Something that's always surprised me
about the freelance writing business is
just how many writers there are out there
who don't seem to realize that they're
running a business.
Succeeding in the Business of Freelance
Writing
Of the freelance writers who send quotes
to prospective employers through my website,
http://www.WritingWorld.org,
it never fails to surprise me just how
many make no effort whatsoever to try
and "sell" themselves. Some simply post
a quote and nothing else: no information
about themselves, no indication about
their skills and experience, nothing.
Others post a quote with a short message
saying, "I don't know what a 'search engine
optimized article' is, but please pick
me anyway", or "I have no experience in
this, but hopefully I'll be able to do
it."
Needless to say, the writers who don't
bother to sell themselves never get the
gigs. So why don't they make the effort?
Because they fail to realize that they're
running a business.
Some - not all, but some - of the freelance
writers we encounter seem to have somehow
picked up the idea that all they have
to do to succeed is to be good at writing.
Unfortunately, it's not quite as simple
as that: to really succeed as a freelance
writer, you have to be good at selling
yourself. And you have to be aware that
you're running a business.
Marketing Your Freelance Writing Business
Online
If you really want to run a successful
freelance writing business, think about
getting a website. Most businesses these
days have websites: they're the ideal
way for customers to find you, read more
about your services and get in touch.
This is another area, however, where
a lot of freelance writers fail. Because
not just any old website will do. Sure,
there are some very professional looking
websites out there, run by freelance writers
- but there are just as many sites which
seem designed to frighten away clients
rather than attract them. Amateurish design,
tacky animations, clashing colors and
even, God-forbid, music, are all the sign
of the amateur freelance site.
Getting Your Freelance Writing Website
Up and Running
While it's tempting to try and put together
a website yourself, unless you have a
really sound grasp of website design,
this tactic can really backfire. An amateurish
website tells your visitors that you're
an amateur business, and that you don't
have enough faith in the viability of
your business to invest in a professional
website. All of these things are red flags
to clients, who'll go elsewhere in a heartbeat.
Get yourself a professionally designed
website - and if your budget can't stretch
to an entire website, consider signing
up for a personal profile at WritingWorld.org,
where for only $25 per year you get your
own page, complete with downloadable resume,
writing samples and client testimonials.
Your WritingWorld.org
profile also gives you your own WritingWorld
URL, which you can give to prospective
clients, or even market in the same way
you would promote your own website, using
pay per click ads or other methods.
This article was posted on September
10, 2005
