Where Have All the Freelance Writing Jobs Gone? Here’s Where
September 27, 2011
Nowhere, that’s where all the freelance writing jobs have gone. In fact, they’re more plentiful than ever. But, before we get to some specific things you can do to start landing them, let’s back up a bit . . .
In October of 2008, I wrote a post for the highly respected blog, Copyblogger.com. Brian Clark, the site’s editor titled it, Where Have all the Freelance Writing Jobs Gone? (I think I’d given it another title – but he’s so much better at coming up with great titles than I am).
That post still receives comments – almost three years later.
Just this past weekend, the following comment by Jason at ClientsSuck.net came in, which inspired this post. Jason responded:
Another idea [for finding freelance writing jobs] is to stop selling something that people don’t want (words on a page) and start marketing the real result that comes BECAUSE of the words on a page. If you make your business simply about stringing words together, the discussion will tend to focus on two things:
1. How cheaply will you write those words?
2. How fast will you write them?
When the focus goes there, you’re pretty much in a race for the bottom. Ouch.
The market for freelance writers isn’t drying up, because there is opportunity everywhere for those skills to be applied in an effort to create big results. It just takes some creativity to PACKAGE the art of writing in a way that your prospect GETS the value of what that can produce. (emphasis added)
The emphasized portion is what I want to expound upon a little in this post because, as Jason so accurately states, the market for freelancing is not drying up. In fact, there are more freelance writing jobs than ever before, as the following posts highlight.
Opportunities in Freelance Writing: Where the Jobs Are & Specific Advice On How to Get Them
But, customers are becoming more astute. And, it’s the freelancer who can sell RESULTS that will land clients.
So, how do you sell results? Following are a few things I do.
Where Have All the Freelance Writing Jobs Gone? What I Do to Find Clients
Free Reports: If you look at successful sites like Copyblogger, one thing you’ll see is that they put out a lot of FREE, informative reports, like this one on SEO writing.
It ain’t fluff; it’s not hastily thrown together; it’s not “topical” just to sell you something else.
It’s VALUABLE, in-depth info that overtly and subliminally makes potential clients think, “Hey, if they’re putting this type of content out for free, imagine what they’d do if I actually threw some dough their way.”
You won’t, as Jason says above, have to “race to the bottom” (ie, compete with other freelance writers on rate) if you’re putting out quality content like this that proves your worth. In fact, most clients would feel funny even questioning your rates because they’ll know they’re getting the best when they hire you.
Blog Regularly: Nothing displays your writing skill like a regularly updated blog. This is another thing that great blogs like Copyblogger (and this site, I sheepishly add) do. These sites provide a wealth of constantly updated content, which presells clients with every word they devour.
And, not for nothing, it gives you greater visibility on the web because search engines love content – and the more frequently you update your blog, the more it is crawled and indexed by search engines and returned in search results.
SEO Your Content: This goes hand-in-hand with the last point. Whatever you put out on the web, make sure you use search engine optimization guidelines for writing. It will help search engines to find your content – and hopefully return it high in search engine results.
Article Marketing: Just yesterday, I received the following email from someone who found my profile on EzineArticles.com. He wrote:
To Yuwanda Black,
With reference to your profile published at Ezine Articles.
I would like to request you to kindly write for my real estate blog as well. Your signature will be posted at the bottom of each post. Hope to hear positively from your side.
Now, while I get the feeling he wanted me to write for free (ie, b/c he offered to give me a byline), it means that article marketing works. You can get legitimate job leads this way (I’ve landed a few clients who ran across my profile on AssociatedContent.com).
The best thing about prospects contacting you in this manner is that they’re already most likely pre-sold on your services, so all you have to do is “tie up” the sale.
Where Have All the Freelance Writing Jobs Gone: Conclusion
The bottom line is, there’s plenty of work for freelance writers these days. But, too many stress about not finding clients and settle for low-paying jobs without realizing their real value.
Remember, prospects need you as much as you need them. And, if you talk to them about the results your freelance writing services can provide, it makes it that much easier to land them as clients.
Have a great rest of the week!
Yuwanda
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P.S.: Get the ebook that pushed my freelance writing career to the next level – allowing me to travel and live abroad, get out of debt and really “live the freelance life.” One freelancer wrote:
Hi Yuwanda,
Just wanted to say thank you – as a result of the advice in your SEO writing e-book, I got my first order within 12 hours of sending out my first batch of 10 marketing emails.
P.P.S.: Want to start a successful career where you have the mobility to live and work where you please? Visit our freelance writing bookstore for a ton of opportunities (freelance writing and internet marketing) to get you started.
How to Find Unpublished Freelance Writing Jobs
September 26, 2011
7 ways to market for freelance writing jobs most freelancers have never heard of – you’ll decrease the competition and increase your chance of landing more gigs!
An E-Book Excerpt
[See all Inkwell Editorial Work-from-Home Titles Here]
The 7 Tactics I Use to Find Unpublished Freelance Writing Jobs
I discuss seven tactics I use to find freelance writing jobs. I manage to stay pretty busy as a freelance writer. And even when I’m not, I don’t worry because I know that the way I market is counter to how others market.
$19.95 NOTE: Learn how to get this ebook at a discounted price.
I’ve been blessed with the “mind of a marketer,” so to speak. It’s what’s accounted for my freelance writing success over the years. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve told somebody about a marketing technique I use and I’ll get a response like, “I never would have thought to do that.”
Unsolicited Testimonial
Yuwanda,
I just purchased your ebook on 7 ways to market your freelance writing business. I’m only on page 19 – the second idea – and I must say that my writing business will never be the same again! (emphasis added) After reading only 2 of the 7 ideas you mention, I can’t believe I didn’t think of these before! Nobody mentions them in freelance writing discussions, and it’s no wonder that so many are hurting for clients. I am truly blown away!
Thank you for revolutionizing my business with this information.
-JL
Of the techniques discussed, you’ll learn how to:
(i) find hundreds of prospects who need your freelance writing skill who have never been contacted by other writers;
(ii) find tens of thousands of prospects you can contact to pitch to on a regular basis (yes, tens of thousands) – and it’s free;
(iii) sell practically every word you write (I’ll show you three ways I do this, which is why I don’t even worry when I don’t have a client project on my desk);
(iv) turn clients into repeat clients;
(v) double – or even triple – the amount of business you already have;
(vi) compose sample queries that pre-sell clients on your freelance writing services;
(vii) market to many businesses at once, instead of one business at a time;
(viii) develop the mind of a marketer; and
(ix) so much more!
I sum up the ebook in the following manner:
Developing the Mind of a Marketer
What I hope you’ve taken from this ebook is that there is enough freelance writing work out there for everybody.
Most freelance writers who fail at this profession do so because they never learned how to effectively market for work. This ebook helps you to develop the mind of a marketer.
No matter what business you’re in, a sale has to take place before anything happens. Before a sale can take place, you have to canvas (ie, market) for prospects.
Whether you’re selling jet planes or web design services, marketing is the one thing that all business owners (eg, freelance writers) must know how to do to be successful. Couple this with consistency – and you have a winning formula.
If you just utilize one of the methods mentioned within on a consistent basis, you’ll be well on your way to developing a successful freelance writing business.
INTRODUCTION
I decided to write this e-book for three reasons.
(i) First because many existing and aspiring freelancers email me asking how to go about finding freelance writing work. This made me realize that the problem many freelancers have is their inability to effectively search for assignments beyond the standard freelance writing sites.
I mean, many are just paralyzed. They have no idea how to take the first step, ie, where to start looking for work, whether to market online or off, what niche to target, how to compose a proper query letter/email, how often to send it, etc.
We’re talking wholly and completely lost.
(ii) The second reason I decided to write this e-book is because I tend to stay relatively busy. This leaves little time for responding in-depth to questions and emails from readers who write in. Many need much more help than the advice I can fire off in an email on a given work day. They need a tutorial – ie, this ebook.
(iii) The third reason I wanted to write this ebook is because information gets buried. I’ve dispensed a lot of information over the years on how to find freelance writing jobs – on my website, on my blog, in articles distributed to article marketing directories, in guest posts on other blogs, etc.
But, information gets buried – never to be read again. I liken it to the news – what’s hot one day is forgotten the next. This ebook puts all of the tactics I’ve discussed over the years – and still use — in one place. In essence, this is a handy reference guide on how to find freelance writing work.
You’ll probably come back to it again and again, so feel free to print it out, punch holes in it and file it in a binder for easy, future reading.
Fortunate Enough to Be Busy
I’ve been a freelance writer since 1993. Doing this for so long has taught me how to market outside the box, so to speak.
And, since I started to take on SEO writing projects in the fall of 2007, I’ve never been busier. I got so busy that within the first 10 weeks, I had to hire help. This got me to wondering, “Why am I able to keep relatively busy when so many struggle?”
I outline some of my thoughts on this in the article How One Freelance Writer is Finding Success as an SEO Writer, (read the three tips I give at the end of the article).
Good luck!
Length: 42 hard-hitting pages on how to market for freelance writing work.
$19.95
Advice from Successful Freelancers: How They Built Their Careers & How You Can Too!
September 25, 2011
An E-Book Excerpt
[See all Inkwell Editorial Work-from-Home Titles Here]
UPDATE NOTE: Almost all of the freelancers interviewed in 2004 were still in business as of this update (Fall 2011). So, they must be doing something right.
$9.95
I noticed that almost all had different – slicker – websites. As a matter of fact, a few had given me website addresses and in the first release of this e-book, I wrote “coming soon” beside the website name. Progress — and success — is indeed sweet.
If you want input from those who are actually doing it, this manual is perfect. It reveals the stories of real freelancers. They divulge how they got started; why they decided to go out on their own; how they acquire clients; under what circumstances they would/would not go back to working for someone else — and more.
The following stories are inspiring because they are from real people who, perhaps, had the same fears you do about going out on our own.
A diverse bunch — from single moms who wanted more control over their lives to college grads who stumbled upon freelancing as a career — you are sure to gain pearls of wisdom from their success.
This e-book is a companion to How to Really Make a Living as an Editorial Freelancer, which outlines how to start and maintain a profitable freelance career — everything from why not to submit a resume, to effective marketing techniques, to invoicing and getting paid.
It also includes feedback from industry professionals (human resources directors, editorial managers and editors) on how they like to be contacted, what they look for and industry rates. In short, everything you need to start and maintain a freelance career is included in this sister manual.
As always, continued success in your editorial endeavors.
Sincerely,
Yuwanda Black
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Getting Started: What It’s Really Like — One Freelancer Spills the Beans
Darla Bruno: Writer, Editor, Editorial Consultant
********************************
Author Note: I started with this account because it is candid and insightful. Also, she started from scratch with little more than a strong desire and perseverance — intangibles that cost nothing, which we all possess (or can cultivate). Her story is a fine example of how desire and perseverance can be turned into success.
********************************
When I first began freelancing, I didn’t have a lot of money backing me. I had one client and just a few contacts. That was in January of 2001.
I worked steadily for almost six months and was thrilled at my good fortune — until that summer, when everything came to a sudden halt. I went three, almost four months without a single project. I lived on credit cards. I thought about finding work in-house, but I gave myself until the end of the year.
Slowly, I picked up new clients. I diversified my skill sets (developmental editing, Web QA, copyediting, proofreading). I called everyone I knew, including old employers.
By January of the following year, I had six clients. I was determined and focused. I sent out resumes every day. I learned everything I could. I took every project that came my way. This [2003] has been the busiest year so far. I have almost ten clients.
I write, edit, consult and provide manuscript critiques. Diversifying really widened my net and brought in new projects. I kept the faith.
Make time for your business: I know a lot of people who freelance and keep their day jobs; I sympathize with them — it’s a lot of work. I chose to “wing-it” and I hit some serious rough spots financially, but eventually I pulled through.
Everyone has their own comfort level, but I think once you finally decide to do it you have to be willing to sacrifice — a lot! I gave up weekends for a very long time. I worked until the wee hours of the morning.
It’s tempting, when you work from home, to take the afternoon off and shop or meet a friend, but I kept at it — always available. My response time was fast, my turnaround time even faster, and I followed up with clients too.
I realize this may not be for everyone. Relationships can suffer when you’re at your computer 12 hours a day. You may not get dressed for days at a time. You may think you’re losing your social skills. But I don’t think I could have done it any other way.
***********************************************
Jennifer Lawler: Writer, Editor
Bio: Jennifer Lawler has written twenty published books (with several more forthcoming.) Her books include Dojo Wisdom: 100 Simple Ways to Become a Stronger, Calmer, More Courageous Person, Martial Arts for Dummies, Martial Arts for Women, and many more. She earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do in 1994. Now a second-dan, she has taught Tae Kwon Do and self-defense for many years. She has been a tournament competitor and judge.
Lawler holds a PhD in English (medieval literature) from the University of Kansas and taught college literature and writing courses for six years before turning to writing full-time.
She has written for publications such as Black Belt magazine, Weight Watchers magazine, Family Circle, American Fitness and American Writer. She has freelanced as a developmental editor for companies such as McGraw-Hill, Collectors Press and Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins.
1. Why did you start freelancing?
I had always wanted to be a writer, and had done projects of writing and editing on a moonlighting basis for many years, hoping that at some point I could make it my career. But graduate school, a teaching career and other pursuits interfered with that goal.
When my daughter came along, she had medical problems and I couldn’t continue teaching (which I had been doing), so I started writing and editing part-time. When I divorced her father, I was on my own with a disabled child to care for (she couldn’t be in daycare), so I had to make freelancing work. I couldn’t just go get a job and think everything would work out.
2. How long have you been a full-time freelancer?
Since 2000. I’ve been doing it as a moonlighter/part-timer since 1990.
3. How many years of experience do you have?
Counting moonlighting work, 13 years.
4. Do you specialize in a certain area, e.g., legal, medical, production? If so, what?
In my writing, yes, I specialize in a certain areas (self-help, reference). I’m more of a generalist with my editing, probably because it is something that I’ve always used to supplement my writing income, not as a business I place my sole focus on.
I have only edited for the book publishing industry. Some of the smaller publishers like working with me because it’s “one-stop” shopping — I can edit a manuscript, write cover copy, produce a pitch letter, etc — whatever they need. But I’m not convinced this is the best way to go.
***************************************
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE
DEDICATION
THE AUTHOR’S STORY
THE CONTRIBUTORS
Getting Started: What It’s Really Like — One Freelancer Spills the Beans
Mridu Khullar: Writer, Editor, Webmaster
Tanja Rostech: Technical Writer
Eileen Coale: Marketing & Corporate Communications Writer
Marcy L. Brown: Cataloging, Indexing & Information Management
Jennifer Meacham: Journalist, Writer, Editor, Speaker
Cathy Moore: Writer, Instructional & Marketing Copy
Jennifer Lawler: Writer, Editor
Richard Adin: Desktop Publishing & Copyediting Services
George Sheldon: Writer, Author, Speaker
Nan Yielding: Copywriter
Rachel Goldstein: Web Developer, Graphic Designer, Muralist
Katharine O’Moore-Klopf: Editor, Copy Editor, Factchecker
One Freelancer’s Pearls of Wisdom
FINANCES FOR FREELANCERS
SUMMARIZING THE CONTRIBUTORS
$9.95
6 Reasons You Shouldn’t Be Afraid to Freelance – What 1,200 Freelancers Said about Their Careers and Their Lives That Can Inspire You to Make the Leap
September 20, 2011
Since 1997, except for an 18-month stint where I had a job as a Regional Director of Recruiting, I’ve been self-employed. Most of my freelance work has been in the editorial industry; since 1993, I’ve been a freelance writer (editor, proofreader, copy editor, word processor).
I point this out to say, I’ve been out there on my own for a while.
Some of the Biggest Fears that Freelancers Face
One of the biggest obstacles that many have that prevents them from striking out on their own is fear . . .
Fear of if they’ll be able to make a go freelancing;
Fear that they won’t get paid as a freelancer;
Fear that they won’t get paid enough for their freelance work;
Fear that they won’t get paid on time if they freelance;
Fear that if they freelance, ______________ (you fill in the blank).
I receive tons of questions all the time from wannabe freelancers who are afraid to make the leap. And, I think that the reason so many are fearful is that there’s not a lot of cohesive, detailed information out there on freelancers as a whole.
Taking the Fear Out of Freelancing
This is why I was so glad to run across a link by @LinguaGreca on Twitter to a study that revealed some in-depth information about freelancers. The study was sponsored by the International Freelancers Day online conference. The findings were put together and released as The 2011 Freelance Industry Report.
More than 1,200 professionals – from various industries – provided detailed info about their businesses and lives as freelancers. The 53-page report puts to rest a lot of the fears surrounding freelancing.
6 Freelance Fears Put to Rest
Following are six reasons you shouldn’t be afraid to freelance – as the findings in this report underscore.
Freelancing Fear #1: I Won’t Be Able to Earn Enough to Pay My Bills
The information in the report shot this theory to hell. It showed that:
Freelancers earn healthy rates for their work. Although the range varies widely, 45% of freelancers earn between $20 – $59 per hour. Furthermore, 26% earn $80 or more per hour and 17% earn $100 or more per hour.
And not for nothing, but the survey showed that, “Just over half of freelancers are the primary income earners in their household.”
Freelancing Fear #2: It Will Be Hard to Find Clients
Amazingly, while this was a top concern among freelancers, the number who worried about it wasn’t nearly as high as you’d think. According to the report, less than a quarter (22%) cited it as a challenge.
Conversely, this means that almost 80% had no problems finding clients – or at least didn’t cite it as a major concern.
It underscores what I’ve always felt as a freelance writer especially – even through dry spells – ie, that there’s plenty of work out there if you’re willing to be proactive about going after it.
Freelancing Fear #3: Freelancing Doesn’t Provide Job Stability – What Happens If the Economy Tanks
This is a big one for many who want to make the leap to freelancing full-time. And it’s understandable, especially if you have a family with tiny, dependent mouths to feed. But the survey puts this one to rest big time. What did it reveal?
The majority of freelancers (52%) either have not been impacted by the economy or have faced only a very minor impact. Only 19% said that they have been significantly affected.
Furthermore, freelancers tended to be overwhelmingly optimistic. Over three-quarters (78%) said that they are optimistic about their business prospects over the next year. How many job holders can say that?
As I wrote in the end-of-year post, Want a Freelance Writing Career? Here’s How to Achieve That Dream in 2010:
Many shy away from freelancing in search of job stability. I quite frankly don’t think there is such a thing anymore. Many of the jobs in manufacturing, for example, have disappeared – and they’re not coming back. And in our field, journalism, jobs are disappearing at an alarming rate.
I argue that freelancing is the new form of job stability.
I’d much rather freelance and have 30 or 40 clients I depend on for my living, than 1 client (an employer) to provide for me.
Freelancing Fear #4: It’s Hard to Freelance Part-Time and Be Successful
I started my freelance career while working a full-time job; I’m not gonna lie, it wasn’t easy and and I didn’t have kids or a husband so could work as much as I wanted. And I did; I worked all the time. But, I enjoyed the money I made and it eventually allowed me to transition from a full-time job into a full-time freelance career.
Unless you have a stockpile of cash, it’s sometimes the only way it can be done. And, this survey proves this, highlighting that “accidental freelancers” do more than ok, ie:
. . . 80% of these “accidental” freelancers are much happier now than they were as employees. Seventy-four percent of them are also optimistic about their business prospects. And fully 30% of them are earning $80 or more per hour.
Freelancing Fear #5: The Hunt for Work Is Always On – It’s Too Stressful
Freelancing can be a stressful career because there is no paycheck at the end of the week. But, one thing the survey underscored that even puts this fear to rest is that an amazing number of freelancers do achieve what amounts to “job stability.”
The survey found that:
A surprising number (42%) of freelancers tend to work for a client for one year or longer, a clear sign that solo professionals do great work and that client loyalty does indeed exist. In fact, 26% report that they often work with clients for two years or longer.
I can attest to this first hand. I’d say that about a third of my clients are long-timers – a year or more. I’d estimate that about 20-25% are with me for two years or more.
All you need is a few of these (3-5), depending on what your rate is and your monthly bills are – to cover your necessary expenses. So even when times are lean, you can still pay the rent/mortgage.
Freelancing Fear #6: I Won’t Have a Life – I’ll Be Working All the Time & Too Burnt Out to Enjoy “The Freelance Life”
Nuh ugh. According to findings in the survey:
Forty-eight percent said they had more free time than they did when they held a job, and another 18% said it was about the same as it was before becoming a freelancer.
Other Important Facts about Freelancing this Survey Highlighted
Marketing Rules
The survey found that more experience freelancers were MORE affected by the economy than their newer counterparts. But, it explained it in the following manner:
. . . one hypothesis could be that more experienced freelancers tend to stop or slow down their marketing efforts altogether as they get more deeply entrenched with one or two clients. This strategy works well in a healthy economy, but when conditions deteriorate, many are left without a viable prospect pipeline.
Bottom line: Us old-timers tend to get more complacent than newbies, who tend to stay on their marketing a bit more. This is because many old-timers know how to bring in the business when they need to though.
The lesson for all freelancers here is to market all the time – never stop marketing no matter how busy you get.
Freelance Writers Are One Niche Who Are Especially Optimistic about Their Business Prospects
The survey showed that:
Web developers (46%), writers (45%) and marketing professionals (44%) were more likely to feel extremely optimistic about their respective businesses’ outlook over the next year than their counterparts in other professions. Conversely, translators (14%) and business consultants (13%) were the most pessimistic.
And maybe it’s because . . .
Translators (41%) are more likely to spend less time prospecting than their peers in other fields. . . . Copywriters have the highest concentration of freelancers spending 16 to 20 or more hours per month promoting their businesses.
Female Freelancers Out Earn Their Male Counterparts
According to the April 2010 Time magazine article, Why Do Women Still Earn Less Than Men?:
U.S. women still earned only 77 cents on the male dollar in 2008, according to the latest census statistics. (That number drops to 68% for African-American women and 58% for Latinas.)
But, at least for freelancers – up to a certain point – females outearn their male counterparts. The survey found that:
. . . women freelancers out-earn their male counterparts in every rate level from $11 to $89. It’s not until the $90+ per-hour range that men out-earn women (something that definitely needs to change).
Freelancing Allows You to Remove a Lot of the “Isms” from Your Life (Ageism, Sexism, Racism)
Because you can hide behind your computer if you want, you don’t have to worry about a lot of the discrimination you’d face in the traditional workplace. This may explain why the vast majority of freelancers are women (67%), and why older workers and much younger ones take up freelancing.
Fully 10% of respondents were 60 or older. And 14% were either in their teens or twenties. The largest represented group in the survey was the 30 – 39 segment (28%), closely followed by those in their 40s (25%) and 50s (24%).
The Longer You Freelance, the Happier You Are
Freelancers report being happier overall being self-employed (59%), and the survey found that the longer people freelanced, they happier they tended to be, ie:
66% of those who have been freelancing for 10 years or longer felt strongly about being self-employed, vs. 51% of those who have been freelancing for one year or less.
As a long-time freelancer, my take on this is that you know more; you get more confident in your skills and abilities; in your ability to bring in the business; and you’ve lived all the up and down cycles of freelancing – so it’s less stressful.
Is Freelancing Becoming the New Workforce Norm?
According to the report, numbers compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that one-third of the U.S. workforce is self-employed, part-time or contingent freelancing. And, since these figures were compiled in 2005, the number of self-employed professionals has increased as businesses everywhere have downsized and workers have given up their job search in favor of the solo route.
Now that you have some actual facts to work with, it should make striking out on your own a bit less stressful . . . because as the 1,200 freelancers in this report illustrate, freelancing just might be the new workforce norm.
What’s your take on this? Is freelancing the new norm? Knowing the info here, would you feel more comfortable striking out on your own? Let me know in the comments section below.
Until next time,
Yuwanda
Find this post informative? Please RT It and Follow Inkwell Editorial on Twitter.
P.S.: Get the ebook that pushed my freelance writing career to the next level – allowing me to travel and live abroad, get out of debt and really “live the freelance life.” One freelancer wrote:
Hi Yuwanda,
Just wanted to say thank you – as a result of the advice in your SEO writing e-book, I got my first order within 12 hours of sending out my first batch of 10 marketing emails.
P.P.S.: Want to start a successful career where you have the mobility to live and work where you please? Visit our freelance writing bookstore for a ton of opportunities (freelance writing and internet marketing) to get you started.
How to Make Money Online: A Simple Tutorial for New Internet Marketers
September 18, 2011
Who This Ebook Is For
This ebook is for new internet marketers, eg:
Newbies trying to make money blogging;
Or trying their hand at affiliate marketing;
Or ebook writers/self-publishers who want to sell more ebooks;
Or website owners who want more traffic;
Or in short, anyone who wants to make money online – but are utterly and completely lost as to where to start and how to go about it.
If this sounds like you, then the information here can help. Why/how? Because it covers the foundational elements you need to know to start making money online.
Learn how to start your internet marketing career — and live life on your own terms — for only $9.95. [See all Inkwell Editorial Titles that Help You Live the Freelance Life!]
Many newbies flounder for years – and some sadly give up on ever making money online – because they never take the time to learn the foundation of how to make money on the web.
Once you understand how the web works – and some of the tech speak around it is simplified – it is much easier to put together a proactive plan to start making money (good money!) online.
How Learning the Basics of SEO / Internet Marketing Has Helped Me to Make My Living Completely Online Since 2007
I’ve been a freelance writer since 1993. In 2007, my career took off when I learned how to do SEO (search engine optimization) writing. Why? Because learning SEO writing taught me the intricacies of how the web works; specifically, how search engines find and rank sites.
Once I realized that my writing was helping clients to push (and keep) their sites to the top of search engines, I thought, “I can use this knowledge to do the same for my sites!” And I did, by creating and growing three primary income streams, which are:
(i) Writing and self-publishing my own ebooks;
(ii) Doing affiliate marketing for products produced by others; and
(iii) Niche website publishing, ie, minisite income from Google AdSense.
I’ve been able to make my living completely online since 2007. And, it all started with learning the basics of search engine optimization; the very same information discussed in this ebook. Once I had this foundational knowledge under my belt, it opened up a whole new world of possibilities. I branched out from “just” writing for clients to building my own diverse, virtual business.
Be Free to Live the Life You Want to Live
And this is freeing, because I know that no matter what happens, I can make a living on the web – from anywhere I please (as long as there’s an internet connection); and I do. I split my time between my primary residence in the states (I’m American), and Negril, Jamaica.
I don’t have to report to an office;
I don’t have to put up with a boss I don’t like;
I don’t have to commute;
I don’t have to ask for time off for vacation, sick days, etc.
My time is my own. And, this is liberating in more ways than one. How/why? Because so many barriers are moved.
Remove the “Isms” from Your Life
My race (racism) doesn’t matter
My age (ageism) doesn’t matter;
My education (elitism) level doesn’t matter; and
My gender (sexism) doesn’t matter.
The only thing that matters is that I can produce and know how to market online. You can learn how to do the same.
Here’s to your internet marketing success!
P.S.: Following is a Complete Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE, Page 4
Who This Ebook Is For, Page 5
How Learning the Basics of SEO / Internet Marketing Has Helped Me to Make My Living Completely Online Since 2007, Page 4
PART I: MY 3 STREAMS OF ONLINE INCOME, Page 5
PART II: INTERNET MARKETING – DEFINITIONS OF COMMON TERMS, Page 6
Common Internet Marketing Abbreviations & Terms, Page 6
Trusted Sources to Find Definitions of Internet Marketing Terms You Don’t Know, Page 7
PART III: WHAT IS SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION (SEO)?, Page 8
What Is a Search Engine?, Page 8
How Search Engines Work, Page 8
How Search Engines Find and Rank Sites, Page 10
PART IV: HOW TO MAKE YOUR SITE SEARCH ENGINE FRIENDLY, Page 11
PART V: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT INTERNET MARKETING, Page 19
Should I register a domain name for my company blog, or is using a free service like blogger ok?, Page 19
What’s the easiest way to start making money online?, Page 20
What’s the best way to market to start making money online?, Page 20
3 Questions That Help You Clarify Your Internet Marketing Strategy, Page 20
How much of an advertising budget should I start with in order to make money online?, Page 21
My Monthly Internet Marketing Budget: What I Spend to Make Money Online, Page 21
I’ve heard about something called the duplicate content penalty? What is it?, Page 22
Will article marketing trigger the duplicate content penalty?, Page 23
PART VI: A SHOESTRING INTERNET MARKETING STRATEGY THAT EARNS MONEY FOR EVERY INTERNET MARKETER, Page 24
PART VII: SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING – THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK FOR INTERNET MARKETERS, Page 29
Social Media Marketing Advice for New Internet Marketers, Page 29
PART VIII: WHAT IT TAKES TO SUCCEED AS AN INTERNET MARKETER, Page 31
PART IX: HOW I MAKE MONEY ONLINE: EXAMPLES THAT HELP YOU SEE HOW YOU TOO CAN EARN MONEY ON THE WEB, Page 33
Income Stream #1: Writing and Self-Publishing Ebooks/E-Courses, Page 33
Why Good Search Engine Ranking Means Dollars in Your Pocket, Page 35
Income Stream #2: Affiliate Marketing, Page 36
Affiliate Earnings: How It Changed My Life (Debt Freedom!), Page 36
How I Started to Make Good Money Online as an Affiliate Marketer, Page 36
5 Lessons about Affiliate Marketing Every Newbie Should Know, Page 37
Income Stream #3: Niche Minisites, Page 39
Google AdSense: What It Is and How to Make Money Online with It, Page 40
How to Get Google Ads on Your Site, Page 40
3 Lessons about Publishing Niche Websites Every Newbie Should Know, Page 41
PART X: HOW LEARNING SEO CHANGED MY LIFE — AND CAN CHANGE YOURS TOO, Page 43
Be Free to Live the Life You Want to Live, Page 43
Remove the “Isms” from Your Life, Page 43
ABOUT THE AUTHOR, Page 44
Start making money online today for only $9.95. [See all Inkwell Editorial Titles that Help You Live the Freelance Life!]
Lady GaGa and Me: What Freelance Writers Can Learn from Rock and Rollers
September 14, 2011
The following is a guest post by John Coutts.
My Connection with Lady Gaga
I know… The title implies I have some connection with Lady GaGa, the ofttimes outrageous and popular singer. I don’t. I was just trying to make an obscure point.
You see, Lady GaGa has a song called “You and I.” You may have heard it, and you may even like it. I confess I like it. I’m not a Lady GaGa fan by no stretch of the imagination, but the girl has talent, and it’s a good song. It’s a pity about the grammar though…
I’m always amused at the number of times I see people writing “you and I.” When they speak they will usually say, “you and me,” but there’s a perception that “you and I” is the correct form, and should be used every time. It’s certainly the correct form sometimes, but not every time, for grammar has rules and sometimes the rules say the correct form is “you and me.”
The lady can teach you a thing or two about grammar. Photo courtesy of LadyGagaPics.org.
This takes us back to Lady GaGa. Her song, while entertaining and pleasing to listen to, is grammatically wrong. A line in the song says, “There’s something between, baby, you and I.” So, how do I know it’s bad grammar?
When to Use You and I
Without being technical and telling you about sentence subjects and objects and the rules that govern them, let me just say that there is a very easy and simple way to know which form should be used.
When you need to know whether to use “you and I,” or “you and me” in a sentence, simply drop the “you” part and see if it sounds right. Taking Lady GaGa’s song example, we end up with, “There’s something between, baby, I.” Hmmm…
Something’s not right there, but substituting “I” for “me” works: “There’s something between, baby, me.” The inclusion of “baby” in this sentence does tend to confuse the issue a bit so dropping that word, which won’t affect the meaning, might help you to see it a bit clearer.
Lady GaGa’s song should have been entitled, “You and Me.” Then the line would have read, “There’s something between, baby, you and me.” Would the song have suffered in some way by being grammatically correct? No, I can’t see how it would. To my ears, at least, it wouldn’t jar as much, but I suppose you could say it’s simply artistic or poetic licence. I don’t think so. I think it’s just bad grammar.
Ironically, Lady GaGa makes exactly the opposite mistake in her song, “Bad Romance.” She sings a line that goes, “You and me could write a bad romance.” Sorry Miss GaGa, but that’s an example of where it should have been “you and I.”
Yes, it really is!
Is Lady GaGa alone in displaying bad grammar in her songs? No, sadly she is not.
Other Rockers Who’ve Committed the “You and I” Sin
Bryan Adams in his song, “Run to You” has a line, “But that’d change if she ever found out about you and I.” It’s the same bad grammar – no one finds out about I, but they may find out about me.
Another example is Eric Carmen with “Hungry Eyes” where he sings a line that goes, “I feel the magic between you and I.”
Queen did it too with “Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy.” When Freddie Mercury sang, “I’d like for you and I to go romancing.”
Sadly, there are more examples of the “you and I” bad grammar variety in song, but I won’t bore you with a full list. I’m sure you get the picture. Other examples of poorly thought out song lyrics certainly exist.
For example, Bob Dylan has been described as a poet, And arguable, that he is. He’s written some of the finest song lyrics to be found in modern music, but even he gets it wrong occasionally. His big hit, “Lay Lady Lay” should, grammatically speaking at least, have been entitled, “Lie, Lady Lie.”
Bob Dylan and the Difference Between Lay and Lie
I know, I know . . . it doesn’t quite have the same inspirational spark. But, that’s grammar for you. Using the word “lay” requires an object, as in, laying a plate on the table, for example. Assuming a horizontal bodily position on a surface, a bed for example, is where you should use the word “lie,” not “lay.”
It gets worse…
Justin Timberlake May Need Grammar Lessons
How about this: “When you cheated girl, my heart bleeded girl.” Do you see anything wrong with those words? I hope you do, and sorry, all you Justin Timberlake fans, but bad grammar is bad grammar, wherever it is found. The past tense of bleed is not bleeded. There may seem to be some logic there, but that’s the English language for you. The correct word to use should have been the past participle, “bled.”
Hank Williams: I Can’t Get Your Grammar “Off Of” My Mind
Hank Williams immortalized a fine example of entrenched American phraseology with one of his songs entitled, “I Can’t Get You Off Of My Mind.” I’ve been told with great authority that the “off of” dualism is simply an example of American English. Sorry. There’s no such thing. It’s bad English grammar, that’s all.
The song title, grammatically speaking, should have been, “I Can’t Get You Off My Mind.”
Michael Jackson, Elvis, The Beatles, John Lennon . . . Grammar Lessons Can Help You Too
The more I look at popular songs and the people who sing them, the more I realize there’s hardly anyone who hasn’t used bad grammar in a song. The list is almost endless, and includes such well-known luminaries as Elvis, The Beatles, Elton John, ABBA, AC/DC, The Beach Boys, Beyonce, Michael Jackson, Police, Diana Ross, Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, The Rolling Stones, Andy Williams and Madonna – to name a few.
God Bless the U.S.A.: We Need Grammar Lessons?
OK, time to expose something patriotic. I know, I know… Patriotism, however mawkish, sentimental and emotional it may be, is allowed to just be itself. Maybe so, but as I have already mentioned, bad grammar is still bad grammar. Take Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” for example. There’s a line in that song that goes, “I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free.”
What’s wrong with that, you may ask?
Being a proud American and knowing you are free, isn’t the problem. You just can’t say it like that if you want to retain good grammar.
The word, “where” refers to a place, and the word, “American” that precedes it, is not a place. That’s the simple explanation.
Using the word “where” means you should be able to refer back to an actual place. For example, saying, “I live in America, where at least I know I’m free” is fine, but stating you are an American, and following that statement with “where” is, I’m afraid, bad grammar.
When Bad Grammar Works
Some songs have been deliberately written to show bad grammar. One perfect example is the B side of a Louis Jordan single from 1944. The song is called, “Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby.” The grammar is so bad that it’s actually good. The song has been covered by such well-known entertainers as Bing Crosby, Nat “King” Cole, Dinah Washington and B.B. King.
This goes to show you can get away with bad grammar in a song, but only if you make sure it is really bad and deliberately so. Otherwise, you and I will know the difference – and that, incidentally, is the correct use of “you and I.”
About the Author: John Coutts mainly writes for a living, and he also creates stunning photo video slideshow presentations that are usually grammar-free. Each slideshow uses customers’ own digital photos, and have professional background music and special visual effects added. A video slideshow is the perfect way to remember anniversaries, special occasions and events.
Ebook Returns: 16 Ways to Minimize Them and Sell More Ebooks Online
September 9, 2011
PREFACE
Every time I get an ebook return, I wonder what I could have done better to prevent it.
I think, “I was clear about the info included, why are they requesting a refund?” This feeling quickly subsides though because it doesn’t happen that often.
Learn how to decrease your ebook returns for only $6.97.
[See all Inkwell Editorial Titles that Help You Live the Freelance Life!]
Ebook Returns: Who Can Benefit from This Information
Before we go any further I want to say, this ebook is not for every ebook writer, publisher and/or seller. While much of the information within will apply to many ebook writers, publishers and sellers, the material here is specifically for those who deal in the how-to, non-fiction genre.
With that being said, let’s start the discussion.
My Firm’s Ebook Return Rate
I’m lucky, less than 1% of those who purchase ebooks from InkwellEditorial.com (my company) request a refund. I’ve been selling ebooks online since 2004 and went back through almost three years of records (and yes, my eyes are bleary from looking at all those numbers).
I ran my return numbers from PayPal from January 1, 2009 through August 29, 2011 – just from my website, InkwellEditorial.com (not Amazon or Clickbank or Lulu – other places I sell ebooks).
I chose this time period because (i) it was the most recent as of this writing; and (ii) before then I wasn’t logging almost daily sales like I do now.
Following is what I found . . .
NUMBER OF TRANSACTIONS: 2569
ITEMS SOLD: 2990
I processed exactly 20 refunds out of over 2,500 transactions.
Ebook Returns: What I Gleaned from My Research on Ebook Returns
Roughly that anything less than this percent seems to be about the norm.
But again – this can’t be stressed enough – your ebook return rate depends a lot on some key factors.
With this researched info in mind, following are 16 things you can do to minimize ebook returns.
Following is the complete Table of Contents for this Ebook
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE, Page 5
Ebook Returns: Who Can Benefit from This Information, Page 5
My Firm’s Ebook Return Rate, Page 5
Ebook Returns: Some Industry Stats, Page
A Successful “Pro Blogger” Discusses His Ebook Return Rate, Page 6
WarriorForum Ebook Return Discussion, Page 6
The Clickbank Refund Rate, Page 6
$1,200 in 11 Days in Clickbank Sales, Page 7
Some Reasons for Higher-Than-Average Clickbank Ebook Return Rates, Page 8
Ebook Returns: What I Gleaned from My Research, Page 8
I. PROVIDE A COMPLETE TABLE OF CONTENTS, Page 9
Writing the Best Ebook You Can: Why a Table of Contents Is Critical, Page 9
II. CONTENT DELIVERY, Page 10
How to Write Content that Decreases Ebook Returns, Page 10
III. DON’T WRITE CRAP!, Page 11
IV. AUTO DELIVERY, Page 12
V. CUSTOMER SERVICE – HOW QUICKLY TO RESPOND TO CUSTOMERS, Page 13
My Experience with Ebook Returns: How Quickly to Respond to Buyers to Lessen the Chance That They’ll Request a Refund, Page 13
Message to Ebook Buyers that Helps Minimize Ebook Returns, Page 14
How to Make Contact Easy to Minimize Ebook Returns, Page 14
Why Many Who Request Ebook Refunds Really Don’t Want Their Money Back, Page 15
VI. ASK FOR FEEDBACK, Page 16
The 80/20 Rule of Marketing, Page 16
VII. CONDUCT KEYWORD RESEARCH TO PREVENT EBOOK RETURNS, Page 18
The Secret to Making Sure Your Ebook Will Sell Before You Write It, Page 19
VIII. WRITE AN AUTHOR BIO, Page 20
3 Things I Do in My Author Bio That Helps to Decrease Ebook Returns, Page 21
IX. DEVELOP A REFUND POLICY, Page 23
X. WRITE FROM EXPERIENCE, Page 24
3 Reasons Writing from First-Hand Experience Decreases Ebook Returns, Page 24
Ebook Writing Tip for New, Nonfiction Ebook Writers, Page 26
XI. SPELL OUT WHO EBOOK IS FOR, Page 27
XII. PRICE IT RIGHT, Page 28
3 Things to Consider When Pricing Your Ebook to Mitigate Returns, Page 28
XIII. START A BLOG/WEBSITE, Page 30
Decrease Ebook Returns: 4 Reasons Starting a Blog / Website Will Help Minimize Returns, Page 30
XIV. REMIND CUSTOMERS WHO THEY’RE ORDERING FROM, Page 33
XV. SIGN UP WITH PAYPAL, Page 34
Ebook Returns and PayPal: Insight for Ebook Writers, Publishers and Sellers, Page 34
When You Can and Can’t Get a Refund on Ebooks via PayPal, Page 34
4 Reasons NOT to Go the “We Accept PayPal Payments Only” Route, Page 35
I Don’t Understand the Whole PayPal Thing – How Can I Purchase with a Credit Card Using PayPal?, Page 35
Why Using PayPal Is a Safe Way to Shop Online, Page 35
A Couple of Commonly Asked Questions about PayPal, Page 35
Why Using PayPal Can Decrease Ebook Returns, Page 36
XVI: EBOOK SOFTWARE, Page 37
ABOUT THE AUTHOR, Page 38
Learn how to decrease your ebook returns for only $6.97.
[See all Inkwell Editorial Titles that Help You Live the Freelance Life!]
Freelance Writing Work: How to Bring in the Jobs Now That the Busy Fall Season Is Here
September 6, 2011
As pointed out in the last post, now that summer is unofficially over, the busy fall season is here. This means that ad spending is about to begin – for holiday campaigns, end of year clearance sales, New Year’s specials, etc.
What does this mean? More freelance writing work is on the horizon. Are you ready to market for it?
Here’s Help on How to Land More Freelance Writing Gigs This Fall
If not, this is just a quick reminder that the fall marketing tutorial for freelance writers can help you focus your marketing efforts. It discusses how to negotiate your freelance writing rates, how to work more and earn less, how to market for higher-paying clients, how to create effective email queries – and more.
FYI, see links to more relevant posts below that can help you land more freelance writing jobs.
For U.S. readers, hope you enjoyed the Labor Day holiday weekend. To all Inkwell Editorial visitors, here’s to a profitable fall season.
Best,
Yuwanda
Find this post informative? Please RT It and Follow Inkwell Editorial on Twitter.
P.S.: Get the ebook that pushed my freelance writing career to the next level – allowing me to travel and live abroad, get out of debt and really “live the freelance life.” One freelancer wrote:
Hi Yuwanda,
Just wanted to say thank you – as a result of the advice in your SEO writing e-book, I got my first order within 12 hours of sending out my first batch of 10 marketing emails.
P.P.S.: Want to start a successful career where you have the mobility to live and work where you please? Visit our freelance writing bookstore for a ton of opportunities (freelance writing and internet marketing) to get you started.
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