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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Why Downsizing Hurts Those Making 50K+ More than Others

I've been a recruiter since 1997. I owned an editorial staffing agency in New York City from 1997 to 2004. In addition to freelance writing, I still do some recruiting.

I relay this upfront so that you will understand where I'm coming from with the following take on this subject.

In the course of my networking, over the last few weeks I've spoke with two mid-level managers who were down-sized. One worked for 18 years with a large telecommunications firm that was recently acquired. The other worked for 15 years at a Fortune 500 publisher that was recently bought and restructured.

Both were making between 55-65K/year and were lamenting about how hard it is to find other positions. If you find yourself in the same position, following is a market reality you must face as you go about your job search - and tips for landing a new position.

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Make sure downsizing never affects you again -- start a freelance career. Our work-from-home ebooks contain all the information you need to get started! Log on to order. It's fast, simple, safe and secure.

P.S.: All e-books are written from first-hand experience, or are told from first-hand accounts. So, you get concrete advice straight from those who have been where you are -- and are now where you want to be.
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Soft Skills are Not Valued: The publishing manager was telling me about her people management, team building and project management skills.

I told her that, while valuable, they are not as valued as "hard skills" that add directly to a company's bottom line, eg, software, accounting and market analysis abilities.

Directly is italicized because these are skills that employers can quantify. They use the software that a technician installs, maintains and upgrades; their budgets are set by the numbers that accounting pumps out; they develop products and revenue goals based on a marketing analyst's trend reports.

In short, these touch their daily working lives. Contrast that with soft skills like people management.

The Director doesn't see that it took the project manager to coordinate freelancers in three different time zones, call in a temp to cover a sick employee's time off to keep a deadline and/or recognize and get employees to implement time-saving procedures.

All the Director sees is that the project got done - on time and within budget.

Because middle managers tend to be facilitators, much of their value is behind the scenes. In essence, out of sight, out of mind. So, when a company is acquired, for example, they cut out this layer of "fat," and keep those employees that add directly to the bottom line.

How to Prove Your Worth to Potential Employers

So, what can middle managers do to combat this "layer of fat" mentality. Following are two tips.

1. Get concise: As in, lay out specifics of what you did in your last position - and how it contributed to the bottom line.

For example, the publishing manager told me that she implemented use of a new software on a newsletter her company published. This saved time and money.

Instead of saying it "saved time and money," quantify it, eg, how much time and how much money. Her resume might read, "With the use of this new software, production time was cut by 40%, equaling savings of $10,000 on each print run."

2. Draw a Picture: Human nature is to be lazy. How does this affect your new job search? If you run across advertised jobs that you know you could do, but your skill set is not an exact match, spell out for potential employers how what you did in your last position is transferable to the job at hand.

Use language from their job description. This is a modeling technique taught by the self-help guru Tony Robbins. In essence, you are subliminally seducing the potential employer by feeding their words back to them.

When you've reached a certain level in your career, it's hard to replace that level of job with another. A fast food worker can just move on to the next fast food establishment - and make a comparable wage.

But, for mid-level execs, $50,000/year+ jobs don't just come along. It usually takes some time to land them. Knowing why the market is that way goes a long way towards preparing yourself for the hunt.

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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$132,994.97 in Google Earnings!

It's Friday and I'm still in my writing funk. BUT, like a junkie with a drug habit, I felt the need to post today -- something I usually don't do on Friday's.

So, I'm bringing you this little missive.

What about the Google earnings you mention in the title? I'm gettin' there.

Alas, the check didn't belong to me -- it belonged to Jeremy Schoemaker, the brain behind ShoeMoney.com. Of it, he writes, "This was the bigest paper check I have ever recieved. It was way back in August of 2005 and since I have moved to wire transfers so dont look for anything bigger from me."

I ran across Jeremy's site in Paula Mooney's blog -- specifically, her post on blogger salaries, which, if you read yesterday's post, will see that I referenced. Paula -- geniously I think, compiled a list of blogger salaries.

While some moan that it's incomplete, it's a good snapshot on who's making what in the blogosphere.

For grins, giggles and "I want that" envy, click here for more Google checks featured on ShoeMoney.com. Now, does that inspire you to get going on a site!

Enjoy and be inspired.

Until Monday,
Yuwanda Black, Publisher
InkwellEditorial.com
InkwellEditorial.blogspot.com
P.S.: Have you checked out Inkwell Editorial's work-from-home ebooks yet? The are some great deals on this first-hand advice on how to succeed as a freelancer, and it makes great weekend reading (hint, hint: buy today).

Monday's Post: Are you making 50K or more? Do you worry about being down-sized? Have you been down-sized? Career advice for mid-level managers.

Networking No No's: What NOT to Do when You Network

I usually, I write about freelancing issues. After all, this blog is about the BUSINESS of freelancing. However, I've decided to start devoting one post a week to full-time career issues, as I've been peppered since the beginning of the year with these types of questions.

Sincerely,
Y. Black, Publisher
InkwellEditorial.com
InkwellEditorial.blogspot.com
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NOTE: The following advice can be used if you are promoting yourself as a potential employee, or if you're networking as a business owner.

TODAY'S ARTICLE

If you're serious about building a business, or landing a new job, networking can help you reach your goal faster than any other form of marketing or advertising.

Following are three things you should not do when you are networking. Remember, you are building relationships that can, ostensibly, pay off for years to come. Don't ruin it by doing the following:

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1. Represent the "right" business (or career aspiration): What I mean is, don't introduce yourself under one business and network under another. Or, if you're seeking a full-time position, talk about your side business Let me explain.

I belong to two chambers of commerce in my area. Chambers of Commerce, by the way, are excellent venues for networking. Want to know more, click here.

Many times, I've been at a networking event and someone will approach me with their "side" business, eg, I work for XYZ corporation, but I have an event planning company I want to talk to you about.

This is unprofessional, for a couple of reasons: i) it's unethical. If your company has paid for you to be a member of a chamber, don't promote your side business on their dime. Join the chamber under your own company name.

If you're networking to land a new position, tell the Chamber representative that. Ask if you can come as a one-time guest. Or, find a member who will bring you along as their guest and introduce yourself as a professional looking for a new position.

Not only will your company benefit from the advertising the chamber does for members (eg, mailings, website listing and e-mail blasts); ii) it shows that you are serious about growing this side venture.

I often wonder if I will get paid if I do work for a company that doesn't have enough leadership to recognize the above-mentioned points.

2. Give Before Receiving: Networking is a slow build. It's rare that you will get immediate business from this type of marketing. Find out how you can become a resource for members - eg, recommend others who may be great contacts for businesses in the group; start a referral newsletter; pass along other networking opportunities.

Nine times out of 10, most of the people you meet at networking functions are there to sell something. Everyone knows this. BUT, if you are constantly asking for business, without giving leads to others, you will become known as a taker.

Karma works in all aspects of life. What you give comes back to you; so instead of being on the lookout for those who can help you, look for ways you can give to the group. Even if the majority of leads you pass out never work out, people remember those who take the time to give them leads or recommend the services of others.

3. Don't Be a Pest: I've met some extremely aggressive people in my networking circles. And, I cut them a wide berth. If you approach someone and they are not interested in hiring you as an employee (or express an interest in your product/service), stay in contact, but unobtrusively so.

Don't continue to call when they've clearly "brushed you off" a few times. That's why I like newsletters; they allow you to stay in touch without being a pest.

Don't publish a newsletter? Try passing along "Business Tips of the Day;" "Sales Tip of the Day;" or a "Community Events at a Glance" calendar.

In the case of job hunting, a brief touch-base email or phone call every few weeks will suffice.

All of these are viable, unobtrusive ways to keep your business top-of-mind - for the right reasons.

The fact is, depending on your profession and/or business, there will be very few people you actually meet while networking who can give you business (or hire you) directly. BUT, you're really building a line of trust so that when they "know someone who knows someone" who needs your product/service, you will be the first one they think of.
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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 to learn how.
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