Bear With Me

I know this is a long explanation, but I wanted to share with you why I'm doing what I'm doing so you don't think that I'm just abandoning this blog altogether. I'm not. I enjoy blogging here. This blog is my baby. But, she has to bear with "mama" while she gets her s*itty house in order.

You Can Still Get Info on Freelance Writing

This blog is four years old, and it's accompanying website is 10 years old. That's a lot of info to comb through. To find info on this blog, simply use the search box at the top left-hand side of the page. Type in your keywords and see what pops up. I've written on practically everything under the sun about freelance commercial writing (not magazines, for example).

To learn how to search InkwellEditorial.com for info, go here.

Get All Issues of Inkwell Editorial's Newsletter

I also won't be publishing Inkwell Editorial's newsletter (which became popular beyond my wildest dreams) again until later this year either -- probably in October. To read the current issue and all past issues, click here.

Catch Me on Twitter

If you want to know what I'm up to on any given day, catch me on Twitter. 140 characters is about all the "extra stuff" I can squeeze in, so I'll be there.

Here's to hoping your freelance writing dreams come true, and I'll catch you back here in September.

Yuwanda
P.S.: Where are all the freelance writing jobs? Find out in the 2008-2009 Freelance Writing Jobs Report
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Copyright ©2009 InkwellEditorial.com. Except where noted, no part of this site may be reproduced in any manner without the express, written consent of the publisher. Violators will be prosecuted.

2 High-Paying Online Writing Jobs

The title of this post is what I wrote about over at BloggingTip.com today. It really brought up an interesting point, ie, when was the last time you pushed yourself to learn a new skill as a freelance writer so that you can target higher-paying markets?

When I started SEO writing in the fall of 2007, I had no idea that I was entering a niche where I could position myself as an expert and earn more money. Internet marketing (SEO, online marketing) is one of the fastest growing freelance writing niches around. For proof, read SEO Investments Expected To Grow More Than 20%.

And because there aren't a lot of freelance writers who specialize in this niche, there is less competition for these writing jobs. In my experience, even clients don't know a lot about internet and online marketing. Many of my clients look to me for direction on which online marketing initiatives they need.

The internet marketing niche is wide open, which presents an absolute golden opportunity for freelance writers who take it upon themselves to learn what it's all about and position themselves as experts.

Sometimes to earn more, you have to go back to school -- just like in the corporate world. So, get your degree in IM (Internet Marketing). It'll pay great dividends for years to come.

Want to appear here? Submit a guest post.

Yuwanda (Wanna know what I'm up to? Check me out on Twitter)
Contact: info *at* InkwellEditorial.com
P.S.: Where are all the freelance writing jobs? Find out in the 2008-2009 Freelance Writing Jobs Report
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Freelance Success Stories! There are freelancers who make very good livings at what they love. Inkwell Editorial’s newsletter features these successful professionals who put to rest the phrase, “starving freelancer.” Current Issue: How to Make Money Using Constant-Content.com and by Writing Special Reports. Subscribe to read this, and all previous, issues.
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Copyright ©2009 InkwellEditorial.com. Except where noted, no part of this site may be reproduced in any manner without the express, written consent of the publisher. Violators will be prosecuted.

Freelance Writing 101: First Steps to Getting Started as a Freelance Writer

Many who visit this blog are experienced freelance writers. However, this economy has created a whole new group of talented professionals who may be considering freelance writing for the first time. If this describes you, the following article describes the initial baby steps you need to take to get started.

Once you've digested this information, spend some time tooling around this blog's companion site where you'll find hundreds of articles on every aspect of freelance writing. Good luck -- and welcome to an exciting career!

Launching Your Freelance Writing Career
by Holly McCarthy

With the current state of the economy continually shifting from bad to worse, it’s no wonder many people are trying to find new and improved ways to supplement their income. The need for fresh content and new ways of conveying information online is still a growing market online and there are many ways to break into the freelance writing community. What follows is a brief list of tips to help you get your freelance career started right away.

Launch Your Own Website or Blog

One of the best ways to get your name out there is to have your own space in the virtual world that showcases your abilities and connects you to those who may need your services. Continually update your blog or site with fresh content that demonstrates your abilities. Link to any articles that you may have published online so that your content can be viewed in its proper context as well.

When setting up your own site or blog, work hard to show that you are a professional in every way. Customize your site and keep it strictly professional. It’s great to have followers and make sure that you moderate comments on your postings to ensure that anything unprofessional is not allowed to stay posted beneath your hard work.

Produce Plenty of Content

Work hard at creating content on a wide variety of topics that are being viewed by readers all over the web. Keeping yourself busy writing will help ensure that you are ready to write what’s needed when big requests and assignments come down from clients in the future. Once you have gotten a good amount of work completed, you can begin compiling your portfolio.

Maintain a Quality Portfolio

As a freelancer, you will come to learn that many who purchase content are more about quantity over quality. While these types of assignments will keep you busy and make sure that some money is coming in, you need to make sure that you have some high-quality pieces that are polished and ready to demonstrate your ability to go beyond the call of duty and create outstanding content.

Having this in place will ensure that your communications with potential clients will be efficient and effective; you won’t have to scramble to look for your best work if you maintain a portfolio of your best work.

About the Author: Holly McCarthy writes on the subject of the top online colleges. She invites your feedback at hollymccarthy12 at gmail dot com.

Feel free to submit a guest post.

Yuwanda (Wanna know what I'm up to? Check me out on Twitter)
Contact: info *at* InkwellEditorial.com
P.S.: Where are all the freelance writing jobs? Find out in the 2008-2009 Freelance Writing Jobs Report
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Freelance Success Stories! There are freelancers who make very good livings at what they love. Inkwell Editorial’s newsletter features these successful professionals who put to rest the phrase, “starving freelancer.” Current Issue: How to Make Money Using Constant-Content.com and by Writing Special Reports. Subscribe to read this, and all previous, issues.
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Copyright ©2009 InkwellEditorial.com. Except where noted, no part of this site may be reproduced in any manner without the express, written consent of the publisher. Violators will be prosecuted.

Freelance Success Story: Finding Success via Versatility

Today I published a sucess story from a long-time freelance writer. She's worked on everything from poetry to web articles to adult magazines. Following is an excerpt:

One day I came across an invitation for writers to submit to a new magazine being sold around the pubs of England. It was a humorous, “adult” publication to which I sold some off-color jokes. I followed up with a proposal to write a column as a spoof “agony aunt”. This proved to be quite a lucrative job which lasted for more than a year until the magazine folded after its sponsorship money dried up. I wasn’t too proud to write for other adult markets after that. Indeed, I still do, though perhaps some readers would be horrified to learn that the writer of some of those steamy fictional scenes is now a senior citizen.

Read the entire account. Have a freelance writing success story? Submit it -- for pay! Starting in April -- after the new site is up -- I'll publish about one a month.

Enjoy!
Yuwanda (Wanna know what I'm up to? Check me out on Twitter)
Contact: info *at* InkwellEditorial.com
P.S.: Where are all the freelance writing jobs? Find out in the 2008-2009 Freelance Writing Jobs Report
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Freelance Success Stories! There are freelancers who make very good livings at what they love. Inkwell Editorial’s newsletter features these successful professionals who put to rest the phrase, “starving freelancer.” Current Issue: How to Make Money Using Constant-Content.com and by Writing Special Reports. Subscribe to read this, and all previous, issues.
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Copyright ©2009 InkwellEditorial.com. Except where noted, no part of this site may be reproduced in any manner without the express, written consent of the publisher. Violators will be prosecuted.

March is "Devote Time to Your Website/Blog Month"

As I posted to my Twitter account this morning, I've been MIA for the last week or so. I was finishing up an ebook I co-authored. I have another one on tap that I have to turn my attention to -- and this is in addition to my regular workload. So things are a bit hectic around here.

However, another reason I've been lax about posting is that this month I'm finally turning my attention to getting this blog transferred over to my new wordpress design -- which has been sitting unused since last July -- yes, last July (I can hardly believe it!).

Devote Time to Your Website/Blog Month: What is this?

I've designated March to be Devote Time to Your Website/Blog month. What is this? If you have blogs or websites that you want to start or redesign, then designate this month to get it done. I've learned that the only way to get things done -- especially when you're super busy -- is to set aside a definitive time to just do it. So this month, that's what I'm doing.

I have two more money-making blogs I've been wanting to set up for ages. Additionally, I've been wanting to transfer this blog and its accompanying website to its one, newly designed online presence. I will have all of this done by April 1st because it is my number one focus this month. This means turning down jobs, outsourcing work and anything else it takes to reach this goal.

While I have been MIA, I've also been posting over at BloggingTips.com. Listed below are the last four posts. Hope you enjoy them.

Making Money Online: Unplugging to Get Things Done, Mar 2, 2009

Self-Publishing: Why You Shouldn’t Write an Ebook, Feb 25, 2009

Social Media Marketing: Should You Outsource It, or Not?, Feb 24, 2009

Blogging: How to Get New Life Out of Old Posts, Feb 23, 2009

Tomorrow I'll post a success story from a freelance writer in England. It's the last one that will be posted on this blog. More will follow once the new one is set up.

Best,
Yuwanda (Wanna know what I'm up to? Check me out on Twitter)
Contact: info *at* InkwellEditorial.com
P.S.: Where are all the freelance writing jobs? Find out in the 2008-2009 Freelance Writing Jobs Report
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Freelance Success Stories! There are freelancers who make very good livings at what they love. Inkwell Editorial’s newsletter features these successful professionals who put to rest the phrase, “starving freelancer.” Current Issue: How to Make Money Using Constant-Content.com and by Writing Special Reports. Subscribe to read this, and all previous, issues.
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Copyright ©2009 InkwellEditorial.com. Except where noted, no part of this site may be reproduced in any manner without the express, written consent of the publisher. Violators will be prosecuted.

What to Do When Your Website Goes Down: Advice for Those Who Make Money Online

This post has been moved to http://inkwelleditorial.com/blogging-tips-one-way-to-breathe-new-life-into-old-posts. Same great content; new blog design.

Enjoy!

Yuwanda (Wanna know what I'm up to? Check me out on Twitter)

Contact: info *at* InkwellEditorial.com

P.S.: Where are all the freelance writing jobs? Find out in the 2008-2009 Freelance Writing Jobs Report
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Freelance Success Stories! There are freelancers who make very good livings at what they love. Inkwell Editorial’s newsletter features these successful professionals who put to rest the phrase, “starving freelancer.” Current Issue: How to Make Money Using Constant-Content.com and by Writing Special Reports. Subscribe to read this, and all previous, issues.
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Copyright ©2009 InkwellEditorial.com. Except where noted, no part of this site may be reproduced in any manner without the express, written consent of the publisher. Violators will be prosecuted.

Blog Networks: What Are They, How to Make Money w/Them & More

This week over at BloggingTips.com, I'm writing a series on blog networks. You don't see them discussed much on the web, but they can allow you to make money online quicker than if you stayed an independent blogger.

BUT as with most things, there are pros and cons. In today's post, I covered what a blog network is and listed four advantages of joining one. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the cons and Wednesday I'll go over a list of questions you should ask yourself before joining a blog network.

Happy President's Day to my American readers!

Yuwanda (Wanna know what I'm up to? Check me out on Twitter)
Contact: info *at* InkwellEditorial.com
P.S.: Where are all the freelance writing jobs? Find out in the 2008-2009 Freelance Writing Jobs Report
***********************************************
Freelance Success Stories! There are freelancers who make very good livings at what they love. Inkwell Editorial’s newsletter features these successful professionals who put to rest the phrase, “starving freelancer.” Current Issue: How to Make Money Using Constant-Content.com and by Writing Special Reports. Subscribe to read this, and all previous, issues.
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Copyright ©2009 InkwellEditorial.com. Except where noted, no part of this site may be reproduced in any manner without the express, written consent of the publisher. Violators will be prosecuted.

9 Useful Tips for Bloggers: How to Stand Out from the Crowd

Well, you have a blog now and want your voice to be heard out loud? So does everyone else. It’s no surprise to see that the blogsphere is getting more and more crowded. Proof? Technorati recorded that 7,200 new blogs were established per hour in 2006. I'm sure the figures have increased exponentially since then.

As such, it's impossible for a blogger to achieve success by modeling what others are doing. In fact, being different is now the key to success. There are of course,tons of good ways to make your blog stand out from the crowd. Here, I compile a list of 9 crucial ways to do just that. I hope it helps.

1. Choose a unique topic

Yes, it’s not easy to select a unique topic to blog about. However, being unique is a good way to stand out from the rest. Even if you can't find a unique subject, viewing an old topic from a different point of view is good enough. Think about EduBlogs.org – there are thousands of free blogging platforms, but by focusing their services on teachers and students, their blogging service stand out from the rest, and hence is remarkably successful.

2. Write in-depth content

Don’t just brush over a topic. There are too many “me too” blogs that write short postd in a hurry. These blog posts are so brief that it hardly delivers any value to the readers. Writing in-depth posts earns you creditability in your niche. It encourages people to read further; subscribe; and even link to you. All in all, writing in-depth posts helps your blog to stand out from the rest (who are too lazy to do their research).

3. Build a blog with a professional design platform

Stop using that free blog templates that are used by other 7,809 bloggers (yes I'm fully aware that this blog using a free platform; ie, blogger)). It’s boring to stumble thru tons of blog with the similar designs and layouts. It doesn’t take a huge effort to create a special blog designs. Spend some time (or money) to get your blog template customized, ensuring that it is unique and user-friendly. Every blogger should be aware that visual impressions count and you should enhance your blog design from time to time.

4. Write eye-catching headlines

A good headline attracts readers -- and encourages them to read further. As mentioned by Brian of CopyBlogger.com, 8 out of 10 readers will bypass your main content and read headlines only. This shows the importance of blog headlines. Polishing your copywriting skills is a must if you wish to stand out from the rest and increase your blog readership.

5. Write list posts and sub headlines

Readers don’t read thru everything; they browse and the Internet. I tend to scroll down and scan thru before I read a blog post every time. Constructing your post in lists and with sub headlines simply improves the readability of your blog. It helps readers to learn what your blog post is about and encourages prospective readers to read in detail.

6. Optimize your blog for search engines

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is something every blogger should learn. Making correct usage of your header tags; building incoming links; and writing with SEO in mind is crucial to increasing your blog visibility.

7. Build your blog on its own domain

While starting a blog on blogger or WordPress is good because it's free, you are actually missing a lot by not hosting your blog on its own domain. A blog with its own domain/hosting enjoys better advantages in term of branding and web marketing. It doesn’t have the amateur image like a free WordPress blog, and it comes with better flexibility in term of web functionality.

Finally, it’s cheap and easy to host a blog on its own domain. A shared hosting normally cost $5 - $10 per month, In case you need help with hosting, read my web hosting review.

8. Show your personality

Revealing more about yourself is important to gain trust from your readers. It is, in fact, crucial to stay in touch closely with your loyal readers as this encourages feedback from your readers. Furthermore, readers tend to recommend your blogs to friends and families when they feel respected by you.

Build an ‘About’ page, connect to your readers via Facebook and MySpace; contact readers who leave comments. These are the basic ways to extend yourself to readers.

9. It’s okay to have a fight

Sparking a debate and starting a fight on controversial topics is a good way to increase your blog visibility. By speaking with a different voice, you stand out from the rest. Of course I am not telling you to be controversial just for the sake of controversy.

What I mean is is okay to stand by your beliefs, even if that means sparking controversy. After all, you get buried in the crowd if there are too many ‘Me Too’ postings on your blog.

Bonus Tip 10. Blog with consistency

Bloggers are often stimulated when they first start their blogs. After the initial thrill wears off, their postings tend to become more sporadic, until they finally stop altogether.

To succeed and stand out from the rest, you will need to be disciplined enough to blog consistently. As a reader, I am rather skeptical towards blogs that seldom gets updated. Posting regularly builds trust among your readers; and increases your creditability.

About the Author: This guest post is brought to you by Jerry of Web Hosting Secret Revealed. Jerry inspects and reviews web hosting services based on his own usage and experience. You can read more about his work at his blog.

Submit a guest post! Hope you enjoyed this one.

Yuwanda (Wanna know what I'm up to? Check me out on Twitter)
Contact: info *at* InkwellEditorial.com
P.S.: Where are all the freelance writing jobs? Find out in the 2008-2009 Freelance Writing Jobs Report
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Freelance Success Stories! There are freelancers who make very good livings at what they love. Inkwell Editorial’s newsletter features these successful professionals who put to rest the phrase, “starving freelancer.” Current Issue: How to Make Money Using Constant-Content.com and by Writing Special Reports. Subscribe to read this, and all previous, issues.
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Copyright ©2009 InkwellEditorial.com. Except where noted, no part of this site may be reproduced in any manner without the express, written consent of the publisher. Violators will be prosecuted.

A Recession-Proof Freelance Writing Job (& More)

This week over at BloggingTips (BT), I tackled a subject that not many think of as related to making money online -- your home environment. As in, can your relationship be costing you success? One single mom who makes her living online commented:

I never even considered this until I read this post, but now that I remember back to when I was married, I realize I’m in a much better place now (blogging-wise) than before. Even though I don’t have any help looking after my 3 and 4 year old now, it’s a healthier, more relaxed environment so I find I work with a lot more focus and efficiency now.

Read Make Money Blogging: Is Your Relationship a Help or a Hindrance to Your Blogging Success? for some interesting insight.

Today's post at BT was inspired by an email from a newsletter reader. He asked, , “. . . do you feel SEO writing is something profitable to get into given the current state of the economy?” My answer was a resounding yes, for the three reasons I list in the post, 3 Reasons SEO Copywriters Thrive During a Recession (it really is practically a recession-proof freelance writing job).

Tomorrow's Post: Want to be a better blogger? Jerry from webhostingsecretrevealed.com will tell you how to go about it in his guest post, entitled How to stand out from the crowd – 9 useful tips for bloggers. Learn how to submit a guest post.

Until tomorrow,
Yuwanda (Wanna know what I'm up to? Check me out on Twitter)
Contact: info *at* InkwellEditorial.com
P.S.: Where are all the freelance writing jobs? Find out in the 2008-2009 Freelance Writing Jobs Report
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Freelance Success Stories! There are freelancers who make very good livings at what they love. Inkwell Editorial’s newsletter features these successful professionals who put to rest the phrase, “starving freelancer.” Current Issue: How to Make Money Using Constant-Content.com and by Writing Special Reports. Subscribe to read this, and all previous, issues.
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Copyright ©2009 InkwellEditorial.com. Except where noted, no part of this site may be reproduced in any manner without the express, written consent of the publisher. Violators will be prosecuted.

$40-$50/Article: Constant-Content.com Call for Freelance Writers

As the current issue of the Inkwell Editorial newsletter reveals how to make money at Constant-Content.com (CC), I thought I'd post this listing I just received. As I said, I receive calls for content from CC 3-5 times a week, sometimes multiple times a day. And, the requests have been increasing lately. So if you want to pick up some extra freelance writing jobs, give this outlet a try.

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with CC other than having a writing account with them. I 've submitted one article in the year or so since I signed up. Luckily, I stay busy enough that I've never had to actually use this site. But if you're new to freelance writing, or just don't feel like marketing directly to companies, this is a good outlet. Following are the particulars.

TOPIC: America's Economy: Dead or Alive

REQUESTED BY: Customer Davidearlrogers has requested a new article on Constant Content, below are the details:

ARTICLE DETAILS: A picture of how our economy is performing. How many jobs have been lost in the last 5 years? Last Year? Current state? Are the jobs lost primarily in the non-degree sectors or people with college degrees and above? Any real numbers would be great. America borrows a lot of money from other countries, who do we owe and how much? Is there a plan to ever really pay the money back? Does this stimulus package help in anyway? What do economists think about our future economy?

WORD COUNT: 300-500

RATE: $40-$50

NEEDED: ASAP. You can view / reply to this message from constant content. http://www.constant-content.com/mail/read/1205591/ (must have a CC account so you can sign in and read all Calls for Content.

QUESTION: Anyone know of an auto ebook delivery/payment program like e-Junkie/Lulu? I've been having some delivery problems with e-Junkie on my affiliate site (it's 100% perfect on delivery of my Inkwell Ebooks), so I'm looking for an alternative. If so, shoot me an email (info *at* InkwellEditorial.com). Thanks.

Until tomorrow,
Yuwanda (Wanna know what I'm up to? Check me out on Twitter)
Contact: info *at* InkwellEditorial.com
P.S.: Where are all the freelance writing jobs? Find out in the 2008-2009 Freelance Writing Jobs Report
***********************************************
Freelance Success Stories! There are freelancers who make very good livings at what they love. Inkwell Editorial’s newsletter features these successful professionals who put to rest the phrase, “starving freelancer.” Current Issue: How to Make Money Using Constant-Content.com and by Writing Special Reports. Subscribe to read this, and all previous, issues.
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Copyright ©2009 InkwellEditorial.com. Except where noted, no part of this site may be reproduced in any manner without the express, written consent of the publisher. Violators will be prosecuted.

Article Marketing: The Plan I Use to Bring in $100-$200/Day

That was the title of my post over at BloggingTips.com yesterday. I just wrapped up a three-week series over there detailing my foray into affiliate marketing and how I'm using article marketing to make $100-$200/day promoting one affiliate product.

The last post in the series can be found here, along with instructions on how to access all nine posts in the series.

The 3 Most Important Things I've Learned in My Limited Foray into Affiliate Marketing

1. Choose Products/Services You Know About: Or, at a minimum, those you have an interest in learning about. The reason is, affiliate marketing takes a sustained, consistent effort to make money. This means putting in some marketing elbow grease. You must be interested in a product/service in order to do the marketing tasks it takes to make money with it.

Note: IMO, you don't have to be passionate about a product/service -- as many will tout. But, you do have to have a sustained interest in it; it must be more than just than passing interest.

2. Try to Choose Products You Can Build On: For example, my product has to do with foreclosures. Right now, I'm just promoting the one product. But, my partner and I are creating 4 more products that complement this existing product.

By doing this, we can increase our sales without putting in any more effort. How? We'll list those products on our same affiiate websites. So all the marketing we've done to drive traffic to our existing sites will benefit us.

Now, this won't be possible in all cases, but it's just something to think about (ie, stay in the same niche to maximize the results of your marketing efforts).

3. Do Something Every Day to Promote Your Affiliate Product: And by every day, I mean every weekday (I take weekends off). If not every day, then at least every other day. The web is a very competitive place, and I'm amazed at how "slacking off" for a few days decreases my sales.

So, keep the marketing metal to the pedal. It's why I like article marketing. I'm a writer, so I bang out 3-5 articles a week for my affiiate product. I put in on my calendar, right alongside the work I have to do for clients. That way, it's a "must do", instead of a "if I have time to do" project.

Yuwanda (Wanna know what I'm up to? Check me out on Twitter)
Contact: info *at* InkwellEditorial.com
P.S.: Where are all the freelance writing jobs? Find out in the 2008-2009 Freelance Writing Jobs Report
***********************************************
Freelance Success Stories! There are freelancers who make very good livings at what they love. Inkwell Editorial’s newsletter features these successful professionals who put to rest the phrase, “starving freelancer.” Current Issue: How to Make Money Using Constant-Content.com and by Writing Special Reports. Subscribe to read this, and all previous, issues.
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Copyright ©2009 InkwellEditorial.com. Except where noted, no part of this site may be reproduced in any manner without the express, written consent of the publisher. Violators will be prosecuted.

How Article Marketing Is Doubling My Affiliate Marketing Income

At least . . . almost.

Over at BloggingTips.com (BT) this week, I posted a review of sorts of ArticleMarketer.com. Since I started using this article submission service, it's almost doubled my affiliate marketing income. My first article was distributed on January 11th, and it's working like a dream.

To learn more, read the two posts I wrote there yesterday and Tuesday. They are: Article Marketing: Is it Worth It to Submit to Thousands of Directories in One Click (Tuesday's post); and How ArticleMarketer.com Has Almost Doubled My Affiliate Marketing Sales (yesterday's post).

I'm new to this whole affiliate marketing thing, as I've said here before. So it's fascinating to see what works, why and what doesn't. This is especially true because I literally have to squeeze this in between duties of my "real job" (freelance writer).

ArticleMarketer.com Feedback

If you have any experience with ArticleMarketer, or another submission service, please share it here so that those who are interested can get first-hand info about it. Your experience may be different from mine. There are some comments to my articles on BT, so be sure to check those out. I guess what I'm saying is before you plunk down any dollars, do your research.

The Latest Edition of the Inkwell Editorial Newsletter Is Out

The first issue of 2009 went out on Tuesday. If you haven't signed up to receive it, do so here. This issue covers how to make money with Constant-Content.com. I'd always wondered if you can really make money with the site; and if so, how. I interviewed freelance Lisa-Anne Sanderson, who's sold upwards of 200 articles on the site -- garnering from $10 to $100 each. She gave us the inside scoop.

Also, I talk about how to make money from special reports. I've done two in the last 4 months or so. Because of this, I've landed a higher echelon of client, am selling my most expensive service at New Media Words ($595) like gangbusters and am getting to a place where I get to do more picking and choosing of the types of projects I work on.

All of this came from the special reports I wrote. I explain how and why in the newsletter.

2009 so far has been busy on so many fronts; I barely have time to breathe. I hope the same is true for you. Until next time,

Yuwanda (Wanna know what I'm up to? Check me out on Twitter)
Contact: info *at* InkwellEditorial.com
P.S.: Where are all the freelance writing jobs? Find out in the 2008-2009 Freelance Writing Jobs Report
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Freelance Success Stories! There are freelancers who make very good livings at what they love. Inkwell Editorial’s newsletter features these successful professionals who put to rest the phrase, “starving freelancer.” Current Issue: How to Make the Most Money as a Freelance Writer. Subscribe to read this, and all previous, issues.
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Copyright ©2009 InkwellEditorial.com. Except where noted, no part of this site may be reproduced in any manner without the express, written consent of the publisher. Violators will be prosecuted.

Averaging $100-$150/Day in Passive Income w/Affiliate Marketing

All this week, I blogged about my "real" foray into affiliate marketing over at BloggingTips.com (BT). Real is in quotation marks because I've tried affiliate marketing before, but never put any effort into it other than sticking some links on my site. That garnered me little to no sales.

Affiliate Marketing Success!

I recently started to make good headway with one affiliate product though (3-4 sales a day, earning $25 per sale). Not bad for about an hour's worth of work per day to promote it.

I'm currently in the process of scouting for my next affiliate product. So, if you know of any, write in and let me know. As I say in today's post on BT, ". . . for me, “decent sales” translates into three or four sales per day, preferably with an affiliate payout of $25 or more per sale."

To read all three posts, visit the following links:
Article Marketing or Free Classifieds: Which Works Better to Promote Affiliate Products? (Monday, 1/19 BT post)

How to Overcome Buyer Skepticism When Selling Affiliate Products and Services Online (Tuesday, 1/20 BT post)

Newbie Affiliates: How to Choose Affiliate Products to Market (Today's post)

What's It Like to Have a Life on the Beach & Retire as a Freelance Writer

I was in Florida this past weekend (for four days actually). I'm working on a new ebook, so it was a working/pleasure trip. My fruitful foray into affiliate marketing is getting me closer to my dream of being able to work on the beach -- and essentially retire as a freelance writer.

You see, my plan has always been to have the option of retirement at 50. I'm working on becoming totally debt free by then -- including having my house paid off. Retirement for me means working only on my own projects (ebooks/affiliate marketing); not having to take on freelance writing projects.

And, that's getting closer every day -- much quicker than I thought.

What's It Like to Have a Life of Leisure; to Have the Dream of Financial Freedom Realized?

I don't know, but it's no longer a faraway dream; it's a blurry vision that's coming clearer into focus every day. And why am I telling you all of this?

Because when I first started freelanc writing, I could not have imagined where it would take me. As I got older though, I started to formulate a plan for my life, ie, by this age, I want to have this much money in the bank; by this age, I want to be able to work x number of hours per week; by this age, I want to be debt free; by this age, I want to retire altogether; etc.

While I have stumbled badly along the way, I kept pounding away. My dream has always the foundation for everything I've ever tried. With every failure, I knew I had to get up and start again, because I knew I didn't want to wait until I'm 65 to "retire."

I always joke with my girlfriends that I still want to be "cute" when I retire; not old with one foot in the grave. Not that that's what 65 is, but I've been working since I was 11 -- literally. If I retired at 50, I figured almost 40 years of work should be enough -- I should be able to play for 40 (assuming I make it to 80 years old).

What is Your Dream as a Freelance Writer? Are You Achieving It?

So my message for you today fellow freelance writers is, "What is your dream? Are you making headway? Where do you want to be in 5, 10, or 20 years?" What you do -- or don't do -- today is getting you there, or not. As my mom used to say, "Time is going to pass; it's up to you what you do with it."

Detailed Testimonial from a Fellow SEO Writer

I'm posting this testimonial from a fellow freelance SEO writer, because when I asked her what finally moved her to buy the SEO writing ebook, she wrote back -- explaining in detail what taking concrete action can do.

QUESTION
On Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 1:43 PM, Yuwanda Black wrote:
Tenisha: Could you answer the following for me: 1. What finally made you purchase the ebook? As you said, you'd been doing SEO writing for a while, so you knew there was opportunity out there. 2. Why hadn't you capitalized; what made my ebook so useful to you?

ANSWER (from Tenisha a few hours later)
I'll be honest. The economy has affected my writing and editing business -- drastically. And I've been searching ways to get more clients. After doing some content projects for a couple of social networking sites, I decided to focus more on social media and SEO writing as a part of that.

I remember reading one of your posts, or maybe it was an article, where you mentioned how your accountant asked what you could do to make money today. Well, that's where I'm at right now. I'm hungry for work And SEO work seemed like one of the quickest -- and easiest ways for me to pick up work and get new clients.

Your book is useful because it shows you step-by-step how to make money; it wasn't some pie in the sky concept, but clear, concrete steps that I could follow. And the query email you included in the ebook is priceless! Everything else is gravy. It was also realistic. You weren't telling me that I would make $1,000 in a few hours, but a couple hundred of bucks a day. I could get my arms around that. And it's realistic. I'm used to the tricks copywriters use with ebooks to play to emotions, and I saw none of that with your stuff.

Your book showed me how to market my services. That was a big hump for me. I've owned my writing and editing busines for nearly three years. And I've done SEO blogging for more than two years. But I kept seeing SEO article writers charging only a few dollars for their work.

Writing is my passion, but figuring out how to get others to pay for top dollar for it has been a struggle. I'm a former journalist, but nothing about my newspaper career ever prepared me for running my own business. [Emphasis added: This is where many freelance writers stumble, especially when they first start out. If you don't learn how to market, you'll never be successful as a freelance writer]

I wasn't sure if this whole SEO article thing was really viable until your ebook. I'd heard of copywriters charging $100 an article, but these are copywriters who easily command $10,000 for a sales letter; that's not me -- yet!

But I figured you were on to something and so I read your blogs, articles and your website. (Plus, I think I'd already heard of you some years ago because I used to get emails from Inkwell Editorial.)

I was discouraged, though. I completed a rather low-paying SEO article project with lot of keywords over the summer. When I broke it down hourly, I was making less than minimum wage. What amazed me was the client said they had people making at least $1,000 a month. I figured they must be chained to their computers and writing at least 20 hours a day!

I knew I had to cut out the middleman, but I was having a hard time figuring out how. Your book showed me, and I'm sure I'll buy some of your other books. You have a gift of writing to show others how to do something. As far as the basics went, your books didn't leave me with any questions.

I'm still marketing and I've had some luck. The low-payers are still out there. An SEO guy from Atlanta contacted me yesterday about meta tag writing -- I had to turn it down because it involved Dreamweaver and Front page and I'm not an expert. This guy outsources from India, so I think he was blown away at my rates.

Take care,
Tenisha
###

That's it for today folks. To paraphrase our new president, "It's time to get down to work"(I'm working on a new ebook -- unrelated to freelance writing. I'll turn my attention to getting more of those out in a couple of weeks (I have many, many titles to get to)).

Yuwanda (Wanna know what I'm up to? Check me out on Twitter)
Contact: info *at* InkwellEditorial.com
P.S.: Where are all the freelance writing jobs? Find out in the 2008-2009 Freelance Writing Jobs Report
***********************************************
Freelance Success Stories! There are freelancers who make very good livings at what they love. Inkwell Editorial’s newsletter features these successful professionals who put to rest the phrase, “starving freelancer.” Current Issue: How to Make the Most Money as a Freelance Writer. Subscribe to read this, and all previous, issues.
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Copyright ©2009 InkwellEditorial.com. Except where noted, no part of this site may be reproduced in any manner without the express, written consent of the publisher. Violators will be prosecuted.

2 Scams Freelance Writers Need to Be Aware of Immediately

As the economy worsens, the online scam artists come out in full force. I'm pretty used to online scams -- and how to avoid them. But, I received two variations of some old ones that were pretty convincing in my inbox this morning. So, I took a chunk out of my day to write up a pretty extensive article detailing them -- and how to avoid them.

I posted this piece on AssociatedContent.com so it could reach as many freelance writers as possible. Read AssociatedContent and PayPal Scams: How to Keep Your Online Earnings Safe 100% of the Time for full details.

I know a lot of us freelance writers use these two sites. So feel free to pass this along to any of your friends -- even friends who aren't writers as there are some concrete actions suggested that can keep your money accounts safe online.

Want to Immediately Make More Money as a Freelance Writer?

Moving on to a different topic, yesterday, I wrote a post on BloggingTips.com entitled, Freelance Writers: How to Immediately Make More Money. It's kind of a case study in when to say no to a client; when to cut them loose. Very insightful if you have clients who suck you dry in the time department.

How to Use Traditional Media Tactics to Make Your Blog Stand Out, Get More Traffic and Increase Sales

This was another post I did over at BloggingTips this week. A few readers have commented on the "tie in" tip. What is it? Read the post to find out. This never occurs to a lot of bloggers, but is a trick used by "traditional" journalists all the time.

Aw Shucks, You Made Me Blush!
(and yes, black people do blush! :-))

I receive a lot of flattering emails from readers of my blog, websites and hundreds of articles distributed via article directories. This is one of my favorites: Every time I read one of your articles, I bow to your insightfulness! As always, thank you so much for all you share :-)

Thanks Herstory (a fellow AC writer). Learn more about her here.

While I don't do unique posts here often anymore (that'll change as soon as I can catch my breath this year), I do try to keep you updated. And remember, if you want to submit a guest post, I'm all for it!

Yuwanda (anytime you wanna know what I'm up to, check me out on Twitter)
Contact: info *at* InkwellEditorial.com
P.S.: Where are all the freelance writing jobs? Find out in the 2008-2009 Freelance Writing Jobs Report
***********************************************
Freelance Success Stories! There are freelancers who make very good livings at what they love. Inkwell Editorial’s newsletter features these successful professionals who put to rest the phrase, “starving freelancer.” Current Issue: How to Make the Most Money as a Freelance Writer. Subscribe to read this, and all previous, issues.
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Copyright ©2009 InkwellEditorial.com. Except where noted, no part of this site may be reproduced in any manner without the express, written consent of the publisher. Violators will be prosecuted.

2009 Freelance Writing Resolutions: How Many Have You Broken Already?

I make resolutions every year – personal and professional ones. I tend to break at least some of the personal ones pretty quickly. But, I do my darnedest to keep professional ones because they ae the ones my financial future goals depend on. Do I always reach them – no? But, I do make considerable progress – simply because I made them.

So I ask you this, how many of your 2009 freelance writing resolutions have you broken already? Did you promise yourself that you were going to go fulltime this year, but haven’t taken even the most basic steps yet, eg:

Have you written samples, researched what you’re going to charge, started building a website (or researching web designers you may want to use), ordered that ebook on how to start, started building your service list, etc.

The only way you’re ever going to achieve your freelance writing dream is to take concrete action toward it. It’s not too late – just because you got a slower start than you wanted does not mean that you should give up altogether. It just means that now that you recognize you’re procrastinating – stop it and get started.

Want to know what a typical day in the life of a busy SEO copywriter and new media marketing consultant is like? Follow me on Twitter.

Yuwanda
Contact: info *at* InkwellEditorial.com
P.S.: Where are all the freelance writing jobs? Find out in the 2008-2009 Freelance Writing Jobs Report

Hot Stuff Around Here!
$100 for SEO Articles: How to Become a Highly Paid SEO Copywriter

How to Start a Freelance Writing Career in Less than 24 Hours for $0
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Success Freelance Writers Tell Their Stories: There are freelancers who make a very good living working from home. The Inkwell Editorial newsletter routinely features these successful professionals. Subscribe to read all issues.
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Copyright © 2009 InkwellEditorial.com. Except where noted, no part of this site may be reproduced in any manner without the express, written consent of the publisher. Violators will be prosecuted.

Lessons from a Busy SEO Copywriter; Q&A w/ a New SEO Copywriter

This blogger is one of my favorites because we seem to share the same mindset on this profession. If you're wondering how to get busy finding work as an SEO copywriter -- or searching for any type of freelance writing jobs -- read Do You Have the Attitude to be a Successful Freelance Writer in 2009?

SEO Copywriting Success Tip

To be successful in this business, you have to know your stuff. I do a lot of reading on SEO -- here's an an interesting read: Your Site is SEO Optimized But is it Search Engine Friendly.

Q & A with a New SEO Copywriter

Question: Many Internet marketers hire writers on elance.com for $10 to $15 per article at the most. In fact, hiring a writer for that much means the writer is very talented in the eyes of the Web marketer. If a marketer gives a writer steady work, the writer will tend to lessen his/her rate to like $7 or $8 per article. I’ve even heard of some writers going as low as $1.00 USD! (These writers tend to be non-US and non-native English speakers, though.)

With that as context, here’s my question: Why would a SEO company hire a writer for $25 to $45 (or even $50 per article)? What am I missing here? . . . I’d appreciate any clarification.

My Answer: One of the reasons I tell SEO writers to stay away from sites like Elance is that companies that go there are looking for quantity, not quality. And, this is why my marketing plan advises that you target companies directly.

Many companies will give these types of sites a try; once they get burned a few times by low quality, they then look for professionals. THAT's why they'll pay you $25, $35 or more for an article -- they care about quality. For more, read this article: Get $100 Per SEO Article - How to Become a Highly Paid SEO Writer There's a market for both -- remember, there are freelance writers who get paid $1, $2 or more per word. It's all in who you target with your marketing. Hope this helps to clarify things.

Get the ebook that outlines how to start a career as an SEO copywriter.

Want to know what a typical day in the life of a busy SEO copywriter and new media marketing consultant is like? Follow me on Twitter.

Happy Friday everybody. I'm knocking off early -- this week has been exhausting!

Yuwanda
Contact: info *at* InkwellEditorial.com
P.S.: Where are all the freelance writing jobs? Find out in the 2008-2009 Freelance Writing Jobs Report
***********************************************
Freelance Success Stories! There are freelancers who make very good livings at what they love. Inkwell Editorial’s newsletter features these successful professionals who put to rest the phrase, “starving freelancer.” Current Issue: How to Make the Most Money as a Freelance Writer. Subscribe to read this, and all previous, issues.
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Copyright © 2009 InkwellEditorial.com. Except where noted, no part of this site may be reproduced in any manner without the express, written consent of the publisher. Violators will be prosecuted.

SEO Copywriters: Want to Make an Extra $61,880 This Year?

I've been woefully neglecting my own blog, but busy as a bee at others. You can find the post mentioned in the title at Copyblogger. SEO copywriting is a lucrative freelance writing niche -- if you know how to market to get the work. I lay it all out in this post.

How effective was this post? Got three client queries, landed two new clients and added new subscribers -- to my newsletter and Twitter.

Do you fear/dread competition as a freelance writer?

Moving on, over at BloggingTips.com, I addressed the fear of competition that a lot of freelance writers have. It's unfounded, for the reasons I list in the post ATTN: Writers & Bloggers: 3 More Reasons to Start Freelancing – Now!

Want to know what a typical day in the life of a busy SEO copywriter and new media marketing consultant is like? Follow me on Twitter.

I'm dying for a glass of wine, but have to get my workout in first -- rats! Until next time.

Yuwanda
Contact: info *at* InkwellEditorial.com
P.S.: Where are all the freelance writing jobs? Find out in the 2008-2009 Freelance Writing Jobs Report

Hot Posts!
How to Become a Highly Paid SEO Copywriter
How to Start a Freelance Writing Career in Less than 24 Hours for $0
***********************************************
Freelance Success Stories! There are freelancers who make very good livings at what they love. Inkwell Editorial’s newsletter features these successful professionals who put to rest the phrase, “starving freelancer.” Current Issue: How to Make the Most Money as a Freelance Writer. Subscribe to read this, and all previous, issues.
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Copyright © 2009 InkwellEditorial.com. Except where noted, no part of this site may be reproduced in any manner without the express, written consent of the publisher. Violators will be prosecuted.

How I Lost $26,000-$39,000 in Online Income Last Year

Happy New Year everyone. I hope you had a safe holiday season, and are looking forward to a profitable New Year.

Now, on to the title of today's post. My bloggingtips.com post today details how I shot myself in the foot -- losing $26,000-$39,000 in online income last year. Ouch! But, I have a game plan moving forward to rectify that, you'd better believe. Read How I Lost $26,000-$39,000 in Online Income Last Year to find out what it is -- and to find out where you may be losing money online too.

Advice for New Freelance Writers on Getting Started

This past weekend, I spent some time answering emails sent in from new and experienced freelancers alike. I wrote an article in response to one and posted it on AssociatedContent.com because I get this kind of question a lot -- especially this time of year, particularly from newbies. The wannabe freelance writer wrote, in part:

I would love to start out in the freelance field. I am afraid that my previous work experience will limit my chances. I have done the research on freelance writers and their previous work experience surpasses mine. I have only worked in menial jobs making little or no money. I don't know how to market myself in this field where the people have PH.'D's masters and bachelors [sic].

I find that the number one thing missing in most freelance writers -- newbies and experienced alike -- is a lack of self confidence. I know I've written it before, but to risk repeating myself -- you must, must, must develop confidence in yourself if you're going to strike out on your own -- no matter what kind of business it is.

Is it easy? No. But, have the courage to take the first steps. You're going to make mistakes, but if you never take the leap, you can't start learning from them. With each mistake, you learn. The more you learn, the more confident you become.

Read my full response in the article, New Freelance Writers: How to Compete with More Experienced, Better Educated Writers.

What I'm Up to This New Year

Affiliate Marketing: I'm getting serious this year about upping my passive income. I squeezed in some affiliate marketing over the holidays -- and to my amazing surprise, made a few hundred bucks in just a few days. If this continues, it's going to make me shift some priorities, but I'm containing my excitement for now.

Marketing New Media Words: Most of my attention is spent on client projects garnered through my SEO writing and internet marketing firm, New Media Words. The company just landed a new client -- which is a welcome start to the New Year.

Writing More Ebooks: I've kind of let getting new titles out slip thorugh the cracks. The latter part of last year was a bit crazy. But, I'm going to get back on track, as it's part of my plan to make more passive income. So, I'm squeezing in some regular writing time to get titles out on a regular basis (at least one a month).

Site Redesign: This is taking for friggin' ever, but I've stopped pressuring myself to get it done. I had hoped to have it done by this month. But, it's going to take longer. Once I got my business goals assessed by a business coach, I realized that I was allowing myself to be pressured by others to get this done. While it is a priority, it's not an immediate "get it done today" priority.

He made me realize that my financial goals -- which I'm on target to surpass without a site redesign -- should be my priority.

What are your plans for your freelance writing career this New Year? I'd love to know.

Want to know what a typical day in the life of a busy SEO copywriter and new media marketing consultant is like? Follow me on Twitter.

Yuwanda
Contact: info *at* InkwellEditorial.com
P.S.: Where are all the freelance writing jobs? Find out in the 2008-2009 Freelance Writing Jobs Report

Hot Posts!
How to Become a Highly Paid SEO Copywriter

How to Start a Freelance Writing Career in Less than 24 Hours for $0
***********************************************
Freelance Success Stories! There are freelancers who make very good livings at what they love. Inkwell Editorial’s newsletter features these successful professionals who put to rest the phrase, “starving freelancer.” Current Issue: How to Make the Most Money as a Freelance Writer. Subscribe to read this, and all previous, issues.
***********************************************
Copyright © 2009 InkwellEditorial.com. Except where noted, no part of this site may be reproduced in any manner without the express, written consent of the publisher. Violators will be prosecuted.