The more energy you have the more work you can get done; or at least that is the way I see things. Over the past few months I have been working hard to pinpoint ways to increase my energy level. Even though this is still a work in process, I have found three things that work for me.
1. Wake up early. When I wake up before the sun I always seem to have more energy. Sure, I may be a bit tired at the beginning of the day, the first 10 or so minutes, but after that I feel real good. This is not something that will work for every freelance writer, but at the very least you should give it a try.
2. Take breaks throughout the day. I do not like taking time away from my computer during the workday, but a few breaks here and there have done wonders for my overall level of energy. I usually take a quick break in the morning and afternoon, as well as a few minutes for lunch. When I return to my desk after a break I always feel like a new man.
3. Have a to-do list. What does this have to do with energy, you may ask? When I have a list that shows me the way I am always more energized. Maybe because I can chart my daily progress? Maybe because I can see an end in sight which motivates me to work harder? Whatever the reason it seems to be working.
If you are having a difficult time keeping up your energy level, try out the three tips above. They have worked for me over the past few months, and I am confident that they can do the same for you!Â
There are many things you can do to help your situation as a freelance writer. You can make contacts, improve your writing skills, and have all the right equipment. But nothing is as important as working hard day in and day out. If you are not dedicated to your craft and willing to work hard through good and bad times, you will never find much success as a freelance writer.
Working hard means something different to every freelance writer. One person may need to work 10 hour days in order to feel that he is really getting after it. But on the other side of things, another writer may go hard for six hours and then feel satisfied. As long as you feel that you are working hard, and truly believe this, you are in a good place. It is when you begin to slack off and attempt to trick yourself into thinking you are working hard that the real trouble starts.Â
There is no replacement for working hard. This holds true for every freelance writer regardless of career stage or expertise. As a new freelance writer I was always working hard so I could make a name for myself. But even though I now have more experience and contacts, I still work as hard as ever to ensure continued success.
You will be amazed at how much more success you have when you really dig in and decide to work hard everyday of the week. It may be a major change to your current work schedule, but soon enough you will settle in and realize that working hard is the only way to go.
If you feel that you are slacking off, even a bit, you need to make a change. If you are determined to work hard everyday of the week, for as many hours as possible, you will reap the rewards in the end.Â
When you impress a client you have a much better chance of developing a long term relationship, while also receiving repeat work. Some clients are easier to impress than others, but you should do your best to make this happen no matter who you are working with.
Here are three simple ways to impress all (or most) of your freelance writing clients:
1. Never miss a deadline. Simply put, you need to submit the finished project on or before the date it is due. If you neglect to do this you will find out soon enough that clients are giving up on you. Nobody wants to work with a freelance writer who does not turn work in on time.
2. Every piece you write should be of high quality. No matter if you are writing a short web article or a long feature, make sure you give your all. There will be times when a client does not like the end result, and in turn asks for some edits. But as long as you put in 100 percent effort the first time around there is nothing to worry about. Your clients will be able to tell when you went all out for them, and also when you cut corners.
3. Go above and beyond what is asked of you. For instance, if you want to impress a new “web based†client ask them if they need help finding images that correspond to your content. Chances are they will say “thanks but no thanks†but in the end this shows that you are willing to help in anyway you can.
As the title says, these are simple ways to impress freelance writing clients. There are many others ways to show your appreciation for a client, and you should follow through with anything that will better your relationship.
