So you want to increase your freelance writing income? As you can imagine, there are many ways to do this. That being said, one of the easiest is to ask your clients for more money. This may sound bold, but it will work in your favor time after time if you know what you are doing.
The number one reason that many freelance writers do not ask for more money is fear. In other words, they are afraid that their client will either tell them no or get so mad that they end the relationship. Could this happen? Sure. But the chances, if you say the right things, are slim to none.
As noted above, you need to know how to ask for more money. While this will change with each client, here are some basic tips that you can use:
1. Do not insult the client. You can ask for more money without being overbearing, and coming across as unappreciative. Try this: “At the beginning of next month my rates will be increasing. The increase is nothing major, but I wanted to make you aware so that we can work out a deal that will allow us to work together well into the future.â€
2. Be open to negotiating. For instance, if you are earning $.10/word right now, you may want to increase this to $.20/word in the near future. You should ask for $.20/word, but be prepared to negotiate down if the client does not accept. At the very least, you should be able to meet in the middle which is still a nice increase when compared to your starting point. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with negotiating when it comes time to increase your rates.
One of the easiest ways to increase your freelance writing income is by working with the same clients but asking them to pay you more. It is common to get stuck in a rut with long term clients that pay you the same rate month in and month out. When you feel that you are worthy of an increase there is nothing wrong with asking. You may be surprised at how willing your client is to negotiate a higher rate. Â
As you may have noticed, I have decided to open my freelance writing course to a few more members. More specifically, I am upping the maximum to 20 members as opposed to the previous cap of 10.
Over the past few months I have had a full class, as well as a decent sized waiting list. In order to give more people the opportunity to work with me one-on-one, I am going to cap the membership base at 20 for upcoming months. If this works out well, I may make another increase in the future.
The first few months of the course have been a learning experience. I have pinpointed what the majority of members want to learn, what they expect, and how I should move forward with the course to make it as beneficial as possible. Even though an increased membership base will mean more of a commitment, it will also mean more help for the masses.
With 9 members carrying over from last month and a waiting list of 15 to 20, I am confident that these additional spots will fill up quickly. For this reason, if interested, you will want to act fast and email me as soon as possible.
If you are interested in joining, but are unsure of the benefits, check out the freelance writing course link at the top of the blog. This should answer most of your questions. If not, feel free to contact me with any particular details or questions that may be on your mind.
All in all, I am anxious to take on new students. For those of you interested in getting started, send me a quick email and from there we will be well on our way.
I think the title of this post pretty much says it all. Lazy freelance writers will find it difficult to succeed. There is really no margin for error in this area. If you are not willing to work hard you cannot expect big things. Unfortunately, a good work ethic is something that some people simply don’t have. And when you are working as a freelancer this will become quite obvious sooner rather than later.
I want to compare my job as a sales manager to my current position as a freelance writer to illustrate this point. When I had a steady paycheck it was easy to take a few hours off from time to time, or cut out early. This did not mean that I was lazy; it just meant that I knew the money was coming one way or the next. But as a freelance writer this is not the case. If I become lazy it means that I won’t find new clients, current clients will go elsewhere, and subsequently my income will drop like a brick. This alone should be reason enough to show you how important it is to work hard, day in and day out.
There is nothing wrong with having a “lazy day†from time to time. Everybody needs a break, and this can be good for you. What you need to be careful about is letting this turn into a habit. It feels good to be lazy sometimes, doesn’t it? Since this is the case, you may feel inclined to take time off and procrastinate more than you should. Once again, when this happens you are putting your entire career at risk.
There is no easy way of saying this: lazy freelance writers will not last very long. If you are going to become a freelance writer make sure that you are ready to work hard everyday of the week. It is this work ethic and determination that will allow you to succeed in every facet of your career.
