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.
About the author:
Amber McNaught is the owner of http://www.WritingWorld.org,
where a one-page personal profile costs only $25 per year.
Amber also runs Hot Igloo Productions Ltd, which offers
affordable website design: visit http://www.hotigloo.co.uk
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