Let me guess, you have at least a dozen excuses why you don’t blog every day or at least 3 times per week. I know, I have the same excuses. I keep telling myself I WILL blog more, but something always stops me.

I have excuses like:

I don’t have time to write my own blog posts because I’m so busy writing other stuff.

I never have anything interesting to say or something that could be useful to someone.

The truth is:

• I do want to be informative and interesting at the same time.
• I do want to help more people.
• I do want to make money from my efforts.
• I do wish I had more ways to come up with topics.
• I wish I had more hours in the day.

Well, I don’t know how to create more hours per day, but I do know that the hours we do have—we all have 24 of them—can be used more wisely and we can find timesavers to help us get more writing done.

One great timesaver is something that Peggy Baron has created to help you write more articles in a shorter time period. She’s created a nifty tool called “Easy Article Starters.” They do just that. They help you start (and finish) an article. This blog post is an example of one.

Many people buy PLR articles but hate to rewrite them. Other people simply loathe the use of PLR, but they know they need more fresh content. Well, these are NOT private label content material. These are basically ideas with titles, topics, bullet points, content sparkers—whatever you want to call them. This is one of those product ideas that we all wish we’d thought of.

Go check out the easy article starters and see if you can use any of them. They are at a great price and can be used over and over. You can view some great samples on that page.

Save yourself some time and frustration and grab a pack or two. She also has other categories too.

These are great for marketers and writers in general.

To your success!
Patti

P.S. That link again is: Easy Article Starters.

If you’re just starting out, you’re probably wondering how you can find real writing for pay opportunities. The internet is full of scams and low pay offers. Sometimes it can be hard to get your foot in the door with better paying clients, although it’s not impossible. Building your writing business takes effort and consistency.

Here are some great ways to find legit opportunities.

Network

One of the best ways to find legitimate writing opportunities is to network. In fact, ask any successful writer or freelancer how they grow their business and chances are they network. Some of your best clients will come to you this way. Connect with other writers. Connect with business owners. And connect with other people in the marketing, advertising and website design and management fields.
Be sure to create a fan page on Facebook for your business. Post on Twitter. However, don’t neglect industry forums, blogs and chat rooms too.

Ask

Make a shortlist of your ideal clients. For example, if you’re a copywriter for the health and wellness field Rodale might be an ideal client. Instead of waiting for an opportunity, ask for it. Contact your ideal clients and make a pitch. Of course, before you pitch make sure you know who and what they are and how you can offer value. Research them thoroughly.

Job Board Sites

Many job board and freelance sites have a bad reputation.  Some of them are packed with scams. However, you can find sites that are legitimate and provide an abundance of opportunity. Before searching for writing jobs on a freelance or job board site, make sure it has a reputation for quality.

Some freelance job sites charge a fee. Don’t pay for a site unless you are certain it’s a good one. Most freelance sites offer a free trial or free membership. Take advantage of that. Use freelance sites that hold payment in escrow. That means the client pays for the work up front. The freelance site holds onto it. You get your money when the project is delivered. And always require a deposit payment. Generally, writers charge one third to one half of the total project fee up front.

Clients on any freelance or job board site should be willing to pay some sort of deposit. They should also be willing to negotiate a delivery/payment schedule that works for both of you. If they’re not, don’t work with them.

When applying or responding to job postings, stick with customers that have a high rating. Read the comments other providers have left. Research the client online if possible. Trust your instincts. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t go with it.

Writing for pay is a rewarding and fulfilling lifestyle. There are many more legitimate opportunities available that there were several years ago. However, scammers are prevalent in any industry. Be smart. Shop for your writing jobs carefully. Don’t give up if this is something you want to do. Just keep a positive attitude.

With some persistence, patience and planning, you can make a living as a writer and grow a business that you’re proud of.

To your success!
Patti

Should you choose a writing niche? The truth is, as a writer, you’re competing with hundreds of other writers. Maybe thousands of other writers. Don’t freak out, it’s okay. Really it is. You’re probably a better writer than 75% of them, and if you take a few steps to position yourself,  the competition isn’t a big deal. One of those steps is to choose a niche.

Why a Writing Niche Works

When you choose a niche to write for you’re positioning yourself as a specialist. Specialists have more authority in their chosen niche and generally charge more because of their knowledge in the field. They usually spend most of their time, energy and attention on a singular topic or industry. So, in the eyes of your potential prospects, specialization matters.

Your clients (and potential clients) want to know that you specialize in their needs. Choosing a writing niche helps you build your business. It helps you establish trust and credibility. Plus, it makes it easier to justify higher fees when you set yourself up as an expert.

Choosing a Niche

As a writer you have a few choices. You can specialize in a content format. Or you can specialize in an industry. You can also specialize in both. Here’s an example:

* Format: Ebooks
* Industry: Spirituality
* Both: Spirituality Ebooks

So how do you choose a niche? Begin by taking a look at:
* Your interests and passions
* Your knowledge
* Your experience

Make a list of the formats you prefer to write in. Maybe you prefer writing shorter pieces like articles and blog posts. Maybe you enjoy the process of crafting a sales letter. Also explore the industries and topics you’re interested in. This is important. If you’re not interested in the topic you’re writing on, it’s going to be difficult to be motivated.

Once you have a nice tidy list of potential niches it’s time to take a look at your competition and the market for your niche.

Evaluate both demand and supply. Take a look at the market rate for those types of writers. For example, perhaps you love writing blog posts on health and nutrition. There’s certainly a lot of demand for it. There may also be a lot of supply. Supply can mean that the going rate for a health blog post may be lower than you want to make. This doesn’t mean you can’t make the rate you want to for this industry. You can. It just means that you’ll have to do some extra work marketing yourself.

Many writers avoid choosing a niche. They don’t want to be pigeonholed. They don’t want to feel restricted. They don’t want to burn out. All of these are valid. However, just because you choose a niche doesn’t mean you can’t write on other topics. Of course you can!
Choosing a niche simply helps you market your writing business more effectively. It helps you position your services and profit. Choosing a writing niche doesn’t limit your business, it elevates it.

To your success!
Patti

I’ve talked about writing for pay being a very profitable career. It can also be rewarding and fulfilling by providing a sense of freedom. You can grow your business and reach your financial goals on your own terms.

Often, many writers find they reach a plateau with their business. They have a full schedule, great clients and a satisfactory income. However, they want more. If this sounds familiar, consider these strategies for making more money.

#1 Publish

One of the best ways to earn more money as a writer is to publish. You don’t have to get a traditional writing contract from a publisher. You can self publish. In fact, it’s a better idea to self publish. So what do you publish? Write and publish reports and/or ebooks on your niche topic.

For example, if you’re a writer for the fitness industry, consider writing a how-to book on a fitness topic. You can then use this book as a calling card for your writing business. If someone asks you for a sample, you can say, “Here, you can read my book.”

You might also consider publishing a book or report on how to hire a fitness writer or how to find your ideal ghostwriter. These types of publications can be used to establish credibility in your industry. They also provide valuable information.

When you publish you not only make income on the sales of your books you also gain more high paying clients.

Don’t forget Kindle Publishing. It’s becoming more and more popular. You don’t want to miss out on that!

#2 Partner

Partnerships can increase your income tenfold. In fact, a good partnership or two can open up a whole new world of opportunities. For example, you might create a referral partnership with a complimentary provider. If you’re a content writer you might receive inquiries for copywriting or virtual administration.

You could refer prospects to a specific copywriter or administrative provider in exchange for a commission. You’re helping your customers. You’re driving business to your partners. And you’re earning extra money.

You can also forge partnerships to create new businesses or products. In the first strategy we discussed publishing. We used the example of writing a fitness book if you’re a fitness writer. You might partner with a nutritionist when you write the book. Together you could split the profits and each generates income and business.

#3 Affiliate

Another great way to generate additional income as a writer is to affiliate. An affiliate is someone who earns a commission by promoting a product. For example, if you’re a web content writer you might affiliate for SiteSell which is a theme based website system. You might have a banner ad for SiteSell on your writing business website. You might also recommend them in a review article and link to them in other content related articles. Each time someone clicks on your ad or link and signs up with SiteSell, you earn a commission.

As a web content writer this type of affiliation makes sense. It helps establish your credibility because SiteSell has a good reputation. It’s important to affiliate with companies that are related to your writing service/niche and that help boost your credibility. Not only that, it can help you build other streams of income. We all know there are times when it can be feast or famine in the writing business. If you have other ways to make money, the slow times won’t be so bad financially.

If you need help learning the ropes as an affiliate marketer, you have some choices. You can check out Daily Affiliate Tasks, which is a short, weekly, step-by-step course that helps you learn how to promote your affiliate recommendations.

Another great option is creating small reports to promote affiliate products.

There are many ways to boost your income as a writer. These three are just the tip of the iceberg. As you grow your business, keep your eyes open for new opportunities to earn, profit and grow your business.

To Your Success!
Patti

It can take awhile to get a new business set up, but once your writing business is established you probably want to grow it quickly. After all, you’ve started a writing business to make money. You may still be writing for low paying websites so the faster you gain a full schedule, with regular clients, the better.

Here are seven ways to grow your writing business quickly. Try to spend a little time each day or at least each week working on some of these ways. Don’t get overwhelmed and try them all at once, though.

Network

Networking is a great way to gain your first few clients. You’ll also find that networking is effective to market your business once you’ve achieved your initial client goals.

Networking simply helps you connect with others who are looking for your services. Network both online and offline for maximum effectiveness.

Be sure to network with other writers too. If they like you and your work, they can often refer you to clients or some will even outsource some of their work to you.

Partner

Partnering with others is a surefire way to gain business. Partnering can take many forms. You might partner with someone and swap advertisements for your services. You might also partner with a complimentary business to support each other.

For example, if you write information products you might partner with a graphic designer to create complete packages. To grow your business, keep an eye out for partnership opportunities.

Referrals

In the beginning ask friends, family and associates for referrals. Once you’ve established a few clients and they’re happy, ask them for referrals. You can even consider  creating a referral program. Reward clients who send you new clients with a discount or credit for your services.

Job sites

Job sites have a bad reputation. However they can be a great place to gain experience. They can also be useful for building your business. Once your business is established you may turn to them from time to time for extra money. Or to fill in gaps in your schedule.

Look at sites like oDesk and eLance. They are some of the better services, but you still need to weed through the job opportunities. Another good site for women writers is hosted by Nicole Dean. It’s called SheLancers.

Publish

One of the best ways to build your business is to publish. You’re a writer after all. Get your name and your content out there. Publish online. Publish in print if possible. Utilize article directories and blogging to establish a name for yourself.

Don’t forget places like Yahoo where you can publish articles on your chosen topics to build up your expertise in a certain niche.

Free reports

Giveaways are an excellent way to gain prospects. Reports are an exceptional tool because they help you accomplish two tasks at once. For example, if you’re a web content writer you might create a report that talks about how to hire a ghostwriter for your web content. You now establish yourself as a source of information. You also establish your credibility. And you provide a sample of your writing work. With a free report you’re driving prospects to your website and you’re motivating them to use your services.

Susanne Myers has a nice little product about creating small reports. It’s written for the affiliate marketer, but there’s great tips you can use about creating small reports in any area of business.

Blog

Finally, consider blogging. Blogging on your own site helps you drive traffic to your business. It also establishes your brand. Your content helps establish your credibility by providing writing samples as well as information.

Become a guest blogger as well. Guest blogging broadens your reach. More people will learn about who you are and what you have to offer. Building your business takes a plan. It also takes a little time and patience.

Need help setting your blog up? Check out WordPress Blog Setup Made Easy. WordPress is the number one platform for an online presence these days. It has tons of bells and whistles and most of them are free. :)

To Your Success!
Patti

P.S. Also see if writing for pay is right for you and why you need a writer’s website.

See my name? That’s me. I’m a domain. Yay!

Do you have a website? As a writer your website may be your most important business tool. You can start with some free services, although it’s not recommended, it CAN be done. You can always upgrade to paid services later on. I share the services I use at the end of this post.

Now, if you don’t have a website, you need to consider getting one.

Here’s why:

Your Customers Search Online

The internet has grown into a huge reference tool. People use it to find information on products. They also use it to find information about services. Those looking for writing services are your potential customers and they will likely use the Internet to find you.

Additionally, many of your customers are going to be online service business owners. This means they’re also looking for writers who are familiar with writing for the internet.

Your website demonstrates your ability to write for the Internet. It establishes your credibility as an online writer.

Your Website Serves As Your Portfolio

As a paid writer many of your potential clients want to see your work before they hire you. Your website is a great place to display your samples and even full length articles. It can also be a testament to your writing style. Each page of content on your blog or website is a writing sample.

Credibility and Authority

In addition to being able to display writing samples, you can establish credibility and authority. Both are buying triggers. They motivate a purchase. Credibility can be established through your content. You can also list organizations you belong to.

Publish awards and recognitions you’re received. Perhaps most importantly, you can publish your client testimonials. Some writers dedicate an entire page of their website to listing testimonials. You might also consider listing the companies you’ve worked with and linking to them.

Your Website Establishes Your Brand

As a small business owner your personality is your brand. It’s important. People connect with a brand. When they do, they remember you. They also want to buy from you. One of the primary buying triggers is likeability. If your website visitors like you, they’re more likely to buy from you.

Your personality is communicated through your writing. Each page on your website can further enhance your brand and your connection to your prospect. Whether you’re sarcastic, Zen, enthusiastic or serious, your brand helps sell your writing services.

More Effective & Efficient

Finally, your website can help you make your business more efficient.

On your website you can include an order form. Prospects can fill out the form. It’ll be instantly emailed to you and you can create a response based on their needs. You can also collect payment on your website with a  PayPal link or other shopping cart software. However, Paypal offers an invoicing service which is really nice.

You can also include your policies, procedures, and FAQs on your website. This makes it easier for prospects to learn everything they need to know before they hire you.

If you’re a writer consider creating a website. It’ll help you build and grow your business. It’ll help you streamline your business. And it can help you find more ideal clients. You simply can’t lose when you have your own website.

My Recommendations:

Many writers use their name as their domain, like me. If your name isn’t available, you can still think up something catchy in the writing niche.

I always buy my domains from GoDaddy. However, DO NOT use their hosting services. Ick! I made that mistake once. Simply skip all of their upsells and add-ons and just get a domain there.

After you purchase your domain, you can get hosting at HostGator. I use the $9.95 per month package, and I can host ALL of my domains on that one package. I “used” to host them all separately. Yeah, that was costing a small monthly fortune. So glad I wised up.

HostGator has excellent support too. I’ve only had to use it once or twice in the past few years, but everyone else raves about their support too.

WordPress is a great platform for setting up your own website. It’s extremely functional, easy to use and has lots of great plugins–most of them are free. If you need help getting it set up, grab a copy of WordPress Blog Setup Made Easy.

You will love WordPress once you start using it. :)

To Your Success!
Patti

P.S. If you’re still wondering if you want to be a writer, you can read the blog post about writing for pay.

So you want to be a writer. Excellent. Writing for pay is an ideal lifestyle for many. However, it’s not the right choice for everyone. Here’s how to know if writing for pay is right for you.

#1 Do you enjoy writing?

You need to answer that question with a resounding YES, otherwise this may not be the career choice for you. When you write for pay you’re going to be writing a lot. All day, every day.

If you want to write for pay and embrace it as your career, daily writing needs to be a passion for you. You need to  enjoy the process of writing, and rewriting. Yes, sometimes lots of rewriting.

#2 Are you self motivated?

Your clients will have deadlines and expectations. If you’re not able to get up each morning, sit down at your computer and write, it’s not going to work. However, if you’re able to tackle your writing projects, write well and deliver them on time then you’re ready to write for pay. Take a look at your habits right now. Are you motivated? Do you approach projects with energy? Or do you procrastinate?

You may want to start with some free writing to make sure you can hold yourself accountable and write daily. The Yahoo Contributor Network is a great place to start. It offers really low pay, so it’s better than free, but it’s a good way to find out if you can stick with writing.

#3 Can you manage your time well?

Here’s something many people don’t think about. If you get a $1000 project and it takes you fifty hours to complete it, that’s $20/hour. However, if it takes you ten hours to complete it, that’s $100/hour. How can the same project take 10 or 50 hours? Focus. Time management and also knowing the content beforehand.

If you’re checking email, surfing the web and chatting on Facebook in between pages, it very well could take you 50 hours to finish that project. However, if you’re completely focused on writing it’ll take you much less time.

#4 How are your cash management skills?

Writing for pay is interesting. Sometimes you have a ton of work and everyone pays on time. Other times it can get slow. People may pay slowly. If you spend money as quickly as you make it, those slow times can be really stressful.
On the other hand, if you manage your money well then those slow times can be enjoyed. You can use them to build your business. To network. To work on personal projects. And you won’t have to worry about your next paycheck or the bills stacking up on your desk.

#5 Are you a good communicator?

One of the most important elements of writing for pay is to be able to hear what your client wants. This means good listening skills. It also means knowing what questions to ask. Good communication is essential for success. The good news is that you can set up your business to support your communication skills. If you communicate better in writing than on the phone consider an email system for communicating with clients.

So how did you do? Were you able to navigate these five questions with confidence? If you were, great! You’ll do well as a writer. If you hesitated with some of these questions don’t give up. Simply take some time to assess why and create a plan to overcome these challenges. You can do it!

Be sure to find out why you need an online presence too.

To Your Success!
Patti

P.S. Looking to start a freelance career? Be sure to grab the Freelance Success Report! No opt-in required. :-)

If you’ve considered writing for pay, it can be a wonderful way to make a living or supplement your income. If you enjoy writing and have the desire and motivation to make a career of it, you can. The writing lifestyle provides freedom from the standard 9-5. However, it can come with long hours if you take on a lot of clients. It also lets you work when you’re most productive. You can work at midnight in your PJs if you want to!

Writing for pay isn’t always easy. Many writers find out that there are pitfalls and challenges. If you know what to expect, you can adapt.

Here are five pitfalls of writing for pay and how to avoid them:

#1 Time Crunch

Too often a writer doesn’t budget enough time for a project. The result is a rushed project and a stressed out writer. When you have to rush a project, it’s tough to do your best work. It could result in “less than your best” work. This can cost you a client. Additionally, it’s difficult to feel pride in your work when you’re not delivering to your full ability.

The solution? Always budget in an extra day or two. If you think a project will take you a week to complete, ask for two weeks. Get started on the project right away and try to deliver ahead of schedule. Don’t wait! Things can and will happen. Your Internet could go down or family members could get sick.  If you finish the project early, great! Clients love it when you deliver sooner than you promised, plus if you always deliver early, you can get more work from clients telling others about you.

#2 Low Quotes

Sometimes a project is more work than you expected it to be. This happens to everyone. When it happens to you, there are two choices.  You can learn from the mistake or ask the client for more money. Asking for more money after you’ve already agreed on a fee is a tough sell. It almost always annoys the client and you may end up losing them.

There’s a way around this. First, take your time assessing the project before you quote. If you’re unsure, then err on the side of caution. Additionally, you can include a paragraph in your quote that essentially says if the project requires more work than originally anticipated there will be additional fees. Always discuss the fees before continuing with the project of course. No one wants an expensive surprise.

Sometimes it’s just best to bite the bullet and finish the project.

#3 Losing Work

There’s nothing worse than pouring your time and energy into a project only to have it disappear. Yet it happens. You must have a backup system and use it consistently. Make it a habit. If nothing else, simply email your saved work to yourself. Store it on a flash drive,  an external hard drive or to a content management system.

#4 Plain Old Burnout

Writing for eight hours a day, five or six days a week sounds like fun, right? It can be. However, it can also quickly lead to burnout. Make sure you take time off to have fun. Take a break from writing. Get outside and get some fresh air every day. Talk to people. Laugh. Be social.

#5 Grumpy Customers

One of the biggest challenges to writing for pay will be your customers. You’ll have some truly wonderful customers. You’ll also have a few you don’t like. Ultimately the choice is yours. If your business is solid and you have plenty of work then you certainly don’t have to work with the grumpy customers again.

However, if you need the work then it may be best to put on a smile and appease them. Setting the groundwork up front with policies, procedures and an effective communication system can alleviate much of these problems. When customers know exactly what to expect, they tend to be more accommodating.

Writing for pay is a great lifestyle for many. However, it’s not without its challenges. Learn from them. Plan for them. And enjoy your chosen profession!

To your success!
Patti