Writing With Purpose

Although you may start out copywriting via sites like Elance.com, where you pay for the privilege to bid on jobs and make connections with potential buyers, you will want to start advertising as a freelance writer. Then, you will eventually establish a faithful client base, and you can keep more of your profits for yourself.

Time vs. Money

How you let potential clients know that you are available for their writing needs is up to you. Personally, why pay money, if you can spend a little of your time and get the job done for free. Especially if you are just starting out, or you only plan on writing part-time in the evenings, you do not want to eat up all of your profits paying someone else to promote your writing skills. In essence, you will be doing for yourself what other people are paying for you to do for them.

Here are 4 free ways you can advertise your freelance writing:

• Article Marketing
• Blogs
• Free Press Releases
• Social Networking Sites

Don’t limit yourself to one freelance advertising resource. Use all 4. In fact, if you know of more free opportunities that I have not mentioned here, use them too! The more you make the effort to get the word out, the better your business will thrive.

Article Marketing

Article marketing is not difficult. After all, you are writing articles for clients. The only difference is that you are taking time to write for yourself. One of my favorite places to get the word out by writing a short article is ezinearticles.com.l

Although you cannot directly advertise yourself, you can write informative articles on subjects related to your business. Then, you embed a couple of well-placed links, so readers will come to you for more information. For example, I have another website, Living with Cerebral Palsy, and I want to let readers know about it. So, I wrote an article and posted it free on Ezinearticles.com called Conversation on Living with Cerebral Palsy. With a link in the body and a link in the bio box, I have just let readers know that I have a site dedicated to CP.

Blogs

Okay. Look at the section about article marketing that I just completed. Do you see those links? Each one of those links directs you to a site related to the information discussed. In addition, they are all related to work I have done. Normally, you probably will not have quite so many links in your blog. After all, you do not want to wear out your readers by making them hop all over the Internet.

However, for the purposes of this article, it definitely illustrates why blogs are such a great tool for advertising yourself. You give the reader good, informative content. Google and other search engines love that idea. They are more likely to pick you up. But, it also directs the reader to a place they can learn more and hire you, if needed.

Free Press Releases

Sending out a press release is much the same as article marketing. However, the format of the writing is more streamlined and to the point. It is more like an informative announcement of the services you provide and how individuals can avail themselves of your talents.

Thankfully, if you have not done so before, most of the free sites will offer examples. See how a good press release is written, and simply follow the same format. After checking out about 20 different sites, my 4 favorites are:

1. PRLog.org
2. Free-Press-Release.com
3. Press-Base.com
4. ClickPress.com

Social Networking Sites

Finally, use social networking sites for more than just chatting with your long lost friends. You can plug-in a social networking tool on your blog. Then, it is really simple. For instance, after I finish this blog entry, I am going to the social networking icons at the end of my post. I am going to click on them and post a link back to this very article, if readers want to know more about the subject, me, or what I can do for them.

Now you have 4 good advertising resources to think about. If you have any questions, or you have some other great free advertising resources that I have not mentioned, please pass along a comment, and let the other readers know how they can better advertise themselves as freelance writers.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Even if your favorite activity is putting words together, it is really nice when that freelance writing paycheck hits your bank account. Whether it is a part-time, get some spending money venture, or you need the work to pay your bills, it is important that you get to keep most of all of what you earn. You do not want to give a good chunk of the money to services and fees, if you do not have to; so, you have several different options to consider.

Your freelance writing paycheck may come from several different sources:

• PayPal
• Google Checkout
• Check in the Mail
• Transfer from Freelancing Site

PayPal

Paypal is probably the most common method of Internet payment. However, they will charge a 2-3% processing fee. You client can transfer funds into you account in a couple of minutes Then, it takes approximately 3-4 days for the money to show up in your checking account, once you process the request.

Google Checkout

Google check out works similarly to PayPal. However, Google will withhold payment for 10 regular working days at first. After a couple of months, the transfers are quick and the money will reach you in about 3 working days. But, they too charge a fee for processing the payment.

The Check is in the Mail

You may also have clients that want to send you a check through snail mail. In truth, you will receive the entire amount of your check. Nevertheless, you will have to wait for it to come in the mail, and hope it does not get lost. Once it is deposited in your account, you will have to wait and make sure the check clears before using the funds.

Freelance Site Transfer

If you accept writing jobs through Elance, you will probably be paid through freelance site transfer. However, you will also sacrifice 8.75% of your pay for the project fee. For the larger projects, this can quickly add up to a lot of money. So, it is important to include that fee, when you are bidding on projects.

Now, you know the 4 most popular methods of paying for your freelance writing. While there is a certain amount of satisfaction just knowing your words are being published, it is really nice when you receive compensation for your efforts.

Popularity: 10% [?]

If you are freelance writing, you may want to know about bringing oDesk to your desktop.

In yesterday’s blog, I talked about filling your client pool. One of the ways you can accomplish this goal is signing up with oDesk to bid on jobs-for free! Yesterday, I decided it was time to create my own account, especially if I was going to blog about this particular resource.

Smile,you are on Camera

Well, the heading is not entirely true. However, while you are logged into oDesk and working online, your computer is on camera. The company seems to be one of the most organized sites that protect the rights of the client and the freelance writer at the same time. They have several freelance writing resources I found to be valuable:

• Clock to Keep Track of your Time
• 10 Minutes Camera Clicks of your Monitor: to prove you are working in a client/writer disputer
• Virtual Time Card to Guarantee Payment
• Video Tutorials
• and more . . .

Method to their Madness

In the words of my teenage daughter, it is “kinda creepy” to think of someone snapping pictures of your desktop at regular intervals. However, there is definitely a professional reason for this high tech system.

As a freelance writer, I have been ’stiffed’ more than once, when it comes to getting paid. I get all of the work done, turn it over to the client, and I never hear from that particular individual again. By the same token, buyers can also lose a lot of money, if they are paying the freelancer by the hour. How do they know whether they are being billed for actual work time, or the writer spent some of that time answer emails, chatting, or on the phone.

Protection and Professionalism

In my experience, I believe this site is a good mixture of protection for their clients and professionalism. So, if you are interested in diving into the pool of freelance writing, you should check out oDesk.com. Tell me what you think. If you have already used this writing resource, what did you think of the experience?

Popularity: 4% [?]

Getting Out of the Pool

The longer you are a copywriter, the more you will experience the ebb and flow of clients. Like all businesses, the companies or persons you write for will experience times of prosperity and periods of struggle. One moment clients will be giving you more work than you can handle, without working overtime. The next, clients will hit a bump in the road and cancel all future orders. What now? If you are going to stay in business, you need to understand how to keep filling your freelance writing client pool.

Cleaning the Pool First

Before moving on, it is important to ensure that all loose ends have been neatly tied. In other words, make sure you leave that client satisfied. First, f it is a client you want back, when his/her finances improve, make sure to leave positive feelings and offer your services anytime in the future. Leave the ‘virtual’ business door open.

Second, if you have not done so already, add this business to your professional contacts. As you learn more about marketing, you will want to develop an email campaign. Sending monthly emails to all of your past and current clients is a great way to keep you and your writing skills fresh in their minds, if/when you services are required in the future. (One word of caution: make sure they are immediately removed from your mailing list, if requested. You do not want to soil your Internet business reputation by spamming people.)

Filling your Pool

The next step is to begin filling your pool with new clients. However, your bank account will empty fast, if you do not write in the meantime. While you are going to places like Writing Bids to drum up some more business, you need to have an alternate source of income.

One of my solutions is Textbroker. Once you have been accepted by them, via your writing sample, you can write as much, or as little as you want. It is not the same as writing for a client with whom you have developed a business relationship. However, some people prefer this method of writing, because the pressure to write is not as great. You get to choose how busy you want to be.

Turning Off the Water

Once you start filling your freelance writing client pool, how full it becomes is up to you. Sometimes, you may spend the better part of your day looking for work. However, once you have a project, you will probably not want to stop searching for more clients. When one job ends, you want to have other projects in the works. Jobs rarely come to you, unless you have an active and steady client base. You will have to pound the virtual pavement periodically. It is better to have to turn off the water than have your well dry up before your freelance writing client pool is full enough.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Whether you are simply thinking about freelance writing a few hours a week, or hoping to further establish yourself as a full-time work-at-home freelancer, you will be expanding your writing horizons in 2010.

My Horizons

For me, 2010 is definitely going to change my horizons. Instead of always playing it safe and working harder, not smarter, I am taking a leap of faith and experience. I am going to write for myself, as well as my clients. I have learned so much in the last 4 years about freelance writing, and how the Internet business community works. Although I still have much to learn, I want to do for myself what I have been doing for my clients.

For starters, I have this blog site. Of course, I am writing about freelance writing. However, I can write about aspects of copywriting that I wish I had known in the beginning. I can talk about issues that crop up on a daily basis. Plus, I can establish other sites about issues near and dear to my heart. I will be launching another website soon.

Your Horizons?

In the meantime, what are your plans for 2010? Are you going to just keep writing for clients and helping them prosper; or are you going to expanding your writing horizons, and save a little time for your personal and business growth?

If you want more information on how to expand your writing horizons in 2010, or you have some suggestion for me and the other readers, leave a comment or contact me.

Happy 2010!

Popularity: 6% [?]

Although I have been a professional freelance writer for almost four years, I am constantly learning and trying to find new resources and connections to improve my business and the bottom line. With that idea in mind, I started this blog for a two-fold purpose.

With my first love being education, I want to provide other freelance writers with some of the information I could have used when I first started writing. When you work at home, it is very nice to know that you are truly not alone. In fact, there are many people out there that have traveled this road before, and they really want to help.

I also want to let individuals know that I am available to provide services to both buyers and writers. Buyers can hire me to write for them, and freelancers can come to me for help in becoming better writers.

Google Alerts

A good friend and freelancer emailed me recently to let me know that this website has been picked up by Google. Although it is a constant work in progress, it means that I can grow my web presence and actual start helping people reading this blog. But, I did have a question (after all the best teacher is always learning): How did she find out the blog was showing up already?

Then, she told me about Google alerts. She requests alerts on articles that use specific keywords and she receives daily alerts about potentially beneficial information that has been posted. It really is a cool tool! So, I put in ‘Freelance Writing’ for Google Alerts. Ever day, I receive an email with the top posts regarding freelance writing.

Google Alert Resource Site

Today, as I was checking out the alerts, I came across a wonderful resource site for writers of all sorts. Whether you are writing a term paper for school, a dissertation, a book, or you are a freelance copywriter, there is at least one link that might provide you with helpful resources, important connections, opportunities and more.

Admittedly, a site called Fast Cash Freelance put me off at first. It was probably one of those sites giving the freelancer unrealistic hopes for success-at a price. But, since Digg.com has it in their news, I thought maybe it was worth checking out. So, I went straight to the resources page provided in the link. It is more of an information site, rather than a ‘take your money’ venture.

So, I know I am going to further explore these resources and see if any of them will be of benefit to you and me. I also might add more Google alerts to show up in my inbox in the morning. You never know what writing resource might pop up to help freelance writers and copywriters to improve their work at home businesses.

Popularity: 6% [?]

With four days until Christmas, it seems like an appropriate time to talk about a one stop place to shop for freelance writing jobs. By now, you are probably exhausted going from store to store looking for that perfect gift for a loved one. Well, the same can be said for pounding the virtual pavement looking for writing work. It makes life a lot easier, if you can go to one site and bid on a wide variety of jobs.

Keeping Pace with the Competition

Even for the best and most experienced copywriters, bidding on jobs is a time consuming aspect of the occupation. It takes time to find the jobs that you are most suited to fill; and, crafting the best bid is also a work of art and expertise. In addition, you will have plenty of people competing for the same potential assignment.

Individuals from all walks of life, from around the world, are trying to break into the business of freelance writing. Not only do you have to know how to write well, but you need the ability to market yourself and your writing skills. Your need to be able to write the best bid, so the buyer will choose you over the competition. However, the process of placing 100 bids in the hopes of landing 5-10 paying jobs can be a hassle.

A Virtual Job Mall

Recently, I signed up to receive Google alerts regarding ‘freelance writing’. Normally, I cruise through the article headings and move on to something else. Nevertheless, I came across a site that is basically a virtual job mall for freelance writing gigs. I found it very interesting.

When I was checking it out a little closer, I found that the site is a hub for all sorts of sites that match writers with buyers needing their skills and expertise. You can look through all sorts of writing jobs from simply blogging to technical writing and anything in between. Instead of hopping around the Web applying here and there, you can go to Writing Bids and have a vast assortment of jobs available, right at your fingertips.

Once you become an established freelance writer, you will probably develop a faithful customer base. You may rarely have to bid for jobs. But, in the meantime, or when business gets slow, you now have a resource for a one stop shop for freelance writing jobs.

Popularity: 3% [?]