Make Money Freelance Writing and More

Books or eBooks - Which is Better for Writers?

2010-11-03T17:06:00.000-04:00

Do you think traditional books are better than eBooks or vice versa? For me, the answer as to which I prefer is not that simple.

When it comes to reading fiction books, it is traditional style books, hands down, that I prefer. But eBooks have their place too - I tend to prefer them for how-to books, particularly those that offer me tips and advice for making money online or through writing.

I started a debate on this Squidoo lens - why not join in?

Anyway, eBooks have really changed the way we write. Clients want us to write them - and the pay isn't all that bad. They allow us to self publish rather easily and give as an avenue to make some money from our websites while still sharing what we know.

I personally love writing eBooks.

On the debate page, I said that I prefer traditional books and for the most part, I do. But I also think that eBooks have a permanent place in this writer's life!

Organize Your Freelance Writing Business

2009-12-14T03:33:00.002-05:00

I knew I'd miss this blog! That's why I never took it down. I decided to start posting again so look forward to more posts from me in the future.

Anyway, the thing that's been on my mind lately is organizing my freelance writing business. I've done a lot of soul searching and finally came up with a series of spreadsheets, databases, and word documents that help me get everything in order. This definitely helps come tax time!

Earnings and Expenses - I will have one spreadsheet for earnings and expenses.

Contacts - This is where I'll keep track of editors, other writers, etc.

Markets - I like to keep a running list of markets I might submit to.

Queries, submissions, and pitches - One spreadsheet for each category of ones that I send out.

Current work - This will keep track of my assignments, due dates, when they were paid, and how much.

Remember that the important thing is to come up with a system that works for you!

I've had fun with this blog but...

2008-04-16T13:11:00.003-04:00

It's time to move on. I've been thinking of moving everything over for a while to my own domain. The problem with this blog is that I felt that things have been changing. My new project is more in tune with where I am right now.

The topics I cover include:

Writing
Inspiration
Blogging
Internet marketing
Work at home

You can read it here. Oh, and if you're a writer don't forget to sign up for my list. I have an ecourse to help you get started. To sign up, enter your name in the box at the left.

Is graffiti writing art?

2008-04-07T13:25:00.004-04:00

I've been researching keywords lately to try to up my blog traffic. I plugged in "writing" in my keyword tool and the most searched for term was graffiti writing... So that got me thinking - why is it such a popular search term?

I don't look at graffiti as a bad thing. Some of them are extremely well put together and the artist shows some serious talent.

There's something out there called "guerrilla art" that a lot of people enjoy doing. This is where you leave works of art or things such as poems in places for people to find. Graffiti sort of falls into that category, don't you think?

If you want to see some examples of great graffiti art, check out graffiti.org.

Keri Smith on her blog has a playful take on the concept of guerilla art. You can read her blog post about it here.

Squidoo Lenses for Writers - Check Them Out!

2008-04-02T10:49:00.003-04:00

I thought I'd put together a list of my lenses for writers so that you could benefit from them. Lots of good stuff here on how to make money as a writer...

Make Money Writing

Get Freelance Writing Jobs with Rentacoder

Beginner's Guide to Freelance Writing

Find Creative Writing Ideas

Make Money Writing Articles With Associated Content

All About Food Writing

How to Write a Query Letter

Make Money Writing Short Articles

Check back often - I always update them and add new lenses. Look for other subjects as well besides writing. I'm changing things around!

Business Plan Check for April

2008-04-01T10:23:00.003-04:00

The first three months of 2008 are behind us. How are you doing with your goals? It's time to dust off your business plan and go through it. Or, if you don't have a business plan written yet - finish it.

I know that people put off writing a business plan because they think it's complicated. But it doesn't have to be. You don't even need to put it on your computer.

At its most basic you should include:

What your goals are
How you will make your money
How you will market and promote your writing business

And that's it. It's a way to hold yourself accountable. I have a few ventures going on, and each one has its own mini business plan. But you can make it all happen at once. Just do what makes sense for you.

PayPerTweets and the Great Twitter Debate

2008-03-31T10:44:00.004-04:00

I signed up for twitter when I first heard about it. I logged in, didn't get it, and ignored it for a solid month. I gave it another chance and I'm glad I did! Here's why:

A great way to get to know others.

It's a lot of fun.

Promote your work.

Show some link love.

Offers me a way to take a quick break.

But, I just heard that people are offering to pay others for mentioning them in a twitter post. Of course, this shouldn't come as a surprise - there are Pay-Per-Posts and other forms of advertising. At first, I used to do this kind of work. But, I realized that all it really does is ruin the integrity of my blog.

I feel the same way about twitter. It's a fun site. I think the ads will hurt that. What do you think?

If you aren't already following me, visit my twitter URL here. I'll follow you in return. :)

Starting My Writing Career Was Confusing!

2008-03-29T14:56:00.002-04:00

But it doesn't have to be that way for you. When I decided to become a freelance writer, I had no idea what I was doing. I read book after book, subscribed to writing magazines, read writer's guidelines... and basically wasted A LOT of time gathering information.

The whole time I kept wishing I could find everything all in one place - I wanted something that was short and to the point. But I didn't find that. Each article talked about one thing but I'd have to go somewhere else to find the rest of the information.

I made $60 in my first year of doing business. I made a little more my second year. And now, six years later, I make a living.

So, I put together a free course - something that will help you get started writing within the next 7 days. My goal is to eliminate the time wasting period in the beginning where all you do is read about how to start a business...

Just sign up for the newsleteter using the box to the right to get started!

Follow me on Twitter!

2008-03-27T14:12:00.002-04:00

I've been having a lot of fun on twitter. I find that it is a great way to meet new people and see what they're up to online. I've found some great blogs and articles to read and it is a nice way to see what your colleagues do all day, or think.

So, I invite you all to follow me on twitter. Just click this link and hit "follow" if you are signed up for the site. If you aren't signed up, go to twitter.com to sign up and then click the link. :)

When I first signed up, I didn't have a clue what it was for - seemed rather pointless. Now, I know it not only has a point, but can help generate more traffic for your websites and blogs and help you promote yourself in a fun way.

Thinking About the Week - My Goals

2008-03-24T20:47:00.004-04:00

Well, this week is underway and I haven't sat down to think about what I need to get done. As you may remember, I bid for and won A LOT of jobs at Rentacoder. I've been scrambling to get things done. Well, I am finally down to my last two projects - and they'll be done this week. I'm thrilled!

Total, I have four mandatory things that I need to get done. And then I am going to take a break from taking on clients. In fact, I may be phasing that portion of my writing life out. I know, I've said it before. But, I am switching gears to internet marketing which will allow me to use my writing skills for myself and not for my clients.

Favorite New Free Keyword Tool

2008-03-20T13:14:00.002-04:00

When I first started blogging and SEO writing, I didn't worry about keywords. Either my clients would find them for me, or I just didn't pay attention to them.

Then, I purchased Ros Gardner's Super Affiliate Secrets ebook and she talked about the importance of keywords. So, I started using Overture - a free keyword tool.

Fast forward a few months and I worked on doing the Thirty Day Challenge and I learned about wordtracker. So I've been using that.

Until just now, that is. I tried wordtracker - it didn't work - page wouldn't load. Some thing with overture.

So I googled, and I found google's own tool which I like so much better. Check it out at https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

Writing on an Airplane - definitely interesting

2008-03-19T12:53:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I spent the better part of my day on airplanes, flying from Boston to San Diego. I somehow managed to write an entire ebook over the course of the day and I am not sure I ever care to repeat the experience. Unless, of course, I managed to fly first class. Ha ha.

I woke up this morning with sore wrists. Doesn't surprise me. Those seats have you crammed in like a sardine. My elbows were squished, especially on my right side - there was a stranger sitting next to me that I didn't want to annoy.

Still, I managed to write thirteen pages after several hours. Then, progress stalled when the person in front of me decided to take a nap. There was no longer a place for my laptop! So I turned the thing off and tried to listen to my mp3 player. Since I don't have ear buds or noise canceling headphones, I couldn't even hear anything. So tried to write again. Definitely not comfortable.

Finally I got the idea to use my husband's laptop, which is smaller than mine. That worked for a while but his came close to running out of battery. By the time the flight was over, I had twenty pages written. After a stopover and another brief flight, I had five pages left. I finished up when we got to the hotel room.

Would I ever do this again? Hard to say. I was definitely incredibly productive. But I have a work hangover today - headache, muscle fatigue. I'm so glad I got it done, though.

Where is Your Favorite Place to do Your Work?

2008-03-18T09:31:00.003-04:00

I am one of those people where sometimes my concentration is good, other times it is a disaster. I spent the better part of a weekend writing four articles... and I had all day on Saturday to do them. Each article took a long time. On Sunday, I had 9 left to do before I could close out the project.

I did four articles in an hour.

Why is it that sometimes I can concentrate really well, and other times I can't? Seriously, I think I am better off when I have a sense of urgency. I wrote those four articles in the car on the way to Maine to visit my husband's grandmother. Instead of not go, I decided to work in the car. I do that all the time.

Today, I am going to be sitting on an airplane for the better part of my day. So, I've reserved that time to finish up an ebook I've been working on. And I know I'll get it done because I am apparently ineffective unless I'm doing my work in a moving vehicle.

Make Money Writing a Blog

2008-03-15T10:06:00.003-04:00

I thought I'd spend some time today talking about the ways that you can make money with your blog. First, I need to tell you up front. I don't use sites like Blogitive and Payperpost anymore because it affected my page rank. Meaning, my rank went down from 2 to 0 or "unranked". I think they are a good choice if you are prepared to deal with the potential pagerank dip - I don't like it so I don't use them.

Other than that, here is a list of ways you can use to make money with your blog.

Adsense. I got my first Adsense check back in January. It took two years. Now, my next check will come a lot quicker as I work on my blogs more. I like Adsense because the ads are targeted to your site content.
Affiliate programs. Sites like Helium and Associated Content (websites that I use) have affiliate programs. Why not advertise them on your site?
Sell ad space. I haven't done this yet, but plan to open the blog up for advertising as soon as I move it to its own domain. Ad rates can vary depending on the pagerank of your site, the content, etc.
Newsletter. You can start an email newsletter that relates to your blog niche and sell advertising or promote affiliate programs in that.

Remember that your number one goal for a blog is not to make money. This won't bring in traffic. Give people information they want to read, and the money will be a nice side bonus.

For a complete manual on how to make money blogging visit this link.

Keep Your Office Organized for Greater Productivity

2008-03-12T13:04:00.002-04:00

When my office is messy, I don't want to go in there to do my work. Problem is, I am more productive in my office than anywhere else... when it's clean. Being disorganized is costing me money.

So, I have started a program to chip away at the clutter, especially the paper clutter. When I need a break from my work, I take a few minutes to organize. By doing this a few minutes "here and there" each day, I see the office starting to take shape, underneath the mess.

Another problem is - I've lost my first Adsense check. I need to deposit it - but where is it? Probably in this office somewhere. So that is yet another instance where disorganization may be costing me money.

How many of you are in the same situation as me? When your office gets messy, what do you do?

I Just Found a New Blog to Enjoy

2008-03-11T22:38:00.003-04:00

I've been a fan of Angela Booth's for a while. I actually took her copywriting course, which is what helped me kickstart my business. As I was searching for a little inspiration, I found her blog. I thought I'd share it with all of you because I find it informative and directly in synch with where I am at in my career.

Here's the link:

Angela Booth's Copywriter Blog

Build a Freelance Business Using Rentacoder

2008-03-10T15:50:00.003-04:00

I got back into posting bids and getting work on rentacoder. But this time, I'm approaching things differently.

When I first started, my goal was to get work. Now, I'm trying to build some long term relationships with clients.

What's the difference?

Well, to a writer, a long term relationship with a client means that you'll get steady work. And steady work means that your earnings will be more consistent.

My ultimate goal is to use several different channels. The avenue I am working on now is Rentacoder.

So what am I doing?

Bid. A lot. It is important to bid for projects. Get a feel for your success rate. Once you win a bid, use that bid as a template for all of your other bids. Make sure you tell the client why you're qualified. The more personal you get, the more likely you are to get the job.

Be honest. If you don't have time for a project within the time frame they'd like say "I am interested in bidding for this project but cannot complete it in the time frame alloted. I have extensive experience as a content producer. My work has been featured in XXXX. I would charge XXX for this project. If you would like me to place my bid officially and the time issue is not a problem on your end, let me know." Taking this approach helps build a rapport and makes you appear like the professional you are. :)

Respond to all invitations. The potential took the time to include you in their invitations. Even if you can't take on the project (or don't want to) send them a note thanking them but you will not be bidding. You can state why, as long as it's diplomatic. I get a lot of requests to create websites and blogs from scratch, which I don't know how to do. I reply back to them and tell them that I don't have that particular skill and that if they need any writing work done to keep me in mind.

Keep in touch. Once a project is over, keep in touch with the client. Drop them a line, thank them for the business, and let them know that you are available to work if they have more projects for you.

Check out my squidoo lens about rentacoder. I shared one of my most successful bids I won on that site.

5 Tips to Make Money by Writing Blogs

2008-03-06T14:49:00.000-05:00

Did you know that you can make money online writing blogs? Yes it is true and some have even made up to six figures a month. It doesn't necessarily mean you can do it nor does it mean you cannot do it for it simply depends on your attitude. Creating a blog is the easiest thing on earth. Within a matter of few minutes you can create a blog in blogpsot. But the challenge lies in continuously working on it, spending time in getting content through articles, latest updates in your field and posting new information for the readers. Here are a few tips to make money by writing blogs.

1. Identify your niche: I have said this in my previous articles and I am again repeating it here. It is very important for you to identify your niche and have a strong passion for it. Unless you have a strong interest, you will have no momentum in updating your blog. First find out if your niche has a market and if it has, do research on the specifics of the niche. Here are some fields that are doing well in today's market

- Health and fitness
- Beauty and skincare
- Affiliate Marketing
- Insurance and Finance

2. Passion and Interest count more than expertise: Do not worry if you are not an expert in your area of interest. What you need is a strong passion and interest which will eventually make you an expert. Don't expect immediate results, give it some time and you will find money trickling, even though initially it may be in small amounts. You can start out by reading articles in ezinearticles, goarticle and articlecity and use the same articles that you thought were most useful giving full credit to the original author and specifying the relevant details in your blog. Then start writing your own articles and post your blog link at the end of article. This is the first step towards generating quality traffic.

3. Google Adsense: Place google adsense on your blogs. This is another way of generating revenue. Avoid going for Google Adsense banners as research has shown that they are consistently overlooked by the viewers. Make sure that you ad blends well with your blog layout. Match the title color of the ad with the color of your text in blog and use very light colors for the content and url so that the Ad title stands out. Don't clutter your ads at the top of the page and expect the reader to scroll down to read the content. The first one third of the page is very precious for the reader, so it is always better to let the content take preference to ads.

4. Advertise your blog to friends and relevant networks: A good way to advertise your blog may be to simply send an email with your blog link to your friends and colleagues. Another way would be to use your bloglink as a default signature in forum postings. Make sure that your postings are valuable in those respective blogs or else you will just be one more spammer. Write articles on squidoo and hub pages and generate traffic to your blog.

5. Affiliate Marketing: Add affiliate links to the products that you choose to promote. Be careful of the products you promote because you want to make sure that you are selling genuine products and don't fall for the get rich trap. What goes around comes around is the saying. Never resort to unethical affiliate marketing, because it is never good for the business. Always put yourself in the shoes of the buyer and think once, twice, thrice before selling or promoting a product.

Before I sign off, here is my offer. I am willing to personally mentor the first 25 people who need guidance in Affiliate Marketing, free of cost. To take advantage of this offer, simply visit my blog and post your comment on any section that you like.

About the Author

Vijay Dandamudi is an independent reviewer and for a comprehensive review of the Top Marketing programs, click here. For free tips/tutorials on Affiliate Marketing, visit Affiliate Marketingpedia.

GRAB 5 FREE KILLER ebooks that contains great tips to make money money online.

Check out my squidoo lenses for writers

2008-03-05T13:03:00.003-05:00

I have several squidoo lenses that are designed to help writers succeed. I take about everything I can think of to help you make a living as a writer.

I love the way the lenses look after I put them together. You can start a lens on anything, and even make a little extra money doing it. Have you tried Squidoo yet?

Finding Time to Exercise While Self Employed

2008-03-04T16:47:00.003-05:00

It is important to find the time to exercise when you work for yourself. In fact, it is important to find the time to exercise, period. I find that when things get busy and I have a deadline or a lot of work to do, exercise is the first thing I ignore.

I've learned the hard way that the times I think I don't have time to exercise, that's exactly when I need to. Here are some things I do that help me live a more active life, despite the fact that I sit at my computer most of the day.

Get up and walk. I like to get up and walk and stretch my legs, even if I just walk down to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

Exercise throughout the day. Sometimes, I just don't have a solid block of time to devote to strength training. Instead, I think about the exercises I want to do and fit them in throughout the day. Somehow, it seems easier to find ten sessions of two minutes each than it is to reserve a 20 minute block of time.

Run. I like to run to clear my mind. It also helps me come up with new ideas. Thirty minutes is all I need to get the blood flowing and the ideas going. Don't like to run? Try walking.

When I don't do this, I find that my weight starts to climb. Need help losing weight? I read the Weight Loss Black Book. The advice was no-nonsense and easy to follow. It also didn't include any fad diets, which I appreciated. I'm always skeptical of fads.

Where to Look for Writing Jobs

2008-03-03T19:06:00.002-05:00

There are some places I check all the time to look for freelance writing jobs. And, my list is always expanding. So, I'll post my favorite places for the moment so that you can go out there and get some work!

I just went through a bidding spree and have my hands full until the middle of the month. If you want to make a living as a writer, it is important to keep the work flow steady.

When applying for jobs, remember to be professional and to always try to include something personal.

Went on a Bidding Spree - Now I'm Swamped!

2008-03-02T18:50:00.006-05:00

I went on a bidding spree with Rentacoder.com and now I am swamped! This is a good thing, but I need to make sure that I stay organized so I can be on top of my projects. It's been a while since I've been this busy.

So, how did I do it? Well, if you want to see an example of a successful bid, visit a squidoo lens I put together about Rentacoder. I put an example of one of my successful bids there. This time around, just bid for all of the projects that looked interesting.

This is the first time this has happened but of the eight projects that I bid for, I won six of them, lost one of them, and another is waiting to be decided on.

In general, if you can find some way to personalize your bids, that is a good idea. For example, if the project the client is asking for involves travel articles to Spain, and you used to live in Spain, make sure you tell the buyer that you have first-hand knowledge and experience.

Do you want to learn how to do the kind of writing you'll need for sites like Rentacoder? Check out how in Get Paid to Write on the Internet.

How to Make a Writing and Work Schedule

2008-03-01T10:00:00.004-05:00

I thought I'd make a post today on how to make a writing schedule and a work schedule. For the next two weeks, my life will be hectic with deadlines, starting today. I have a project of eight articles due. Tomorrow, I have another project of eight articles due. If I can stay on schedule, my week will not be too bad. If I let myself procrastinate or I lack focus, I'll have some trouble come deadline-time.

How do I stay focused and plan a work schedule that is doable? Here's my method:

Daily tasks. My first step is to make a list of daily tasks I want to accomplish. My list includes blogging, checking email, promoting my work, finding new jobs, and working on existing projects.
List of projects. The next thing I do is get out my calendar and list when all of my projects are due. I get most of my clients from rentacoder.com, exquisitewriting.com, and by applying for jobs at freelancewritinggigs.com.
Set the timer. Setting my timer helps me move efficiently through my daily tasks and my list of projects. I set the timer for fifteen minutes and get as much done as I can in those fifteen minutes. I'll set a goal to set the timer a certain number of instances throughout the day. This helps me use my time more efficiently.
Watch the clock. I really don't like to work at night. I like to spend that time with my husband. So it is important for me to watch the clock. That's why the timer is so important.
Minimize extras. I like to go food shopping several times a week. If I have a deadline, it is important for me to only go once and to minimize those extras. I also do any household chores in the morning and make sure I get dressed completely before I start my day. Check out the flylady (flylady.com) if you need help in this area.

Want some extra tips? The Expert's Guide to Managing Your Time is filled with more great advice.

My Schedule Has Finally Calmed Down

2008-03-01T09:39:00.003-05:00

These past two weeks have been hectic. I've still been posting, but it's been a while since I've written a good article. So, stay tuned. I had the flu for a week, and then this week I've been back and forth to the airport and tending to a family situation. Long story, but everyone is fine.

I went on a project acquisitions spree during my hectic life. I guess it was my way of trying to make up for lost time. During this next week I need to be really organized and focused in order to get everything done.

When Posting Bids - Read the Project Spec!

2008-02-26T16:07:00.001-05:00

I just placed a bid for a job. The buyer accepted. Looking back on it, I realized I underbid, completely by accident. Of course, it was my mistake. I'll just do the work. But, I learned a valuable lesson - when bidding for jobs, read the specs thoroughly before placing a bid.

I usually do this, but I've had the kind of day where I lost my car in the parking lot of the supermarket - I had to weave up and down the aisles with my cart. So, given my history I should have known I was prone to making a goof like this!