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How to Create A Freelance Writer Website From Scratch

freelance writer website

 

So, in this post I’m going to teach you exactly how to build a freelance writer website from scratch.

But I want to explain why you need one in the first place. Because not all freelance writers are convinced they need one for some weird reason;)

 

Why you need a freelance writer website:

It’s simple: you own a business. If you can’t be found online today, you don’t exist. You must not be legit. You must not be very serious about your business. (I might even go out on a limb and say, you seem a bit like a fraud or scam? Ever thought it was fishy when you couldn’t find a business’s website online?)

A website is going to allow you to market yourself in ways that nothing else can. First of all, it provides bona fide evidence that you know how to write website copy and can help others with theirs because your own web copy will prove it.

Also, a large percentage of clients require you to have working WordPress knowledge to write blog posts for them. Building your own website on WordPress is going to give you that working knowledge that you need for them. You’re going to need to know how to use it anyway.

 

Another way to think about this is, why would you not create a website?

The cost to start a freelance writing business? Is the cost of your website. That is the lowest startup costs for a business EVER!

Plus, all your website hosting costs are tax deductible business expenses.

 

So, if you know you need a website and you haven’t built one yet, take a few minutes right now to put one together. Do it while your energy is high and you’re excited about it. You can bookmark this page for later, but if you keep avoiding it, you’ll never do it. Right now is a good time. Got 5 minutes?

 

How to create a freelance writer website in under 5 minutes:

  1. Go to Bluehost’s Home Page and click on the “Get Started Now” button. See that? You’re doing it! (And it’s not as hard as you were thinking).

How to Start a Freelance Writer Website

[Click Me to Follow Along]

 

2. On the next page, it says to Select Your Plan. Select Basic. You can always upgrade later.

Start a freelance website in minutes

 

 

3. Type in the domain name you want for your business. If you’re not sure about your domain name yet, a popup box will come up allowing you to go forward without a domain name. You get one free domain with your purchase, so you don’t have to use a separate site for that.

How to create a website with Bluehost

 

4. Create your account with Bluehost. All very straightforward.

Create a freelance website from scratch

Then scroll down a little and choose your plan. You save money if you buy several years’ worth of hosting up front. That $3.95/month? That’s the introductory rate, so go with as many months as you can. You can also add any extra features like SiteLock, which hides your address from everyone on the internet (I talk about protecting your identity in this post):

step by step guide create website with Bluehost

Scroll down a little more and enter your payment information. Read through and accept all the terms and conditions. Remember this is an investment, not an expense.

Walk through how to create a website

Then, click submit. You’ll be asked to verify your purchase and create your password. That’s IT!!!

Congratulations! You have a freelance writer website!

 

Now, you’ll want to install WordPress right away, since you’re on a roll here. Get ‘er done while you’re at it.

 

How to install WordPress to your Bluehost Site

This is too easy. It’s a one-click install.

Now that you’re logged into Bluehost, click on the “cpanel” tab at the top of the page.

how to install wordpress on bluehost

 

Then, click on Install WordPress and follow the directions from there!

 

Install WordPress on Bluehost

Bluehost 9

You’ll choose the domain you want to install WordPress on (probably the domain you just created). Or just call that number at the top of your screen and have someone at WordPress walk you through the process. I have faith in you though.

domain to install wordpress to bluehost

 

The next page should just confirm your admin information and give you the terms and conditions. After entering and reading through that, simply hit “Next” and it will start happening. The top bar will show you the progress.

 

install wordpress on freelance writer website

 

Then, you’ll be all set! You’ll be able to log into your WordPress site with the login and password provided at yoursite.com/wp-admin.

 

What brand new WordPress site looks like

 

That wasn’t so bad, was it? You have a freaking website now!

 

Now, it may take a little while to figure out how to navigate WordPress, but it comes with playing around and maybe watching a tutorial or seven. And almost any question you have can be answered with a simple Google or Youtube search.

 

I will come back soon with a post about the Make Theme and how I use it to build pages on my website. Many entrepreneurs use Divi, but I’ve found Make to be satisfactory for drop-and-drag capabilities. You can simply search your Plugins for the Make Theme by Theme Foundry to get it installed. A plugin is just a tool you add to your website backend that makes everything easier for non-developer people to do. In other words, instead of learning code to design your website, plugins can do most of it for you.

The other plugins I would suggest having for your freelance writer website (just install them and figure them out later):

  • Akismet: spam filter.
  • All in One WP Security: security for your website.
  • Google Analytics: see info about your site’s traffic, most popular posts, and audience behavior.
  • Magic action box/optin forms/SumoMe: choose one of these free plugins to add an opt-in form to your website. I have all three connected so I can have multiple opt-in boxes.
  • Photo Express for Google: this is a lifesaver plugin that gives me access to my smartphone pictures for blog posts.
  • Shareaholic: adds icons to your posts to encourage readers to share them on social media.
  • Updraft Plus-Backup/restore: backup your website. Just do it. Websites gets hacked every day.
  • WP Edit: This allows you to put extra features on your text editing toolbar.
  • WP Google Fonts: Gives you access to a ton of fonts, not just the four WordPress comes with.
  • Yoast SEO: This plugin helps you optimize your blog posts for search.

 

That’s about it for the basics of setting up a website! That’s all there really is to it. Feel free to play around to get a feel for WordPress.

 

If you used this post to build your own website, would you come back and share a link so I can see it? I love to see what others are creating! Any questions, drop a note in the comments!

Freelance Writer and Blogger’s Arsenal: My Top 10 Tools

Best freelance writing tools

 

Today I’m going to let you in on the secrets behind running my business and blog from the back end.

Let me start by saying, you do not need any fancy programs to get the job done. I’m a minimalist when it comes to work systems, because I don’t like to be overwhelmed by the details. There’s nothing more professional about using a Freshbooks invoice versus a Paypal invoice. Complicated systems just slow you down.

During the beginning stages of your freelance career, you’re likely not going to encounter anything more complicated than invoicing and getting paid. You don’t need any writing programs more complicated than Google Drive. And if you build a website, you don’t need anything more complicated than WordPress with a free theme, if you know what to look for.

So, without further ado…

 

*Disclaimer, this post may contain affiliate links

My Top 10 Tools for Running a Successful Freelance Writing Business and Blog

 

Google Drive

Pretty much my entire business is run inside Google Drive.

I deliver content to all my clients through Google Docs, except for a few that I access directly through WordPress. In fact, most of my clients request their files through Google Docs.

My drive is pretty organized, which helps a lot. I have a separate folder for each regular client, so their articles are easy to find.

I use Google Sheets to track client pitches and income (get a copy of my exact pitch tracker). Nothing fancy. My finances at this point are pretty straightforward. Since I’m about 99% paid through Paypal, my income is pretty easy to track. My expenses are pretty straightforward as well, so I don’t feel it necessary to purchase anything fancier. It would probably just throw me off my game if I had to resort to another program on another site. Keeping everything in Google Drive keeps me from feeling overwhelmed.

 

Google drive screenshot

Mailchimp

Now, Mailchimp obviously isn’t required for freelance writers. But, if you keep a blog of your own (you should!), you’ll want to find a way to collect subscribers, believe me. Maichimp is free for up to 500 subscribers. I chose to upgrade to the $10 plan recently so I can build a few simple automated email sequences, like for my free 7-day Freelance Freedom from Corporate series.

I know there are plenty of other fancier services out there. But I haven’t been convinced yet to transfer over to any of them. Mailchimp does everything I want it to and it’s easy to use. And again, fancier tools would probably just slow my roll.

free tools freelance tools

 

Paypal

I almost exclusively use Paypal for taking payments and invoicing. Every client I’ve had pays through Paypal. It’s something that everyone recognizes and trusts as safe. And usually everyone already has an account there. So, I’ve found it’s the most simple and straightforward way to accept money, invoice clients, and keep track of my money. I wrote a detailed step-by-step post on how to invoice with Paypal here.

 

Paypal Invoice for Freelancers

 

Evernote

Everything that doesn’t live in Google Docs lives on Evernote. Mostly, I keep more personal notes on Evernote. If I’m listening to a training video about Facebook Ads, for example, I might keep any notes I want to remember on Evernote. All of my branding details (fonts, colors, audience, etc) are kept in a file on Evernote, among a few other things.

If I don’t use Evernote, I usually have a bajillion different physical notebooks for different topics lying around my house, which just gets to be too much. Evernote also allows you to keep clippings from websites you’ve found helpful so you can return to them.

Free Tools Freelance Writers

 

 

Canva

I use Canva for everything. Almost all the pinnable graphics on my blog come from Canva, including the one at the top of this post. I designed my poetry ebook and Budget Fitness book cover in Canva (and then saved the ebook PDF files in Google Drive). If you wanted to, you could create a logo and social media posters with Canva. I used to use PicMonkey, which is another option, but their graphics seem a little dated to me after using Canva.

Canva is so easy to use. You don’t have to have any design skills. In fact, that’s what it’s primarily for, people without design skills. Canva saves me and forgives my complete ineptness at design skills. I like to use their premade designs and then just swap out the colors for my brand colors.

Slacker

Slacker is a great app for collaborative work, in situations where multiple writers work for a single client, for example. I can’t even tell you how cool it is to be able to connect with other writers this way. If I’m curious about where the other writers are finding their images or if they’ve had trouble with a certain platform, I can post on Slacker and get replies right away. The client can also post helpful links and tips for all of us in one place. Before going on Slacker, there’s no communication whatsoever with the client’s other writers.

I work with 4 clients already on this platform, and I love it. It’s a nice way to keep work separate from daily life too, which is why it’s a nice alternative to a Facebook group or something similar where people can message you any time. You can set your “office hours” on Slacker so no one can bother you at certain times. It’s just slick.

Bluehost

So, the creation of this entire website started with Bluehost. I chose Bluehost to host my website because I had seen so many others who used it and were happy with it. I didn’t want to waste time trying to figure out the best host, because then I probably never would’ve started. I just needed a host for WordPress. WordPress is what I needed, and Bluehost seemed to be the easiest answer.

Now, you may be thinking, I’ll just create a blog on a free platform. Well, you can, that’s fine. But if you want to have real reach with your blog and business, you need a real self-hosted website. A business website is an absolute “must” today. If you don’t have a real online presence for your business, then you’re shortchanging yourself.

If you’re running a blog, you’ll find you get IMMEASURABLE results having a self-hosted blog versus a free one (ok, they are measurable with Google Analytics, but I wanted to make a point). I ran my old blog on Blogger for 6 years before switching to WordPress, and the results from switching were immediate. My pageviews increased exponentially. Google prefers self-hosted sites to free ones. If you plan to monetize your blog, you almost always have to have your own self-hosted blog to be considered for sponsorships and such.

Now, since a freelance writer can start a business with little more than a laptop and a website, I would say the pennies you pay for a website make a pretty low startup costs compared to almost any other business in the entire world. Don’t sweat the cost. You’ll make that money back in a snap, especially if you work your business like I teach you in my Freelance Freedom from Corporate series.

After you purchase from Bluehost (which is super easy), you don’t need to think about it again for like, two years, and even then you can choose to have your hosting renew automatically.

 

Bluehost for freelance writers

WordPress

My fitness and writing website, this one here, is a WordPress site. I noticed that WordPress came very highly recommended from everywhere I looked. My contributor posts on Huffington Post, The Mighty, Baby Gaga, and elsewhere are also written in WordPress. So first, I’m thinking, if the big guys are using WordPress, then it’s got to be good. And second, I’m thinking, navigating WordPress will just be easier if I’m using the same platform as I do for my contributor columns. Simple as that. Just make sure for your professional website that you go with WordPress.org not WordPress.com.

freelance writer website with wordpress

Make Theme

So, when you go to create your website, you either have to build the entire thing out from scratch, or you download a WordPress theme that helps you design it. Typically, entrepreneurs will choose some kind of drag-and-drop website builder that does all the pretty design work for them.

For this website, I use a simple, free theme. The Make Theme by Theme Foundry is the simplest drag and drop website builder ever. Divi is the theme everyone talks about, but I’ve found Make does everything I need it to. You can upgrade to Make Plus and get even more features, but I prefer to keep it simple. That’s kind of a theme with me.

It takes a little bit of playing around to figure some of the features out, and there aren’t a whole lot of tutorials out there, but it’s free and fully functional. I’m thinking of doing a tutorial or two myself to show how to do a few things it took me a little bit to figure out that were really super simple!

 free page builder for wordpress Make Theme

Facebook groups

Ok, so this isn’t so much a program as a place. But, this is where so much of my business magic happens. You see, even when you work at home, you can still be connected to so much awesomeness out in the world. Facebook groups are a resource that have given me inspiration, connectedness, and even business opportunities.

So, I run a few of my own free Facebook groups, one for those seeking to make the leap from corporate to freelance and one for health and fitness motivation (open to anyone, come on over and join!). I love having a place where people can come together and ask questions, discuss issues, and learn something new.

I also belong to quite a few groups. A few for writers, a few for entrepreneurs, and a few specific to groups I follow online. I love being able to ask tech or business related questions when I’m stuck and keep up with new things that are happening. I’ve also made some cool business connections in these groups. Just being active in the groups and offering helpful advice when you can is a great way to build your authority.

If you’re not in a few Facebook groups already, I would suggest using the search bar to look for a few groups related to what you enjoy or what you do for a living.

Facebook groups for freelance writers

 

Runner’s Up

Some other programs that I don’t use on a regular basis but still provide incredible value:

Trello and Asana

If you enjoy (or require) project management, then these two platforms are great. They can help you plan out your week or break projects down into daily steps. For example, if you have 6 clients and need to figure out how to slot all their projects in for the week, you might break down the projects into one-hour chunks and then plan out your week accordingly. Or say, you’re planning to write a meal plan ebook. You could break the project down into steps (photograph food, food testing day, write out dessert section, etc) and put each step into your calendar so you actually DO it!

Now, I’ve played around in both programs, but, as I’ve said about 1,239 times in this post, I like to keep things simple…

Want to know my big secret for project management?

Sticky notes on my desktop. Yes, that’s it. I use the virtual sticky notes that came with Windows on which I keep track of the projects I’m currently working on. They stay up on the computer screen at all times. When you turn your computer back on in the morning, there they are! I think that’s the best part! I don’t have to pull up a bunch of browsers in the morning.

Digital Sticky Notes project management

I have one to-do list, one note for blog post ideas, one note for more pressing items, and one note for current clients. And that’s all I need to keep me on track. That’s my sophisticated project management right there.

 

Did you think it could be that easy to run a laptop business? I assure you, I’m running a successful one right now this way. And I think part of the reason I’m successful is because I don’t need anything fancy to get the best results. In fact, fancy slows me down. I don’t get bogged down by all the details, I just get to work!

 

How about you?

What are your favorite freelance or project management tools? Do you prefer fancy or minimalist tools?

7 Stupid-Easy Habits of a Successful Freelance Writer

Successful Freelance Writer

 

I’m about to share with you 7 habits of a highly successful freelance writer. Now, I shouldn’t even have to write these out, because they should just be a given. However, if you follow these 7 criteria religiously, you are going to be HIGH above the rest. Because you’d be so surprised how the majority of people that call themselves freelance writers fail at least one of these criteria.

Now, I’m not writing this to rip on people. I’m writing this post in the hopes that those who think they can’t be a freelance writer or don’t think they can get ahead will know that they certainly can. They just have to have the decency to follow these normal standard behaviors. Seriously, these are easy. Too easy. Most people don’t follow them. So if you do, you can almost guarantee success!

 

Before I drop my mic…

The 7 Habits of a Highly Successful Freelance Writer

  1. You’re always on time
  2. You follow directions
  3. You’re easy to work with
  4. You edit your work for errors
  5. You run a business, not a hobby
  6. You ask just enough questions
  7. You know how to write. (Ok, I reeeeally shouldn’t even have to list this, but seriously? You need to have a good handle on spelling, grammar, and flow).

 

Wow, earth-shattering stuff, right? Let’s dig more into the meat of this.

 

1. You’re always on time

You would be surprised by how many people don’t hand their work in on time. Like they’re still in college, pulling all-nighters. Or really, not even willing to pull an all-nighter. Just shrugging their shoulders thinking “no big deal.” Handing your work in on time is just a common courtesy and a shred of evidence of your professionalism.

Now, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. Maybe you’re just terrible at keeping everything straight. Make sure you use Trello or some other project management tool to ensure you don’t miss any deadlines.

2. You follow directions

From the very job application to the way you hand it in, make sure you follow your client’s directions. You have got to read the directions, read them again, and then read them again. Then, read them after you’re done writing again to make sure you’ve hit the mark.

When you apply for writing gigs on sites like Problogger, you need to make sure you read the entire listing. Sometimes, just to weed people who can’t follow directions out, posters will use specific instructions for your application. They’ll ask you to put a certain phrase in your subject line or answer a certain question at the top of your email. They won’t even consider your application unless you follow the exact instructions. And you’d be surprised by how many applications go straight to the trash bin!

3.  You’re easy to work with

Whining, stalling, excuses, etc are never going to work. Just be a chill, nice, pleasure-to-work with person. Even when clients piss you off. Doesn’t matter. You still need to be pleasant. The second you turn on the bi+!h switch, you’ll ruin everything. It’s just not worth it. This is your career. Treat everyone with the utmost respect, even if they’re hard to work with. You certainly don’t ever have to work with them again, but while you are, be professional.

4. You edit your work for errors

You learned how to edit your rough drafts in the fourth grade. They didn’t just teach you how to do that because you sucked at writing in 4th grade. They taught it to you as a foundational tool that you need to use for the rest of your life.

After you write a piece, have the decency to look it over for errors, even if you think you’re incapable of them. I recommend checking it over the next day or several hours later so you can come at it with fresh eyes. You might even consider hiring an editor if you need a fresh pair of eyes or you hate editing.

It is not okay to hand in work with errors. That makes your clients look bad, which isn’t fair. Making your clients look bad is going to be a horrible reflection on your own business.

5. You run a business, not a hobby

Even if you’re freelancing on the side, you still need to treat it like a business. The professionals that are hiring you consider you a business. It’s not fair to them if you treat your side gig like a hobby. You need to answer emails immediately, work cooperatively, meet deadlines, and treat the writing you’re doing for them with respect.

6. You ask just enough questions

Ask your clients just enough question. Not too many, that they get the vibe that you require hand-holding. Not too few that you don’t get the information necessary to do a thorough job.

You need to develop a basic client questionnaire that gets to the meat: audience profile, objective of the piece, keywords, etc. Make sure your questionnaire doesn’t take your clients more than a few minutes to complete. When you’re working for a client, you’re taking a big task off their plate. The last thing you want to do is make them feel like they have to do more work. But on the other hand, you want to make sure you have enough information to do a decent job.

You also need to feel a client out a bit. I have several clients that give me very little information and they know I can run with it. There are other clients that would be upset if I didn’t ask enough questions. You’ll know when you meet them. If they’re irritated with your questions, pull back a bit. If they appreciate your questions, then ask away.

7. You know how to write

Like I said, I shouldn’t even have to include this, but there are plenty of writers out there, in the content mills and such, that barely understand the English language, let alone grammar rules and proper mechanics.

It’s sites like Upwork that lump the amazing writers with the terrible ones. It puts everyone on equal ground when they shouldn’t be. The people who don’t know where commas go are considered equal to the ones that studied commas for their master’s thesis. It kills me.

If writing comes naturally to you, and people comment on what a great writer you are, then you’re probably a decent writer. Thing is, most decent writers think they’re nothing special because surely most people can write well. If you think that way, then you’re probably an excellent writer and don’t even know it.

Even if you’re a good writer, you’re still going to get rejected sometimes. It’s important to remain secure in the fact that you’re a good writer. Don’t give up, because it happens to everyone!

 

 

Now obviously, there’s way more that goes into being a successful freelance writer than just these criteria, but these things will get you pretty darn far and they’ll put you head and shoulders above so many others out there.

Maybe this post was a little snarky. My intention isn’t to put anyone off, it’s to prepare you for success. It’s really meant to encourage those of you that fit these simple criteria. It’s meant to say: if you are a great writer and treat your writing like a profession, get after it! To only settle for what you’re worth and no less.

***

If you’re ready to make the leap from corporate to freelance, fill out the box at the top of this post to get your free 7-day course delivered to your inbox. It’s time to become who you were meant to be!

***

What about you…

Are you a decent writer that always thought everyone could write? Does this list surprise you, that you can be a successful writer just by being a decent human who can write? LOL. #cheeky

3 Ways You Can Protect Your Identity As A Freelance Writer

Freelance Writer Protect Your Identity

 

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to give out my actual address and phone number to strangers online. However, my email service provider, Mailchimp, requires a real physical address. So does my web hosting provider. And clients sometimes want to talk on the phone, which requires a phone number. So I have no choice but to give out my information.

That can be kind of scary.

As my email list grows, my physical address goes out to more and more people. That’s a little unsettling. Now, I choose not to live in a state of fear about this kind of thing. Sure, it’s possible that something could happen if my information got into the wrong hands, but the actual reality of that happening is different than a scared brain makes it seem.

I used to keep my family’s names out of my blog posts a long time ago too, but I decided to stop acting from fear, as an intentional choice.

I know nothing is completely foolproof, but I’ve found some great way to add a level of safety to my online presence that you can try too.

3 Ways To Protect Your Identity As A Freelance Writer and Blogger

  1. Get a ViaBox address. If you don’t plan on getting any actual physical mail, you can use this service for free. They give you an alternative address to use for your mail, so you don’t have to use your family home address. Another option would be to open up a PO Box at your local post office. I didn’t really want the hassle (or cost) of doing that, plus I don’t anticipate getting any mail.

    Viabox address for mailchimp

  2. Get a Google telephone number. Signing up for a Google phone number is free. I learned about this one from Gina Horkey. Some of my clients use Zoom or Skype calls to protect their personal telephone numbers, so those are also viable alternatives. I had fun with this one because I was able to put the words “flash me” in my phone number, which goes with my whole FlashFit theme.
  3. Web hosting privacy protection. This option costs. When you purchase web hosting, you must disclose your physical address. What this means is, if someone wanted to, they could look you up. I even did this myself when I was looking for the owner of a domain I wanted. I contacted the owner of the site this way because his information was provided (He didn’t want to give it up. Sigh). Knowing this, I feel a little weird about having my own information up for grabs. Thankfully, Bluehost has a privacy service, and I’m sure the other hosting providers do too. So, make sure you spend a little extra to keep your information private.

Hide your address with Bluehost privacy

 

I hope this article has given you some great ideas for keeping yourself safer on the internet.

So, tell me…

What ways do you try to protect your privacy online? Do you try not to live your life in fear too?

 

PS. Have you seen my free 7-day series, Freelance Freedom From Corporate? I’m spilling the beans about how I was able to make the leap within 5 months.

8 Places I’ve Looked for Freelance Work and How They Turned Out

8 Places I've Looked for Freelance Writing Jobs and how they've turned out

 

I do it too.

I see a new site offering “high-paying jobs” to freelance writers and think…maybe this is it!

The secret place online for finding high caliber freelance writing jobs!

I continue searching for that ONE website that will be worth it. That will bring me quality, high-paying work in my niche.

And I’m disappointed almost every.dang.time.

I should’ve learned by now. These just don’t work. There’s a reason why they’ll never work.

  1. These job boards are free. If a company can post a job for free, they’ll post almost any crappy jobs for free.
  2. Someone out there is always willing to write for $0.02 per word. You need to find the clients that know your much higher rates are worth it.
  3. This is the easy way. I believe in “easy ways.” But not when it comes to something as serious as my work.
  4. This is also the lazy way. I prefer to be proactive and go out an find my own opportunities, not wait for them to come to me.
  5. The people looking for quality writers aren’t on any of these sites.

 

Every freelance writer wants to know where all the best jobs are. That’s likely why you’re reading this article. Well, I’m sorry to say, but most of them aren’t on these sites.

The best way to find quality writing jobs?

Cold pitching.

That will be the moral of this story.

But let’s take a look for a minute at some of the sites that are pulling freelancers in and see how I fared when I tried them.

Since I keep track of every single pitch I send out in my pitch tracker (get a copy inside my free freelance writing course), I can tell you exactly where I’ve pitched and how it’s turned out.

Of course, so many other factors come into play, like what your pitches sound like, the timeframe of your pitch, how you position yourself, and how strong of a candidate you are, but I’m just going to focus on the avenue in this post. Also, I will say, I’m still holding out hope for one or two of these as they sound good in theory but haven’t yielded any results yet. I will keep trying and report back if anything changes.

 

Where I’ve Looked For Freelance Writing Jobs and How They’ve Turned Out

Creative Circle

Creative Circle is a staffing agency, but not the run-of-the-mill, desperate-grunt-jobs-for-pennies agency like you’re thinking. Far from it! They’re a high-end talent agency for digital professionals (web designers, writers, social media specialists, and the like). They pair freelance writers with companies that need specialized talent on a freelance or full-time basis.

Creative Circle

To get into the Circle, you have to send in an official resume and application and then go through a phone screening and reference check. Once your agent gets a better idea about you, they start sending you daily job postings that fit your criteria. The emails I get for job openings are usually upwards of $30 an hour in the health and B2B niches that I specialize in.

You can apply for any of these projects by sending a current copy of your resume (which is weird for a freelance writer, since we usually go by our portfolios) and three bullet points about why you’re qualified for the position.

How it’s worked so far: So far, I’ve applied for several projects that were perfectly aligned with my talents and I never heard back. I’ve always gotten an auto-response that says something like “due to the influx of applications, we can’t reply to every candidate. I’ve had no luck. Now, we probably could pick apart my resume and my qualifications like we could for anyone, but so far it seems difficult to break into this one. But the jobs look rather enviable.

 

NDash

This online platform allows both businesses and freelance writers to set up profiles and communicate back and forth in the form of pitches for freelancers and assignments for businesses. Companies can ask a specific writer to accept their assignment or they can post it to everyone. Writers can also send their own pitches to the companies that are on the platform. The writers and the businesses can attach a price to their offers.

This site is supposed to be different than a content mill in that they only want quality writers, but I’m skeptical, because anyone can set up a profile just like on any content mill and a few of the projects I’ve seen quoted are laughable at best ($35 for a case study!!!). I’m not sure how the creators regulate this kind of thing, but it definitely needs some tweaking.

ndash job b

There’s not really great communication on this website either. nDash asked for articles on certain topics which I “applied” for and commented on, but I never heard anything back and the comment wasn’t acknowledged. You also don’t get emails if anyone accepts or rejects a pitch. You need to always remember to check your assignments and pitches all the time, where you mostly see that the businesses “politely declined” your application. And when you “Apply” for an assignment, you simply press a button to Apply, you are given no chance to explain your expertise.

How it’s worked so far: I haven’t quite figured this one out yet, and I haven’t received any offers or acceptances for the pitches I’ve made. I’ve sent multiple pitches to different businesses, but I have yet to receive any kind of response.

When I’ve scrolled through the list of businesses that are actually on nDash, they seem scarce.  Perhaps they’re too new yet. I’m not sure, but so far, I feel like there’s a lot of room to grow.

 

FB group job boards

I’m in a few entrepreneur groups on Facebook and a copywriting job board. Once in awhile, an entrepreneur or web designer will post that they’re looking for a copywriter in these groups.

Facebook groups can be a great place to find jobs, but you’ll be amongst dozens of others that reply, unless you happen to be the first person that notices the post and applies. These also require sifting through for quality and niche-specific assignments.

You may also land a client a roundabout way in Facebook groups by being an awesome human, offering value for free, and showing up every day.

The cool thing is that these entrepreneurs are some of the best clients a writer can have. They’ve got the same ambition and mindset and they’re just awesome people.

How it’s worked so far: The connections I’ve made in Facebook groups have resulted in several very invigorating client phone calls but no actual projects. (Entrepreneurs can also be hard on funds.) I also thought I landed a social media job for a FitBit-like tracker thing. The prospect sent me a tracker and everything. But I think there was a language barrier and it just kind of fell through (which is ok, because the tracker wasn’t very good). Anyhow, I haven’t received an actual paid job this way yet.

 

Problogger

Problogger’s job board tends to be a little more high caliber than your standard writing job board (as I’m sure this is one way the creators of Problogger preserve their integrity). I check this job board almost daily because of this, but I don’t spend a lot of time here.

 

problogger review for freelance writing jobs

 

Some of the offers on here are laughable ($0.04 per word is not industry standard, tyvm) and only occasionally do projects in my niche come across. You can see that there are only a few job postings each day. So, it’s very much hit or miss.

If you really want to land a gig on here, you need to get your application in immediately. Each business that posts will get hundreds of applications per posting. You need to stand out from all of those! Getting at the top of the list is one way. Another way is to personalize each pitch you send and to make sure read through the poster’s specific instructions. Businesses will weed out spammers by using a specific instruction in their application process (i.e. put the words “Copy is Best” in the email subject line). You wouldn’t believe how many people can’t even follow simple instructions, so make sure you read through the entire posting.

How it’s worked so far: One of my most lucrative clients came from Problogger. I’m really enjoying working with them, but it was after months of watching the board and being very picky and strict on pricing. I also landed my Baby Gaga contributor position through Problogger. The desirable projects are few and far between, but the ones that I’ve landed have been worth it.

 

Freelance Writing Gigs

This is another job board with the occasional posting that sounds worth it. They curate a list of freelance openings from all different places, including Craigslist. But you need to be careful with Craigslist posts because they can be sketchy.

I found a job posting on Craigslist where they send you a “test” where you have to write product copy for one of their products. I wrote a brilliant post and felt a little bit like maybe they do this to get free content. And I’ve heard that’s absolutely true!

How it’s worked so far: I don’t check this site regularly, and I’ve applied for many, but I haven’t landed any that were worth it. I’ve had to turn down offers that were on the same level as content mill prices.

 

Bunny, Inc.

I just found this site last week, so I can’t say a whole lot about it yet. But the premise of this site is to pair businesses that need content for their site with quality, qualified writers.

The cool thing is, you can set your own prices on this platform. Then, Bunny Inc adds their rate on top of  your prices. You do NOT have to settle for any less than what you deserve. However, I do have a feeling that they’re trying to tell me to reconsider my prices. No bunny, I will not reconsider.

 

Bunny Inc Review for freelance writing jobs

You have to pass a rigorous writing test in order to be accepted onto this platform. Only a tiny percentage of people pass the testing (I think it’s like 3%). After some requested edits, I passed. I had to write a well-researched 1600-word article on the issues businesses face if they decide to hire a freelancer full time. It took quite a while to write and edit. Their editors are very clear that this is not a content mill and therefore, you need to have solid research to back up any claim you make.

Bunny Inc’s tagline is “beautifully written articles from the best professional writers on Earth” and they need to live up to that. So, that’s why they’re so rigorous. It’s a good way to weed out unqualified writers and preserve the integrity of the platform.

How it’s worked so far: I’ve only been on this platform for just over a week, so I’m undecided about this one yet. So far, I have not had any projects assigned to me, so it certainly doesn’t seem to be a viable income earner at this point. And like I said, I have a feeling my rates are not what they’re looking for, which is strange if they want to only hire the best writers on earth. Just sayin’.

 

Thumbtack

I got the tip to try out this site in a business course I took but for me, it was a waste. Basically, people looking to hire professionals to do any kind of job (landscaper, manicurist, personal trainer, writer, etc) can hire on Thumbtack. The aim of the site is to support small local businesses.

As a professional on the site, you have to purchase a package of “bids.” In order to vie for any posted jobs on the site, you need to use a certain number of bids. Each posting allows for five bidders and the original poster gets to choose from those five. All of mine were passed on, probably because of pricing (which makes this system no better than a content mill).

Thumbtack review

First of all, you should never have to pay to offer your services, but I was willing to overlook that fact since Thumbtack uses the bidding system to weed out people that aren’t serious.

However, if you send a quote and the poster passes on you, you will still lose your bids. I spent $34.99 on a package of bids and they were all ignored or passed.  I will not do this again. In fact, I’m super suspicious of anyplace that charges you to work. For example, I’ve seen advertisements for Master Writing Jobs and I refuse to give them money at this point.

How it’s worked so far: As a freelance writer, don’t use this site! Waste of money. Waste of time. It might be worth it if someone is looking for a local personal trainer or seamstress. But not for a freelance writer. These are not the kinds of clients you are looking for anyway.

 

Alignable

I saw that someone in one of my Facebook groups landed a job from networking on this site, so I thought I’d sign up and give it a try. Basically, it’s a platform where local businesses can connect with one another. In fact, it’s hooked up to LinkedIn. I haven’t given it enough attention, but it’s mostly another networking site.

Alignable review

How it’s worked so far: There’s nothing on here you can’t do from just looking in your local directory and cold emailing. I’ve only had one musician request I read his life story. No thanks!

 

The moral?

Let me repeat it again: Cold emailing is your ticket to a success story.

An alternative to content mills has not really happened in any valid way yet. The time wasted on these sites would be much better spent cold emailing niche prospects.

Don’t waste more than a few minutes on these sites or try not to be dragged in by the siren song of a site that claims to be “the answer.” The time you’re using trying to find your golden ticket would be much better spent cold pitching in a strategic way to find the most lucrative work.

Make your own opportunities. Don’t wait for them to come to you.

~Better every day

So, tell me…

Where have you looked to find freelance writing jobs and how have they turned out?

What My First Day of Self-Employment Looked Like

Whew!

Last Friday I was feeling #allthefeels as I said goodbye to a place that felt like my second home for nearly a decade. A place that saw me through two babies and so much “life.” Some of my best friends. So many memories. A feeling of safety and stability.

 I left my corporate copywriting job of 9 years.

My friends at work surrounded me with the most honorable sendoff with the most kind words. They gave me the most fabulous gifts, but the most fabulous feeling of commendation resonated behind them.

Monday morning was the real deal, and it still feels surreal. I am in a period of adjustment right now because my sensible side is screaming “what the heck are you doing?” while the real raw inner me with fire and purpose and drive is yelling “helllllllllllll yeah!!!!”

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Yep, that’s the feeling. This boy gave me the most heartwarming 
face when I told him I would be home when he got off the bus.

So, what did my first day of working at home look like?

Well, let me show you. I put together a very well thought out schedule weeks in advance, so all I had to do was follow it.

And I did, for the most part.

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The schedule

What my ideal freelance writing schedule looks like:

5:30-6am Wake up, get coffee, wake up Kayne and get him ready for school.

6-8am Start on my work before Rayna gets up. (I am also building some personal habits into this time. I plan to do a separate post on that, because it deserves its own explanation.)

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8:9am Workout, shower, and breakfast with Rayna. (Yes, I plan to shower every day;)

9:12pm Sitter comes while I sit down to my work.

12-1pm Lunch with my Boo, put her down for nap

1-4pm Work

4pm once Kayne gets home, turn off work mode and focus on the family.

 

What the schedule actually looked like yesterday:

6:30am: get up a half-hour after I should have, because I stayed up too late (I don’t intend on this happening again).

6:50am: Kayne misses his bus, so I have to get Rayna up and dressed and drive Kayne to school. So, I really don’t get any considerable work done in my 6-8am stretch.

8-8:45am: Work out with Rayna in the room, because she’s perfectly content watching and playing near me while I work out. Monday is leg day. I have to stop in the middle of the workout to read Rayna a book because she sits on me and hands me a Scooby Doo book. Happy to oblige!

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8:45-9: Shower, grab a smoothie.

9:15-12:15: Get down to work, for real this time. Working on some client research.

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12:15-1:15: Lunch with my daughter, mom, sister, and nephews. Put Rayna down for her nap after a little bit of snuggle time.

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1:30-4:30pm: Work. Spent about 1/2 hour working outside as it was unseasonably warm in WI earlier in the week. Kayne came home at 3:50 but promptly announced he was going to play at the neighbor’s. I did a quick Periscope Livestream about my first day of self-employment while he was away.

4:30-7:30pm: Turn off the computer and turn my attention to my family. We had a tray meal for dinner (sweet potatoes, beans and chicken), worked on rebuilding some of Kayne’s Lego vehicles, wrestled a bit, and then got ready for bed.

8pm: Put the kids to bed, and a live Kat Loterzo training about funnels came on, so I watched that.

9:30pm: Bed for momma.

If you were following along on Snapchat (@StarBasil) or Instagram (@Jess_FlashFit) stories, I did a whole play-by-play of my day.

 

Oh friends, my day was fabulous. Nothing all that noteworthy happened, but everything was noteworthy! I’m now self-employed and it’s real and it’s happening. I got to sit outside whenever I wanted instead of being cooped up and missing these beautiful days we’ve been having. I got to see Rayna whenever I wanted and see my boy when he got off the bus. I got to turn my full attention to them after work, instead of being distracted by my freelance stuff or trying to make my life dreams come true. Because now I get to work on them during my “office hours!”

And check this out, my new work uniform consists of soft leggings and oversized shirts:

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I feel a little bit like Carrie on Sex and the City. They pay me to write about what I love. I can’t help but wonder…why have I waited so long?

And Monday I did $380 worth of work!!!! Seriously, a few hours of work and I’m already nearly doubling my previous income. I don’t know if that will happen every day, but I’m already sitting pretty for the week.

Tuesday, it was a record high over 60 degrees. In February. In Wisconsin. And I am more grateful than words for this opportunity to enjoy things like that.

Guys, I have so much more to share about this freelance life, so if you want to stay updated, make sure you’re on my mailing list. I plan to spill all my secrets and share more about freelance life as it unfolds before your very eyes and as I navigate this freelance territory.

And I just want to encourage you to chase after your own dreams. Because this feeling? It is everything you’ve been looking for and more.

So, tell me…

How do you wish you could spend your days?

Is Freelance A Dirty Word?

what does freelance mean

 

Quick…

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “freelance?”

.

.

.

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Side job

Something people do to make a little extra cash.

Starving artist.

The people companies use when they need to save money and can’t do it themselves.

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Is that about right?

When you tell people you’re a freelance writer, they feel sorry for you. Then, they try to offer you ” real jobs.” Even though they’re coming from a helpful place, you can’t help but feel insulted.

The word “freelance” even has the word “free” right in it! People oftentimes don’t take it as a real, serious business.

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What they don’t know is that you’re making more money than any corporate job has ever paid you.

What they don’t know is that you have to be one of the most Type-A driven, organized humans to create your own success.

What they don’t know is that you have a rare and valuable talent that other business owners find invaluable.

What they don’t know is that this job revolves around more than just writing pleasant sentences. You have to be adept at psychology, persuasion techniques, branding, emotion, audience awareness, research, SEO, social media, story and so many other aspects.

What they don’t know is that you had to hustle your a$$ off to get to where you are.

What they don’t know is that content is absolutely paramount in business right now and good writers are actually? Everyone business’s secret weapon.

******

What to call yourself instead

I don’t want anyone associating any of the things listed at the top of this post to what I’m doing for a living. So, I’ve decided to change the language around what I do and hope you consider doing the same.

I’ll still probably use the term freelance for this site for search purposes and sometimes in conversation for clarity purposes.

But for actual clients?

I am a professional fitness copywriter. I own my own copywriting business.

That language is much stronger and more important, right?

Even in my own head, that seems more legit. It makes me feel more confident about what I do.

More importantly, it more accurately describes what I do.

******

So, my fellow freelancers, here’s your homework…

1. Decide on your one-liner.

The one line you’ll use to describe your business the next time someone asks you what you do for a living…

  • I own my own content marketing business.
  • I am a professional finance writer.

 

2. Improve your mindset

It took awhile for you to admit to yourself that you were a real writer.

Then, it took awhile for you to get out of the “employee” mindset and into a business mindset.

It will take a little bit of time to get used to the idea that you own a copywriting business. But you do! And you will!

So, just start saying it and owning it. Don’t roll your eyes and follow it up with “that’s just a fancy way of saying I’m a freelance writer.”

Ditch your employee mindset and remember that you are a fellow business owner, not your clients’ employee. You work together, not one for the other.

You have a real business. Don’t let anyone–yourself included–deflate your ownership of that. No one would walk into Walmart and say they’ll trade a few hours at the cash register in exchange for a TV.

That’s ludicrous!

Almost as ludicrous as anyone believing your work is available in exchange for a few kisses on the cheek.

Unless it’s your daughter.

You can write for your daughter for a few kisses on the cheek. That’s acceptable.

 

So, tell me…

Is “freelance” a dirty word? Fellow freelancers, how do you describe what you do? Do you get the same patronizing feels when people hear you’re a freelancer?

Freelance Income Report January 2017

 

freelance income report

Well, as you may have seen in my announcement post, I am leaving corporate to pursue my writing business full time!

I just can’t tell you how good this feels to be pursuing my actual passions in a full-on way. To be writing…to be writing about fitness! To be writing from home! To be steps away from my daughter! Gah!

Each day, I just feel more grateful for this decision.

Sure, it’s scary, but not as scary as you would think!

Partly because I completely trust the numbers I’m getting and the strategy I’m playing. Like I said in my announcement post, it’s all just a numbers game. The more pitches you send out, the more contracts you’ll get. Simple.

If you’d like to read a little more about How To Prepare for Freelancing Full-Time, you can also read my interview at Horkey Handbook.

Anyhow, on to what you came here for…

 

So, the grand total for freelancing in January 2017:

 

$4,059

 

You can see how well this is working, right?

Let me just remind you, this number came from doing work in my SPARE time!

I diligently plugged away from 8-9pm, sometimes longer, at night after the kiddos go to bed and on weekends during nap-time.

Imagine what will happen when I can dedicate all of my working hours to this business! (And them go to bed on time).

But then…I noticed something even more amazing when I did the math.

If you combine my freelance income with my corporate income for January (which I’m going to be very vague about to protect sensitive information), let’s just say it’s the closest I’ve ever come to earning FIVE figures in ONE MONTH!

Like, if I would’ve tried just a tiny bit harder, I could’ve done it!

That looks a little like some kind of cheesy spam headline, doesn’t it? Learn how to earn five figures in one month just in your spare time!

One of those headlines that sounds totally unbelievable.

But in this case, it just about happened.

I will say though that this month included bonuses both from one freelance client and from my corporate job. So to be fair, it’s not a “normal” month.

A quick look at expenses:

  • $172 for insurance
  • $10 for Mailchimp

I also purchased a monthly coaching membership for $49. As you can see, I still haven’t had to spend much for this little biz of mine. Neither do you.

 

By the way, You may have noticed that I didn’t report my income for December. It just wasn’t very exciting like this month was. I was awaiting payment from several people at the end of the month and didn’t get it, so my numbers seemed low. But the total came in at a solid $1250. Not too shabby for “spare time” working either, is it?

I’m just so flipping excited!

 

So, tell me…

What are you flipping excited about right now? If you could pick my brain about this process, what would you ask me?

Major MAJOR Announcement

Hey #flashers,

Something life-changing is happening in my life.

I have made the decision to leave my corporate day job to pursue freelance writing full-time!?!?!?!

Let me just preface this by saying, this decision is not a “leap of faith.” It’s been very well calculated and contemplated. I’m already 100% certain about it, not jumping with my eyes closed praying it will work.

You see, I built up my writing business from scratch. I sent out cold pitches like there was no tomorrow. And really, it’s just a numbers game. For however many pitches you send out, you can expect a percentage of them to return lucrative contracts. Knowing that, I can say with 100% confidence that I can absolutely do this from here on out. I made it happen and I can continue making it happen.

In fact, at the moment, the work is coming in faster than I can keep up with it. I’ve been using nights after the kids go to bed and weekends to keep up and those hours aren’t enough anymore. I’ve got referrals and contracts coming up out of the woodwork that are keeping me especially busy and are a surefire sign that I’m onto something here…

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Nights at the computer

The hardest part about all of this though is, my corporate job is amazing. I have so many good friends there. And the company I work for is beyond amazing. We win awards for being an amazing place to work. There’s nothing like it. And yet, I’m leaving it.

If I hated my job or where I worked, it would’ve made this decision a lot easier. But the fact that I love it, and I’m stepping out of an esteemed manager role, makes it much harder. It’s not a celebration from that perspective.

And I sure am going to miss my employees. They are the best of the best!!!

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Silly pranksters!

So, why am I leaving then?

I know that I have heaps of talent inside of me that’s not being used to its full potential. I know I have so much more earning potential being on my own as well, instead of the standard 3% raises from now to eternity. I know I have so much more inside of me to give the world!

I am heeding a higher calling.

My freelance writing niche is health and fitness writing, and now I get to write about what I love. It’s so fulfilling. Dreamy really.

And being location-free? Such a relief! I can write from my back porch in the sun, from the Caribbean, or a semi if I want to (this might actually happen). I can have lunch with my son at school or take my daughter to a movie on a Tuesday morning if I want to. Freelance means freedom. And let’s not forget to mention the gas and stress saved from driving through sheets of ice and layers of slippery snow 30 minutes to and from work every day. Whew!

There are certainly some parts of corporate that I will never miss either, politics and extreme temperatures and parking frustrations and such. Also, even though my workplace is exceptionally stable, as employees, we’re always at the mercy of our employers. We could be unemployed in a heartbeat. But with freelance, I get to take complete charge of my future!

 

#corporatelife

I’ve also discovered and have been nurturing this special entrepreneurial spirit inside of me. Even though my grandparents owned a business, I never really thought I had it in my blood. But the more I get into it, the more I feel like it’s been hiding there in plain sight all along. And now I almost don’t understand why I, why anyone, would not want to be an entrepreneur!

I just saw a post in one of my Facebook groups today that researches predict 50% of the workforce will be self-employed by 2020. That’s really incredible! That’s only three years away! Things in this world are changing! And I’m sure glad I can change right along with it.

I also just know deep down that this decision is the right one. That God has made this all possible for a reason. And I have heaps of support behind me. Absolutely no one gave me the “get real” speech or the side eye. Instead, everyone was asking, why haven’t you left yet? Or telling me they wish they could do the same.

On the personal side, Hubster took a job truck driving, so it makes a lot more sense for me to be home since he can’t be. And when Rayna was born, I wanted more than anything to be home with her. I half-jokingly begged Hubster to get a better-paying job so I could stay home. I tried network marketing. I tried all different things to be able to stay home. Then, I dug into freelance writing in a really strategic way. And now I finally get to be.

And just writing that brings grateful tears to my eyes.

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My heart, right there…

So, what does that mean for this space?

Well, this is my business now! So expect to see a lot more from me. I have several digital programs in the works. I have lots of freelance post ideas either started or written down, so I can share my secrets with you if you have the freelance bug too. And surely there will be more Kid Entrepreneur Series, Change Your Life on Your Lunch Break and Backyard Nature Notes series posts in store for you.

And since it’s so fresh and I’m personally doing it right now, I thought I might add a free course on how to transition from corporate to self-employment as a freelance writer and share how I did it in just 5 months!

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So tell me,

Would a free program about transitioning from employee to self-employed be of interest to you? 

Any other questions you would like to pick my brain about? 


You Have a Freelance Client on the Phone, Now What?!

Introvert Guide to Freelance Client Calls

You reached out to a client or they found you and now you have the freelance client on the phone. What do you do?

 

Breathe.

 

News flash: I’m a total introvert. Honestly, there have been days at work where I feel like I’ve barely spoken at all. I’d rather hide away at a cabin in the woods for a week than go to a party any time. You get the picture…

So, when my first freelance client asked to chat with me on the phone, I was taken aback. What’s there to talk about? What can’t be said in email? Do I really have to talk to them on the phone?

Seriously, I’m that girl. Trying to figure out what they’re going to ask so I have a rehearsed answer. I even found myself googling “freelance client phone scripts” because I seriously wondered what I would say. I’ve always been really great at writing and terrible at speaking. So the phone has always made me hesitant. Ok, terrified.

 

But then I got on the phone with my first client and it…wasn’t bad at all.

 

There were some things about the product that the owner wanted to explain to me, that couldn’t be easily communicated in email, and I also sensed that he was just trying to get a feel for me and my vibe. And I was also able to pick up on his vibe too.

 

Same with my second phone call. And my third…

 

Now, I do have several clients that I’ve never talked to on the phone. Email happened to be sufficient for both parties and that’s all it took. Other freelance clients have things they want to talk out with you, conversations that are so much more efficient over the phone.

So, once you have a client on the phone…

 

My three best tips for handling a freelance client calls:

#1: Be confident about what you do.

You already know way more than you think you know about your writing craft and why you do it. If you’re like me, you might not have confidence in many things, but you can have confidence in that!

Think about how you might explain your craft and the type of results you get. For example, you might summarize your skill like this: “My social media content marketing boosted my clients’ page views by 10,000.” Or “The blog posts I wrote for XYZ boosted their SEO to rank on the first page in Google.”

You probably do more than just write: you persuade, you evoke emotion, you boost SEO, you convert readers into paying clients, you enhance pageviews, you communicate brand images, etc. Write out a list of all the things that you do and don’t be afraid to talk about them. Just having the list in front of you though galvanizes your confidence in your skill.

Also, keep a sheet with your rates printed in front of you during every call. If your client throws you a curveball with a project you’ve never priced before, you can always say “I want to get a better idea about how much work this will take, so let me get back to you on that.”

The last thing you want to do though, is to say you don’t know how much your services cost. That throws up a huge red flag for your client. It says to them that you don’t know what you’re doing, that you must not have much of a business, and that your prices are probably just arbitrary. Not professional.

Know how much you’re worth and have the numbers in front of you. Don’t waver.

Another way to show your confidence is to be excited about what you do. It shows in your voice. Your freelance clients want to work with someone who loves what they do, not someone who’s forcing themselves to put together their content.

The final aspect of confidence I’d like to touch on is your inferiority complex. Get rid of it! Put yourself on the same level as your client, because you are. You are speaking business owner to business owner, not employee to employer.

 

#2: Know a thing or two about the person/company you’re talking to.

Make sure you are familiar with the company or person you’re talking to. That may seem obvious, but I don’t think many people put much time in researching companies they’re working with.

All you need to do is have a look around their website. Look at the types of people they work with and brands they’ve done work for. Look at examples of their work. Skim their blog topics and read their About Us page.

For example, if you’re talking to a web designer, make sure you’ve peeked at their portfolio and some of the sites they’ve actually designed. You don’t have to do an in-depth study, but you need to have some familiarity with them and their products and style.

Your client will be able to tell if you took the time to actually look at their website. I was on a call with an app developer and was able to discuss parts of the app with him because I had actually tried it. Imagine if I hadn’t! I feel like it’s only common decency.

In fact, at my corporate job, when I’m hiring new employees for my department, I’m always putting my feelers out to see if they’ve at least browsed our company’s website. And let me tell you, as a hiring manager myself, it’s easy to tell who has and who hasn’t researched the company beforehand. You can’t hide it. If a prospect hasn’t, it basically tells me that they’re not all that interested. And that’s definitely not the impression you want to make.

 

#3: Just do you.

Ok, I know this sounds awfully trite. But it’s probably the most important tip I could give you!

When your freelance clients request a phone call, they often just want to get a feel for you or explain something better. Knowing that, it takes off a lot of pressure. They just want to know that you’re a warm, competent human on the other end of the line, not a drone with rehearsed lines or a phony. People can smell a rat from a thousand miles away.

And really, it’s so much easier for you to just be you.

Someone who’s incompetent and flaky or someone who is a hard-nosed salesy person will send off all kinds of alerts to their prospect (warning, scam!). If you just act like yourself and be honest, then you’ll be OK. In fact, I would suggest never using a “script” or rehearsed lines for this very reason and that’s why you won’t find any in this post!

 

#4 BONUS: Ask Questions

Questions are great! Ask questions, but don’t ask nit-picky questions. Ask questions that make you sound interested, not like you require hand-holding. I’ve run into several people in the freelance world that have been passed over for freelance jobs because they ask way too many questions.

You see, clients want someone to take a writing project off their backs and not have to worry about it anymore. They don’t want to do it, so they’re hiring you to do it. Don’t make them feel like they have to do a bunch more work to get it off their backs. Don’t be shy about taking the project and running with it.

I guess I have the personality type that’s OK with doing this. Some others are not and they get caught up in the details. If you can let some of the details go and ask only pertinent questions, you’re going to make it much easier on both of you.

But getting back around to the point of this bonus tip, it’s advisable to ask some good questions over the phone. (For an introvert, this means you can let your client do the talking). Get clear on what they’re looking for and what their goals are. Not only will this help you with your assignment, but people love talking about themselves and they love when you show interest.

 

A few more pointers about taking a freelance client call I might add:

  • Make sure you take dated notes while you’re on the phone, especially about project details and any numbers you’ve quoted. You won’t remember later, believe me. Write them down.
  • Feel free to make a little small talk. If your client cancels their first call because of a sick kid, ask how old their children are when you finally get in touch. It allows you to connect on a human level.
  • Don’t get anxious about the call beforehand. Just treat it like you would a regular call with a friend. (I don’t mean be unprofessional and goofy, I just mean laid-back and assured). I will often busy myself with something simple while I’m waiting for a call to come in so I’m not ruminating or allowing the butterflies to build. Another trick I’ve been taught by a therapist is to practice the Superworman pose before the call. Standing really tall with your shoulders back and your chest puffed out in an exaggerated superhero will give you an immediate confidence boost.
  • Make sure you can have complete quiet for your call. Shoo the cat and dog out of the room and make sure the kids are being tended. Because you know the second you get on that call, all hell will break loose. That’s just Murphy’s Law;)
  • If the client feels unsure about hiring you, offer to let them test you out. Then, you take the pressure off of both of you. They should still pay you for your work, but they’re not locked in to any sort of contract until you can impress them with your work.

 

I hope these pointers make you feel a little less intimidated about taking freelance client calls.

These calls get much easier after the first few. So, it’s OK, just do it, get your first call over with, and even if the first few suck (they won’t), you’ll know that it only gets better from there.

 

So, tell me…

Do you get nervous for biz phone calls too? Any fun client phone call stories?