Article Writer Branching Out For The First Time. Help, I'm new here...

Oliver Williams

12 years ago

I might be able to help PM sent

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Miguelito203

12 years ago

Originally Posted by jmlwriting

Hey everyone,

I'm John and I'm an experienced article writer. I'm not saying that I'm a great article writer- but, I've managed to keep a steady stream of clients since I accidentally stepped into this business a few years ago. I've been in and out of the forums for a while, but because I've always had steady work, I never really paid attention to developing my career and expanding my horizons.

Right now I write thousands of words a week on keyword-based or SEO articles, and I get consistent and predictable work from good and honest clients. I can whip out easy to read articles on anything from "scuba gear" to "salaries" or "online schools".

But, I never really was active in forums or freelance sites before, because I got scooped up by a couple of steady providers. I got lazy, and never saw the need to branch out because I've been content with the status quo.

So, I'm trying to make up for lost time and learn how to build my writing business so that I can increase my earnings and growth potential.

I have just started getting my feet wet in the forums, and I can't believe that I didn't dig around a lot sooner. But, I'd really appreciate some suggestions and tips that can help me to get better oriented around here.

As I get familiar with the world of internet marketing, I want to keep writing, but I want to double my income. Some may say I'm asking for too much, others may say I'm asking for too little. But, for starters, I think this is a realistic goal to set.

Right now I get about $1 per hundred words from a few different providers who manage writing teams and such. But, I know their customers are paying more than double for the articles I'm writing. I accept that- that's the price I pay for convenience and a lack of effort on my part to find my own clients.

So, if my writing is really worth at least 2-3 dollars per 100 words, what's the best way that I can give myself a promotion?

I love the folks I write for now, but I need to start thinking about the future and I have no clue what to do next.

Any suggestions?

Thanks a lot, and nice to meet you all.

Hey, John. You should check out a site called elance (.com). If you're a good writer, you should be charging a lot more than that -- especially with your years of experience. You should also start using your writing skills to better use by focusing on something that generates residual income like a Private Label Rights store where you write content on various topics (based upon what people are looking for in the search engines and such) and get paid via Paypal. See plratm (.com) for more on this.

You could also start a niche blog on your own domain. A niche blog is one that focuses on a particular theme like dating, weight loss, learn Spanish, dating, golf, video games, fashion...and will generally consist of both product reviews as well as articles pertaining to stuff going on in your niche. There are tons of niche markets you can go into. The only real criteria are that it be profitable and one you have an interest in. See unstoppableaffiliate (.com) for more on this.

Good luck,
Joey

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YasirYar

12 years ago

Hey John,

There are so many platforms you can join to branch out in the field of writing. Below are some urls where people post projects and you can bid on them. They have projects of various kinds, but you can set filters so that you only see the writing jobs:

- vWorker.com: How work gets done. Guaranteed!
- www.elance.com
- www.odesk.com
- Freelancer.com - Hire Freelancers & Find Freelance Jobs Online

You don't need to join all of them but I would strongly recommend that you at least check them all out before deciding which one you want to join. They all have their pros and cons, and everyone likes different freelancing marketplaces according to their own personal needs.

You should get it right on the first go, since starting an account is not the easiest thing to do. Landing the first project on any site without any ratings at all is painstaking at times.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

-Yasir

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jmlwriting

12 years ago

Hey thanks for the tips. I needed a reality check when it comes to trolling the freelance sites. I guess I was looking for ways to avoid them if possible, but I have to do what I have to do.

What about posting an ad here? Do you have an opinion about how easy it is to get to work without all excess nonsense found in the freelance sites?

Thanks
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YasirYar

12 years ago

Originally Posted by jmlwriting

Hey thanks for the tips. I needed a reality check when it comes to trolling the freelance sites. I guess I was looking for ways to avoid them if possible, but I have to do what I have to do.

What about posting an ad here? Do you have an opinion about how easy it is to get to work without all excess nonsense found in the freelance sites?

Personally, I think outsourcing marketplaces, as frustrating as they can be, are a great place to meet potential long term clients. I would not avoid them, specially while trying to branch out and find new clientele.

It might be hard to find people who are willing to pay more than $1 per 100 words, but trust me, they do exist on those outsourcing marketplaces. Some people still value good content

Warriors For Hire

The Warriors for Hire section is a good place to find work, but the likelihood of you actually finding work depends on your reputation on the forum.

Since you are new here, I am not sure whether it would be lucrative for you to pay $20 to setup a thread on that forum, and then $20 each time you want to bump it to page 1.

Thanks

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Alexa Smith Banned 12 years ago

Originally Posted by jmlwriting

I needed a reality check when it comes to trolling the freelance sites. I guess I was looking for ways to avoid them if possible

I strongly recommend avoiding them completely, and choosing to compete in entirely different markets.

Starting cheap and increasing prices later is not the answer. The content and article writing business, online, simply doesn't work that way, and there are good and valid reasons for that, mostly related to the type of work sought by different groups of clients and the status of those clients' own businesses.

Some of the resources listed in this post will perhaps be helpful to you: Making Steady Money From Writing?
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fcliang007

12 years ago

Hi, John. As you are a writer, I think the best way to increase your income is build a website or blog. You can find a good niche and build the website. The job of backlink building can be solved by Fiverr. There are so many people selling seo service there.

Thanks

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danr62

12 years ago

Here's what you should do:

Start a blog and post a few samples of your writing there. Make them the best and most well researched articles you can, as opposed to the SEO articles you've probably been writing too fast to do in depth research on.

Start calling local businesses and ask them how you can help them with their content needs. You can take a look at their websites and make a few suggestions. One idea you can offer is to add a blog to their site and keep it updated for them, if they don't already have that going. Just make it all about them and how you can help them.

If they seem interested ask if you can do a short term assignment for them so they can test the waters.

Also, you need to raise your rates. How can you possibly hope to double your income without getting burnt out unless you charge more? With your experience, you should be able to charge at least 15 to 20 cents per word.

If they balk at this, ask them if they know the lifetime value of one client. Many will not. If they can get one new client who will become a recurring customer, how much is that worth to them? Then you can pose the rhetorical question of whether your writing can bring in at least one new client per month.

If they still think your rates are too high or they pass on the offer for another reason, thank them for their time and move on to the next call.

Doing this, you should be able to build a stable of well paying clients. If you keep them happy, they will keep coming to you for their needs.

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rado0

12 years ago

You can charge a lot more if you're really good. Try increasing your rate and see how the market (your clients) will react. If they use your services for long-term, they are probably making at least a 1000% return on the investment they make by paying you.

Really good writers are not easy to find whatsoever. So you should consider yourself as a valuable resource. Your clients probably know it, but don't want you to know it

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Jamesmoru

12 years ago

[DELETED]

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jmlwriting 12 years ago

This is awesome!

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I'm a good writer, but I'm getting pulled in the wrong direction with all the SEO stuff I do. But, at the same time, I can earn a decent living doing it while I look at other things. So, it's easy for me to stick with what I know.

I keep reading that I can make more doing the same stuff I do, I just don't know how. The freelance sites are a joke- but I did meet a couple good clients there. The article writing services are okay for busy work, if it's available.

My question is where can I find the people that pay more for articles? Most of the ads on the freelance sites are junk. Most article writing services I'm familiar with don't pay that much. Where can I go? Any ideas?
- Thanks
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danr62

12 years ago

A great place to find people who will pay more is right in your own backyard. Do you have a lawyer near you that spends a fortune on ads in the Yellow Pages, TV and radio? H/she already knows the value of marketing. Writing is another form of marketing, which you specialize in. Call them, visit their office and introduce yourself.

There are plenty of other businesses right in your area who will pay good rates as well. In fact, there are probably enough businesses in Chicago to supply you with all the work you need.

Also, your local newspapers probably pay freelance journalists as well. Talk to people to find interesting stories worth reporting. Think of things that you've experienced that would make an interesting story, and find other people with similar stories to use as sources. Send a query into the editors. If they accept your pitch you can write the story and get a byline, which can expose your writing services quite nicely to your local market.

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OmarNegron

12 years ago

Hey John my partner and I run an article service of our own and one of the best tips to give you is:

To make a blog and start creating a brand awareness of who you are. If you have the skills as a writer and I can tell from how you write that you do then you will be able to charge what you want per 100 words.

Think about what will be your ideal price per 100 words I believe you mentioned $2 to $3. Now since you have the skills as a writer being able to create a blog of your own will not be a problem and you can definitely provide value to people.

Once you have your blog and some helpful posts you want to start doing guest blogging and commenting. Basically look for popular blogs where you can write helpful articles that will link back to your site giving you some exposures to visitors that can become potential clients.

As you are doing this make sure you start building a list of people who might be interested in your service. There are so many ways to get people to try you out. For one you can give a free article so they can see your skills. People appreciate good content so as long as you provide good content you will be fine.

I know it may be a lot of information to grasp but start educating yourself on these concepts and eventually you will be able to get the price you are looking for your articles.

- Will

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MikeTucker

12 years ago

Alexa listed some excellent online resources above, and Daniel posted some great ideas as well. The only thing I would add is that you can grab a copy of the latest edition of the Writer's Market that you can get your hands on and start submitting-- A lot of them pay you up front as well. If you can't afford the $25 or whatever it is, you can probably find it at a local library or some resource like that.

And to repeat Alexa's advice, don't think you can start cheap and raise your prices later! Charge what you are worth, and stick to it. Nothing kills a buyer's confidence like you charging low prices, or dropping your price to get the gig.

Work hard at building those relationships with publishers and buyers, and you will find that you can much more than merely "double" your income.

Best wishes!

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