One Immediate Way to Increase Your Freelance Income by Up to 50%

How “Template Writing” can help you become a prolific income producer

When I first started writing outside of my niche – the business of creative freelancing – it took me some time to get the hang of things. I read other freelancer’s articles on certain subjects, eg, restaurant and product reviews, to see how it was done.

It took me some time to get a system down, but once I did, I was able to turn out a review or article in half the time. So, how did I speed it up? I created a “genre template.”

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WORK-FROM-HOME E-BOOKS: Freelance from home! Just a reminder, Inkwell Editorial's work-from-home, how-to freelance writing e-books will be back on InkwellEditorial.com this weekend.
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What is Template Writing?

In short, formulaic writing. On FreeDictionary.com, template, as related to writing, is defined as "A document or file having a preset format, used as a starting point for a particular application so that the format does not have to be recreated each time it is used."

Example of a Writing Template

To use an easy example, take restaurant reviews. It’s a relatively new medium for me and one that I found tends to pay more than the other types of articles I like to write. So, I started to focus more on these.

My restaurant review template looks like this:

Intro: This includes things like background on the establishment, what I personally like about it, how I discovered it, etc.

The Food: Here, I discuss the menu selections, dishes I recommend and the drinks.

The Price: Usually, this is a few lines about the price (affordable, moderate, on the expensive side, gotta be rich and famous to afford to eat here). I may break it down by specific price for a few dishes (eg, appetizer, main course, dessert), or I may give an average cost of a meal for two.

The Service: Here I discuss how fast or slow the service is, if the staff is knowledgeable about the menu, do they easily allow for substitutions, and maybe the uniform.

Other Items of Note: This section highlights things of interest I think any first-time visitor might want to know. Eg, if the establishment has an outside seating area, music, dance floor, special nights for things like karaoke, menu specials, the parking situation (valet, not enough parking, etc.), banquet rooms, on/off-site catering, etc.

Summary: This is usually a one or two liner about the establishment. Eg, for a fun night out with your gang, Pepper’s is an easy-on-the-wallet rocking, good time!

My reviews may or may not include all of these sections; it depends on the establishment and my experience there.

BUT, having a template in front of me when I sit down to write seriously cuts down on the time it takes to organize/edit material, which, as any writer knows, can be more than half the time spent producing a piece.

A Note About Reviews: FYI, the crazy thing about reviews (product and restaurant) is that they are usually written in 400-500 words and, with a formula in place, can be completed in about 20 minutes (minus proofing and minor editing). Most of my articles take 30 minutes to slightly more than an hour to write (minus proofing and minor editing).

Creating a template for as many types of writing you do as possible can increase your output by 50% easily, ostensibly increasing your income by the same amount. So, go template happy – and watch your bank account increase.
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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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3 Steps to Finding the Nerve to Quit a Job You Hate

Do you feel like this guy every Monday morning? Today, many are heading into jobs they hate. The commute, time away from family, office politics, etc. --- arrgghhhhh! Do you just want to get away.

For this reason, I thought today was perfect for this post -- 3 Steps to Finding the Nerve to Quit a Job You Hate.

Enjoy, and find that courage!

Y. Black, Publisher
InkwellEditorial.com
InkwellEditorial.blogspot.com
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Blue Sky at www.sxc.hu
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Fear and love. These are the two emotions that rule every decision we make. Sure, they are masked as insecurity, jealousy, inertia, complacency, bliss, etc. But, as human beings, these are the two primary emotions that cause us to act, or not.

So, what does this have to do with getting up the nerve to quit a job you hate?Most never examine why they fail to act. Take the case of quitting a job you hate. All you know is that the bills are constant and doing your own thing won't pay the bills. It's too expensive to start a business, you have no clients and the paycheck you get, at least, is steady.

This is as far as most get when they sit at a desk, silently wasting away because they're so miserable.

So, how do you find the nerve to quite a job you hate? By doing the following:

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WORK-FROM-HOME E-BOOK REMINDER: Inkwell Editorial's work-from-home freelance writing e-books have been offline since August of last year. I've been planning to migrate them to Clickbank. But a series of life events, coupled with work, have delayed this process. So, I've decided to put them back on InkwellEditorial.com until I can find the time to do the migration. They'll be back up this weekend.

Editorially yours,
Y. Black, Publisher
InkwellEditorial.com
InkwellEditorial.blogspot.com

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1. Go subterranean: What do I mean by this? In short, explore the fear behind why you can't quit. Are you insecure about your skills and abilities? Are you afraid that you don't have what it takes to make it on your own? Will your spouse look at you like you've lost your mind? Whatever the fear is, examine it. AND, counter it.

If it's skill-based, then take a class to conquer the skills you need. If it's money, then get a second job to cover six months to a year's worth of expenses. If it's your spouse, talk to them about your dream and how doing what you're doing is slowly killing your spirit.

Whatever it is, examine it and come up with a solution for it. Whenever I don't think I can do something, I examine why. And, I remember where I came from.

Finding the Courage

To digress aminute for a personal story: One of the figures I admire most in history is Harriet Tubman. For those who don't know, she led slaves to freedom in the underground railroad. Some accounts say 300; some say 3,000.

Whatever the number, she risked her life and again, coming back from the North to the South to lead slaves to freedom. I often ponder if I would have had that type of courage. Most of us don't have the backbone to risk our necks one time, to do it over and over again -- well, it still blows me away.

So, when I get uneasy about doing something, I think of Ms. Tubman and I find a way to go over, under, around, on top of, below and/or right through any obstacle that may stand in my way.

My point? To achieve a dream, this is what is required. Nothing more, nothing less. So, you might not be able to quit in a month, but you can plan to do so in six months, a year, two years.

2. Create a plan: This piggybacks off the first idea. Create a solid, concrete plan of what you will do daily, weekly, monthly, etc. to get to your goal. Put your plan in a place where you can see it every day. You can even put it several places. Remind yourself at every turn what you should be doing to get where you want to be.

3. Visualize: As in, visualize the life you want to have. Whether it's I will get up at 6am and work until 5pm.

I will work four days a week. I will be able to walk my kids to school. I will take three consecutive weeks off in the summertime to vacation with my family. I will grocery shop in the afternoon when the stores are less crowded. I will do housework on Friday, that way I have the weekends free to socialize with friends and family.

Now, don't get me wrong, you are going to have to put in some long hours -- and the lifestyle you envision may not come to fruition for several years.

BUT, the fact that you have a dream -- and are taking active steps to get there -- should keep you motivated to achieve the life you want.

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 to learn how.
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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 and receive job listings -- immediately!

How to Launch a Profitable "Portfolio Career"

I first heard the term "Portfolio Career" a few years ago when I was talking to a girlfriend about a mutual friend. This particular friend had resigned from a high-paid sales job that required her to travel a lot.

Tired of the grindstone, she quit and launched a portfolio career. So, what exactly is a portfolio career?

What is a Portfolio Career?

A portfolio career is one in which you do several things. You don't work for any particular employer, you work for several doing very different jobs.

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WORK-FROM-HOME E-BOOK REMINDER: Inkwell Editorial's work-from-home freelance writing e-books have been offline since August of last year. I've been planning to migrate them to Clickbank. But a series of life events, coupled with work, have delayed this process. So, I've decided to put them back on InkwellEditorial.com until I can find the time to do the migration. They'll be back up next weekend.

As always, editorially yours,
Y. Black, Publisher
InkwellEditorial.com
InkwellEditorial.blogspot.com
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As defined in the article Portfolio Careers: Creating a Career of Multiple Part-Time Jobs by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D., "Portfolio careers are usually built around a collection of skills and interests, though the only consistent theme is one of career self-management." Source: http://www.quintcareers.com.

For example, the friend who quit her sales job started doing promotions for a record company. In addition to that, she worked part-time in her previous career - leveraging contacts she'd made during her career in the field.

What makes a portfolio career different from being a freelancer? Technically, there's no difference as they are both self-employed. However, a portfolio career is one in which the professional holds down several different jobs -- usually in extremely different fields.

In the past, professionals might have hidden this type of "split career." As more and more job hunters seek more time in their personal lives, however, many are coming out of the closet, if you will, about their career choices.

So, how do you go about developing a lucrative portfolio career?

A) Assess your interests and abilities: Are you, for example, good at marketing and at crafts? There's no reason not to do both.

Make a list of all that you're good at or have an interest in. Select two or three that you might want to turn into part-time ventures and go for it.

B) Leverage existing contacts: Like the executive mentioned above, this is the easiest way to get your portfolio career off the ground.

If you want to do marketing for small businesses, for example, get your company off the ground by telling everyone you know about your new career path.

C) Marketing and networking: Marketing can be as simple as getting a website. For networking purposes, join a chamber of commerce.

NOTE: In my 2/27/07 post, Networking No No's: What NOT to Do When You Network, I discuss some things you should not do when networking that may seem to run contrary to the advice offered here regarding a portfolio career. Specifically, I'm referring to representing the right business.

So, how do you network effectively if you have a portfolio career? I would select one of the things that I do and promote that at networking events. If you have a website, for example that explains your portfolio career, then potential clients will eventually discover all that you do anyway.

BUT, the reason I would only promote one thing at networking events is that, in marketing, too many messages confuse prospects So if you say I write marketing proposals for small business and I design jewelry as well, what are they likely to remember you for?

In my opinion, this sends a confusing, unprofessional message.

FYI, joining two or more networking groups will allow you to promote one business at one group, and the other business at another group.

Just because you work for yourself does not mean you don't need to be professional about it. Treat it like a real, full-fledged business; because, that's what it is. It's just a business with several arms.

Wondering if a portfolio career is for you? Take a FREE test at http://www.creativekeys.net/portfoliocareer3.htm.
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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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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 and receive job listings -- immediately!

When Writers Should “Self-Censor”: Things Writers Shouldn’t Write About

Publisher's Note: Three things today readers.

First, I want to apologize for not updating regularly these past few weeks. My recent car accident and a backlog of projects have kept me busy. I'll only be updating about thrice (love that "old English-sounding" word) weekly for the next two months or so, until I get caught up.

Second, my work-from-home freelance writing e-books have been offline since August of last year. Yikes! I've been revamping, revising and planning to migrate them to Clickbank. But, alas, life -- and projects! -- interfere.

So, I've decided to put them back on InkwellEditorial.com until I can find the time to do the migration. (It might take a working vacation to ge this done.) I've received so many requests that I'll have them back up this weekend.

Third, today's post addresses an idea that's been rolling around in my head. As I do a lot of work online, it's just a rant/observation I want to get off my chest. Feel free to chime in!

As always, editorially yours,
Y. Black, Publisher
InkwellEditorial.com
InkwellEditorial.blogspot.com
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When Writers Should “Self-Censor”
Things Writers Shouldn’t Write About

As writers, most think that no topic is off limits. After all, we’re creative beings and live in a country where the First Amendment (the right to free speech, among other things for those who don’t know) is the holy grail of journalism.

However, I find that there are some things that writers shouldn’t write about.

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I. Personal things: Blogs have brought to the forefront this idea of spilling one’s guts on the internet – not to the betterment of society in my somewhat anti-social opinion. I’m sorry but, I don’t want to know about every woman your husband cheated with, every girlfriend that ever did you wrong, or every vegetable your kid threw up. Some things should just stay private.

I know, I know, I don’t have to read it. But, sometimes, I feel tricked. I’ll be all into a good missive on a topic I genuinely had an interest in and then – whammo! – out of the blue, some personal rant is included that blindsides me.

I’m a keen supporter of using personal stories to illustrate a point, but some personal issues just scream to be left private. Listen to that and put it into a tell-all novel – preferably under a pseudonym.

I’m amazed that some families survive what their family members put on the web. Don’t let that blue state, mad state, revenge state of mind color the rest of your life. Don’t people realize that this stuff is there – like, er rum – FOREVER!

How to Self-Censor In This Area: Email your nearest and dearest friends, which will accomplish your goal – to purge. This is, in my opinion, really all one wants to accomplish when such personal info is revealed online for all to read.

NOTE: Five years from now, if it’s not something you’d want someone to know, keep it to your self.

II. Things you don’t like to write about: One of the things I love about blogging is the freedom to write about what I want to write about. HOWEVER, as with most freedoms, this is a double-edged sword.

I update this blog 3-5 times a week. I’m constantly updating my list of topics about which to write.

Usually, I’ll just write down a headline or a one-sentence idea. Depending on how tired I am, what projects are on my desk and/or what time of the day I’m sitting down to write a post, I’ll scan the list and pick out the topics I want to write on.

Every once in a while, I’ll choose a topic that just stumps me. Either I can’t come up with anything at all (this is extremely rare), or what I come up with is just not working, for whatever reason.

I’ve learned to let these topics go. I still keep them on the list, but tackle them at a later time – or not at all.

I guess the point is, if a topic is not coming together – no matter the reason – I don’t fight it anymore. If I’m having difficulty, it usually means it’s something I don’t like to write about, so I choose another topic – or tackle another activity.

After all, as I said before, the beauty of blogging is that you can write about what you want, right?

How to Self-Censor In This Area: To twist Nike's slogan, "Just DON'T Do It!" Move on.

III. Vitriol among “professionals”: As in, attacking other’s views. I’m not talking about intelligent discourse, but vitriolic attacks that do nothing but spew venom – no points made, no counter-intelligent arguments, no redeeming social value commentary – just mean-spirited attacks.

The anonymity of the Internet makes it easy for those who engage in this type of behavior to use bajillions of megabytes of space.

Imagine if engaging, well-thought-out, positive exchanges could take the place of all the vitriol on the web. We could solve the problems of the Middle East and provide the answer to Imus’ ignorance in no time.

How to Self-Censor In This Area: An old idiomatic expression solves this – “If you ain’t part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.” In other words, if you can’t provide valuable insight, just shut up and go have yourself a stiff drink!

Writers are creative, intelligent, insightful creatures who have a lot to offer – when they choose to exercise the right of “self censorship.”
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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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How to Tell If a Client is Wrong for You - Before You Accept Work from Them

Sometimes, you won't know if a client is wrong for you UNTIL you're in the middle of a project for them. They're impatient, change the parameters of the work and/or expect more than what you agreed up on in the contract.

While you can't always tell beforehand, there are usually signs you can look for that will clue you in as to what type of client this is. Following are three:

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1) Contract Negotiation: Most companies have a standard contract. If not, then, of course you should have your own.

If during this phase the client does not get back to you in a timely manner, looks at you sideways when you present a contract, and/or says that you should, 'Feel free to get started and I'll get the contract to you in a bit," I'd be wary of taking this client on.

Professionals understand that it is commonplace to work with a contract, and to not start the work until the contract has been signed by both parties.

So, if someone stalls, acts less than professional when you bring up a contract and/or assumes that you can get started without it, be careful. Anyone who treats a serious document like contracts this way may well treat you the same way when it's time to get paid.

A note about contracts: I use my own unless a company says that I have to use theirs. Usually, larger corporations have standard contracts that you must use. Please read over them carefully before you sign.

2) Project Parameters: In my business, I use what I call Project Spec Sheets. These lay out the parameters of a project, eg, turnaround time, work to be done and any specifics of the job.

Most editorial work can be pretty generic and even though you and the client may understand what you want done by verbally speaking, you should always lay out the project parameters on paper.

This document lays it out clearly so that both parties understand what is expected. If there is ever disagreement about what was to be done, you can always refer back to this.

Having a Project Spec Sheet does two things: i) signals your professionalism to the client; and ii) clarifies the project parameters for all involved.

Should you prepare this document, or should the client prepare it?

This document should be prepared by you and submitted to the client for his or her files. You don't have to obtain a signature (I usually ask my clients to simply initial the document), but it should be part of the file paperwork.

3) Payment Procedures: Usually, I verbally explain payment procedure, then it is repeated again in my contract. Terms might be, payable 30 days from receipt of invoice.

More and more clients are paying by credit card and/or online payment processors like PayPal.
Give clients quickie ways to pay like this, instead of the traditional invoicing system. PayPal even lets you send electronic invoices.

If a client jumps on using a quick payment method, this could signal that they are a forward-thinking, progressive company.

I'm pretty open in how I allow clients to pay, but if it's going to be a large project, I will always ask for partial payment up front, and the rest in installments, eg, when the brochure is done and before the start of web copy.

With a new client, you don't want to risk spending weeks on a project without knowing if you will receive payment.

The bottom line: When you are dealing with human beings, there are no 100% guarantees. Looking for tell-tale signs though can clue you in as to who might add to your bottom line, or take away from it.
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Copyright Notice: May be reprinted with the following, in full: Yuwanda Black is the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com: THE business portal for and about the editorial and creative industries. First-hand freelance success stories, e-courses, job postings, resume tips, advice on the business of freelancing, and more! Launch a Profitable Freelance Writing Career in 30 Days or Less -- Guaranteed! Log on to InkwellEditorial.com to learn how.
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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 and receive job listings -- immediately!

Research Your Way to E-book Success

What to Look for "In the Competition" when You Are Researching Your E-book

As I explained in mye 2/26 post, Freelance E-book Writer: The Steps I Take to Create a Successful E-book, researching the competition is a vital component of creating a successful e-book. In fact, it is the very first thing I do after getting an idea for an e-book.

Why? Read on:

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How the Competition Stacks Up: You want to see how many like products are out there. You may find a few, or you may find many. Whatever you find has to be looked at from both sides of the coin - good and bad.

Eg, if there are a lot of books on your subject, some questions you might want to ask are:

i) are they in e-book form: this is important because, if they don't, then you could target the online segment who may have be disserved by the paper/hardback book

ii) do they cover the topic in detail, OR, cover it as I would cover it: Look at the outline (most e-books tell you in an outline or on a sales page what is covered in the book).
This is important because you could cover the same material from a different angle, a funnier angle, a more professional angle, a personal experience angle, etc.

iii) what is their experience in the field: perhaps the most important thing in selling an e-book is the author's experience. Eg, I've been a freelancer since 1993, I worked in legal publishing for 10 years; I owned an editorial staffing agency for 8 years; have written six e-books and one freelance writing e-course.

In short, I can make the buyer feel confident in purchasing my products because I have the experience to back up what I wrote on.

DON'T get intimidated if you don't have an extensive background.

How to Sell Your E-book if You Have Limited Experience

Sell your expertise case by case. What I mean is, using case studies, spell out for potential buyers how you helped a client achieve his/her goal. A case study is really just an in-depth testimonial.

It lays out a problem that a client had, and tells how a product/company/person helped solve the problem. They are very effective ways to sell.

Conversely, if there are not a lot of books on your subject matter, two immediate questions come to mind, ie:

i) is there a market for this product? It could just be that no one else has thought to cover this subject. NOTE: This is highly unlikely, but don't let that deter you. Niche material is very popular, but do make sure there is enough of a market to advertise to.

Eg, if there are only 25,000 pig farmers in California, how many of them do you think are going to be interested in your take on feeding pigs a vegetarian diet (the subject of your e-book)?

My point? Be realistic. Make sure there is a broad enough market to justify spending your time writing your book.

ii) how am I going to reach this market? If you're writing an e-book on a subject matter that no one else has written on, then you have to find out how to reach them. Maybe the reason no one has written an e-book on the subject you want to write on is because the audience is offline, not online.

Some other questions regarding the competition you want to answer is who they market to, how do they reach them, what is their pricing structure, do they offer add-ons*, etc.

*Add-ons: Add-ons are freebies e-book sellers give to buyers. They can be anything from a free website to other free e-books. They are usually complementary products to the item they're promoting.

Researching your competition will tell you virtually everything you need to know to successfully market your product - if you do your research well.
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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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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 and receive job listings -- immediately!

How Blogging Led to an Editor-in-Chief’s Job Offer

I’ve been blogging since 2005. I do it consistently, eg, 3-5 times a week, and dispense helpful information (at least I do my best too).

As I wrote in last Thursday's post, blogging recently led to a career-changing opportunity. A client I’d done some consulting for offered me a position as Editor-in-Chief of an industry start-up magazine.

Good for You; What’s that Got to Do With Me?

I write of this offer, not to brag, but to impart how blogging can lead to opportunities you never knew existed. BUT, for this to happen, there are some “rules” you should adhere to.

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NOTE: Rules is in quotation marks because these are just from my personal experience and the feedback I’ve received from readers and clients alike. As far as I know, there is no industry standard (although, as I type this, I’m thinking maybe I could start one).

“Rules” for Blogging that Advance Your Career

1. Longevity: What do I mean? Consider the following:Almost every society teaches that to advance, education is the key. As a recruiter, I can tell you first hand that there are many jobs that can be done without a college degree. A degree is your access card. Without it, you can’t even enter the game.

BUT, many employers will not even consider candidates without a degree. The point? A degree says that you are disciplined enough to finish a course of study over and beyond a high school education.

Spending two or four years of your time and money to acquire more knowledge proves to potential employers that you have initiative, drive and dedication – and have hopefully picked up some key knowledge along the way.

What does this have to do with blogging? My point is longevity. In my opinion, you should blog – consistently – for a year before you even think about trying to use your blog to promote yourself.

There are many blogs that have been abandoned long before the year mark. Just think how this would reflect on you if you decided to quit.

Much like getting a four-year degree, blogging consistently for at least a year tells potential employers a lot about your drive, initiative and dedication.

2. Voice: I recently picked up a new client who read my blog. He didn’t ask for samples or anything – just gave me a job. Why? He said he liked the tone of my blog – the fact that my personality got through.

This is such a subjective concept, but what I took from that is to be yourself in your blog – but adhere to rules of decency (ie, no profanity or blasphemous rants (eg, sexist, racist, etc. comments)).

What you put into the blogosphere is there forever – even if you discontinue your blog. Don’t censor yourself, but do think if this will come back to bite you in the butt 3, 5 or 10 years from now.

3. Write Coherently: I recently received an email from a potential client about writing some articles for his organization. When I asked him why he chose me above all the other freelancers who were available on the site where he found me, he wrote back:

"I contacted you because of the quality of your articles, which I think are very good."

Again, this is not to brag, but all I do is adhere to basic rules of grammar and form cohesive thought patterns. Much like writing a term paper in college, blog posts should make sense. Ideas should flow logically from one point to the next.

Some blogs appear to be written by people with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). They flit from topic to topic with no thought for the reader.

Now this is fine if it’s personal and you just want to “rant space.” If this is the case, say so. However, if you are blogging to advance your career, think about potential employers/clients who may discover your posts. Will they reflect negatively or positively on your writing ability?

4. Advertise Yourself: While my job offer came out of the blue, advertise the fact that you are for hire in your blog. Do it with every blog post. This is something I need to start doing.
How to Advertise Yourself on Your Blog

Sample Blog Advert Jane Smith is a copywriter whose niche is business and finance. She produces brochures, web copy, e-books, sales letters and more. Clients include accountants, financial advisors, mortgage brokers, etc. For a full list of clients, see www.JaneSmith.com/clientlist.htm.

Ms. Smith can be contacted directly at 212-555-3456; info@JaneSmith.com; website: www.JaneSmith.com.

Blogging is not a fly-by-night trend; it’s here to stay. So, add it as a marketing weapon in your career-advancing arsenal.
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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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Editor-in-Chief Position

Well, as I alluded to yesterday, an incredible career opportunity has come my way. The owner of an architecture firm I've been consulting with has offered me an editor-in-chief's position, with ownership stake.

I would have equal input on the content, design, marketing, staffing, etc.

So, why my hesitation? It's a start-up industry magazine. If you know anything about publishing at all, then you know that it's a lot of work -- and risk -- up front, with no guarantee of a payoff. I'm just not sure if I'm up for that kind of challenge at this point in my life.

I'm thinking about it -- and will make a decision in two weeks.

Advice? Feedback?
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E-books: Charge for Them, or Give Them Away -- Which Makes You More Money?

I wrote my first e-book a few years ago, and was instantly hooked on this easy way to get - and dispense - information. I've since written 7, and an e-course. As I said, it's addictive.

While I knew I was going to sell the first few I wrote, with others I thought, "Hmm, should I use this as a free giveaway, or charge for it?" Well, as with most things in life, I learned that - it depends. On what?

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What Do You Want to Accomplish with Your E-book

Quite simply, it depends on your goal. Is your goal to increase your subscriber list, qualify your prospects, make immediate money, etc.

An e-book can do all of this - it depends on how you market it.

Marketing for Subscribers with an E-book

Almost every online marketing guru will tell you that e-books are a great way to increase your subscriber list. Use your e-book as a giveaway.

Eg, subscribe to my newsletter and receive a free copy of the article marketing e-book, Everything You Wanted to Know About Article Marketing! which will tell you how to increase your sales by distributing free articles.

Qualifying Prospects With Your E-book

E-books can also be great qualifiers. What do I mean? You can separate the tire kickers from the serious inquirers. While some will always just want a freebie, the vast majority of prospects who request a free, informational product are those who are really interested in making a purchase.

Think about it, the more serious you are about something, the more time you're apt to spend researching it. So, after a speaking engagement, for example, you might say, "If you're interested in learning more, email me to request a copy of the free e-book, The Small Biz Owner's Marketing Kit!

Those who are really serious are much more likely to follow up with you than those who just had a passing interest in what you had to say during your speaking engagement.

Making Direct Sales with Your E-book

Creating an e-book to sell adds to your bottom line in a multitude of ways: i) it enhances your credibility within your field, which eventually leads to more clients; ii) it puts money directly into your pocket via direct sales; and iii) it gives you the opportunity to create a line of products around the e-book (eg, t-shirts, pins, coffee mugs, etc.).

No matter how you use e-books, they are a great marketing tool every freelancer should utilize.

Tomorrow's Post: A career-changing opportunity -- it's big, but I can't decide. What is it? I'll tell you tomrrow.
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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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3 Reasons Freelance Writers Are Underpaid & What They Can Do About It

If you're a freelance writer, then you are probably abhorred at the rates offered nowadays - especially for web content.

BUT, as I advise freelancers all the time, what clients are willing to pay you is based on your value to them - not your talent.

Following are three reasons freelance writers are underpaid, and what you can do to turn the tide.

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1. Everyone Can Do It: "If you know your ABC's you can write, right?" This is the attitude of many when it comes to freelance writing.

"What's so hard about it?"

"Why does it cost that much for a simple brochure?"

"My secretary can do that for me."

You may have run across these - and many other sentiments - about freelance writing.

So, how do you combat this "anyone can do what you do" attitude?

Solution: Do a freebie. I know many freelancers are against this, but when I say freebie, I don't mean an entire project - but a sample version.

Clients with this type of attitude are ones you've probably solicited; they probably haven't sought you out simply because they don't realize how much they need your services.

As for doing a freebie, you might take one page from their website and rewrite it. There's nothing like comparing a professionally prepared piece of copy to a amateur's version. The difference will be clearly visible.

I've gotten many clients this way. I'd approach them about redoing their web copy, for example and have gone on to rewrite a lot of their sales aids - primarily brochures and direct mail pieces like postcards.

Even if they don't realize the value of your work right then, trust me, they will store that nugget away for future use. I've been contacted by clients two or three years later who've kept my samples on file.

2. Misjudging Projects: As in, most freelancers don't know how to judge a project, so they make the mistake of undercharging - usually for fear of losing the assignment altogether. This happens to experienced and inexperienced freelancers alike. Why?

It can happen for a myriad of reasons, eg, because clients sometimes change the parameters of a project in mid-stream; it's a type of writing you've never done before in-depth; clients request add-ons (eg, a newsletter in addition to the brochure), etc.

Rather than offend a client, risk losing a project or stopping to renegotiate mid-stream, many will just finish the project and vow never to work for that client again.

Solution: Get as many details about the project up front. For years I used a spec sheet for my projects. What is a spec sheet? Simply a questionnaire for each type of project that comes in.

If it was an editing project, I might ask the following:

What style of editing?

How many pages?

Are changes to be made on hard copy or right into the electronic document? If on hard copy, should they be transferred to the electronic copy?

Due date?

This is a basic, general overview. Some projects can be really detailed, especially writing projects. So you want to find out as much as you can.

Sometimes you'll get a client who has no idea what he wants, so ask for samples of sites/writing/graphics, etc. that they've seen that they like.

TIP: Let clients know that while your intake may seem a bit tedious, you've found that the m ore information they provide up front, the better you can deliver what they want without a lot of back and forth.

I've found that pre-qualifying clients in this manner does three things: i) it lets them know that you're a professional; and ii) it helps them clarify what they want; and iii) it shows (without you saying a word) how much work actually goes into what you do.

3. Fear of Losing a Client: As I alluded to above, many freelancers fear that they will lose a job if they quote a price too high, so what they often do is undercharge.

Most small business owners suffer from the same problem - this is not a freelance writing problem, it's a small business problem.

Solution: Show clients your worth. How? For example, if they contact you and want a brochure done, you might ask:

"Will this also be in downloadable form on your website? The reason I need to know is that writing for the web is different than a direct mail piece. Knowing how you plan to use the piece will help me optimize its uses to fit your purposes."

It's up to you to prove your worth to clients, not for them to be intrinsically aware of it.

This means constantly selling you and your worth -- which has less to do with your writing ability, than your sales ability.

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 to learn how.
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Debt-Free Living: A freelancer's Personal Tale of Getting -- & Staying -- There

Sorry this post is a day late -- I had internet connection problems yesterday. Enjoy!

Y. Black, Publisher
InkwellEditorial.com
InkwellEditorial.blogspot.com
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I got my first credit card at 18 and have been in credit card debt ever since - sometimes severely. That's over 20 years of a love-hate relationship with the plastic.

Over the holidays, a friend loaned me the book, The Total Money Makeover, by Dave Ramsey. The book is about getting - and staying - out of debt. Excellent book by the way whether you have bad credit, good credit and/or no credit. Following is my story.

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One of the credos the author lives by is that you don't need credit to get ahead in America. This was a radical notion for me because we are a society that thrives on credit.

It's people who don't have debt who are anomalies, not the other way around. So, this got me to thinking, can you advance in America without using credit? And, I think Mr. Ramsey is on to something. You can - if you do the following:

1. Delay purchases: Most of what we charge are things we could (or should) wait for until we have the cash in hand.

I looked around my house and took a mental tally of things I'd paid cash for and things I'd charged. I bought the house in 2004 and furnished a good portion of it on credit. My car, bought on credit. My yard supplies, bought on credit.

NOTE: I long ago gave up making stupid purchases like clothes and eating out on credit.

So, I thought, what if I truly gave Mr. Ramsey's system a try and delayed buying stuff until I could pay cash for it. I probably would have gone to the thrift store or pawn shop to look for a cheaper mower; I definitely would have outright bought a $2,500 car instead of financing a $14,000 SUV; I would have had an empty living room and downstairs bedroom for a while, or bought everything from the thrift store.

Now, I do okay financially. I paid off all of my furniture before the finance charges kicked in, and my jeep payment is the lowest it could be because I have good credit and got a good interest rate.

Just taking the above into consideration though, I could have avoided approximately $20,000 dollars of debt by going the cash route and/or waiting to buy until I could afford to pay cash. Two and a half years later, I still have about $8,000 to pay off.

2. Say no to friends and family: Once I started paying close, close attention to where my money went, I realized that a lot of it was spent socializing with friends and family, eg, those last-minute margarita nights out, meeting a friend for lunch, throwing an impromptu get-together where I provided the food and some of the drink.

Just one to two of those a month set me back anywhere from $50 to $200. So, I started saying no to invitations. And you know what, it hurt like heck the first few times. I really wanted to go out with my sister and my girlfriend to our favorite Mexican restaurant for some margaritas.

I rationalized, "I'll only have one and I won't eat." But, I clamped down and said, "No, I'm not going to go."

It took probably four or five times of saying no before it started to get easier. I explained to them that I wanted to get out of debt once and for all this year and that I would be turning down a lot of invitations that involved spending money.

While it bugs them occasionally, now my sister wants to read the book and she's started to make some changes in her spending habits!

3. Plan: One thing living without credit thing has taught me is to plan. For example, my fianc� and I are going on vacation in August. I've already started to put money aside for this. Before, I wouldn't have even thought about it this far in advance. I would have just whipped out the card and paid it off later.

NOTE: I always try to pay off my credit cards in 4 months, or less when I take a trip. But, sometimes it doesn't always work out and there'll be a few hundred to a few thousand bucks outstanding that just lingers. Only when I feel a crunch would I wish the debt wasn't there.

This will be the first trip in almost twenty years I've taken that will be paid for BEFORE I leave. It's a freeing feeling and it makes it easy to deny myself the little things along the way, because I know that my big reward is my upcoming trip.

Delayed gratification - how sweet it is.

While I don't agree with Mr. Ramsey that credit is not necessary to function in society, I do agree with his sentiments that we don't need it to the degree that we use it.

I think we need credit to finance major purchases like a home and in certain cases, a vehicle - although if your house cost $150K and your car $30K, I think that's excessive. And, as for buying a house, forget no-money-down programs; save a down payment and get a 15-year mortgage - and work your tail off to get it paid off as soon as possible.

I'm spending this year getting rid of all debt except for my house and my car (which will be paid off next year). Debt-free living is freeing - I may only be able to do a quarter of the things I used to do, but getting only a mortgage bill in the mail makes up for the sacrifice.

In light of all of this, my question to you is - can you live without credit? Is it a lifestyle you can subscribe to for the long haul?
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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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How to Get Out of Debt on a Freelance Salary

The number one problem most freelancers have is that their income is inconsistent. This makes it hard to plan. As a freelancer with some financial savvy, I've noticed some things that have helped me keep the debt monster at bay.

NOTE: Notice I wrote "at bay"; I haven't completed escaped him, but he's not an all-consuming threat either.

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1. Get a job you hate: Why? A little story:

Jerry Seinfeld said that he sold light bulbs before he became rich and famous. He said he hated it, but he did it because it made him work that much harder on his comedy. His thinking was, "The sooner I succeed, the sooner I could give up selling light bulbs.

I thought this a brilliant concept.

Moral of this story: Complacency kills and this is kinda like reverse psychology. Imagine if you hated what you were doing. You'd work much harder to not have to do it and put every penny you earned towards the debt you owe so you could quit - as soon as possible.

2. Save ONLY $1,000: One of the things I learned from Dave Ramsey's book, The Total Money Makeover, is to have an emergency fund.

Hold on, don't tune out. This is not having 3-8 months of expenses in the bank, like most financial gurus will tell you. Dave says to start with $1,000. Why this amount, and why is it so radical?

When you hear, save 3-8 months of expenses, most of us turn a deaf ear. If you're struggling just to keep up with the bills as they come in, putting $5,000, $10,000 or more away seems impossible.

But, most of us can imagine socking away a grand.

Mr. Ramsey's theory is that it's the little emergencies that cause us to constantly whip out the plastic and before we know it, we're a few thousand in debt. He says, if you have an emergency fund of $1,000 and the transmission goes on your car, you won't have to finance it with plastic.

You pay cash for it and therefore you haven't created more debt at a time when you can least afford it - when things are going bad.

I'm a big believer in the universe talking to you. Some may call this presence God, Buddha, Allah; whatever you call it, I'm a big believer in a higher power. Around the time I read this, three things happened that added up to almost exactly a thousand dollars.

My car needed new rotors (I still don't know what they are, but apparently my jeep was in bad need of them); my fiance's car needed new tires and the thermostat in our house went kaput - in the dead of winter.

Now, we were lucky enough to be able to pay for all of this without charging any of it, but it didn't come out of an emergency fund; it came right out of earned money, which really put a crimp in the holiday budget.

Moral of this story: Put away funds for Murphy's law because when you least need something bad to happen, it will. Do this BEFORE you start paying off debt. Mr. Ramsey says it kind of inoculates you against ole man Murphy.

NOTE: There is a point where you do build up the 3-8 months of living expenses, but it comes later in his plan.

3. Chunk pay: What I mean by this is, when you get a chunk of money from a project, close your eyes, write out the check and just pay a darn bill.

I know from my own personal experience that when most of us get a chunk of money at one time, we want to treat ourselves a little, pay only what's due (maybe a little more), and "save" a little.

The reason save is in quotation marks is because eventually that gets eaten up by those expenses that we can never seem to account for.

Another of Mr. Ramsey's philosophies is that money you don't have a plan for will find a way to leave you. So, if you know you're getting a check in two weeks for $1,748.32 for a project you just completed, look over your bills and assign a debt to it. While it may bug you to do it, you'll feel so much better once the check is in the mail.

Moral of this story: You can track where your money went; you can see the progress. This is important because when you remember that client who drove you bonkers and the project took you 8 more hours than you billed, at least you can say it was worth it because Visa is finally paid in full.

And you know what, I've taken on projects this year that in the past I would have passed on because I have a goal. Getting out of debt takes laser focus - and it gets addictive. But, since I've been on Dave Ramsey's plan, I've made more progress in three months than I made all of last year - and I'm not THAT bad with money.

I've found that it's those little things that get it in the way of success. By chunk paying, getting an emergency fund in place and doing jobs I don't necessarily like, my debt-free goal is within reach - and yours can be too!

Tomorrow's Post
Debt-Free Living: A Freelancer's Personal Tale of Getting -- & Staying -- There
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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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Blogging Cash in Your Pocket!

Blogging has brought me many benefits - many which have led directly to cash in my pocket. Following are the things that have led directly to more income from my blogging efforts:

a) Wholistic Body of Work: I recently picked up a client who came across my blog while surfing the web.

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Without even asking, he told me that he liked by conversational style of writing and could tell that I "knew my stuff." He was talking about my marketing ability.

No marketing, no persuading, no samples - he handed me a project right off the bat. All because he was able to read through almost two years of blog posts, which gave him an idea of what I could do for him.

b) Better Writing Style: This kind of ties into the aforementioned point, but blogging has made me a better writer. Before I sweated over every word and really didn't have much confidence in my ability as a "saleable" writer.

I thought copywriting was some type of rocket science that I just didn't do well. But, the more I did it and the more clients were pleased with what I turned in, the more confidence I gained.

I've written e-books, postcards, web copy, newsletters and sales letters - and almost everything in between. Blogging has innately given me a "feel for the right words." It's hard to explain. But, I no longer feel intimidated or panicked by a project.

Because I write a lot, I'm confident in my ability to do a project.

2 Tips To Better Writing Skills

Write Headlines: What do I mean? Many times, I will write down just a headline without having any idea of what type of copy I'm going to write. But, 99% of the time, I am able to come up with copy to fit that headline.

I think this comes from working the old brain muscle. Eg, the more you write, the more ideas you will be able to flesh out.

Write Tight: As in, develop the habit of saying what you want to say in as few words as possible. Cut, cut, cut! While this skill may take some time, it will pay off when you have numerous projects on your desk that have to be done, and/or if you work in advertising.

Many commercials (radio and TV) require tight copy. When the client is paying $250,000 for a 30-second spot, they're not going to want Shakespeare.

c) Speed: When I first started blogging, I would spend anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 hours on a post. Now, I knock it out in 30 minutes or less - without sacrificing quality.

This has increased my income because I apply the same rapidity to rote client projects (eg, those projects I consistently handle for clients). Again, without sacrificing quality.

d) More Self-production: Blogging forces you to focus. When I sit down to write a post, I almost always finish it because I have in my head what I want to say and I want to get it out before it disappears.

I apply this same intensity and rapidity to client projects wherever possible. While it's not possible to finish all client projects in one sitting, I do focus more when I am working on them and am able to get more done in one sitting than before I started blogging.

Again, I think it's a matter of working some portion fo the brain. Like any muscle, the more you use it, the better it performs.

e) More Product Sales: This is kind of obvious, but I sell more stuff (my e-books) because I've cultivated a loyal readership who trust my opinion. So, when they need the type of info I offer, they purchase from me instead of the gazillion other freelancers on the web.

Blogging is not an immediate way to make money. And, it's hard work. But it's those who blog consistently, write well and become an authority of sorts, who turn blogging into cash.

Tomorrow's Post: Not exactly regular blog fodder, but equally important: How to Get Out of Debt on a Freelance Salary
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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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I want to apologize for the delay in getting to this post. I was recently in a car accident and suffered severe whiplash; am getting better with the help of a wonderful chiropractor.

Sincerely,

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

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Now, on to the much-delayed Part III of this post, Lessons Learned from Two Years of Blogging.

Lesson 11: Reference other blogs. Referencing other blogs means that you must read other blogs. Much like reading a newspaper to know what’s going on in the world, read other blogs to find out what’s going on in the blogosphere.

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Lesson 12: Stay on top of blog technology. Referencing other blogs benefits you in numerous ways, namely:

i) Updates you on new blog technology. Want to learn which technology allows you to blog faster, make more money, advertise your blog better, etc.? Like all mediums, blog technology changes rapidly. Consult other blogs to stay abreast of it.

FYI, Darren Rowse’s blog, problogger.net, is a great one to consult about all things related to blogs – software, increasing income, pervading opinions on blogging, etc.

ii) Increases your blog’s rank. Especially if you link to high-ranked blogs like http://www.entrepreneurs-journey.com, http://www.thegoldenpencil.com, and http://www.writersweekly.com.

Lesson 13: Copyright your material. Many blog without ever thinking about how they might earn income from it down the line. Most think in terms of making money from the ads that appear on their blog.

BUT, you never know when your ideas – the text itself – can become invaluable. I copyright all of my material. Why? A little story:

I was watching Oprah one day and Dolly Parton was her guest. She asked her about her finances and where most of her income came from. She said from her songs, as in, the publishing rights to the library of over 3,000 songs she’d written.

When Whitney Houston recorded I Will Always Love You (yes, that was written as a country song by Dolly), she said she made a mint. Her songs have been sampled, re-recorded used in movies (she wrote the hit, Working 9 to 5, for the popular movie, in which she starred), etc.

Every time any of these happened, she was paid.

So, while it may seem like your copy is disappearing into a black hole on the net and no one cares about it but you, you never know who is reading it and may have a valuable use for it.

Lesson 14. Make your blog posts serve double duty. What do I mean? Each entry I make into my blog serves three purposes:

i) first and foremost, it’s a blog post;

ii) second, I circulate this material to free article directories to drive subscribers to my site; and

iii) sell it whenever possible.AssociatedContent.com pays for content – whether it’s been published before, or not. It’s a nominal payment (pay ranges from a low of $3 up on up to $40), but I figure, as long as I’ve written the material, I might as well get paid for it.

Other Ways Your Blogging Can Pay

a) It serves as a body of work to show to potential clients; b) You can dig deeper into a topic – I try to keep my posts to between 700-900 words. See my 10/10/06 post for why I think this is an ideal length for articles/blog posts.

You can also do a web search for an article I wrote entitled, Why Longer Articles Make You More Money. It’s found on several sites on the web.

However, many times I’ve written a post and wanted to learn more about a subject in order to sell the piece, which I go on to do. This brings me to my next lesson:

Lesson 15. Use series whenever possible. Many write to me wanting to know how I find fresh topics to write about, especially as I write within a niche. One of the ways I expand posts so that I don’t run out of material -- which you never have to worry about even if you don’t use this tip -- is to write series (eg, Part I, Part II, etc.).

Like soap opera cliffhangers, series not only allow you to break longer posts into smaller ones, it gives readers a reason to come back. If readers think enough of your writing to return again and again, before long, you will build a loyal readership who come to trust and rely on your blog.

Lesson 16. Link back to articles on your blog. Why? Quite simply, I find that it creates connectivity and gives readers a sense that you really know what you’re talking about.

If you’ve written a body of work that is so valuable that readers can find useful info in posts from a year ago, then you’re on your way to becoming more than just a blog; you’re building a resource – with you as the “expert.”

Tomorrow’s Post: Cash in My Pocket -- Some Benefits I’ve Derived from Blogging (And How You Can, Too!)
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Lessons Learned from Two Years of Blogging (Part II of III)

Today’s post is a continuation of yesterday’s post entitled, Lessons Learned from Two Years of Blogging. Without further ado:

6. Use Photos: This is something I very recently started doing. It makes sense as, as human beings, we are visual beings.

A photo works much like a great headline/article title – it draws readers in.

Tip for selecting photos: Of course, make it pertinent to the story. Also, make it funny if you can. Making people laugh is almost never a bad idea. (Image courtesty of ChrisAbraham.com)
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7. Don’t Be Afraid of Running Out of Things to Say: I wish I had a dollar over the last two years for everytime someone has written to me, “If I update my blog more often, I’m afraid I’ll run out of things to say.”

This is particularly true if they blog within a niche.

All I can say is, don’t be afraid of this. LIFE will provide you with topics to write about. Once you start to write regularly, strangely enough, you will have MORE to say, not less.

A prime example -- this list. When I first sat down to write about what I’d learned over the last two years of blogging, I had five initial points that I wanted to make. BUT, once I started writing, the ideas kept flowing.

And, as I’ve said elsewhere, when you write on a regular basis, you will pick up topic ideas from everywhere – eg, watching the news, talking to friends, reading other blogs, reader queries, etc.

You’ll just have to trust me on this point – you will not run out of things to say.

8. Longer Posts Fare Better: In my post, Article Marketing: Long or Short Articles -- Which Is Better?, I explain this in detail, so I won’t rehash it all here.

The gist of it is, shorter articles don’t explore a topic in enough detail to be beneficial. And, as you’ll remember from Part I of this article (Point 6), I advise all bloggers to respect their readers enough to give them useful information not found anyplace else.

Post Continued Below
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9. Don’t Stress about Feedback: I’ve been blogging for two years now, and only get a few comments on my posts. Does it mean that my blog is not popular, or that nobody’s reading it?

Not from the amount of email I get. If your blog is but a slice of your marketing efforts, then whether or not you receive massive amounts of feedback shouldn’t bother you. That’s why I advise bloggers to figure out why they blog (Point #1 in Part I).

If your blog is your living like Darren Rowse over at ProBlogger.net, then if you know that going in, then you can start marketing it like the from the beginning.

As my blog is only a part of my marketing plan, it serves its purpose just fine. Massive amounts of feedback/interactivity is not what I need from my blog.

10. Clearly Define a Niche for Your Blog: Some may disagree with what I’m about to say, but I’m a firm believer in niche marketing. Why?

According to the CNNMoney.com article, Getting pizza coupons by text message:

The average customer is targeted with more than 3,000 marketing messages a day, so people have developed a resistance," says Erik Hauser, CEO of Swivel Media, a
creative agency which has done mobile marketing work for clients like Wells
Fargo.

We are inundated. One of the most effective ways to get through is target marketing – ie, target people who have a pre-disposition to hearing what you have to say. How do you do this?

Become an “expert” in your field (eg, niche it) and build up a relationship of trust over time with a highly targeted market. In the October 2003 article, Calling All Marketers, on FastCompany.com, Bill Blundon, chief marketing officer of Extraprise, a consulting firm in Boston says:

It's time to get back to understanding your customers . . . When I get a call
from American Express, I always listen to what they have to say. I have a
23-year relationship with them.

While some blogs achieve popularity without being niche blogs, eg, Kottke.org, these are rare. Jason Kottke, the owner of Kottke.org, had been blogging for years as a hobby before he tried to make money off his blog. According to his site, he has updated his blog almost every day since 1998 – that’s 9 years.

How many blogs do you know that have been around that long?! Most flame out after four or six months because there’s no immediate payoff. Blogging is no easy road to riches. Anyone who has a successful one will tell you that.

Blogger Makes History! Jason Kottke has quite an interesting story – in 2005, he quit his job as a web designer to blog full-time. While this may not sound like news now, it was big back then -- he was among the first to do this.

To this day, his full-time job is writing his blog. Tool around his site – interesting stuff (much of which I don’t understand or have an interest in; but, the simple breadth of material is impressive).

Tomorrow: Part III of this post.
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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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Labels: blogging advice, monetizing your blog, tips for bloggers