SEO Copywriting: How to Start This Career While Working a Fulltime Job

February 2, 2010

As is so often the case, this newsletter addresses a question sent in by a loyal reader of InkwellEditorial.com. You guys have no idea how easy it is to write a post when you’re answering a question directly. So if you have more questions, send them in. If it’s “universal” enough, I’ll definitely answer it.

Yesterday, I received the following email. I promised to give the reader a thorough answer today, so here goes (I’ve disguised some details to protect her identity) Note: This post is over 1,800 words long so settle in for a good, informative read.

Hello Yuwanda,

I understand that you are busy. And you may not respond to this message. However, I thought I would just throw it out there. This may be a topic that appeals to a lot of part-time freelance writers.

I work a full time job [in the hospitality industry]. So, it is very stressing, I try not to take things personally. . . I am on the phone with a guest for 5 minutes because they only hear what they want to hear. I play all the tricks of the trade; put a pink cloud, kill them with kindness, hold your blue rock, etc, etc. And still no budge! By the time I finished my 8 hour shift I am mentally drained and just want to clear my mind from all the negativity.

I know Seo articles [writing SEO content) is the way to get [freelance writing] clients in the door. However, you say write 10 a day. I can’t wait for the day that I can do that with ease. I really want to quit my job because I am like you: Type A personality, wanting to dance to my own tune, travel and write, etc, etc. I know if I jump right in I will be a success, but I have to be practical, because I have no savings.   If it wasn’t for my SCORE mentor, I would have taken the leap already, but he keeps me in check.

You say you are going to work 10-12 hour days, I can’t wait to the day I can do that as well. I am curious to know if you will be willing to share exactly what you do for 10-12 hours a day.  (emphasis added) I have [a couple of days during the week] off from my job. However, I use that time for Networking (takes more time since I gave up my car and bussing it everywhere). So, it will be very helpful for me to find out how to structure my 10- 12 hour days with my limited availability.

I understand that you are busy, but as always thank you for all of your time and knowledge. You are truly an inspiration to me and other writers as well.

Thank You
###

First let me say to this reader, I appreciate you being such a loyal reader of the site and am inspired to keep doing what I do because it inspires others like you to reach for their dreams.

Now, to answer your question.

As an SEO copywriter, my days have changed dramatically from when I first started doing SEO writing. That’s because I’m working towards different goals, which I’ve talked about on many occasions here and on my SEO writing blog (see section entitled “Personal Freelance Writing Goals for 2010: On Track, or Not?”).

A Day in the Life of a Successful SEO Copywriter: An Hour-by-Hour Rundown

I covered what my days used to look like when I first started writing SEO content in a blog I used to write for back in 2008. I started to rewrite this content, but figured that linking out to it is better because I was “in the fire” then, so to speak. Hence, I probably had greater clarity then. The post is A Day in the Life of an SEO Writer.

One thing I want to point out is that marketing for SEO writing work was the first thing I did each day. This is particularly important when you are just starting out because, as with any new venture, marketing is going to eat up the bulk of your time. In fact, it should take up 50%-75% of your work day.

If you don’t have clients, all of the other “busy stuff” you may preoccupy yourself with doesn’t mean a hill of beans because without clients, it’s all for naught.

So make marketing the first thing you do every day. And, commit to a certain number. When I first started, I made contact with at least 20 new contacts a day. The busier I got, the more I cut back. Now, I may market once a quarter (maybe) – literally. Why? For three reasons:

Why I Barely Market for SEO Writing Work Anymore

I. I Have Steady Clients: I have about 30 clients I work with; about a dozen of them are very regular. This keeps me busy enough to pay my bills, but not so busy that I don’t have time to concentrate on other work, which brings me to the second reason I barely market for SEO writing jobs anymore . . .

II. Retiring from Writing Client Copy: As I previously discussed in this post (which is the one I linked to above about freelance writing goals), by the end of the year, my goal is to retire from actually writing for clients and step into a full managerial role at New Media Words, my SEO writing firm. This has been a dream for the last few years . . .one I’m doing everything in my power to make come true by the end of this year.

I currently contract with four SEO writers, but I still do a lot of writing myself. My days can be really, really crazy with everything on my plate . . . which brings me to the last reason marketing for SEO writing work is not a top priority these days.

III. Hands in Many Pies: I have my hand in so many projects, it’s ridiculous. For example, I co-author books with my sister, who has a real estate services line of ebooks.

get-organized I conduct freelance writing ecourses (SEO and regular freelance writing);

I produce two weekly newsletters;

I write and market my own line of ebooks on freelance writing;

I do affiliate marketing; and

I build minisites as passive income.

This is in addition to writing for clients.

But I’m too scattered. Once I’m no longer writing content for clients, I can get my professional (and personal!) house more in order. I have a list of projects I want to finish and some I want to start within the next two years (I have three and five-year plans I constantly update).

But, I can’t add anything else to my plate right now. Realizing this (and my dream of travelling more) is what really made me push my date for retiring from writing for clients up. Something just had to give if I was going to realize other dreams.

Why My Schedule as an SEO Copywriter May Not Work for You

I’m single and I don’t have children. So I can literally work around the clock if I want to. So don’t get discouraged if you’re thinking, “I can’t possibly keep up.” You can. You just have to find a schedule that works for you.

An Inspirational Story of “Making It Work Because You Have To”

I have several girlfriends who are single moms. One went back to nursing school in her early 40s, right after she had her son. She was broke, with patchy childcare and she had a job. But, she found a way to go to school.

She said she’d get up at 4 am to study every morning; two hours before she had to get her son up to take him to the baby sitter’s, or pre-school (once he got old enough).

I couldn’t study chemistry and biology at 21 with enough sleep and no child responsibilities. Can you imagine:

Working at a minimum wage job you hated;

Then going to class (and staying focused);

Then picking up your child from day care, feeding and caring for them;

Then sitting down to study for an hour or two after you tucked them in . . .

AND getting up and doing it all over again – for four years (it took her that long to finish because she had a child) – averaging four to five hours of sleep per night, if you’re lucky?

My girlfriend used to say, “I have to make it work Yuwanda; I have no choice. No one else is going to take care of me and my son and I can’t make it on minimum wage.” Now, she has a cushy job in a plastic surgeon’s office where she works banker’s hours … and she makes a very good salary.

And this is why to me, single moms (scratch that, single parents) are God’s angels on earth. I literally don’t know how you all do it, but my hat (and scarf, and gloves, and pants, and shoes and underplunders!) are off to you. You make the rest of us look like lazy slobs!

My point is, if you want it bad enough, you will make it work.

Earlier today, before I sat down to write this post, I received this email from another reader of the site. It dovetailed with the first reader’s question so well, that I know that this post was meant to be (I believe God works in mysterious ways, and this was an issue that obviously needed addressing).

More Questions from Another Reader about SEO Writing

She wrote:

I’m considering purchasing your SEO Article Writing ebook. With your system for getting seo content writing jobs:

Could someone working full-time use the system? You mentioned that you received a request for 10 articles that were completed in 5 hours. Not sure how I would handle this working full-time. When working with these SEO firms, are you able to refuse assignments without penalty?
###

To answer her questions:

Could someone working full-time use the system [outlined in my SEO writing ebook]?

Yes, if you’re employed full time you can use the system I outline in my ebook to start out part time. You just have to realize how much work you can take on . . .and still meet deadlines. In the beginning though, you might have to burn some midnight oil. For example, if a client says they want 10 articles in 24 hours, you might say, “That’s a little tight, I can have them to you in 48 hours though.”

For the record, most don’t expect a 24 hour turnaround. 48-72 hours is perfectly acceptable.

24-hour turnaround is a tactic I used to use all the time though to hook clients. I wanted them to use me again, so I’d work through the night to get an article order done if I had to. But again, I’m single; I don’t have children. Only you know your limits.

When working with these SEO firms, are you able to refuse assignments without penalty?

This depends on the client. Just starting out, you’re going to want to say yes to most clients simply because you don’t want to give the impression that you can’t handle the workload.

Clients don’t “penalize you;” they just may not call on you again (which many may consider a penalty). The only reason I turned down work in the beginning was if someone couldn’t meet my SEO writing rate.

I’ll talk more about this tomorrow in the post on SeoWritingJobs.com. This post has run on long enough, and I’m dying for a glass of wine.

I hope I’ve given you enough food for thought though, and shed some light on what life is like as an SEO copywriter.

SEO Writing Ecourse News

FYI, the next SEO writing ecourse is scheduled for April 26^th. I’ve upped the limit on the number of participants from 15 to 20. Get full details on the SEO copywriting training this ecourse offers.

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

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 routinely make $100-$150/day.

SEO Copywriting Services: Is This Niche Becoming Too Crowded?
SEO Copywriting: 3 Reasons to Train for this High-Paying, Work-from-Anywhere Career
SEO Copywriting: How One Freelance Writer is Finding Success as an SEO Writer
SEO Copywriting: 5 Ways to Get a Job Writing SEO Articles

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Which Marketing Methods Bring in the Most Freelance Writing Jobs?
Which Marketing Methods Bring in the Most Freelance Writing Jobs?
Which Marketing Methods Bring in the Most Freelance Writing Jobs?
Which Marketing Methods Bring in the Most Freelance Writing Jobs?
Which Marketing Methods Bring in the Most Freelance Writing Jobs?

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