Freelance Like You Don’t Have Competition

I emailed a fellow freelancer awhile back and she mentioned avoiding her competition.

Not in the–I need to differentiate myself–way,

But in a–I can’t promote my competitor’s platforms–way.

This struck me.

I wasn’t sure why. Businesses have competition, that’s nothing new.

But it struck me.

Another time, I met with the owner of a local content agency and learned that they never hire freelancers…

Because they’re considered the competition.

Struck again.

That hadn’t even occurred to me.

I had to wonder…

Why was I so taken aback by this competition thing?

I had never really considered this polarizing idea of competition.

And I don’t like competition.

I tend to have more of an inclusive, mutually-beneficial “let’s build each other up” sense of non-competition.

So this sense of competition always gets to me.

Which had me thinking about why?

And what’s the alternative?

To me, this polarizing type of competition suggests you must be evaluated side-by-side with others in the same profession.

You need to protect your followers and your work from the competition.
You need to always do one better than your competition.
You need to separate yourself from your competition.

And that just feels yucky to me. Except that last one.

It feels energetically contractive and self-serving, to be blunt.

So, I don’t compete. I differentiate.

{I talk a lot about mindset and energy in the Freelance Mindset Mini Course and in my articles. A fine-tuned mindset is paramount for business success.}

I like to help people.

In my own unique way.

I like to build on other people’s successes

And connect.

I have a problem with the idea of competition for several reasons:

You, as a person, have no competition. No one can compete with who you are, at your core.
Competition suggests you’re just one amongst many. You’re not. You’re singular.
Competition means your underlying motivations are more about money and prestige than helping people. Hopefully that’s not true!
Competition suggests there’s not enough work to go around, that there might not be enough room for you. If you want room, you have to fight for it. Nope!

One of my missions for this freelance page is to be inclusive and also not to think of any of it as competition.

I’m just not even available for that.

Heck, I feature and give credit to my assumed “competition” in my posts all the time!

If you want to freelance like there’s no competition:

It’s time to rewire your thinking around the idea of competition.

So, how can you freelance like there’s no competition?

Differentiate yourself. You don’t want to sound like and do the same things as others in your industry. You want to do it differently. Don’t copy. Give your work your own spin. Make it so that you can’t be evaluated side-by-side. You just can’t be compared.
Create a signature system. No one else has a Sales Page CPR system, except Courtney Johnston. (see that, hey Courtney!) I love how Courtney Johnston created a signature program, probably not much different from other freelancer’s systems, but totally different. Incomparable. Her own spice. Do the same with your business. Coronate yourself the “king or queen of internal communication copy.” Invent a new copywriting system. Make up your own copywriting packages that can’t be compared.
Think of yourself as an ally with other freelancers, helping build others up, reaching as many people as possible. We all have the same end game, right? We’re not working against each other, we’re working for the benefit of others who want to freelance too. In my own freelance group and the freelance groups I belong to, I never think of other writers as competition. I think of them as mutually valuable sources of information, comrades who I identify with, fellow business owners who deserve everything that I do.
Stop being driven by money and ego. If money and the desire to “win” are your driving forces, then you see competition all over the place (dontcha?) and you’re constantly driven to beat them and steal their followers. If, on the other hand, helping people and the greater good are your driving forces, then you see no competition. You see people trying to make the world a better place together. You see a place with space for all of you with no dividing lines. Your followers and their followers can overlap.
Live in the headspace of “there’s more than enough to go around.” Because there is. There are more content needs in this world than we’ll ever be able to meet in our lifetimes. Every business, school, organization, and club just in your community has more content needs than they could probably fill. Multiply that by the entire world, and you’d pass out. It’s up to you to find the clients that need you. The second you forget that there’s more than enough to go around, the more desperate you”ll feel. Choose to live in a world of abundance rather than lack.
Remember, you’re one of a kind. Okay, your momma’s been telling you this since you were freshly en-wombed, but you really are one-of-a-kind. Your value is a completely separate thing than your work. You’re infinitely valuable. You’re completely unique. Therefore, you–you unique person you–have no competition.

Let’s be more like that, okay?

Cue the Taylor Swift, “I’m the only one like me-eeeeee-eeee-eee!”

If you can master this mindset of, I’m not compete-able, you’ll have a much easier time in this freelance world.

What do you think?

In our Freelance Freedom Facebook group, we’re not competition. We’re fellow freelancers who want the best for and can learn from each other. If you feel the same, come join us!

July 17, 2019

Daily Freelance Checklist {Including Printable Planner Sheets}

Your Daily Freelance Checklist

Do you wonder what the day-to-day life of a freelancer actually looks like?

Or maybe you want to know what daily tasks you should be doing to move the needle forward every day.

Because when you have so many balls in the air you forget to do your main needle movers, work starts to slow down.

That’s why I created a Daily Freelance Checklist for myself and for any other freelance writer who wants to make sure they make the right kind of progress every day.

These tasks are your needle movers. They keep your momentum going at all times. They keep you moving in an upward direction, and they keep you sane.

Cuz, you can find yourself in one heckuva crazy mess come tax time if you haven’t been keeping track of your daily income and expenses.

I’ve also been mucking around in my Arc System Organizer (can’t recommend this enough!), making it all pretty like and more organized and productive for me, and wanted something pretty I could use over and over again.

What the Daily Freelance Checklist Covers

So it’s a checklist, so what?

Well, a checklist is your biggest ally.

It’s the best way to make daily progress in your business.

While the idea of a checklist is really simple, the payoff after 30, 90, 365 days of following it is phenomenal. Like, write-3,000-words-per-day, now-you-wrote-13-novels-a-year phenomenal. Those little daily tasks add up.

As a freelance writer, your daily checklist pushes you to:

Check your finances daily: so you have your accounting and taxes in order; so you know if you’re achieving your desired income level; so you know exactly where your money is going.
Track your accomplishments every day: so you know if you’re getting enough done; so you can see how much you’ve achieved.
Make sure you pitch regularly: so you never run dry on work; so yours is the first name that comes to clients’ minds; so you can scale your business and sub-contract down the road.
Stay on top of your marketing: so you find more leads; so everyone knows your name; so your business is well-received; so your business shows up better in search rankings.
Learn something new every day: learning and personal development change you and your work for the better, always.
Keep your finger on the pulse of your industry: so you don’t sound outdated or uninformed.

How to use the Daily Freelancing Checklist

Here are my suggestions for using the checklist:

Put the daily tracker inside a sheet protector in the front of your planner and mark each task off as you complete them with a dry erase marker. That way, you can hold yourself accountable without wasting paper on a bunch of printed copies.
Spend a few minutes every evening to plan out your next morning beforehand. Write down your priorities for the day and then block out time for them. Squeeze everything else in around it.
Try not to spend tons of time on each task. For example, perusing your Google Alerts should only take from 30 seconds to a few minutes, if you click to read an article. You can track your earnings and daily accomplishments quickly as you go throughout the day.
You can also double up on tasks, such as listening to a personal development podcast while you’re working out or tracking your income and accomplishments in the same document.
Always, always, always be marketing your business and making connections, even if you’re over-booked. You always want to be expanding your reach and growing your network. Besides, overbooked is a great time to consider outsourcing, scaling, or raising your rates.

So, without further ado, here’s your printable:

Daily Freelance Checklist PDF

And hey, I’m not even asking for your email address. I just want you to have this.

I do want to let you know, though, that our comprehensive Freelance Freedom From Corporate Course is just about to launch {{you can find a few of the most important modules from the course here}}

In it, you’ll find everything you need to build a freelance writing business from scratch while you’re still in corporate.

The course includes a complete business-building checklist, including a sample 30-day schedule to work from the ground up.

If you’d like to know when that’s available, make sure you are signed up for the FREE mini introductory course here.

I hope this checklist helps you find a regular rhythm in your self-employed day as a freelance writer.

I’d love to see how you’re using your checklist, so make sure to tag me @Jess_FlashFit on Instagram. Then, come back here after you’ve used it awhile to tell me how well your needle is moving. I love hearing from you!

July 9, 2019

Trading Your Purpose Work for No Purpose

So, I just found myself scrolling on Instagram instead of getting to my computer to journal and start my work for the day.

I have 1-2 precious quiet hours of work before the kids get up to get things done. And I usually have a pretty fresh head in the morning to do some really productive work. And also, it’s quiet.

Instead of working…I watched Insta-Stories. Just letting them be spoon-fed to me, one after the other, without having to do much of anything but sit there.

I thought, I’ll just do this for like 10 minutes to get caught up and then I’ll go journal.

Next thing, I look up, and an hour has passed. I missed my entire window of productivity!

If you’re thinking “yeah, so?” let me explain how tragic this is…

Imagine if I used that time to actually put 20 minutes into a book I’m writing, 20 minutes into connecting with people, 20 minutes into personal development, etc.

Imagine what I could create 30 days, 1 year from now.

I could have several books written. Several programs launched. Be a whole new person.

I keep promising myself I’ll do that…make space every day for the book, the program, the self-work. I know that after a month or two of doing that, the book could be done, the program could be launched, I could refine myself even more. I keep promising myself I’ll set aside the pointless time wasters for the important stuff.

But I somehow end up plunked down in front of tube-fed media.

Now, usually this isn’t a big deal. I may watch one show at night to wind down before bed. I may scroll while I’m waiting in the car to pick someone up. No biggie.

But this morning, I did so during my most productive working hours. Knowingly avoiding my purpose work. Knowingly avoiding progress.

So, I thought, you’re going to ditch your true purpose work for mindless …. with no purpose.

You’re trading your purpose for no purpose?

How wretchedly, painfully, heartbreakingly STUPID is that?

Let me ask you the same thing…

How often do you put aside your purpose work for no purpose?

It’s hard to really look stone-cold in the eye at habits like this. It hurts. It sucks.

But it’s completely necessary to prevent you from dying a slow death with so much sparkle bursting inside of you.

Our culture is so preconditioned to tolerate the “I don’t feel like it.”

We’re trained to not feel like it.

I don’t feel like getting on the floor and playing with my kids.

I don’t really feel like using a sacred quiet hour at night to work.

I don’t really feel like adding more responsibility to my job.

I don’t really feel like extending myself any further than I already do.

I don’t really feel like getting off Instagram.

But the part that hurts the worst is looking back at the last 3 years and realizing you haven’t come as far as you want. If you look 3 years into the future and it still looks like this …. will you be heartbroken with where you are?

Because this hour today, the same mindless hour tomorrow, and the next day, and the next, and the next…

They could easily add up to a year, three years, a lifespan spent squandering your precious time away.

So that purpose of yours?

You NEED to feel like it.

You NEED to just rip yourself away and do it.

You NEED to dig in and find the energy inside of yourself that you need to move forward.

You NEED to nurture that beautiful gift that’s unfurling inside of you.

You NEED to share your gifts, not squander them.

Essentially, you need to figure out your true values and be true to them. Get really darn honest with yourself.

Here’s your homework: Sit down and journal (no, right now). On one side of the page, answer the question “what do you know is your true purpose in this world? What do you want to contribute?”

On the other side of the paper, write down the activities of “no purpose” you, in all honesty, waste a good portion of your day on. Honest honest honest. Whether it’s as embarrassing as stealing away to the bathroom for a 1/2 hour to play Candy Crush or as understandable as reading through news stories. Though you may find those activities stimulating, they’re not true to your purpose, are they?

My answer: My purpose work is the 5 f’s: Faith, Family, Fitness, Forest, and Freelance. I would put them all into another pretty F called full-bodied living. The work of “no purpose” I do is scroll on Instagram (watching other people achieve things) and puttering around the house to avoid my purpose work.

Now, it’s time to get really freaking honest and really crazy overwhelmed with yourself. How are you going to feel if you spend the next 365 days doing what you’re doing and get nowhere?

I’ve had enough!

Have you?

I’m really mad and ready to do this differently.

Are you with me?

Let’s DO something today.

Pop a comment and let me know what you accomplished today?

May 20, 2019

How to Create Your Own Opportunities

Do you ever feel like you’re looking for something, but can’t quite put your finger on it? Or you can put your finger on it, but you can never quite find what you’re looking for?

Those, my dear, hold secret opportunities for you.

Some of the most profound opportunities in your career and life.

You know the old worn-out saying “necessity is the mother of all invention?” Well, the reason that statement persists is because of its hard truth.

If you’re looking for something and can’t find it, invent it!

Now here’s the thing though. Most people wave that idea away with a dismissive laugh.

But if you let the idea take hold, there’s magic in it.

Let me show you what I’m talking about:

Shinrin-yoku. Forest bathing.

I read about this practice once and the idea struck me at a soul level.

I couldn’t forget about it.

I wanted to know more about it.

I scoured the internet.

I pored over any literature I could find.

The problem was, the content on forest bathing was scarce.

I found a few articles talking about its benefits and an organization that trains forest bathing guides.

That was it.

No “how to’s,” no personal essays, no material about how to practice it for the regular person.

Every few months I’d search again. Couldn’t stop thinking about it.

The idea of forest bathing stuck in my head and I felt like I couldn’t do anything with it!

Then it struck me: “if you can’t find what you’re looking for, create it yourself!”

And so…Forest Bathing Central was born. (Yep, I run that site too!)

I created the place where you could find actual forest bathing exercises.

I created the place where you could find tips and instructions.

I created the place where you could read about shinrin-yoku in depth.

I created a place where real people could discuss it.

I created a place for forest bathing to grow and develop.

I decided that I was going to be the person to provide the type of literature that I was looking for.

Another example…this blog itself.

It’s had quite a few transformations since its inception. It started as a personal blog under a different domain that I wasn’t trying to get anyone to read.

It transformed into a health and fitness space I started to want people to read.

More recently, it’s become a space to explore fitness, freelance writing, and full-bodied living.

But, it started to look like other freelance websites out there with similar articles and reiterated content.

And that just didn’t feel quite right to me.

When I read other freelance content, I feel like I want more of something.

Can’t quite put my finger on it.

Can’t quite find it…

Oh, I know what it is! I want content from real-life freelance writers that isn’t about the latest portfolio platform (yawn), but more about the real life behind the curtain, more about the unspoken tricks and techniques that really advance your career. Content more on the “real life purpose” side. A little strategy. A lot personal.

That’s the pull I’ve been feeling more lately.

That’s the type of content I want to read, so that’s the type of content I want to create.

So, my last few posts have been more like this.

I’m moving toward where I feel pulled.

A more genuine type of place.

The only caveat, now that I’ve started this “create what you’ve always wanted to see in the world,” I have a million and six ideas!

I have pages of “inventions” listed in a notebook.

And even more pages of books and programs I’m ready to make.

I’m always coming up with more.

I can’t quiet that part of my brain that comes up with new ideas now.

I see inventions everywhere.

I want to create all.the.things.

And that part of my mind that’s attuned to “if you find a need, you can fill it” is very active.

As a freelance writer and business owner, it’s a really handy perspective to have.

It reveals opportunities.

It creates progress.

It builds momentum.

It gives you a means of expansion, beyond your wildest dreams.

I mean, you could invent an entire career out of it!

Wish there was a way to fulfill your dream of traveling and also writing? Well, that’s easy. Become a travel writer.

Wish there was a way to make a living writing in planners or Bible journaling? It’s possible. Let me introduce you to Kara and Shanna.

Wish there was a cool blog out there that allowed you to explore both Victorian literature and fitness? Create it! I mean, someone’s already built an empire around fitness and comic books, so, it’s certainly possible.

I always wished there was a way to connect my love of fitness and writing. Although it seems obvious now to be a fitness writer, at one time, I didn’t know what that looked like or how to make that happen.

But once I did, wow, an entire new world out there opened up.

An entire world not run by the dictation of factories and corporations.

A world where the inventors/creators have a place to explore their wild imaginative inklings.

That’s the place where I like to be.

That’s the place where opportunity lies.

Wanna join me?

My challenge to you is to switch on that side of your brain today. Pick up on all those instances when your mind says “this would be so much better if…” or “I wish I could find a …” Just start to notice these opportunities all around you.

Then, attune yourself to the ones that call you personally. How could you yourself actually bring them to fruition?

Makeup and snowboarding? Coffee and decorating? Marketing and children’s stories? If you love them dearly, there may be a way to turn them into your own unique opportunity.

Start a journal to work through your ideas and eventually, you’ll find THE opportunity that calls to you.

Or you might have an epiphany on a walk, like I did.

This process could take a matter of minutes, or years, to develop.

But the simple practice…the simple “thinking about it”…the practice of attuning your mind to possibilities…can spark an amazing creation that makes you giddy to be alive!

What’s on your mind?

What opportunities do you wish were available? What voids have you already noticed and filled?

February 25, 2019

Killer About Page Copy for Freelance Boss Babes: 6 Secrets From Top Copywriters

Great copy makes all the difference between a website that converts and one that doesn’t.

Okay, that’s the boring version.

The “let’s be real” version is:

Your copy could capture your readers’ hearts and attention…or not.

Your website copy can woo them…

Bore them…

Or scare them back into the Google underground.

You may have heard that your About Page is one of the top most-clicked pages on your site.

And you have mere seconds for it to do its thing.

So, how do you get your About Page copy right then?

Why, you turn to boss copywriters themselves, of course.

Today, we’re studying the About Pages of some kickass bossbabe copywriters to learn how to craft our own effective copy.

Shall we?

Introducing About Pages from some of my fave copy babes:

*Click any of the names below to see their About Pages. Then scroll down to get the down-low.

6 About Page Copy Lessons from Top Copywriters

#1 Nail your close-up

A picture is a legal requirement for an About Page.

I kid. But really…it should be.

No About Page is complete without a picture of who the page is about.

But not just any picture.

A friendly, professional picture.

Before posting, think about what your picture says about you.

If you’re slumping on the couch, the immediate impression is: Lazy.
If you’re cheering with a beer bottle, the immediate impression is: Unprofessional. Not serious.
If you’re smiling in a confident, flattering pose like Maggie Linders, the immediate impression is: Successful and approachable.

Although your picture doesn’t seem directly copy-related, it is.

Because all those nice words you used to described yourself?

Get attached to that pretty mug of yours.

And also?

Studies show people are more likely to trust you (and your words) if you show your face.

Lesson one: Include a nice, professional picture of yourself “above the fold.”

#2 Blunt is better than bantastical!

Huh?

Exactly.

We’re copywriters, we get to be creative with words.

But don’t get too creative. To the point where no one can follow what you’re talking about.

Be blunt.

Tell people what you do in simple language.

Hattie Brazely does a great job cutting straight to the point (i.e. the benefits of her work). No flowery embellishments.

“My words will make you money.”

That’s the most concise definition of a copywriter, right there.

Lesson two: who are you and what do you do, in the simplest words? Plaster that across the top of your About Page.

#3 Showcase your results

Your prospects don’t care that you’ve known you were a born writer since kindergarten.

They only care about what cold hard results you can get them.

Selfish, I know.

But #truth, nevertheless.

So, to meet that need, make sure you showcase the results your copy has delivered. You can even get as specific as:

How many pageviews or social shares your most-viral article generated.
Which high-profile publications you’ve been invited to write for.
How much income a long-form sales page generated for a client.
Awards and recognition you’ve received.
Number of subscriptions a landing page generated.

You don’t just fill pages with words. You write words in a certain way that drives results!

Check out how Jamie Jensen lays out her impressive results on her About Page (she also mentions serving over 700 entrepreneurs and helping them earn millions).

Andrea Emerson narrows in on results-focused outcomes on her About Page.

Clients can see their results written all over this: attract, convert, retain, trust, believe. Put money in your pocket.

Your audience wants more of that, no?

Lesson three: include the results customers can expect on your About Page.

#4 Brand strategy, activated!

Every one of the ladies on this list weaves their branding strategy through their About Pages.

If you look closely, you’ll see the same three or so fonts, colors, and design elements repeated throughout the pages.

Then, you see those same fonts, colors, and designs on their social media platforms and other places on the internet.

And the “voices” to match.

That’s what branding is all about! Creating a recognizable, set-apart look for yourself.

Erica Lee Strauss uses a lot of pinks, purples, and sparkly colors and words for her brand.

Maria Rana uses the same typeset fonts, bold reds, and old-school Polaroids and parchment paper on every page.

Elizabeth McKenzie is a no-frills, sassy gal, and that comes across in her minimalistic design, white T-shirt, and saucy humor.

Nikki Elledge Brown slays branding hardcore with her “communication stylist” theme and adorable quirkiness. Like her copy, she has the branding and design down like no one else!

Lesson four: include your brand fonts, colors, and designs on your About Page to make your online look cohesive.

#5 Humanize yo’self

Even though your About Page is more about what you can do for your audience, you still count.

I know, you’re welcome.

You’re human. Your heart beats. And no one believes copy is the only thing you care about.

So, put a little personality and pizzazz into your about page.

Many writers include a few interesting facts at the bottom of their About Page, like Elna Cain does here:

In a fun twist on that, Maria Rana includes a list of things she believes in. I’m totally stealing that!

Me too, sister!

Lesson five: make most of your About Page about your reader, but include a few interesting bits about (actual) you!

#6 Offer directions

With a scroll scroll here and a click click there….

We whip through the internet like the Tasmanian Devil on caffeine pills.

By the time your readers hit your about page,they’re ready to move onto the next thing.

Make sure that “next thing” they do is click around on your site or make contact with you.

Give your readers direction in the form of a very simple call-to-action.

Read more…
Choose your adventure.
Click here to get started. (by Erica Lee Strauss)

Another way to train your readers’ focus is to use bold and large type to highlight the important stuff.

(See what I did there?)

If When your readers are scrolling, tell them exactly what to pay attention to.

Maria Rana demonstrates this perfectly by offsetting her main messages with header tags, colors and boldface.

Lesson six: Include at least one call-to-action on your About Page. Also, emphasize what you want your reader to remember with bigger, bolder, more colorful type.

Want more?

I hope this study gives you some perspective on how to write an About Page like a pro.

I even did some tweaking on my own About Page while writing this article to make it more effective.

I also put together an in-depth mini course to help you write your own admiration-amassing About Page.

(Find all the mini courses here. Home and Services pages coming soon!)

Follow these step-by-step instructions to churn out an effective freelance writer About Page. Guess what? You can use this same system to write your clients’ About Pages too!

Show me some other amazing About Pages in the comments. I’d love to keep the discussion going!

February 13, 2019

Change Your Life on Your lunch Break: 5 Practical Ways

Today, I just wanted to pop on here to let you know, I had the honor of sharing an article about changing your life on your lunch break over on Steve Aitchison’s site.

If you’re ready to make a change in your life, your lunch hour is the perfect time slot to make it happen in digestible increments.

Check out these 5 Practical Ways to Change Your Life on Your Lunch Break.

You can also check out the past entries in the Change Your Life on Your Lunch Break series:

Grownup Journaling
The 30-Day Push
Read a Children’s Book (Yes, really. You’ll like this one.)

You can also learn how I built my freelance business in just an hour a day (including client calls on my lunch break) while still working a full-time job in my free Freelance Freedom from Corporate Series.

Pop in the comments and let me know what you think you could change in just an hour a day!

February 5, 2019

KonMarie Your Copy

Everywhere you look, you can see KonMarie’s influence infiltrating your Instagram feed, your friends’ (and your) closets, and your TV set.

Maybe you’re sick of it.

Maybe you’re inspired by it.

Love it or hate it, the premise behind the KonMarie Method is pretty catchy and effective.

Don’t live an environment or live a life that doesn’t spark joy!

Why waste your time, right?

The same concepts can be applied to copy. Your copy should have a purpose and it should spark joy.

If not, why waste your time, right?

So, in the spirit of the KonMarie frenzy, let’s look at how the concepts can help you be a better copywriter.

KonMarie Your Copy, 5 Ways

#1: The Spark of Joy

One of the most famous concepts from Marie Kondo is the spark of joy. If you’re organizing your closet, you’re supposed to hold each item of clothing in your hand and determine if it sparks joy.

If it does, keep it. If it doesn’t, purge it.

Same goes with your copy.

Your copy should spark joy in one way or another:

You feel a sense of delight after writing it
You sense that your readers will feel delight after reading it
The words and sentiments in your piece contain the presence of joy
The piece adds a positive spark to the world
Your writing contributes to a bigger picture of positive change

Okay, I get that some technical writing may not spark joy in the obvious sense. But if you really love what you do as a technical writer and your work sparks joy, then you’ve got it!

Does your copy spark joy?

#2 Declutter

Almost every Style Guide I’ve seen from my clients includes a tip about cutting out unnecessary words. Every single word and phrase must contribute to the piece. No fluff, no “stuff.” Marie Kondo would approve.

With practice, you can condition yourself to notice all those extra words and delete them.

Here’s a simple example of a sentence you can declutter:

Change: “Think about scrolling through your Facebook newsfeed and see what catches your eye and ask ‘Why’ and apply that to adding your own images.”
To: When choosing an image, consider what catches your eye and why when you scroll through your Facebook newsfeed.

See how all those extra words aren’t necessary?

As you edit, go over your words with a fine-tooth comb to refine them.

How to declutter your copy:

Use simple, easy-to-understand sentences
Leave lots of white space to give your words breathing room
Eliminate any words or phrases that aren’t necessary

Strip your copy back, simplify it, and make extra space to allow your reader to absorb the words.

#3 Visualize your ideal destination

Marie Kondo likes to tell people to consider what type of home they’d like to keep: peaceful and clean, open and airy, etc.

You need to keep your desired end goal in mind.

You should do the same with your copy.

Consider the end goal or purpose of each piece you write.

You should never write just to fill web pages or maintain your 3-blogs-per-week, self-issued quote.

Your writing should have a meaningful purpose, such as:

Encouraging readers to make a positive change in their lives
Building a resource library for freelance writers (this is mine!)
Entertaining family with funny kid-isms on social media
Building your email list so you can impact even more people

Every time you sit down to write, you should consider the purpose of the piece and create from that place.

#4 A Place for Everything

One of the principles organizing fanatics always advise is that every item you own must have a designated place.

It’s a great principle to live by.

If a cup doesn’t have a home in the cupboard, don’t bring it home.

Just like writing, every string of words should have a place.

If it doesn’t flow
If it doesn’t add meaning
If it doesn’t have a place

Slash it.

Perhaps you want to include a story in your article that relates to your topic. That’s great! Readers love stories.

But if you’re tempted to tack on an extra paragraph that doesn’t relate, leave it out.

#5 Keep what matters

Contrary to the heaping donation piles you see on TV and this sense of “what else can I get rid of,” Marie Kondo doesn’t make you swear off everything you own in favor of stark minimalism.

She lets you keep the clothing and items that make sense for you and your family.

But you don’t need doubles.
You don’t need to keep things you might “one day” need.
You don’t need the items that serve no purpose in your everyday life.

You should, on the other hand, keep the items that bring you joy, that you use often, that you can continue to use for a long time. Capsule items, if you will.

Now, this principle applies to words, but also to your entire career as a copywriter.

Remove all redundancies
Only work with clients and causes you believe in
Focus on capsule, or evergreen, content
Anchor your business upon what matters

Wouldn’t your writing career look a whole lot clearer if you did it the KonMarie way?

{Still trying to design your own freelance writing career? Check out my free 7-day Freelance Freedom from Corporate series to hit the ground sprinting}

I’d love to hear your KonMarie stories in the comments. Anything you would add to this list?

P.S. Do you ever wonder how the thrift stores the world over are being impacted by the KonMarie method?

January 23, 2019

The ONE thing you need in place (aside from samples) before pitching freelance clients

Your Freelance Onboarding Process

Not many freelance instructors talk about it…

But you need to have more than just a love for writing and a few samples to entice new freelance clients.

You need to have a freelance onboarding process in place.

An onboarding process is just the steps you take to bring aboard a new client to your business.

Although it sounds complicated, it doesn’t have to be.

It can be as simple as a few emails…

Or as complicated as a full-fledged proposal, contract, multiple phone conferences, and more.

It depends on you, your niche, your clients, and the complexity of the project.

But no matter what, you should have an onboarding system in place to:

Keep you organized
Make your business run more smoothly
Allow your clients to trust you

Think about it: you hear back from a client who’s interested in working with you.

What you do next could mean the difference between a sweet gig and a thank u, next.

So, let’s just role play this for a second. You’re on the phone and your prospect expresses interest in content from you. They ask about your work and are thinking about moving forward.

Your reply?

Why don’t you email me and tell me what you want me to do. Don’t nervously try to get off the phone and wait for them to tell you what they want. You tell them what you can do for them! They’re assuming you are the expert. If you leave the ball in their court, you risk losing them to disinterest or someone who’s more confident. They want you to take work off their hands, not make more work for themselves.
I’m not sure. I think I can probably write a few blog posts a month, and I’ll have to throw some numbers together for you. If you’re confused what to do next, don’t even know your rates or availability, your prospect may lose confidence in you.
Tell me more about your content needs and I’ll put together a proposal for you by this afternoon. After you accept the proposal, I’ll send over a contract and I require a 50% down payment. If you outline your process with them, they trust you know what you’re doing and will happily hand over the reins. You’re making the job easy on them!

See how much of a difference that last option makes? It makes you sound super professional, trustworthy, and serious.

It also helps you take on client calls with much more confidence and a much better sense of purpose.

{Ready to design your boss onboarding process today? Check out this freelance onboarding mini course}

Your freelance onboarding process also helps you stay on track, so you always know what comes next.

If you’re anything like me, then you appreciate a good ole organized process.

Checklists, strategies, and processes help you sleep better at night.

So make sure you have a strategy in place for your freelance onboarding process.

What does a freelance onboarding process actually look like?

Think about the steps you need to take to land a client, from the initial contact to the beginning of a project. Sit down and actually map them out. It might go something like this:

Initial contact, reply within 24 hours
Set up a phone consultation
Write up a proposal
Send/sign contract
Invoice for deposit
Send client questionnaire
Begin project

This process is usually much less involved for blogging clients than for website copywriting clients, but you get the gist.

Once you have an idea of what your oboarding process will look like, then you need to sit down and create the actual checklist and all the documents that are required during the process.

Save a copy of the checklist on your computer and make a copy for each new client that you can check off as you go.

You should also have copies of the questions you like to ask during your phone consultations, a proposal form, an invoicing system, and a client questionnaire in place.

Now, before you go thinking all of this is too complicated and over-your-head:

A proposal can be as simple as a Google document outlining the project details. Nothing fancy.
You can find pre-made freelance contracts online on sites like Freelancer’s Union (although a lawyer is always best) and make adjustments for each client
Paypal has a very simple invoicing system
Client questionnaires include all the questions you need to know before starting a piece of content

Simple.

Having all the documents written out and in place makes your entire process go seamless.

And really, it makes you feel more competent. And seem more competent to clients.

My challenge for you today is to write out your onboarding process and gather all the necessary files in a folder on your computer.

If you’re ready to design a really boss onboarding process, I’ve got you! Check out my detailed onboarding mini course!

Then, come on back here and tell me in the comments how much better your onboarding process goes with all of this in place.

January 21, 2019

The key to everything you ever wanted to be…

…is right now.

Whatever you’re doing right now determines your future.

Let me explain...

So, I just got done with a really powerful journaling session. I didn’t intend for it to be seen by anyone other than me, but after it came out of me, I felt like I should definitely share it.

It just kind of poured out.

And the message was too important to not share.

So, I’ll publish this rather private peek into my journal hoping whoever needs to see this will.

{BTW, if you don’t journal yet, you need to. Here’s what grownup journaling looks like for me.}

I use journaling to realign with my goals every single morning.
I use journaling to “think out loud” and follow thoughts further than I would in my head.
I use journaling to identify obstacles to my goals and then move past them.

That’s what happened this morning. I identified an obstacle (trusting everything to the future) and moved past it.

I hope this article gives you….

An example of how to journal
Inspiration to live in the present moment
A journal prompt to prompt actual visceral change in your life

The key to everything you ever wanted to be…is right now

I realized this weekend,

I feel like I’m constantly in a state of ready-for-the-next-thing.

Anticipation.

Expectancy.

I’m thinking about what I have to get done later today, Wednesday, next month.

I’m anticipating the errands, the bills, the events, the responsibilities.

As though everything good actually happens in the future.

As though right now isn’t important or exciting enough.

But the thing is…

And this is important. So take note.

The thing is, everything about right now sets the precedent for the future.

Your habits…

How you use your time…

The work you do today…paves the path for what happens later today, Wednesday, next month.

We are the product of our daily habits, emotional responses, what we’re doing right now (any now).

So, in order to get to the outcome you want in the future, you need to string back your focus to today, right now.

Right now,

I’m drinking water to hydrate, because I know it’s a key to a healthy body.

I’m journaling because it awakes my goals every morning.

I’m at the dining room table. I don’t have to get up and go into the cold at all today.

I’m thinking about the Super wolf blood moon last night and what the dog is up to.

And thinking about how all of the above contributes to my future.

Hmmmm….

Right now is the truth of what’s going on in your life.

The future doesn’t hold the answers. Everything doesn’t just miraculously end up fixed in the future.

Well, it could, depending on what actions you take right now, but…

Right now is the truth of what’s going on in your life.

Right now is the way to change the future.

If you want to get fit, you need to start right now. Drink a huge cup of water, pull the workout up on your phone, order the eggs and asparagus.

If you want to establish your business, you need to take action right now, not plan for it sometime in the future.

If you want to be more confident, you need to sit up straight in your chair and hold your chest proud right now.

(Did you just sit up straighter? I did!)

You need to interrupt the discourse in your head that says “who do you think you are?” and replace it with “I have the confidence of Cleopatra.”

Right now.

If you want people to see you as the leader of a revolution, you need to embody that right this instant.

If you feel like you know who the “this is who I really am” version of yourself is, then you need to live into it right now, not wait for some future version of you to turn around and wait for you to catch up.

Because you’ll never be able to catch up.

That future version of you stays at the same arm’s length away as it always has, no matter what.

So, you need to do it right now.

What you do right now determines your future.

Not the other way around.

What are you waiting for?

Get out your journal and free-write about who you want to be and what you can do right now to be that person.

January 15, 2019

3 Reasons Why You Need a Freelance Writer Resume

You’ve put together a killer portfolio and writer’s website.

Then, you head over to the Problogger or other job board to apply for a freelance writing gig.

And they ask for your resume.

You roll your eyes.

You’ve got two options:

Put together a freelance writer resume right then and there.
Skip applying for the gig because you shouldn’t have to send a resume for a freelance writing gig.

You can cross your arms and refuse to go anywhere near employers that require resumes, or you can create a killer resume that impresses.

Your call.

But I would take the blue pill (aka the second option).

And here’s why…

3 Reasons to Create a Freelance Writer Resume

#1 Most employers still want/prefer them

If you apply for any position directly from the Problogger site, for example, there’s a spot to upload a document. Presumably, this is for your resume.

That document uploader is another way to showcase your skills. You might as well use it to your advantage.

If you apply for a freelance position on Indeed or Ziprecruiter, you’ll inevitably be asked to upload your resume. Hiring sites and recruiters need to see your resume, so you need to have one.

Actually I’ve only come across very few employers who don’t outright ask for your resume. Many just aren’t aware that freelance writers consider their portfolio their resume. Their HR departments are used to vetting traditional resumes, not freelance portfolios.

If you’re applying for job postings online, a freelance writer resume is a must.

#2 You get to show off your impressive skills

Do you know all the messages your writer’s resume conveys (aside from the obvious job history and credentials)?

It showcases your writing, spelling, and grammatical skills.
It shows your ability to refine your skills to the fewest words possible.
It expresses the burning passion behind your work.
It tells prospects whether you’re a confident, assertive business partner or a timid underling.
It offers you an additional medium to build your brand image.

If your resume is bland and rife with errors, your credibility as a professional writer may be questioned.

On the other hand, if your resume appears modern, concise, and professional, it bolsters your credibility.

Your resume gives off all these impressions within the first few seconds.

I’ll let you in on a little secret: Every company style guide I’ve seen emphasizes the importance of trimming and tightening your words. They all say something along the lines of: “ruthlessly eliminate any word or phrase that isn’t necessary.”

Your one-page resume (and yes, the consensus still indicates a preference for one page) provides inescapable evidence that you can do just that.

It’s good practice.

#3 Your resume affords you another opportunity to rise above every other candidate

Think about this: you’re an employer who has just posted a position for a freelance writer and the applications come pouring in.

Most of them look pretty traditional.

One is way too “out there” for you. A purple perfumed resume tucked inside a copy of The Freelancer’s Bible.

(Okay, that might be a bit of an over-exaggeration, but you get my drift. Some resumes are too boring and some are over-the-top.)

Then, a distinctive resume with impressive credentials and a modern, eye-catching design comes across your desk.

It piques your interest just looking at it.

You put the resume at the top of your stack. You can’t wait to share this buried treasure with your colleagues.

So, what’s in that resume that makes it so impressive?

You!

Okay, let me be just a little less vague.

The design of your resume looks very modern and chic (find some cool designs on Canva) but still sticks to your traditional white-background, one-page expectations.

It’s modern. You can tell the applicant knows their way around the digital world. Thank goodness, because you might rip your eyes out if you see another dated “to whom it may concern” resume.

Your applicant treats their business like a business. They have a logo and a website and they own their freelance company.

Their skills descriptions don’t sound like they’ve been copied and pasted from a middle school career textbook. Instead, they suggest a creative soul who loves their job, because who else would list “knitting the right words together to express the soul of your business” as a qualification?

Straight to the top of the stack.

A hidden treasure.

Do you see what I’m getting at here?

If you want to land at the top of the stack, you need a writer’s resume. You need an impressive writer’s resume.

If you’re ready to start applying for freelance work, create your resume today!

If you haven’t put a resume together for awhile and you want to be sure you’re doing it right, I’ve got you, babe. I put together a simple guide, including a copy of my own personal resume, to help you design your own. Grab the guide here!

Drop me some thoughts in the comments below. I love hearing from you!