Client Hunting Handbook

elance Bloggers
The Freelance Bloggers Client Hunting Handbook
2013 Sophie Lizard of Be a Freelance Blogger
The Freelance Bloggers

Client Hunting Handbook
This handbook started out as a series of cheat sheets for students of The Freelance
Bloggers Client Hunting Masterclass, but its grown into a valuable standalone resource
with contributions from several guest experts.
By the end of this handbook, if you put everything explained here into
action, youll be able to find better clients and attract higher-paying gigs.
Some people use the Client Hunting Handbook as a low-cost way to study the lessons of
the Client Hunting Masterclass under their own direction. If youve already tried that
approach and decided you prefer more support with your studies, here are 3 ways to get
extra help with the topics in this Handbook:
1. Sign up for the next fully-guided Freelance Bloggers Client Hunting Masterclass
to get lifetime access to the growing library of training videos and bonus
resources, along with personalised support and optional one-to-one mentoring.
When you sign up, Ill refund any money youve already paid me for this
copy of the Client Hunting Handbook (just email me your payment
confirmation to get it refunded).
2. Make time for one-to-one mentoring and Ill walk you through the course live via
Skype, Google Hangouts or phone.
3. Join one of our monthly $20 group mentoring sessions to get your questions
answered live in a small group with other freelance bloggers.
Before we get going, let me quickly give thanks to all the guest contributors who let me
include their writings in this Handbook:
Social media expert and digital strategist Alexis Grant [AlexisGrant.com]
Artisanal content creator Dana Sitar [WritersBucketList.com]
Copywriter and blogger Francesca Nicasio [Credible Copywriting]
Freelance writer and YA fiction author Lauren Tharp [LittleZotz Writing]
Publishing industry blogger Leslie Lee Sanders [LeslieLeeSanders.com]
Web content creator Nicholas Whitmore [ContentWriting.org]
Freelance writer and sci-fi author Robert Jennings [TheFreelanceRider.com]
Web content writer Sarah Russell [Write Your Revolution]
Enormous thanks to Ramiro Roman, Jr., who created the nifty cover art for this ebook,
and Matt Lewis, who took care of the layout and formatting.
One more thing: there are some affiliate links in this Handbook. I put an asterisk (like
this*) next to each one, so if you care about that kind of thing you can tell which are
which. Cool? Cool.
OK. Enough chit-chat.
This is the handbook to hunting down better clients with bigger budgets.
And its in your hands.
Go!
Sophie Lizard
Be a Freelance Blogger
Chapter 1: How to Build Your Website

A freelance blogger's core service is digital content creation. To get hired, you
need to demonstrate that you understand digital content and do it well. Your entire
website is a demonstration, so prove yourself as quickly and powerfully as possible.
If you havent got any kind of website yet, start now. You dont have to spend a lot of
money; check out the resource links in this chapter for tools and advice.
The Layers of a Website

Any website has 4 layers that serve different purposes:
1. Skeleton: the basic structure of your website. You really only need 2 pages: an
About page to explain what you do, and a portfolio page to show your clips.
2. Meat: the content you put on each page (see the checklist below for more details
about what to include).
3. Skin: your visual design and styling, for example your website layout, fonts,
graphics and so on, which also influence potential clients.
4. Connectivity: your email address, Skype, phone number, social networks, social
sharing buttons, email subscriber list. comment boxes and anything else people
can use via your website to avoid losing touch with you.
User Experience Checklist: How Your Site Looks and Works

Use this checklist to analyse the skin and functionality of your site.
Content Checklist: What to Put on Your Freelancer Site

On your About page
Make it all about what you do for your clients.
Tell them what they're looking for and what they need.
Explain why you've got it and how they can get it from you.
Add a photo or video of yourself and a short professional bio.
On your Portfolio or Samples page

Show only your best work.
Have an objective in mind for your portfolio.
Be consistent in your layout and formatting (a plugin will help).
If youve got no published samples, or your clips are less than impressive, try
guest blogging* on a few good websites to collect more prestigious samples.
Other pages you might choose to add

Home: showcasing your best work and the services you most want to sell.
Testimonials: with specific and unique feedback from clients. Put them
anywhere! For tips on collecting awesome testimonials, check out the resources
section.
Contact or Hire Me: with email address and Skype or phone. Add this info to
your sites sidebar or footer as well so that its easy to find on every page.
Services & Rates: establish your expertise and the clients expectations.
Blog: having one on your business website is nice, but guest blogging on a betterknown blog will probably benefit you more.
Why Your Freelancing Face Scares Clients Away

When you decided to become a freelance blogger and work via the internet, you
probably never thought your looks would matter.
But they do. Potential clients judge you on appearance, and some of them are backing
off because they don't like what they see. Gods, it's like being back in high school.
So why is freelance blogging such a beauty pageant? Because, duh, you're selling
something. People buy with their senses and emotions, so when you're
selling, visuals are just as important as words.
Before you get all uppity: I'm not saying you're ugly.
Your "freelancing face" might benefit from a makeover, though. I'm talking about your
portfolio site.
Yes, You Need a Professional Website

You can get started without an online portfolio, but you'll need one sooner or later. The
sooner the better, really, because it'll help you get off the starting line.
To clarify why it's worth investing time and money into your freelancer
website even when you haven't earned a ton of blogging cash yet, imagine two
new freelance bloggers: Angelina and Brad. They're both gorgeous, but it's their websites
we're worried about.
Angelina and Brad both responded to the same job ad on Problogger last week. Neither
of them has any paid blogging experience, but they've both got years of experience in the
industry this blog covers.
Today, the guy who posted that ad is going through the applications.
He needs a blogger who knows the industry inside out, so Angelina and Brad both have
the background to do a good job despite their lack of freelance experience.
So he visits Angelina's website.

It looks polished and professionally
designed, with a homepage layout that
draws attention to her best work and
testimonials.
The portfolio page shows small images
of Angelina's few clips from unpaid
writing work, laid out neatly along with a headline and a paragraph of description for
each item.
Then Hiring Guy goes to Brad's site. The first thing he notices is a large, not particularly
relevant header image that he recognises: it's the one that comes included with the blog
theme Brad's using.
Brad's homepage is a blog-style page of posts. Each post describes and links to one of
Brad's unpaid writing clips. Hiring Guy can't see a "Portfolio" link anywhere, but he sure
as hell wishes he could look through Brad's samples without clicking in and out of each
post. His eyes keep getting drawn to an ad in the sidebar that blinks different colours
with epilepsy-inducing frequency.
Hiring Guy can't take any more. He hits backspace and hires Angelina. And you
would've done the same.
Look Good to Get Hired

The slicker the appearance and user experience of your website, the better your chance
of being chosen over other bloggers with similar skills and knowledge.
Your website's design, layout, and other visual cues help potential clients decide that
yes, this looks like a professional blogger who can handle an important project:
Don't clutter your site with endless advertising, low-quality clips, or random
stock images of "business-y stuff".
Laser-focus your homepage to show off your best testimonials and most
lucrative services.
Create a one-stop portfolio where potential clients can get a swift overview of
your clips, with links to the full-length posts.
Use colour selectively to draw attention to the things you want people to
notice.
Be readable. Choose a font that's clear and large enough to read from a distance
without squinting.
Even if your website looks slick, a potential client still wants to see your human face as
well. They need to feel like they know you at least a little bit, and your mugshot helps to
give them a sense of your personality. So...
Show Yourself
Obvious: add at least one clear, welllit photo of yourself to your
professional website.
Put it in the header, in the sidebar, or
somewhere else that's visible on every
page. If that seems like overkill to you,
then at least make sure there's a photo of
you on your About page.
Less obvious: consider the background and props in your photo.
When clients see you with added contextholding a dainty teacup, say, or standing in
front of a giant world mapthey subconsciously trust you more. They feel those little
clues to your personality and interests make you no longer a total stranger.
As the saying goes, people buy from people. Give your website visitors a sense of who
you are and a user experience that shows you mean business.
Yes, you have to spend a small amount of money to set up web hosting* and your own
domain name registration*.
You might even decide to pay someone to get everything looking good, though you can
do it yourself if youre prepared to learn a few new skills. But it doesn't have to cost a
huge amount to maximise your chances of getting hired via your website.
If you dont have a business website, I can pretty much guarantee youll make less
money as a freelance blogger. And if you do have a website, I guarantee theres at least
one or two things you could improve.
Make your site shine.
[This post was originally published at Be a Freelance Blogger. Feel free to visit and
share your thoughts in the comments.]
Images: MyTudut, ginnerobot
What Your Freelance Blogging Portfolio Says

About You: How Clients Decide Who to Hire
Does the thought of a potential client checking out your freelance blogging portfolio
make you so nervous, you get the hiccups?
When you're freelancing, your portfolio is one of your biggest assets. It can get you hired
on the spot, or dumped on the pile of instantly forgotten applicants who failed to
impress.
So let's ask the obvious question: what does your portfolio say about you?
It's a tough question to answer for yourself, and there isn't always someone around
who's qualified to give a second opinion. (Your parents and friends will always tell you
that your freelance blogging portfolio looks great - that's their job!)
Only your potential clients and blog editors really know what goes through their minds
when they look at your portfolio.
And the biggest problem with that is, you don't often get feedback from the
people who chose not to hire you. So you'll never know why they made that
decision, or how you could have used your portfolio to win the dream gig that got away.
This might make me sound kinda mean, but as a professional blog editor I've rejected
pitches from a lot of freelance bloggers whose portfolios weren't up to scratch.
They weren't all bad bloggers in fact, some were already well-paid freelance writers
but without a strong blogging portfolio to support their query or job application, I
simply couldn't justify hiring them.
We don't want that to happen to you, so let's figure out what you can do to make your
portfolio more impressive.
Here's how you look to your potential clients right now:
The Blogger Without a Past

If you don't have a portfolio at all, you
risk being judged unprofessional by the
vast majority of your potential clients.
Don't expect to win a high-paying gig
without some kind of proof that you can
deliver what your client wants!
Here's your best bet to boost your
chances of winning good blogging gigs:
1.
Find yourself some blogging work for clients in your target markets or niches, at
any pay rate (or even as free experience-building work)
2.
Set up a portfolio page on your freelance website, or use a service like LinkedIn or
Contently to hold your portfolio if you don't have a website of your own yet.
3.
Every time one of your posts goes live, add it to your online portfolio.
4.
Next time you query an editor or answer a blogging job ad, invite them to check
out your portfolio and give them the URL.
The Blogger of Broken English

Whatever language you plan to blog in, it
helps if you make sense to your readers!
In this wonderfully global economy, it's
kind of a downer to realise that although
your skills are crazy awesome compared to
the people who live on your block, you're
just one more blogger in a world of millions.
Clients have their business head on when they shortlist freelance blogging
candidates.
It doesn't matter to them if you're a great listener with a friendly personality and a cute
puppy. They don't care that you came top of your class in English at school. When they
look at your portfolio, if they see too many grammatical errors, typos, sentence
fragments, and mangled metaphors, they'll run for the hills.
If you're blogging in English and that isn't your first language, try to find a fluent
English reader who can check over your writing before you submit it! You need to fill
your portfolio with your best work, and demonstrate the same high standard of English
as your blogging competitors.
Even bloggers born and raised in an English-speaking environment don't always use the
language as well as they could. If you suspect that your English language skills might be
letting you down, get a piece of your writing reviewed by a professional and consider
taking a writing class to help boost your blogging skills.
The Hobby Blogger

Are you using your own blog as a portfolio?
Your posts can make great writing samples, but there's
something missing: you need to prove that you can
work with editors and clients.
As a freelance blogger, you may be expected to pitch
ideas for approval before you start writing, or your
client may set a topic and title for you to work with.
You'll work to somebody else's specifications and
deadline, instead of choosing your own path at your
own pace. And your client has to be pleased with the
results, or you lose the chance to win repeat work.
When your potential clients see that your own blog's the only place you've been
published, it leads them to doubt your professional status. They don't want to be the
first to hire you, because newbie freelancers are prone to making mistakes on their first
few jobs.
So what do you do if you're just starting out as a freelance blogger and you don't have
any posts published elsewhere yet? Well, you get some published!
If you haven't got any paying clients yet, get yourself some clips by guest posting on
other blogs that are relevant to your target markets. Guest blogging* is much easier than
you think, and it gives you more credibility as a freelance blogging candidate.
The Pro Freelance Blogger

Do you already have an online portfolio?
Is it good-looking, easy to navigate, and
populated with awesome blog posts that
clients have paid you to write?
Great! Then you don't need me to tell you
that you rock.
A good selection of posts published by paying clients and well-known blogs goes a long
way. It gives your potential clients confidence in your ability and professionalism, as
well as showing them the topics you cover and the types of project you work on.
The only thing that you might have neglected is to tailor your portfolio to attract
the clients and projects you want.
If you're bored of blogging about haircare and you want to find work for gadget blogs
instead, make sure that your portfolio highlights your best technology blogging and hide
all the haircare stuff. Sounds obvious, but a lot of writers simply throw every piece
they've ever created into their portfolio and leave it up to potential clients to dig through
the heap!
If you're ready to take this concept a step further, break your portfolio down into a
selection of sub-portfolios, each targeting a particular type of project or client. Once
that's done, you can refer your leads to the portfolio page that's most likely to appeal to
them.
Even for pro freelance bloggers, there's one more thing to bear in mind when you think
you've got your portfolio all set:
Your Other Portfolio is the Internet

Remember that your work samples aren't
limited to the collection you carefully
curated on your own website.
Your potential clients can choose to get a
rough-and-ready portfolio of your work
simply by searching the internet for your
name and other keywords.
Go ahead, Google yourself right now. I'll wait. How does the first page of the search
results look?
If you don't see yourself anywhere on the first couple of pages, even when you search for
something like "Your Name freelance blogger", then you need to increase your web
presence.
If you do see your own work in the first page or two, which posts have the top rankings?
These are the ones your potential clients are most likely to end up visiting if they look
you up through a search engine. While you're there, check out the image results sometimes the most surprising photos can pop up in image searches!
There's another kind of online portfolio you might not have considered, too: your
social media portfolio.
Freelance blogging clients in 2013 often want to see more than writing samples. They're
looking for a blogger with a ready-made digital audience.
Some of your potential clients will want to know how many social media fans and
followers you have, and how much you promote your freelance blog posts on your own
social profiles. A large and active following can help you to win better blogging gigs at
higher rates of pay!
Whether your portfolio presents you as a pro or an amateur is your call.
It's your portfolio. Take control and make it work for you.
Want some tailor-made tips on how to improve your blogging portfolio? Book a one-toone mentoring session with me to go through your portfolio and plan how you can use it
to boost your blogging career.
Images: dantaylr, Augapfel, jmoneyyyyyyy, bigyahu, Sophie Lizard
Chapter 1 Resources
The One Page of Your Blog That Everyone Wants to Read [BloggingTips]
Why Your Freelance Writer Website Makes You Sound Like an Idiot [Write Your
Revolution]
How to Stop Being a Coward and Get Paid What You Deserve [Firepole
Marketing]
Free guest blogging video series* [from Jon Morrow of Boost Blog Traffic and
GuestBlogging]
HostGator* will transfer your blog posts from WordPress.com to WordPress.org
for you free of charge if youre making a hosting purchase. [I'm an affiliate, which
means I can get you a discount code - just ask me for one!]
Namecheap* lets you register a domain name without hassling you to buy any
extras.
WordPress.org is free and lets you build and customise your own website.
For a step-by-step guide to installing WordPress on Hostgator hosting, watch this
video.
WordPress.com is also free, doesnt require you to buy web hosting, and will let
you build a website on a free domain name like yourname.wordpress.com. You
can upgrade to a custom domain name if you want, too.
7 Practical WordPress Plugins You Shouldnt Do Without [by Client Hunting
Masterclass guest expert Francesca Nicasio at Credible Copywriting]
WEBphysiology Portfolio plugin for WordPress.org is the portfolio management
plugin that Francesca and I both use.
Get instructions here on how to add work samples to your LinkedIn profile.
Heres a blog post with email templates you can use to get great testimonials.
Chapter 2: Where to Find Job Ads

The first thing to realise is that job ads themselves arent what you need. You need
clients. That means you need to know where your ideal clients are likely to advertise.
When it comes to making effective use of these sources of freelance blogging clients, the
most important thing is that you not spend more time looking than you have to. Set up
email alerts or an RSS feed if you can.
Industry Job Boards

Check out Tom Ewers video about how to analyse job ads, and read Sarah Russells
advice (coming up next) about job application mistakes you can easily avoid. Theres a
big list of suggested industry job boards at the end of this chapter for you to check out.
Warning phrases to look out for in a job ad:

Our budget is tight. = We want to pay you a pittance.
Would suit a student or stay-at-home mom. = We wont pay professional rates.
No experience required. = Pay is low and we dont know what were doing.
Great exposure for your writing career. = We dont pay.
Send us a free trial article to be considered. = We dont respect your time.
This is an easy job, I could do it myself but = I dont value writing as a skill.
Freelance Marketplaces
Freelance marketplaces have a bad reputation but you can make them work for you if
you find one that meets these criteria:
1. Has requests for proposals (AKA ads) at a budget that meets your needs.
2. Provides an easy-to-use search facility that lets you filter by budget.
3. Lets you build up feedback and testimonials to boost your proposals power.
4. Lets you set up email notifications or RSS feeds for the job types or project
budget ranges that interest you.
The only marketplace I use is People Per Hour. The upside of a good freelance
marketplace is the customer care, which should be just as caring for freelancers as for
the people who hire them. The other upside is convenience; when you find yourself with
an empty day or two, a freelance marketplace can be a good way to fill the gap with a
short one-off job.
Open Calls for Contributions

These have no expiry date, so you simply send a pitch when youre ready. To find open
calls for a specific site, look for a Contribute or Write for Us page or check their
About and Contact pages. Also, download the Ultimate List of Better-Paid Blogging Gigs
if you havent already got a copy.
Use the templates on the next two pages to make it easier when you write an email in
response to a job ad or a marketplace project.
TEMPLATE: Job Board Application
SUBJECT LINE: [TYPE OF BLOGGER] blogger application

Hi [NAME],
Your ad at [PLACE YOU SAW AD] immediately caught my attention. Im a freelance
blogger with experience in [YOUR RELEVANT EXPERIENCE] and Id love to work with
you.
Check out my portfolio at [YOUR PORTFOLIO URL] or take a look at these recent
publications to see some of my work:
[LIST URLs FOR 3 RELEVANT CLIPS]
Let me know if you need any extra information about me before you make a hiring
decision. Im looking forward to working with you.
Best,
[YOUR NAME]
TEMPLATE: Marketplace Proposal
Hi [NAME IF YOU KNOW IT],

I'd love to [WHATEVER THE PROJECT IS]. I have many years of experience in [YOUR
EXPERIENCE]; please see my portfolio at [YOUR PORTFOLIO URL] and testimonials
at [TESTIMONIALS URL IF YOU HAVE ONE]..
My fee is [FEE AMOUNT] per [hour/article/week/whatever]. This includes [WHATS
INCLUDED IN YOUR FEE], and turnaround time is typically [HOW LONG IT WILL
TAKE YOU]. To get us started, Ill request a deposit of [YOUR UPFRONT DEPOSIT
AMOUNT].
If you have any questions, let me know! I look forward to learning more about your
business and making a start on this project.
Best,
[YOUR NAME]
7 Job Board Mistakes that Compel Clients to

Reject You
Its not exactly a secret that one of the easiest places to find freelance blogging gigs is on
popular industry job boards.
That said, why is it that some people seem to luck out and secure the cream of the crop
jobs, while others apply time and time again without seeing any results?
In fact, it might not be your skills that are
preventing you from getting hired.
If youre making any of the following
mistakes, your odds of gaining new
clients go down significantly so get your
act together ASAP!
Mistake #1: Not following instructions given in the listing

Ive been working online since 2007 and in that time, Ive both built a freelance writing
career finding jobs on freelance job boards and used these resources myself to hire
writers for personal and corporate projects.
So as somebody whos seen both sides of the job board coin, let me tell you that one of
the most frustrating things you can do is to not follow instructions that are explicitly
stated in the listing.
Often, when I post a job, Im looking for somebody with specific experience which is
why Ill ask applicants to describe their past work on the subject or to share examples
highlighting their work in a certain way. And yet, at least half of the responses I receive
come from writers who have copied and pasted a template response into the message.
Yes, having stock responses makes it easy to apply for more jobs in less time but you
arent likely to get any jobs at all if you frustrate the person doing the
hiring. If a listing asks you to provide some specific information or take some certain
action, do it no ifs, ands or buts.
Mistake #2: Not matching your tone to the listing or the client
Lets say youre applying for a freelance gig with a legal firm you found on your favorite
job board. Im hoping you wouldnt start your application with, Whaddup,
legal dawg? but Ive seen stranger things happen.
So, lets kick this mistake to the curb once and for all.
Freelance writers need to be able to handle drafting content using a wide variety of tones
and voices. Your first chance to show off your ability to do so comes in your job listing
response, so make it a habit to check the hiring companys website and match the tone
of your application to what you find on their pages.
Mistake #3 Not including relevant samples with your query

If you take nothing else from this article, make it a point to remember that the people
posting writing gigs on freelance job boards can receive hundreds upon hundreds of
responses to their listings.
As a result, its up to you to distinguish yourself and show these hiring agents that
youre the right person for the job!
One of the easiest ways to do this is to include blog post samples with your response
letter that are as closely targeted to the job youre applying for as possible.
Say, for example, that youre applying for a job writing mobile app reviews for a tech
blog. In this case, sending samples from your past work in the personal finance niche
might show off your writing abilities, but it still forces the reviewer to make the mental
leap of determining whether or not your style will translate to this second niche. And
again, the fewer mental leaps that hiring agents need to make, the better
your chances of securing job board gigs will be!
If you dont have relevant samples in the niche youre applying to, you can always write
up a quick sample article to send along (though doing so for every job you apply to could
become tedious).
If youd rather not take this extra step, consider adding a statement to your response
message that spells out any past experience you have with the new field and explains
how well your writing style will translate. Doing so will take the guesswork out of
matching things up on the part of the reviewer.
Mistake #4 Addressing your query generically

This one goes back to traditional job seeking advice, so you probably already know that
its best to address all of your application materials to an actual person rather than to
a generic, To Whom It May Concern title.
To do this consistently, you may need to do a little digging, as job board hiring agents
dont always include their full names on their posts.
But Ive always found that the extra time needed to either search the hiring
companys website for a contact name or reach out to company
representatives for this information is time well spent, as it lets me form a more
personal connection with application reviewers right off the bat.
Oh and can we all agree to stop addressing responses with Dear Sir?
Maybe its a petty, small thing, but as a lady who does an awful lot of writer hiring, its a
huge turnoff!
Mistake #5 Using unprofessional contact information

Lets just nip this one in the bud
If your application comes from an email address like
sweetbaby69@yahoo.com or highman420@gmail.com, Im deleting
your response without reading it.
If you want to be taken seriously as a professional blogger, step up and register for your
own writers website URL. Then, use a customized, domain-specific email address like
sarah@arborbusinesswriting.com to send your job board response messages.
Building a website is cheap and easy to do these days, so theres no reason not to take
this important business step.
Mistake #6 Not applying right away

Usually, when people post to job boards to hire writers, they do so because they need
help and they needed it yesterday.
Im totally guilty of this, but its often difficult to plan ahead and source writers before
you need them. As a result, if I get a great response within the first hour or two of my
listing going live, Im not going to sit around and wait to see who else replies. Im going
to hire that writer so that I can get back on track as quickly as possible!
If you see a hot job listing, dont wait to apply. Make it a priority to check in to
your favorite boards at least once a day and then drop everything (as much as possible)
to respond to the gigs you really want.
Sure, you might encounter listings that wont hire until a few weeks later, but if you
catch a hiring agent whos pressed for time, youll set yourself up to be in the right place
at the right time by applying right away.
Mistake #7 Not demonstrating your enthusiasm for the job

Finally, remember that people want to work with the people who want to work with
them! Its human nature to gravitate towards those who demonstrate interest and
excitement for our projects, so make it a point to state exactly why youre interested in a
particular job in your response letter.
You dont have to go over the top here, but you should make it a point to let the reviewer
know what exactly about the position interests you and how specifically you plan to help
the hiring agent. As an example, try something like this:
[Your topic] has always been something thats fascinated me, and Im sure I
could put my past experience and knowledge of the subject into practice in
articles that will help your blog to attract even more highly-engaged visitors.
Simple, sweet, to-the-point and guaranteed to make your application stand out from the
tons of more generic responses the listing reviewer will receive. Give it a try today and
see if your application success rate doesnt immediately improve!
Obviously, these are just my experiences so your mileage may vary. However, they're
mistakes Ive encountered repeatedly when hiring out thousands of dollars worth
of paid writing work, and avoiding them has helped me to secure as much as $5,000
a month in job board work.
Im guessing theres at least one thing in this list that you can use to improve your own
job board success.
Which mistake is your worst habit? Can you think of any other job board mistakes to
avoid?
[This guest post by Sarah Russell was originally published at Be a Freelance Blogger.
Feel free to visit and share your thoughts in the comments.]
About the author:

Sarah Russell (@writeearnchange) is a full-time web content writer and freelance
blogging coach. Get even more of her powerful business-building strategies at Write
Your Revolution or discover the techniques she used to go from making $12/article to as
much as $250/post in her Escape the Content Mills guide.
Image: Jill
How to Avoid Getting Played by Your Clients

You might think getting ripped off by a client is something that only happens to newbie
freelance bloggers.
You'd be wrong.
I hear from a lot of experienced bloggers who are still having bad experiences with
clients, time after time. Why does this keep happening?
Often, it keeps happening because you keep trusting in people you have absolutely no
reason to trust. Sometimes you just don't spot the warning signs. Sometimes you spot
them, but you keep going anyway because you don't really know what else to do.
I've been played by bad clients a couple of times. I know how it feels when you're
halfway through a project and you get that sudden feeling of impending doom. Your gut
tells you to run for the hills, but you're too busy worrying about your money and your
reputation to act on that instinct.
And so, you get fooled again.
Learn these lessons now, and you won't have to suffer the same thing later.
History Repeats Itself

A client who treats one freelancer or
employee badly is likely to give everyone
the same lack of respect, so investigate
before you accept a gig.
Check with other freelancers to see if
they can tell you anything about your
potential client.
This is where your networks come in handy - tap a members' club like the
Freelance Writers Den* or Freelance Writers Academy for information, or
ask an open community like Freelance Bloggers on Google+.
Look the company up online and check out their consumer reviews, too; bad customer
care is a warning sign that they probably don't care about the people they work with
either. If word of mouth is bad, don't waste your time - move on to brighter prospects.
History Doesn't Always Repeat Itself

A client who paid you last month won't necessarily keep paying this month. Any
business can hit a bump, and if things are getting tight then a freelance blogger's
paycheck is low on their list of priorities.
Protect your income with advance payments or escrow deposits whenever
you can. Even a 50% advance payment doesn't mean you'll get the other 50% at the end
of the job, so make sure you've got a written agreement with your client about how and
when you'll get your final payment.
Likewise, the projects you have now may not even exist next month. Clients can change
tactics, stop blogging, or start publishing posts written by their new marketing intern.
Blogs can go under in the blink of an eye. If that happens, you don't want to be left
waiting on a payment that never comes, so be wary of a client who keeps you in the dark
about how their business is doing.
No Free Lunch
After seeing a million requests for free trials in job ads across the internet, you might
think an unpaid, custom-written sample piece is the new industry standard. And yep, I
suppose that's exactly what it is: Free trials are standard for clients who care
more about cutting costs than about hiring the best blogger.
A good client believes that your time and your work have value. They don't expect
professionals to spend time writing free trial posts.
If someone asks you for a free trial piece, there's only one reason to agree: if it's such a
great gig that you'd be happy to do it for free all the time. So if Wired is looking for
bloggers then hell yeah, I'll do a free trial! Otherwise, the best response is to politely tell
them your rate for the type of trial piece they want.
This approach also helps you to avoid a dirtier scam: some blogs ask for free trial pieces
and expect to publish them without paying the blogger. Often, they don't even tell you
they published your work. Don't get caught up in this trapit's a waste of your time
when you could be earning real money with a real client.
Take a Step Back

When you're offered a cool-sounding gig, it's easy to get overexcited. Yay you! Let's
celebrate!
No. Take a step back and check what you've really got:
Full contact information? If you don't know your client's business name,
phone number and mailing address, ask for them before you start work. An email
address or Skype username isn't enough if your client suddenly stops answering
your messages.
Project description and scope? If your client hasn't provided all the details
you need to understand the job and get it done, ask for the rest of the information
now. Make sure you've defined what you will and won't be doing, as well as
deadlines for delivery and for payment, before you take on a project that could
grow out of control.
A good hourly rate equivalent? The thought of a $200 blog post each week is
delightful, but what if that blog post is 2000 words long and involves
interviewing five different experts for half an hour each? Estimate the amount
you expect to make per hour on the project - that's the number you need to focus
on to avoid getting ripped off.
Take a Step Up
The higher up the freelance blogging career ladder you climb, the more great clients you
find. Once you get close to the top, they're everywhere!
But the question on your mind is, how do I get there?
Simple: get someone who's already up there to give you a hand.
Someone like me.
Are you ready to take a step up?
Come and join us!
Image: Alan Cleaver
Chapter 2 Resources
Download The Ultimate List of Better-Paid Blogging Gigs
Watch Tom Ewers video about How to Spot Viable Freelance Writing
Opportunities on Job Boards
Problogger Jobs Board
Gorkana Jobs
JournalismJobs
Mediabistro
FlexJobs
BloggingPro Jobs Board
Freelance Writing Gigs
SoloGig Jobs Board
LinkedIn
Facebook 4 Freelancers
SF Bay Craigslist
People Per Hour freelance marketplace
Freelance Writers Den is the home of the Junk-Free Job Board; Im a member
and an affiliate.
Write Your Revolution is Sarah Russells blog for freelance web writers.
Chapter 3: Make the Most of Social

Theres only one social media strategy: post what helps. If youre helping yourself,
your potential clients, your fellow freelancers and writers, or your role models, go ahead
and post.
Dont get hung up fussing over your social media profiles. All that matters is that you
look like a decent person and a professional blogger. So
Use a good clear headshot photo, and smile!
Write a bio that shows off your skills and personality
Link to your portfolio website from your profile
Promote and share other peoples work so you dont look like a selfish ass
Hunt for Clients on LinkedIn

Use LinkedIn to reach out with queries. Connect with your past clients and co-workers,
ask for recommendations, and add some of your best clips into your profile.
Use the LinkedIn jobs board, join relevant groups and consider using InMail to reach
out to someone youd like to get to know.
Hunt for Clients on Twitter

Here are a few Twitter tips from guest expert Alexis Grant:
Learn as you go. Twitter isnt too complicated.
Youll find more and better clients through referrals than job ads on Twitter.
Network within your industry and with other freelancers.
Dont be too self-promoting; offer interesting, valuable information.
Use @mentions to help people notice you talked about them or to them.
When you tweet your links, say whats at the other end and why it matters.
Add an interesting bio that explains what you do, and link to your website.
Alexis offers an email-based training called Become a Twitter Power User* thats simple
but really gets you moving fast. If youre thinking about offering social media services to
clients, check out her guide to making social media your part-time business*.
Hunt for Clients on Facebook

Find potential clients and gigs via
Your status updates [unlikely, but it happens]
Their status updates [personal profile or Facebook page]
Facebook groups for writers and freelancers
Referrals from people you know via Facebook
Your business Facebook page as So-and-So, Professional Blogger
Hunt for Clients on YouTube

Use the power of the 2nd biggest search engine
Check out your dream clients video marketing, tutorials and other video content
to research your query or LOI.
Upload your own short videos on topics that would interest your ideal client. Use
strong titles, tags and descriptions.
Keep an eye out for video ads or announcements for new ventures that may need
a blog writer.
Hunt for Clients on Google+

Link your profile to your posts to see your photo, name and a More by link in search
results. Heres an example from Googles authorship checking tool:
This may (depending on what Google decides to do with it) help some of your posts to
show up higher in Google search results if Google believes youre a trustworthy
blogger. More info in the resources section!
To get leads and referrals, join relevant Google+ communities such as Freelance
Bloggers. Add people to your Google+ circles and post updates that show your interests
and expertise.
Type a plus sign followed by a name in your status update to let someone know you
shared their work, or to get the attention of someone youve mentioned in the blog post
youre linking to.
How You Can Use Twitter to Land Freelance Gigs

Heres a question youve probably asked at some point:
Can Twitter really help me find more work, or is it just a waste of time and energy?
The truth is, Twitter can help you fill your plate with awesome freelance jobs and put
more money in the bank... but maybe not the way youre thinking.
Sure, you can seek out freelance gigs on Twitter. You can search hashtags and watch
your lists and hope that youll be sitting in front of your computer, staring at your
Twitter feed, when your dream employer tweets, We want to hire a freelance blogger.
But the chances of that happening are pretty small. The chances of you noticing that a
companys hiring someone with your skills and then actually landing that gig are small
not because you wont discover those opportunities, but because a thousand other
people will discover them at the same time.
Thats why rather than using Twitter as an outbound marketing tool, where you reach
out to others, you should use it for inbound marketing instead, helping potential clients
find you.
So how do you help people find you on Twitter, and how do you turn those potentials
into paying clients? Here are a few tips:
Be Your Awesome Self

Twitter is your chance to show the world that you know what youre talking about,
without waiting for anyone to give you permission to get up on the podium. So dont be
shy about sharing your expertise!
That doesnt mean you can only tweet links to your own portfolio. Part of your
awesomeness is your network, and how keyed in you are to the industry you write about,
so tweet plenty of helpful links to resources in that field.
The fact that you know your stuff, not to mention other people in the space, is attractive
to anyone who might consider hiring you.
Have a Home Base

Once people see how awesome you are, theyre going to want to find out more about
you. In fact, they wont hire you until they do. So you need to have a place where they
can do that, one thats featured prominently on your Twitter profile. You want to make it
easy for them to take the relationship one step further.
For most writers, that home base is a blog, but it doesnt have to be. It could be your
LinkedIn profile. Or an About.me page. Or a succinct profile on any of the million
portfolio sites out there (here are a few examples of portfolio sites for journalists).
If you dont have some way for curious parties to find out more about you,
your strengths and your services, youll never convert your Twitter effort into clients.
Make Smart Connections

Networking on Twitter is great, but you know whats even better? Strategic networking.
We all love serendipitous Twitter connections, where you meet an intriguing new friend
or professional contact (or in my case, a boyfriend!). But true Twitter power users
are far more strategic with the platform, finding ways to connect with specific
people who will help them reach their goals.
One way to do this is by creating a private Notice-Me list, and then looking for ways to
interact with people on that list through RTs, @replies, @mentions and eventually
Direct Messages.
Having a target list of people to meet will help you focus your efforts on social media,
so you know what tangible steps you should take to reach your goals. It will also help
you measure your progress and really see the return on your investment. If you follow
through on this, youll never feel like Twitter is a waste of time.
Use the @Mention

And use it properly! This sounds simple, but it will go so far toward building your
network.
Take every possible opportunity to @mention publications, companies, and most
importantly, individuals, and theyll be far more likely to notice you exist. Then, if your
feed is quality, theyll notice how awesome you are. Then theyll hop over to your home
base. Do you see where were going with this?
That person who noticed you might not hire you at that very moment, but if you stand
out in some way, they will remember you down the line. Theyll think of you when a
friend mentions his company needs a copywriter, or when their boss says its time to
find a freelance blogger. Thats when you want to be top of mind.
So rather than trying to find freelance gigs on Twitter, focus on helping
potential clients find you. It takes some legwork and some smarts, but its far more
effective in the long run.
[This guest post by Alexis Grant was originally published at Be a Freelance Blogger.
About the author:

Alexis Grant is an entrepreneurial writer and digital strategist. Check out her emailbased course, Become a Twitter Power User*.
How Facebook Helps You Find Blogging Jobs

You're on Facebook. I'm on Facebook. Everybody is.
So it stands to reason that your potential clients are probably on Facebook too.
Which means Facebook must be a great place to find new freelance blogging clients,
right?
Except... well, how many people do you know who've found a high-paying freelance
blogging client via Facebook?
I don't know many. And when I Googled "how to find blogging jobs on Facebook", all I
got was a big list of generic jobseeking tips.
The few people I have seen successfully working Facebook for clients, though, they've
got it all figured out. I've found a couple of good gigs through FB myself, too. So I've
gathered together some of the tactics that worked for me, along with tips from other
bloggers who've hunted down freelance gigs through Facebook.
Ready? Here we go...
Join Relevant Facebook Communities

Whether they're "Groups", "Pages", or
unofficial "Communities", Facebook has
plenty of places where freelance writers
and bloggers gather to chat and swap job
leads.
I've found more than one client through small private Facebook groups as well as big
public ones, so don't feel that you have to join the biggest communities--their
relevance to your ideal gig is more important than their size.
Facebook for Freelancers is a popular Facebook Page that's frequently updated with
freelance blogging and writing job ad links from all over the internet. By "Liking" the
page, you'll be able to get new leads in your Facebook News Feed instead of having to go
out hunting for them. Not all the gigs they list pay as much as those in the Ultimate List
of Better-Paid Blogging Gigs, but this is a good way to save yourself some time and effort
seeking out job ads.
I post blogging job ads on the Be a Freelance Blogger Facebook Page from time to time
as well, so if you're looking for somewhere to start, come and join in there!
Another great Facebook meeting-place for writers of all kinds is the A Writer's Bucket
List Action Team, a semi-private group that encourages you to rock the writing life in
your own style. It's a friendly and supportive group; all you need to do is visit it and ask
to join.
Spend a bit of time each week visiting the Facebook communities you've joined, and feel
free to un-join any that don't seem useful to you after a couple of weeks. You don't need
to spend ages in there; just check in for half an hour, or an hour if you're having fun.
Once you join in a few conversations, you'll start to get friend requests from other
community members. What to do about that is up to you: don't feel obliged to accept
every request you get.
Be Accessible [But Not Too Accessible]

Sometimes people just pop up on my Facebook with an inbox message asking me to
work with them. Usually they contact me via the Be a Freelance Blogger Facebook Page,
but every once in a while I get a message to my personal profile, too.
If you want potential clients to be able to contact you through Facebook,
here are 3 steps to take:
1.
Go to your Facebook, then click on the Settings link (it's usually in the top right
corner) and select Privacy Settings. Facebook changes its privacy setup often, but
right now what you get is a Privacy Settings and Tools page. There, you can
change your settings to let people search for you on Facebook and to let
other search engines index your Facebook timeline updates. Choose the settings
you're comfortable with; mine are wide open, but don't feel you have to do the
same to find clients! There are lots of ways to network without making your every
move on Facebook public.
2.
Look up to the top right corner again, and you'll see a little icon of a padlock with
some lines coming out if its side. Click that to access the Privacy Shortcuts menu,
and the second option within that is "Who can contact me?"--click that and check
that your settings are the way you want them. Choose who can send you a
friend request, and choose between two levels of filtering for your Facebook
inbox.
3.
If you're worried about getting unwanted attention because you've loosened up

your Facebook privacy settings, remember that you can choose to block a
Facebook user from contacting you or seeing any of your updates. Right
now, you do that via this page. [While you're there, you can also block annoying
apps and app invites--win!]
Your personal privacy is one of the reasons this next tip's worth considering:
Create a Facebook Page

You might think your personal
Facebook profile is plenty--after all, you
can say on there that you're a freelance
blogger.
But taking an hour or two to set up a good Facebook Page for your blogging business is
well worth your time. Check out some of the things you can do with it:
Separate work and non-work Facebook contacts. That way you can post businessrelated updates to your page without annoying your personal friends, and post
your personal stuff to your normal profile without showing it all to your clients.
Set up custom tabs that lead visitors straight to your portfolio, your blog or your
"Hire Me" page. Facebook is nice, but getting those leads over to your own
website brings them one more step closer to hiring you!
Create another way for people to find you via search engines--your Facebook
Page might even rank higher in search results than your own website.
Use a custom header image for your business page that's different to your
personal profile's header image. That means you can promote your business in
your header image and include a call to action there, without looking like a dork
to your personal contacts.
Use a profile picture for your business page that's different to your personal
profile picture. So that snap of you laughing like a gibbon on vacation can stay on
your personal profile, while you use your business page to display the image you
want your clients to have of you.
Like other Facebook Pages as your page, which means you can keep your
favourite business-related pages separate from the other pages you like. As a
bonus, the pages you Like as your business might Like you back!
Offer to promote your posts for clients by posting status updates on your profile
or your business page, or both. If you've got a lot of friends and followers, your
potential clients may be more inclined to hire you if social media promotion is
part of your proposal.
At first, your official Facebook Page may not have many Likes. To be honest, Likes are a
vanity thing and not a true indicator of how good a Facebook Page is, but if you want to
get more Likes to boost your confidence then ask your friends if they'd mind Liking your
page. They can always unlike it again later on, when you've picked up more genuine
followers. ;)
Of course, for that to work, you need willing assistants, so...
Have Awesome Facebook Friends

And by awesome, I mean the kind who refer clients to you without you even asking them
to.
The age-old advice to tell all your friends and family you need new clients is still valid.
But even if your aunts and old school friends don't turn up any leads for you, your new
friends are worth their weight in cake.
Those friends you choose to make within the Facebook communities you
visit are much more likely than your childhood friends to send business
your way.
That's because these new friends are in the right social circles to hear about available
blogging and writing jobs. Once they've come to know and like you, they'll be happy to
suggest you to their own friends and contacts if they hear about a job that's a good fit for
you.
Facebook isn't your highway to instant cash, but it isn't a waste of time, either. Like
everything in life, online or offline, it is what you make it.
Make it work for you.
Images: mkhmarketing, Sean MacEntee
Chapter 3 Resources
How I Connected With My Dream Editor on LinkedIn [by Client Hunting

Masterclass student Lisa Baker for Make a Living Writing]
Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile [Social Media Today]
Become a Twitter Power User* [an email-based training course from our guest
social media expert Alexis Grant]
Join the Google+ Freelance Bloggers Community
Find Sophie on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Google+. Also on

Pinterest. Feel free to connect with me!
Here's a walkthrough of how to add your clips to your LinkedIn profile.
LinkedIn for Journalists group [where you can get a free Executive subscription
upgrade]
Other good LinkedIn groups: Writeful Share, Freelance Web Writers,

Professional Bloggers
Take an interactive tour of Twitter to learn all the basics you need to know.
Interested in video creation for yourself or for clients? Read the YouTube Creator
Playbook.
Find out how to set up your Google+ account in this post at Freelance Switch.
Copyblogger has a great series of posts explaining Google Authorship.
Get the How to Build a Part-Time Social Media Business* guide from Alexis
Grant.
Chapter 4: Know What to Say
Theres one thing that can really screw you up: believing that you dont know what to say
to a potential client. You cant sell something you cant explain, so its time to work on
your understanding of why clients buy.
Your client doesnt want to know what you do, they want to know what your work
is going to do for THEM.
Understand What Youre Selling

Figure out the top 5 benefits that you offer for your clients. These are the benefits that
youre strongest on, the ones you can pretty much guarantee, and the ones that make
you a better option than the alternatives.
Your message wont be the same to every potential client; you need to tailor it each time
to suit the client and the project. Put yourself in your target clients shoes and imagine
what they stand to gain by hiring a freelance blogger like you. Research the business and
get to know its vocabulary and style so that you can echo those in your pitch.
Your starting point is where you can confidently say, Youre looking for this and Ive got
it.
Queries, Pitches and LOIs

Pitches and queries are essentially the same thing: a message in which you outline
your idea and ask for an assignment. That means you need to explain what your post
will contain, why its worth publishing and why youre the right person to write it.
A letter of introduction, or LOI, is a message in which you introduce yourself, your

services and your credentials, but instead of pitching an article idea you leave it open for
the client to let you know what theyd like.
Concrete evidence of the results your blogging service has delivered for previous clients
is highly impressive in a query or LOI, because it shows that you know the business side
of blogging as well as the writing side. If you cant provide evidence of results, give
evidence of your expertise instead.
Remember, your email wont get read if it never gets opened, so choose your subject
line with care. Try something simple like Freelance writer introduction.
End your message with a call to action: a question or request phrased in a way
your client will respond to.
On the next couple of pages Im giving you ready-written templates that you can adapt
and use for your own messages. As you gain confidence, youll start to make them your
own, and with practice youll write them easily even without a template.
TEMPLATE: Query Letter
[SUBJECT LINE:] Freelance writer query: [YOUR PROPOSED POST TITLE]

Dear [THEIR NAME],
I'm a [THEIR BLOG NAME] reader and freelance blogger specialising in [YOUR
SPECIALISM]. I'd like to contribute an article for [BLOG NAME] on the topic of [TOPIC
IN A FEW WORDS]. Heres a brief outline of my idea.
Title: [YOUR PROPOSED POST TITLE]
[YOUR INTENDED OPENING PARAGRAPH.]
Outline:
[BULLETED LIST OF THE KEY POINTS YOULL MAKE, IN ORDER]
My bylines include [RELEVANT PLACES YOUVE BEEN PUBLISHED] and I have
[OTHER RELEVANT QUALITIES, EXPERIENCE OR KNOWLEDGE].
May I write this post for [BLOG NAME]?
Best,
[YOUR NAME]
TEMPLATE: Letter of Introduction
[SUBJECT LINE:] Freelance writer introduction

Dear [THEIR NAME],
As a frequent [THEIR BLOG NAME] reader, Im curious: do you accept contributions
from freelance writers, or are articles like [RECENT ARTICLE TITLE] all created by
staff writers?
Im a freelance blogger specialising in [YOUR SPECIALISM] with blogging bylines at
[RELEVANT PLACES YOUVE BEEN PUBLISHED]. I reliably deliver [THE BENEFITS
YOU BRING] for my clients, and Id like to do the same for you.
May I send you more details and a couple of sample blog posts?
Best,
[YOUR NAME]
4 Query Mistakes That Kill Your Client's Interest

Its a lot easier to get a potential client to ignore you than it is to get a response.
Frustrating, isn't it? You send query after query, and half the time you don't even get a
reply.
If I had a nickel for every time one of my query letters was ignored, I'd have almost
$7.50 by now.
Its practically impossible to get a response out of every query you send.
There are a few simple mistakes you might be making, though, that make it even more
likely you'll get ignored. Things like:
Mistake #1: Being Pushy

Have you ever been told what to do by
someone you dont know?
Doesnt matter who it is, or where it
happens. Its annoying. Sometimes, its
downright maddening.
And your first instinct is usually to blow
them off. After all, you know what youre
doing, and you dont need them telling
you how to do it better, right?
The same thing happens to clients who read queries full of what they perceive as
demands. In case you were wondering, thats not the reaction youre looking for.
Instead of this:
You need me to write your blog. My knowledge of your company makes me the
best candidate for the position. Call me, and well discuss my rates.
Try this:
I believe my expertise in your field will bring a lot of value to your blog and your
readers. Call me at XXX-XXXX if youd like to talk further.
Mistake #2: Being Terse

As a blogger, its easy to get sucked into the less is more theory of content writing.
Everywhere you look, you read articles that tell you how short the average Internet
users attention span is, and that your blog posts should be no more than three words if
you want readers to take in the whole thing.
That may be true. But it doesnt apply here.
The client to whom youre submitting the query is looking for someone to fill a position,
so he needs to know what youre capable of. A single sentence telling him how much you
want to write his blog is just going to get deleted.
Remember that, while you may not be submitting a formal resume, youre still applying
for a job. You want to let the client know if you have any experience in his field. Links to
your own blog or to relevant blogs that youve written for are also useful.
Instead of this:
I saw your ad and I think Id be a great addition to your blogging team. If youre
interested, email me at me@mywebsite.com.
Try this:
I saw your ad, and I think Id be a great addition to your blogging team. I have a
Ph.D. in underwater basket weaving, and I believe I could bring a lot of value to
your readers.
Ive blogged about basket weaving, both underwater and dry-land, at
BeWeavers.com, WeaveGotTheFunk.net, and my own blog, BredBaskets.com.
Here are links to a few of my best performing pieces
Mistake #3: Being Wordy

Okay, expertise: great. Life story: not so much.
A client needs to know that youre capable of doing the job, but she really
doesnt need to know much more than that.
In most cases, youre dealing with someone whos extremely busy, and she doesnt have
time to read a 2,000-word essay on what makes you the ideal candidate. If you want her
to know youre a good writer, give her links to good clips. The query letter is not the
place to demonstrate your writing ability.
Ideally, a query letter should run between 100 and 200 words, unless its a highly
technical blog and the owner is asking for a lot of expertise. In that case, its okay to let
her know that youre qualified, no matter how long it takes.
Instead of this:
When I was three years old, my father and I sat down and wove our first basket
together. Since that day, Ive known that I wanted to be a weaver. When I started
primary school
Try this:
I started weaving baskets at an early age. Its always been my passion. My
baskets have won awards in both the traditional weave and left-handed weave
categories in all six of the major world competitions.
Pictures of my baskets can be viewed on both my blog, BredBaskets.com, and at
the National Weavers Guild website at this link: NWG.org/best-of-2013/
I have much to teach weavers, from beginning to advanced, and would love the
chance to share my knowledge with your readers. Please email me if youd like to
talk further.
Mistake #4: Being Self-Deprecating

This one is my pet peeve. Its not cute, and its not humble.
And worse, its the last stinkin thing you want to do when youre applying for a position.
Why in the world would you tell a prospective client how youre not
qualified to do the job?
There will be times when you apply to write for a blog that you genuinely dont have any
qualifications for. Thats okay. Youre a fast learner, and you can pick it up on the fly.
Plus, youre good at researching, so you can write like an expert in no time.
So, how do you explain that to a client?
You dont. Not unless they ask.
You point them to your other clips and tell them how you were able to boost traffic at
this site or engagement at that other one, and you leave it at that.
Telling a client that youre just starting out falls into the same category. If you dont have
any clips whatsoever, offer to write up a draft on spec. But for Heavens sake, dont
mention your lack of clips in your query.
Instead of this:
While Ive never woven a basket, nor written about them, Im a very fast learner,
and I think Id do an excellent job writing for your blog.
Try this:
I have a proven track record of building engagement on blogs. From August
2012 to January 2013, I increased LawnOrder.coms subscriber list by 200%, and
their social media shares by 800%. You can find my best performing posts at the
following links
Instead of this:
Im a new blogger, looking to build my portfolio, and I would love the
opportunity to write for your blog.
Try this:
I'm a skilled writer with strong research skills. As an experienced WordPress
user, I can upload my posts directly to your blog and format them to save you
time. Check out samples of my writing on my website at example.com.
Query letters, at their hearts, are a gamble. The same query could get eight different
reactions from eight different clients. Its impossible to get a response 100% of the time.
But avoiding these mistakes can help you get ignored just a little less often.
The biggest mistake of all when it comes to queries, though, is failing to send them.
Check your query for mistakes, but don't lose confidence!
Be brave. Hit send.
[This post by Robert Jennings was originally published at Be a Freelance Blogger. Feel
free to visit and share your thoughts in the comments.]
About the author:

Robert Jennings is the author of the blog The Freelance Rider, even though hes never
ridden a horse. Hes also been known to lurk around LinkedIn. He has a lot of great
advice, and is incredibly handsome.
Image: Steve Snodgrass
7 Winning Ways to End Your Pitch, Query or LOI

Do you know what editors and potential clients do when they reach the end of your
email?
You should.
How? Because they should be doing whatever you just told them to do!
The process of winning new clients through direct marketing is simple:
1.
Identify your ideal clients
2.
Get the right contact information
3.
Send them a message to introduce yourself as a freelance blogger
4.
If you've got an interesting idea for their blog, give them a brief description or
outline at the same time
5.
They send you a message back if they're interested (and the nicest people get back
to you even if they're not interested)
Do you see the yawning abyss there between Step 4 and Step 5?
That's where you forgot to make shit happen.
Write Your Happy Ending

It's not just you.
More than half of the bloggers I mentor say
that they don't know how to close an email
when they're seeking work.
If you don't know how to close the
email, then you don't know how to
close the deal.
Whether you think of your message as a pitch, a query or an LOI (letter of introduction),
you need to include a call to action. So *ta-da!* here's a list of successful ways to wind up
your email...
1: "Does that suit your needs and budget?"

This is one of my favourite ways to wrap up a proposal (a service offer that includes
pricing information). It's straightforward, practical, and prompts the prospect to let me
know if there's anything they'd like me to change about the proposalvital information
for me if I want to win the gig.
2: "What do you think? Shall I send you a draft?"
Danny Iny recommends this closing in his guest blogging productivity course*, Write
Like Freddy. It works well for guest post pitches as it's low pressure, yet direct and
focused on the recipient's opinion.
3: "Shall I send you a more detailed proposal?"
If you're emailing a potential client to outline what you can do for them, this is a good
way to get a response from anyone who's curious about your services or your rates.
4: "May I write this post for you?"
Keeping it this simple often works well at the end of a detailed, well-researched query.
5: "Let me know if youre interested in any of these ideas and Id be happy to
write up a fully-fleshed pitch for you.
Linda Formichelli suggests this call to action for hybrid query/LOI messages that
include only brief descriptions of your ideas.
6: "If that sounds like a good fit for your blog, hit reply and let me know."
An informal approach like this means you can be even more specific in your call to
action, without sounding like a cheesy salesperson. Instead of simply asking a question
or saying "let me know", your chatty "hit reply" tells the recipient exactly what you'd like
them to do next.
7: "May I send you some clips?"
This is one of Linda Formichelli and Carol Tice's tips for a winning LOI, because it gives
your prospect a question that's easy to say yes to.
Now, I don't know if you remember the Underpants Gnomes from South Park... so
here's a distracting video. Don't worry, it's only 10 seconds long.
Sound familiar? "Phase 1: Send email. Phase 2: ??? Phase 3: Profit."

If you don't know what you want your prospect to do, then they don't know
either.
Figure out the one thing you'd most like them to do. What will increase your chance of
winning this gig?
It can be as simple as getting your prospect's permission to send them something else,
or something more complex like inviting them to Skype with you. That's your call;
research your prospects and try to find out what's most likely to get a favourable
response.
Now you know what you want them to do. So at the end of your email...
Ask them.
Then add your regards, thanks, or whatever signoff you normally use, and your name.
That's it. Your email's all wrapped up.
Hit the Send button.
Image: Theresa Thompson
Chapter 4 Resources
Guest expert bonus resource: a free copy of Gary Korisko's ebook The Simple,
Stress-Free Way to Sell Your Services With Style, created especially for Client
Hunting Masterclass students!
Freelancing: How I Close Deals Faster [Be a Freelance Blogger]
Query vs LOI: Which to Use When [Freelance Switch]
How to Write a Letter of Introduction [The Renegade Writer]
How I Got 5 Paid Blogging Gigs With One Query Letter [Make a Living Writing]
All Killer, No Filler: How to Write Concisely [Be a Freelance Blogger]
Chapter 5: Action!
Heres the big secret of my freelance blogging success:

I asked people to pay me for blogging on their site. If I hadnt asked, I wouldnt
be a freelance blogger today.
So thats what youre going to do next. Use everything youve learned so far to contact
potential clients and offer your services.
Send queries and LOIs. Check out the job listings and tip-offs in a members-only
freelance writers club like Freelance Writers Den or Freelance Writers Academy.
Respond to job ads and consider signing up with a freelance marketplace.
If you dont feel ready...

Do it anyway. Call it practice if that makes you feel better, but do it for real.
Dont worry about getting it perfectjust worry about getting it done.
Chapter 6: Hunt Down Hidden Gigs

The best freelance blogging gigs are never advertised. Your job is to hunt them out.
That means you hunt for the information that matters to you. What does it look like?
How will you know when youve found it? Let what you want guide how you hunt.
Whats Your Objective?

High pay:
Target blogs and businesses that you KNOW have money to spend.
Look up businesses incomes online. (Try Manta.com or Hoovers.com.)
Follow news about venture funding.
Aim for clients with between a million and 20 million dollars in annual revenue.
They can afford you and probably dont have a dedicated blogger on their staff.
Look for ways to create a connection. Relevant specialist knowledge adds value.
Portfolio building:
Figure out your portfolios objective and what you want to add to it.
Use Google, LinkedIn and online business listings to identify leads.
If its a fantastic market but youve got no relevant experience, consider offering a
discount. You can offer to work for free, but I recommend asking for a fee unless
you know the blog youre approaching doesnt pay contributors.
Ongoing contracts:
When you approach a business, assume that theyll want regular blog posts.
When you query a blog editor, mention youve got plenty more post ideas to
pitch.
Turn one-off gigs into repeat or regular gigs using the strategy further down.
Tip-Offs and Referrals

Your goal is to build a network of people wholl tip you off if they hear about a gig that
sounds right for you, and wholl recommend you to potential clients.
If you get a tip-off:
Follow it up as soon as possible.
Research the company, its blog, and its budget.
Ask whoever tipped you off to tell you where they heard about this hidden gig.
If you get a referral:

Find out who referred them to you (and thank them).
Ask plenty of questions and get full contact information
Do your own research to confirm what youve been told.
Reaching Out to Potential Clients

Step 1: Contact the right person
Use Google, LinkedIn and the organisations website to hunt down contact information.
Dig deep to find the most appropriate person for your enquiry. If you get stuck, email or
tweet their marketing or general info account and ask Whos the best person to contact
about your blog?
Step 2: Send the right message

An email in a typical query or LOI format is the simplest way to go. Explain what
interests you about their blog or business, and explain why theyd be interested in you.
Remember to talk about the benefits of your blogging services and not the features!
Outline your relevant credentials clearly and briefly, and close with a strong call to
action.
3-Step Blueprint: One-Off to Regular Gig
Step 1: Shock and Awe

Do an incredible job on the first assignment you get from your new client. If you want
this to turn into a regular gig, youve got to make your first assignment your best work.
That means its concise, interesting, and either useful or entertaining or both. If you
can deliver it at least a day ahead of deadline, thatll boost your chance of getting more
work from this client, too.
Step 2: Always Pitching
Follow up with an email to thank them for the gig. Be genuine in your thanks and in
your curiosity about their current blog needs. Say how much you enjoyed working with
them, and mention performance indicators like comments or social shares if you can
find the data. A lot of blogs show comment counts and social sharing counts publicly on
each post.
Then, suggest another idea or two that you could write for their blog. Make these
fleshed-out pitches; dont just throw a few titles at the client (unless you know thats
how they like to work).
Step 3: Never Forget

If you dont get a repeat assignment right away, keep pitching a fresh idea to this client
at least once every 3 months.
Each time a pitch is rejected, ask what made it not quite right for your clients needs,
and use that feedback to improve your next pitch. That way they wont forget you exist,
and theyre more likely to accept a future pitch or reach out to you when they need a
post in your area of expertise.
Ideally, try to use this blueprint every time you get a one-off blogging gig so you can win
yourself some reliable, regular work.
7 Ways to Take Charge of Your Freelance

Blogging Career
That helpless feeling... it's horrible, isn't it?
You know you were born to be a freelance blogger. It's the perfect fit for you. But so far,
you're kinda going nowhere with it. You haven't won the high-paying jobs you hoped
would be yours, and you haven't been invited to join that inner circle of pro bloggers
who all seem to know each other.
You check a handful of online job boards regularly, but there aren't many ads that sound
right for you. And when you do apply for gigs, you often don't hear back from them at
all.
How are you supposed to make money at this when there's no work available?
Oh, it's available all right. While you're waiting for a miracle job to materialise, some
other blogger is getting rich on projects that could have been yours. Why? Because you
haven't taken charge of your own career yet.
It really is that simple.
If you want to climb the freelance blogging career ladder, you need to step up and make
it happen. Don't worry, it's easier than you think! Start with these 7 simple ways to take
your business into your own hands and win the rewards you deserve.
1. Go Where the Good Jobs Are

Blogging job ads are easy to find. They're on classified ad sites, freelance broker sites,
professional social networks, and niche websites like ProBlogger.
There are lots of reasons why those job ads might not be your best bet: they don't always
give enough detail, and the pay is often lower than you'd like.
But you know what the biggest problem is with all those ads? They're scattered. You can
waste the whole day looking them all up.
Here's the secret: just stop doing it. Find a couple of places that only list ads for
good freelance blogging jobs that pay a fair rate, and stop chasing the rest.
Where are these havens of high-paying
work opportunities?
There's one right here: The Ultimate List
of Better-Paid Blogging Gigs is free to
download, and gives you all the important
details of 57 blogs that pay $50 or more
per post.
The great thing about the Ultimate List is
that these aren't job ads with an
application deadline; they're open-ended
opportunities for paid blogging work, so you can submit a piece to them as often as you
like.
Another resource I recommend to any freelance blogger is the Freelance Writers Den*, a
members-only website with a "junk-free job board" that lists high-quality freelance
writing job leads every week.
Finding a good job opportunity curator isn't the only way forward, though...
2. Be Where the Good Jobs Aren't (Yet)

Every ad you see online has been seen by hundreds or even thousands of other people,
too. There are better ways to find freelance blogging work than by scouring job boards
and sending out 10 applications a day. This is one of my favourites:
Search the internet for big businesses that are relevant to the topics you want to blog
about. Find companies that are making money, that sell a product or service
you understand to a market you can empathise with. Then check out their blog.
If they don't have a blog, drop them a short email and ask if they've ever
considered it. Let them know what it could add to their customer experience and
to their business revenue. When a message like that arrives in a potential client's
inbox, sure, they can choose to ignore it or say no. But if the time and message
are right for them, you might get hired on the spot!
If their blog looks abandoned, with no recent posts or only one post a month, let
them know you can take the hassle of creating blog posts off their hands. They'll
get more targeted website traffic and make more money, increasing the return on
the investment they've already made in blogging. And if that interests them,
you're available for a quick discussion of their options...
If they have a blog that already rocks, send a quick email to introduce yourself as
a freelance blogger in their field. Hit the right note in this email and the next time
they're hiring, they'll think of you before they advertise the job to your
competitors.
So, about hitting the right note. This is so important, it deserves to be listed as a
separate item:
3. Make Your Application Count

Every time you make "first contact" with a potential client, your approach matters
enormously.
Don't just barge into their inbox with a message like, "I can do this job."
In the nicest possible way, stalk them first. Look at their website, sign up for their free
download or their email updates.
When you make contact, let them know what you liked about their stuff so far, and why
you're interested in them rather than some other project.
If your initial message shows that you've taken the time to get to know the client blog,
it's much more likely to win their approval. Of course, next you need to show that you're
as good at blogging as you are at email.
4. Supercharge Your Portfolio

Let's be clear about this: you need a portfolio.
But it doesn't have to be fancy. A page on your website giving links to your best freelance
blogging work will do. If you can add little screenshots of the live posts, that's even
better.
If you don't have a website yet, you can easily create a portfolio for free on Contently
(tell it where you've been published, and it does the rest for you!), or add your blogging
clips to your LinkedIn profile (yep, that's free too).
If you don't have any published work yet, make some. Write some posts similar to the
type of work you'd like to do, and get them posted online. It's never as difficult as you
think - here are just a few ideas:
Use the Ultimate List to get paid while you build your portfolio
Ask relevant blogs you read if they'd accept a guest contribution from you
Ask a local business if they'd like a free blog post written in exchange for a byline
Create your own website or blog to publish your work
The important thing is that your portfolio must have an objective.

What that objective is will change over time, but a portfolio without an objective is about
as useful as a sniper rifle with the sights broken off.
So, what are you aiming at with your portfolio? Who are you aiming at, and what do you
want them to do?
My portfolio's objective is to demonstrate that I'm a longstanding freelance blogger

who's been published on respected sites and gets asked back for repeat posts. It also,
semi-incidentally, shows the range of topics I enjoy and my usual writing style.
OK, your turn.
Write one sentence that describes your portfolio's current objective. No semi-colons!
Make it one clean sentence. Now all you have to do is put work samples that align with
your current objective into your portfolio, and leave out any that aren't such a good fit.
Your portfolio is one of your biggest weapons in the fight for freelance blogging success,
so keep it well-maintained and you'll always have a supercharged, perfectly targeted jobwinning machine to prove your skills to potential clients.
Let's talk about how you can get them to check you out.
5. Get Noticed Before You're Needed

It's one of those little secrets that not everyone likes to admit: all blog editors and
clients are biased. Including me.
A few months ago, a client asked me to hire 5 new freelance bloggers, so I posted a
recruitment ad and when the applications streamed in, I read through every single one. I
was open to hiring anybody with the right skill set and interests, but...
In the end, only 2 of the 5 bloggers I hired were strangers to me. The other 3 were
people I knew from previous jobs, social media, or my own circle of friends. See what
I'm saying? Totally biased.
So what does this mean for you? Well, the more people know and like you, the
more jobs you win.
It's human nature to want to work with people we feel we can trust, and a familiar face
stands out from the crowd of unknowns when you're competing for freelance blogging
gigs.
To use this bias to your advantage, start laying the groundwork now.
Use email, blog comments, guest posts or social media to start a conversation with blog
editors, marketing managers, and top bloggers in your niche. Make friends, ask no
favours, and be your best, most helpful self. You never know who might tip you off about
a dream job, or suggest your services to your next client.
6. Buy Your Way to Better Blogging Contracts

This may shock you, but it's true: some of the most successful freelance bloggers in the
world got their big breaks with cold, hard cash. And you can do the same, even if you're
on a tight budget right now.
Here's the thing: all bloggers are at least a little bit vain. If we weren't, we wouldn't be so
convinced that our words are worth sharing.
Because we're vain, we read our blog comments from our audience. We love to get a
thoughtful email from a reader. But there's one thing that gets our attention even faster
than a blog comment or an email, and that's cash being spent on something we created.
[Damn, that makes us sound like capitalist bastards, doesn't it? Bear with me while I
explain how the love of sales springs from our love of you, dear reader...]
See, we want to help you and earn your appreciation. So when you choose to pay for
something we put out into the world, that shows us that we're doing good for you. It
makes us happy, and it makes us curious to know more about you.
What I'm about to suggest is slightly unorthodox, but it can light a rocket
under your freelance blogging career.
Look around at some of the blogs you enjoy and the people you follow. How many of
them have created a product or service that you might be interested in, and what kind of
value do they offer?
If you can see one or two that stand out to you as particularly useful, set aside some
money to buy them! It doesn't have to be expensive; a $9.99 ebook is a good start on a
tight budget.
Once you've got the goods, put in some time to really make full use of them. Then
contact the creator to thank them for their creation. Let them know how it worked for
you, and add an insightful comment or question.
Now you've got their attention. You've proved to them that you value their work, and
you've shown an interest in understanding what they're all about. What do you think
happens next?
Yep, you have a fantastic opportunity to [gently!] tap them for their expert advice, sure.
But that's not the best part. Not even close...
If you keep the conversation going and they like what you're doing, they might choose to
introduce you to their friends. Suddenly, instead of one useful contact, you've got a
dozen.
And the next time one of them hears about an amazing freelance blogging project, they
might just suggest you as the amazing freelance blogger to hire.
7. If All Else Fails...

...then you only have two options: either raise your standards, or lower your
expectations. I'd choose to raise my standards.
I've watched a few good freelance bloggers fall victim to their own low expectations: you
take one crappy job because you need the money. Then another job comes along that
pays a little more, so you take that on as well.
Soon you've got a handful of clients, but working on these low-paying jobs literally
sucks: it sucks your time, it sucks your energy, and it sucks so hard that you struggle to
escape from its pull. You're so busy working these suck-like-hell jobs that you don't have
anything left to invest in finding better blogging gigs.
Then you're stuck in the Matrix of

factory-floor blog content production.
Take charge. Take the red pill and break
free.
Don't be afraid to turn down gigs that
won't pay the rent. Whatever rate
they're offering, ask yourself this:
Would I be prepared to work in a filing cabinet for this pay? Would I be prepared to
clean bathrooms for this amount?
If you wouldn't work a crappy job for that rate, then you shouldn't be blogging for such
low pay either.
Raise. Your. Standards. No matter how awesome you already are, you can raise your
standards. Oh, you're a blogging superhero? I'm sure you'll find at least one "Superhero
to UltraMegaSuperhero" training academy. There's always more to learn.
You can raise your writing standards. You can raise your pay standards. You can push
forward to new levels of marketing skill. Improve your subject knowledge. Learn how to
manage your clients better. Become more productive. There's always a step up, if you
want to take it.
It's up to you.
Do you want it? Then step on up - it's your turn to be in charge!
Image: Paul Dineen
Chapter 6 Resources
If you didnt download your free copy already, nows the time to check out Gary
Koriskos ebook The Simple, Stress-Free Way to Sell Your Services With Style,
created exclusively for Client Hunting Masterclass students.
How I Found 488 Promising Freelance Writing Prospects [Make a Living
Writing]
Manta and Hoovers will help you find businesses and revenue data for free.
How Facebook Helps You Find Freelance Blogging Jobs [Be a Freelance Blogger]
How You Can Use Twitter to Land More Freelance Gigs [Be a Freelance Blogger]
7 Winning Ways to End Your Pitch, Query or LOI [Be a Freelance Blogger]
The Hidden Job Market is Even Bigger Than You Think [AOL Jobs]
Chapter 7: Know What Youre Worth

Some truly awful bloggers get paid more than you do. I know, because Ive been their
editor.
Youre worth more than you think. If you can write a good post and deliver it on
time, then youre already better than about 80% of the other freelance bloggers in the
world. Other bloggers are not your problem. Your problem is that youre not charging
enough.
Why You Never Compete on Price

Dont try to get clients by being the cheapest. That way lies insanity. Because even when
you think it looks like a price competition, it isnt.
When you answer a job ad, you dont know what rates any of the other applicants
quoted, so any price competition is purely inside your mind.
When you bid in freelance marketplaces, youre really competing with the value
for money your buyer has in mind.
If youre sending a query, then only someone offering the same story from the
same angle at around the same time as you can compete on the price.
In letters of introduction you dont mention money, so theres no price contest.
Heres what happens if you try to compete on price:

There will always be someone prepared to go a few dollars cheaper. And that
someone should NOT be you.
If you price low, you place yourself in a psychological price band that screams low
value to your potential clients.
Big-budget clients often ignore the cheapest proposals they get. So if you price
yourself too low, you drop off their radar and miss out on the high-paying gigs.
If you keep working for pennies, you end up poor and miserable. Dont do it.
Know How to Value Yourself

Whats valuable to your potential clients? What will they be happy to pay for, and what
will they think is unnecessary?
Blogging, writing, or editing experience is an obvious point in your favour.
Specialist knowledge, if you know your topic inside out, is worth a lot to your
client. And everybody is a specialist, even if you dont see yourself that way.
Any marketing, PR or social media experience is likely to add value in your
clients eyes.
If you know your WordPress or other Content Management Systems, or SEO and
other blog-related techie stuff, there are plenty of clients wholl value that highly.
Photography, graphic design or videography skills are valuable to potential
blogging clients who need relevant supporting media to show alongside your
post.
If your posts lead to a higher than average rate of blog views, comments and
social media shares, then youre adding value by drawing and engaging traffic.
If conversion rates from the calls to action on your blog posts are higher than
average, too, that means your client is making more money because of you.
What Other Bloggers Charge

Based on a survey of Be a Freelance Blogger readers about their rates in 2012 to 2013:
Although the lowest rate earned by 64% of bloggers for 500 words is less than
$25, some bloggers report minimum rates of more than $100.
Typical rates for 500 words range from $2 to $300, with an average of $54.
The highest rate earned by 30% of freelance bloggers for 500 words is $26 to
$50, but another 22% of bloggers have clients who pay more than $100, and 7%
have clients paying more than $200.
As for hourly pay, 53% of freelance bloggers never work on an hourly rate. For
those who do, the most common rate range is $26 to $50 per hour.
Your Hourly Rate Equivalent

1. Count the number of hours per month you get paid for by your freelance clients.
This is your total monthly billable hours.
2. Count up the hours per month of work-related stuff you dont get paid extra for.
This is your total monthly unbillable hours.
3. Add those two numbers together to get your total monthly business hours.
4. Divide your monthly freelance blogging earnings by your total business hours.
5. What this gives you is your average equivalent hourly rate.
6. If you calculate it by the month like this, you get an overview of how much one
hour of freelance blogging time is really worth to you, and you can see your
progress month after month as you build up a higher-paying client base.
7. If you calculate it for just one client at a time, youll find out which of your
freelance blogging gigs really earns you the best rate, or which one pays the least.
How to Negotiate Your Rates

Dont fret about their budget. Theyll tell you if it matters.
Do calculate the minimum rate you can afford to accept.
Dont be afraid to go first. Start high so that theres room for compromise.
Do prepare an explanation of your value and your rate.
Dont offer those explanations unless youre asked.
Dont think and speak at the same time. Silence is your friend in negotiations, so
take time to think and compose your response. You dont have to rush.
How to Get a Raise

If youre doing good work and your new rate expectations arent unreasonable, then you
can probably up your rate without losing customers.
If youre the one who set your rate, then its up to you to give yourself a raise.
Explain why your starting rate isnt appropriate any more, and give the client
plenty of notice so that they dont feel blindsided by the change.
If it was your client who set the rate, then you can request a rate review. Then its
up to you to explain what benefits and value you bring to your clients business,
and make sure youve got proof to support what youre saying.
Timing Your Raise Negotiations

Negotiating a raise at a specific time interval makes people feel it must be a change
whose time has come. I recommend that when you agree a rate with a new client, you set
a date to renegotiate as well. Here are the main reasons for raising your rates at different
points in a gigs lifetime:
Your clients need plenty of notice when you decide to raise your rates. Give them at least
a months notice, but ideally more like 3 months. That way, your clients dont feel
ambushed and theyve got plenty of time to plug your new rates into their budget.
Want to Win at Freelance Blogging? Dont

Compete on Price
Reality check: There will always be someone offering cheaper rates than you.
Theres no doubt about it. You might be the cheapest writer on the forum or websites
that you frequent, but there's guaranteed to be someone out there doing what you do for
a lower price.
While price is often number one on the list of hiring criteria that clients take into
account, its also the one thing that you should leave well alone.
Take my advice: set your prices and stick to them. Only change them if absolutely
necessary even then, they should only be going up, not down.
Don't Race to the Bottom

No matter what industry youre in, pricing battles can easily end in a race to the bottom.
But you get what you pay for in life, and so do your potential clients.
Pay peanuts and youll get the work of monkeys. Its important that you know this as a
writer, because if you work for less than is reasonable you risk neglecting to put your
usual amount of time or effort into the work, leading to a poor end product that makes
you and your client look bad.
Dont do a bad job on a project simply because the pay on offer means youll
have to rush it to turn a profit.
Put your foot down: if people wont pay your rates, dont do their work!
Be Memorable in Other Ways

Every business needs a USP: a unique selling point.
If your business doesnt have a USP that makes it uniquely desirable to your ideal client,
the only way youll be able to catch anyone's eye is to offer the lowest price. And as we
both know, that leaves you with empty pockets.
Here are five factors that you can use to distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack so
that you can set your own rates without fear:
#1: Quality
Its the obvious USP that every business strives for: to be renowned for offering the best
quality work.
Quality is something that you cant fake. Your work is either good or its not.
Some people see quality as a sign of professional pride, whereas others only strive to
provide quality work when they can be bothered. If you want to be the best, you have to
offer quality consistently.
#2: Timeliness
Dont meet deadlines beat them! Writers are renowned for being terrible when it
comes to deadlines. One of the best ways to set yourself apart from other
bloggers is to always deliver ahead of time. Clients love it!
When setting deadlines, always consider the worst case scenario and allow plenty of
extra time. That way when you finish the work and submit it to the client a couple of
days early, they'll be pleasantly surprised. And if the worst case scenario ever does
happen, youve built some wiggle room into your deadline so you should still hit the
agreed delivery date. Clever, eh?
#3 Nationality
Increasingly, clients want to bring the work they outsource home. They dont want to
farm it out to the far side of the planet any longer because they dont always get great
results and international communication can be a pain.
If youre based in a location that will make a potential client's life easier, make sure they
know. The country you live in (or the languages you speak and write in)
could sway a client to hire you over someone else.
#4: Communication
Your clients appreciate good communication. Most of them want to know every single
detail, so much so that you sometimes suspect they'd like daily status reports and a call
wishing them goodnight every evening.
While you might not be able to communicate with clients every waking second of the
day, make a concerted effort to keep your clients in the loop. They're the ones
paying you, after all. Provide good communication to clients and youll be doing better
than lots of other freelance writers.
#5: Experience
Lots of my clients choose to hire me because theyve noticed big name clients in my
portfolio. If you write for a big brand or individual, make sure everyone
knows about it!
All of the Fortune 500 companies Ive written for can be found right at the front of my
portfolio. It looks good to clients and they gain confidence in you when they see youve
worked with big businesses. If a client specifically asks you to sign a non-disclosure
agreement (NDA) or to exclude their project from your portfolio, though, be receptive to
their requests.
What Happens When You Stop the Price Wars?

Set your rates to a level that you think is fair. Once they're set, stick to your rates
stubbornly. Work may be slow to appear at first, but it will come sooner or later.
To give yourself a better opportunity of achieving your desired rates, think about the
USPs you can offer to clients and strive to implement them. Dont just be good at what
you do; be the best in your unique way.
About half of your potential clients will shop around and make their decision to hire a
freelancer based entirely on price. Some may come back to hire you, some won't. Dont
lose too much sleep over these clients.
The other half are less inclined to shop around because they're too busy. If you can hook
them in the first instance, they wont bother looking anywhere else and they'll simply
pay your rates. This reinforces the importance of USPs: your service has to jump out and
grab people. Once youve captured their attention with the right message,
they will pay your rates without question.
I started off writing for the equivalent of $0.01 per word (sometimes even less) just a
couple of years ago. By doing everything Ive just explained to you, I've managed to
increase my rates up to ten times as much. I no longer worry about whether work will
come in, either. Ive been snowed under with orders from new and repeat clients for
almost six months now.
The majority of writers wont make millions, but it is possible to make a very good living
as a freelance blogger, working only the hours that you set for yourself.
The freedom I have as a writer is far more valuable than millions of pounds in the bank.
How much is freedom worth to you?
[This post by Nicholas Whitmore was originally published at Be a Freelance Blogger.

About the author:

Nicholas Whitmore is a published journalist and online content writer at
ContentWriting.org.
Want to Give Yourself a Raise? Earn It.

A lot of freelancers agonize over raising their prices. I know I did.
With no boss telling you what to do or how much you should get, its easy to feel anxious
and confused when it comes to increasing your rates. When should you do it? How do
you tell your clients? More important, how much should your new rates be?
I used to spend weeksno, monthsmulling over these things and convincing myself I
deserved it. Then when I arrived at the point where I had to tell my clients how much
my rates were, I still sometimes ended up backtracking on my prices.
It went on like this the first few times I had to communicate my prices, until I realized
one thing: Writing my new rate sheet or telling clients how much my services cost is the
easy part of the whole process.
The real work involved in increasing your prices happens BEFORE you
actually raise them.
Pre-Raise: Rock their socks off

Think of this as a classic show, dont tell scenario.
To command competitive rates, your work must speak for itself. You need to impress
your clients with a top-quality portfolio and provide enough value to make your fees
worth it.
You shouldnt have to spend a lot of time justifying your fees. Let your portfolio do it for
you.
Remember, high rates are warranted by high quality work.
Think your skills arent there yet? Dont worry, they will be. With the right investments
in yourself and a ton of practice, youll improve the caliber of your work enough to start
commanding higher rates.
Here are a couple of things you can do to step up your game:
Guest post on websites that scare you

Up the level of your network, your portfolio, and eventually your rates, by submitting
guest posts to websites that are above your own skill level and comfort zone.
Don't stress over this! Do it incrementally.
For instance, if youve been posting to B-level blogs, start pitching to the B plusses in
your industry and move up from there. Climb the blogosphere ladder until you
see your name in the crme de la crme of blogs.
Doing this wont just give you more portfolio pieces and exposure, itll be great practice
too. Guest blogging on top-notch websites hones your skills, improves your writing
speed and pushes you to think of better, more original ideasall of which are key to
being a more competent blogging professional who charges competitive rates.
More important, landing guest posts on big sites boosts your confidence and gives you
the validation you need to raise your rates. Nothing raises a bloggers low self-esteem
like seeing their byline on a major blog.
Invest in your education

In order to do more and charge more, you have to know more. Thats where education
and training materials come in. Broaden your knowledge and skill set by reading books,
taking courses, or finding mentors.
What exactly should you take up? That depends...
Think about any weak points you may have. What aspects of your work do your clients
or editors say you need to improve? Identify the things that you need to work on, then
find courses that will give you the skills and know-how that you need. There are a lot of
good ones out there. And some of them are more affordable than you think.
You can also check out Mixergy, AppSumo, or Udemy---these sites offer training and
educational materials at inexpensive prices.
One caveat though: Dont fall into the trap of buying one training program
after another and not taking action. Knowledge really is power, but itll only work
if you apply it. So once you've got the know-how you need, go out there and test it, use it,
and make something out of it.
Raise time: The part where you tell people your new prices
So you got yourself published on some
amazing blogs, youve done some training
and officially leveled up in the
blogosphere.
Now its time to actually tell your clients
that youre raising your rates.
Take a deep breath; its going to be okay.
(This is the not-so-hard part, remember?)
The key to increasing your prices without scaring clients off is to communicate what
you bring to the table. Enumerate the results that youve accomplished for your
clients (increased traffic, boosted engagement, etc.) and make them see why finding,
hiring, and orienting a new blogger would cost more.
As Ramit Sethi put it, raising your rates is all about conveying your value and
positioning yourself as the best option for them, so that theyll be happy to pay
you more. When clients see how great and valuable you are, pricing becomes a nonissue.
My approach is similar to that of Carol Tice, where I give existing clients a considerable
heads up (around 2 months) before I increase my fees on them. I make sure to list the
wins that weve achieved while working together, reminding them of the good times, and
I tell them I'd love to continue our relationship.
Here is a sample of a rate adjustment email that you can use:

Hi [Name],
First off, let me just say that I enjoy working with you and Im happy to be
helping your company achieve its content and engagement goals.
Ive been writing for [insert company name] for about [time frame] now and Im
thrilled to see that in that time, your blogs engagement level has increased and
your Facebook likes are now well over the triple digit mark. Were also getting
more inbound links thanks to the guest posts that weve published and the press
releases that we issued last year.
[Mention the goals that you helped them achieveyou did define those goals
when you started working with them, right?and provide measurable results to
help them see how much youve helped them and why your services are worth it.]
Weve done great things together and I'd love to continue working with you to
achieve even greater accomplishments in the future.
With that said, I want to let you know that I'll be increasing my rates starting
[insert date here]. Please see my updated pricing information below:
[Insert your new rates here. Be direct. No need to get into why you decided to
raise your rates or why you deserve it.]
If you have any questions or concerns, please dont hesitate to let me know.
I truly appreciate your business and Im looking forward to our continued
relationship.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Will clients drop off the grid when you do this?

Some of them might. But dont think of it as losing clients.
Instead, think of it as making room for better clients who will pay you what you
deserve.
[This post by Francesca Nicasio was originally published at Be a Freelance Blogger.

About the author:

Francesca Nicasio (formerly Francesca StaAna) is the founder of Credible Copywriting
and specializes in writing blog posts, web content and press releases for startups,
Internet companies, and mobile app developers. Shes currently developing
Copywriter2.0, an online course that teaches aspiring copywriters the ins and outs of the
biz.
Image: AMagill
How NOT to Negotiate Your Rate

Hey! Glad you could make it.
I'm just talking with a hot potential client on Skype. Bear with me and listen in for a
moment...
ME: Yep, I'm available from the first of the month.
CLIENT: Great, and how much do you charge?
ME: For this project it'll be $400 per week... Or, you know, I could probably
make it $300...
Go ahead. Tap me on the shoulder. Tell me I'm an idiot. Stop me.
I wish somebody had.
That conversation actually happened last summer, and my pathetic negotiation fail cost
me $100 per week for 3 months. That's more than $1200, and I gave it up for no reason
at all.
What went wrong?
Here's how you can avoid falling into the errors I made that day:
Screw-Up #1: Pricing On the Spot

You don't have to quote a price as soon as a
potential client asks your rate.
Take the time to make a considered
calculation of your fees.
Make sure you've gathered all the info you
need, then tell your prospect you'll call them
back or send them a proposal by email.
In this conversation with my client, I'd already got all the details of the project and I
knew how much to charge: $200 per post for 2 posts a week is $400 per week. But I
could still have given myself time to compose a clear, confident proposal instead of
blurting it out right away.
Even if you've got a good idea of the rate you want, remember that you need to manage
your whole portfolio of current and upcoming projects, not just this one gig. Take into
account your other commitments and your revenue from existing clients, then figure out
1.
how much time you can commit to this project, and
2.
how much you need to charge to make it worth doing.
Otherwise, you run the risk of burning out from too heavy a workload, or simply
emptying your bank account while you work on a low-paying project.
Screw-Up #2: Precise Pricing

You might think your potential client wants to hear one precise figure from you when
they ask your fees. Nope. It's totally fine to quote a price range, or a minimum price, if
you're not ready to pin down your exact fee yet.
What I've done with many other clients is to say something like, "For projects like this I
usually charge between $100 and $250 per post."
And heck yes, I wish I'd said that to this client too, so that I could get a better handle on
his expectations. What's worse is that after quoting a precise fee, I fell victim to the
worst negotiation mistake of all...
Screw-Up #3: Fear of Your Own Value

Afraid that your potential clients will back off, or hang up on you, when they hear your
rates? You're not the only one.
A year ago, I'd just raised my rates to more accurately reflect the value of my blogging
services, and I was nervous.
Fear makes you second-guess yourself

and undercut the rates you've set for your
services. That time, I got so panicked that
I haggled in my client's favour!
Then, of course, dropping your prices too
much makes you look and feel desperate.
I've been there.
A few weeks later, though, I'd grown into my new pricing model and learned a priceless
lesson: if you're nervous about what your client thinks of your rates, you're
doing it wrong.
They're your rates. You choose them and you charge them. Simple.
If a prospect decides they don't want to pay your rates, they can either make a counteroffer or walk away. Your job is to let them walk if they want to, not to make the counteroffers for them like I did!
The secret is to stop stressing over any one prospect too much. There will always be
other projects, so you don't need to drop your prices to get this one. You'll be amazed
how much confidence you gain in negotiations by saying "Hmm, no thank
you."
Know your value. Feel it. Own it. Never be afraid to say it out loud. If you're really
scared, maybe you should do the woo-woo self-help thing and stand in front of a mirror
telling yourself "I'm a 100-dollar-a-post blogger" until you can say it with confidence.
OK, so I'm not good with the woo-woo, but you get my point. Another big mistake
almost everyone makes when they're nervous is the one where your mouth keeps
moving and sounds are coming out, but the connection to your brain is patchy.
Screw-Up #4: Doing All the Talking

Silence is not a bad thing in a negotiation. It means, Ive said my bit for now and Im
waiting for you to put together your response. If Id only stated my price to that client,
and then shut the fudge up, Id be $1200 richer right now.
Make friends with silence. Get comfy in it. Shutting up is a psychological tactic
thats used by everyone from therapists to politicians to performance
artists, because it works so damn well.
They say nature abhors a vacuum, which might explain why we feel compelled to say
something anything to fill a silence. I was silly enough to keep talking and haggle
myself out of $1200.
This works whether youre quoting a rate or waiting to hear one: Carol Tice once got a
$200-per-post gig raised to $300 simply by pointing out that it would be rush work
and then waiting on a silent phone line until the client offered the extra $100 per post
of their own accord.
Silence just works. Try it and see.
Images: Images_of_Money, Mike Poresky
Chapter 7 Resources
Download your free copy of The Be a Freelance Blogger Rate Guide to find out
where you stand compared to other freelance bloggers, and get my rate
recommendations.
Try the rate calculator at Freelance Switch to get a rough idea how much you
need to charge to earn a living.
How to Stop Being a Coward and Get Paid What You Deserve [Firepole
Marketing]
How to Survive the Business Side of Freelance Blogging [Be a Freelance Blogger]
5 Blog Post Elements You Sure As Hell Deserve to Get Paid For [Be a Freelance
Blogger]
The Surprising Truth About How Much Money You Can Make as a Freelance
Blogger! [Be a Freelance Blogger]
How to Become a Highly Paid Freelance Blogger [Writing Happiness]
Dont Be a Fool: How to Avoid Getting Played By Your Clients [Be a Freelance
Blogger]
The Complete Guide to Setting and Negotiating Freelance Rates [Lifehacker]
Check out the online time tracking and invoicing system at Harvest. A basic
account is free.
Chapter 8: Be the Bait

Going out to hunt down clients is good, but bringing clients in to you is even better. You
need to be noticed, remembered and liked before clients start coming to you.
Phase 1: Get Noticed

There are three routes to get your blogging skills in front of people:
Paid, bylined blogging gigs on popular sites with a relevant audience
Unpaid guest posts on high-profile blogs
Your own blog.
Use social media to build up a network of friends and followers who can refer clients to
you and tip you off about freelance blogging gigs. Take those relationships beyond social
networks by sending a personal email.
Demonstrate your alignment with your ideal clients values. Be helpful: solve a problem,
point to a great resource or a useful tool. Offer something specific, be tactful, and dont
ask for anything in return.
Phase 2: Be Memorable
You can look professional as hell and do a great job but if people cant remember you a
week later, it wont help you.
Make yourself memorable by being unusually helpful, generous, thoughtful, insightful
and interesting. Be honest, open and genuine to attract clients who are looking for
someone just like you.
Emphasise easy-to-remember things about yourself. If you have a consistent image and
personality, a theme, a signature phrase that sticks in peoples minds, then itll be easy
for them to remember you later on.
Your Elevator Pitch
Figure out your what, who and why, then put them together into a sentence thats short
enough not to trip you up when you say it out loud, like these examples:
I write nutrition-focused blog posts for private sports coaches who want to build their
expert reputation.
I write blog posts about mental health issues to help psychotherapists attract
customers who need treatment.
Phase 3: Be Liked
Youre already likeable. You just have to show it.
A lot of the things that make you memorable make you likeable too. But people need to
get to know you well enough to like and trust you, so help them gain that knowledge.
Have extended conversations with people. Ask questions about them, get to know them,
and let them get to know you at the same time. Show you care by taking a genuine
interest peoples lives, families and hobbies. And let people know you like them and
what theyre doing. Telling someone you like something they did is an easy way to
encourage them to like you back.
Do You Need Your Own Blog?

The advantages of having your own blog as a freelance blogger:
Demonstrates your skills even if you havent got any clients yet
Somewhere to send traffic from your guest posts
Builds your personal brand
Doesnt cost much
You can start a blog on your business site
The downsides:
Takes up time
Publishing content for free that you could have sold
Have to keep it updated and promote it
Clients will judge you by your blogs fame, not just your credentials
Only start your own blog if youre keen to write about a specific topic for free several
times a month as well as spend extra time promoting it. You dont need a blog to get
started as a freelance bloggerwell placed guest posts are enough to get you hired.
The Bait Value Pyramid
Testimonials and social proof arent too hard to get, but they dont bring you new
potential clients unless youve already attracted their attention some other way. Slightly
better than testimonials are blog-to-client conversions, which mean that your enquirer
already likes your style on your own blog.
Peer-to-client referrals have a much better chance of resulting in a paying project,
because theyre based on a level of trust between the referrer and the new client. And
client-to-client referrals have a very high value because they come from people whove
experienced your services for themselves and are driven to share that with others.
Be Picky, Get Paid to Promote Yourself, and

Build Your Dream Career
If youre like most freelance writers with a dream, you do one kind of writing by day
the kind you get paid for and another by night the kind you love and dream of
doing full-time.
If thats you, youre doing twice the work you need to, and you may be hurting your
chances of advancing toward that dream career.
Be more choosy to make your dream career a reality.
When youre starting out, many steady blogging jobs ask you to be able to write with
authority on a variety of topics. You become trained to believe that in order to make
money blogging, you have to know how to write about whatever a client wants you to
write about. You become very skilled at internet research.
But what about the reason you write in the first place?
What about those topics you love with such passion that you pour hours every week into
unpaid posts for your own blog? What of the things you choose to read about in your
spare time, that you talk about in days-long Twitter conversations with people halfway
round the world?
You don't have to be a jack-of-all-trades blogger to make money. You can be choosy and
stick to the topics you love. Here's how.
Choose Your Freelancing Ground

Think about the paid blogging youre doing now.
Do those pieces help drive traffic to your blog? Do they drive sales for your book? Do
they garner consulting clients?
If not, why not? Maybe its because youre being paid to write posts about real estate
trends, but your blog, books, and consulting services are focused on your real passion:
self-improvement for twenty-somethings.
Does this sound like you?
As a blogger, you've probably already learned how powerful guest blogging* is as a
marketing tool. You might already be leveraging that power, pitching ideas regularly to
top blogs in your niche to build your perfect audience. Youve got a Big Idea and you love
every second you pour into your passion projects.
As a freelance writer, you're probably ecstatic to be able to say you make your living
writingand desperate to keep it that way.
Youve studied the best practices and tips for freelance blogging. You scour job boards
daily and bid on anything you think you can coverfrom real estate trends, to tech tips,
to travel writing about places youve never seen.
But you're not as proud of your paid work as you are of your own blog, and that's a
shame. Try this instead:
Write Half the Words for Twice the Benefit

When youre blogging for clients, you
might adopt the idea that paid blog
posts have nothing to do with your own
self-promotion.
But if you focus on freelance blog
opportunities in your desired niche,
you can double-up your efforts and gain
exposure and credentials while making
money.
Instead of scouring job boards and bending your expertise to the whims of the market,
connect with blogs you love, and keep your eye out for the types of paid writing that you
love so much you'd do them for free. Theyre out there!
To make a living writing about what you love, you have to make a commitment to your
niche. Know what you love to write about, and what you want to be doing for a living.
Find the opportunities to make money on that path with the skills and experience you
already possess.
Stay focused, and know that your dream career does exist.
When I discovered Be a Freelance Blogger and picked up Sophies free Ultimate List of
Better-Paid Blogging Gigs, I finally made that commitment. Now Im building my own
dream career, sharing advice for budding writers, and not compromising on the work I
love.
You can commit yourself to staying on that path; refuse to work out of your niche. Once
you create these boundaries for yourself, youll be astounded by how suddenly youre
able to find paid opportunities writing about what you love!
You dont have to settle. With a simple promise to yourself, you can build your dream
career without relying on assorted expertise to make money.
Are you making money writing about what you love?
[This post by Dana Sitar was originally published at Be a Freelance Blogger. Feel free
to visit and share your thoughts in the comments.]
About the author:

Dana Sitar (@danasitar) is a consultant, author, and blogger in the service of
entrepreneurial writers and writerly entrepreneurs. She encourages a community of
budding writers to stop dreaming and start (friggin) writing at WritersBucketList.com
and helps creative entrepreneurs build a thriving community around their Big Ideas
through Artisanal Content Creation.
Photo: Sasquatch I
The Elementary Marketing Tactic You Dont Know

Youre Missing
Trying to make a name for yourself?
Yep, most of us are. That's why we roam the Internet, visiting blog after blog, signing up
to mailing lists, for webinars, tutorials, and otherwise investing in our freelancing
careers.
We ask ourselves questions like: How can I reach a wider audience? How can I prove
that Im the expert my client needs? How can I become a recognizable face in my field?
One word: consistency.
Consistency in quality, content and image can get you more results with your marketing
efforts than you think.
Speaking of becoming a recognizable face, lets start with
Consistent Image
If you want to make a name for yourself, you first have to make a face for yourself.
Did you know more people recognize a face than a name? You can test this theory by
simply trying to remember the names of people youve recently met.
Try it with online contacts from Facebook, Twitter or some other social networking site.
You remember the woman who always RTs your tweets. Her profile pic displays her
short, dark hair and her bright brown eyes behind thick-rimmed glasses, but what was
her name?
Exactly.
Your image not only represents who you are as a whole, it also helps you stay
memorable. This is why keeping your image consistent is an essential part of your
marketing.
Keep these things in mind:
Use the same bio pic on all of your social media sites, websites, blogs
and forums.
It may show variety to have several different pictures of yourself online, but
adding too many pics or changing it too often will risk you not being recognized.
Change it every year or so.

You dont have to use the same bio pic forever. As the years pass you should
update your pic. Especially if you attend conferences, hold Skype sessions, or
have face-to-face meetings of any kind. Because we now recognize your photo,
imagine the surprise if we meet face-to-face and you look nothing like the pic
you've plastered all over the Net.
A head shot is always best.

A simple face shot with a pleasant smile plastered on it will do wonders for your
image. You want to portray how friendly, professional, and gorgeous you are at
every chance you get. (The gorgeous part was a joke, but Im sure being
handsome wont hurt your credibility.)
Keep it professional.
Bio pics with your band, in a bikini, or flipping the bird to the camera? Not
necessarily the image you want to speak for your professionalism. That means
leave your pet snake, your new car, and the big-breasted hottie out of your pic.
Logos, icons, and images are okay to use sometimes.

If youre consistent and your audience easily recognizes your brand because of
your logo, great. Otherwise, I would stick to using a face shot. You're a real
person: you dont represent a team, you speak for yourself, a PR rep does not
answer your emails or Tweet on your behalf. So remind people you're
independent by letting them see your gorgeous face.
Register and update your Gravatar (Globally Recognized Avatar).

Display your pic with your blog comments on any Gravatar-enabled site by
linking a Gravatar to your email address. Your comments might make people take
notice of you, and your photo will help you stick in their memory. [Here's the link
to set up your Gravatar.]
Consistent Quality
The more consistent you are with the quality of your work, the more likely potential
clients and your audience will value you.
This is why your published clips, writing samples, and portfolios are important. To
maintain a solid track record,
Make sure what you produce is great every time.

If you usually conduct thorough research, or include detailed charts, or interview
credible sources, why stop now? Clients and readers will expect that quality from
your work every time. So deliver.
Write well whenever you write.

Keep your writing quality high by writing your very best even in blog comments,
emails, or on social media. Be it fair or not, people judge you on your writing
skills. In a poll, I asked readers if they judge an author's credibility by their
content or their writing skills. Seventy-eight percent voted that both, content and
writing skills, are important in determining an expert's credibility.
Dont be afraid to switch it up.

If what you usually do is no longer giving you the results, response, or reach you
want, experiment until you find something that works and stick to it. Stick to it
until you become so good you automatically improve and adjust without even
realizing it.
Consistent Content
If you produce a lot of quality content regularly, continue producing quality content
regularly. If you usually publish one great blog post a month, continue to make it well
worth the wait.
Be consistent with your productivityor improve itand stick with the new regimen.
Stick to your schedule.

Make an editorial calendar to help you keep track of your plans.
Schedule blog posts.

The popular blog publishing service providers, including Wordpress and Blogger,
have a schedule post option. Use it! Spend a weekend writing several blog posts
and then schedule them to go live days, weeks or months in advance.
Continue to meet or exceed expectations.

Rarely do people complain when someone improves, delivers ahead of time, or
produces more quality content. If its good, its wanted and its appreciated.
Dont be afraid to try different things until you find what works for
you.
We all have different goals and approaches. So what works for one blogger may
not work for another. The trick is not to fear change or experimentation, but
make it work for you.
There you have it: how consistency with image, quality and content can help your
marketing efforts. Which one's helped you the most in your career?
[This post by Leslie Lee Sanders was originally published at Be a Freelance Blogger.
About the author:

Leslie Lee Sanders (@LeslieLSanders) is a publishing industry blogger, freelance writer
and an author of over a dozen erotic romance titles. She self-published twelve works of
fiction since 2005, published with Xcite Books and Breathless Press, and her blog was a
finalist in the first annual Goodreads Independent Book Blogger Awards in 2012. Find
her at www.leslieleesanders.com.
The Simple Secret to Beating Impostor Syndrome

Now, Im no doctor But if youre a fellow writer, Im willing to bet you suffer a certain
syndrome.
Lets start with a few questions:
When a client accepts your terms and rates for a project, do you think, I cant
believe they fell for it!?
Do you attribute most, if not all, of your blogging success to luck?
Do you constantly fear being exposed as a fraudeven though you have the
expertise to back up your claims?
No matter how accomplished you become, do you feel you still need to pay your
dues or that you dont deserve the recognition (or pay!) you receive?
Uh-huh. Yep.
Looks like you have Impostor Syndrome.
I Have What?
Dont worry. Impostor Syndrome isnt fatal.
Well Not in the physical sense anyway. It could be fatal to your career.
According to Wikipedia's collective
genius,
Despite external evidence of
their competence, those with
[impostor] syndrome remain
convinced that they are frauds
and do not deserve the success
they have achieved.
Proof of success is dismissed as luck,
timing, or as a result of deceiving others into thinking they are more intelligent
and competent than they believe themselves to be.
Sound familiar?
Unfortunately, this poses a major problem to writers. One of the first lessons we learn
when we go pro is the importance of marketing: of being able to convince others of our
worth.
But how can we convince others unless we can convince ourselves?
Short answer: we cant.
How Bleak! What Chance Does An Aspiring Writer Have?

First things first: Stop calling yourself an aspiring writer.
Do you write?
Yes?
Then youre a writer.
Just. A. Writer.
Go ahead. Take a deep breath. Let it out.
Now say it.
Im a writer.
Great! Calling yourself a writer is a HUGE first step.
But did you believe yourself when you said it?
Its okay if you didnt. It can take time. (It took me nearly a decade!)
You know what helps? The big secret to kicking your syndrome in the butt?
Practice.
And keeping proof on-hand for those moments when your brain turns against you.
For example, I like to look at the clips I have up on Contently. The website catalogs any
bylined articles Ive written online and not only shares the number of clips there are, but
how many total words Ive written. (Ask yourself: Would I have written so many
thousands of words if I werent a writer? Of course not!).
And then, since I work primarily as a ghostwriter, I like to whisper to myself, And those
are just the ones with my name on them! There are so many others
That usually does the trick for me.
Some other ways you can prove your non-impostor status to your naysaying brain:
Go back and look over any testimonials youve collected from former
clients. Clearly they didnt think you were an impostor! It would be an insult to
those fine people if you said otherwise.
Add up the money youve received from said fine people. If your mind
wont believe the words, maybe itll believe the numbers. Money talks, as the
saying goes, and your money is screaming, Youre a writer!
Compare where you are now with where you were a year ago.
Confession time: I always get horribly depressed around the holidays (for a
number of reasons, but the main one being that freelance writing sales tend to
droop in December). With this in mind, I always write a letter to my future self to
open the following year during my trouble months. I like to share what Im up
to at that moment in time, career-wise in particular. And, without failat least so
far!Im always doing better by the time I read it the following year. Try it! Id be
willing to bet that your writing career has improved as well. :)
But Where Should I Start Right Now?

Keep calling yourself a writer. Keep being a writer.
And, in the meantime, work on your elevator pitch.
An elevator pitch is a short speech about who you are and what you doa speech that
can be delivered to your audience in the time it takes to ride an elevator.
The best part?
You can create yours now in 3 easy steps!

1.
State who you are.
2.
Share what you do.
3.
Tell who you do it for.
In my case: My name is Lauren Tharp. Im a freelance writer for hire. I create unique
online content for small business owners and advise fellow writers on how to succeed at
freelancing.
For you it might be: My name is Blabbity Blah. Im a professional blogger. I specialize
in writing articles for dog groomers. Or maybe, My name is Blippity Bloo. Im an
online author. I create e-books targeted to help entrepreneurs make at least $100,000
per year.
Keep it simple. Keep it true. Keep practicing.
The more you believe yourself, the more your clients will believe in you as well.
You're a freelance blogger. Go to work!
[This post by Lauren Tharp was originally published at Be a Freelance Blogger. Feel
free to visit and share your thoughts in the comments.]
About the author:

Lauren is a freelance writer and young adult fiction author. She's also Be a Freelance
Blogger's original Community Helper, making sure that guest posts get uploaded on
time and everybody's comments get answered! Find out more about her at LittleZotz
Writing.
Image: exfordy
Chapter 8 Resources
Visit Tom Ewer's blog Leaving Work Behind and take a look at his Successful
Freelance Writing Online ebook*.
Get paid gigs with good blogs via The Ultimate List of Better-Paid Blogging Gigs
2013 Edition: 57 Blogs That Pay $50+.
In case you didn't grab it earlier, here's the link to The Be a Freelance Blogger
Rate Guide.
Find your fast track to guest blogging success with Jon Morrow's free guest
blogging video series* [I'm one of Jon's students].
Read the Naked Marketing Manifesto [Firepole Marketing].
Learn to research and write your queries and posts faster than ever with Firepole
Marketing's Write Like Freddy* training course [of which I'm also a student].
Check out Reboot Authentic for more tips on how to attract clients by being you.
How You Can Use Twitter to Land More Freelance Gigs [Be a Freelance Blogger]
How Facebook Helps You Find Freelance Blogging Jobs [Be a Freelance Blogger]
How a Zombie Apocalypse Can Help You in Your Blogging Career [Be a Freelance
Blogger]
Congratulations! Youre a Client Hunter.

How does it feel?
If you think you could use some extra support in your client hunting mission, dont
forget you can get a discount on the price of the fully-guided Client Hunting Masterclass
with lifetime access to a growing library of bonus resources as well as direct feedback
and help from me.
When you register for the fully-guided Masterclass, Ill refund any money
youve paid me for this Handbookjust email me a copy of your payment
confirmation to get it refunded.
One more thing:
There are too many freelance bloggers who struggle to find good clients, so the more you
help me spread the word, the sooner we can save the world. ;)
If you enjoyed this book, tell your friends.
Give them this link: beafreelanceblogger.com/client-hunting-handbook
Or click here to share the link on Twitter.
Thank you!
Sophie Lizard
Be a Freelance Blogger

Client Hunting Handbook

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Client Hunting Handbook

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elance Bloggers

The Freelance Bloggers Client Hunting Handbook

2013 Sophie Lizard of Be a Freelance Blogger

The Freelance Bloggers

The Freelance Bloggers Client Hunting Handbook

2013 Sophie Lizard of Be a Freelance Blogger

The Freelance Bloggers Client Hunting Handbook

2013 Sophie Lizard of Be a Freelance Blogger

Chapter 1: How to Build Your Website

The Layers of a Website

User Experience Checklist: How Your Site Looks and Works

The Freelance Bloggers Client Hunting Handbook

2013 Sophie Lizard of Be a Freelance Blogger

Content Checklist: What to Put on Your Freelancer Site

On your Portfolio or Samples page

Other pages you might choose to add

The Freelance Bloggers Client Hunting Handbook

2013 Sophie Lizard of Be a Freelance Blogger

Why Your Freelancing Face Scares Clients Away

Yes, You Need a Professional Website

The Freelance Bloggers Client Hunting Handbook

2013 Sophie Lizard of Be a Freelance Blogger

So he visits Angelina's website.

Look Good to Get Hired

The Freelance Bloggers Client Hunting Handbook

2013 Sophie Lizard of Be a Freelance Blogger

The Freelance Bloggers Client Hunting Handbook

2013 Sophie Lizard of Be a Freelance Blogger

Images: MyTudut, ginnerobot

The Freelance Bloggers Client Hunting Handbook

2013 Sophie Lizard of Be a Freelance Blogger

What Your Freelance Blogging Portfolio Says

The Freelance Bloggers Client Hunting Handbook

2013 Sophie Lizard of Be a Freelance Blogger

Here's how you look to your potential clients right now:

The Blogger Without a Past

The Blogger of Broken English

The Freelance Bloggers Client Hunting Handbook

2013 Sophie Lizard of Be a Freelance Blogger

The Hobby Blogger

The Freelance Bloggers Client Hunting Handbook

2013 Sophie Lizard of Be a Freelance Blogger

The Pro Freelance Blogger

The Freelance Bloggers Client Hunting Handbook

2013 Sophie Lizard of Be a Freelance Blogger

Your Other Portfolio is the Internet

The Freelance Bloggers Client Hunting Handbook

2013 Sophie Lizard of Be a Freelance Blogger

Images: dantaylr, Augapfel, jmoneyyyyyyy, bigyahu, Sophie Lizard

The Freelance Bloggers Client Hunting Handbook

2013 Sophie Lizard of Be a Freelance Blogger

The Freelance Bloggers Client Hunting Handbook

2013 Sophie Lizard of Be a Freelance Blogger

Chapter 2: Where to Find Job Ads

Industry Job Boards

Warning phrases to look out for in a job ad:

The Freelance Bloggers Client Hunting Handbook

2013 Sophie Lizard of Be a Freelance Blogger

Open Calls for Contributions

The Freelance Bloggers Client Hunting Handbook

2013 Sophie Lizard of Be a Freelance Blogger

TEMPLATE: Job Board Application

SUBJECT LINE: [TYPE OF BLOGGER] blogger application

The Freelance Bloggers Client Hunting Handbook