How & Why to Effectively Market Your Freelance Writing Business Using Free Press Releases

November 23, 2009

The post, Recession Proof Income: Online Entrepreneurs Raking in Hundreds (Sometimes Thousands) of Dollars a Day, is a press release. I use these from time to time to promote this site and some of my niche websites.

It’s a very effective form of marketing  — that I’m embarrassed to say I don’t utilize enough. Mainly, it’s a time crunch thing. As in, I do a lot of article marketing. Each of these could easily be turned into press releases, but it’d probably take 20 minutes to half an hour to revise each article into press release format.

How to Write a Press Release; Press Release Writing Tips

seo-press-releasesFYI, if you don’t know, learn how to write a press release that the media will really be interested in.  The number one thing to remember here is that the media doesn’t care about you, your product or your service.

They care about serving their viewership — giving their viewers insight/information into solving a problem they have. If your product/service just happens to do that – then they’ll be interested. If it doesn’t – no matter how well crafted it is – they won’t be interested.

Keep this in mind as you write, and you’ll stand a chance of making it newsworthy (always the goal!).

How I Use Press Releases to Grow My Freelance Writing Business

Obviously, press releases keep your name in front of the media. But really, I don’t even do it for that (to get media coverage). I use them for three other reasons (besides the media coverage):

(i) SEO Press Releases: Press releases are just content written in a certain format. But, they are indexed just like any other content. So when I write a press release, I write with SEO in mind; I write “SEO press releases”;

(ii) Writing Samples to Attract Higher Paying Clients: The press releases I produce serve this kind of writing sample. You can land higher paying clients when you know how to write (and distribute) PR pieces.  

I charge $150 to write press releases (this is about to increase; all my rates are going to in January). It takes me about an hour to write one, depending on the client.

Sometimes clients will have an idea of how they want you to slant a release. If not, I’m a pretty quick study in coming up with ideas. Remember, I’ve been at this for years and have written hundreds (if not a few thousand) releases.

(iii) Prestige: Being quoted in a press release gives your business prestige. If you post them on your site (in the “Media” category; a page I have to create for this site), when prospects come, they’ll be impressed by the fact that you have a “Media” page.

Believe me, subconsciously, this ups your value immensely because you’re immediately thought of as a professional writing firm/writer (if everything else on the site says this also).

Using Free Press Releasese Can Lead to Media Coverage

Finally, I do write (SEO) press releases with the idea of getting media coverage in mind. The fact that I have a “shot at” being interviewed/quoted by a media source is icing on the cake.

When I ran my ethnic furnishings business a few years ago, I got media coverage relatively easy because my products were unique.

As a freelance writer, it’s rare that you’re “unique.” When I write press releases for my freelance writing products and services, I keep current events in mind (eg, career training, telecommuting, work from home, PT job, etc.). These are all topics that can be explored that you can be quoted on in a press release as a freelance writer.

After all, you telecommute, maybe started PT, maybe had to be trained in this discipline, etc. This is good news fodder.

Even one line/quote in/on/from a mainstream media outlet can bring a ton of freelance writing work your way. So yeah, it’s worth it! And if this never happens, you have the other reasons cited here to write and distribute free press releases (don’t forget the distribute part!).

So, get busy using this marketing method. After all, promoting your freelance writing business via press releases is FREE – the best form of marketing!

Happy Thanksgiving and I’ll see you back here next Tuesday (still nibbling on Turkey, I’m sure!).

Yuwanda
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P.P.S.: Want to start making money from home as a freelance writer? Visit our freelance writing bookstore for informative info on everything from freelance writing ecourses to how to make passive income with your writing skill.

P.P.P.S.: The SEO Copywriting Training Ecourse is Filling Up; 9 Spots Left for the Jan 25th Class.

Recession Proof Income: Online Entrepreneurs Raking in Hundreds (Sometimes Thousands) of Dollars a Day

November 19, 2009

I market this site in several ways. One way that I use off and on (and will start to use a lot more) is free press releases. It’s something you can do too — for your freelance writing business, ebooks you write, affiliate products you promote, etc.

I’m going to talk more about this in Monday’s upcoming post, How to Effectively Market Your Freelance Writing Business Using Free Press Releases. Following is the press release I uploaded to PRLog.com, a free press release site, today (you can access it on PRLog from the hyperlink).

Inkwell Editorial Press Release

PRLog (Press Release) – Nov 19, 2009 – As the economy continues to shed jobs, unemployment continues to spike and many job seekers frantically search for their next job, many online entrepreneurs are merrily looking forward to the holidays – confident that their income is secure.

Online entrepreneurs (aka webpreneurs) are a diverse niche. They run the gamut from freelance writers, to social media consultants to information sellers (infopreneurs). What they all seem to have in common is a zest for entrepreneurship and a love of “making money under their own steam,” as Yuwanda Black, a freelance writer and self-described webpreneur states.

Ms. Black explains:

I worked in publishing for years, parlayed that into a successful freelance writing career in 1993 and now teach others the joy of this type of entrepreneurship. I love what I do because I can do it from anywhere (and I travel a lot), without worrying about how I’m going to pay my bills.

Another common trait many online entrepreneurs seem to have in common is boundless energy and diverse businesses. Many have two or three different businesses going at the same time. Some are spinoffs off each other, while others are complete and separate entities.

Ms. Black explained that many online entrepreneurs do this to ward against what many laid-off workers are experiencing right now – a loss of income. She adds that by doing a few different things, when one is not working out or going so well, you still have another “gig” as she puts it.   

This type of thinking may be the wave of the future for the American workforce. As many know, getting a job and staying there until you retire is a thing of the past. Americans have to start thinking of themselves as entrepreneurs, even if they have a traditional job.

As Ms. Black sums up:

This kind of thinking [entrepreneurship] will keep you on your toes because you’ll always have something going on on the side; so, if you’re laid off it’s not the end of the world, but really an opportunity.

Spoken like a true entrepreneur!

# # #

Inkwell Editorial is authority site for those who want to work from home as a freelance writer. The site offers first-hand advice on how to become a freelance writer, freelance success profiles, marketing tutorials, freelance writing workshops, ebooks on how to make passive income selling info online — and a whole lote more. To learn everything you need to know about how to start this successful career, visit the Freelance Writing Bookstore.

# # #

Yuwanda
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Freelance Writers: How to Turn Your Marketing Knowledge into Cash

November 17, 2009

Last night, I was working on today’s blog post. I was going to finish it and send it out today. But before that could happen, I received Bob Bly’s newsletter with the subject line “Turn Your Marketing Knowledge into Cash” in my ebox, and this post literally flew to the forefront of my noggin’.

So, I decided to send this one out. It’s funny how things dovetail sometimes, because I was just discussing this with a business associate about a week ago. THIS being, what you already know – that you take for granted as a freelance writer – can literally earn you thousands of dollars.

How (and Why) Freelance Writers Can Make Thousands of Dollars from What They Already Know

Freelance writers are perfectly positioned to capitalize off their marketing knowledge because:

online-marketing-consultantThey’re Online All the Time: If you’re a freelance writer these days, you know the internet. You probably know about Twitter and Facebook and LinkedIn and blogging and a little bit of SEO . . . and the list goes on and on and on.

And guess what – a lot of your clients don’t have this type of knowledge. They don’t understand this whole “internet marketing thing,” which I discuss in the post, SEO Copywriters: How to Make an Extra $61,880 This Year, that I wrote for Copyblogger earlier this year.

What they don’t know they are happy to pay you for – so capitalize on this.

How to Capitalize Off of Each Piece of Specialized Knowledge You Possess

Speaking of capitalize, how do you go about it? Quite simply, package each service and sell it.

When I first started New Media Words, my SEO Writing & Distribution Firm, I sold primarily one service – SEO article writing. As clients began to request other services I added on.

Just last week, I repackaged our social media marketing services to just focus on Twitter. Before, we had offered Facebook and LinkedIn setup as well. But, as Twitter has literally exploded and more clients began asking questions about it, I knew it was time to restructure things.

This brings me to my last point – don’t be afraid to adapt your specialized knowledge to client needs. What made me restructure New Media Words’ social media package was a call I received from a prospect while I was in Jamaica in October. She wanted to “start Twitter now”, but had no clue how to go about it.

I walked the prospect through the process, but they wanted us to “just handle it”. Okay, fine. As Twitter is super easy to set up and we know how to “get clients going” (ie, get them followers quickly), I decided this would be the social media service we would focus on.

The bottom line: as a freelance writer, you have a lot of specialized knowledge. Package it and sell it to clients. They need it and will gladly pay you for it – if it adds value to their business.

Disclaimer: For the first time, I’ve become an affiliate marketer of another freelance writer’s products – Bob Bly. I’ve known of Mr. Bly for years, read his blog on a regular basis and subscribed to his newsletter this past summer. I say all this to say, when I recommend a product, I don’t do so lightly.

Bob happens to be an industry leader; and since I can’t write on every facet of freelance writing knowledgeably, I introduce you to his prolific line of ebooks for freelance writers (affiliate link). If you want to become a freelance writer, or are looking to expand your service offerings, he offers a wealth of informative, high-quality products from which to choose.

Yuwanda
P.S.: Find this post informative? Follow Inkwell Editorial on Twitter.

P.P.S.: Want to start making money from home as a freelance writer? Visit our freelance writing bookstore for informative info on everything from freelance writing ecourses to how to make passive income with your writing skill.

P.P.P.S.: I’ve received all of your questions regarding minisites. I’ll address these in an upcoming post soon, I promise.

Freelance Writers: Insight about Making Passive Income with Minisites

November 12, 2009

Earlier today I sent out the following tweet. I received a couple of DMs asking me about it, ie, what my “passive income blogs” were.

Sooooo, I decided to write this quick post to give a little more insight in case more questions came in (I can usually sense when I’m going to get more questions :) ). Tweet sent:

Off to do some article mktng & blog posts. My little “passive income” blogs are really starting to pay off. Midnite hrs paying dividends!

What are Passive Income Blogs?

Actually, these are what I call my minisites. You can read more about them in the post, How to Make Money with Minisites: Turn $1/Day into an Online Empire.

minisite-profits-for-freelance-writersSince it’s easier to manage data in Wordpress, I’ve turned my minisites into blogs using this platform. And, they are more profitable as well. I think it’s because it’s easy to update them and categorize material in Wordpress than HTML.

Number of Minisites I Have

Right now, I have three; two I’m actively promoting and one that’s just kind of there. I update it when I can, which is not often.

The minisite (blog) that makes the most money right now is ForeclosureBusinessNews. I started this one to promote an affiliate product. But lately, I’ve been treating it more like a real informational site — branching away from promoting my affiliate product and into covering the subject (”home foreclosures”) from every angle.

Want to Start Building a Minisite Empire?

Write what you enjoy — and what you know.

Real estate and related industries (mortgages, foreclosures, credit/debt) are subjects I happen to enjoy writing about. As a previous real estate agent (NYC; late 80s) and mortgage consultant (ATL; a few years ago), I also happen to be quite knowledgeable on these subjects.

How Much Money Am I Making with My Minisites?

Not a lot! But, I do see progress and I’m in this for the long haul. ForeclosureBusinessNews.com makes about $75/month. I’m on track to double that this month, because I’ve been actively updating and promoting it. I usually spend half an hour every few days on it — usually when I’m watching TV in the evenings.

This is about all the time I have to devote to them with my other responsibilities (ebook and ecourse writing/teaching/promotion and client projects).

My plan is to build 5 of these sites to actively promote, with the goal of making just $100-$200/day from all of them combined. I think I’ll be there within the next 18 to 24 months.

Freelance Writers: Why Would You Want to Make Money with Minisites

For me, this is purely futuristic thinking. I like to have multiple streams of income. One day, I know I’m going to retire as a freelance writer. But, I’m still going to need an income. My plan is to have minisites provide that.  This appeals to me because I can create as many of them as I want. Realistically though, I think 20 is about the number anybody can handle effectively. I’ve read accounts though of people who have hundreds.

More Info on Making Passive Income with Minisites Coming

When I can find time to breathe, I’m going to put together an inexpensive e-pamphlet about how to start building your minisite empire. Yesterday, my sites pulled in over $12. And I’ve just started to really take an interest in promoting them with a specific monetary goal in mind within the last week.

So, I’m motivated!

Til Monday,
Yuwanda
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P.P.S.: Want to start making money from home as a freelance writer? Visit our freelance writing bookstore for informative info on everything from freelance writing ecourses to how to make passive income with your writing skill.

P.P.P.S. Start your minisite empire: Create multi-lingual minisites in 5 minutes or less. See video below to learn more.

 

Photo Credit: Brunel Students Union

Thank You

November 12, 2009

Thank you for your purchase.

If you’ve purchased one of our e-courses, the files will be mailed to you within 24 hours, usually much less.

If you purchased one of our ebooks and arrived here, you should have received it instantly – via the email address that’s attached to your PayPal account.

If you have questions or concerns about one of our products, feel free to send an email to info [at] InkwellEditorial.com. Someone will get back to you within 24 hours (usually much less), excluding weekends and holidays.

Once again, thank you for your purchase, and good luck with your freelance writing and online marketing endeavors.

Sincerely,

Yuwanda Black, Publisher
InkwellEditorial.com

P.S.: Don’t forget to come back soon, as we’re constantly updating our line of e-products on freelance writing, ebook publishing, and internet and small business marketing.

Freelance Writers: Why Being Perfect Can Sabotage Your Success

November 10, 2009

Freelance writing is one of a handful of professions where you are expected to be perfect – 100% of the time.  Now while what we do is not medical science (eg, being a doctor), it is extremely important.

Freelance Writers: Why Getting It Right Is Important

Businesses that hire freelance writers have their image on the line. Their image is their business, which is their livelihood; a livelihood their families depend on for food, mortgage payments, medical insurance, etc. So in this respect, what we as freelance writers do is extremely important.

Now, to address the title of this post specifically, ie, why trying to be perfect can sabotage your freelance writing success . . .

I receive emails from time to time alerting me to my “imperfections” as a freelance writer. Following is the most recent:

You might want to check your e-mail version of your e-booklet: 4th paragraph “though times” — I’m assuming should be “tough times”.  If you’re pitching good grammar and spelling you probably want to be right on too! Good luck.

First let me say, I appreciate emails like this . . . for two reasons:  (i) they alert me to something I need to fix; and (ii) they remind me that I’m a “producer”, ie, I’m doing my job and putting out material on a regular basis.

imperfect-freelance-writerBetween updating the numerous websites I have, writing promotional material for my ebooks and ecourses, and writing for clients, I write between 3,000 and 6,000 words a day (sometimes more). When you produce this much material, you’re bound to make mistakes.

HOWEVER, this type of correspondence can undermine your success – if you take it the wrong way. They can make you feel insecure, incompetent and paralyzed. This stunts your production.

If you’re waiting to be perfect to start something or continue something, you could be killing your chances of success as a freelance writer. Following are some common excuses that many freelance writers use to stay stuck at the starting gate:

     I need to get a website;

     I need to get a NEW website;

     I need to add “X” (you fill in the blank) to my website;

     I don’t have writing samples;

     I don’t have the RIGHT writing samples;

     I don’t have ENOUGH writing samples/ clips;

If you’re already freelancing, following are some common “perfectionist” things you may put in your way:

     I need to redesign my website;

     I need to create writing samples for this niche;

     I need to do more research about “X”;

     I don’t have time to do “X”.

All of these are some derivative of trying to be perfect – whether it’s waiting for the perfect time to start something, or until a product is perfect before you release it. Case in point, Inkwell’s SEO writing course.

For about a year, I had been implored by many to offer a course like this. But I simply didn’t have time, or so I told myself. What it really was is that I was waiting for the “perfect” time for a break in my schedule to put it together, put up a website and write the promotional material for it.

But when I looked at the facts, I knew that I was missing a golden opportunity. How/why? It’s not often you have a built-in client base who are, in essence, asking to spend money on your product.

I didn’t need a slick new website and fancy marketing materials. What I needed was to sit my butt down and put the course together and let those who had been asking me about it know that it was ready.

And, this is exactly what I did. The first course was taught in October and there are already enrollees for the upcoming one in January.

While I have: (i) registered a domain name (SeoCopywritingClass.com) that I plan to build out; and (ii) just this past weekend finished a promotional booklet (Learn SEO: 6 Reasons SEO Copywriting Is the Ideal High-Paying, Work-from-Home, Recession-Proof Career (pdf file)), this SEO class is already a success.

If I’d waited until the perfect time to start, I would have missed out on a golden opportunity, for this course has added another income stream to my business.

That being said, there is a time when you should be perfect . . . on client projects; else you risk committing this error.

Freelance Writers: When It’s Necessary to be Perfect

I check, recheck, outsource and double check client projects, because they pay my bills. Also, as I stated above, the businesses that hire me count on me to be right all the time. And I do my best not to disappoint.

BUT in general, if you wait until the stars align, you have the time, you have the money and you have the “perfect” whatever, you will never achieve success as a freelance writer – or anything else. For, part of being successful is making mistakes, learning from them and moving on.

Here’s wishing you a delightfully successful “imperfect” day.

Imperfectly yours,
Yuwanda

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P.P.S.: Want to start making money from home as a freelance writer? Visit our freelance writing bookstore for informative info on everything from freelance writing ecourses to how to make passive income with your writing skill.

Photo Credit: “Embrace Imperfection” magnet at Cafepress.com.

Bulk Freelance Writing Assignments: Specific Tips for Landing Them

November 3, 2009

In last week’s post, Freelance Writers: How to Land More Gigs in a Difficult Economy, one of the things we discussed was landing bulk freelance writing assignments. I promised to give some specific tips on how to go about it, so here goes . . .

2 WAYS TO LAND BULK WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

Following are two things that I’ve tried that have landed me bulk writing assignments. One is something you can do right away – I’m talking by the end of the day if you want. The other may take a few days or a few weeks to implement.

I. MAKE CLIENTS AWARE OF YOUR WORTH

Freelance writers tend not to be good at this. Many are timid about marketing in general, so when it comes to tooting their own horn, it’s beyond what many even think of doing. But, the tougher the economy is, the more direct you have to be with your marketing.

marketing_tips-for-freelance-writersMaking clients aware of your worth works particularly well with existing clients, which is a group you should market heavily to for bulk writing assignments. Why?

     (i) Because they already know and trust your work; and

     (ii) You are familiar with their product/service.

This presents a “perfect storm,” if you will, for landing more freelance writing jobs relatively easily.

Now that you know why you should make clients aware of your worth, you may be thinking, “How do I go about it?” It’s actually quite simple – create mini case studies.

How to Create Mini Case Studies

To do this, go back through your projects for the last quarter or two. Pull out those where you can state a specific benefit/problem you solved for the client (over and beyond your super copy, of course).

For example, one client of mine called me one day in a panic. This was unusual because he usually emailed me. He needed 44 SEO articles in 48 hours. This client ran an internet marketing firm. He needed the copy for the launch of one of his clients’ websites.

My firm produced it on time – and we gave him a bulk discount to boot (he had given us a lot of work since he came on board and I was happy to reward him this way).

Benefit to client: He was able to keep his promise to his client (and ostensibly gain more business).

What this says to prospects you target is that you can handle bulk orders in a timely manner.

To use another example, I had another client who wanted me to write testimonials for one of his client sites. Only these weren’t normal testimonials. I had to interview this site owner to get the stories behind the testimonials (the site was about proxy marriages). Then, I had to turn what he told me into what I called a “story testimonial”.

The client of my client was so happy with how the copy turned out that he put in a standing order for one to three a month.

Benefit to client: He was able to meet this unusual request of this keep his promise to his client (and ostensibly gain more business).

Note: These little assignments are particularly lucrative because I charge a fee for the phone interview, which lasts about 10 to 15 minutes, and a separate fee for the writing of the “story testimonials.”

How to Present Your Case Study to Clients

I wrote up three examples, then presented them in the following manner:

Client Problem

How We Helped

Tagline: We can do the same for you!

These were what I called unofficial case studies. You can literally put this together in a couple of hours (or less) and send it off to prospects. FYI, see a more official version of a case study (pdf file).

II. WRITE SPECIAL REPORTS

The best example I can give of this is outlined in the post, SEO Copywriters:  How to Make an Extra $61,880 This Year.

This one report continues to bring me so much business that I’ve create several others as free promotional tools for my various ventures, eg:

     Proven SEO Tactics: How to Start Getting Up to 5,000 Visitors Daily

     The Value of SEO Copywriters

     2008-2009 Freelance Writing Jobs Report

The great thing about special reports is that they demonstrate your knowledge of a particular subject in depth. This removes the barriers a potential client may have about your ability to handle their particular project.

Special reports are powerful selling tools. And, while they may take a few days or even weeks to produce, they are worth the effort because they can be part of your marketing arsenal for months – or even years (depending on the timeliness of the subject matter).

Final Tip: Don’t forget to ask for the sale, eg:

Let us handle your continuous content needs  . . . a month of blog posts; weekly articles for your site; etc. We put your content needs on auto pilot. You can outsource it and forget it!

 So there you go – two ways to market for bulk writing assignments that really work.

Your freelance writing marketing maven,
Yuwanda

P.S.: Find this post informative? Follow Inkwell Editorial on Twitter.

P.P.S.: Want to start making money from home as a freelance writer? Visit our freelance writing bookstore for informative info on everything from freelance writing ecourses to how to make passive income with your writing skill.

P.P.S.: Want to train for a recession-proof freelance writing career? Get the FREE Report, Learn SEO: 6 Reasons SEO Copywriting Is the Ideal High-Paying, Work-from-Home, Recession-Proof Career (pdf file).

The Freelance Writer’s Bookstore

November 2, 2009

If you’re looking for opportunities in freelance writing (ie, how to become a freelance writer), you’ve landed in the right place.

You can find listings of all Inkwell Editorial products at http://inkwelleditorial.com/start-a-freelance-writing-career. We add new products frequently, so be sure to bookmark this page and check back often.

If you like what you see, follow us on Twitter.

Sincerely,
Yuwanda Black, Publisher
InkwellEditorial.com

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