Now, on to today’s post.
***************************

Last week, I received the following email from a fellow freelance writer about pen names. She wrote:

QUESTION

Hi there Yuwanda,

Did you use a pen name early in your writing career, or is Yuwanda Black your real name? I write for Helium, Brighthub etc under a pen name. These sites actually have a spot where you can actually put it in. But I wonder as I move forward with my writing career whether it’s ok to keep using the pen name, or will I look unprofessional, or does it not matter as long as I’m upfront with the client.

thanks for sharing
L-

MY ANSWER

I fired off a short answer, as I didn’t have time to get into detail, and I wanted to save my longer response for this week’s newsletter. The short answer I gave was:

You must be a subscriber to read the rest of this post. Don’t worry, it’s free! See subscriber details below.

Submit a Guest Post: This site and its sister site, SeoWritingJobs.com, now accepts guest posts.   Get the guest post submission guidelines.

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.

P.P.S.: Want an easy, fast way to get started in affiliate marketing, making as much as $50, $100 or $150/day? Get How to Make Money Placing Ads on Free Classified Ad Sites (ie, Backpage.com). If you want to make some easy money promoting affiliate products on free classified ad sites, this ebook is for you. I’ve personally sold tens of thousands of dollars of e-products (my own and affiliate products) doing this since January 2009.

Note: As of April 6, you must be a subscriber to read new content on InkwellEditorial.com and its sister site on SEO writing, SeoWritingJobs.com. New content includes all posts written after 4/6/2010 (4/7/2010 on SeoWritingJobs.com).

To subscribe, simply look for the subscriber box to the top right-hand side of the page. There’s one on every page of the site.

Of course, your contact information is protected — it is never sold, rented, leased or compromised in any way. It is used solely to send you information from InkwellEditorial.com (and its sister site, SeoWritingJobs.com) about freelance writing.

Why Subscribe? Get Real, First-Hand Advice from All Types of Freelance Writers

Week in and week out here, you get first-hand “freelance writing stories from the trenches.” I routinely relay my freelance writing experiences — everything from setting rates, to how to market, to knowing when to say no to a project. Also, I answer questions – in great detail (no fluff here!) — from other freelancers writers (new and experienced).

Recent posts you may have missed by not being a subscriber include:

Why I Turned Down a $2,000 – $3,000 Freelance Writing Job That Could Have Led to Even More Work and

How to Land More Clients by Making Your SEO Writing Stand Out from Others.

I look forward to having you as a subscriber.

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

SEO Copywriting Training.  You’ll learn 4 ways to make money online using your newly acquired skills. Get full details on the SEO copywriting training this ecourse offers and sign up today.

Copyright © 2010: All material on this site is copyright protected and cannot be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without my written consent (linking to is fine).

I decided to write this post after receiving an email from a fellow SEO writer last week. She wrote:

Hi Yuwanda,

First let me say thanks for answering my question(s) in your previous blog posts.   I am writing to let you know, that I had my first $200 day after following the steps you outline in your e-book.  . . .  I am writing 5 articles on a travel destination, and they are a local company. They said if they like my work, they will have much more in store, and are willing to pay higher fees.    

For some reason, I thought your advice would only work for you.  I know, call me naive, but I guess it seemed too good to be true.  Luckily, I discovered you and liked what you had to say.  If it wasn’t for you, I think I would still be trying to break into magazine writing.   (Is it okay if I say thank you now, for all the blog post you respond to.  I know that I will have more questions along the way).   Speaking of,  I don’t know if this is an issue for many writers, but my issue is  giving a turn around time (emphasis added).   I know you have a team of writers, and I am not at that point yet.   So, I don’t feel comfortable giving a 24 hr turn around time. The reason being is because I like to:

• Research
• Write down notes (short hand)
• let the research marinate in my brain
• ( think  of possible angles)
• write the first draft short hand( if I am not writing with a paper & pen, I feel like I’m not writing)
• Read the first draft ( make changes if necessary)
• Type the final draft
• Re-read the final draft( make changes if necessary)

As you can see this process takes a while.  For these particular articles, they paid me on Monday and I let them know that I will have the project to them by Friday.  They were totally okay with it, because they said they have a 2 week deadline.   I would like my deadline to be 48-72 hrs because I refuse to churn out “crap” (as you stated in your previous blog post).  And, I want my creative process to flow.  Is there anything wrong with that?

MY ANSWER

There’s an art to establishing freelance writing deadlines and turnaround times. As I’ve been at this for almost 20 years, I’m pretty good at looking over a project and determining how long it’s going to take.

If you’re not quite there yet in terms of experience, following are 5 guidelines you can use to set realistic deadlines that clients will be happy with – and that won’t stress you out.

You must be a subscriber to read the rest of this post. Don’t worry, it’s free! See subscriber details below.

Submit a Guest Post: This site and its sister site, SeoWritingJobs.com, now accepts guest posts.   Get the guest post submission guidelines.

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.

P.P.S.: Want an easy, fast way to get started in affiliate marketing, making as much as $50, $100 or $150/day? Get How to Make Money Placing Ads on Free Classified Ad Sites (ie, Backpage.com). If you want to make some easy money promoting affiliate products on free classified ad sites, this ebook is for you. I’ve personally sold tens of thousands of dollars of e-products (my own and affiliate products) doing this since January 2009.

Note: As of April 6, you must be a subscriber to read new content on InkwellEditorial.com and its sister site on SEO writing, SeoWritingJobs.com. New content includes all posts written after 4/6/2010 (4/7/2010 on SeoWritingJobs.com).

To subscribe, simply look for the subscriber box to the top right-hand side of the page. There’s one on every page of the site.

Of course, your contact information is protected — it is never sold, rented, leased or compromised in any way. It is used solely to send you information from InkwellEditorial.com (and its sister site, SeoWritingJobs.com) about freelance writing.

Why Subscribe? Get Real, First-Hand Advice from All Types of Freelance Writers

Week in and week out here, you get first-hand “freelance writing stories from the trenches.” I routinely relay my freelance writing experiences — everything from setting rates, to how to market, to knowing when to say no to a project. Also, I answer questions – in great detail (no fluff here!) — from other freelancers writers (new and experienced).

Recent posts you may have missed by not being a subscriber include:

Why I Turned Down a $2,000 – $3,000 Freelance Writing Job That Could Have Led to Even More Work and

How to Land More Clients by Making Your SEO Writing Stand Out from Others.

I look forward to having you as a subscriber.

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

SEO Copywriting Training.  You’ll learn 4 ways to make money online using your newly acquired skills. Get full details on the SEO copywriting training this ecourse offers and sign up today.

Copyright © 2010: All material on this site is copyright protected and cannot be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without my written consent (linking to is fine).

Today as I was doing my “industry reading,” I came across a poll on FreelanceSwitch.com, a popular site for all kind of creative freelancers, eg, web designers, SEO writers, bloggers, social media experts, etc. The creator of the poll simply wanted to know how old the readers of the site were, ie, how old the average freelancer is (http://bit.ly/cnDF8q)?

I was surprised by how extremely young some of the freelancers were – and a bit disappointed to see that there weren’t that many over 50. What really stood out to me though is that no matter the age, most didn’t regret taking the plunge.

Freelancing at 13 Years Old

Some of the respondents reported starting to freelance at a mere 13 years old (see comments section of the above-linked-to post; really interesting insight). This shouldn’t have surprised me, considering that kids these days know how to navigate a keyboard practically before they learn how to write.

But my age group (35-49) wasn’t nearly as large as I thought it would be. It wasn’t even 20% at the time I voted and saw the results. Those over 50 represented less than 5%. This got me to thinking . . .

Does Freelancing Get Harder As You Get Older?

I’ve been freelancing since 1993, and in my opinion . . .

You must be a subscriber to read the rest of this post. Don’t worry, it’s free! See subscriber details below.

Submit a Guest Post: This site and its sister site, SeoWritingJobs.com, now accepts guest posts.   Get the guest post submission guidelines.

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.

P.P.S.: Want an easy, fast way to get started in affiliate marketing, making as much as $50, $100 or $150/day? Get How to Make Money Placing Ads on Free Classified Ad Sites (ie, Backpage.com). If you want to make some easy money promoting affiliate products on free classified ad sites, this ebook is for you. I’ve personally sold tens of thousands of dollars of e-products (my own and affiliate products) doing this since January 2009.

Note: As of April 6, you must be a subscriber to read new content on InkwellEditorial.com and its sister site on SEO writing, SeoWritingJobs.com. New content includes all posts written after 4/6/2010 (4/7/2010 on SeoWritingJobs.com).

To subscribe, simply look for the subscriber box to the top right-hand side of the page. There’s one on every page of the site.

Of course, your contact information is protected — it is never sold, rented, leased or compromised in any way. It is used solely to send you information from InkwellEditorial.com (and its sister site, SeoWritingJobs.com) about freelance writing.

Why Subscribe? Get Real, First-Hand Advice from All Types of Freelance Writers

Week in and week out here, you get first-hand “freelance writing stories from the trenches.” I routinely relay my freelance writing experiences — everything from setting rates, to how to market, to knowing when to say no to a project. Also, I answer questions – in great detail (no fluff here!) — from other freelancers writers (new and experienced).

Recent posts you may have missed by not being a subscriber include:

Why I Turned Down a $2,000 – $3,000 Freelance Writing Job That Could Have Led to Even More Work and

How to Land More Clients by Making Your SEO Writing Stand Out from Others.

I look forward to having you as a subscriber.

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

SEO Copywriting Training.  You’ll learn 4 ways to make money online using your newly acquired skills. Get full details on the SEO copywriting training this ecourse offers and sign up today.

Copyright © 2010: All material on this site is copyright protected and cannot be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without my written consent (linking to is fine).

Sometimes as writers, when the going gets tough, we get disheartened. We begin to question why we are writing in the first place. Surely it would easier to make a living doing something else! It is at times like these that we need a pep-talk of sorts. We need someone to come along side us and remind us why we began writing in the first place.
 
Here are ten reasons from writers throughout history that I have compiled to encourage us and remind us why we have chosen writing as a profession:
 
1. You are Good At It
 
I am a writer because writing is the thing I do best. ~Flannery O’Connor – an American novelist, short-story writer and essayist who wrote two novels and 32 short stories, as well as a number of reviews and commentaries
 
2. It Gives a Sense of Identity, a Sense of Belonging
 
For a man who no longer has a homeland, writing becomes a place to live. ~Theodor Adorno – a German-born international sociologist, philosopher, and musicologist
 
3. It Makes You Feel Good
 
Writing is the supreme solace. ~Somerset Maugham – a playwright, novelist and short story writer who was reputedly the highest paid author during the 1930s
 
Words are the most powerful drug used by mankind. ~Rudyard Kipling – a British author and poet best known for writing The Jungle Book
 
4. To Leave a Mark
 
If you would not be forgotten,
as soon as you are dead and rotten,
either write things worth reading,
or do things worth the writing.

~Benjamin Franklin – one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, he was also a leading author and printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat
 
5. To Spread Knowledge
 
No one suggests that writing about science will turn the entire world into a model of judgment and creative thought. It will be enough if they spread the knowledge as widely as possible. ~Isaac Asimov – an award-winning American author and professor of biochemistry, best known for his works of science fiction
 
6. Not for Money
 
There’s no money in poetry, but then there’s no poetry in money either. ~Robert Graves – an English poet, translator and novelist who produced more than 140 works during his lifetime
 
7. It is Who You Are
 
We do not write because we want to; we write because we have to. ~Somerset Maugham – a playwright, novelist and short story writer who was reputedly the highest paid author during the 1930s
 
8. To Learn and Grow
 
The best way to become acquainted with a subject is to write a book about it. ~Benjamin Disraeli – a British Prime Minister, parliamentarian, Conservative statesman and literary figure
 
Writing is making sense of life. You work your whole life and perhaps you’ve made sense of one small area. ~Nadine Gordimer – a South African writer, political activist and Nobel laureate much of whose writing deals with racial and moral issues
 
9. To Communicate
 
Write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow. ~Lawrence Clark Powell – a librarian, literary critic, bibliographer and author of more than 100 books
 
10. For Yourself
 
Writing is a form of personal freedom. It frees us from the mass identity we see in the making all around us. In the end, writers will write not to be outlaw heroes of some underculture, but mainly to save themselves, to survive as individuals. ~Don Delillo – an author, playwright and essayist whose work details American life in the late 20th and early 21st centuries
 
Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self. ~Cyril Connolly – an English intellectual, literary critic and writer who was the editor of the influential literary magazine, Horizon
 
About the Author: Cathryn Johnson is a freelance writer. She is currently a resident writer for Accredited Online Nursing Programs, which researches areas of nursing education, online nursing programs, and healthcare. In her spare time, she enjoys travel, theater and having fun in the sun.

A Note from the Publisher (http://bit.ly/co7XCW)

I think these apply more to fiction writers. But, I still found this submission very inspiring because if you churn out words for a living, it becomes part of you. You are, after all . . .  a writer. I write for reasons #1 and #10. Why do you write? Tell me in the comments section below.

Want to be our next guest blogger? This site and its sister site, SeoWritingJobs.com, accepts guest posts.   Learn why it may benefit you to submit a blog post and get the guest post submission guidelines.

Subscribe to read all content on this site (instructions below).

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.

P.P.S.: Want an easy, fast way to get started in affiliate marketing, making as much as $50, $100 or $150/day? Get How to Make Money Placing Ads on Free Classified Ad Sites (ie, Backpage.com). If you want to make some easy money promoting affiliate products on free classified ad sites, this ebook is for you. I’ve personally sold tens of thousands of dollars of e-products (my own and affiliate products) doing this since January 2009.

Note: As of April 6, you must be a subscriber to read new content on InkwellEditorial.com and its sister site on SEO writing, SeoWritingJobs.com. New content includes all posts written after 4/6/2010 (4/7/2010 on SeoWritingJobs.com).

To subscribe, simply look for the subscriber box to the top right-hand side of the page. There’s one on every page of the site.

Of course, your contact information is protected — it is never sold, rented, leased or compromised in any way. It is used solely to send you information from InkwellEditorial.com (and its sister site, SeoWritingJobs.com) about freelance writing.

Why Subscribe? Get Real, First-Hand Advice from All Types of Freelance Writers

Week in and week out here, you get first-hand “freelance writing stories from the trenches.” I routinely relay my freelance writing experiences — everything from setting rates, to how to market, to knowing when to say no to a project. Also, I answer questions – in great detail (no fluff here!) — from other freelancers writers (new and experienced).

Recent posts you may have missed by not being a subscriber include:

Why I Turned Down a $2,000 – $3,000 Freelance Writing Job That Could Have Led to Even More Work and

How to Land More Clients by Making Your SEO Writing Stand Out from Others.

I look forward to having you as a subscriber.

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

SEO Copywriting Training.  You’ll learn 4 ways to make money online using your newly acquired skills. Get full details on the SEO copywriting training this ecourse offers and sign up today.

Copyright © 2010: All material on this site is copyright protected and cannot be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without my written consent (linking to is fine).

RE last tweet (ie, RT @LisaCollierCool: http://to.pbs.org/9zg76o). I disagree w/some of what’s said here & will address it in a post next wk

It talked about freelance writers who “toiled on content farms.” I respectfully disagree with a lot that was said in this post. The one thing that really stuck out to me though was the following.

Why You Should Never Believe What You Read on eHow.com

One freelance writer interviewed for the piece was quoted as saying:

I was completely aware that I was writing crap. . . I was like, I hope to God people don’t read my advice on how to make gin at home because they’ll probably poison themselves. . . . Never trust anything you read on eHow.com.

Maybe I’m naïve, but I was completely floored!

Many readers lambasted this writer in the comments section of the piece – which restored some of my equilibrium – and faith in my profession. You see, I was floored because in all of my years of freelance writing (since 1993), I’ve never once “knowingly” turned out crap.

I just can’t believe that someone would so willingly do this – and then have the “non shame” to admit to it. The basic argument made for this behavior was . . .

Submit a Guest Post: This site and its sister site, SeoWritingJobs.com, now accepts guest posts.   Learn why it may benefit you to submit a blog post and get the guest post submission guidelines.

Become a Subscriber to Read the Rest of This Post (Instructions Below)

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.

P.P.S.: Want an easy, fast way to get started in affiliate marketing, making as much as $50, $100 or $150/day? Get How to Make Money Placing Ads on Free Classified Ad Sites (ie, Backpage.com). If you want to make some easy money promoting affiliate products on free classified ad sites, this ebook is for you. I’ve personally sold tens of thousands of dollars of e-products (my own and affiliate products) doing this since January 2009.

Note: As of April 6, you must be a subscriber to read new content on InkwellEditorial.com and its sister site on SEO writing, SeoWritingJobs.com. New content includes all posts written after 4/6/2010 (4/7/2010 on SeoWritingJobs.com).

To subscribe, simply look for the subscriber box to the top right-hand side of the page. There’s one on every page of the site. Of course, your contact information is protected — it is never sold, rented, leased or compromised in any way. It is used solely to send you information from InkwellEditorial.com (and its sister site, SeoWritingJobs.com) about freelance writing.

Why Subscribe? Get Real, First-Hand Advice from All Types of Freelance Writers

Week in and week out here, you get first-hand “freelance writing stories from the trenches.” I routinely relay my freelance writing experiences — everything from setting rates, to how to market, to knowing when to say no to a project. Also, I answer questions – in great detail (no fluff here!) — from other freelancers writers (new and experienced).

Recent posts you may have missed by not being a subscriber include:

Why I Turned Down a $2,000 – $3,000 Freelance Writing Job That Could Have Led to Even More Work and

How to Land More Clients by Making Your SEO Writing Stand Out from Others.

I look forward to having you as a subscriber.

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

SEO Copywriting Training.  You’ll learn 4 ways to make money online using your newly acquired skills. Get full details on the SEO copywriting training this ecourse offers and sign up today.

Copyright © 2010: All material on this site is copyright protected and cannot be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without my written consent (linking to is fine).

One thing I wanted to expand on that I talked about in this post, which was originally published in 2007, and is still soooo relevant today is when and WHEN NOT TO listen to the voices of others (ie, what you may read online from others about freelance writing).

The Freelance Writing Community: Naughty or Nice?

In my opinion, “the community,” has gotten louder — and in some cases, nastier, than ever. It’s one of the things Deb Ng, formerly of the highly successful freelance writing site, FreelanceWritingGigs.com, talks about in her post entitled Why I Sold My Blog. She states:

I’ve been participating in the freelance writing online community for more than ten years. In that time I’ve seen it turn from a helpful, almost family-like community into one that’s divided over rates and content mills.

I know the feeling all too well.

People are struggling for jobs like never before, so what may seem “a pittance” to one freelance writer may be enough to put bread on the table for another. I guess I just wanted to reiterate the point that one of the reasons you go into business for yourself (which is what you do when you decide to become a freelance writer) is to make your own decisions.

Don’t be afraid to “dig deeper,” as Anderson Cooper of CNN’s AC360.com states. Find out if this (freelance writing in general, a niche in freelance writing, a rate for this article or that blog post, etc.) works for you.

My take has always been that nobody is going to pay your mortgage/rent when it’s due again. So do what’s right as a freelance writer for you and your family. If working for a content mill pays your bills — then have at it. If working for less than $50 per blog post doesn’t suit you, then don’t do it. YOU decide.

Okay, I’m off my soapbox. Here’s the entire post for this Throwback Thursday.

Enjoy.

P.S.: I know I’ve been a little lax in posting lately. But, since I’ve gotten back from Jamaica, I’ve been taking care of business and also taking advantage of the slow summer season to focus on other income streams besides freelance writing (eg, affiliate marketing). Once the busy fall season rolls around, I’ll start adhering to a more regular schedule.

Hope you’re enjoying the long, hot days of summer.

Submit a Guest Post: This site and its sister site, SeoWritingJobs.com, now accepts guest posts.   Learn why it may benefit you to submit a blog post and get the guest post submission guidelines.

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.

P.P.S.: Want an easy, fast way to get started in affiliate marketing, making as much as $50, $100 or $150/day? Get How to Make Money Placing Ads on Free Classified Ad Sites (ie, Backpage.com). If you want to make some easy money promoting affiliate products on free classified ad sites, this ebook is for you. I’ve personally sold tens of thousands of dollars of e-products (my own and affiliate products) doing this since January 2009.

Note: As of April 6, you must be a subscriber to read new content on InkwellEditorial.com and its sister site on SEO writing, SeoWritingJobs.com. New content includes all posts written after 4/6/2010 (4/7/2010 on SeoWritingJobs.com).

To subscribe, simply look for the subscriber box to the top right-hand side of the page. There’s one on every page of the site.

Of course, your contact information is protected — it is never sold, rented, leased or compromised in any way. It is used solely to send you information from InkwellEditorial.com (and its sister site, SeoWritingJobs.com) about freelance writing.

Why Subscribe? Get Real, First-Hand Advice from All Types of Freelance Writers

Week in and week out here, you get first-hand “freelance writing stories from the trenches.” I routinely relay my freelance writing experiences — everything from setting rates, to how to market, to knowing when to say no to a project. Also, I answer questions – in great detail (no fluff here!) — from other freelancers writers (new and experienced).

Recent posts you may have missed by not being a subscriber include:

Why I Turned Down a $2,000 – $3,000 Freelance Writing Job That Could Have Led to Even More Work and

How to Land More Clients by Making Your SEO Writing Stand Out from Others.

I look forward to having you as a subscriber.

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

SEO Copywriting Training.  You’ll learn 4 ways to make money online using your newly acquired skills. Get full details on the SEO copywriting training this ecourse offers and sign up today.

Copyright © 2010: All material on this site is copyright protected and cannot be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without my written consent (linking to is fine).

Once you have found a niche market in which you can compete, your next step is to become known as an authority or influential figure in the subject area. Most people consider influential figures in niche markets to be experts that got lucky enough to find a market and worked hard to become well known in it. However, this is not always entirely true. There are 5 steps to becoming influential in your niche with your content.

Even if you are not a great writer, it is important that you are making sure that your content writers on the same page as you when it comes to showcasing your content to reach your goals. With that said, you can use the following steps to become a powerful authority on the Internet, no matter who is doing your writing for you.

1. Stay Active and Solve Problems

As you first begin to get your name recognized in your niche, remain very active on the subject forums and other people’s blogs. This can include responding to posts with additional comments or suggestions, writing guest blog posts on other sites and answering questions that people may ask on your niche topic’s forums. When you do so, you can link back to your blog or web site to encourage readers to visit your site and read other opinions and advice that you have to offer.

2. Use a Series of Articles on Your Blog

One way to establish authority on a subject is to write a series of articles exploring the finer aspects of the broad topic. By doing so, you allow your readers plenty of opportunities to link to your blog multiple times for different topics.

This series of articles can last for as long as you need it to. Remember, the longer your series of articles, the more time your readers have to locate your information. In addition, if readers enjoy reading one post, they are very likely to read the rest of the articles in your series.

3. Create an eBook or Book

You can quickly become influential in a niche market if you can create the authority reference for the subject. One way to accomplish this is by writing an expansive and valuable ebook. You may not even need to charge people for distribution of the book. Simply having your name on such a powerful resource can be enough to drive visitors to your personal blog or web site.

4. Don’t Be Modest

If you are recognized in your niche market, do not hesitate to publish such an achievement on your web site or blog. For example, if you are chosen to do an interview on your subject area, this might be an excellent opportunity to create a post stating that the interview took place. You can link to that interview so that your readers can verify the claim.

5. Pay Attention to Your Audience

Once you have some established members, make sure that you are treating them well by catering to their needs. For example, if you notice that you are drawing a great deal of members that do not have any experience at all with your niche subject area, consider asking them what they would like to know and writing a post or article is response. This sort of approach helps to humanize your web site and can draw more members to your content.

A Note from the Publisher (http://bit.ly/co7XCW)

First, I want to say, these are excellent tips — especially if you’re just beginning your website or blog. I’ve used a variation of all of these at one time or another. I got my first website in 1999 and have been blogging since 2005. Following is some in-depth, additional insight I’ve gleaned that may help you get action from these tips even faster.

Become a Subscriber to Read the Rest of This Post (Instructions Below)

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.

P.P.S.: Want an easy, fast way to get started in affiliate marketing, making as much as $50, $100 or $150/day? Get How to Make Money Placing Ads on Free Classified Ad Sites (ie, Backpage.com). If you want to make some easy money promoting affiliate products on free classified ad sites, this ebook is for you. I’ve personally sold tens of thousands of dollars of e-products (my own and affiliate products) doing this since January 2009.

Note: As of April 6, you must be a subscriber to read new content on InkwellEditorial.com and its sister site on SEO writing, SeoWritingJobs.com. New content includes all posts written after 4/6/2010 (4/7/2010 on SeoWritingJobs.com).

To subscribe, simply look for the subscriber box to the top right-hand side of the page. There’s one on every page of the site.

Of course, your contact information is protected — it is never sold, rented, leased or compromised in any way. It is used solely to send you information from InkwellEditorial.com (and its sister site, SeoWritingJobs.com) about freelance writing.

Why Subscribe? Get Real, First-Hand Advice from All Types of Freelance Writers

Week in and week out here, you get first-hand “freelance writing stories from the trenches.” I routinely relay my freelance writing experiences — everything from setting rates, to how to market, to knowing when to say no to a project. Also, I answer questions – in great detail (no fluff here!) — from other freelancers writers (new and experienced).

Recent posts you may have missed by not being a subscriber include:

Why I Turned Down a $2,000 – $3,000 Freelance Writing Job That Could Have Led to Even More Work and

How to Land More Clients by Making Your SEO Writing Stand Out from Others.

I look forward to having you as a subscriber.

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

SEO Copywriting Training.  You’ll learn 4 ways to make money online using your newly acquired skills. Get full details on the SEO copywriting training this ecourse offers and sign up today.

Copyright © 2010: All material on this site is copyright protected and cannot be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without my written consent (linking to is fine).

As a side note, I only got up to check email and then go mow my lawn (I’m back in the states). But three hours later, I’m still sitting here in my pj’s. BUT after I post this, I’m logging off. Here’s today’s rare Sunday post. Note: As a courtesy — because I get so many questions about backpage posting software — I’m making this post “subscriber free” as in, you don’t have to be a subscriber to read it in its entirety, as you do with most posts on the site.

Backpage Ads: Freelance Writers — Create Multiple Streams of Income by Using This Free Classified Ads Site

While I’m a freelance writer, if you’re a frequent reader/subscriber, you also know that I dipped into affiliate marketing a couple of years ago because I believe in creating multiple streams of income. One of my most successful outlets for promoting affiliate products has been the free online classified ads site backpage.

Ads placed on the site – if they’re for the right product at the right time – can bring in immediate money, as I talk about in this post on making money with backpage on Hubpages (I’ve made as much as $900 in one day in affiliate sales with this site).

Note: I write a lot of hubs for stuff that doesn’t have to do with freelance writing because I promote affiliate products in different niches. So, you may be wondering, why am I telling you all of this?

Questions about How to Use Backpage Posting Software

The reason I’m telling you all of this is that I get a lot of questions about how to place ads on backpage using the software. The reason, in my opinion, is that a lot of software developers are techies at heart; not writers. Hence, the instructions they impart with the software tends not to be clear and easy to follow. This is especially true if the purchaser doesn’t use a computer a lot.

The fact is, many people use computers for simple tasks like email and making travel reservations. But many don’t engage in what I call “high-end use,” which can be anything from converting a Word document to a .pdf file, to creating a basic website. Therefore, they’re unfamiliar with a lot of the terminology that programmers who create things like backpage  posting software use. So when they order the software, they may have a hard time using it – even though it is extremely user friendly.

Note: At the bottom of this post is a link to a hub that gives step-by-step instructions on how to place ads on this free classified site using backpage auto posting software.

Buying Software Online: Why I Do It & Why It’s Necessary to Create Passive Income Online

Backpage auto posting software is something I purchased online from an unknown developer. But I studied his video, saw that a lot of others were obviously using it from the number of ads they were posting on the site – and it was cheap.

The reason I’m telling you this is because a lot of independent programmers create very usable software and sell it, much like I write and create ebooks on freelance writing and small business.

The vast majority of this software does the job it’s supposed to do – and it’s usually sold very cheaply. I paid $20 for the backpage auto posting software I use – and I’ve made tens of thousands of dollars with it (and that’s no exaggeration). So, it’s worth it.

To make good, passive income online, you have to automate processes and systems as much as possible, so don’t be afraid to purchase software from “unknowns.” Again, the vast majority of them work great. If you have questions or concerns about a particular piece of software, simply Google the name of it to see what pops up.

Get Virus-Free Software Guarantees on Programs Like the Backpage Auto Poster

One very legitimate site to visit to get unbiased info about a lot of the freeware/shareware (what much of this software created by independent developers is called) is Cnet.com. You can also download free versions of a lot of software without worry about it infecting your computer because they provide what they call spyware-free download guarantees.

I hope this info has helped you to understand a little bit more about not only backpage posting software, but about the trials and tribulations of making passive income online — which is worth every second (IMO) because it allows you to live life on your own terms.

Get free instructions on How to Place Ads on Backpage.

Submit a Guest Post: This site and its sister site, SeoWritingJobs.com, now accepts guest posts.   Get the guest post submission guidelines.

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.

P.P.S.: Want an easy, fast way to get started in affiliate marketing, making as much as $50, $100 or $150/day? Get How to Make Money Placing Ads on Free Classified Ad Sites (ie, Backpage.com). If you want to make some easy money promoting affiliate products on free classified ad sites, this ebook is for you. I’ve personally sold tens of thousands of dollars of e-products (my own and affiliate products) doing this since January 2009.

Note: As of April 6, you must be a subscriber to read new content on InkwellEditorial.com and its sister site on SEO writing, SeoWritingJobs.com. New content includes all posts written after 4/6/2010 (4/7/2010 on SeoWritingJobs.com).

To subscribe, simply look for the subscriber box to the top right-hand side of the page. There’s one on every page of the site.

Of course, your contact information is protected — it is never sold, rented, leased or compromised in any way. It is used solely to send you information from InkwellEditorial.com (and its sister site, SeoWritingJobs.com) about freelance writing.

Why Subscribe? Get Real, First-Hand Advice from All Types of Freelance Writers

Week in and week out here, you get first-hand “freelance writing stories from the trenches.” I routinely relay my freelance writing experiences — everything from setting rates, to how to market, to knowing when to say no to a project. Also, I answer questions – in great detail (no fluff here!) — from other freelancers writers (new and experienced).

Recent posts you may have missed by not being a subscriber include:

Why I Turned Down a $2,000 – $3,000 Freelance Writing Job That Could Have Led to Even More Work and

How to Land More Clients by Making Your SEO Writing Stand Out from Others.

I look forward to having you as a subscriber.

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

SEO Copywriting Training.  You’ll learn 4 ways to make money online using your newly acquired skills. Get full details on the SEO copywriting training this ecourse offers and sign up today.

Copyright © 2010: All material on this site is copyright protected and cannot be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without my written consent (linking to is fine).

Here’s our Twitter Exchange

@InkwellEditor (me) Tweeted: RT @SHurleyHall RT @bigbrightbulb http://is.gd/dymQc Times loses 2/3 of readers w/pay model. [IMO this is the wave of the future; bout time]

@bigbrightbulb Tweeted: The thing is, if they care more about earnings than reach, losing 60%+ of their readership may be just fine… @SHurleyHall @InkwellEditor

@InkwellEditor Tweeted: @bigbrightbulb Writers will benefit from this & while readership may decline periodically, it’ll return more targeted prospcts 2 advertisers

@bigbrightbulb Tweeted: Wise words! RT @InkwellEditor: Writers will benefit…and while readership may decline…it’ll return more targeted prospects 2 advertisers

I read an update today that said the Times has lost 90% of its internet readership. And you know what, I STILL think this is a good business move on their part. Following is why.

You must be a subscriber to read the rest of this post. Don’t worry, it’s free! See subscriber details below.

Submit a Guest Post: This site and its sister site, SeoWritingJobs.com, now accepts guest posts.   Get the guest post submission guidelines.

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.

P.P.S.: Want an easy, fast way to get started in affiliate marketing, making as much as $50, $100 or $150/day? Get How to Make Money Placing Ads on Free Classified Ad Sites (ie, Backpage.com). If you want to make some easy money promoting affiliate products on free classified ad sites, this ebook is for you. I’ve personally sold tens of thousands of dollars of e-products (my own and affiliate products) doing this since January 2009.

Note: As of April 6, you must be a subscriber to read new content on InkwellEditorial.com and its sister site on SEO writing, SeoWritingJobs.com. New content includes all posts written after 4/6/2010 (4/7/2010 on SeoWritingJobs.com).

To subscribe, simply look for the subscriber box to the top right-hand side of the page. There’s one on every page of the site.

Of course, your contact information is protected — it is never sold, rented, leased or compromised in any way. It is used solely to send you information from InkwellEditorial.com (and its sister site, SeoWritingJobs.com) about freelance writing.

Why Subscribe? Get Real, First-Hand Advice from All Types of Freelance Writers

Week in and week out here, you get first-hand “freelance writing stories from the trenches.” I routinely relay my freelance writing experiences — everything from setting rates, to how to market, to knowing when to say no to a project. Also, I answer questions – in great detail (no fluff here!) — from other freelancers writers (new and experienced).

Recent posts you may have missed by not being a subscriber include:

Why I Turned Down a $2,000 – $3,000 Freelance Writing Job That Could Have Led to Even More Work and

How to Land More Clients by Making Your SEO Writing Stand Out from Others.

I look forward to having you as a subscriber.

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

SEO Copywriting Training.  You’ll learn 4 ways to make money online using your newly acquired skills. Get full details on the SEO copywriting training this ecourse offers and sign up today.

Copyright © 2010: All material on this site is copyright protected and cannot be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without my written consent (linking to is fine).

QUESTION FROM A FRUSTRATED SEO COPYWRITER

Hi Yuwanda,

I hope Jamaica is really doing  you well. I haven’t had a chance to read your blogs about Jamaica, however, I do read your posts and newsletter about freelance writing.  I am writing this letter because, I am stuck.   First, I don’t know what the hell I do.  I am a SEO Content Writer, but I know HTML, how to upload videos, create a website and all that techy internet stuff.  The more I think about it, I think I am more of a Virtual Assistant than a writer.  However, I want to be known for SEO Content Marketing.

But, my dilemma is – choosing a niche and wondering if I should market my self as a VA or market myself as A Writer with strong technical skills? You see, I have no problem researching a niche and seeing what they want.  My problem is- I get bored.

I don’t know if you remember, but I have a Type A personality, (that’s not an excuse) but I get so bored targeting one market.  I am what they call the Jack of all trades and master of none.  I like targeting different industries, simply put, I like being a generalist because I don’t get bored.  I know I have to customize my marketing to each industry.  But can I just niche in being a SEO Content Marketer for all industries? Your help is greatly appreciated!

MY ANSWER

This is actually a common conundrum for a lot of freelance writers; not just SEO writers. I’ve always believed in the concept of . . .

You must be a subscriber to read the rest of this post. Don’t worry, it’s free! See subscriber details below.

Submit a Guest Post: This site and its sister site, SeoWritingJobs.com, now accepts guest posts.   Get the guest post submission guidelines.

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.

P.P.S.: Want an easy, fast way to get started in affiliate marketing, making as much as $50, $100 or $150/day? Get How to Make Money Placing Ads on Free Classified Ad Sites (ie, Backpage.com). If you want to make some easy money promoting affiliate products on free classified ad sites, this ebook is for you. I’ve personally sold tens of thousands of dollars of e-products (my own and affiliate products) doing this since January 2009.

Note: As of April 6, you must be a subscriber to read new content on InkwellEditorial.com and its sister site on SEO writing, SeoWritingJobs.com. New content includes all posts written after 4/6/2010 (4/7/2010 on SeoWritingJobs.com).

To subscribe, simply look for the subscriber box to the top right-hand side of the page. There’s one on every page of the site.

Of course, your contact information is protected — it is never sold, rented, leased or compromised in any way. It is used solely to send you information from InkwellEditorial.com (and its sister site, SeoWritingJobs.com) about freelance writing.

Why Subscribe? Get Real, First-Hand Advice from All Types of Freelance Writers

Week in and week out here, you get first-hand “freelance writing stories from the trenches.” I routinely relay my freelance writing experiences — everything from setting rates, to how to market, to knowing when to say no to a project. Also, I answer questions – in great detail (no fluff here!) — from other freelancers writers (new and experienced).

Recent posts you may have missed by not being a subscriber include:

Why I Turned Down a $2,000 – $3,000 Freelance Writing Job That Could Have Led to Even More Work and

How to Land More Clients by Making Your SEO Writing Stand Out from Others.

I look forward to having you as a subscriber.

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

SEO Copywriting Training.  You’ll learn 4 ways to make money online using your newly acquired skills. Get full details on the SEO copywriting training this ecourse offers and sign up today.

Copyright © 2010: All material on this site is copyright protected and cannot be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without my written consent (linking to is fine).