Category: writing

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Keep your finger on the pulse of your industry: so you don’t sound outdated or uninformed.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!

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 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 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!

January 14, 2019

I don’t believe in writer’s block

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

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

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

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

It isn’t for me.

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

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

I’m not sure when exactly I decided this.

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

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

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

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

Yes, you can just decide that.

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to Decide Against Writer’s Block

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Peace out, writer’s block!

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

January 8, 2019

If writing is your true purpose…

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

I know it’s a major part of my work.

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

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

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

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

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

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

I wasn’t living my true purpose.

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

Well, first, you’re good at it.

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

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

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

You feel like you’re masquerading.

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

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

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

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

You can feel it inside of you.

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

Memories of writing.

Dreams of writing.

Attraction to writing.

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

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

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

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

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

You keep coming back to it.

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

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

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

You could never give that part of you up.

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

Are you feeling me on this one?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let me ask you this,

Do you write every day?

Is writing even make up a portion of your profession?

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

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

Because it takes effort, you know.

This living your purpose thing.

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

You have to go out there and get it.

You have to build your life up around it.

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

How to start living your purpose

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

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

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

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

Start a blog.

Take up journaling.

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

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

But just freaking do it! m’kay?

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

You have to make it happen.

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

Then get behind your dreams

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

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

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

Much love,

~Jess

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

January 7, 2019

Leave Your Alter Ego at the Door

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

No family friends.

No neighbors.

No sometimes-boyfriends.

Just us.

And a whole lot of weirdness.

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

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

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

The dysfunctional communication.

The overwhelm thick in the air.

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

Anyhow,

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

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

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

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

Hiding the crazy behind good graphic design.

Polished, copywritten BS.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So, I want you to know…

As a writer

As an online business owner

As a person

It’s okay to be who you really are.

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

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

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

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

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

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

It’s endearing.

It’s refreshing.

It’s validating.

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

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

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

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

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

To show those around you who you really are.

To stop feeling like a fraud.

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

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

The people who appreciate you will find you.

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

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

Be authentic.

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

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

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

December 14, 2018

How to Freelance from Alignment

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

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

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

Less surface-level sharing, more depth.

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

This is actually a feel-good post.

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

So, what am I talking about, alignment?

Well, it means being true to your values.

Being true to who you really are.

Being true to your worth as a person.

Being true to your life’s purpose.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The organization you work with is in it to help people

The project makes you excited to show it off

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

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

The people who hire you value your contribution

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

Take action today!

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

How are you conducting business in alignment right now?

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

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

What does working in full alignment look like to you?

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

Start working with companies whose missions makes you smile.

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

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

Pursue projects with passion.

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

I want to hear from you,

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

September 11, 2018

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So, without further ado…

The Four Best Ways to Attract Freelance Clients

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

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

Create a well-ranked website

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Set up a referral system

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Guest post on high-profile websites

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

The advantages of guest posting are two-fold:

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

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

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

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

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

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

See how that works?

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

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

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

Optimize your profile on LinkedIn and other social media platforms

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to Get Published on High-Profile Publications

SEO for Your Freelance Writer Website

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