The Bright Side Of Writing
In yesterday’s post The Dark Side of Writing I was touching on the often neglected or overlooked aspects of running a freelance writing business. While in an ideal world everything is rosy, there will be challenges in your business. The sooner you recognize them, the better you will be prepared to deal with them – as long as you stay true to yourself.
As promised, I’m writing this article to talk about my solutions to the challenges my own writing business has brought me in recent times. Quite frankly, I’m getting to the stage where I’m overworked and if I don’t act now, I will end up having a melt down eventually.
Eliminating hold backs
For those of you who weren’t here yesterday, here is a quick recap of the dark sides of writing:
- Lack of time off
- No room for growth
- Long hours
- Lack of residual income
- Networking challenges/branding
Flipping the dark side into something more organized and long term is the aim of this experience.
I suspect many of you struggle with similar aspects of your business. If you do, then I suggest you take a close look at what makes you money and what costs you money in your business. This is where you start.
For me, I’ve struggled mainly with two major parts of my business in the last couple of months.
Establishing structure
The first one is the sheer pressure of running an ever growing freelance writing business without having anybody to fall back on if something goes wrong. If you are realistic, much could go wrong and if it does, it will be too late to organize things and execute damage control. Plus, an increasing workload means a decreasing amount of time for yourself.
You need to be clear on your future and how you intend to live it. If you can develop a long term vision to look at your business from another perspective and with much bigger eyes than you currently do, you will possibly manage these transitions very smoothly.
The second challenge I had was the lack of time to build my niche sites. I talked about this in the past and while I did manage to move ahead after I last mentioned it, the going was too slow for my liking.
You might think how can I possibly free up time when I’m fully booked and hardly have time for myself. I thought the same, until I looked at the bigger picture. And I show you how.
Lifestyle design
My target is to earn a minimum of $2,000/month extra by the end of this year with my niche sites. But for that to happen I need to build them hard and fast. Because building a site is only the start. So I’ve decided to take the bull by the horn once and for all and free up some of my time to do just that.
How I do this will be explained below under solutions to challenges.
I’ve always stated that writing doesn’t provide us with residual income. Even though I absolutely love what I do, I want to have that peace of mind. I want to know that regardless whether I wrote for a client today or not I’m getting paid. I also want to know that I can quite comfortably take one month off and not worry about getting paid during that time.
This is where the residual income comes into play. My business needs to have multiple aspects of income. I’ve always been a believer that your eggs need to be carefully spread out, not just placed in the one basket. Running a freelance writing business is doing exactly that. If the basket breaks, so will my business.
Solutions to challenges
In thinking how I can possible eliminate all my challenges while still growing my business I’ve decided to do the following.
Structured day:
Instead of checking email first thing in the morning and reading my feeds I spend every morning until 1PM building my niche sites. Just to give you an idea. I have about 70 domains I need to work on. My ultimate target is to own at least 100 but I have a feeling this figure is probably way low.
After eating lunch I am checking my email and answer anything that takes less than 10 minutes in all. Everything else will have to wait.
Then it’s on to writing for my various clients. On average I write for 5-6 clients every day. This is besides writing for my own blog, commenting, reading RSS feeds and marketing.
Since the day has only so many hours, latter often falls behind. Since reading RSS feeds and commenting doesn’t get me paid and fed, it is those things that have to suffer. I don’t like it, because I love to keep track with what is happening in the blogosphere.
So, while all of you are fabulous people and some are great friends, none of you pay my bills. If I fail to visit your blog at times and therefore not comment on your posts, this is my official apology that it isn’t because I don’t care, but because I’m working at building my future.
I hope you respect this decision.
Evenings are usually totally dedicated to work since my birds are asleep, the house is quiet and I can work in peace. So I make the most of it and get a lot of my writing done during those hours. Is it ideal? To be honest, no. I would rather work early mornings and finish by evening, but right now, this clearly isn’t possible.
Since my birds are free birds, meaning they are on my shoulder, on my head or wherever they feel like perching themselves, I get too distracted during the day to keep working undisturbed. Therefore I flipped my days around to give them and hubby more quality time during the day, while still getting my niches built and concentrate on the writing at night.
It’s tiring, but it works and in the last few days I’ve gotten already 6 niche sites done, they are all setup and ready for promotion, which brings us to…
Outsourcing
Yes, I’ve decided to hire a VA. My niche writer is currently on hold until I have caught up with my backlog of articles written for my niche sites.
He will get more work as soon as I’ve exhausted all the articles he has written over the past couple of months.
But, once the niches are ready I still need to promote them and for that I’m hiring a virtual assistant. They can do the boring but essential tasks of link building and promotion.
To give you an idea where to start looking for a VA, here are some resources:
My next step is to get some quotes and then it’s all systems go. Doing this will allow me to effectively double my time. It is also an instant solution to all my existing challenges right now.
My VA will free up my time to concentrate on what I do best, allow me freedom to keep building my niches while knowing they are being promoted and give me room to breathe for future business growth.
As the business grows, so will the hours I outsource. As you can see, this is a win-win situation for all involved.
I don’t intend to outsource any writing at this stage, but if my business happens to grow much more I will, starting with the lower paying clients first, much like Peter Hilton suggested in his comment on my last post.
I’ve already come to the same conclusion and feel it is the right move in the right direction to allow for maximum growth of my business.
You can do similar things in your business, even if you are not a freelance writer. The key to finding workable solutions is to look at the situation with the end in sight.
Then work backwards.
The essential of automation
I want to leave you with some food for thought. Unless you find ways in which to automate your business without much of your input you will always be your own slave. Don’t get me wrong, running my own business is a dream come true, but having said that I rather spend some time on the beach or travel the corners of this world than working 24/7.
The idea is to have a business that pays you, even if you don’t work at all.
I hope this has helped some of you to see the bigger picture of your business. I would love to hear whether you think you could apply some of these strategies for your own business, or whether you prefer to do it differently.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you are having a fabulous day.
Monika
Keep posted of how this is going to pan out over the next couple of weeks as I will post status updates every once in a while. Do to so, you can subscribe to your update reports right here.
About the Author: I'm a passionate freelance writer and problogger. To further build my business I'm also in the process of building my own niche empire which pays me residual income.
Rita | Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
Monika,
You have provided a tremendous service to all freelance writers with your astute comments and observations. (Not that I ghost write, of course!)
Just the level of basic organization is daunting! That you have parsed this information into such easily readable areas is remarkable.
Last night, I was up until 3:47 responding to my own blog comments. Europe had aleady posted TODAY’S post, eaten breakfast, and was awaiting its response. The West Coast had finally tucked-in. I was responding to comments!
This is FAR from a complaint. I believe, however, that people should be aware of the lack of discipline that occasionally overtakes a writer, out of sheer necessity.
Thank you for your posts. I hope that you can meet your challenges, and am glad that you got some assistance.
Best,
Rita
P.S. I found a $10.00 in an old handbag that dropped off a shelf in my closet yesterday. I’ll be delighted to send it, if you think it will help.
Writer Dad | Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
Monika,
I can’t wait for my structure to my writing. Right now, I’m still juggling a more than full time job. Ever since I started the blog, the only writing I have time to do is my posts and my comments. But every day, I imagine the perfect schedule in my head and it makes me smile. I know I’ll get there someday soon. Thanks.
Vered | Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
Your discipline is inspiring.
Re: “So, while all of you are fabulous people and some are great friends, none of you pay my bills. If I fail to visit your blog at times and therefore not comment on your posts, this is my official apology that it isn’t because I don’t care, but because I’m working at building my future.” – thanks for the heads up.
Tom Volkar / Delightful Work | Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
Monika I came back today to see what your residual income solution is. Have you already posted more of a summary on earning money through niche sites? I’m happy to hear that someone I trust is advocating building them without all the typical hype. Do you really need that many to earn $2,000 monthly? Whew lots of setup work there for sure.
Cath Lawson | Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
Hi Monika – good for you. I’m glad you’re making progress. And I would much rather you were making some cash than commenting on my blog.
You have a whole heap of websites. When you said you had some niche sites, I thought no more than five.
I once had too many – but not that many. At least you can see what works and cut out that bad performers as you go, leaving you to grow the better ones.
Kelly | Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
Hiring VA is a good start for developing your writing business. I believe you can grow up this business from “a one man show” to a big writing agency which you just need to manage. By that time, the essential of automation will have been come true. Money comes even when you don’t work. Anyway, can I apply for the VA vacancy? …Just kidding. I’m not good at writing
Medic / Gout Treatments | Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
Monika,
Good post. I am not in position to start outsourcing, but a great source for the future. One of my big drawbacks is not wanting to miss time with the kids. They are only young once, and I’m not going to miss that for anything.
Amy Derby | Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
Another excellent post, Monika. Good luck with your $2000 goal. I’m sure you can do that, and beyond.
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome | Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
I’m amazed at the number of niche sites you have going! What exactly are they? Are you selling informaiton products? Using a AdSense or other advertising revenue?
And how do you cope with so many? My mind barely wraps itself around one yet alone 100.
Kelly@SHE-POWER | Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
Wow, you really are working your buns off, aren’t you? I’m impressed at your drive and that you’ve not only set such a huge goal, but are systematically taking steps to make it happen. This must be very important to you, and it’s always great when we can really KNOW what we want and then focus all our energies on getting it.
Hope it all happens sooner rather than later.
Kelly
Monika | Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
@ Rita: Thank you for your kind words. I’m trying to be my best every single day. Do I succeed? No, far from it. But knowing my dreams and aspirations I can’t help but go for them anyway.
As for your ten dollars. Thanks, but no thanks. Keep them for yourself. It’s not that I’m desperate, just keen to earn residual income.
Monika | Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
@ WD: You will! I see in you a very able and determined person. You have all it takes right within you – the desire and motivation. It will lead you right where you want to be.
Juggling a full time job with blogging and a family is hard. I’m lucky in the sense of not having kids. Although my birds do need as much attention and love as kids do. At least I don’t have to drive them to school though.
But challenges are there to be solved, aren’t they?
Monika | Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
@ Vered: Thank you. Believe me, I have wasted many years with procrastination. It led me nowhere. When I started this business last year around June, I swore to myself that this time round I will make things happen. No more excuses.
So far, so good.
Luckily for me I have learned to overcome my own setbacks eventually. The rest is just a matter of time.
Monika | Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
@ Tom: Hi Tom, thank you for the questions. No, I haven’t posted a summary yet. Simply for the fact that my residual income right now is close to nothing. And no, you don’t need to have that many sites to match a targeted income of $2,000/month. In fact, you can probably do that with a couple – if they are researched correctly.
The reason I have so many domains is because I want to have a minimum of 100 niche sites. Just a personal desire I guess. Naturally, I want to earn a lot more than the figure indicated with those niches.
For two reasons: one, I can help my husband to retire once and for all and two I can help others and travel the world. Just what I really want to do.
The idea of surprising someone at home who struggles financially and pay for their rent for the rest of the year makes my skin tingle. There is no better present than giving one, especially if it is unexpected and that is what I imagine to do.
But of course, I also want to enjoy life and help myself first.
I might start to do some project updates for people like you once a month or perhaps once every fortnight. If that helps you. Let me know please whether you are interested to hear more.
Monika | Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
@ Cath: I’d rather do both, but sometimes it just isn’t possible and I do feel bad for not doing my rounds all the time. I feel that it is only fair to reciprocate your kindness and those of everybody else.
I do promise to do my best. Well, I have a whole heap of domains right now, not quite sites yet, that is what I’m going to work on though over the next months. Today, I setup 10 new sites, ready for content tomorrow, after doing some optimization.
Monika | Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
@ Kelly: You are 100% correct in your assumptions. I would love to have my won writing agency one day. Sounds kind of cool. But I’m a long way from that right now. To automate such, I’d need a full time editor, writing staff, a cool website to attract clients and writers (yes, this one could work with a bit of change) and at least 300% more work on a regular basis.
Right now, I’m fully booked for a one woman show and ready to take on a new VA for the less exciting tasks of my business, but not writing just yet. But who knows, that might happen very soon.
Monika | Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
@ Medic: You shouldn’t miss to see your kids grow up either! Like you said, they are only young once. Regardless of how busy I am myself, I always make some time for my husband and my birds, regardless how little. I can work late into the night (which I usually do) in exchange for quality time in the afternoon and a bit here and there in the mornings.
Regardless of how determined we are, we have to get our priorities right too, don’t we?
Monika | Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
@ Amy: Thank you. I think I can. Actually, I know that I will.
To infinity and beyond.
Monika | Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
@ Alex: LOL, call me mad. They are a combination. At the moment they are Adsense and BANS sites. But I will add to this mix some product sites too in the future. I have some exciting times ahead of me and it will be hectic.
I intend to build an Internet marketing empire that allows me to enjoy my life as a new rich. The 4 Hour Work Week talks about this mentality spot on.
I don’t want to spend the next 30 years working my ass off, only to fall over dead two weeks after retirement. I never wanted that. I guess I’m a bit of a rebel. For me, there is way more to life than working until retirement.
Work is a mere means to live life that’s all. Right now. I’m working to put all the cogwheels into place and I work real hard. Later, I will do the living bit, until I die.
Monika | Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
@ Kelly: Yes it is important to me. Very much so. I love travel too much to be working until I die. But unfortunately this requires cash. I am confident it will happen. The stars are all aligning right now so to speak.
I wasn’t always like this. I am in fact a couch potato, believe it or not. But, I realized that success doesn’t come knocking on my door, unless I went out and grabbed it. So that is what I’m doing now.
Funny enough, I’m having a ball, despite the odd cranky mornings when I’m dead tired after yet another late night. Knowing this won’t be always like this is what keeps me going. Thank you for your support.
Lisa | Aug 28, 2008 | Reply
I’m so glad I came across this post. It’s like a confirmation of what I need to be focusing on. I just recently started freelance writing, but I have never felt a total peace about doing it full force.
The reason why is because I keep thinking – if I’m spending this time creating content for them, why not spend this time creating content for myself?
I really want to quit my full time job BAD and work for myself. But, like you have said there are limitations to a freelance writing business. Limitations that I know I do not want.
I’m mad because I’ve wasted so much time. I was totally sold out on niche sites and even started one off of Court’s Keyword Sniper article. And that was like 9 or so months ago too. UGH!
You have some great ideas on how to increase productivity. I wish I could afford to hire help so I could get out of my job quicker. I’ll have to find a way so I can join the new rich like you!
Thanks for this post and good luck!!!
Lisa
Peter | Sep 7, 2008 | Reply
This comment is so delayed–but the post definitely deserves it! I’ve heard a lot of these ideas batted around before, but it’s really neat to see them all lined up for the field of writing. That’s where my interest lies, so having business made writerly fits perfectly with some of the ideas I need.
I liked what you were saying about your niche sites. My own blog–and a couple of projects in the works–are all falling sadly behind. In fact, here you’ve gone and given me this great shoutout in your post and the last time I posted on my own blog was something like two or three weeks ago . . . well, things are looking up and I can finally free up time to work on it again!
Keep writing, you’ve got great ideas.
Monika | Sep 8, 2008 | Reply
@ Peter: Hurray for being late. I just joined the crowd too.
If you read my latest post, you will know why.
Residual income is even more important now and I’m glad you see this the same way.
In regards to neglecting your blogs, I’m sure you agree that as long as we move forward it doesn’t matter how long we neglect them. Some even become obsolete after a time which is perfectly fine too.
How is your new site moving along?