Author: Jessica Marie

Professional copywriter, NASM certified personal trainer, mom of 2

January 14, 2019

I don’t believe in writer’s block

Oh my goodness, did that title just make you writhe in your seat a little?

If so, I didn’t mean to cause you any physical or emotional angst…

… But to show you there’s a better way.

You see, writer’s block doesn’t even have to be a thing for you.

It isn’t for me.

Because I realized it didn’t need to be a thing for me.

Writer’s block is just a self-inflicted limitation.

I’m not sure when exactly I decided this.

Probably over the years of building this blog, I know for CERTAIN that I’ll never ever ever ever ever run out of ideas!

Same with clients. I know I’ll never ever ever run out of ideas for them either.

Because I know I can be an idea-generating machine,

I just decided writer’s block wasn’t going to be a “thing” for me anymore.

Yes, you can just decide that.

Don’t get me wrong, I do have days where I procrastinate hardcore.

I do have days where the words don’t flow as easily as others.

But I just never worry that I’m going to be struck by writer’s block.

You don’t have to worry if you don’t want either.

You just have to make this whole “I don’t get writer’s block” a daily practice…and a belief.

Let me show you some of the tricks I use to keep writer’s block from ever becoming a thing for me.

How to Decide Against Writer’s Block

Learn how to be an idea generating machine.
Practice coming up with ideas daily. Write down a list of 20 headline ideas for your next post just to give your idea muscle some training. Write down a list of 10 things you’re grateful for every night before bed. Write down 50 of your family’s favorite dinners so you always have a list to pull from when you’re stuck. Think of 100 new info products you could sell on your website, even if they’re crappy.This practice gets you into idea generating mode. You get better at generating ideas with practice, so you know for sure you’ll never run out.

I’ve gotten to the point where I just trust I can come up with ideas on a whim. If I do this idea-generating practice too much, my mind because way too aflutter with all the fun things I could do, create, or make. I just know the ideas are always available.
Know where to look for ideas.Going along with trick #1, write out a list of places to get ideas. If you ever really feel like you’re running dry, you can refer to this list to get your mind spinning again.
For example, I know I could pop over to Reddit or Buzzsumo and get enough ideas for hundreds of new blog posts. I could open a magazine and come up with dozens of spin-off article ideas. I could click on Pinterest and get my mind whirring again. Song lyrics often trip my idea wire too, so if I’m in a funk, I just put on my headphones and wait for a breakthrough.

If I couldn’t come up with a headline, I’d just look up “headline hacks.” If I needed a fun hook for an intro paragraph, I could just look up a quote from a current television show to get my gears going.
Trust what’s available to you.Just knowing that all these ideas are floating out there for me to find gives me confidence that I’ll never run out of words and concepts to express.
I know from just those first two points that I’m much more likely to have trouble taming all my rampant ideas than coming up with them or the words for them.

Between the thesaurus, my daily reading material, and the grand ole internets, I trust that I won’t ever have writer’s block again.
Practice the “writer’s block isn’t real” mindset.You should see by now that writer’s block is just a mindset. It’s just a belief, in the moment, that you can’t find anything to say. If you know there are endless ideas out there, ready for you, and that you can easily find more than you can fit inside your brain, then you can shove the idea of writer’s block right out of your mind.
I hope I’ve shown you that you can always find things to say.

You can either choose to believe writer’s block is real for you or choose not to believe it. It’s as simple as that.
Write every day.I notice that my words fly a lot more freely when I’m in the practice of writing (and reading) every day. I’m much less likely to be at a loss for words when I’m in the practice of crafting them.
As a freelance writer, I just write every day anyway. If you’re not in the habit of writing every day, make it happen. Just journal or write in your blog. You don’t have to write fully-cited research papers or anything, just words on a page.

If you wanted to be a well-known ballet dancer, you’d have to practice dancing for hours every day. If you want to be a well-known writer, you need to do the same. You refine your technique, express yourself better, and pick up the right words with practice.
Busy yourself with an entirely different task.If you’re really stuck on the content you’re writing, get out of your desk and do something else. Cook a meal, take a walk, meditate, sleep. Nature, in particular, has a restorative effect. Do something relaxing but productive. People have been using this tactic for decades to solve problems.
When you give your mind a rest and focus on something else, the solution to your problem often just pops right into your head. Even if it doesn’t (and it should), the mind break itself is usually enough to allow your creative juiced to flow freely again.
Daily personal development.Personal development helps with everything. It helps you become a better, more well-adjusted human in so many ways. A lot of mlm companies have started including personal development as a necessary daily activity for this very reason, and you often notice a change in people’s character when they start doing it. You can use personal development to clear your blocks, learn how to take responsibility, and find happiness.
Personal development definitely helps you recognize and destroy your limitations like a samurai. You can slice right through writer’s block just like you would any other limitation.

I hope this article has helped you identify writer’s block as a construct of your own mind and encouraged you to rip it apart.

I’d love to hear your aha moments or your thoughts on writer’s block in the comments.

Peace out, writer’s block!

What are your best tips and tricks for writer’s block?

January 8, 2019

If writing is your true purpose…

I know that writing is my true purpose in this world.

I know it’s a major part of my work.

The ability to write a certain way is imprinted in my DNA.

But there’s a difference between knowing your purpose and actually living it.

There’s a Pacific and an Atlantic ocean between the two.

Writing is a major part of my purpose, but I haven’t always lived it.

In corporate, I used maybe .01% of my full writing capacity, even as a corporate copywriter.

When you write the same thing day in and day out and spend a much larger percentage of your time on menial tasks other than writing, then no, you’re probably not living your purpose.

I wasn’t living my true purpose.

So, how do you know if writing is your true purpose?

Well, first, you’re good at it.

Although that seems obvious, it took me a long time to figure out that I was. Teachers told me. Friends told me. Others told me. But I just figured everyone else could write just fine. I didn’t think there was anything notable about what I could do.

It took a little bit of convincing and seeing other people’s writing to come to the realization.

If people tell you you’re a great writer, then take that as your sign.

You feel like you’re masquerading.

If you feel like you’re a born writer masquerading as an accountant, lawyer, executive assistant, etc, then you might be ignoring your true calling.

Not that there’s anything wrong with those professions. No, no, I would never say being a writer is better, it’s only better for certain people who were meant to be writers!

Heck, maybe writing is even meant to be a part of your current profession.

But if you feel like you’re not being true to yourself in your current profession, then writing might be part of your true calling.

You can feel it inside of you.

Again, you might not recognize it, but one day, you’ll become acutely aware and look back and see that it was there all along. Your true purpose was hiding in plain sight the whole time.

Memories of writing.

Dreams of writing.

Attraction to writing.

Maybe you’ve always had a dream of writing for a living but never thought it was a practical enough profession.

Maybe you could never get enough learning about writers and their work.

Perhaps you have hoards of notebooks in your basement filled with musings or short stories.

Whatever it was, it was always there, if you peek back over your shoulder.

You always felt that inspired tingle inside of you when you thought about writing.

You keep coming back to it.

You might dabble in other professions, get distracted by shiny objects, but somehow, you always come back to writing. All other hobbies and hunches fall away, but you never do quite lose that itch to write.

If someone walked into your office and offered you a million dollars on the stipulation that you could never write again, would you do it?

If the idea of that just made your heart sink a little bit, then you know writing is your purpose.

You could never give that part of you up.

You lose all sense of time when you’re writing about a subject you’re personally vested in. Or you feel a deep sense of fulfillment when you complete a writing project.

Are you feeling me on this one?

If this is stirring something up inside of you, then your true purpose probably has something to do with writing.

But, if writing is your true purpose, are you living it?

How to know if you’re living your true purpose every day:

The reality is, even if you know writing is in your blood, you may not be doing anything about it. You probably dream about it, think about it a lot, try to “make a place for it” in your life, figure you’ll give it a shot just as soon as you get X and X and other BS in place.

If that’s true, then no, you aren’t living your true purpose.

And this goes for any true purpose, whether it’s writing or something completely unrelated.

If you’re not spending the majority of your time on it, then you’re not being true to it.

If you’re not starting with it and building everything else up around it, then no you’re not being true to it.

Let me ask you this,

Do you write every day?

Is writing even make up a portion of your profession?

Actually, do you spend 80% of your “work” time writing?

If not, then you’re probably not living out your purpose.

Because it takes effort, you know.

This living your purpose thing.

No one comes along and places the perfect profession in your lap and pronounces you a verified and certified writer and gives you a stipend to match.

You have to go out there and get it.

You have to build your life up around it.

You’re the one responsible for living out your true purpose.

How to start living your purpose

So, now that you’re feeling a bit convicted, let me give you a little practical advice about living your purpose to make you feel better, more empowered.

Start carving out time to write. Whether you enjoy poetry or political editorials, make space in your life for it.

Then, expand the time you spend on it from there.

I know it’s not realistic to quit your job and your obligations to live your purpose right this second, so start by making space and enlarging the perimeter of that space as you go.

Start a blog.

Take up journaling.

Pitch a few articles to big-name publications (use this guide to make it happen), and be able to say you’ve been published.

Choose a pen name if you’re embarrassed about your penchant for Harlequin romances.

But just freaking do it! m’kay?

If you plan to live this life with purpose, to live in the most full-bodied way, then you can’t wait any longer for writing to somehow wiggle its way into your life.

You have to make it happen.

If you’re committed to living this life with everything you have,

Then get behind your dreams

Stand with them like you would stand up for something you believe in.

It should be something you believe in, with everything inside of you!

Because, after all, the life you were designed for is the one worth living.

Much love,

~Jess

***If you’re at the point where you’re ready to make the jump to freelance writing, check out our free getting started guide. Don’t just dream about it. Do it!

January 7, 2019

Leave Your Alter Ego at the Door

We had a Christmas gathering at my uncle’s house this past weekend and I made the comment about how it just felt okay to let it all out there, because it was “just us” there, and no outsiders.

No family friends.

No neighbors.

No sometimes-boyfriends.

Just us.

And a whole lot of weirdness.

And I mean, you think your family is weird, but you’d think your family was tame after spending the day with mine;)

Anyone who knows my family IRL knows what I’m talking about.

The yelling, the weird habits, the same arguments reignited.

The dysfunctional communication.

The overwhelm thick in the air.

But also the love, the familiarity, the deep comfort in being with family.

Anyhow,

This led me to think about how we often mask certain parts of ourselves for outsiders, for neighbors, for employers, for online followers.

We allow ourselves to be more authentic around the people who know our crazy. Who see us as we really are.

Then, we go out into the world and we stand up a bit taller, speak a bit more sweetly, fix our words and our collars up.

Have you ever thought about how absurd this whole process seems, to become a different person outside of your comfort zone? To become a different person online?

Hiding the crazy behind good graphic design.

Polished, copywritten BS.

We all know people who never let you see the tears, only the smiles.

I’ve seen brands that simultaneously call their followers their best friends and yet keep everyone at arm’s reach.

And I’m always left vaguely–or sometimes acutely–aware that there’s way more to the picture than that. There’s stuff you’re not showing me. There’s something you’re covering up.

And I’m not talking about dark skeletons in the closet, I’m talking about simple daily habits.

I’m talking about fitness personalities who hawk their workout programs and then post themselves doing completely different workouts on their Instagram Stories.

I’m talking about influencers who hide out for months with illness and emerge only to pick up where they left off like nothing ever happened when they’re fully recovered and polished again.

I’m talking about the webinar hosts that don’t answer certain questions. And it’s obvious they’re avoiding certain subjects.

Not that they owe anyone an explanation or have to lay it all out in tell-all fashion, but you’re just left wondering what else they’re not really showing you. What they’re really afraid of showing you.

So, I want you to know…

As a writer

As an online business owner

As a person

It’s okay to be who you really are.

It’s okay to show us the book-worthy picture of the recipe you just designed and then pull back the camera and show us the chaos in the background.

It’s okay to show your crooked teeth and sing off-key when you’re really getting into it.

I’ve got 11 years of corporate life detoxing from my very core. The core that had to be a professional, say-the-right-things woman.

I know what it feels like to tear down that side of me that puts up a front, to tear it away until all that’s left is the real me.

And I’m drawn to people who talk about their dirty houses and insecurities. I mean, not if they only talk about those things all the time, but the ones who let us see through their perfection to the imperfection we know is there anyhow, and part of the whole picture.

The ones who kneel down in front of you and let you in on their inside scoop.

It’s endearing.

It’s refreshing.

It’s validating.

It’s okay to be exactly who you are online. In fact, it’s so much easier and better to be who you really are because people can see right through your BS.

I find comfort knowing people aren’t the straight-laced, perfect versions they portray.

Whether you’re a fitness junkie, a freelance business owner, a momma bear, whoever you are. Take a minute to look at the message you’re putting out into the world today.

If you’re hiding behind a brand or an online image that isn’t quite who you are…

It’s okay to let something hang out once in awhile.

To show those around you who you really are.

To stop feeling like a fraud.

If you’re a freelance writer, let your audience know you’re kinda snarky and you sleep with your Thesaurus.

I’m not afraid to tell my clients that I’m a much better writer than a speaker after slightly awkward phone calls (See, did I just admit that out loud? An emphatic…yes!)

The people who appreciate you will find you.

The people who don’t, well, good riddance.

Although the word “authentic” has been thrown around enough in the last few years to become overused, the word, at its core, is the epitome of what I’m talking about.

Be authentic.

Here’s a journaling prompt for you: What parts of the image you portray in public really aren’t true to who you really are?

Example entry: my work desk is polished, but my home is a disaster. It makes me feel like a fraud. I don’t feel the need to trash my desk, but I could certainly delve deeper into why I do this. Why do I do this? It’s more about relationship dynamics, I think. At home, I feel like it should be a joint effort. At work, it’s just me and I feel more in control……..(keep going!)

If you appreciate the authenticity and straightforwardness of this post, you will appreciate my complete forwardness with any of my Freelance Mini Courses. I don’t hide anything! In fact, I give you full access to my own emails. So, snap up what you’ve been missing and build your dream business, babe!

December 14, 2018

How to Freelance from Alignment

Today, I couldn’t be bothered to write another “how to” or “practical” post. Boring. Overdone? Out of alignment today, for sure.

I couldn’t even be bothered with all the official blog-y type rules with images every few paragraphs and all the official SEO rules in place.

This had to be from a deeper place inside, because I think the world needs more of that right now. Don’t you think?

Less surface-level sharing, more depth.

This all sounds way too serious, but stick with me.

This is actually a feel-good post.

Because everyone feels better when they work from a place of alignment.

So, what am I talking about, alignment?

Well, it means being true to your values.

Being true to who you really are.

Being true to your worth as a person.

Being true to your life’s purpose.

That’s all pretty esoteric, so let me explain in more concrete terms:

If you value time with your family, then don’t let your freelance work interfere with family time.

If you value meaningful work, then pursue freelance writing work that lights you up, that contributes to the world. For example, if you’re passionate about mental health, pursue work from mental health organizations.

If you believe you’re worth more than pennies per word, then stop accepting $.03 per word because you feel like that’s all that’s available to you! By the way, your worth is already beyond measure just by being born and being in existence. You just have to start living in your worth to stop settling for less.

If you truly feel that writing is a key part of your life’s purpose, then pursue it with your full heart!

If you feel like your position at your corporate job isn’t allowing you to be who you really are at your core, then listen to that voice! Start to actually face yourself from deep inside and reflect on what you’re doing there.

Let me give you a few examples from my own career as a freelance writer where I’ve made choices from alignment.

I chose a niche that was near and dear to my heart and I hardly veer from it. I’m a health and fitness writer and I can say with absolute conviction that I LOVE writing about these subjects.
I’ve passed over paying gigs for subjects like astrology and tarot because it goes against my religious values and passed over companies that had questionable values themselves. If it seems like they’re more about money than true consideration for humans, forget it.
During slow times, I fight the urge to look into another corporate job because I know my life’s purpose will not be fulfilled in those positions. I know I’m in the right place and that the right work will present itself to me (after I’ve done the footwork, of course).
I pass over numerous opportunities if the prospect doesn’t find value in my work. I won’t settle for $50 per post when my time is worth more than $75, for example. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said no to paying projects because I didn’t feel like they valued the worth of my work.
I concentrate on projects that make a difference in this world, even minor, like helping sad people find help or helping people enjoy their favorite hobbies or helping entrepreneurs avoid roadblocks.
I’ve structured my business so I don’t have to do a lot of sales type work or face-to-face business because I’m an introverted homebody. I do make time for social stuff and push myself beyond my comfort bubble, but I just know salesy work isn’t for me.
I wrote this post instead of another freelance how-to based on what I think is expected because of what others in the industry are doing out there.

You’ll know when a project or prospect is out of alignment. You’ll feel it.

It will feel yucky, (yes, yucky, because sometimes toddler terms explain it perfectly).

It will feel like something you need to hide from other people.

It will feel not quite right, like a little niggling at the back of your head going uh uh uh.

It will feel like, if you just took a step back, like you’re only considering the project because of the money, at the expense of your values and worth.

It will feel like you weren’t really meant to be doing this.

It will feel like you’re just not adding much value to the world.

It will feel like you can’t quite be yourself.

It will feel like you’re doing things that aren’t quite “you,” that make you feel insincere.

On the other hand, you’ll know when a project is in alignment when you check in with yourself and you can see:

The organization you work with is in it to help people

The project makes you excited to show it off

You feel energized and expanded, not contracted, when you’re done with the project

Your work contributes to a bigger picture that means something to you

The people who hire you value your contribution

You feel like you’re using your natural talents to their fullest potential

Take action today!

Take some time to reflect on this as you look back on this past year and make your plans for the coming year. I’m a huge fan of journaling, so get out your journal and get really honest with yourself:

How are you conducting business in alignment right now?

How are the projects you’re working on right now contributing to a positive big picture?

What could you work on transitioning into alignment in the coming year?

What does working in full alignment look like to you?

Even if you think you’re so far out of alignment right now, you can still make daily and monthly shifts toward alignment. You don’t have to make one ginormous life change on Jan 1 or some other exact moment in time. Just start making moves in the right direction.

Start working with companies whose missions makes you smile.

Start pulling away from clients who make you feel less than worthy.

Create a few samples for a niche that makes your heart feel fuller.

Pursue projects with passion.

With those small tweaks and shifts, one day, you’ll realize you’re finally right on course.

I want to hear from you,

Let me know in the comments what insights you got from this post and your stories about working in alignment.

September 11, 2018

The Four Best Ways to Attract Freelance Clients {And Make Them Come to You}

Before we discuss the best ways to attract freelance clients, let me just jump in here to help you adjust a few expectations.

Firstly, clients won’t come to you right away. It takes awhile to build your following, reputation, and website SEO. The effects of these strategies aren’t immediate and so many other factors come into play too (such as your writing talent and discipline).
That being said, you should always be actively working on these strategies to improve your visibility from the very beginning of your freelance career and for happily ever thereafter, amen.

Look, you always need to be proactively looking for clients, until your client load is full or overflowing. All I’m saying is, you can’t whip up a website and sit back and wait for work to fall into your lap.

Clients won’t magically appear, even if you wholeheartedly believe your morning affirmations that “I have an abundance of profitable freelance writing work. Clients come to me out of nowhere.”

Now, you may very well get some clients out of the blue.

But you can’t count on it. You still need to do your own proactive legwork.

So, without further ado…

The Four Best Ways to Attract Freelance Clients

Here are the best ways I’ve discovered to get clients to come to you.

Create a well-ranked website
Set up a referral system
Guest post on high-profile websites
Optimize your profiles on LinkedIn and other social media

Create a well-ranked website

Yes, we’re talking about SEO here. And while I know SEO isn’t always a freelance writer’s favorite subject, it doesn’t have to be difficult.

{If you still haven’t created a website, create one in five minutes}

If you put a few smart strategies in place, you can get your website ranked well on Google. You need to make sure your site gets verified by Google, you install the Yoast SEO plugin, and you find and use the right keywords in the right places.

{If you want to know exactly how I got this site ranked in the top 3 Google searches so you can too, check out this mini freelance SEO course}

To figure out your keywords, think about the process your prospects might use to find a writer.

Many of them head straight to Master Google and type in “financial copywriter” or “freelance hospitality writer” to see what comes up.

First, you want to make sure your website shows up on Page 1 of those exact Google results. Most people click on one of the first few entries and never make it past the first page, so if your site doesn’t show up at the top, it’s as good as invisible.

Two, you want to make sure the webpage your prospect lands on when they click compels them to contact you. Take time to hone your Home, About Me, and Work With Me pages until you feel like you want to hire yourself!

Make sure you make it easy for your prospects to contact you too, no matter which page they land on. If they can’t figure out your contact information, they’ll move on quicker than you can say “Wait just a sec!”

Action step: use Google’s Keyword Planner to do a little keyword research. Decide what the number one keyword is you want to rank for. It should be something along the lines of “your niche + freelance writer.” Then, choose a few sub-keywords, which could include your geographic location or the type of content your write (i.e. Dallas blog writer).

Include your main keyword in your site’s meta title, headings, subheadings, urls, and copy.

Make an effort to rank for your chosen keyword. I can teach you how with my mini freelance SEO course. It’s way too in-depth to discuss here;)

Next, peruse your website’s main pages and make sure you include your contact information or a contact form on each.

Set up a referral system

Referrals are one of the BEST ways to get new clients.

Think again about the process your ideal prospects might use to find a writer for some content marketing they want to implement.

Some of them will ask around their network for a good freelance writer. Make sure your name gets mentioned by current and past clients. How?

Do excellent work so your client can’t help but sing your praises.
Ask for referrals. Simply ask. You can either ask your clients directly for referrals or offer a monetary incentive for referrals like $25-$250 off their next project.

Another effective way to propel the referral train is to offer free work for a well-known entrepreneur who runs in circles you want to be part of. In exchange, you can ask them for referrals and a testimonial when you’re done.

Now, I only recommend free work when you’re just starting out, and only if the benefits of that free work far outweigh the lack of compensation. Doing free writing work for a millionaire entrepreneur will pay off in exponential dividends because of their reach and the value of their referral network.

If they refer you to their friends and network, you’re golden!

Action step: Make sure all your friends and family know about your business. Post occasionally about your business on Facebook so your name comes to mind first for referrals within your social network.

Next, write out your referral strategy going forward, if you don’t already have one. You can add a sentence or two to your business plan or open a new Google Doc to jot a few notes like this about your business strategy. Your referral strategy should be as simple as asking all clients for referrals upon project completion, with or without a referral bonus.

Guest post on high-profile websites

Guest posting is one of the best business strategies a freelancer can use. You should make guest posting one of your primary marketing tools, especially when you’re just getting started or hit a lag.

The advantages of guest posting are two-fold:

The published piece makes your portfolio all the more impressive.
Guest posts may entice your prospects to reach out to you directly.

That second point there is how you get potential clients to come to you.

If you write a piece that’s so well-written and received, your reader might think “Aha! This is the writer I want working for me.”

Prospects may reach out to you after seeing that stellar piece you wrote.

You need to be strategic about this move though, because you can’t just write any old content and expect clients to rush to you. You need to write content that applies and appeals to your particular ideal client.

If you want to work with plant-based pet companies, you likely won’t get any hits from a Huff Post article about financial freedom, or even a local dog show. Those types of articles aren’t of personal interest for their business endgame. You could get their attention however, with a thoughtful piece about content marketing specifically for the plant-based pet industry.

See how that works?

Action step: brainstorm a few well-known publications that your ideal client likely reads and come up with some article ideas that would be of value to them. Then, pitch those article ideas to the publications.

{Use my step-by-step process to pitch and land opportunities with big-name publications. It’s not as hard as you might think!}

Bonus tip: Make sure your byline rocks and includes your contact information so your prospects can easily reach you.

Optimize your profile on LinkedIn and other social media platforms

Prospects reach out to freelance writers on LinkedIn and other platforms all the time. I know because I read about it all the time and it’s happened to me. It’s one of the best places to be “seen” by prospects because it’s one of the most popular places for them to actively look for freelance writers.

How do you get prospects to reach out to you on LinkedIn?

Make your profile prolific and searchable. Fill in all possible sections and upload profile and header images to start. Then, go back and hone your profile. Include keywords about your niche and profession in your tagline and profile so you show up in searches. Don’t use fancy words like “wordsmith” or “copy engineer.” No one is searching for those. They’re searching for “freelance writer,” “copywriter,” or “content marketer.” Put a little bit of personality into your profile to distinguish it from others too. Let your ideal client know exactly what kind of results they can expect from you.
Offer your ideal prospect something free of value. Write an article with valuable advice for your ideal client and publish it on LinkedIn. An article like this gives your ideal client a snapshot of your writing style, lets them know you have expertise on the subject, and shows them your skills align perfectly with what they need. ‘Nuff said.
Stay active on the platform. Make regular updates to your profile and pop into industry-relevant groups every so often to keep your profile active. You never know, the excellent advice you offer in a LinkedIn group may trigger a prospect to reach out to you.
Tell them to! Never underestimate the value of a call-to-action. Straight up tell your prospects to reach out. Make your contact information easy to find and give them more options than just InMail. Make your CTA low-pressure too. Rather than “Tell me what content you want written and we’ll discuss which of your kids I get in return,” say “Email me at {your email address} to chat about copy. It’s my favorite subject!”

Use these same strategies to optimize your Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook business profiles too. A few hours after optimizing my Twitter profile, a prospect reached out to me and is still one of my most profitable clients to this day. {Read about how I landed this client on Twitter here.}

To be a successful freelance writer (as opposed to a struggling one), you need to continuously, actively market your business. You can amplify your reach and let your website and social media profiles do some of the work for you with these four strategic steps to attract freelance clients.

If you can’t wait for the day when clients seek you out specifically, this is the way to do it.

For more in-depth, step-by-step instructions on SEO and guest posting, check out my mini freelance courses:

How to Get Published on High-Profile Publications

SEO for Your Freelance Writer Website

I’d love to hear about your successes with attracting freelance clients in the comments below!

June 4, 2018

7 of the Most Impressive Freelance Writer Portfolio Examples on the Internet

So, right now, I’m putting together a module for my freelance writing course about how to put together your freelance writer portfolio. [Edit to update, the freelance portfolio building mini course is now available here]

So, naturally I was digging around legit everywhere on the internet for some cool freelance writer portfolio examples, and I found some I needed to share with you.

These were the stand-outs.

The ones that didn’t look like everyone else’s.

The ones that clearly stated by their design “I’m not like everyone else, and there’s no doubt I’m good at what I do.”

These are the kind of portfolios that make me want to virtually high-five their creators!

It took awhile, but I found a few gems that will help you rethink your standard portfolio.

Hold up…if you think a “standard portfolio” is a typewritten, tangible portfolio inside a leather case a la Mad Men, you need to flash forward about a half a century.

Your writing portfolio must be digital.

Now that we have that squared away…

These examples I’m about to show you demonstrate the amazing possibilities you have with your online portfolio.

If you’ve ever wondered what “be unique” or “find a unique selling proposition” mean, these are it. They all have very unique approaches. (So, don’t copy them, be your own unique self!)

While you may not have the tech skills to make your website look as good (I sure don’t), these examples should give you a moment’s pause to consider how you can un-vanilla-fy and personalize your own portfolio.

Cuz, c’mon, how vanilla is your portfolio right now, really?

And invest in a website designer to make it look good. Trust me on this one.

Let me just say, before I show them to you, how long it took me to put this chock-full-of-information post together.

Hours upon hours, I tell you.

Because I had to wade through dozens of vanilla portfolios to find the rare impressive ones.

So, pay attention;)

Without further ado, the best freelance writer portfolios I’ve come across!

The Visual Writer’s Portfolio

As a visual person, I just love and appreciate Jaime Endick’s visual portfolio. Her Visualize.Me portfolio gives her prospects a quick view of her best features at a glance. As we become more and more a culture of scanners, this type of portfolio becomes more and more relevant.

The only thing I’d be cautious with here is that her timeline may betray her age. And although age discrimination is against the law, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. It doesn’t mean your age isn’t being judged.

Also, this visual doesn’t really have a clickable portfolio, which you definitely need. But it has a lot of amazing visuals to consider for your portfolio.

Next, her visual skills section beats a plain old A4 resume any day. We could all make a chart like this to emphasize the extent of our skills rather than the boring old resume way.

I love how the colors, words, font size, and size of the rectangles in the next section demonstrate her personality and skill levels all the more!

Steal-it tips:

Add a few visuals to your portfolio page aside from the logos of all the kick-butt places you’ve been published. Add a graph or a little comic to show your expertise, something to interest your visual readers and create visual relief on the white page.

The Funny Guy’s Writing Portfolio

I just knew I could count on a humor writer to have a good portfolio. Hank Herman’s writing portfolio did not disappoint when I Google searched for “comedy writer portfolio.”

Just the top of the page makes me like him already.

This whole thing says: “approachable, likeable, funny, and professional.”

He obviously hired a great graphic designer to make this page look spectacular.

Then, he has his portfolio section, with filters and clickable links to make it really user-friendly. Prospects that are looking for a good speaker can peruse just the “speaking” portfolio examples without wading through the rest.

This looks so cool, doesn’t it?

Steal-it tips:

Make your portfolio page more of a dynamic story than a static page on your website.
Make your portfolio a reflection of who you are, whether it’s a funny guy in a convertible with his dog or a momma bear writing in bare feet at her kitchen table.
And did I already mention…hire a website designer?

The action-oriented freelance portfolio

What I like about Alex Sayers’ writing portfolio is that it has strong CTAs built into every corner of it. Starting at the very beginning.

If you’ve ever wondered what to put at the very top of your portfolio page? This is a great example. Your name, what you do, and a clickable call to action above the fold.

Then, he introduces himself and what he can do for his clients. Always remember, it’s about your clients, not about you. Your clients don’t really care that you’ve been writing since before kindergarten. They want to know what kinds of results you can get for them. Alex does a nice job of this.

Also, we see another call to action here: “scroll down, keep reading, and get in touch.”

Then, he adds his portfolio as a separate clickable link beneath a very descriptive explanation of his copywriting services. By doing so, his portfolio becomes less of the main focus. The main focus is what his writing does for his client. Much more compelling than just spewing all of your published articles over a page, no?

The bottom of the page contains a bunch more calls to action. Maybe you don’t need to give your prospects that many options to pussy-foot around, but you do want to nudge them in the right direction and make it super easy for them to contact you.

Steal-it tips:

Before you jump right in with your portfolio, let your audience know what you can do for them. You need to “tell” them and let your portfolio do the “showing.”
Take a look at your portfolio and make note of all the places where you talk about yourself. Rewrite the copy to focus on how your talents help your client.
Again, the running theme here is to use visuals, such as icons and pictures, to break up the text, and use calls to action with clickable links.

The Built-in Portfolio

Jay Crisp Crow’s portfolio is built into her about page and media kit. I love this approach. I also love how approachable she seems.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the last year as a self-employed businesswoman is that “fun” and “professional” aren’t mutually exclusive. You should definitely showcase your personality, but also, you know, make your dang deadlines too.

Jay’s personality and writing flavor shine through bright on this page. You can feel her excitement emanating from it. I tell ya, if I wasn’t already a copywriter and needed one? I’d be looking for Jay.

There’s a story woven all throughout this page about singing, singing your praises, singing on stage, belting your brand voice, etc. This thread makes the whole page flow together.

Jay also has a crystal-clear picture of exactly who her audience is. She even spells it out:

Only after she has used her words to capture your attention, captivate your imagination, and made you love her does she show off her portfolio. It’s just sort of another example of her writing after a clear demonstration of her quick-witted wordsmithing skillz.

Steal-it tip:

Write out a crisp, clear description of your ideal client. Then, write your portfolio page as though you’re talking only to him or her. Don’t worry about excluding anyone. The people who are “just right” for you will be drawn to your page.
Take a look at how your portfolio page flows. Is there a way you can make it flow better with a story or an analogy woven through? Is there a way to make it a little more fun and flavorful? Put a pinch of a spice-named-after-you into it.

The Everything Portfolio

The next portfolio is everything you’d expect from the kreator of the kopywriting kourse. It’s full of big names and a “metric shit-ton” (his words) of examples of his writing.

The first thing I noticed?

This portfolio is in a Google Document.

If you think a portfolio has to be some sort of extravagant digital production, think again. If you know how to use Google Docs, you can make a helluva portfolio.

This portfolio is very easy to navigate and has very clear sections to separate his podcasts from his sales pages and such.

He starts with an introduction of his services and tells you exactly what he does and doesn’t do.

Ninja tip: Notice how he only works with people who generate over $50,000 in sales per year? That’s one way to ensure you make good money as a freelance writer. Work with people who have the capital to pay a copywriter.

The next few pages are screenshots of praise he’s gotten for his work. All really excellent social proof. Then, he has this really nice, organized chart with a bunch of articles listed. If I were you, I’d read some of these!

He lists some of the results his work has gotten his clients, products, and companies he’s worked with, and all the big-name sites (basically all of them) he’s been published on.

Then, at the end, he gives clear instructions on how to work with him.

This is definitely one of the most impressive portfolios I’ve ever seen. The depth and breadth covered, the major publications he’s published in, and the demonstration of skill here is phenomenal. And it’s all formatted really nicely too.

There’s no doubt people seek him out for his exceptional skills.

The only thing I would say about this portfolio is that it might not be the kind of portfolio you want to send to every client because it could be a bit overwhelming. You may want to keep a complete list of all the copy you’ve ever written for yourself and a few more condensed versions of your portfolio for each niche you serve.

Steal-it tips:

Create a new Google Doc and add links to every article you’ve ever written. Try to create sections for different types of content such as blog posts, product copy, etc to keep it organized. Add to it each time new content gets published.
Copy that same Google Doc and make a more concise document for each of your freelance writing niches. Put only your top 3-6 examples of relevant niche-specific copy in that document. Add a few visuals, statistics, and testimonials like we mentioned earlier to send to the appropriate prospects.
Take screenshots of some of your best work and copy it into a Google Doc too, so if the copy disappears off the interwebs, you still have proof. (Believe me! This has happened to me numerous times already).

The Pinterest Writer Portfolio

I’ve heard of people creating freelance writer portfolios on Pinterest, but hadn’t really seen any notable examples until I searched for them. Charlane Oliver does a nice job with her visually-enticing portfolio (although Pinterest kinda makes it pretty for you).

She also uses the description box to tell her prospects what she created such as “I created this 12-page Host Media Guide for participating organizations during Mobility Week.”

If, like Charlane, your skills extend beyond writing and into social media and graphic design, Pinterest is a great way to showcase all your work.

Steal-it tips:

Pinterest is a great way to improve your searchability. Even if you don’t make Pinterest your main portfolio, it doesn’t hurt to create one there anyway since Pinterest is fast becoming one of the highest ranked search engines.
Use the description box to your advantage. Include a brief description of the piece, your name, and your business name to bulk up your SEO reach.
Use the board description to your advantage too. Include a link to your website, what you do, and who you serve. Don’t forget to include keywords.

Stat-Supported, Client-Oriented Portfolio

I’ve been following John Espirian on Twitter forever, so I decided to peek at his portfolio and I’m glad I did! I love it! It tells you exactly why and how to work with him. Basically, this page takes all the work out of working with him. His clients don’t have to search for his contact information or wonder whether or not he’s competent enough. It’s clear right away.

John’s portfolio page convinces you to work with him without having to “try to convince” you.

John’s obviously got a firm grasp on SEO and demonstrates it on this page. The phrase at the top of the page “hire a technical copywriter” is definitely a keyword-rich phrase that people are searching for on Google. And obviously he knows his SEO if he’s “Google’s #1 ranked provider of technical writing services in the UK.” (See how he slips that “technical writing” keyword in there again?)

At the same time, his “hire a technical writer” statement is also a call to action.

Actually, John has calls to action all over his portfolio page.

“Brief me here”
“Hire me”
“Get a free quote”

You have to tell your client exactly what they need to do to work with you, and your directions need to be simple. If you don’t tell them, if you don’t make it easy for them to contact you, then you may never hear from them.

Next, John uses cold hard facts to demonstrate the benefits of working with him, and they’re not even stats about his own personal results. He uses updated statistics about B2B behavior in 2018 to tell his prospects why they need content. Then, he uses testimonials to show how he’s the right person for the job.

Somewhere on the page, he provides actual content examples he’s written. But do you see how his portfolio is only a small part of this overall picture? He’s got statistics, testimonials, articles, and all kinds of other information to back up his work before he ever gets to his own clips.

Steal-it tips:

Add a few calls to action to your portfolio page. They can be as simple as “contact me at…” or “fill out this quick questionnaire” or “DM me here.” I love John’s idea of offering a free quote. You probably do that all the time anyway, so offer that as a service to your prospects.
Up your SEO game. This is another post in itself, but make sure your portfolio page ranks for your niche and your area. For example, make sure to include keywords like “freelance fitness copywriter” and “Milwaukee copywriter” in your meta title, titles, and subtitles so you show up in search results.
Include testimonials and statistics. Don’t copy John’s, but find some interesting statistics about content and add them to your page. Ask your past clients or coworkers for a few words about your talent and add those testimonials too.

The Portfolio Sales Page

I love how Lucy makes a sales page out of her portfolio. Her samples are really only one of a handful of criteria she meets. Let’s take a look.

The very top of the page is a really compelling visual, a simple question, and an introduction to her unique selling proposition. Lucy helps you and clients speak the same language.

Although this idea seems to be key since it’s at the top of the page, it’s not really woven into the rest of the page. I would probably make more references to speaking the same language.

Like any sales page, this one is broken up with icons, brief descriptions, pictures, and other visuals.

Further down the page, she has this helpful FAQ section. How many people do you think visit your page and wonder these same things? You can help them out by spelling it out. Keep it really simple!

Finally, we come to her portfolio. She says “ask for more,” so her prospects know there’s more where that came from. Her samples are laid out in a nice, organized way with visuals. She only includes 8 of her best examples. No need to overwhelm.

Finally, she includes some of her credentials, a testimonial section, and a simple contact form. The whole page follows a natural process from an introduction of services to examples of services to a contact form.

Steal-it tips:

Think about what your clients need to know about you to work with you, beyond just a handful of samples. Include your credentials, testimonials, unique approach. Also clue your audience in to the process of working with you so they know how it works.
Try the sales page approach and see if it works for you. You can find a bunch of sales page templates online. Choose one that suits you or pick bits and pieces from several of them. Just make sure your page follows a natural progression and flows together.

[Are you itching to put your own portfolio together? Check out the freelance portfolio building mini course with step-by-step instructions for creating your portfolio online]

As you’ve seen by these examples, there are plenty of ways to make your portfolio more enticing and memorable.

If you’ve scrolled all the way down here, here’s a recap:

How to make your freelance writer portfolio stand out

Make your portfolio visually compelling. Add visuals like graphs, icons, and pictures. Don’t bore people with blocks of text. Break it up with color and images.
Include more than just your writing samples on your portfolio. Add other compelling pieces to your portfolio page such as testimonials, statistics, FAQs, results, and other helpful information.
Get clear on your exact audience and make your portfolio more about your specific audience and less about you.
Allow your personality to shine through on your portfolio page. Professional doesn’t mean sterile.
Make your portfolio “different” than everything else out there.
Name drop like a son of a gun! If you’ve been printed in Washington Post, claim it! Add one of those “Featured In” strips across the bottom of your website. Those strips say, “I’m competent AF.”
Oh, and hire a website designer already!

***The next installment of my freelance writing course is about how to set up a freelance writer portfolio in one of four places. It has screenshots and a detailed breakdown of exactly how to put your portfolio together. Check it out here!

If you’re not sure where to start, grab my free 7-day Freelance Freedom from Corporate series!

What about you?

What do you think of these portfolio pages? Any other stellar freelance writing portfolio examples you’ve seen lately?

May 15, 2018

The Fascinating Science Behind the Tone It Up Bombshell Spell

I’ve always wondered about the Tone It Up Bombshell Spell and Meta D since they first came out a few years ago. They were and continue to be a huge hit. If you search the #TIUNutritionPlan, you’ll probably see that characteristic hazy orange sprinkled all over Instagram.

Once I bought the nutrition plan and looked at the ingredients of the Spell, I wondered what such a little 4-oz drink could do. Was it really worth it, or should I just skip it?

K&K said the drink was based on science, without much explanation.

Now, cutesy little vinegar juice shots are everywhere.

But why?

You hear constant warnings not to drink fruit juice, because it’s basically sugar water empty calories.

You also hear about how bogus apple cider vinegar is.

And honey? Basically just more added sugar. And you know how bad extra sugar is for your body.

And don’t you wonder if the minute benefits you might get from a little shot are even worth it?

So, why drink those little drinks then?

But, then I started drinking the Bombshell Spell. Every year during and after the Bikini Series. Whenever I’m ready to get my body back in gear.

What happens amazes me every time.

Whenever I drink it, the weight budges again.

Whenever I stop drinking it, the weight loss halts.

Not to mention the giddy feeling I get when I drink it. Since the drink has become a staple during the Bikini Series, I now equate that sweet tropical taste with summer! It’s a psychological trigger now.

But I wasn’t satisfied with “not knowing” how this drink works.

Because I love the science behind stuff like this, I did a little digging, and here’s what I found.

The incredible benefits of pineapple juice

This article from Healthline on the benefits of pineapple juice had some really great insights into the potent properties of pineapple juice.

Bromelain, the medicinal enzyme in pineapple juice:

Reduces inflammation, especially post-exercise soreness
Suppresses cancer growth
Speeds up digestion
Improves fat loss

Beta carotene in the juice:

Protects your eyes
Protects against free radicals (that lead to cancer and heart disease)
Helps keep your brain sharp
Protects your lungs

The Vitamin C boost you get:

Bolsters your immune system, especially your defenses against the common cold
Helps prevent cancer
Protects your eyes
Protects against heart disease
Reduces the effects of stress by lowering cortisol and adrenaline levels

You also get a bunch of additional benefits from the calcium, magnesium, and manganese content of pineapple juice, like better bones and increased metabolism. The benefits are too long to list!

Then, there’s the apple cider vinegar in the Bombshell Spell…

The fabulous side effects of apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar, though a highly controversial dietary aid, does carry antioxidants and acetic acid which have been shown to:

Improve blood sugar and insulin levels, fighting diabetes
Help with weight loss by increasing satiety and reducing belly fat
Reduce heart disease risk

The fermentation makes ACV a great prebiotic, which:

Aids in digestion
Promotes healthy gut flora, which has a whole bunch of other benefits

I found this version, which has the cinnamon, honey, and lemon in it already,
so all I have to do is add it to the pineapple juice.

The Unmistakable Benefits of Raw Honey

If you pour raw honey into your concoction, you get the following benefits:

Powerful antioxidants that fight free radicals
Antibacterial and anti-fungal properties
Phytonutrients with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
Cough suppressant

The powerful medicinal properties of cinnamon

If you add a dash of cinnamon to your spell, like I do, you get a bunch of extra benefits:

Improves metabolism
Super source of antioxidants to attack cancer-causing free radicals
Potent anti-inflammatory
Reduces heart disease risk (lowers cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure)
Improves sensitivity to insulin and lowers blood sugar, fighting diabetes
Powerful antibacterial and anti-fungal

Lime has some unmistakable benefits too, especially in the vitamin department with its potassium, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium content, not to mention the antioxidants. Lime juice is also really great at kick-starting digestion and boosting metabolism.

Pretty wild, eh? Who knew you could get so much out of a tiny tropical drink?

You can see how pineapple juice is a heckuva lot more than just glorified sugar water and that apple cider vinegar actually does have some research-backed health benefits.

Plus, the Bombshell Spell uses only 4 ounces of pineapple juice, so it’s not like you’re overloading your system with sugar. And the sweetness helps counteract the strong vinegar taste.

If you were thinking about skipping the Bombshell Spell, I hope this information inspires you to reconsider.

To help you swallow that bitter vinegar taste, consider these helpful tips.

Tone it Up Bombshell Spell Tips

The contents of your Bombshell Spell make a big difference in how it tastes and how beneficial it is. To help you get the most out of your Bombshell Spell, remember to:

Drink the Spell in the morning while you’re fasted to ignite your metabolism
Wash your Spell down with water to protect your teeth from the acidity
Use pure pineapple juice, not from concentrate, to get the most benefits
Use organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar, like Braggs or White House
Use raw honey, if available, to keep all the benefits intact
If your ingredients are available in an organic version, choose that

Do I think the Bombshell Spell is a miracle drink and the cure for cancer? Pfffff. Heck no!

But I do feel more…powered up, I guess you could say…when I drink it every day.

I do think it’s a great complement to a lean, clean and green diet and active lifestyle.

And it evokes positive summer vibes for me, so why not?

***Like the Bombshell Spell? You might also like this simple Green Tea Elixir. It has some of the same incredible benefits and more!

How about you?

Do you drink the Bombshell Spell every day? Do you notice a difference when you drink it versus when you don’t? Does the smell and taste remind you of summer too now?

March 27, 2018

10 Lessons From My First Year as a Self-Employed Freelance Writer

Holy cow, you guys!

February 17 marked my one year anniversary as a self-employed freelance writer!

I can’t believe it!

Cue the poppers and celebratory sip of wine! (A little late, but better late than never.)

I remember my first day of self-employment when I woke up and didn’t have to get all ready for work and drive a half-hour to start my day.

I simply rolled out of bed and walked five feet to my office. Okay, I worked out first, showered, and had some coffee first, but….then I rolled into my office.

I sat down at my desk like, whoa! This is my life now.

It was weird and exhilarating and against everything I’ve ever been taught about “how careers are supposed to work.”

I followed a rough schedule I’d made for myself and got to work. Since I’d been freelancing on the side for awhile already at this point, I had plenty to work on.

But I was also able to hold my little girl for a few minutes in her adorable “I-just-woke-up” haze before sending her back out to grandma. I was able to have lunch with my family at my own table, grab a few more snuggles, and head back into the office.

A few days in, it snowed. Like, a lot. And I didn’t have to try and attempt the treacherous roads. I just looked outside, shrugged, put my slippers on over my cold feet, grabbed my warm coffee, and snuggled in to work.

It’s a weird experience after spending 12 years in the corporate working world with no more than 15 days off in a year, long morning commutes, early mornings, dress codes, and nearly every summer day spent inside with barely a hint of sun.

It’s still surreal now, writing about it right now!

I can’t believe this is my life now!

So, now that I’ve made it a year, I want to gift some of my insights from my first year of self-employment to any of you that may be jumping off the corporate wagon or simply toying with the idea. These insights will help you make it through the first year with a little more grace.

Find your bearings

When you jump the corporate ship, you feel a little…off. It’s kinda against everything you know or have been taught. But it only took me a week to say, “I don’t think I could ever go back.”

You may feel a little clumsy and out of place at first, but once you settle into a routine, you feel “at home” again. Like I said, I created somewhat of a schedule for myself before I ever left corporate, and it worked pretty seamlessly. I made sure I included time for journaling/Bible time/exercise and enough “working hours.”

Even with the schedule though, some things came up. Friends called, family chatted, Hubster requested a few errands. Which brings me to my next point…

Put boundaries around your time

I had a hard time finding a good work-life balance at first and to an extent, still do. However, I have much more strict rules around my time than I did when I started. Instead of answering friends’ phone calls, I text them that I’m still working, and they’ve gradually stopped calling during normal business hours.

I’ve also heard the ole “Since you work at home now…” line, and I shut that one down immediately. No, I can’t do your taxes for you or watch your kids because I work at home now. This career involves the same amount of commitment and responsibility, if not more, and I’m still not available from 7 to 4.

Expect bad days and bad experiences

When you learn to expect things to go wrong, you can handle them a whole lot easier. If you don’t expect things to go wrong, the wrongs will hit you a whole lot harder. And they may make you want to give up.

Things will go wrong. Most things will go right, but some things go wrong. This doesn’t mean you’re a horrible writer. This doesn’t mean you need to go beg for your job back. This just means you’ve hit an inevitable snafu. Deal with it. Move on.

Every client wants something different. Every personality is different. Here’s a perfectly good article I wrote for a client that got rejected. It happens. Turn tough situations into positive ones by posting articles like this on your own blog or pitching them elsewhere.

Try to make it right

One of the best ways to get past these bad experiences or dissatisfied customers is to do everything you can to make it right. In my experience, this approach changes everything.

After submitting one particular writing assignment, I got the dreaded reply: “This isn’t what I was expecting.”

Don’t ever just walk away at this point and say “I’m sorry.” Always ask what you can do to fix it. Always ask more questions about what they were expecting. Don’t get defensive, simply say you want to get it right for them.

Usually, after you discuss the expectations more clearly and make the requested revisions, your clients come out trusting you even more. That’s the type of relationship you want to come out of bad experiences. A better one!

Keep track of what you accomplish daily

Keep a “to-done list” of what you accomplish each day and keep a running tally of your weekly income. This tactic has been a huge motivator for me. It lets me know if my income is on track for the month and gives me a clear picture of where my time is going.

I just keep a simple Google Doc to track my “to-done list” like pictured below (with client names blocked for privacy) I write the date, what writing projects I worked on that day, and the total income earned from that project. I then tally up the income at the end of the week to come up with my weekly income. It’s really gratifying to me to see what I’ve accomplished each week.

I also use a separate Google Sheet to track all income and expenses as they come and go from my bank account. This document is necessary come tax time, but it also gives a clearer picture of cash received.

Perform regular audits

Speaking of taxes…hire an accountant right away. It’s not worth the time and pain and suffering to try and “figure it out” yourself. Trust me. While you’ve got your financials in front of you, perform a business audit on yourself (or with the help of your accountant).

You have to tally up your income and send out a tax check every quarter anyhow, so use that time as an opportunity to perform a quarterly review. You don’t have to do anything fancy. Just answer a few questions such as:

What’s going well in my business right now?
What’s not going so well?
Where is my best earning potential?
What can I do to make next quarter even better?
What are my big-picture goals?
What are my quarterly goals?

Get even more picky about who you work with

After a few months of freelancing, I started to get overwhelmed. Suddenly, I didn’t have enough time in the day to get all my writing projects done. When this happens to you, your first inclination might be to try to organize your time better, learn how to write faster, start delegating tasks to others…

However, this is actually an amazing opportunity to level up your business. This means you get to start to choose who you want to work with. You can choose the work that lights you up the most! You can choose the work that pays the best.

Don’t dread it. Celebrate it.

Be true to yourself

Once you start to find the work that lights you up? You feel like you’re being truer and truer to who you are as a person. You feel more and more like you’ve found your true calling. There’s no better feeling!

I have never felt more like myself to the core than I have in the past year. I get to write about subjects that I’m passionate about (Related: finding the freelance writing niche of your dreams). I get to work with other amazing passionate business owners doing good in this world. I feel more connected to my work. The work feels more meaningful. I get to work outside, where I feel most energized. I get to be a bonafide introvert. I don’t have to drive around as much.

I feel more at home inside what I spend my energy on every single day.

That being said, make sure you’re taking on work that feels aligned for you, that’s ethical. If it makes you feel icky, skip it. If it makes you feel passionate, run with it!

Journal

Yep, I attribute a ton of my success to my daily journaling habit. Though no actual money comes from my journaling, the power it has over my mind is instrumental in my earnings. I use journaling to refocus on my goals every morning (so I don’t go goal blind), to change damaging thought patterns, and to explore what lights me up and what holds me back so I can harness them.

I might ask myself questions like “Why have I been having such resistance toward finishing this project?” The answer might give me insight into my natural inclination to drag out the last 25% of every project, so I can overcome that next time.

If I’m feeling incompetent one day, I might handwrite some affirmations about confidence to change how I’m feeling. I sometimes write out lists to explore all the ways I could fix a problem. The self-imposed challenge to come up with 20 possible solutions may be the catalyst I need for a breakthrough.

Don’t burn bridges

I never felt like “take this job and shove it” with my last employer. I left on super good terms, with a cupcake and a cute poster to boot. I still teach barre class at my previous employer, meet friends there at lunch, and keep in touch with the content team.

First of all, that job was an important catalyst in my career and the people there still have a valued place in my heart. Secondly, every person I knew there is naturally a part of my network now. People there could potentially refer me to their friends, put in a good reference for me, or come back to me for content work.

Before I left, I even pitched my employer as a potential client. It may seem like a really out-there idea, but pitching your own employer before you leave may lead to lucrative work. I personally know several people who have done it and now do freelance work for their former employer.

What’s next?

I’ve said before that I plan for 2018 to be the year of “explosion.” Now that I have my bearings, I have compiled a ton of work experience, and I know where to find work, I can start building my business upward. I can leverage what I’ve already built this year to increase my prices, handpick my clients, and expand my network. I can start working more on projects I believe in and my own personal passions, like my forest bathing site.

I want to explode my business more by:

Going to a big business-related conference
Learning everything I can about online business and setting up more passive income streams
Building my connections with other freelance writers
Helping other freelance writers build their careers
Reading everything I can get my hands on about being better at freelance writing

These goals are all part of my quarterly review, by the way. I’d love to hear about your business goals…

How about you?

Where do you hope to be one year from today? What are your business goals for 2018? For quarter 2?

March 9, 2018

DIY Toddler Felt Play Mats [For All Those Plastic Animals Lying Around Your House]

{Pin me!}

Do you have a box of animal figurines in your house that looks like this?

Or perhaps they’re not even in a box like this. They’re simply sticking out of the nooks and crannies of toy boxes and bins and bookshelves everywhere in your house.

Momma, I feel ya!

I literally feel ya. Every time I step on one of those pokey plastic weapons? Yeah…

That’s why I racked my brains to figure out a way for my daughter to actually play with them in a productive way.

Hey, productive play. I like the sounds of that…

One of my first thoughts was…felt play mats! That’s an easy, space-friendly way to incorporate all the animals. Something that wouldn’t take too long that we already had the supplies for.

So , I did a quick search on Pinterest for felt play mats and drew a few really sophisticated sketches (ha!) like this based on some of the little features I wanted to add:

A little cave here…

A pond there…

A few removable tufts of grass…

And I made a mental plan for the various “habitats” I wanted to create for our animals.

We have different “types” of animals, so I designed the play mats to roughly suit their appropriate habitats.

For example…

I made a water mat for the sharks and fish.
I made a farm mat for the farm animals.
I made a jungle-y, volcano-laden land for all the dinosaurs.
Oh and a random Smurf village for our little Smurf collection. Ha!

So, take a look at the animals you have lying around to decide what type of habitats you want to create with your mats. Then, create a rough idea for your mats like I did.

The next step is to gather your felt and embroidery thread and get to work. I used the materials we already had at home.

I just used a pretty wide straight stitch to sew each part to the mat. I’m horrible at straight lines, so if you are too, don’t even worry about it.

Let me show you what we ended up with and how I put them together.

Farmland

The farmer’s field is an extension of the barn.

First, I started with two patches of crops. I stitched yellow lines across a brown rectangle to represent one field and red circles with green “stems” to represent more crops.

Then, we added the animals, a fence, and a tree to complete our farm setup.

Smurf Village

For the Smurfs, I created mushroom and log homes with stepping stones. I intend to add fake flowers, decorative embroidery, and floof to make it even more idyllic.

Each stepping stone is anchored by a single stitch and I made a bush that’s made with just rectangles stacked on top of one another with a single stitch down the center.

For the base of the mushroom, I simply stitched the sides of one long rectangle together…

Then, I made the top of the mushroom by stitching together two red circles with polyfill in between and white circles on top. The top of the mushroom just sits on top of the base so the Smurfs can go in and out.

For the brown log, I just stitched two sides of a rectangle together again and cut out three sides of a square to make a little window.

Aquatic life

I used a blue mat for the sea and added a cave, lily pads, and an island. Any sea animals are welcome on this play mat.

Start with a blue mat

Add the island and the sea cave. Stitch in place. I added a little bit of fiberfill inside the island to give it some elevation.

Add some greenery. The bush on the island is another stack of green rectangles. I also stitched the lily pads down with one green stitch each.

Add all your aquatic animals. If you have rocks and seashells at home, add them for another fun dimension (if your child is over 3 and won’t choke on them, of course).

General Wilderness

We sort of put all the leftover animals here. With a pond and a cave, this habitat could be anywhere.

I started with a green mat and added a pond, a cave and another bush.

I made several of the standing grass pieces you see in the center there. I just cut two rectangles, snipped out some fringe, and stitched them together about a half-inch from the bottom so I can make them stand.

Prehistoric Dino Land

I don’t really know much about dinosaur habitats, but from the other example play mats I saw, I figured a volcano and some tropical greenery seemed appropriate.

Rectangle bushes. I like them.

For the volcano, I created a cone out of brown felt, stitched it together down the back and wrapped a piece of red “lava” around the top.

The Entire Wilderness

Here’s the finished product with all the play mats. You can see how a toddler could have endless fun with this right? It also offers you an educational opportunity…

Educational opportunity

This project is all about imaginative play and being resourceful. However, this process has several great teaching opportunities built into it. If you have a toddler or older child at home, you can use the animals and their homes as teaching moments for your kids.

You can teach your kids about:

Animal noises: What does the lion say? What does the cow say?
Animal names: help your child learn the names of familiar and new animals.
Animal habitats and homes: teach about land and sea animals; help them figure out where the animals live (farm or jungle); explain why you put the bear in the cave for hibernation, etc.
Animal babies: use big and small versions of animals to name animal babies.
Colors: colors are everywhere here; point out and identify them with your child.
Numbers: count the fish, the dinosaurs, the lily pads, etc.
Art and sewing skills: older kids can help make the mats for younger siblings.

I’m probably forgetting some educational opportunities too. I just think there’s so much you can teach here!

I hope this activity gives you some inspiration! Thank goodness we can make use of all these random animals now, right? We keep our animals and mats together in a plastic bin. That way, they’re not scattered everywhere throughout the house and puncturing our bare feet.

I don’t think my daughter ever played with the plastic animals until we organized them and gave them an entertaining purpose like this.

This little mat world opened up so many new possibilities for these toys I would’ve otherwise eventually pitched.

So, tell me…

Did you ever play with felt play mats when you were a kid? Are you going to try these (I’d love to see them!)?

February 12, 2018

The Complete Guide to Choosing a Freelance Writing Niche

Why do I need to choose a freelance writing niche?

Choosing a freelance writing niche:

Makes you stand out from other candidates
Allows you to charge more for your services
Sets you apart as having specialized skills
Allows you to create a career around your passions

I’m about to go over, in careful detail, what the benefits of choosing a freelance writing niche are. If you’re not convinced by the end of this article, please let me know in the comment and we can chat;)

First, let’s take a look at my own freelance writing niche for a second.

So, I chose fitness copywriting as my writing niche.

What does that mean?

*clears voice all professional-like*

Fitness copywriting, in a nutshell, is the occupation of writing content for fitness businesses that persuades readers to take a particular action.

That’s great Jessica, but I don’t want to limit myself to a niche. I want to write on a broad range of topics.

Okay, I get that…

But let’s look at this from your prospect’s point of view for a moment, shall we?

Why choose a niche?

I’d heard over and over from other successful writers that to be a successful writer, you need to choose a niche. At the time, I just figured I’d follow in the footsteps of those who know best. But now I intimately understand why everyone says to niche, niche, niche!

Consider this…

You work at a running shoe store and you want to hire a writer for your store’s blog. You put out the word that you’re looking for a writer and you get approached by two prospects.

The first is a three-time marathoner, running coach, and fitness writer with no college degree or special certifications.

The second is a writer with an English degree who sells you on all the platforms they write for and journals they’ve been published in and contests they’ve won. They’re not a runner or exerciser in any form, but they assure you they can write about any subject.

Who will you hire?

I’d be hiring me the runner. Wouldn’t you?

Our marathoner knows all the lingo, all the subtle nuances of running, all the struggles that runners face. He can probably explain it in a fresh way too. He obviously has a passion for fitness, and it shows in his writing.

Our writing generalist doesn’t know anything about running from experience but can “research” it. They’ll probably do a “fine” job on the project, but they have no personal interest in exercise, so they probably won’t be able to convey your message with the enthusiasm and underlying knowledge it deserves.

Consider…

Consider the energy your readers will find behind the words too. One candidate has enthusiasm about running, the other has the opposite.

Consider their personal understanding of the subject. One lives it, while the other has to learn about it through other runners.

Consider the time it will take for each candidate to master the subject. One already has. One has a long way to go.

Consider how the two candidates accumulate information. One from their own experience, the other from what they read online.

Consider the conversations you’ll have with each candidate. One is on the exact same page as you. You’ll have to do a lot of explaining for the other.

Maybe you even start to wonder what made the generalist apply for this project at this point, if they have no personal interest in running.

You’re starting to sense a hint of desperation, because now you assume they’re just applying for any and every job they see. Meanwhile, it totally makes sense why the runner expressed interest, because this project is perfectly aligned for both you and him.

Think about how doctors and surgeons specialize and how it affects their services and their income. A general practitioner usually gets paid less than, say, a podiatrist. Why? Because of the specialty, the specific expertise.

A doctor might choose which body part and which type of patient they’d like to work with. Pregnant women, kids, geriatrics. Feet, brain, gastrointestinal system.

You get to do the same thing. You get to choose which subjects you get to work on and who you get to work with. That’s empowering and exciting!

I know for a fact that I landed one of my first lucrative clients because they were looking for a specific niche writer with specific qualifications. Read more about that here.

You see how niching benefits you now, right?

It’s obvious that a writer with an established niche, as opposed to a generalist, has a huge advantage.

How do I know which freelance writing niche is right for me?

I speak to why I chose health and fitness in depth in this post on Horkey Handbook.

Simply put: it’s in my DNA. I love health and fitness topics so I naturally love writing and researching about them.

I’m already personally immersed in and have a sense of what’s happening in that world.

I already have passion for that subject.

I WANT to write about it every day.

I have major background in it.

So, what subject do you feel this way about? Or what do you have intense interest in? Or at least, what you don’t hate? What do you already know a lot about?

[If you need help choosing a niche, I’ve got you! My freelance niching mini course helps you choose the niche of your dreams.]

Now, write down your potential job title as though you’re creating a business card or email signature, like so…

Jessica Collins,

Health and fitness copywriter

Did that make you tingle a little inside? Good, you’ve found the right niche.

Did it make you feel like you just got roped into signing a two-year contract to a dingy apartment you despise? Chuck it. Start over.

Mindset moment: Don’t think that choosing a niche is a huge life-defining decision that you’re married to till death do you part. If you choose one and don’t find it particularly fulfilling or profitable, you can simply change it.

Okay, so now that we have that set…

What do you need to call yourself a [insert niche here] writer?

Why, just you and your own coronation crown, actually.

You just say “I am a {fill in the blank} writer. And, by the power vested in you, you are one.

Alright, I happen to have several certifications that do me well in the industry. I’m a certified personal trainer, sports nutrition specialist, and barre instructor. I’ve also run a half marathon and a handful of 5ks.

But you certainly don’t have to have these extra credentials to write in the fitness niche. Or any niche.

You don’t need anything except an interest in the subject and a willingness to learn more about it. Even though I know a lot about fitness, I still learn new things every single day about the subject.

You see, one of the perks of being a freelance writer is the mental stimulation!

So anyhow, it really is as simple as this. You don’t need to make it any more complicated than simply claiming your niche as your own.

Mindset Moment: Now, even if you don’t have an expansive background in the subject you want to write about, don’t let that stop you. If you want it bad enough, you’ll figure it out as you go. Spend time perusing relevant industry websites and publications to start absorbing the lingo and culture.

Decide on a niche

So now, let’s consider what niche you might be interested in claiming.

First, you can niche by subject!

Perhaps you already know exactly what your niche should be. But in case you don’t, take a little minute here to do some self-examination.

What do you love to do already in your own daily life?
What are you really good at?
What sections magnetize you at Barnes and Noble?
What could you talk someone’s ear off about?
What are you obsessed with or have been obsessed with in the past?
What types of magazines do you subscribe to?

For me, I’m always drawn to the health and wellness, nature, and self-development sections at Barnes and Noble. I’ve always been really good at coming up with ideas, connecting ideas, listening to people’s deepest desires, and writing. I’ve always been obsessed with strong women leaders, poetry, and psychology.

Now, some of these subjects aren’t really suited for long-term career growth. For example, I don’t think I have it in me to make a full-time living writing poetry, and it’s pretty difficult to break into for most people. I still write and study poetry, but it’s not meant to be my career.

Other subjects stick out for me and have a really lucrative place in our current society. Health and fitness is one of them. I’ve already discussed how much background and passion I have for the subject, so it’s a no-brainer.

Some of my other strong subjects feed into my health and fitness niche. For example, psychology mixes really well with fitness when you’re writing an article about workout motivation or willpower. The fact that I can come up with ideas like water certainly helps when I need to come up with clever product names or blog post ideas for clients.

So, what stands out the most to you?

How can your other areas of interest feed your niche?

[Check out my freelance niching mini course for a list of over 200 HOT freelance niches]

You can also niche by content type!

You can niche yourself as a blog writer, white paper writer, website copywriter, ebook ghostwriter, Etsy product copywriter, etc.

You can also combine subject and content type niches. For example, you can be a healthcare white paper writer or a manufacturing industry blog writer.

You don’t have to niche down this far, but you certainly can if blog posts or white papers are your jam. Or you can choose two types of content and put packages together. For example, you could sell a package that includes 5 B2B blog posts and 1 B2B white paper for $xxxxx.

Do you have a particular type of content that you’d prefer to write?

Third, you can niche yourself by your clientele

Consider the types of people or businesses you’d like to write for. Often, large corporations have a lot of marketing spend for content. However, startups tend to be a little more progressive and open-minded than corporations.

Consider some of the people/businesses you could write for:

B2B businesses
B2C companies
App developers
Startups
6-figure+ entrepreneurs
Amazon sellers

Again, you don’t have to choose specific clientele, but if you’re sure you only want to work with a certain type of client, you can add it to your niche, i.e. “I’m a safety blog writer for insurance companies.”

Now, another point I should mention is this: you don’t have to exclude any of your interests or audiences once you choose a niche either. You’re a well-rounded, multifaceted person. You should never have to narrow yourself down to one single subject!

While you might market yourself as a health and fitness writer, you can also add a comma and say you’re a health, fitness, and family writer.

You can have multiple niches! Or you can combine them!

Don’t limit yourself to just one subject if you’re just as passionate about one as you are of another.

I myself have several strong passions, none of which I’m willing to sacrifice: Writing, Fitness, Family, and Nature.

I fuse these subjects all the time with articles about workouts in nature and physical activities to do as a family. I even run two sites so I can nurture both passions. Flashfit Trainer combines fitness, writing, and family while Forest Bathing Central allows me to explore nature with more depth and breadth.

I’ve seen other freelance writers create two separate “work with me” pages on their websites. They send prospects from one niche to one page and prospects from another niche to the second page. It works!

The point is, you need to niche down, but not so far that you feel restricted.

You get to make this venture look however you want it to!

Allow your mind to wander over all the possibilities before you back yourself into a self-imposed corner.

Mindset moment: Niching, by definition, means placing all your focus on one subject. However, you can also infuse your other interests into your niche or, by golly, choose two to three niches. Who says you can’t? You little Creative, you!

Figure out if your niche is lucrative

When people say you need to “qualify your niche,” they’re just using fancy marketing-speak that means “check to make sure your niche can make you money.”

As much as I value volunteer work, I don’t want to put in the hours I do for pennies. And I’m sure you don’t either.

I left corporate to remove the glass ceiling over my head, and I don’t intend to erect my own either.

So, you just need to take a few steps here to make sure your chosen niche is lucrative.

Part of your niche’s profitability lies in your dedication to not settling for anything less than lucrative. Any niche you choose can be high paying or low paying, depending on where you’re looking for projects.

Content mill? Not going to pay your bills. Referrals from current clients? Totally bomb!

Some subjects really aren’t profitable either, unless you happen to find a gem of a gig.

But anything to do with money, health, and technology, for example, tend to be pretty lucrative.

So, how do you qualify your freelance niche?

Well, here are a few ways to do it:

Look at what types of projects repeatedly come up on freelance sites like Problogger. Repetition signals a solid niche.
Click on a few of those projects and see if they have a payment value posted. Like what you see? (Just remember, if you don’t like what you see, it doesn’t necessarily mean the niche is unprofitable. Keep researching).
Join and hit up a few of your freelance writing Facebook groups. Scroll through to check out what people are saying about pricing. You could also put out a post asking what niches other people write for and how profitable they are.
Google “[your niche] + content marketing agency.” Scroll through to get a sense of the quality of the niche and what types of businesses the agencies work with. Pitch a few while you’re at it.
If you notice a freelance writer online or in a group that makes a good profit, research or ask what their niche is.
Check your prospective company’s website or LinkedIn stats to see if they have a lucrative marketing department. You should get a sense that the company values marketing, particularly content marketing, and that they have a marketing budget to accommodate it.

If you’ve made it this far, you deserve a medal of honor. It means you’re serious about your freelance writing venture.

It means you know the value of information-gathering.

With that said, I sincerely hope this guide has given you valuable insight into freelance writing niches. I’ve shared so much of what I know and everything I’ve been told about choosing a freelance writing niche from other people, so you know what to do. Hopefully this pulled away some of the smoke and mirrors so you can make out the clear view.

~To help you even further, I put together a list of over 200 up-to-the-minute profitable freelance writing niches and a workbook to help you discover your golden niche, so you don’t have to spend any more time researching. I also go more into depth about how to qualify your niche, how to market your niche, and how to change niches. Check out the Freelance Niche Mini Course and Workbook.

How about you?

How did you choose your freelance writing niche? What other questions do you have about niching?

Leave a comment or pick up the conversation in our Freelance Freedom Facebook group.