Freelance Writers: Are You Ready for Work in 2009?

Over at bloggingtips.com today, I talk about gearing up for work in 2009. I know not many of your are listening/reading. Heck, I can't even believe I'm updating my blog. I want to be drinking egg nog, baking cookies and forgetting that I even have a computer.

BUT, 2009 is right around the corner. And planning is 90% of success. So, this week I'm doing a 3-part series on how to start marketing for freelance writing jobs in 2009. Check it out and get a leg up on the competition.

Wanna appear on this blog? Submit a guest post. That's it for today.

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

Hot Topics Around Here!
Freelance Writing Job: Write 4 Pages for $1,500

$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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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 © 2008 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.

People Won't Buy What They Don't Understand: How to Sell Your Freelance Services

I received an email a few months ago from someone asking me to write about their "product/service" (I still don't know which, which is explained below) on my blog.

I receive quite a few of these requests and, unless it's something I think readers of this blog will benefit from, I rarely do this.

Dumb & Dumber?

But, why am I telling you this? I brought it up because, for the life of me, I couldn't understand what the heck the guy was talking about. I read the email several times -- and still have it in my inbox. I kept it because the idea for this post came from it.

I thought, "How am I supposed to talk about something that I don't even understand?" I mean, I'm not the brightest bulb on the tree by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm far from the dimmest also.

Clarity Equals Money

While this may seem like a simple concept, I can't tell you how many times I receive marketing materials that clearly mean something to the promoter, but leaves out some important detail that is not obvious to the end user. Simplicity sells.

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Want to learn exactly what to do to earn $100, $150, $200/day or more as a freelance writer, editor and/or copy editor? Inkwell Editorial's upcoming Freelance Writing Seminar will tell you how. Details. It's a career anyone who can read and write can start -- with the right information.
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While you never want to talk down to your audience, you do want to clearly state the BENEFITS to the buyer. The reason I capitalize benefits is that where most marketers go wrong is that they get so caught up in explaining the features of their product, that they forget to highlight the benefits.

How to Sell Your Services as a Freelancer

This is why people buy -- because of the benefits your service will bring to them, NOT because you're a wonderful writer. Even a mediocre writer who clearly outlines the benefits a client will derive from his/her service will get clients.

Freelance writing is a career anyone can start -- you don't have to be super smart or super talented. Now, you can't be a nitwit -- it does take competence. But, if I had a nickel for every time someone assumed that they couldn't do it, I'd be very well off.

How to Get Clients Every Time You Advertise

These types of concepts -- as well as quite a few others -- will be discussed in the upcoming freelance writing seminar in October. You will learn simple steps to follow with every marketing piece you send out. This way, every dime of your marketing dollars will be spent smartly every time you reach out to clients.

Simplistically yours,
Yuwanda Black, Publisher
http://inkwelleditorial.com/
http://inkwelleditorial.blogspot.com/
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Upcoming Features in Inkwell Editorial’s Newsletter

September 12: Gordon Graham. 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.

Missed the latest issue? The 8/15 issue of Inkwell Editorial’s newsletter featured an interview with B2B freelance writer, Meryl K. Evans. Want to break into this very lucrative market? Meryl's interview sheds some detailed light on how. Sign up to receive your copy to read what Meryl had to say.

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

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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Master Marketing: 3 Techniques Successful Marketers Always Use (Part II of II)

In yesterday’s post, How to Become a Master Marketer (Part I of II), I discussed one thing master marketers do that guarantee them success.Today, we’ll discuss the two other things they do on a consistent basis that you should be doing in your marketing also.

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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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Get Proactive: Master marketers are proactive – they don’t wait for business to come to them, they go out and get it. How are they proactive?

Instead of waiting for people to sign up to their newsletter or ezine, they may invite them to join by sending them the initial email.Instead of putting on their direct mail piece, “Call me when you have the need for our type of product/service,” they may write, “I will follow up with you in approximately 7-10 days to see how I can be of service to your organization.”

Instead of hoping a prospect will call for them to get their website done, they will re-design one page and send it to the prospect asking for the project.

Most of us are passive marketers. And yes, I fully include myself in this pool. We are so afraid of rejection – for whatever reason – that we don’t go the extra mile to get the business. Sure, we may send out our mailer, newsletter or e-zine, but that’s it.

Do you know how crowded inboxes and mailboxes are these days? According to the book Get Clients Now!: A 28-Day Marketing Program for Professionals and Consultants, the average consumer is barraged with approximately 2,700 marketing messages a day.

Considering this, o get to the forefront, sometimes we have to literally push through the noise.

Case in Point: When I decided to relaunch Inkwell’s newsletter this past June, I decided that I was going to spend some time “actively” marketing it.

That’s when I came up with the idea to send the first issue out, along with the free article marketing e-book, Everything You Wanted to Know about Article Marketing: Results of a 30-day article marketing experiment.

Do you know I’ve only had one person unsubscribe from the newsletter (some will subscribe only for the freebie) out of all of the invites I’ve done so far, which total about 500?

Now, imagine if I invited 1,000, 3,000 or 5,000? How fast would my list grow? I currently have close to 17,000 subscribers on my list – a list I’ve cultivated over the last five years or so.

Getting proactive has grown it faster since June than it grew practically all of last year. To be fair, I wasn’t publishing the newsletter then, so subscribers trickled in for no apparent reason.But, proactivity pays.

Lesson here: Get proactive in your marketing efforts. With every marketing campaign you embark upon, ask yourself how you can be proactive, rather than passive.

Stay in Touch: Master Marketers don’t lose customers. Sure, customers may leave them, but it’s not because they weren’t staying in touch.

Remember, comfortability leads to likeability, which leads to trust and ultimately sales. Clients will rarely purchase from you the first time they encounter your product/service.

But, if you’re “in their face” on a regular basis, they come to rely and depend on your advice, your insight, your suggestions, etc. . . . When the time comes for them to purchase the type of product/service you’re selling, all things like price being equal – you have a good chance of them purchasing from you.

It almost doesn’t matter what you say to your customers (as long as you’re not insulting them, that is). Send a joke of the day, a link to an interesting article you think they’d enjoy, a reference to recent industry news, etc.

The lesson here: It’s simple -- just stay in contact. If you do these three things -- focus on a single message, get proactive in your marketing and stay in touch on a regular basis – no matter what type of marketing method you employ, you exponentially increase your chance for success.
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Upcoming Features in Inkwell Editorial’s Newsletter

Get Yesterday’s Newsletter Today! The third issue of Inkwell Editorial’s newsletter, How to Start a Successful Freelance Career, was published yesterday.

It featured an interview with “money blogger” Paula Mooney. She helps other bloggers “make money, get readers and increase their blog’s ranking.” Sign up to receive your copy.

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: Gordon Graham. 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!*************************************************
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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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:

POST CONTINUED BELOW
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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 E-book 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.

Want to be featured in Inkwell Editorial's popular newsletter? Full details. Read the first issue here.
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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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Freelance Writers: How to Increase Your Business with a Simple One-Page Letter

When I owned my editorial staffing agency and would put out a job opening for freelancers, I would get a ton of responses. If I asked for work samples, I would get slammed – even if the ad specifically stated to send, for example, “one writing sample on real estate investing.”

To quickly get through the pile of resumes, the first thing I would do is weed out anyone who sent more than I had requested. The point of this little story – more is not always better.

BUT, you may lament, “I want to show the client what I can do for them.” You can do this very effectively via a simple one-page introductory letter.

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InkwellEditorial.com E-Course: Launch a Profitable Freelance Writing Career in 30 Days or Less -- Guaranteed! Coming in January.

At the end of this one week, five-step course, you will have a concrete business and marketing plan for your freelance enterprise. Even if you've been a freelancer for years, this course will help you "laser focus" your efforts and exponentially increase your income. Via this course, secure your first client within 30 days -- or your money back!

Make Money with Our Affiliate Program! Before year's end our e-books will be availabe via ClickBank. Stay tuned for details.

Learn everything you need to know to work from home as a Freelance Writer, Editor, Proofreader, etc. How? Order an InkwellEditorial.com E-book. Receive 7 EBooks in All! Delivered right to your inbox immediately upon payment!
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SECTION I: In this paragraph, you simply want to state your name and give a very brief background summary and niche specialty. Eg:

I am Yuwanda Black, the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com. A freelance copywriter for over 13 years, I specialize in increasing the referral rates of real estate agents, mortgage brokers and insurance agents via newletters, brochures, e-books, etc.

Whatever your written marketing needs, I can deliver measurable results. Samples of my writing/portfolio can be found at mywebsite.com (you do have a website, right?).

SECTION II: Illustrate to the client that you are familiar with his product, service, specialty, etc. and how you can improve it, supplement it, overhaul it, etc. for better results. Eg:

I noticed from your website (brochure, postcard, sales letter, etc.) that you have been in business for 5 years and service the XXXX market. I can help you increase your sales by at least 15% over a year’s time (maybe more). How?

Studies (cite a source) have shown that consistent contact is the number one way to get clients to call YOU – and not your competitor. According to xxx (here you would input a reliable marketing stat), in your industry, only X percent of mortgage brokers do this.

Imagine how many more clients you can add to your business by becoming the go-to expert in your sector? I can position you for this – bringing in referrals for years to come!

SECTION III: The wrap up: Repeat here their number one benefit of using you, eg, to increase their bottom line. Eg,

My job is to increase your bottom line. As a results-oriented professional copywriter, I know how to move prospects into your (not your competitor’s) paying customers when they’re ready to buy.

SECTION IV: The call to action. Ask them to do something – now!

Call today for your no-obligation consultation. I can be reached at:
PH: 000-111-1234
CELL: 111-222-3333
FAX: 222-333-4444
Email: info@inkwelleditorial.com
URL: InkwellEditorial.com

SECTION V: The P.S. (EVERY sales letter should have a P.S.). In this section, you can give a way a freebie (e-books are great for this) and/or reiterate a major benefit (eg, increase your bottom line by 15%).

Feel free to use a P.S. and a P.P.S. Eg:

P.S.: With your free consultation, you receive a free e-booklet, “For Real Estate Professionals: 10 Ways to Turn Referrals Into Paying Customers.”

P.P.S.: This e-book is FREE, even if you don’t use my services.

5 Copywriting Tips for Your One-Page Letter

a) Use lots of white space and bold headings. Eg, between each section, create a bold heading that clues the reader in to what they’re about to read. Most people skim copy – especially from unfamiliar sources – this makes it much more likely to get read.

b) Write from a “what’s in it for the client” point of view instead of a “what’s in it for me” point of view. At every turn, reiterate how you can help them make more money, save more time, reach more prospects, etc. In business, most people either want to make more money or increase their referral ratio – these are safe objectives to state that you can help them with.

c) Make a connection: Eg, I read on your website; I heard in your seminar; I see from your brochure – everyone likes to feel that you have at least taken the time to know their business.

d) Give stats: This lends credibility to your “sales pitch.” It’s not just you saying x, a noted source can back up your contention.

e) Use a call to action: If you don’t ask them to do something, they may do nothing. So, use phrases like call today, log on to our website, subscribe to our newsletter, register for your free gift.

I guarantee you, if you follow the format outlined above, your direct mail and/or e-mail conversion rate will be higher, garnering you clients for years to come.
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Like what you read here? Find the content useful and informative? Subscribe to the Inkwell Editorial feed (under the LINKS section to your right) to receive new content immediately upon publishing. OR, email your address to subscribe to this content.
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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 to learn how.