If you are a full-time freelance writer you probably work eight or so hours a day. Of course, there are times when you will work more or less. After all, this is one of the biggest perks of being a freelance writer. If you work part-time, chances are that you have even less time to work on freelance writing projects. For this reason, you need to make the most of all the time that you have available.
There are many distractions that are sure to pop up while you are working. This includes everything from emails to personal phone calls to your favorite song playing on the radio. But it only takes two minutes to take a phone call, right? Wrong! I have answered personal calls during the day thinking that I will be done within a couple minutes. A half hour later and I am just getting off the phone to find that I need to regain my focus.
It is easy to waste time as a freelance writer. There is no boss to answer to, and nobody looking over your shoulder to ensure that you are getting your work done. If you want to work effectively you are responsible for doing so. The more time you waste the less time you have to get your work done. In the end, less time means less pay.
An efficient use of time is important if you are going to be a successful freelance writer. Know how many hours you are going to work, and then stay focused and on track during this allotted time.
No matter how much experience you have as a freelance writer, there is going to come a time when you are asked to work for free. I have found that new freelance writers are more prone to falling into this trap. But of course, some experienced vets also do the same. If you want to earn a real income as a freelance writer, you need to get paid for your work. Remember, the client is going to profit from the work that you give them for free. Why should you be the only one who misses out?
Some clients will straight-out ask you to work free of charge upfront. They make no bones about it, and tell you that they do not want to pay. If you run into this, explain your side of the story and see where it gets you. If a client is bold enough to ask for free work there is a good chance that your career is better off without them.
Other clients will tell you they will pay, but quickly begin to bargain for freebies as you move through the project. One of my favorite lines is “But I thought that was included.†If a client tells you this, they are usually looking for a way to get what they are paying for plus a little bit extra. How should you respond? In a professional way, tell the client that what they are asking for was not included in the original quote. From there, explain that you would be more than happy to add the work to the overall price.
You should avoid working for free. The best way to earn a solid freelance writing income is to get paid what you are worth. And even if you are new to the industry, you are worth more than nothing!Â
As a freelance writer, your marketing plan will play a key role in your success. If you expect to earn a good income and have enough work to keep things steady, you need to market your services on a regular basis. That being said, I hear the same complaint time after time: my marketing techniques are not working. Believe it or not, there may be one easy fix for this. Do you know what it is?
Time is something that you need when it comes to marketing your freelance writing services. In other words, you cannot expect immediate results. There are times when I send query letters, forget about them, and then receive a call from an editor six months later. Marketing does not always yield immediate results.
There is no way of saying how long it will take for your marketing plan to take over and show results. As noted above, you may have to wait for several months to hear back from a potential buyer. But of course, I have sent cold emails and received a positive response within an hour. It all depends on who you are getting in touch with, as well as a little bit of luck.
Just because your marketing plan is not taking off right away does not mean that it won’t do so in the future. Time will tell if you need to tweak your plan, or if it is fine the way it is. Just remember, you need to market your services no matter how you do so or how long it takes for things to swing in your favor. The biggest mistake that you can make is abandoning your marketing plan and schedule because you have not garnered immediate results. Give it some time, and then change your plan accordingly.Â
