Freelance Writing Business Blog

Teleclass: Pricing Your Services as a Freelance Writer

Figuring out the right fees to charge for your services is an ongoing and often mysterious challenge for freelance writers. 

Learn how to earn what you're worth in the teleclass Pricing Your Services as a Freelance Writer with guest Steve Slaunwhite, whose latest book about freelance writing is The  Everything Guide to Writing Copy.

The live class will be held on March 19, 2008, but you can also order the audio file later. Better yet, consider ordering the complete 2008 White Paper Teleclass series and enjoy substantial savings!

Learn more about this class and the series: Pricing Your Services as a Freelance Writer

Janice King featured in freelance success article

The article "Broaden your reach with copywriting" in the October 2007 issue of The Writer magazine includes an interview with me about the advantages of becoming a freelance copywriter. This article also features advice from other successful freelance copywriters on finding clients and making the transition from writing books and magazine articles. 

You can find this issue at newsstands now or order your copy online. 

Enhance your learning with the Exercises Guide for Copywriting That Sells High Tech

Do you want more ways to learn copywriting skills? Are you looking for guidance on practicing the techniques presented in the book Copywriting That Sells High Tech? Are you a course instructor looking for ideas about student assignments?

The Exercises Guide for Copywriting That Sells High Tech is now available for direct purchase. It is packed with questions, explorations, and practice activities that will help you get the most from the book -- now and as you work on new projects in the future.

To order the Exercises Guide, choose one of these options:

• If you already have a copy of the book and just need the Exercises Guide: Exercises Only

• For a value-priced package that combines the Book & Exercises Guide: Package

All payments are processed through PayPal. The Exercises Guide is delivered as a PDF download, available immediately after your payment is processed.

A note for course instructors and trainers: Do you want to use or adapt these exercises for a course or training seminar? For a free copy and permission, send a brief description of your planned use, college/university/company name and course name to: info@writinghightech.com.

Teleclass: Fundamentals of Writing White Papers

If you've been looking for a good way to learn about writing white papers, you'll find a great resource in the teleclass Fundamentals of White Paper Writing, led by Michael Stelzner, a well-known author and white paper writer.

This class is the first in a three-part series: July's class will cover white paper elements and in August Mike will discuss advanced writing techniques. When you sign up for all three classes at the same time, you can get a great price of just $69 (a combined $87 value; other bundle options are also available).

The first live class will be held on June 21, 2007, but you can also order the audio file later.

Learn more about the class and audio file: Fundamentals of White Paper Writing

Is your font size turning away readers?

It seems that graphic designers are being taught there is no such thing as a font size larger than 8 points or a font style other than sans serif. 

Take the example of many documents I've seen recently. They are attractive enough, but their design discourages actual reading. Why? Because the body text font is 7 pt. Arial, a size that used to be reserved only for the "small print" text that nobody was expected to read.

Look at the design of your promotional materials and ask this critical question: Will your customers and prospects read a document that requires a magnifying glass?

Remember that many people in executive and senior management positions -- the key audiences and decisionmakers you want to attract -- are baby boomers. They are not going to strain their already bifocaled eyes to read a document that sacrifices user friendliness to some poorly considered design decisions.

Yes, I still believe in the value of good design for improving the appeal of text and attracting a reader's interest. Just make sure the design enhances the words, not overrules them.

Teleclass: Writing Case Studies and Success Stories

There's nothing quite like the credibility a business gains when satisfied customers tell the story of how a product or service is delivering benefits and results.

That's why case studies (also called success stories) are such popular and treasured documents in marketing -- and why they are well-paying, recurring, and enjoyable projects for freelance writers.

Learn how to write and and promote case studies in the teleseminar The Case for Case Studies (Why You Need Them and How to Write Them). Featured speakers are Steve Slaunwhite and Casey Hibbard, both highly experienced case study writers. The seminar is led by Michael Stelzner, part of a series of teleseminars with topics useful to freelance writers.

The live class will be held on May 24, 2007, but you can also order the audio file later.

Learn more about the class and audio file: Writing Case Studies

 

"Everything I know about writing I learned from ..."

You know the old saying: "Everything I know about life I learned from ... [my mother, my dog, my kindergarten teacher, insert your favorite source here].

Well, I'm sure that when you think back, you can identify a major influence on your development as a writer. Perhaps it was a teacher, a colleague, a particular project. 

For me, it has always been the "challenging" reviewers, the people who read my prose with a very different perspective than what I had in mind while writing it. They help me  understand different ways of learning, different interpretations of words, and many ways to presents my ideas with greater clarity and interest. 

Who or what has been your greatest influence as a writer?  Share your stories here; I'm sure we will all learn from your experience.

Teleclass: Succeeding as a Freelance White Paper Writer

White papers are choice assignments for freelance writers: intellectually challenging, well-paying, and substantial evidence of your skill as a writer. But do you know how to write white papers or how to structure your business effectively around these projects?

Three top white paper writers will share their insights for success in the teleclass Succeeding as a Freelance White Paper Writer. Led by author and copywriter Michael Stelzner, the teleclass features interviews with well-regarded writers Gordon Graham and Jonathan Kantor.

You'll learn how to identify project opportunities, avoid mistakes, and produce white papers that are successful for your client ... and terrific samples for your portfolio.

The live class will be held on April 19, 2007, but you can also order the audio file later.

Learn more about the class and audio file: White Paper Success

How's Business, Really?

Freelance writers in the US know that April can be a month of facing reality. The mid-April deadline for filing income taxes means taking a look at income and expenses for the previous year. And whether those numbers give you a feeling of celebration or concern, this is a great time to look at the overall financial health of your business.

You may want to work with your CPA and financial planner to help you assess these questions:

• Do you have the revenues, cash flow, and operating capital in place to meet the daily financial needs of your business and personal income?
• Are you on track for savings and investments to fund your retirement and other  life plans?
• Do you need to consider any new tax or financial issues?
• What resources do you need to fund any new business plans and how will you get      them?
• Can you make better use of software, Web sites, etc. for managing your accounting tasks and financial resources?

What are the tools and resources that you use for managing your freelance writing business?  Share your resources with others by posting a comment here. 

Use a Web site, not a blog for online promotion

I have read posts on the blogs of some copywriters that they plan to replace their self-promotional Web site with a blog. Certainly it is tempting; a blog is a fast, easy, and cheap way to build a Web presence, especially if you are not a Web developer or proficient in HTML.

However, you will short-change your promotional impact, and perhaps your credibility, if you rely only on a blog for online marketing of your copywriting services. A blog simply has too many limitations:

• It can be hard to guide visitors through the pages, which is important for building your message and telling your story

• The dates typically attached to blog posts can make information seem outdated.

• Most readers expect short entries in blog posts; they are more willing to read lengthier text on a Web page.

• Because blogs have the tradition of being online diaries, you may be tempted to post too much information about your personal life, opinions, and other non-work-related topics. And those posts may not be perceived positively by clients. (You don’t have to post on MySpace or YouTube to embarrass yourself.) And if you allow comments by others on your posts, you may inadvertently create more opportunities for embarrassment.

• Blog clutter--sidebar links, feed buttons, etc.--distract visually from your message.

• If you are using one of the standard blog templates, you have less flexibility for visual design and page layout than a Web page. Yes, you can customize many parts of a blog, but then you’re getting into the realm of HTML and you might as well go with a Web page.

The biggest factor to consider is whether clients will consider you to be a true professional as they look at your blog. Because blogs have the tradition of being online diaries, you may be tempted to post too much information about your personal life, opinions, and other non-work-related topics. And those posts may not be perceived positively by clients. (You don’t have to post on MySpace or YouTube to embarrass yourself.) If you allow comments by others on your posts, you may inadvertently create more opportunities for embarrassment.

Have you created a blog that successfully replaces a Web site for marketing your copywriting services? Do you have other insights about creating a blog that conveys your professionalism to prospective clients?