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Expand Your Skill Set

When Sharon gave the shout out for guest posts I was eager to put up my hand. Get Paid To Write Online has been such an inspiration and guide for me through these past several months. Then of course I got to wondering, “What could I possibly offer Sharon’s readers?” The truth is, my freelance journey is still only just beginning, it’s a hard road and I’m sure many of you are on the path before or behind me in your own journey to success.

That’s when it hit me. We each bring our own unique skill-sets to these pages. We’ve all got talents in various aspects that are individual. When a client offers to hire us, it’s US they’re hiring because of something special they discovered through our query letter, application, or word-of-mouth.

What do you have on your skill-set that can sell you as the ideal freelancer for the articles you write or the jobs for which you apply?

Build Your Skills

Initially, it’s important to start with what you have. Build on your skills. Reading this blog is one fantastic way to build on your existing skills and begin to discover new ones. In fact, the web is filled with talented writers who are eager to share their experience. There are books to fill shelves (I know because I have shelf-fulls) about the practice of writing, the business of writing, the art of writing.

These resources are the beginning of your path, but the truest beginning is to dive into the deep end. Give up Procrastination and get writing every single day, then Just Hit Send! If you’re writing for the magazine market then you need to get those queries out there, submit articles to article directories, perhaps even begin a blog of your own on your favorite topic. If you’re looking to make a dime or two from fiction writing you’ve got to get your stories out there, finish your novel and hook an agent.

Grow Your Skills

Starting with what you have is a great way to begin. From there, however, it’s important to grow, constantly. Yes, you can write, and with practice you’ll write well. What else can you do? In the online world you could build skills with web languages, and graphics. Your skills might be in book keeping, photography, administration, or languages.

Can you offer transcribing services? Do you have a firm grasp of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques? Are you a closet poet? Would you offer editing services?

Each of these additional skills, small and large, make you a more valuable freelancer. It doesn’t matter where you gained the skills, if you got a degree from college or are a jack of all trades. Potential editors, employers and clients are more interested in what you can do for them, then why you can do it.

Examine Your Skills

Take some time this week to reflect with honesty where your skills are strongest. Acknowledge your weaknesses. Embrace your interests. With this information in hand you can polish your skills, and expand on your existing skills. As you increase your skills acknowledge your worth. Additional skills means your time is more valuable. Expand into higher pay brackets as your skills increase.

You are your greatest asset!

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Rebecca Laffar-Smith is a freelance writer, editor, and web tech. Her skills range from web copy writing with SEO flair, through poetry critique, and web programming. Need a custom WordPress theme? She’s your gal. Need to figure out your email program? She can help you. Want to grow as a poet? Her advice has already mentored poets with great success. For more, check out her blog, Writer’s Round-About.

(Photo: Alvimann)

You might also enjoy:

• How to Learn a New Freelance Writing Skill
• Web Writing Skill Building
• Tips for Slowly Building a Freelance Writing Career

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