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.
POST CONTINUED BELOW
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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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Monday, May 14, 2007
Why Downsizing Hurts Those Making 50K+ More than Others
Friday, May 11, 2007
$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.
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.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
What to Do When You're Tired of Writing
I'm going through a phase right now where I'm tired of writing. Literally, it's all I can do to update my blog and turn out client projects. It's not spring fever - that usually passes in a few days - this is something more like exhaustion and boredom (not for client ears!).
So, when freelance writing is your job, what do you do when something like this happens? Following are three things that help - until you can take that week off and head to the beach.
POST CONTINUED BELOW
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Work-from-Home Ebooks Are Now Available! There are some combination deals that save you 50-70%. 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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1. Examine the Slump: If you find that "I don't feel like writing" feeling turning into a "I don't like writing" feeling, then it's time to examine if your slump is something more.
For each person, the timeframe for examining when it's more than a slump will be different, but listen to your gut.
Every writer goes through periods where they can't stand their computer. This usually passes in a relatively short period of time.
But, like every other profession, maybe your "writing" career has run its course. Or, maybe it's time to take your skill in another direction. Eg, instead of business writing, maybe you'd like to try fiction writing. Or, maybe you'd like to be a researcher instead.
Freelance writers may experience some sense of guilt if they find that they don't like their job because everyone thinks they're crazy - after all, you get to work in your jammies and be home all the time. Who wouldn't love that?
But, this life is not for everyone. So, don't be afraid to face this possibility if that's what it really is.
2. Just do it: Like any other job, you just have to sit down and get to it. I can be the biggest procrastinator in the world, especially when I'm working on a project that doesn't interest me.
I will find 90 different things that need my attention - except for the one that pays my bills. BUT, eventually, I plop my derriere in a chair and bang out what I need to bang out.
And, you know what? Once I get started, I usually find the inspiration to do more than is required. Sometimes, just sitting down and getting started is all that's needed.
So, just do it!
3. Work on Other Stuff: I've been wanting to update my website, but haven't had time to. I still don't really, but, I've allotted a portion of my week to working on this now that I'm in this little "I don't want to write phase."
I don't have the luxury of outright not writing, much like many don't have the option of not going to work when they don't' feel like it. BUT, I can shift my attention. As for writing, I do only what's absolutely necessary, then work on other projects.
Make these projects work related, so you don't feel like you've abandoned your career altogether. Eg, tackle marketing.
Many freelance writers shove this to the side all too often. So, if you don't want to write - for whatever reason - make marketing your priority. Submit old content to free article directories, re-design your website, send out copies of your free e-book, etc.
This serves a double purpose: (i) you get the word out about your product/services; and (ii) you get inspired when you start getting orders and/or more work from your marketing efforts.
Sometimes, all you need is a little push, a little validation to get you inspired again.
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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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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.
Start a Successful Freelance Writing Career
I did it -- I finished! The e-books I've been promising to re-list on InkwellEditorial.com have all been officially revised and uploaded. I may look like the guy pictured here, but I don't care -- I finally got it done -- woooohooooo!
OTHER TITLES:
How to Really Make a Living as an Editorial Freelancer
How to Get Your Biz on the Web Quickly & Affordably: An Easy-to-Follow Guide in Plain English for Those New to Internet Terminology & Web Technology
How to Break Into Medical Editing/Copyediting
NEW -- Recently Published! Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Article Marketing: Results of a 30 Day Article Marketing Experiment
NEW -- Recently Published! 7 Ways a Freelance Writer Can Expand Your Profits – No Matter What Your Business Is! [FREE giveaway to potential clients, subscribers, seminar attendees, etc.]
And more! Click here to access the full list and to read detailed excerpts.
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P.S.: There are some combination deals that save you 50-70%.
P.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.
Log on to order. It's fast, simple, safe and secure.
NOTE: All e-books are delivered as .pdf files within 24 hours of purchasing (excluding weekends), usually much less.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Blogs That Make You Think . . .And/Or Do Other Stuff
Needless to say, I was flattered beyond belief. So, for my five picks:Iker Yoldas at The Thinking Blog* created the award and describes the award and the rules in Thinking Blogger Awards. The award recognizes blogs that make people think, and those who receive the award then pass the award on to five blogs that make them think.
*NOTE: This blog is no longer online, but the award lives on. Tres cool! {NOTE: Cartoon courtesy of www.weblogcartoons.com.}
1. Problogger.net: If you want to know about blogs, this is THE blog to go to. Darren (the blogmaster) is a six-figure blogger and the depth of information to be found on this site is astounding -- especially about monetizing a blog.
Other things I like about this blog -- it's professionally written; the topics are timely and relevant; and the best thing about this blog -- the information is in-depth and helpful.
Darren doesn't gloss over topics like a lot of blogs do. He really goes into detail so you always come away feeling like you got a new, better and/or different take on an issue.
2. The Golden Pencil: This blog reminds me of my own in the sense that it relays helpful information to freelance writers via articles. It also lists jobs for freelance writers and has links to other blogs on freelance writing.
3. Paula Mooney's Blog: I first encountered Paula's writing on AssociatedContent.com. A black woman who knows tech stuff -- I was jealous and incredulous all at once.
Paula writes across a broad spectrum and her pieces have great headlines that just suck you in. Eg, a recent entry is Paula's List of Blogger Salaries...Are you on the list? Who wouldn't click on that?! NYU School of Journalism, you should tag her blog to teach how to write effective headlines.
FYI Paula, I'm going to tap you to help me cowrite a book on tech stuff -- as soon as I can finish formulating the idea in my head -- this should be before the year 2020.
4. Hot Diggity: This is Jenna Glatzer's blog. She's a successful freelance writer who's collaborated on a book about Celine Dion, has authored children's books and was the founder and editor-in-chief of AbsoluteWrite.com, one of the best freelance writing sites on the web.
Even though I first ran across Jenna's writing while doing some research on freelance writing for an article a few years ago, I read her blog not because she is a fellow freelance writer, but because her sense of humor cracks me up.
On her blog, she writes about almost everything but writing -- which is the blog's purpose -- to get away from writing about and promoting writing.A sample of Jenna's humor can be found in the following missive from her 2/7/07 post:
I love my electronic toothbrush, but it seems I can't handle it. I manage to get toothpaste on myself about every other day. And toothpaste has this supernatural quality-- you can rinse it off, really rubbing the fabric so it looks like it's all gone, and when it dries, poof! The toothpaste is still there. Taunting you. Like those birthday candles you can never blow out.
Jason's been blogging almost daily since 1998 -- which is a major feat, when you consider that most bloggers give up after a few months. During the year that he blogged full-time (he gave it up as a full-time gig in 2006), he raised $39,900 from 1,450 donors. Read an update in this piece.
Jason blogs about any and everything and his blog is neat and well organized -- always a big hit with me. I check it out from time to time out of loyalty and admiration.
So, there you have it -- my picks.
I don't spend too much time reading blogs because as a full-time freelance writer, time is money and I'm usually trying to beat a deadline.
To Darren, Anne, Paula, Jenna and Jason -- continued success with your blogs.
Sincerely,
Yuwanda
InkwellEditorial.com
InkwellEditorial.blogspot.com
P.S.: Re the freelance writing e-books that I've been promising will be back online forever and a day now. Finally, finally got them proofed and ready to upload. BUT, what happens. Software problems -- arrgghhhh! Got the kinks worked out last night and -- fingers crossed -- just have to put in the PayPal codes for payment and back up they will be by tonight (I pray!).
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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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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.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Update: Editor-in-Chief's Job Offer
I'm sorry this post is a day late, but here it is.
In my March 29th post, I wrote about an Editor-in-Chief's job offer I received. I was a bit hesitant and took a few weeks to make up my mind. Like the little guy in picture, I was left scratching my head -- what to do? What to do?
Well, I finally decided and I'm not going to accept the offer. Why not?
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What about the work-from-home ebooks I keep promising? Software problems. Am having the bugs worked out as we speak so they can be back up before day's end.
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1. My Career: I've worked pretty hard to get to this point as a freelancer. I would have had to cut back on a lot of that -- possibly losing long-time clients in the process. It's not the clients I feared losing so much as the rebuilding I would have to go through if the position didn't pan out.
As many of you know, publishing is a very demanding industry and start-up magazines have a high failure rate. While I believed in the project, it was not something I was willing to pour my heart and soul into. It wasn't a passion. I was excited about the opportunity more than the project itself.
A venture like this needs -- at a minimum -- goo-gobs of passion, along with a heck of a lot of hard work. I'm a hard worker -- that was never the problem. BUT, the sustaining passion was not there.
2. Life Choices: A few years ago, I wrote down what I wanted out of life -- what was important to me. I did this so that I could structure my life in that direction.
I'm an entrepreneur at heart and tend to be a bit schizophrenic in the things I want to try. One day I want to start an online company selling ethnic art (did that), the next I want to start a virtual recruiting firm (did that to a limited degree) and the day after that I want to be a magazine publisher (even wrote a business plan for that).
After reading a book about writing down life goals to make them happen, I did this to keep myself structured and focused on what I really wanted out of life.
Regarding work, a few of the things I wrote was stability, working less hours and the option of retirement at 50. I'm not saying I will retire then, but I want that option if I so choose.
This opportunity ran contrary to all of these life goals. As previously mentioned, start-up magazines have a high failure rate (there went stability); require long hours; and you must put those in over a period of years.
Once I realized all of this and compared it to my life goals, it sealed the deal for me.
I've learned a few things about myself in this process, which I'll expand upon in another post. BUT, perhaps the thing that stood out most to me is how important it is to have a life plan. Write down what you want and continually remind yourself of it.
Life pulls you in so many directions that it's easy to get off track. Knowing what you ultimately want -- having a picture of what your ideal life would be -- will keep you focused on the end goal.
Tomorrow's Post: Even though I'd promised to address The Thinking Blogger's Award post along with this missive today, I'll do it tomorrow. Deadlines, deadlines!
Best,
Yuwanda Black, Publisher
InkwellEditorial.com
InkwellEditorial.blogspot.com
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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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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.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Why is There so Much Bad Writing on the Web?
. . . And What Can Be Done About It
I owe readers of my work a big apology. Why? Because I've contributed to bad writing on the web. Now I know, to a certain degree, why this is - and what can be done about it.
If you regularly submit content to the web - whether it's for your blog, an e-zine, a newsletter, website copy, etc. - read and heed!
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WORK-FROM-HOME E-BOOKS: Freelance from home! Inkwell Editorial's work-from-home, how-to freelance writing e-books have all been updated -- finally! They'll be uploaded later today. Thanks for your patience. Stay tuned!
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Why Is There So Much Bad Writing on the Web: Reason #1
Volume: In the last year and a half, 25-30% of my workload has become web copy. I also have a blog, a website and a newsletter - all of which require regular updates.
In short, I turn out a huge volume of text on a regular basis; it's not unusual for me to write between 3,000 and 6,000 words a day. In terms of articles, that's the equivalent of 10, 600-word articles a day.
This can take 10, 12 or 13 hours. In between, there's research, fact checking, interviews, formatting, etc., to be done.
So, what gets pushed back? What we in the publishing industry used to call QC (quality checking). This is the editing, proofreading and rewriting.
Because the web is in "real time," freelance writers are almost forced to respond in real time. There's a constant need to update content, respond to content, produce new content, etc. Again, what gets pushed to the side - copyediting, editing and proofreading.
While this is certainly no excuse, the amount of time spent on copy has a direct bearing on a freelance writer's income, which brings me to my next point - balancing time to make money.
Why Is There So Much Bad Writing on the Web: Reason #2
Money: As any freelance writer will tell you, time literally is money. Because our income is directly related to how much copy we can produce, edit, rewrite, etc., we have to maximize it to the fullest.
The writing has to get done. The interviews have to be conducted. The web pages have to be updated. What can usually slide? The copyediting, editing and proofreading.
Why IsThere So Much Bad Writing on the Web: Reason #3
Laziness: Yep, I'm going to put this right out there - plain old laziness. Many times, as freelance writers, we're just ready to get a piece off our desk. We get tired of looking at it, tired of the concept and tired of trying to make it "just right."
So, we publish it without doing a final proof, a final edit, a final rewrite.
And, while there is certainly a time when you should "let a piece go," it should never be before the quality check is complete.
Solution to Bad Writing on the Web
There's only one way to stop this - and that is to get back to good old-fashioned copyediting and proofreading.
And, while spell check is a great tool - it can't read your mind. That's why "write" for "right" will get through.
So, to readers of my work - who I value and respect immensely - my promise to you is that my work will get better. While I can't promise to never write another piece without errors, I do promise that the quality of what I put out will go up - markedly - from here on out.
Now, I'm off to proofread this before I hit "Publish."
Coming Monday: Monday will be wrap-up day. What do I mean? On 4/02, I posted about an Editor-in-Chief's job offer I received. I've made a decision on that.
AND, for my post on 4/26, Lillie Amman awarded me The Thinking Blogger's Award (yeah!). So, I have to tag five other bloggers whom I think deserve this award.
Have a good weekend,
Yuwanda Black, Publisher
InkwellEditorial.com
InkwellEditorial.blogspot.com
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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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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.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
How to Make More Money from Clients You Already Have
For example, if you complete a brochure for a client, you might pitch them on adding it to their website, in the form of web copy.
When most small business owners outside of the publishing/advertising/communications realm first start to use freelance writers, they have no idea how they can grow their business.
So, it's up to you, the freelance writer (graphic designer, web designer, illustrator) to let them know. All that being said, how do you upsell a client? Following are 3 things I've found that work well for me:
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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 up this week. Stay tuned!
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1. Make it a Habit: Most freelancers will finish a project, turn it and say something to the effect of, "Keep me in mind for all your freelance writing needs."
This is not upselling! To effectively upsell, you need to make it a habit, and this means having procedures in place so that you don't forget. A good way to do this is a Project Follow-up Calendar.
What is a Project Follow-up Calendar? It lists specific actions that you take each time you turn a project in. For example, if you vow make three follow-up actions every time you turn a project in, it might look something like this:
2/12: Turn Project in
2/19: Follow up Action #1: Call to make sure all was well with project turned in last week and ask about brochure* I sent along with project. Depending on answer to this, do the following:
2/26: Follow up Action #2: Do follow-up on brochure I re-sent after last week's call
3/5: Follow up Action #3: Touch base to see if they want to move ahead with e-book we discussed last week
*Do a brochure that lists all of your services - and include it with every project you turn in. A week or so after you turn the project in, follow up and ask if they've had a chance to look over the brochure with the other services you offer. If they say no, offer to follow up again in another week or so. [Follow the actions outlined in your project follow-up calendar].
2. Get Specific to Their Business: While including a brochure listing all the services you offer is a great idea, one that works even better in my opinion is to get specific to their business.
Eg, I noticed an article on your website about the benefits of Flood Insurance. Have you ever thought about making this a direct mail piece and/or or a full-fledged e-book detail the pros and cons of this type of insurance?
Research has shown that the more serious prospects are about buying a product, the more information they want about it. Having an e-book and/or mailer done about this can dramatically increase sales.
A 7-page e-book on the above can be completed within a week. It can be a wonderful promotional tool for homeownership seminars, networking conferences, stand-alone giveaways, etc.
I'll follow up in the next three days about this, after you've looked over this project. This type of follow up shows clients that you: i) have researched their business; and ii) are proactive in thinking of ways to help them grow it.
Did you know? NOTHING can happen with a contact unless you stay in touch. Waiting for them to call you is a crap shoot. They may meet another freelancer who does stay in touch, or lose your card, or forget your website.
3. Stay in Contact: Most freelancers - in fact, most small business owners - fall on their sword here.
To repeat, NOTHING can happen with a contact unless you stay in touch. Waiting for them to call you is a crap shoot. They may meet another freelancer whodoes stay in touch, or lose your card, or forget your website.
The onus is upon you to stay in touch because when someone needs a writer (graphic designer, illustrator, web designer, etc.), you want to be among the first 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.
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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.
Monday, April 30, 2007
How to Brand Yourself for Career Advancement
Getting from one level to the next in your career can be a tough climb. In all my years as a recruiter, I found that the number one reason professionals fail to advance is that they don't realize their worth -- or how to capitalize on it.
Most professionals undersell, understate and/or outright don't take stock of their skills and accomplishments. So, how do you brand yourself for career advancement? Following the steps below will put you well on your way.
POST CONTINUED BELOW
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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 up this week. Stay tuned!
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4 Steps to Branding Yourself for Career Advancement
NOTE: The following applies whether you are a full-time employee, or a freelancer.
1. Assess Your Skills & Abilities: I mean, really take stock. Don't look at your existing resume. Start with your current position and list every project you've worked on, every dollar you saved, every new skill you mastered, every client who's bottom line you increased.
Just make a list - no matter how minute the project, dollar amount or skill. Dollars to doughnuts, you have quite an impressive list in front of you. Many professionals don't ever take the time to do this type of in-depth skill analysis.
Okay, you have your list. Now what?
2. Organize Your List: How? I'd separate them into categories. Depending on your profession, they may look something like:
Sales Increased: List all cases where sales increased because of your input (eg, project you headed, direct mail campaign you wrote copy for, reorganization you structured, etc.
Dollars Saved: Similar to the above, list all instances where you saved a client/company money either directly or indirectly.
Skills Mastered: Did you take an HTML class? Did you go on a leadership retreat to master new management policies? Again, whatever skill it is you've mastered - whether it be a hard skill like coding, or a soft skill like employee management - put it in this category.
Projects Headed: If you spearheaded a project, list it. Eg, did you convert client files from QuickBooks to Peachtree, a new software you learned? Did you create a filing system to track client images? Did you create a new layout and design for a client brochure?
3. Create a Professional Profile: If you're a freelancer, I advise that you submit professional profiles to potential clients, not a resume (this subliminally says I'm an employee/I want a job).
A professional profile says that you're an independent consultant who can help a potential client increase their (insert client objective). Eg, sales, customer subscriber list, client retention rate, etc.
If you're a full-time employee, I would create this category on my resume. You can name it any number of ways, eg, Professional Profile, Professional Summary, Career Highlights, etc. It's up to you. The point is to create a place where, at a glance, potential employers can grasp what you can offer.
4. Market Yourself: This is where many professionals - freelancers and full-time job seekers alike - fall down. YOU are the product. Market yourself.
Create a professional website and/or create a blog. When you apply for positions/gigs, direct potential clients/employers to this.
Even if you are currently employed, it can be helpful to create some type of online professional preference, if only to keep track of your accomplishments as they happen. Then, when you are ready to move on and/or branch out on your own, all you have to do is make it "Live."
In today's ever-competitive professional environment, it's those who are able to effectively sell themselves who get the plum jobs/assignments. Don't be left behind.
Brand the thing you know the best - you!
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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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Friday, April 27, 2007
Freelance Writers: How to Turn Negative Comments into Cash
The Wrath of the Poison Pen
As a freelance writer, the more you churn out, the greater chance you have of someone spewing venom your way. This can crush the spirit of even the toughest freelancer. I'm starting to get more and more of these because I've been writing and publishing a lot lately - on my blog, to free article marketing directories, etc.
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BUT, instead of letting it get me down, I've created a system of rules that turns negative comments into cash - in a roundabout way. What are the rules?
1. Thou shalt not respond: Instead of wasting my time - which is money when you freelance for a living - responding to these, I just read them and let them go.
On the few occasions where I have responded, I haven't felt much better. So, I figured, why waste my time. I look at it this way, people who have the time to viscerally attack my writing - without making any salient points to the contrary - really aren't worth my time.
If you write for a living, you literally don't have time to work up such anger over someone's writing -- so much so that you sit down and spew out an attack. In my expereince, if you have this kind of time, then you're not making a full-time living writing.
2. Use it to spur me on: This is a mental tactic. The more people criticize, the more it makes me want to do better. After all, success is the best revenge.
Let me say, I don't mind when someone disagrees with what I wrote. It's when there are personal attacks, or those comments that just seem to come out of left field for no apparent reason, that drive me batty. Correction: Used to drive me batty.
After I made my resolution - around the beginning of the year - I've noticed that it takes me less and less time to "get over" one. I have a pretty quick temper, so things rile me pretty easily (don't worry, I'm working on it).
But, "stress kills" as my 13-year-old nephew is fond of saying. As an African American woman, I'm all too aware of how prevalent stress tends to affect my health anyway. So, I "relax, relate and release."
3. Search for the grain of truth: When I'm feeling like a really big girl, I look for the grain of truth in what some ranter has written.
I recently got a comment on one of my articles on Digg.com. The poster noted that my website was "crowded." And, it wasn't said in the nicest way.
In spite of how pissed off it made me, I thought, "you've been meaning to clean up the site for some time, Yuwanda," so this poster is not too far off the mark. I just wish they'd been nicer about saying it is all.
AND, I didn't write a word back. Good girl, gooooddd girl, Yuwanda.
So, the next time someone points their poisonous pen at your much-beloved work, tell'em to go to . . . I mean, ah, use it constructively - find a way to turn it into cash!
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Thursday, April 26, 2007
How to Develop a Lucrative "Portfolio Career"
Tired of the grindstone, she quit and launched a portfolio career. So, what exactly is a portfolio career?
What is a Portfolio Career?
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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.
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 -- in extremely different fields.
In the past, professionals might have hidden this type of “split career.” As more and more job seekers 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 who knows you the new career path you’re about to embark upon.
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 portfolio. 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 people. 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.
NOTE: Graphic courtesy of CreativeKeys.net: Learn more about portfolio careers at this site.
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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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Wednesday, April 25, 2007
How to Organize Your Day to Become a Successful Freelance Writer
$1,000/Week is Very Possible Putting the Following into Motion
If you want to become a successful freelance writer, you have to first begin by organizing your day to make it happen. If you focus on organizing one day, then follow that plan for three weeks to make it a habit, you'll have no problem achieving success in this field.
NOTE: Most experts agree that for something to become a habit, you should do it for at least three weeks - continuously - before it will stick.
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1. Block Out Hours for a 10-hour Workday: I know, I know, this is not popular, but for the first year or so, you are going to have to put in 9 or 10 hours a day (sometimes more) to make it happen. So, just get used to it.
People wonder how I do all that I do and the my answer always is organization and willpower. I know what I want and am not afraid to work hard to get it. So, 10 hours - wrap your brain around it and move on.
2. Create a Marketing Plan: A marketing plan is like your map to success. Without it, you will be like a dog chasing its tail - going around and around in circles making no progress at all.
Of course, creating a marketing plan means deciding what type of writing you want to do, who your target market is, how you will reach them, how much it's going to cost you, what your pricing schedule is, etc.
This doesn't have to be fancy, and it doesn't have to cost a bundle - but it is a must. Remember, marketing is a numbers game. If send out 50 mailers a week, that's 200 hundred a month. A 1-3% return will bring in 2-6 prospects.
If you close half of these, that's 1-3 new clients a month. When you look at the numbers like this, it's really not so hard, is it?
Build up your client list to 25 or 30, and you should stay fairly busy.
3. Create a Realistic Pricing Schedule: Many freelancers work for peanuts. Hey, I still do sometimes. But, it all depends on my goal. I have an income goal that I set each month. If I feel like I'm falling behind that, you betcha I take on low-paying projects.
Stipulations for Low-Paying Projects
I don't do it on a regular basis and I have certain stipulations that must be met (eg, is this going to be a repeat client, a bottom line (I do have a rock-bottom minimum), what the project is, how long it's going to take, etc.
Industry Wage Minimum
I've given up on this market having a stable industry norm, as discussed in my 11/7/06 post, Should Freelance Writers Have a Minimum Wage?
Some writers are going to rail that you're low-balling; some clients are going to say that you're too high. I say create a pricing schedule that works for you. As discussed in 2/8/07 post, Are You a High Stakes or Low Balling Freelance Writer?, only you can decide what "price" is right for you.
4. Diversify Your Income Streams: As I said in my 1/31/07 post, How to Make $100/Day as a Freelance Writer, "Choosing two or three different types of writing you can do well. For example, you might do resumes, articles and web copy."
Also, create your own products to sell, eg, e-books; use write-for-pay sites like AssociatedContent.com; and/or set up a website on sites like CafePress.com to sell t-shirts, mugs, etc.
Diversifying your income streams means that when projects dry up, you're not left out in the cold.
5. Market, Market, Market: While this point could fall under Tip #2, I wanted to write it as a stand alone - last.
Make it your business to get out a certain number of marketing messages a week. Whether this means mailing out 100 postcards, sending out 200 emails or, attending two networking events and passing out 20 brochures.
You can't get business unless you get in front of prospects. Staying home, surfing the net, lamenting about why no business is coming in will not make you successful.
For the first year at least, you're going to have to work your butt off to get business in the door.
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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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Monday, April 23, 2007
How to Know When It’s Time to Shut Down Your Blog
While blogging may be addictive, following are two signs it’s time to shut down your blog. NOTE: I’m referring to professional blogs, not personal ones.
1. Not updating regularly: If its hard for you to find the time to blog, maybe it’s time for you to shut it down.
Blogs that are irregularly updated reeks of unprofessionalism – in my opinion. It’s like an unfinished project you leave out there for the world to see. To gain a base readership, readers have to be able to depend on you to deliver on a regular basis. And, regular could be whatever you set them up to expect, eg, daily, weekly, bi-monthly, etc.
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The point is, whatever schedule you set, let your readers know what to expect so your blog doesn’t look like it’s been abandoned.
To make a living as a freelance writer, you have to become ruthless with your time – almost like an assassin. While this may seem a bit diabolical, it’s the difference between being able to make a full-time living, and complaining about not being able to make a full-time living.
How to Officially Shut Down Your Blog
Like quitting a job, there is a right and wrong way to officially shut down your blog.
I remember when I first shut down my site, InkwellEditorial.com, in December 2004 to revamp it. I received close to 100 emails within 30 minutes of sending out the “shut down” memo.
I saved the feedback because it was overwhelmingly positive and let me know how much users had appreciated me and my company over the years. When I’m feeling blue about business, sometimes I read through these emails. They are a real spirit booster.
Rule #4: Say “Thank You” to Your Readers. After you’ve answered all the feedback you can – and to make a concerted effort to respond to everyone – even if it’s just to acknowledge receipt of the email – send a final thank you and wish your readers well in their endeavors.
Now, that’s a classy way to end any relationship – even if it was only a virtual one.
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Friday, April 20, 2007
3 More Ways to Increase Your Freelance Writing Income by 25%
How to Turn into a Freelance Writing Machine? (Part II of II)
The first part of this article, How to Increase Your Freelance Writing Income by 25% or More, discussed two things you could do immediately to increase your income -- or more. This, Part II, will discuss three more things.
NOTE: I've been a freelance writer since 1993 and have personally tried all of these methods. Therefore, I know firsthand that they work. So, what are the next three things you can do to increase your income by 25% or more?
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I. Organize your income streams. What do I mean by this? I'll explain via example.
To date, I've written six e-books and one freelance writing e-course. I've been wanting to migrate my e-books to Clickbank, an online retailer of digital products, for months. Doing this will allow affiliates to sell my e-books.
How Does ClickBank Work? Essentially, those with websites can sell my e-books from their website. Whenever a sale is made, they're paid a commission.
This could dramatically increase sales because instead of selling them from my site only, I could have 10, 20, or 300 different websites selling my products. Even one sale a day from 10 other sites increases my income tenfold. But, have I done this, no.
There are a couple of other ideas I've been wanting to implement as well, but haven't followed through. So, what do I need to do? Carve out time to organize existing income streams, implement others and tweak what is NOT working. Taking a week or two to do this could mean a dramatic increase in income.
What ideas can you implement, change, tweak to increase your income? Take a week or two every year to analyze this and put it into action.
II. Go with the flow of ideas. Another example to illustrate this -- a few days ago, I had a burst of creative energy. Never considering myself a "writer," I could never quite relate to writers who said that they could sometimes write for days - it's as if they can't get the ideas down on paper fast enough.
On this day, I understood that sentiment perfectly - for perhaps the first time in my career as a freelance writer. I wrote article after article -- completing some outright, creating outlines for others and just writing down headlines for others. I felt like I completed a week's worth of work in one day.
My point? Rather than focus on other tasks that were on my schedule that day, I just went with that flow of ideas. And boy I'm glad I did.
I still don't know what happened to cause this, but I wish I had two or three days a month like this - I'd be a freelance writing machine!
III. Avoid Forums and Social Networking Sites. Why? The same reason mentioned in Part I of this article for avoiding your own work online - they waste valuable time.
Now, don't get me wrong, you need sites like Digg and MySpace to promote your work. But, don't get caught up reading article after article on these, or interacting with others on message boards and Q&A forums.
While it may seem antisocial to "post and run," remember, if you are going to make a full-time living as a freelance writer, the bulk of your time must be spent on income-producing projects.
Even an hour a day spent on these can cost you 10-15% of your take-home pay if you average it out over months and days. On your "off days," you can spend time online playing on sites like these. But, regular work days should be for just that - work - work that produces income.
As this series of articles demonstrate, increasing your freelance income is as simple as paying attention to your time and tweaking what you're already doing. In other words, little changes lead to big dollars! So pay attention and turn your writing into a virtual money tree!
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.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
How to Increase Your Freelance Writing Income by 25% or More (Part I of II)
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1. Don't read your own material online. Why? Quite simply, because it wastes time. A lot of my work is done virtually, but once I hand the project off to the client, it's rare that I see it again.
Sometimes they use it as is, and sometimes they rework it. Usually, it doesn't carry my byline, so I have no way to search for it unless I go to the client's website and type in certain key phrases I know it should contain.
But, I rarely, if ever do this.
But, article directories, press releases and blog posts are a different thing. I've built up quite a body of work in these arenas in the past couple of years. And you know what? I've found that I have a tendency to read my writings online - as if I don't already know what it's going to say.
Colossal waste of time! And not for nothing, when I read a piece, I invariably spot a phrase I wish I'd written differently, or gosh darn it - a typo or misused word (eg, who's for whose).
So, I've made a concerted effort in the last month or so to say away from my work online - eg, articles submitted to online directories, blog posts and press release.
Of course, website pages are different - you can - and should - update these. But, this type of nitpicking kills precious, income-producing time.
2. Incorporate "Template Writing" Into Your Writing Routine: What is this? Quite simply, where you create a formula (a template) to use for writing you do on a regular basis.
I outlined how you can increase your income by up to 50% using template writing in the article, Increase Your Freelance Income by 50% Immediately -- How "Template Writing" Can Help You Become a Prolific Freelance Writing Machine.
If you regularly write, for example, restuaurant reviews, how-to articles, product reviews, press releases, etc., creating a template will speed up your output.
In the freelance writing game, the more you produce, the more you make. Income is almost always directly linked to production. As most of us are not Stephen King-royalty-and-residual-blessed, we have to grind out copy.
As I state in the subtitle, template writing can turn you into a freelance writing machine! The second part of this article will discuss three more ways you probably haven't heard of to increase your freelance writing income - by at least 25%.
Tomorrow's Post: 3 More Ways to Increase Your Freelance Writing Income by 25%: How to turn into a freelance writing machine (Part II of II).
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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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