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As a new freelance writer, you need writing samples to find work. If you have no writing experience, though, you don’t have the writing samples to get your first writing experience. It can seem like a vicious circle. It’s frustrating. And it’s a big problem for new writers.

In this post, I’ll describe three surprising steps to bolster your writing portfolio and get those writing samples you need. This post is part of my series on  What Is the Worst Problem Freelance Writers Face?

If you’re starting out as a freelance writer, here are the three steps that can help.

Step 1. Revisit Blogging

Much of the current advice is that writers don’t need blogs. And while it’s true that you can become a writer without a blog, having a blog can give your writing career a boost when you are starting out. Especially if you are interested in paid blogging.

When I started my freelance blogging career, I had years of technical writing experience. But it was this blog that landed me my first paid blogging gig. So, don’t let anyone tell you that having a blog is not important for writers.

Here are four guidelines to make sure your blog counts:

1. Make your posts professional. Avoid the kind of blog post that mimics a personal diary. Instead, write every blog post as though you are writing for a client. Be sure to format your post for the web.
2. Pay attention to your blog’s format. A sloppy or outdated theme makes your posts look bad, even if they are well-written. It may be worth it to invest in a professional WordPress theme.
3. Write about what you know. Too many writers (myself included) think that their writing blog has to be about writing. It doesn’t. If gardening, or pets, or whatever, are what you know about, write about those things.
4. Share your content. If no one can find your blog, no one will see what you’ve written. Share your content by linking to it with your LinkedIn profile, your social accounts, and include it with your resume.

One thing I’ve noticed about many of the writers who’ve dropped blogs and who say that blogging is not necessary for a new writer–they’ve already established themselves. They already have a strong professional portfolio. In other words, they do not need the boost a blog can provide.

Step 2. Work for Free, Carefully

I always hate to tell a writer to work without pay because that’s not what professionals do. Professionals get paid for their work. And sadly, there are some publications that take advantage of writers who are willing to work without pay or for practically nothing. Avoid those.

Instead, if you have a family member who is just starting a business or are involved with a charity, those can be a good opportunities to build your portfolio. Ask if they need writing services, but be careful. A surprising number of people confuse web design services with writing services. Unless you do both, be clear about you are offering.

Also, make it clear that your offer to work for no cost is limited. You don’t want to become their full-time unpaid writer. Put a value on what you are doing. For example, you can offer to write a fund-raising letter or a blog piece for a charity. Your offer could state something like:

“This service normally costs $xxx.00, but because I am starting my writing career I can offer this service for free on a one-time basis. I will be using this piece in my portfolio.”

Better yet, don’t start by offering to work for free. Instead offer to work for a discount.

Step 3. Consider Schoolwork

If you took journalism, business writing, or communications courses in school, consider yourself lucky. Such courses often have writing assignments that can be added to your portfolio.

My work on my high school and college newspapers led to my first corporate marketing position, which in turn led to technical writing opportunities.

Bonus Tip–Networking Pays Off

One final point, don’t assume that you won’t get paid work without any writing samples. All it takes to get your first paid writing gig is for someone to give you a chance. So, keep applying and sending pitches.

Don’t overlook writing forums and other small groups. The connections you make there can make all the difference in your freelance writing career.

Conclusion

Writing experience and a strong portfolio are important for writers. Not having experience or a portfolio are problems that new freelance writers face. But fortunately, it is a problem that can be overcome.

How have you deal with this problem? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Does this look familiar?

Dear Blogger, I recently developed an XYZ app to help bloggers with X. I believe this app would be of interest to your readers. Would you please feature it in a review on your blog?

Okay. That’s a stripped-down version of a typical request for a product review. If you’re a freelance writer and you write for a blog, you’ve probably received a product review request like the one above.

How you handle these requests can make a difference in your freelance writing career. Some writers have even made writing reviews one of their specialties.

In this post, I explore what freelance writers need to know about writing product reviews. I’ll discuss the dilemma that writing a product review can sometimes cause. I’ll touch upon the FTC rules for endorsement. Also, I’ve interviewed two successful long-time writing professionals with differing viewpoints about product reviews. Finally, I’ll list a few pointers for brands that want to approach writers.

While this post specifically deals with product reviews, most of the points also apply to book reviews.

The Review Dilemma

Marketing professionals may not realize it, but writing product reviews can be a problem for the professional freelance writer. Here are some of the dilemmas writers face when they write a product review:

• Reputation. Even if the writer was not paid to write the review, readers often assume that they were paid and are biased. Also, if a writer writes a positive review for a product that later declines in quality, readers may blame the writer. If the writer writes a negative review, they may face the wrath of the product owner.
• Time. It takes a lot of time to write a thorough product review. The time spent on a product review can eat into a writer’s income. And no, a trial version of whatever it is you are reviewing doesn’t count as payment. You can’t buy groceries with the free app you received for review purposes.
• Mentions. Some promoters get sneaky and ask you to insert a mention of their product into articles you write for your clients. Either they are unaware that many editors consider this to be unethical, or they just don’t care. Personally, I always refuse these offers.
• Disclosure. If you receive money or a product in exchange for a review, that fact should be disclosed. Not only is disclosure the honest and ethical thing to do, it’s the law in many countries including the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK). More on that later.

But, consumers need honest product reviews. Here are some of the benefits good reviews offer:

• Educates readers about new products.
• Provides an unbiased alternative to the company’s marketing materials.
• Keeps companies accountable by exposing areas where a product could be improved.
• Allows the reader to compare various products with information from a third-party.

These consumer benefits are why some sites specialize in publishing honest, unbiased reviews. If this is a type of writing you’re interested in, these sites represent a real opportunity.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the regulations surrounding writing reviews.

Product Reviews and the FTC

As I mentioned earlier, if the reviewer receives money or a product for writing a review that fact must be disclosed in many countries. That’s because receiving a payment or a free product may influence the review. These laws are in place to protect consumers.

If you write reviews, familiarize yourself with the laws in your country.
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In the US, reviews fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC guidelines include not only reviews, but social media mentions, contests, affiliate marketing, and other types of product mentions where a writer receives compensation. If you write reviews, familiarize yourself with the FTC’s Endorsement Guides.

The US is not the only country that regulates product reviews. The UK, for example, has laws that apply to product reviews. You can find some of the information about those laws in this government publication.

If you write reviews, familiarize yourself with the laws in your country.

Important note: I am not a legal professional. This post should not be considered legal advice. If you have a specific legal question about product endorsements and reviews, consult a legal professional.

What Professional Writers Say

Many experienced writers have strong feelings about writing product reviews. Recently, I caught up with two writers who have differing opinions on product reviews. Both writers make some excellent points.

Sharon Hurley Hall on Product Reviews
Sharon Hurley Hall is a professional freelance writer with more than 25 years of writing experience. She prides herself on creating well-written, well-researched, and accurate content. She’s written for many publications including Crazy Egg, Mirasee, Unbounce, and many others.

Here’s what Sharon had to say about writing product reviews:

Question: How did you get started writing product reviews?

Sharon: I started writing product reviews even before I started freelancing, writing for reviews sites as a way to keep my hand in while I was teaching journalism. Once I made the decision to go freelance, I started looking around for other opportunities to write reviews of all the new web stuff I was exploring. That came with a site now called Appvita, which then was called What’s New Online. The interesting thing about that site was that there was a template for writing the review which included likes and dislikes, killer features, top tips and alternatives. It was a good way to learn what information absolutely HAD to be included.

Question: What do you like most about writing reviews? What do you like least?

Sharon: The best part of writing reviews is figuring out what features of a product or service will really help readers and finding a way to explain those in an understandable and useful way. My least favorite part is creating screenshots. I know they are often important, but it takes a while to get them right. I can easily spend more than an hour preparing images for an in-depth review.

Question: How would you advise a company that wants to ask bloggers to review their product? What’s the right way to go about it?

Sharon: I’ve had a lot of approaches from people wanting me to review products, and they’re a mixed bag. The best ones check to see what topics I cover so they can approach me with a product I’ll find interesting. They will also accept that I’ll have to provide an unbiased review. And they will also realize they aren’t doing me a huge favor by providing a product for review. If anything, it’s the opposite. An atmosphere of mutual respect goes a long way.

Question: What advice do you have for a blogger who wants a career reviewing products?

Sharon: Start reviewing the products you already use. Post reviews on the sites you shop at as well as on your own blog. And let people know if you want to review particular categories of products or services. Once you get your name out there, many people will come to you. You can also try signing up for advocate programs for the products you really love.

[If you want to write reviews], start reviewing the products you already use.
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Lauren Tharp on Product Reviews
Lauren Tharp has over sixteen years of professional writing, including ghostwriting. Lauren is the managing editor of Be a Freelance Blogger, a resident expert at Freelance Writer’s Academy, and an editorial assistant for Copyblogger. In addition to her other projects, Lauren also mentors new writers.

Question: What is your number one pet peeve about companies that that contact you to ask you to write product reviews?

Lauren: These companies seem to think that I’m a wizard rather than a writer – or that I’m at least a head editor of the publication I did the review for. I’m not. I was given the assignment and I wrote it. And I thought that would be the end of the story, but nope. Every two weeks or so I get a request from a company asking me to “review” (promote) their product.

For one, I don’t review or promote any products that I haven’t actually used (which is why the original assignment took me so long to write and research). Two, I’m not in a position to get that story published, even if I wrote it. I’m just a writer. I’m not in charge of making those kinds of decisions.

So the “too long; didn’t read” version of my answer is: I wish that the companies who wrote to me understood my role in the writing process and would write to the editor rather than me. Because it’s frustrating to have to say “I can’t help you” to the multitude of e-mails I get.

Question: Is there a right way for a company to go about asking a blogger to write a product review? What advice would you give to a company that wants to encourage bloggers to review their product?

Lauren: One, I would offer to let them actually use the product in question. It’s the only ethical way to do it, in my opinion. And, they should be prepared for an honest review — whether it be good or bad. Not a straight up promotion.

Two, I would ask bloggers who already prominently feature reviews on their own blog. If the review you found written by a particular writer was written for a publication rather than for themselves, then it’s the editor or owner of that publication you want to talk to, not the writer themselves.

…it’s the editor or owner of that publication you want to talk to, not the writer themselves.
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Question: In your opinion, what can brands do instead of asking bloggers to review their product?

Lauren: I actually think asking bloggers and YouTubers to review their products isn’t a bad idea. But, again, it depends on the type of content creator.

I personally am not the one to be asking. However, there are lots of other bloggers out there who would love a project like that.

Question: I’m a regular reader of your blog, but some of my readers may not know. What type of article do you prefer to write?

Lauren: On my business blog, LittleZotz Writing, I write advice for writers looking to go freelance. I love writing articles that educate and, hopefully, entertain the reader.

However, I’m pretty much open to writing whatever type of article I can get paid for. [laughs]. And that’s another beef I have against writing reviews: An ethical review is generally something you don’t get paid to write. If you get paid to write a review, then you’re allowing a certain amount of positive bias for the product in, before you’ve even started. It can become a sticky situation really fast – and that’s something I just don’t want to deal with.

For Writers and Product Promoters

This post wouldn’t be complete without some advice for brands that use reviews to promote products. In this section, I describe a few alternatives to reviews. As writers, we can offer some of these alternatives to a company that asks us to review their product.

If you’re thinking about asking a blogger to write a review, remember that there are other ways to promote your product. Here are three ideas of what to do instead:

1. Hire the writer to write for your blog. A good business blog can build a community around your product. Many successful brands are known for their high-quality blogs. Sadly, many small and new businesses don’t have enough time to devote to their blogs. By hiring a writer for your own blog, you can elevate the quality of your blog and draw more traffic to your site.
2. Build a strong social media presence for your brand. If you don’t have a social media presence already, you are missing a lot of business opportunities. Most bloggers are familiar with social media. Some offer consulting services in this area. They may even help you set up a targeted social media campaign. (Keep in mind that if you pay someone to share about your brand on social media that is considered a paid endorsement. It falls under the FTC regulations.)
3. Network in person. Putting a face with a brand still works. Trade shows and conventions are good way to meet your potential customers. Most have a vendor display area where you can set up your product and demonstrate it to attendees. If you get the chance to be a keynote speaker at such a gathering, take it. Although your speech shouldn’t be a sales presentation, you will raise your brand’s visibility.

Remember that there are other ways to promote your product.
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Brand Takeaway: To successfully market your new product you need several different tactics. If you want online reviews to be one of those tactics, be sure to do your homework. Contact the right person (the owner or editor of the publication, rather than the writer). Make sure that your product is a good fit for the blog’s audience. Remember that the writer must disclose any monetary relationship between the two of you.

Your Turn

Do you write product reviews? Why, or why not?

What advice would you give to other writers wanting to write reviews? What advice would you give to companies who want to approach a blogger about writing a review?

Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Are you suffering from writer’s block? Most professional writers and even non-writers, struggle with finding ideas at some point in their career.

Writer’s block is annoying enough when you’re not a professional writer. But if you depend on writing for your livelihood, it’s more than annoying. It can be a career-breaker.

Writers block (or creative block) doesn’t have to slow you down. You can overcome it.

In my experience writer’s block usually means one of several things:

• You’re stuck. You don’t know what to say next. You may be in the middle of a project or trying to get started. It doesn’t matter. You have no ideas.
• You don’t feel like writing. No matter what words you put down, they don’t seem to work.

Both types of writer’s block can be equally frustrating if you don’t know how to deal with them.

In this post, I’ll tackle each of these problems. Then I’ll share some more resources to help you overcome writer’s block. For even more types of writer’s block and ideas on how to fix them, review my earlier post on Creative Block.

This post is part of my series on What Is the Worst Problem Freelance Writers Face?

What to Do When You’re Out of Ideas

When you start freelance writing it’s perfectly normal to think you’ll never run out of ideas. There are so many things to write about. And you feel so strongly about your niche. You just know that writer’s block will never happen to you.

And then it does.

You’ll know it’s hit when you can’t think of anything to write about that you haven’t already talked about. Many freelance writers quit at this point. It doesn’t have to be that way.

If it seems like you’re out of ideas, it helps to change your idea generation strategy. There are lots of places to look for writing inspiration. Here are three resources to help you get started:

1. Never Run Out of Blog Post Ideas: 25 Content Marketing Resources from Kristi Hines on KristiHines. Kristi has created a great list of 25 resources you can turn to for blogging ideas and inspiration. Even if you don’t have writer’s block right now, it’s worth bookmarking this list for later.
2. Never Run Out of Blog Post Ideas: 25 Content Marketing Resources from Digital Marketer via Maddie Grant on Social Media Today. This infographic takes a different approach. It lists over 50 different types of posts you can create under eight categories, such as Be Useful and Be Human.
3. The Easiest Way Ever to Beat Writer’s Block
   from Gretchen Rubin on Inc. This method is simple, yet effective. Yet I never would have thought of it on my own. Gretchen shares a writing tip from Annie Dillard. You’ll wonder why you didn’t think of it yourself.

Writers block (or creative block) doesn’t have to slow you down.
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Why Don’t You Feel Like Writing?

The other cause of writer’s block is, in my opinion, harder to deal with. That’s because not feeling like writing can sometimes signal a more serious problem such as depression or illness. Especially when you’re a writer.

Important note: If you have continuing problems, for example a depression that won’t go away no matter what you do, you may need to seek professional medical advice.

Sometimes if you don’t feel like writing it just means it’s time to take a break, though. This can be as simple as taking an hour off, or it may mean you’re ready for a vacation. If a shorter break doesn’t work, try taking a few does off.

Not feeling like writing can also mean it’s time for a change. Maybe you need to change niches. Or maybe you need to tackle a different type of writing-related position. That’s one of the beauties of freelance writing–you can change the type of projects you work on.

Here are two more resources on what could be causing your writer’s block:

1. 6 Reasons You’re Struggling to Overcome Writer’s Block from Jes Gonzalez at The Write Life. Jess lists a variety of reasons for writer’s block, including pressure and being too hard on yourself.
2. How to Overcome Writer’s Block: 14 Tricks That Work from Jeff Goines at Goins, Writer. Jeff identifies several common causes of writer’s block, including perfectionism and timing.

Since stress can also be a cause of writer’s block, take a look at my earlier post on handling stress, https://www.writingthoughts.com/how-stressful-is-freelance-writing/#more-4584.

Not feeling like writing can also mean it’s time for a change.
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A key point to remember about writer’s block is that it’s rarely permanent. If you can figure out how to address the cause, you can usually move past it.

Your Turn

What do you do when you’re struggling with writer’s block? Share your tips and stories in the comments.

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As a freelance writer you work for yourself. That means no more dealing with difficult people, right?

Wrong. As a freelance writer, your people skills are still important.

In this post, I deal with three different types of relationships where you may deal with difficult people. I also provide some tips on how to deal with difficult situations.

This post is a part of my series on the Worst Freelance Writing Problems.

#1 The Difficult Client

The difficult freelance client is legendary. There are whole sites, such as Clients from Hell devoted to the topic. While that site deals mostly with design clients, most freelance writers can relate.

If there are warning signals that a client will be trouble, avoid dealing with them. Sadly, in some cases a client relationship turns bad without any warning. Here are some common signs that your relationship with your writing client is in trouble:

• The client keeps adding tasks on to the original project.
• The client keeps changing what they want, resulting in a never-ending stream of revisions.
• The client completely rewrites your copy.
• The client contacts you and expects an immediate (as in that minute) response.
• The client contacts you during the evening and on weekends and holidays.
• The client refuses to answer emails and phone calls.
• The client refuses to pay despite having published your work.

I’m sure you could think of other client problems as well.

Dealing with a difficult client can be tricky. If the problems are minor and the client pays well, you may decide to put up with them. Or, you may decide not to deal with them in the future.

Here are some ways you can safeguard yourself from client problems:

• Use a contract with a well-defined description of work (scope). I use Quote Roller to create detailed estimates the client must sign off on.
• Make sure the wording in the contract limits the number of revisions the client may request. My quotes usually include one revision for simple projects and two for more complex projects.
• Set the client’s expectations by listing your business hours. After you communicate your business hours, stick to them. If the client contacts you after work, wait until the next morning to answer.
• Require a partial payment upfront. Some freelance writers have taken non-paying clients to small claims court. Whether you can do this depends on your local laws.

If there are warning signals that a client will be trouble, avoid dealing with them.
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#2 The Difficult Colleague

Another difficult person is the difficult colleague. You may be freelancing, but you still have coworkers. A difficult colleague can be:

• An editor assigned by the client to review your work.
• A company insider assigned to provide you with information.
• A designer or other creative hired to illustrate your work.
• Another freelance writer assigned to work with you.

Problems can occur when clients assign tasks to your colleagues without giving them any extra time to complete those tasks. This is especially true if the colleague is your client’s employee. No wonder they seem disgruntled when you contact them.

Here are some tips for working with colleagues:

1. Don’t barrage them with questions that you could answer yourself by doing a little research. If you can, merge your questions into one or two sessions.
2. Go into your meetings prepared. Have an idea of what will work for the project and what won’t.
3. If the colleague is an editor, ask if they prefer a particular style guide.
4. Try understand any cultural or working style differences.

Of course, ordinary personality conflicts can also occur. Do your best to reduce any conflicts that might occur.

You may wonder, should I bring a problem with a difficult colleague to my client’s attention? That’s a difficult question. You don’t want to branded as being difficult, but you need to get your work done.

Every freelance writer needs to decide where to draw the line. I don’t think I’ve had to complain about a colleague to a client. I would involve the client if it became impossible to complete the project or if a colleague became abusive.

You may be freelancing, but you still have coworkers.
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#3 The Difficult Community Member

As a freelance writer, you are somewhat visible online. This is especially true if you get bylines for your work.

If your topic is controversial, readers and other contacts may become angry and unprofessional. In a worst case scenario, they may even become threatening.

The topics I write about are rarely controversial. It’s rare for me to deal with unpleasant community members. But I know that dealing with unpleasant comments can be upsetting.

If you’re faced with hostile community members, there are a few things you can do:

1. Don’t feed the flame. I’m a big believer in not getting into flame wars online. If someone is acting like jerk and you don’t respond, they will often move on.
2. Report community standard violators. Many online communities have strict standards about how their forums are used. If you suspect a violation, contact the moderator.
3. Take threats seriously. If someone threatens you, inform the police. This is still a new area and laws vary by location, but it’s still a good idea to go on record about what is happening. You may also need to seek legal advice.

Here is a link to a map of the U.S. with links to statewide anti-bullying laws.

Note: My advice here about online harassment should not be considered professional legal advice. If you need legal help, consult an attorney.

Dealing with unpleasant comments can be upsetting.
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Your Turn

Have you dealt with difficult people as a freelance writer? How did you handle it? Share your experiences in the comments below.

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No one knows for sure exactly how many freelance writers there are. That’s because new writers “open their doors” for business every day. It’s a sure bet, though, that there are thousands of us.

Even with thousands of fellow freelance writers, many of us feel isolated and alone. Why?

Working from home leaves us vulnerable to loneliness. While other family members trudge off to traditional work or school, many of us remain at home. For most of the day, it’s just us and our computers. No wonder loneliness is a problem for so many of us.

If you’re a freelance writer who is feeling lonely, know that you are not alone. Many other freelance writers have been through the same thing. In this post, I share three groups that you should connect with to help combat loneliness.

This post is part of my series on What Is the Worst Problem Freelance Writers Face?

Caution: If  your feelings of loneliness persist despite everything you do, you may need professional help. Don’t be afraid to turn to a mental health professional if you need to. This post should not be construed as professional mental health advice.

Group #1: Friends and Family

You may be tempted to work extra hours to get your business off the ground. Don’t do it if it means neglecting your relationships with friends and family members.

Healthy relationships are an important part of fighting loneliness. Invest time each day in nurturing your relationships with the people who are important to you. Do it even if they don’t understand freelancing.

Family members may be confused by your freelancing. This is especially true if you’re the first freelancer in the family. That doesn’t mean they don’t care about you. Plus, freelancing is more accepted than it was even ten years ago. Odds are that you’re not the only freelancer they know.

Healthy relationships are an important part of fighting loneliness.
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Spending time with family helps fight loneliness, but you may long to spend time with professionals as well.

Group #2: Local Professionals

What I missed most about not working in a traditional job was not being able to talk about work with colleagues. While your freelancing colleagues may not share an office with you, they are still out there. You just need to make an extra effort to find them.

To find nearby colleagues you need to engage in some face-to-face networking. One of my online colleagues, John Soares, has some excellent networking suggestions in his post on the Productive Writers blog, Where Smart Freelance Writers Network In-Person. John suggests networking at Chamber of Commerce meetings, BNI meetings, Meetup, through local service organizations, Toastmasters, or at Industry-specific groups.

Your freelancing colleagues are still out there. You just need to find them.
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In the city near where I live there are even groups that have formed just for networking. You can also meet colleagues by taking a class at a local community college, attending a seminar, or going to a trade show.

Even if you can’t find colleagues nearby, you can find online freelance writing colleagues.

Group #3: Join an Online Forum

If you live in an unpopulated area with few local professional groups, you may need to look online for peers. All you need to get in touch is an Internet connection.

Over the years, I’ve been a member of several online writing groups. At first, I joined free writing forums. Participants at those tend to come and go.

The two writing group memberships that I currently maintain are About Writing Squared and the Freelance Writers Den. While I don’t take part in them as often as I’d like to, those times I have participated they’ve been helpful. (To learn more about the Freelance Writers Den, read my review.)

Of course, there are many other online writing groups. The key is to find a group that is helpful to you.

Your Turn

How do you fight freelance writing loneliness? Share your tips in the comments.

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Freelancing time management.

The very words probably fill most of us with fear or guilt. That’s because most freelance writers struggle with time management at one point or another.

Time management can be a bigger struggle for freelance writers than for those in traditional jobs. Most of us work alone, at home. So there’s no one there to keep us on track.

Also, freelance writing work can be erratic. One week you may have too much to do, the next week barely enough.

In this post, I share a total of ten time management tips. First, I share the six steps I use to manage my own time. Next, I share four more tips on how you can gain better control of your time.

This post is a part of my series on What Is the Worst Problem Freelance Writers Face?

Six Steps to Time Management

In my article, 6 Steps for Managing Your Time as a Writer, I identify the following six steps for time management:

1. Set Your Work Hours. Decide how many hours you want to work each week and stick close to it.
2. Estimate Project Hours. Discover how to tell about how long each project will take.
3. Establish Working Hours. Determine when your freelance business is open and when it is closed.
4. Schedule Non-Billable Hours. Do non-billable tasks in a timely and organized fashion.
5. Use Time Management Tools. Download tools and other apps to help manage your time.
6. Take Breaks. Don’t forget to schedule time off to recharge.

These six steps have worked well for me for quite a while. You may find that this time management process also works well for you.

Keep a List

Have you ever gotten so busy that you forgot to do something?

While I’ve never forgotten a project, I don’t want to risk it happening either. That’s why I keep a list of important tasks to remind myself of what I still need to tackle.

You can keep your list on one of the many excellent To Do List apps. Plain old pencil and paper can also work. Or keep a chalkboard or whiteboard handy in your office so you can always see what needs to be done next.

Keep a list of important tasks.
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Start Early

When I was in college many of my fellow students waited until the day before a test to study. They would stay up all night and try to learn everything that had been taught all semester in 24 yours.

I’ve never been one to go without sleep if I could help it, so I adopted a different strategy. I studied every single class for at least a half-hour each day. By the time the test rolled around I was very familiar with the subject. All I needed to do was look over my notes.

Don’t wait until just before a project is due to start work.
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I don’t know how my classmates who crammed did on their tests, but I know that I graduated college with honors.

Freelancing can be the same way. Many freelancers wait until just before a project is due to start working on it. I’ve found starting on projects as soon as possible to be a much more effective way of providing high-quality work.

Know Your Weaknesses

Everyone has a weakness that tends to eat up time unnecessarily. It could be talking on the phone, spending time on social media, checking your email, or playing online games.

Whatever it is, it can keep you from being productive if you let it. You can manage your distractions, but first be honest about where your time goes.

Try recording everything you do for a few days to a week to learn what takes up most of your time. You could be surprised. Those “five-minute breaks” when you check your social media account may take up more of your day than you realize.

Once you understand what’s really holding you back from getting more down, you can limit that activity.

You can manage your distractions.
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Don’t Multi-task

Is multi-tasking your way of managing time?

If it is, stop doing it. Study after study has shown that multi-tasking doesn’t work. Human brains just aren’t built that way. We can’t really focus on more than one thing at a time.

Before I read the studies on multi-tasking, I used to think it was just me who needed to focus on one thing at a time. Now I realize that no one can multi-task. Whew!

If you don’t believe me, here are some articles about multi-tasking:

• How Multitasking Hurts Your Brain (and Your Effectiveness at Work) by Jessica Kleiman at Forbes
• Technology: Myth of Multitasking by Jim Taylor Ph.D. at Psychology Today
• Multitasking Is Killing Your Brain by Larry Kim at Inc.
• Why Humans Are Bad at Multitasking by Denise Chow at Live Science

The list could go on and on, but I think you get the point. Multi-tasking. Don’t do it.

Your Turn

What time management struggles do you face? Share your time management problems and solutions in the comments below.

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Would you accept a project for one-third of your going rate? How about a project for one-half of your rate?

If you’re like most of us, your answer to these questions is “no.”

No one wants to cut their fee by such drastic percentages.

But if you accept a project without verifying the scope you may be doing just that without knowing it.

Scope creep is a huge problem for freelance writers and it can affect how profitable your writing business is.

Even if you charge by the project, your fees are based on how much effort you expect to put into the project. If you don’t understand how much effort a project will take, you’re likely to under charge.

In this post, I explain why scope creep happens and how to avoid it. I also list some scope creep danger areas for you to beware of. This post is part of my series on What Is the Worst Problem Freelance Writers Face?

Why Scope Creep Happens

To avoid scope, you need to know why scope creep happens.

So, what causes scope creep? Scope creep has two main sources:

1. Miscommunication and misunderstandings. Nobody’s perfect. Even the best clients forget to share important information about the project. Or, the client may not understand the writing process well enough to give you the information you need to describe the scope of a project.
2. Deliberate misinformation. Unfortunately, there’s also another type of client. Occasionally you’ll run into a client who deliberately understates the scope of the project. Their hope is that you’ll quote a lower price and then be stuck with that lower price when you discover what the project involves.

Regardless of the cause of scope creep, you can reduce the impact of how it affects you. Let’s learn how to avoid scope creep.

How to Avoid Scope Creep

To avoid scope creep follow two main strategies:

1. Ask lots of questions. It’s a good idea to develop a standard list of project questions to ask for each project. Add to these questions when you don’t understand what the client wants. Ask questions even if you think you understand, but the client hasn’t stated their expectations clearly.
2. Get the details in writing. Getting the details in writing protects you from both accidental misunderstandings and deliberate misinformation. If you have the scope in writing, you have something to refer to later. That’s why every proposal I send out lists the project details. A client must sign before I begin work.

You can reduce the impact of scope creep.
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Can you predict when scope creep might occur? Sometimes you can. There are some client danger areas that often lead to scope creep problems.

Scope Creep Danger Areas

Do you find the same problems leading to scope creep over and over? If you do, chances are you’ve run into a scope creep danger area.

Scope creep danger areas are aspects of the project that can lead to scope creep unless they’re addressed early in the project cycle. Here are six common scope creep danger areas that I’ve faced:

1. Quantity. For writers, this often has to do with the length of the article. It can also have to do with the type or frequency of writing. Is this a one-time project, or will you be writing for the client regularly? It’s important to know before you start writing.
2. Research. Not all articles take the same amount of research. Many clients don’t understand this. It’s not uncommon to get the question, “how long does it take to write an article, post, etc.?” Before you can decide you need to know whether the client wants you to go in-depth or prefers a summary type article? If your topic is complex, it takes more time to research.
3. Images. It’s common for some blog owners and even some publications to ask you to provide images. Unfortunately, images can take a lot of time to create. If you buy images from a stock site, they can be expensive. You shouldn’t have to eat the cost of that extra time or the cost of purchasing images for a client.
4. Meetings. It’s normal to have a few project meetings. But meetings can be a big time drain if they are unnecessary. I was once on a project team that required me to attend a long weekly meeting, even though the topics discussed had little to do with my part of the project.
5. Revisions. Another area that can lead to scope creep is the area of revisions. Even if you understand the scope well, you may still be asked to revise your writing. It’s important to spell out what level of revisions you’re willing to do early in the project. What you don’t want is to completely redo your work.
6. Add-on projects. Add-on projects include tasks that you wouldn’t normally associate directly with your writing work. These projects can include promoting the project through social media. You could also be expected answer comments, or even revisit the article and update it after time has passed.

Sometimes you can predict scope creep.
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Your Turn

Have you faced scope creep? Share your worst scope creep story in the comments and explain how you overcame the problem.

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Do you find yourself busy with freelance writing work, but barely making ends meet?

If your answer is “yes,” you’re not getting paid enough. And you’re not alone. Many freelance writers charge too little for their services.

You may think that you won’t be able to get clients if you don’t charge more for your work. Or you may be working for an organization that doesn’t value your work.

Regardless of the reason, if you’re not getting paid enough to write you should take a hard look at the reasons why. In this post, I’ll do just that. Plus, I’ll share some thoughts on how to avoid low paying gigs.

This post is part of the series, What Is the Worst Problem Freelance Writers Face?

Ask Yourself the Hard Questions

If your writing pay isn’t up to par, start addressing the problem by asking the hard questions. This is a difficult, but unfortunately, necessary step to getting paid more.

Here are some difficult questions you should address:

1. Are my skills up to date? You may think writing is writing, but if you haven’t kept up with the tools that writers use today you could be in trouble.
2. Do I produce high-quality writing? This is a hard question to ask yourself. If you need to, have a trusted friend review your work.
3. Am I reliable? Lack of reliability is huge complaint many businesses have about freelancers. Clients rarely rehire a freelancer if reliability has been a problem.
4. Am I spending enough time on writing? Freelance writing is a real job. As such, it takes real effort. It’s not something you can do in a few short minutes each day.
5. Do I market my business? Just like any other business, your freelance writing business needs to be marketed. You should have a plan to promote your business and follow through.

If you answered “no” to one or more of these questions, check your habits so that you can turn that “no” into a “yes.” That could mean taking your classes. It might mean changing the way you work. It might even mean changing the way you think about writing.

To get more pay, ask the hard questions.
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Many people view freelance writing as an easy, almost effortless, way to earn money. Those who enter the field because they think it’s easy almost always have trouble getting work that pays well.

Sell on Value, Not Price

Selling on value is a hard lesson for new writers. That’s because there’s the misperception that there’s a “market rate” that a writer shouldn’t go above. Unfortunately, many unscrupulous clients know this and use it to take advantage of new writers.

When I started freelancing it seemed that many would-be clients tried to talk me into taking projects for very little money. Sadly, I sometimes let them get away with it. This meant I earned far less than I should have for those gigs.

No more. I’ve realized that it’s better to pass on a stingy client than let them talk me into working for a low rate. A low price is not my key selling point.

Instead, my key selling point is the value of the writing services I provide. That should be your key selling point too if you want to get paid enough.

Here are some possible ways that your writing is valuable to the client:

• Reliability. Do you always meet deadlines? Are your assignments on target? Since reliability is such a problem in the market, being reliable is a good selling point. It’s especially helpful if your testimonials back up this claim.
• Knowledge. Do you have expertise in a specific area? That specialized knowledge can set you apart and make your writing worth more. If you think a client will benefit from your expertise, be sure to mention it as a selling point.
• Experience. Clients know that when they use an inexperienced writer, they are taking a chance. Because of the risk, they often pay a new writer less. If you have a thick portfolio with many published pieces, make sure your client knows.
• Craftsmanship. There is skill involved in writing. It’s more than just typing words into a word processor. If you have a knack for getting the words right and capturing your audience’s attention, that’s worth something.

Your key selling point should be the value of your writing services.
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Be Picky About Clients

In my earlier post in this series, Getting Clients to Pay for Your Work, my first step is to be picky when choosing clients. I can’t emphasize the importance of being careful about who you work for enough.

In my experience, the clients most likely to give you trouble are the clients who are unwilling to pay a good rate. Be careful when negotiating your rate. If the client is trying to get you to work for less, that could be a sign that this won’t be an easy client to work with.

Here are some client promises to watch out for:

• I’ll pay you more later when I have more money. Clients rarely follow through on this promise. Also, notice how vague this statement is. How much more money? How much more will they pay you? When is later?
• Give me this low rate because I’ll be hiring you for a lot more work. Again, this rarely comes true. Don’t believe this unless they are willing to sign a contract agreeing to the more work.
• Write this for free to get lots of traffic to your blog. In my experience, bylined work brings a small trickle of traffic. It’s not just me. Read Tim Soulo’s detailed Guest Post ROI research on his BloggerJet blog.
• XYZ writer is willing to do this for [low rate]. This one is almost funny if only writers weren’t taken in by it. Obviously, if the client was happy with XYZ writer and their low rate, they would hire them. Instead, they contacted you.

Know How Much Effort a Project Takes

I’m convinced that the reason many writers are underpaid is that they underestimate the amount of time a writing project takes. I often see headlines like “How I Earned $200 an Hour Writing.” While dramatic, these headlines can be misleading.

When I read these articles, the author often mentions only the amount of time they spent writing an article draft and nothing else. That’s not the way to calculate project effort. To be more accurate, include any time that has anything that has anything to do with the project.

I keep meticulous records on how much effort I put into my writing projects. In my experience, the actual time spent on a typical article (about 1500 words) looks something like this:

1. Handle initial inquiry. This step includes the time spent on the phone or by email to determine the project’s scope. This takes one to two hours.
2. Create project proposal. I create a project proposal based on my discussions with the client. (This proposal becomes the contract.) This takes up to two hours.
3. Project research. Many projects require me to research a topic. While I’ve spent as many as eight hours on research, the average time spent is two to three hours.
4. Outline and first draft. Unless the article is simple or on a topic I’m familiar with, it usually takes two to three hours to create a draft.
5. Formatting. Most articles require me to format them. This often includes copying the article into WordPress and adding HTML for ordered lists, links and other formatting tags. It may include adding screenshots or other images. This takes up to an hour.
6. Self-edit. I always double-check my work before I turn it in to a client. This takes about an hour.
7. Revisions. Usually, my clients don’t need revisions, but I always allow for them in the project.
8. Invoicing and collections. Fortunately, I don’t have a lot of collection issues. It still takes about a half hour to put together an invoice and send it to the client.

If you add up the hours I spend on the typical project, you’ll see that I spend at least eight hours on each writing project and sometimes I spend a lot more time. If I were paid $200 to write an article, a more realistic hourly figure would be closer to $25 an hour–a figure that’s not nearly as exciting the headline above.

(Note: The project pay given here is just an example. My project quotes are based on scope and yours should be too.)

As you can see from this example, if you don’t keep good records of the actual effort you put into a project you’ll undercharge your clients.

Find Opportunities

Some of the best writing opportunities are never published. So, yes, search for advertised gigs. But also look for unadvertised gigs.

Learn to pitch article ideas and pitch them well. Network and connect with businesses and organizations that could your services.

Some of the best writing opportunities are never published.
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One word of warning–whether you’re pitching an idea or contacting a potential client, always do your research first. Never contact someone out of the blue and ask them for work without knowing much about them or even whether they are a realistic prospect for your writing business. You’ll just annoy them and make a bad impression.

Your Turn

Your writing is worth something. It’s up to you to make sure that you get paid what you’re worth. Don’t fall for any tricks or tactics to get you to lower your rates unnecessarily.

What tactics have you used to make sure that you get paid a fair rate? Share your answers in the comments below.

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Many freelancers struggle to collect money that is owed to them. I shudder each time I read about a freelancer who can’t collect the thousands of dollars owed to them. I hate to hear about that happening.

I’ve been fortunate. In over 15 years of freelancing, there’s only been one time I couldn’t collect payment. That one time was from a long-time client that declared bankruptcy. The amount owed me was several hundred dollars.

In this post, I’ll discuss the tricky and important topic of getting clients to pay. There’s no method that is 100% effective at making delinquent clients pay your invoices. But there are some effective steps that I’ve adopted over the years to reduce nonpaying clients. I’ll share four of those steps in this post. I’ll also share an alternate way to get paid that reduces some of the worry.

This post is part of my series on What Is the Worst Problem Freelance Writers Face?

The sad truth is that if you’re already struggling with nonpayment, it may already be too late to fix. The best strategy to get clients to pay is an offensive strategy.

If you can avoid working with the type of client who tends to not pay you’re already ahead.

Step #1: Be Picky When Choosing Clients

For me, this is the most important step. You may think your client chooses you, and to some extent that’s true. But, as a freelancer, you also choose your client.

Before agreeing to work for a client, I always learn everything I can about their business. This serves two purposes:

1. It helps me do a better a job for the client.
2. It also helps me weed out disreputable clients before I agree to work for them.

Feedback from other freelancers is also important. Here is what else to look for:

• Number of years in business. A longer business history often means a more stable company.
• Size of company. Is the company large enough to afford your fees?
• Client testimonials. A lack of these could be a red flag. A company that treats customers badly may also treat a contractor badly.
• History with freelancers. Some companies have a reputation (good or bad) for working with freelancers. Pay attention to the chatter.

Find what you need to know from:

• Their company website
• LinkedIn
• Better Business Bureau
• GlassDoor (Companies that treat employees poorly often don’t treat contractors well)

Once you’ve gotten information, you’re not done. You also need to pay attention to how the client interacts with you. Do they seem overly aggressive? Confused? Desperate?

Communication problems in the initial stages of a project could be an early warning that this will not be a good client. Things probably won’t get better as the project continues. It may be a good idea to suggest they work with someone else.

Step #2: Always Use a Detailed Contract

Another important step to getting paid is to use a contract.

While a contract doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get paid, it does give you something to fall back upon if there are problems. Freelancers have asked me for advice on collecting payment. When I ask what the contract says about payment, the freelancer responds, “what contract?” Don’t be that guy.

Another important step to getting paid is to use a contract.
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As a freelance writer, you should have a standard contract that you can change slightly and use over and over. Once you’ve created a draft, have an attorney look at it. If the client provides you with a contract to sign, read it carefully before you sign it. If you have any questions, ask the client. If you still don’t understand, ask your attorney.

A basic contract should include at least:

• A detailed scope of work
• Deliverables
• Payment terms (when and how you will be paid)

I use QuoteRoller to create proposals that become contracts when they are signed. Learn more by reading my review of QuoteRoller.

Step #3: Charge a Partial Fee Upfront

Another way to weed out nonpaying clients is to charge a partial fee before you start work. I’ve found that clients who don’t plan on paying for your services often resist partial advance payments.

On the flip side, in my experience those clients who are willing to make a partial advance payment seem to be more professional in their behavior and are more organized. Who doesn’t want more professional clients who are well-organized?

For a long time, I was timid about charging advance fees. That was before I realized it was the professional thing to do. That’s right, many other professions charge you at least a partial payment before they start work. You should treat yourself at least as well as those in other professions.

Here’s a partial list of professionals who often charge fees in advance:

• General contractor (for remodeling). When we made some upgrades to our home I learned that the contractor needed a partial payment before he would start. That was despite the fact that in our area contractors can place a lien on your property if you don’t pay for their services.
• Landlords. If you’ve ever rented a property, you know that most landlords require a deposit before you can move into a property. They also often require payment of the first and last month’s rent.
• Attorneys. Once in a while, you will find an attorney that will provide a single free consultation to provide you with an estimate, but many ask for a retainer to start working on your case.

These are just a few examples that I can think of. Other professionals take payment immediately after you receive their services. Examples include auto mechanics, restaurants, doctor’s offices, and more.

Note: This section is based on my personal experience. I am not an attorney and this post is not legal advice. Laws vary from place to place. Always consult your own attorney to determine the law in your area.

As a freelance writer, you’re a professional too. Establish a policy of requiring a partial payment before you begin work.

Step #4: Invoice Quickly and Repeat

The ideal time to invoice a client for a remaining balance is immediately after you complete the work. This is true even if your contract gives the client a time frame in which to pay.

One reason that billing quickly is important is because your work is fresh in your client’s mind. If you wait and it is a large company, there may be some confusion about what the bill is for. There may also be some confusion as to whether the bill has already been paid.

Invoice the client immediately after you complete the work.
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The one exception to this guideline is clients with a regular billing cycle. Businesses who hire a lot of freelancers may have a regular established billing cycle. For example, they may need all invoices to be turned in by the end of the month so that they can pay all invoices on the fifth of each month. In these instances, read the billing policy and follow it to the letter.

When should you send a reminder notice for a late payment? Send out reminders as soon as a payment becomes late. If a client has two weeks to pay your invoice, remind the client their payment is late at two weeks and one day. Often the first reminder is all that is needed.

My reminders start out gentle, but I use stronger wording in later reminders if the payment continues to be late. Hiring an attorney to help with collections is a last resort for getting nonpaying clients to pay.

Tip: Work through a Third Party

One way to reduce your chances of nonpayment is to let a third party handle billing and collection issues. Many freelancers choose to work through an agency or online marketplace such as Envato Studio. By doing so, they transfer the risk of nonpayment to the third party. (Note: I have done some work for Envato Studio and the Envato network. The link here is not an affiliate link.)

The key to working through a third party is to make sure the third party is reliable and trustworthy. Here are some things to consider if you are thinking about working through a third party:

• Reputation. Has the third party hired freelancers before? If so, what do those freelancers think about working for the third party? Are they happy?
• Rate. Is the third party willing to pay a professional rate for your services? If not, walk away. A good agency should be willing to pay at least a basic professional rate.
• Contract. Most third parties have their own contract for you to sign. Review it carefully. It is likely to favor them and not you.
• Terms. Understand the payment terms. Pay attention to any clauses that might result in you not being paid for your work.

Your Turn

Do you have problems getting paid? If so, how do you deal with those problems? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Do you struggle to find work? Do you wonder why other freelance writers always seem busy and you do not? Are you going about finding work the right way?

If you’re struggling to find work, you’re not alone. For many freelance writers, finding work is one of the biggest problems they face. In this post I’ll explore eight methods that freelance writers use to look for work. I’ll share my thoughts about how effective each method is.

This post is part of my series, What Is the Worst Problem Freelance Writers Face? Join us as we explore the other common freelance writing problems over the next few months.

Disclaimer: This post is based on my own thoughts and opinions. Your experiences and opinions may differ. The post also includes a link to an eBook I co-wrote with Carol Tice. If you buy the book I earn a small fee.

Method 1: Job Ads

Advertisements are the first place that most people look for work. Both online and print publications publish job listings.

Job ads in small or specialized publications, such as a trade journals may be your best bet.
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The good news is that if a company advertises that they need a freelance writer, there is often an actual job opening. Be careful, though. Once in a while scammers post advertisements to collect personal information. Be cautious about jobs that list an unknown employer.

The bad news is that job ads receive a high number of applicants. The easier the job ad is to find, the more likely it is that other writers found it too. Competition can be fierce. You could be competing with hundreds of other writers for the same job.

Job ads in small or specialized publications, such as a trade journals may be your best bet. Not as many writers will look here. If you have specialized skills, applying to an ad in a trade journal may help you find a writing position that’s a better fit for you.

Method 2: Bidding Sites

What is a bidding site, you may wonder? A bidding site is set up so that potential clients can post the work to be done. Freelancers are then invited to submit proposals (“bids”) on the work.

Most bidding sites are set up to benefit the company hiring the freelance writer.
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The good news about bidding sites is that the payment is often collected in advance and held by the site until the project is delivered. This saves you from the worries of collecting payment, but the client must accept your work before you can be paid.

Remember that bidding sites are set up to benefit the company hiring the freelance writer. It enables them to get a job done for less money. This may result in writers working well below a living wage. Plus, the bids can take a long time to put together and there is no guarantee that you will be awarded the work. Also, the bidding site may charge a percentage of your fee.

I tend to avoid bidding sites since I can’t afford to be the lowest bidder. Some writers have reported success with them though.
If you do decide to apply for work on a bidding site, emphasize your high quality rather than how low your prices can go.

Method 3. Profile Sites

What is a profile site and how does it differ from a bidding site? I’ve written about profile sites before in my post Help Clients Find You with Writer Profile Sites (Revisited).

A profile site allows you to create a professional profile that potential clients can view. The emphasis with a profile site is on the freelance writer. That makes it easy to highlight your unique abilities. LinkedIn is an example of a profile site.

The difference between a profile site and a bidding site is that a profile site lists professionals for a client to choose between. A bidding site lists projects for a freelancer to bid upon.

I like profile sites. I regularly receive some inquiries from my LinkedIn profile. I’ve received a few nibbles from other profile sites as well.

The good news for writers is that it usually takes less than an hour to set up a profile site. Once you’ve set it up you may need to revisit it to keep it up to date, but it’s fairly low maintenance.

The bad news is that you will be just one profile among many. Clients may, or may not, find you. The stronger your profile, the more likely it is that you will be selected for work. Some profile sites hold the client’s fee until the work is complete and charge a percentage of job. Others are a listing of professionals for clients to sort through.

Method 4. Agencies

An agency functions as a middle man between you and the end client. They hire freelance professionals when their in-house staff cannot complete their work.

Agencies can be a great way for a freelance writer to get work. If you’re selected by one, they are likely to use you over and over. Most agencies have worked with writers before and know the information you need to get the job done. Also, they will handle interacting with the client including invoicing and collections.

A drawback to working with an agency is that you often don’t deal with the end client directly. Instead, you must rely on your contact at the agency to find answers to questions. Sometimes the jobs may come with a shorter time frame since they pass through the agency first. For example, if a client wants an article in a week the agency may take several days to process it. That leaves the writer less time to work on the project.

An agency functions as a middle man between you and the end client.
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Pay from an agency is another important consideration. Remember that the agency must make a profit on each project. Usually, the pay rate from an agency is what a low to mid-range writer could earn on their own. It’s a living wage, but not at the top of the rate scale.

Freelancing for an agency can be a great way to start your freelance writing career. It’s also an option if you don’t want to market your writing business much. I’ve worked for agencies from time to time as have many other writers I know.

Method 5. Networking

Who you know can help you find work.

Some of my best job leads come from networking. With networking, you learn about jobs from the employer or someone who knows the employer. The jobs are often a better fit for your abilities and your contact may recommend you to the employer.

While networking can be a good source of job leads for freelance writers, it’s a long-term solution. That’s because it’s based on relationships and relationships take time to build. If you need a job quickly, you are better off relying on one of the other methods of job hunting.

I can’t talk about networking without mentioning that it’s often done wrong. Here are some of the biggest mistakes I see:

1. Making a single connection with someone. For example, you friend them on social media or leave a comment on a blog post. Then you immediately ask them for work. A single connection is not enough to expect someone to recommend you for work. It can take years to build a strong relationship and the relationship should be about more than just you needing work.
2. Asking your competitors for work. I see this a lot. Instead of querying publications who do hire writers, a freelance writer emails other writers and begs them to hire him or her. While sometimes writers do hire other writers, it’s rare and usually reserved for someone the writer knows well. (See point 1.)
3. Being rude when asking the wrong people for work. It always amazes me how rude people can get when asking a stranger to hire them. I realize that the people doing this are feeling desperate, but rudeness never pays off.
4. Asking a near stranger to do work for you for free. This is often done in the guise of asking for advice. For example, a freelance writer contacts another writer and asks them to review their website, look at their resume, or even provide guest posts or coaching services…all without pay. If you want your contacts to respect you, respect their time. If what you’re asking for takes more than a few minutes, pay for it.
5. Being one-sided. Networking should always be a two-way street. If you want others to help you in your job search, be prepared to help them. This is part of basic relationship building, but it applies to networking too.

Networking can be quite rewarding in and of itself, even if it doesn’t lead to work. I enjoy the relationships I’ve developed with other writers through networking. I think you will too.

Method 6. Referrals

Like networking leads, referral leads come from people who know you. In this case, it’s your past clients providing the leads.
Leads that come from referrals tend to be high quality. Companies like it when someone they know and trust recommends a service provider.
How do you get referrals? Two ways:

1. Provide top-notch service. Your existing clients won’t recommend you to others unless you’ve done an exceptional job for them. Look for ways to make your work more valuable to the client.
2. Ask for them. Even if you do a good job, your client might not think of referring you to others who can use your business on their own. If you’re on good terms with a client, ask them if they know anyone else who needs a writer.

Method 7. Your Writer Platform

Having an online presence is an important way to generate leads. This is done through a website or blog.

Whatever you choose as your online presence, it’s important that it be high quality. Remember that it represents your writing business. Also, if your writer platform is a blog, remember to update it often.

The domain name of your online presence should be easy to remember. It’s also helpful if it’s related to writing or to your business name. Some writers use their personal name as a domain name, but if you have a common name that might not work.

Here are typical mistakes that writers make with their online writer platforms:

1. Expecting that it will generate leads on its own. Having a writer platform can be helpful. It can spotlight your work and provide a place for you to describe your services. Putting a site up doesn’t mean it will draw clients to your writing business. Share the site through social media and with past and current clients.
2. Allowing it to grow dated. Many writers start a website or blog for their business, but then forget about it. They don’t update it. They don’t add new content. They don’t fix broken links. And they don’t respond to comments on existing content. If you use an online platform as part of your marketing strategy, set aside time each month to keep it up to date.
3. Using a cheap or unprofessional theme. Another common writing mistake is to use an unprofessional theme. If you need help designing your writing website, there are plenty of high quality themes available. If you need to, enlist the help of a web design professional. Oh, and don’t forget. Your site should be mobile-friendly too.

Method 8. Cold Calls

Calling businesses directly to inquire about work is a bold move. It can pay off if done properly. Or, it can be a gigantic waste of time.

Here are three steps to take to make your cold calling more effective:

1. Do your homework. Learn a little about each company before you call. Don’t just randomly call all the companies from the phone directory. Make sure this is a company that could use your services before you call.
2. Learn the name of the manager in the department most likely to use your services. This information is sometimes on LinkedIn or the company website. Ask for the manager by name.
3. Have a packet of information about your services available to send out to those who ask. Make sure it is professionally presented. Follow through in a few weeks to ensure that your contact received the information.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to find freelance writing work. In fact, finding writing work will take a significant amount of your time as a freelance writer.
The best strategy is to use a combination of the methods listed above to attract clients.

What are your experiences in looking for freelance writing work? What works best for you?