I’m so pleased to welcome Anne Wayman as a guest poster on Get Paid to Write Online, since I’ve been following her writing blog for years. Today she shares her views on must-haves for a successful freelance writing business.

Don't panic about your freelance writing business - show some moxie instead.

Ask a dozen people, or do a search on the ‘net, about what you need to start a freelance writing business and you’re likely to end up with a list as long as someone’s proverbial arm.

Online you’ll be told about something called the entrepreneur’s personality. This type of article almost always offers test purporting to tell you if you have such a mind or not. Everyone who can fill out their email form correctly passes and qualifies for a course on starting a business that costs – well, there’s that arm again, along with a leg.

You’ll also find lists ranging from 10 to 50 things you must have in place before you dare to step out on your own. Ten might make sense, 50 is a stopper as far as I’m concerned.

Friends and family will have another set of suggestions about what you need that is often comes in the form of “What! Are you crazy?” or some variant.

While some of this information can be helpful, particularly if you take it in small bites, it can also be so overwhelming it will make you think starting your business is impossible – it’s not. There’s a huge difference between what you really need to start a freelance writing career and what’s nice to have.

Three Must-Haves for a Freelance Writing Career

Here are the three things you absolutely must have to start a freelance writing business:

Some writing talent. You don’t have to be Pulitzer Prize material or in line for a columnist job at, oh say, The Atlantic. You do need the ability to recognize and write complete sentences, do some basic research and recognize that ideas are everywhere. Chances are if you love to read and you grew up in an English speaking country you write well enough.

A computer and an internet connection and somewhere to use it. You can set it up on a desk in your bedroom or, dare I mention, the kitchen table featured in so many get-rich-quick schemes, or on your lap in your living room. I have at one friend who runs the majority of her writing business from various coffee shops around town with her laptop.

A bit of Moxie.  Moxie is an old fashioned word meaning, among other things, including. “1. The ability to face difficulty with spirit and courage. 2. … initiative… ”

The Most Important Quality for Writers

Of the three I, suspect moxie is the both the most important and perhaps the most difficult to come by. It’s not the skills that are difficult, although there is certainly some of that required. It’s that “ability to face difficulty with spirit and courage” that can be hard to come by, as well as the “initiative.”

Make no mistake about it, starting a writing business or any other for that matter, requires “imitative” and I can guarantee that you will meet difficulties that a bit of bravery will help you solve.

I know from my email that many who say they want to be freelance writers lack the moxie to do what it takes; I’m not sure why.

Some, of course, are just looking for an easier, softer way.

But many suffer from one or both of two fears – rejection and/or not getting it right.

When you have moxie you may have those feelings, but you don’t let them stop you.

That means that although you’re totally panicked at the idea of submitting a query, you do it anyway. Maybe you set a goal of getting it out in the next five days. Even when the fear becomes so strong you can barely type it out, you do it anyway, and you get it in the mail, E or snail.

Or maybe you want to start corporate writing. You determine to contact one local company a day by email for two weeks. As you compose the email you find you’re making typos because of the fear that someone will laugh at you or that that no one will respond. You send the emails anyway and you do it again the next week, making the emails better each week.

And when you get a response from a query or an email you sent regarding corporate writing you open it right away. And you read it until you’re sure you understand what it says.

If it’s a rejection, and in the beginning it usually is, you take a deep breath, and pin it to the wall in celebration because you’ve begun to actually take the steps that will lead you to a successful freelance writing career.

If, as occasionally happens, it’s an acceptance, you celebrate and then get on with the writing so you can do it all over again.

What do you find you need for your freelance writing business?

Anne Wayman is a ghostwriter and writing coach. You can find her at AboutFreelanceWriting and other websites including PowerfullyRecovered! and WhenGrandmotherSpeaks. Her professional site is AnneWayman.com.

Photo credit: Simon_K

By Lori Widmer

It’s tough when you’re first building your writing career to make the right choices. The easy choices aren’t necessarily the best choices, but when you’re fresh at it, how do you know?

When I first started freelancing, I chased the money – meaning I never turned down a client no matter how bad the fit was. The result: lousy working conditions, terrible pay, and referrals from cheap clients that led to even more cheap clients. I was stuck in a rut.

No more. Thanks to lessons learned the hard way, and lessons taught by other freelancers, I can now spot a lousy deal in milliseconds. I’ve now adopted three rules by which I judge all clients and offers.

Rule #1: Don’t pay for access to clients. That includes bidding sites, sites that require a fee in exchange for “access” to projects, and clients asking for “processing fees” or any other remuneration in exchange for a job. The idea behind freelancing is to be paid for your work, not the other way around. Worse, these sites often offer “premium” projects the likes of which can be found on Craig’s List – $4 an article? Really?

Rule #2: Don’t bid. Refer to rule #1. Let me qualify this because we do have to provide bids to clients frequently – don’t bid against writers in any open forum. That cheapens both the writer and the fee. Also, don’t bid on any project without contacting the client directly or knowing anything about the project. Instead, set your own rates. Do negotiate with clients so that you come to mutually agreeable terms, but don’t attempt to barter on a job board. You’re a professional. Professionals don’t beg.

Rule #3: Don’t weed through ads. I can’t remember the last time I scored a client gig through an advertised job. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I even looked at the ads. There may be true jewels among the rubble of job listings sites, but each one you find is also being found by thousands of your peers. Instead, choose your own clients and contact them directly offering your services. This does two things – it allows you to reach clients who truly value your skills, and it allows you to control your own earnings. Job listings usually state a rate, and it’s usually not up to what you should be earning.

By following these three rules, you can shed the low-paying gigs and lift yourself and your career out of an ever-deepening rut. It requires a little more work from you, but once you’re earning to your potential, you’ll be glad you put the effort into it.

What rules have you established for yourself and your business?

Lori Widmer is a veteran writer and editor who holds fast to her own rules. Her specialties include business and trade writing, and she teaches marketing and business development skills to freelance writers. Her e-book, The Worthy Writer’s Guide to Building a Better Business, is now available.  She blogs daily at Words on the Page.

Photo credit: Bruno Boutot

Weigh up the options before bartering your writing services.

For most writers, getting paid to write means just that – money in the pocket. I’ve never advocated writing for free, but when is it ok to use the barter system?

Barter is something we often get into as kids. Perhaps we traded an hour spent washing the car for an extra hour of  watching TV. With our friends, we almost certainly traded lunch items we didn’t want for ones we found more appealing, and also traded collectibles of all kinds. Human beings like to trade, but is writing for anything but mondy a sound business practice?

I have to be honest. In most cases, I go for the cash – a deposit up front and the rest on completion. Sometimes, though, barter can be worth it. Here are a few examples from my writing business.

Barter and My Writing Business – Case Studies

Case Study 1

A friend approached me to help get her WordPress website set up. We agreed a fee for the initial job (a slightly discounted mate’s rate, as we would call it in the UK) and started the job. However, it turned out to be a much longer job, partly because we kept refining what the site really needed. We also had some hosting and technical problems to sort out. Since I knew the budget was tight, I offered to do the rest of the job on a part cash, part services basis. She is a massage therapist, and I’ve got a pampering session booked in for some time in the next month. She got her site up and I get some self-care. Everyone wins.

Case Study 2

I had a meeting with a new client who was strapped for cash. However, he was upfront about it and wanted to compensate me. He offers business and organizational development courses. We agreed to swap a three day course for a package of writing services.  That means I get some professional development which all of us need sometimes. Even better, I’m top of his list for payment for services when his next cash inflow comes.

Case Study 3

I once traded writing a promotional article for placement of my ad on a site where the ad fees would normally have been too high. The person who wanted the writing placed value on my writing services and I was happy with the ad placement and traffic I received in return.

Case Study 4

I run an ongoing promotion for a site that’s useful for writers on this blog in exchange for access to the daily job opportunity updates. I also promote the site wherever I can, as it’s a useful service. So far, we’re both happy with the arrangement.

How to Barter Successfully

So, yes, barter can work, but I don’t accept every offer.  There are some important aspects to bartering successfully:

• First, you have to know the value of the services you want to trade. If you are a writer with a price list (even if it’s only in your head), then you know what you would expect to earn for writing an article, blog post or ebook. Keep that figure in mind when making a barter arrangement.
• Second, the other person has to have something that you want – and probably something that you wouldn’t normally buy, otherwise there’s no incentive for you.
• Third, you need to work out some equivalency. How much of your writing is worth how much of their product or service? You both have to be happy that there’s parity, otherwise one of you will end up feeling disgruntled.
• Fourth, only barter if you can live with the fact that you’re not getting cash on this occasion. Man – or woman – cannot live by barter alone. It might have been possible in the days before utility bills and cars, but it certainly isn’t now. Try bartering with the electricity company and you’ll see what I mean.
• Fifth, limit the arrangement. Most business people won’t want to barter forever. In the case of the second client I mentioned above, I stated clearly that while I was happy to barter in the short term, in the medium term I would expect to get paid so I could eat. He understood where I was coming from.

That’s my experience with barter – what’s yours? Have you learned any lessons you’d care to share?

This is my WordCarnival entry. Be sure to check out the other posts on the topic of barter – they will be great!

Photo credit: Sepehr Ehsani

I enjoyed this guest post from Victoria Virgo, which shows how she has started the writing year right by booting out procrastination.

The first thing is admitting you have a problem. OK, here goes. Hi my name is Victoria and I am a procrastinator. I will find any excuse not to get things done but this year I am trying to figure out how to achieve my goals while suffering from this unfortunate affliction. The good news is that I have now learned a little secret that is helping to keep me on the straight and narrow and towards the righteous path of achievement and success.

It is the beginning of a brand new year and just like scores of other people all over the world I have prepared a well crafted list of things that I hope to achieve over the next 12 months. The majority of New Year’s Resolutions lists normally comprise of something to do with weight loss, perhaps getting a new job or even finding true love. Actually, to be honest with you I have left that last one off my list for this year and am instead opting for a cosy water bottle to keep me warm on a cold night. Well frankly there’s no room left in my bed what with the pile of self help books and self improvement magazines that have now taken up permanent residence on the left side of to the bed.

Anyhoo back to the point of this post – I am sure that by now you can be in no doubt that I am a procrastinator and will take any opportunity to go off at a tangent. Focus, Victoria, focus.

The Secret To Achieving Your Goals

The little secret that I have discovered is actually not that much of a secret. Everyone knows what it is but we seem to conveniently forget it every time we look failure in the eye. The secret to success comes down to proper planning and execution, plain and simple. If you are serious about hitting your targets you should ask yourself the following questions:

• What is My Goal?
• What Do I Need To Do To Achieve This Goal?
• When Do I want To Achieve This By?

As you can imagine, these questions will send someone like me off to procrastination heaven. I have therefore given myself permission to rest my chin in the palms of my hands and look out into the middle distance as I ponder the what’s and wherefores of these three valid points. Actually I allow myself about 5 minutes then snap back to reality and write out a step by step response to each question.

The Goal Setting Process in Action

Here is how I have used this simple process to achieve one of the goals on my New Year’s Resolutions list.

What is My Goal?

To write an article and get it published as a guest blogger.

What Do I Need To Do To Achieve This Goal?

Make a list of blogs that accept guest posts. Find out about the site owner and the type of articles that they are looking for. Create a suitable article and submit it for publication. I will write a fresh new article and submit it to a blog owner at least once a week.

When Do I Want To Achieve This By?

Within 3 months.

The Results

I happily got to work and lookey here, this is my first guest post. Hurrah! By getting organised and breaking my goal into bite size tasks, I was able to tame the procrastinator within and get the job done.

This process can be applied to almost any goal that you set for yourself. Once you know what you want you can then work out the steps you need to take in order to succeed. I hope this approach works for you too. Good luck fellow procrastinators.

(Image: By Jorge Barrios (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons)

Victoria Virgo is a freelance writer from London, England. You can visit her personal blog My Daily Cuppa to discover how she is dealing with procrastination. She also owns Two Pretty Things where she writes reviews on whatever takes her fancy. 

I suppose it’s natural given the name of this site, but every so often I get a question from a reader about whether it’s really possible to get paid to write and what it takes to do so. Here’s the latest example:

I really need some reliable words of wisdom regarding the “real” potential to earn money at this kind of writing and the administrative work that goes into it. I know the energy input of the writing, but I’m hoping your site will have guidance on the return on investment and the amount of investment. – D

I was glad to see that D realized that you have to make an effort to succeed at getting paid to write online, but her questions about the investment required and the administrative work needed were also thought-provoking. First let’s look at the investment.

Investing in Writing Hardware

Any business needs an investment, and a writing business is no exception. When I started freelancing, I already had a computer and printer, which are the basics you need to get started. What kind of computer you get is up to you. I started out with a desktop, moved to a laptop so I could write from anywhere and moved back to a desktop once I had a fixed abode. I also have a laptop for going on the road and doing client presentations.

Fixed or Mobile Writing

My advice: if you want to be mobile, then get a laptop with the biggest screen and fastest processor but lightest weight you can achieve. If mobility is not necessary (say, for example, if you have to be around so kids can stay in school), then a desktop machine offers more hard disk storage, more processing power and the option of a bigger screen. A middle ground, which I have also used, is to have a laptop, but work on my desk with an external screen, keyboard and mouse.

Do You Need a Printer?

Unless you are working for local clients who need to see pieces of paper, you can probably manage without a printer and scanner at first. To replace those, you will need to have the ability to save documents as PDFs. I currently use two tools for this: the Microsoft Word 2007 add-on that lets me save documents as PDFs and doPDF which mimics a printer to let me create PDFs. We have a scanner in the house and once every six weeks or so I use it to scan in a signed contract to return to a client. Many now accept email signatures, so it’s getting rarer. As for printing, I have an HP LaserJet and my first toner lasted 2 years – that’s how little I print. There are other things you can get to trick out your office of course, like a headset, speakers and the usual assortment of software, but the entry cost isn’t very high. Next, let’s look at administering the writing business.

Writing Business Administration

Administering your writing business is where things get tricky. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to set out your shingle as a freelance writer and wait for the work to come in. As I pointed out in Getting Paid to Write – It’s More Than Just Writing on Growmap, there’s a whole lot of work to do in getting your name out there. There are tens of thousands of writers out there, all going after the same jobs. However, don’t be discouraged, because there is also plenty of writing work out there.  In Key Aspects of Your Business Website for Writers (and Small Businesses and Others), I mention another investment you need to make – getting your own website as a platform for self-promotion.

The best way to illustrate what it takes to administer a writing business is to give you a snapshot of some of the tasks I undertake.

Key Writing Business Tasks

1. Every year, I set up my client tracking spreadsheet, which includes income comparison figures for the last four years, a forecast of expected earnings for the coming year, and a sheet where I track income received, income on the way and client leads. I’ll be setting that up before the end of the year.

2. I have subscribed to several job leads emails, which I skim and send bids/queries for the things that interest me. This is a daily task, or at least 3 times a week if I’m busy.

3. I set out a calendar, including both personal and work obligations and all deadlines so I can have an at-a-glance picture of where I stand. I make sure this appears on my iGoogle page and also send reminders if necessary.

4. I have a schedule for writing. I check email first thing in the morning, which is already lunchtime for my UK/European clients. I spend 3-4 hours writing in the morning, and another 2-3 in the afternoon. I also do a last email check at night. This schedule varies according to other commitments such as client meetings and volunteering.

5. I hang out online on Twitter, Google+ and Facebook as well as a couple of writer forums.

6. I manage income received by entering it in my spreadsheet and managing transfers between Paypal and my bank account. This usually involves checking exchange rates as my clients pay in three currencies.

7. At the end of every month, I tally the income, update my forecast and assess how much more marketing I need to do in the coming month.

There are probably other things I do automatically that I haven’t listed here, but these are some of the main ones – and they take time.

What about the ROI?

How you assess the return on investment for your writing business is about whether it meets your personal, professional and income goals. For myself, I can say that since I started freelancing, I have earned a steady income that covers my bills and allows for extras. So yes, you can earn money if you have the skill and put in the effort.

I’ve also made connections with great writers and bloggers, some of whom have become friends. I have met clients and others who trust my professional opinion, consider me their go-to person for writing and recommend me to everyone. I think that’s a pretty good return on the time and effort I have spent on developing my writing business.

So that’s my take on it, but I’d love to hear what the other experienced writers who read this blog have to say. Over to you …

(Image: MyTudut)

by Dahlia Valentine

When I went to bed on September 18, 2011, I pinky swear I wasn’t thinking about starting a press release writing business the next day. I mean I had every intention of doing it… eventually.

You know, as soon as I had the website up and running… as soon as I’d written some killer website copy… as soon as I wrote a special report to convert the tire kickers… as soon as – well you get the point.

But when I woke up on September 19, I just had one of those ‘today’s the day’ feelings. I launched my press release writing service that afternoon and got my first three clients the same day.

The back story behind my impromptu launch

Part of the reason why I felt so apprehensive about launching the service without a website was my obvious lack of experience. You see, I don’t have a public relations degree resting on my mantle. In fact, I’d just written my first press release (ever!) less than 30 days before I decided to launch the service.

My informal education consisted of reading through 10-15 hour’s worth of press releases on PRNewswire and PRWeb. For my at-home-internship, I wrote 7 press releases for my blog and ebook.

My first release took three insanely meticulous hours to write. All the while I wondered if some pedigreed editor at Google News would see my obvious lack of PR-ability.

Apparently not. Google News isn’t curated by humans and the algorithm found my work good enough to rank in the #1 spot for my keywords. I was hooked!

You don’t need a website when you have friends in the right places

By the 7th release I was generating ebook sales through pure press release power. That’s when I started thinking about launching a website to promote my services. Problem was, while I enjoyed writing the press releases I was in no mood to waffle around with another website.

My saving grace came in the form of an Internet marketing forum I’d joined in August. Earn 1K a Day is a $40 a month private forum where Internet marketers talk shop and sometimes sell their products and services.

The site boasts many long-time members. And the fact that they’re constantly shelling out cash to be there means they’re serious about making money and they’re obviously making good connections.

So I suppose it shouldn’t have surprised me when I launched my service on Earn 1K a Day and started getting clients within two hours. But it did surprise me. And it taught me a valuable lesson about selling my writing services.

Forums can be a writer’s best ally

It’s not that you need a big portfolio or a degree or even a website to get started. When I posted my ad on the forum I had a link to one of my press releases and a screenshot showing that release ranked in Google. I’m sure those two things helped my case.

But I’m inclined to believe it was my brief spurts of participation on the forum that helped me when I came courting with something to sell. Being a member there gave me credibility by association.

You don’t necessarily have to join Earn 1K a Day to see these types of results. My point is, get involved with a forum sooner rather than later. This way when you’re ready to hang out the “Hire Me” shingle, you’ve already established yourself.

In my next post, I’ll give you a list of forums where you can get started.

———————-

Dahlia Valentine is a blogger, an ebook author and a (happily) working press release writer. You can find out what she’s doing to make money in her writing business by visiting her blog at That IM Thing.  (Photo: kokouu)

Once again I’m entering the Word Chef blog carnival. A couple of months ago I wrote about How To Encourage Your Prospects to Engage with You Online. This time my topic is How to Find and Connect with Your Ideal Customers.  I’m not going to pretend I’m a guru on client connection. I can only tell you what has worked for me.

Who Is Your Ideal Writing Client?

In order to find and connect with your ideal customers, you first have to have a good idea who they are. As a writer, there are several ways that you could think about this. For example, you could think back to the clients you most enjoyed working for. What was it that made that particular working relationship stand out for you? Perhaps you had a good rapport or maybe the client trusted your expertise and left you to get on with doing the best job you could.

Whatever it is, if you think about it for a while you will soon identify what made that client relationship stand out for you. Think about other great client relationships and find out what they have in common. Start making a list of the qualities that your ideal client will have. Dare to dream here — this is an ideal world we are talking about. My ideal client has a fun job for me to do in an area where I am an expert, offers my ideal pay rate or more, is a pleasure to work with and pays on time. What’s yours?

What Industry Appeals To You?

Another approach is to think of the business or industry you want to write about. That might be easier to identify than a dream client.  As a writer, you also have to be an excellent researcher and it’s time to put those research skills to use to find your ideal industry. Think of it as a game of hide and seek with the client of your dreams as the ultimate goal.

Start looking for the kinds of companies you want to be associated with, perhaps through the job boards or by doing a Google search for the terms which really get you excited. I love blogging jobs so I am always looking for companies that have something different to offer in this arena. To give another example which works for writers, you can do a search for sites which include the words “write for us” along with the keyword of the niche you’re interested in. That will help you to identify writing opportunities.

You’ve Identified Your Opportunity- Now What?

Once you’ve completed these steps then it’s time to connect. There are two things you need to do. First, your potential client will research you just as you researched the client. Make it easy by having your own piece of internet real estate.If you’ve been reading this blog for a while you already know what I’m going to say. You need a website. That is where you can present the information about yourself to answer clients’ questions before they ask them. Have this ready before you do the second part — that’s where you actually approach the client.

Approaching Your Client

It may surprise you to know that this part is not my greatest strength, though I get by. I am not a great salesperson and make no mistake, even though it’s subtle, your initial approach is about selling your services to the client. Your client wants to know how you can meet his or her needs – that’s the question you need to answer, both with your website and with your pitch.

How I Do It

Here’s my strategy – and it’s worked well for me in the past whenever I don’t already have an introduction or referral (which is how I get most of my business). I look at the potential client’s site, check on Google rankings, type of content and what the business is. Then I see how I could make a difference and prepare a bullet pointed list which I’ll use as a reference when we talk or email. Of course ,I don’t want to say that the client is doing it all wrong. That wouldn’t get the relationship off to a good start. But it doesn’t hurt to suggest improvements.

Create Your Job Description

Another way to do it is to put yourself in the client’s shoes and create a job description for the services he needs. Then write out a cover letter addressing those points.  That will show how you are right for that client.

Final Word

Finally, don’t forget that there’s more to connecting with clients than working with the single person you’re focusing on now. That person may work with others who might also hire you at some point. Never lose an opportunity to highlight your skills and services. One of most enduring clients was helping an old client of mine who was a friend of his. When that first job ended, he hired me on his own account – and I’ve been working for him for about four years.

Where do you find your ideal writing clients and how do you connect with them? I’d love to hear from you about what has worked for you.

Image: Nico Kaiser

by Hayden Jackson

What does success as a writer look like on Elance? For me, it means working with great clients from all over the world, including worthy non-profit organizations, innovative tech startups, and interesting small businesses. It means only accepting work that pays professional fees. And it means working on projects that I’m proud to add to my growing portfolio.

And where does that kind of success begin? Not with delivering great work. Not with crafting a stand-out proposal. Before anything else can happen, successful Elance writers need a great profile.

Your profile is often your first point of contact with a potential buyer, and as a writer, it’s your chance to showcase your persuasive way with words. Yet many writers don’t make the most of their profiles on Elance, and it’s preventing them from making the most of this profitable freelance marketplace.

Don’t underestimate the power of your profile

If you have been putting all your efforts into crafting superstar proposals on Elance, pull back and take a closer look at your profile. Although proposals are important, a great profile can attract just as much business.

In two years, I have probably gained a dozen great, long-term clients who have contacted me directly after browsing my profile. The great thing about attracting clients in this way is that you don’t have to compete with other contractors to win their work. You’re pre-selected. You’ve pre-sold them on the value of your work, and you can confidently state your higher-than-average fee without worrying about being underbid by competitors.

Even in cases where you are one of many contractors bidding on a job, serious buyers WILL visit your profile, and if it stands out, it will win you the job.

So don’t neglect your profile and assume a great proposal is all you need to nose ahead of the competition.

Pump up the volume: Add creds, visuals, and substance to your profile

As a copywriter who specializes in writing for the web, I’m a big believer in saying things in as few words as possible. But when it comes to your Elance profile, less is NOT more. A sparse profile may be easy to scan, but it will look bare and underdeveloped next to a profile with lots of test scores, work samples, service descriptions, and so on. Fill your profile page with as much information as you can to make it look full, lively, and interesting:

Overview. Craft an overview that describes your best selling points and, if possible, put a testimonial from a previous client front and center. A third-party endorsement is far more powerful and convincing than anything you could say about yourself. If you can, include a link to the client’s website or LinkedIn.com profile so that readers can see that this is a legitimate testimonial from a real person.

Portfolio. Fill the portfolio section with your best work samples, and make sure the full range of your writing talents are represented: creative writing, marketing copy, reports, etc. Make sure they’re your most visually appealing pieces as well as your best written. Clients will respond more favourably to writing that is attractively laid out on a web page or print brochure than they will to an ordinary Word document.

Skills. Take some Elance tested skills. Although most Elance buyers won’t make a decision to hire you based on your tested skill scores, they do form part of the overall impression, and offer proven verification of you skill in specific areas such as business writing, creative writing, editing, and so on. They also fill out the page, making it look more populated and authoritative.

Service Description. Use this section to provide some details on the specific services you offer. It’s also a good idea to list every type of writing product you’re comfortable creating: brochures, newsletters, taglines, B2B letters, etc. Don’t be afraid to build a long list: buyers will appreciate knowing exactly what you can do for them, and they might see something on the list that they hadn’t even thought of: “Hayden ghost-writes blog posts? Our company blog is looking a little neglected these days—maybe we should ask about that service…”

Employment. If you have held jobs unrelated to writing, leave these off your employment list. Even if you were the CEO of PepsiCo, it’s not going to be of interest to prospective purchasers of your writing services. The only exception is when a job helps you write in a particular niche: for instance, your work as an RN will give you credibility if you plan to focus on health writing. Other than that, focus on writing jobs, and feel free to include freelance work here as well.

Here’s an extra tip: to pack an extra punch, you can include a short employer or client testimonial in the job description field. A testimonial straight from the employer or client will be much more compelling than a dry description of your specific duties.

Education. As with your employment, omit anything that’s not directly related to your writing career unless (as an example) you have a degree in biology and you specialize in science writing. If your education section is looking a little thin, there are a number of inexpensive writing and editing courses you can take online or through local continuing education. Your education list doesn’t have to be limited to degrees: you can include non-certification courses and workshops as well.

Get verified. Choose one or two of your most relevant and impressive credentials and get them verified. For US-based credentials, the fee to have them third-party verified is $15—for non-US-based credentials, it’s $25 per verification. Verifying your credentials provides an added layer of reassurance for your buyers, and it also improves your ranking on Elance, so you’ll be more visible in search results.

Make your Elance profile letter-perfect

One final tip—and it’s the most important of all. As a writer, your Elance profile should be proofed and proofed again until it’s letter-perfect. A single error will destroy your credibility among discerning buyers. Don’t just review it yourself—even if you’re an experienced writer, you’re sure to miss something. Make sure another writer or editor you trust looks it over carefully.

Hayden Jackson is a freelance writer and successful Elancer. She is also the author of “72 Insider Tips for Elance Writers,” a comprehensive guide to earning money and building a freelance writing career on Elance.com. Find more Elance tips and tricks on her blog at http://www.72tips.com.

by Lori Widmer

Let’s face it – we all feel like our businesses are stagnant sometimes. We market, we network, and at times we net nothing but frustration. It happens. We get bored. And that boredom is rubbing off on our clients.

That’s not to say they’re bored with us exactly, but maybe we’re not capturing their attention and their business in the best way possible. So how do you pump some life into that business of yours and increase the excitement for both you and your clients?

Find a new market. Maybe your current marketing approach is just so … familiar. Creativity comes from challenging yourself. So why not look at an entirely different client base? What market do you draw from currently, and what other markets share similar attributes where your skills fit in? For example, if you do copywriting for technology, perhaps writing for IT security or even Web developers would fit.

Use a new tool. If you’re used to sending out email after email, try snail mail. Or a phone call. Or reach out via social networking. Every point of contact you have with a client is one step closer to being remembered when their writing projects start piling up. Also, mixing it up helps you see more clearly the message you’re putting out.

Train. If you feel stagnant, maybe it’s because you’ve accomplished all you can in that particular concentration. Try something new. Sign up for a course in query writing, resume writing, SEO writing, or book a session with a career coach. Find ways to expand your potential and your skill set, and you’ll boost your business potential and your own excitement level.

Work on your first impression. Whether you’re writing a query, a letter of introduction, or a phone pitch, you may be missing something. Listen to your own words – write it, then read it to yourself, putting you in the buyer’s chair. Would you buy from you? If not, what will that script or note need in order to get your attention? Try framing things not as “I accomplished this and this and this” but as benefits – “I have increased the rate-of-clicks for my clients through targeted email blasts…” Clients buy from a writer who is focused on their goals, not on the writer’s resume.

Sometimes you need a shift in perspective. By trying new approaches, you can approach your clients – and your career – from a new angle. It may be the very thing you need to kick-start your business.

Do you switch things up occasionally? If so, what seems to work best for you?

Lori Widmer is a veteran writer and editor who mixes it up quite regularly. Her specialties include business and trade writing, and she teaches marketing and business development skills to freelance writers. Her e-book, The Worthy Writer’s Guide to Building a Better Business, is now available.  She blogs daily at Words on the Page.

(Image credit: BrittneyBush)

by Danielle McGaw

It seems like every site you join these days has a profile section that they want you to fill in.  And it can be tempting to skip it and just get down to business but your profile is the place that people go when they want to know more about you.  And if you are a freelance writer that wants people to contact you for work, you need to have that profile filled out!

It is easy to forget that clients often use search engines to find out more about you.  If you would like to have more private clients it can be helpful to have your name easily found on the search engines.  If they find nothing about you, they might assume that you have little to no experience and choose someone else for the job.  If you have control of the information about you that is available online, you can influence their opinion.

Where Should I Fill Out Profiles?

I’m sure you already belong to sites that ask you to fill out a profile so some of these should seem familiar to you:

• Twitter: Twitter doesn’t leave you a lot of room to fill out a profile but it allows you to do two things that you should be concentrating on. You should remember to fill in the url to the main site that you want to refer potential clients to and you should make use of the 160 characters that they provide you to tell people about yourself.  I can tell you that I rarely follow back if the profile is not filled out.  And if you are a writer that wants work, how will people know that unless you say so?
• Facebook:   Facebook allows you to choose what is public and not public.  You may choose to keep your profile private but you can include your website on your public profile.
• LinkedIn:  LinkedIn is very public so treat it as it is intended – a professional profile!  One of the best things you can do is completely fill out your Summary with a well thought out description of who you are and what you do.  Use keywords that you would like people to find you with.  And don’t forget to include specialties – these are like tags.
• YouTube:  Even if you don’t make videos yourself you can have a YouTube Channel to display your favourite videos.  On your YouTube Channel you can include a website, an About Me section, and a title.
• Google Profile: Google profiles leave you a lot of room to share information about yourself – perhaps more information than any of the other social networks.  You can have a long Introduction that includes clickable and dofollow links; you can also include a Link List (that is also dofollow).
• Forums:  Forums are a great place to leave a profile so be sure to fill it out.  You can also create a signature that is included in each post and will also be featured on your profile.   If you participate in niche specific forums that are about the type of writing you specialize in, your profile is especially important.
• Blogger Profile: On the Blogger blogging platform you can fill out your profile with all sorts of details, including links.  If you have Blogger blogs you can include this profile on each one.
• Article marketing sites like InfoBarrel and Bukisa: If you are a freelance writer you probably do at least some article marketing or you might write for residual income on sites; make the most of your profile.  Most sites will allow you to leave links, too, and some of them are dofollow links.
• Profile pages like About.me and MyOnePage.com: These pages are specifically for creating a profile page online.  You have space to write about yourself and space to leave links.

What Should I Avoid Putting on My Profile?

The key thing to remember about profiles is that they should always be professional.  They are not a place to rant and rave about your personal pet peeves or people you don`t like – unless that is a niche that you want to establish yourself as an expert in.  Ask yourself if you would provide the information on your profile in an interview.  If the answer is no, then don’t share it.

The other thing you should remember is that you need to be safe so don’t include the following:

• Phone numbers
• Address of your home
• Addresses of places you work
• Social insurance number/social security number

What Should I Include on My Profile?

Profiles are a great place to sell yourself and your services but you shouldn’t sound like you’re selling yourself.

“I’m the best writer and you’ll never be unsatisfied with my services!  Order today while I still have time!” – this sounds very sales pitchy.

Work on producing tight, focused text that is revealing, attractive, and gives the reader the impression that your goal is purely to help them.  Make them believe that it is to their benefit to hire you over someone else because of the special skills you offer or the in depth client service that they will receive from you.  After reading your profile they should believe that you are the only person that they could hire for the job because there is something special about you.

If you have a small profile space to utilize make sure that you use specific wording that is descriptive enough to pack a punch in the word/character constraints.  You need to get their attention fast and then have a place for them to go.

For example, on my Twitter profile it says, “My words are for hire but the attention to detail and my excellent communication skills are FREE with every order! ” and the link directly under that goes to my professional freelance writer site where they can view samples, see my resume, read testimonials, and contact me, of course.

When you have more room, like on LinkedIn or Google Profiles, it doesn’t give you free reign to babble on randomly about whatever you want.  You should still keep your focus and bring the client’s attention to the things that are most important – in other words, how they can benefit from using your services.

Start filling out your profiles more thoroughly and with more thought and you are likely to experience better results from your activities online.  Social media is only useful for helping you get more writing work if people are aware of the fact that you are a writer and can see the benefits of hiring you.  Other web presences, like forums and profile page, increase your credibility and give you the opportunity to control what people find when they search for you online.

So what are you waiting for!  Get those profiles filled out, writers!

Danielle McGaw is a freelance writer that has been obsessed with writing since she learned how to hold a pen.  She lives in a small town in Canada where she writes daily and goes for coffee a lot.  You can visit her on her blog, The Social Media Freelancer or visit her professional freelance writer site if you would like to contact her.