What To Do When Your Writing Income Is Sluggish
Sometimes in your freelance writing career there will be times when your writing income won’t resemble your true worth. It could be a dry-spell or it happens when you just start out. Regardless of when you experience these types of setbacks, know that we all experience this at some stages in business life. Your writing income is usually mirrored by your promotional activities which means if you are not making a conscious effort to find new clients, they will probably go to your competition instead.
While I certainly was very “lucky” with my own business not everybody is this fortunate. But then, my “luck” wasn’t really luck at all. It was the result of many labor intensive hours spent online; hours in which I focused on building my brand.
How my writing income was stable for over 14 months
The reason I have been solidly booked for over 14 months is because of the consistent action I took and still take each and every day. Initially I spent about 3 hours a day branding my name on various industry blogs. I did this mainly through blog commenting. I realize that most people don’t have the time to do this because it is highly likely that you are working a full-time job trying to build your freelance writing business on the side.
So how can you build your writing income with limited time?
The quickest way to a new client are always the various freelance writing job bidding sites you find online. Finding the best freelance writing jobs takes time and sometimes a bit of luck by being in the right place at the right time.
However, another way that will put money into your pockets is often forgotten by freelance writers; and that is to prospect corporate businesses in your industry. You don’t have to pester them with emails upon emails. Simply state that you saw their website and wondered whether they had ever considered writing a blog to attract more clients for their business.
You’d be happy to get it all setup for them and are available for the blog management for an affordable fee. Keep it short and attractive. Aim to send at least ten of these emails each day until you find your first client. Promote yourself without “selling”. Think of what they’d be looking for and why they would hire you in the first place. Make your offer irresistible!
Even if you are new in the industry, your writing income can take a measurable jump upwards if you put in some elbow grease.
Monika
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.
Craig | Apr 13, 2009 | Reply
I am in much the same boat. I am trying to start a home-based writing business. My specialty for the moment is resumes. I have been doing them for free for friends and neighbors, but I have started to charge.
Holding down a full-time staff position as a sole technical writer AND trying to launch a sole proprietorship is sheer murder. And exhausting.
I have managed to NOT get laid off in our company’s first wave of economy-inspired layoffs. I must be doing something right. I had to take a 10% pay cut, but I count that as a win. It beats a 100% pay cut by a country mile.
If someone needs help with their resume, let me know in these comments and we’ll trade email addresses.
Monika | Apr 13, 2009 | Reply
@ Craig: Love your attitude, with it you will go a long way. Many would have complained about the cut in pay but by being positive minded, other opportunities will come your way. Just keep promoting your brand. Do you have a blog by chance?
Craig | Apr 13, 2009 | Reply
@Monika: Thank you for the compliment. I’d sort of like to complain, but I don’t think I have any right to do so, really. Friends and neighbors have lost their jobs, and I haven’t.
That’s one reason I’m doing resumes. I seem to have a knack for them, plus I work as a technical writer. That helps give me an edge in working with information.
I have a creative writing blog at http://www.AnotherDayintheDarkParade.net, but I have admittedly been neglecting that. I have been devoting my energy to starting a side business, a home-based writing business. Something for the weekends. I am starting with, you guessed it, resumes. I was doing them for free, but am now charging a little for them.
I also recently bought a domain name. My website at http://www.Cardimon-Communications.com exists, but I haven’t had a chance to do anything with it.
Tumblemoose | Apr 14, 2009 | Reply
Monika,
Great advice and timely, too!
My neighbor has a business and he just approached me about re-writing his static web site. I’m going to propose exactly what you’ve suggested here!
Cheers!
George
Writer Dad | Apr 14, 2009 | Reply
That’s a great idea, Monika! I’m not down with the bidding sites at all. I feel like I’ve murdered my minutes there. Contacting a business that could use a blog built and run on the side though, well that’s a handful of aces. Thanks for the suggestion.
Monika | Apr 14, 2009 | Reply
@ Craig: Well done, it seems you are pro-active to realize your dreams which is what matters most above everything else. Just keep your focus on build on your existing “baby steps” when you are ready. I’m glad you got to charge for your resumes now. Good on you for being adamant.
By choosing not to complain and keeping your focus on the advantages you have opposed to some of your neighbors (e.g. loss of job and income) you are doing the right thing. negative thoughts only foster negative actions or even worse procrastination.
Monika | Apr 14, 2009 | Reply
@ George: Hearing this makes me very happy indeed! Good on you and keep up the great work my friend.
Monika | Apr 14, 2009 | Reply
@ WD: Hey Sean, glad to have given you some fodder for the ol’ brain.
Believe me, there is gold to be made within that suggestion. I wish you much success with it and hope it will work out. Remember to focus on the customers benefits in the approach and not yours.
Venkat | Apr 14, 2009 | Reply
Monika,
You might have forgotten me, but I am the same person from India who asked your opinion on his writing. No I have not taken any writing assignment yet because I am not comfortable with the money offered. Transcription is easier than writing for $2 per hour; just listening to what the doctor is saying and typing it. I came to know that people do make a lot of money writing for constant content but they are experts.
Monika | Apr 14, 2009 | Reply
@ Venkat: Hmm to be honest I do not remember so please forgive me for my forgetfulness. I understand your hesitations in trying these platforms. While I agree with you in general, I still think these platforms are a godsend for people wanting to get into freelance writing. Also, you don’t have to be limited to earning crap money either because there are people ready to pay good money there too (personal experience).
If there is an alternative, always choose it. It is meant as a boost for income or a starting point which I always emphasized before.
Ecommerce Help - Tyrone Shum | May 4, 2009 | Reply
Sometimes, writer’s block can suddenly take a hold of you and your mind that whenever you tRy to jot down an idea, you completely forget it and blame yourself for being an idiot. Based on my experience, this is a usual case scenario with bloggers. Or sometimes, you are full of ideas and you just can’t find the time to type or jot it down, and the moment you are free, nothing is on your mind. Or usually, when at first bloggers don’t succeed at getting their targeted revenue, they ditch it, fast!
Basing from these scenarios, I dare say that one must’nt give up easily but instead keep going with your plan although you have to double your effort. Apart from this idea of mine, I liked your post especially the part wherein you said:
“However, another way that will put money into your pockets is often forgotten by freelance writers; and that is to prospect corporate businesses in your industry. You don’t have to pester them with emails upon emails. Simply state that you saw their website and wondered whether they had ever considered writing a blog to attract more clients for their business.”
Melissa Donovan | Jun 3, 2009 | Reply
Sometimes things slow down for us freelancers (feast or famine) but the good news is that there is always some marketing task that we can be working on, like visiting job boards. So there’s really no excuse not to be working, right?
Monika | Jun 3, 2009 | Reply
@ Melissa: Right! I agree. It’s a matter of stopping the self harming thoughts and moving on with life. I see it as a consistent wave – sometimes you surf on the top of it, and at other times you get pulled under by a rip. When you come up, spitting water and gasping for air you see the sun is still shining its golden rays onto you – that’s when you KNOW everything will be alright.