Use Your Writer’s Website to Receive Steady Freelance Jobs

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Writing

Writing (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you’re like most writers, you enjoy the part of your job that entails putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). You’re probably, however, somewhat less fond of marketing. Many of us squirm at the idea of cold calling or attending networking events.

That’s why it’s so important to have a strong professional website. Once it is up and running, it can bring you a steady stream of referrals with little or no further effort you your part.

These are features that will help your website attract customers [Read more…]

Talk Your Way to a Job

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Networking Freelancers

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The popularity of social media in today’s job market has made everybody believe they can talk their way to a job. It gives them an excuse to visit their favorite social media site and say they are doing it as a part of their job search. While freelancers and job seekers can find jobs on social media sites, it needs to be handled carefully to be successful.

When looking for freelance writing gigs, it is important to let people know you are open to receiving new clients. One of the benefits of social media is the people you are associated with know others and those people know more people. You never know who you can reach within your network on a social media site just by telling people you are looking for a freelance position. [Read more…]

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Picking the Best Freelance Job

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My Django project in progress…

(Photo credit: kogakure)

I usually have about seven projects at a time, and they’re not all created equal. As a successful freelance writer, I’ve been on the wrong end of a bad job. However, there are some warning signs that are easy to miss. If a job posting requires numerous, generic forms, you’ll be drowning in paperwork and red tape for the entire project.

Trust your gut during a phone interview. If the client doesn’t know what they want, they’re not going to be happy with anything you produce. The most lucrative jobs are from either well-established corporations or start-ups with solid investors. Tread carefully if a job posting seems too broad or it requires you to sign up for an account. [Read more…]

Business Solutions for Freelancers: Get the Most Out of Each Purchase

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Business purchases are expensive, especially for startups and small business owners without deep pockets. Rather than trying to have it all, look for ways to reduce what you have to buy without actually losing any functionality. It is all about getting more bang for your buck when you are dealing with running a business on a shoestring budget.

Start by Introducing the Sharing Mentality

Via Flickr by BlockSim

This is not kindergarten again, but one effective way of reducing IT and technology costs are simply to not buy as many. Communal computers are often just as effective, especially on split shifts. Sharing computers, especially as freelancers, is easy enough to do and can save a business thousands of dollars especially at startup. Sharing resources like this cuts costs but does not usually impact productivity or customer service. If it works for your organization, it’s one of the most effective ways to trim the budget.

Forget the Computers Altogether Instead

Via Flickr by all.promising

On the other hand, find an easy to use Android phone or tablet for each employee. Use cloud software to connect databases and resources to the tablets. Tablets often cost a fraction of the cost of a PC, but may have every program necessary. In addition, they keep your staff or clients by your side so you never miss a beat. Tablets are the “in” thing, but be wise about this purchase. Buying a bigger name brand does not always mean a better product. Buy business-smart tablets with total functionality for what your needs are.

Don’t Forget the Smartphone Plan

Via Flickr by Roberrific

With a tablet in hand, it makes sense to link your staff together with smartphones. Instead of paying for individualized service, though, maximize profits by using a shared plan. You’ll cut the costs and make sure everyone is always connected to serve the client’s needs within moments. Seek out an affordable phone plan right for your group. You will want to investigate options for shared plans such as shared data plans, too. Depending on how much your staff is using their phones, this may be a significant money saver. Some providers want your business so much that they will offer a significant discount.

Move in Together, Too

Via Flickr by Salil1365

Not really, but why not share space with other freelancers or small businesses. It is a simple idea that can work very well for some small businesses. If you and the business owner down the hall already work in the same building, have non-competing businesses and like each other enough, sharing a space will save you money. This is especially efficient when you do not need to have a customer storefront. Sharing space means cutting costs on property taxes, rent, equipment, furnishings, and even customer service staff in some cases.

Every penny counts for today’s small business. With a sharing mentality and a frugal business plan, the goal is to focus on each purchase. How can you effectively trim that purchase price down just a bit more? The more creative you are (and by moving in together with fellow freelancers, you are being creative!) the more likely you are to make your goals and skyrocket to profitability.

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How Do You Handle Unresponsive Clients?

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Recently Carson Brackney wrote this wonderful article about getting more work from existing clients. The advice he gives is excellent, and I have followed most of it unconsciously for some time, but it got me thinking about what happens on the opposite end of the spectrum when we must deal with an unresponsive client.

This has been on my mind recently because I have been worrying about a client who suddenly dropped off the face of the earth. Fortunately, he went incommunicado shortly after he paid the balance he owed me on our latest project, so I’m not concerned about chasing down my money. But now I can’t reach him through email or the phone, and he hasn’t returned my messages. Of course, I haven’t been pestering him; I’ve kept my correspondence polite and professional, and it has been just enough to let him know that I’m thinking of him and his business.

But still, I’ve been frustrated with the potential loss of more work and income. When the client and I first discussed working together, he described three other projects that he wanted me to help him accomplish, one of which sounded like a steady weekly gig, and so I had looked forward to the future income. I’m still hopeful, but every day that my messages go unanswered my hope weakens.

So, at what point do you tie up the loose end and amicably severe the relationship? At what point does the worrying about the client become more than a simple worry? Naturally, several factors will influence your decision. You must evaluate your other projects, their current income, and their earning potential, and weigh it against this current problem project. If you have other clients from whom you feel you can expect future work, then perhaps your efforts should focus on them and you can take a loss here. Also, you should consider the professional relationship you had with the silent client. Was he or she a joy to work with on past assignments? Did you collaborate well on projects or were you mostly on your own, struggling to understand your client’s needs? If the client was someone with whom you worked well, it might be worth it to stick it out a little longer. After all, everyone goes through weird slumps once in a while. And finally, how could severing the relationship harm your ‘brand,’ especially if you work in a specific niche? Could you get away with not severing the relationship, but merely leaving the ball in the client’s court?

In my case, I have decided to write the client one last email and let him decide what to do. I’ll be sure to thank him for his business. I’ll tell him that I’m currently ready to begin work on the other three projects, and that he can contact me when and if he wishes to pursue those projects. I’m happy with the current state of my freelance business, so I’ve decided to no longer worry about this one project. I like to think that I’m not cutting the link; I’m simply unhooking it for now.

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This guest post is contributed by Olivia Coleman, who writes on the topics of online colleges and universities. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: [email protected]

My Blog Guest: A Guest Blogging Community

Photo Credits: Photo by RW Photobug.

Freelance Writing Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

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At Freelance Writing Jobs we strive to provide you with the best information possible about starting your freelance writing career. With so many posts offering tips and advice, it can be hard to find useful information that’s not on the front page of this blog. Since we receive a lot of email asking for tips on getting started as a freelance writer, how to set rates and more, I thought it was time for a static “Frequently Asked Questions” page. If you’re starting out as a writer, or just want a refresher course, use this handy list as a one stop shopping experience for all things freelance writing.

Warning: Work in progress. This list is by no means complete and will receive periodic updates, so do check back often.

Freelance Writing Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

For daily freelance writing job leads, please see Freelance Writing Jobs for Web and Print and don’t miss our regular Monday Markets feature.

How to Find Freelance Writing Jobs

  1. How to Land Your First Freelance Writing Job
  2. 43 Places to Find Freelance Writing Jobs
  3. 30 Types of Freelance Writing Jobs and How to Get Them
  4. Web Content Sites: What They’re Saying, What’s True and What’s False
  5. Corporate Freelance Writing Jobs: Five Places to Find Them
  6. How to Find the High Paying Freelance Writing Jobs
  7. How to Use Discussion Forums for Writers to Find Freelance Writing Jobs
  8. 47 Places to Find Telecommuting Jobs
  9. 10 Ways to Get Your Freelance Writing Foot in the Door
  10. 50 Places that Hire Freelance Writers
  11. 10 Best Job Search Sites
  12. 30 Types of Freelance Writing Jobs and How to Get Them
  13. Freelance Writing: Before You Get Started – Research!
  14. 5 Ways to Find Freelance Writing Jobs Using Twitter
  15. Why You Should Consider Cold Calling to Find Work
  16. Top 10 Freelance Writing Job Red Flags
  17. Finding the Freelance Writing Jobs that Are Best for You
  18. Pitch to the Hidden Places that Hire Freelance Writers

Freelance Writing Rates

Not sure how much to charge? Check out the freelance rate calculator over at Freelance Switch.

  1. Where the Writing Money Is
  2. Set a Freelance Writing Rate Equal to the Task
  3. How to Turn a Low Paying Client into a High Paying Client
  4. Who Sets Your Freelance Writing Rates?
  5. Preparing Yourself for Better Freelance Writing Rates
  6. Figuring Out a Good Pay Rate for Writing
  7. Taking Baby Steps for a Better Pay Rate for Writing
  8. Should You Include a Rate Quote with Your Cover Letter
  9. What Does it Mean to Work Smarter Not Harder?
  10. Why You Shouldn’t Ask for a Raise
  11. On Rates and New Clients: Does it Ever Make Sense to Make a Starting Rate?
  12. How to Land Repeat Clients that Pay Well
  13. 8 Reasons You’re Not Landing the High Paying Freelance Writing Jobs
  14. Kill Fees: Not a Halloween Tale
  15. 6 Tips for Asking for a Raise in Your Freelance Writing Rates
  16. 5 Things to Consider When Discussing Rates With Other Freelance Writers
  17. I’m a Professional – So Pay Me Already!!!8 Reasons You’re Not Getting the High Paying Freelance Writing Jobs
  18. 5 Tips for Moving Away from the Easy Gigs to Land More Lucrative Opportunities
  19. A Lower Bid Vs. Selling Yourself Short
  20. 5 Tips for Deciding if You Should Raise Your Rates
  21. Freelance Writing for Beginners: How to Set Your Rates
  22. Why Are Freelancers Negotiating Rates Anyway?

Cover Letters, Clips, Resumes, Job Applications and Query Letters

  1. Query Letter Writing: Dissecting a Successful Query Letter
  2. How I Landed My First Freelance Writing Job Without Clips
  3. 5 Things to Do Before You Query
  4. Freelance Writing Experience: Does it Matter Where Your Clips Come From?
  5. Query Letter Writing: Querying Out of the Box
  6. Top 10 Freelance Writing Job Application Mistakes
  7. 8 Types of Freelance Writing Pitches or Why You Didn’t Get the Job

Customer Service

  1. Rewarding Your Long Term Freelance Writing Clients for their Customer Loyalty
  2. What Lousy Customer Service Can Teach You About Good Customer Service
  3. What My Neighbor’s Teen Can Teach You About Customer Service
  4. Customer Appreciation Lessons from Barnes & Noble

Marketing and Networking

  1. Freelance Writing Marketing and Promotion: How Much is Too Much
  2. Do You Know What You’re Selling? Successfully Marketing Your Freelance Writing
  3. 5 Reasons Not to Have a Cookie Cutter Elevator Pitch
  4. 5 Tips for Creating an Elevator Speech
  5. 10 Unique Places to Market Your Book
  6. 5 Reasons Online Relationships Are Important for Freelance Writers
  7. 5 Reasons Offline Relationships Are Important for Freelance Writers
  8. How Much Would Your Freelance Writing Business Pick Up if You Got Out from Behind Your Laptop?
  9. 10 Reasons Why Face to Face Networking is Important for Freelance Writers
  10. Introducing Yourself as a Freelance Writer Without Sounding Like a Smarmy Salesman
  11. The Freelance Writers Guide to Blogs and Blogging
  12. The Freelance Writer’s Guide to Twitter
  13. The Freelance Writer’s Guide to Facebook

Tools and Resources

  1. Understanding Freelance Writing Rights and Usage
  2. 31 Free Online Writing Courses
  3. 20 Places to Find Online Courses for Writers
  4. 45 Free Things for Writers
  5. Where to Find Free WiFi Hotspots Around the World
  6. 49 Free Online Reference Tools for Freelance Writers

Freelance Writing Markets

  1. 75 “Write for Us” Pages
  2. 40 Freelance Writing Markets Paying $100 or More
  3. 40 More Freelance Writing Markets Paying $100 or More
  4. 50 Submissions Guidelines Pages
  5. 11 Cooking, Food and Drink Markets
  6. 19 Parenting Markets
  7. 21 Poetry Markets
  8. 15 Greeting Card Markets
  9. 11 Environmental Markets
  10. 15 Places for Freelance Writers to Find Magazine Markets
  11. 6 Tips for Finding New Freelance Writing Markets

Freelance Writing Taxes

  1. Tax Tips for UK Freelancers
  2. What Every Freelancer Needs to Know About Taxes
  3. How to Solve Freelance Tax Problems
  4. When a Writer Needs to Hire a CPA
  5. Easy to Forget Income Tax Deductions
  6. Introduction to Quarterly Taxes
  7. 3 Ways to Reduce Your Freelance Writing Taxes and Help Yourself
  8. Tax Tips for Freelance Writers
  9. 20 Tax Deductions for Freelancers
  10. Year End Tax Tips for Freelance Writing Businesses
  11. When Your Freelance Writing Business Gets Audited

Freelance Writing Clients and Business Tips

  1. Should You Trust Your Freelance Writing Clients With Your Personal Information?
  2. Client Vs. Employer: There’s a Difference
  3. 3 Hints for Giving Value with Your Freelance Writing
  4. 5 Options for Avoiding Paypal Fees and Keeping all Your Freelance Writing Pay
  5. 3 Things to Consider Before Outsourcing Your Freelance Writing Work
  6. 5 Rocking Good Business Practices for Freelance Writers
  7. 5 Tips for Asking a Freelance Writing Client for More Work
  8. 5 Reasons Freelance Writers Should Keep Regular Business Hours
  9. 5 Reasons Not to Burn Your Bridges
  10. 10 Tips for Setting Up an Office
  11. 10 Hints from Transitioning from Freelance Writing to a Freelance Writing Business
  12. Identifying the Reasons Your Freelance Writing Business Isn’t Growing
  13. 10 Hints for Transitioning from Freelance Writing Job to Freelance Writing Business
  14. Freelance Writing Clients: The Difference Between Friends and Friendly
  15. 6 Tips for Receiving Feedback from Your Freelance Writing Clients

Other Freelance Writing Topics

  1. 40 Lessons Learned in 10 Years of Freelance Wriitng
  2. The A, B, C’s of Freelance Writing
  3. 7 Great Places to find Interview Subjects
  4. 19 Grants for Writers and Other Creative Types
  5. Technical Writing: What’s it Like?
  6. Freelance Writing Opportunities in SEO Content
  7. Freelance Writing COmmunities: 10 Questions to Ask Before You Join
  8. Contracting for Writers 101
  9. How to Find Interview Subjects for Your Blog Posts and Articles
  10. 4 Measures to Put in Place So Your Freelance Writing Clients Won’t Rip You Off
  11. The Dark Side of Freelance Writer: When Clients Don’t Pay5 Forms of Passive Income for Freelance Writers

Rewarding Your Long Term Freelance Writing Clients for Customer Loyalty

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Customer Service

I just got off the phone with my Mom. We had a very interesting discussion about customer loyalty, which provides the inspiration for this post. You see, my mom’s contract with her calling plan is ending and she doesn’t want to pay the astronomical new rate. I suggested she contact the company and ask what plans they have in place to reward existing customers for their customer loyalty.  She wasn’t aware she could do this, checked it out, and indeed received  a discounted rate for the new package.

It occurs to me we should also be rewarding long term freelance writing clients for customer loyalty.

How do you reward your long term freelance writing clients for their loyalty

I began asking about customer loyalty programs last summer after being miffed at my cable company for offering attractive packages to newbies but nothing for those of us who have been with them for years. It’s great to want new clients, but shouldn’t we also have measures in place to ensure the happiness of our existing clients? Why should the new guys get all the perks?

It turns out many cable or phone providers do have packages in place for their existing customers, but you have to ask for them.

Why should we have to wait for customers to ask for discounts?

We sometimes talk about sticking to our guns when it comes to rates and how it’s not always a good idea to negotiate, but there are also times we when need to show our clients a little love by offering discounts or freebies. I’m not saying we need to give up the farm but if you’ve been making tens of thousands of dollars writing the content for a long term client’s website, maybe you can offer a free page or other service here and there for no other reason than it’s a nice thing to do.

There’s a client I’ve been working with on and off for the past five years. He comes to me first when he’s looking for a writer, always accepts my pay raises with good cheer, and never missed a payment. Every now and then he gets a discount  because I believe it to be good customer service.

Suggested customer loyalty rewards:

  • A discounted rate for a large project
  • One free page per XXX amount of pages
  • A package rate, for example if the client wants a sales letter, marketing report and brochure you can offer it at a discounted package rate instead of an hourly, per word or per project rate.

Here’s a scenario:

You have a long term freelance writing client. Let’s say you’ve been working together for seven years. You have an excellent working relationship. He pays on time and you meet all deadlines and go on and beyond with your writing. He’s even dropped a bonus or two when you completed the project before deadline. He never had a problem with your pay increases because he knows he has to pay more to get the best. Now, what are you doing to repay his customer loyalty?

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