Does Your Freelancing Say ‘Amateur’?

Maybe it was bad SEO keyword use. Or maybe it’s just lousy writing. Honestly, on my first read, it didn’t really matter, because I tuned out.

A writer friend sent over what is probably one of the worst examples of whatever kind of writing this bot was trying to emulate. Yes, I said bot. I don’t think for one second this is a real person. It’s certainly not a real writer.

That’s harsh, I know. But here’s a sample sentence; let’s see if you agree:

Content marketing is changing the game of marketing at a steady pace and helping businesses achieve their goals across different marketing funnels.

See why I thought it was SEO keyword loading? How many times can you shove the word ‘marketing’ in one sentence and still be coherent? That, my friend, is a question that remains unanswered.

The rest of the example is just as bad. I’ll spare you. It’s truly bad. Truly, as in the word “snackable” used to describe content.

However, we don’t need to see more. One sentence told us plenty. This Bot (the photo I saw screams “computer generated”) cannot write. Nor should a bot know how to do that, really.

But if this indeed is a person (again, my money is on bot), then that one sentence tells a prospective client far too much, such as this writer is:

• Sloppy or lazy (or both)
• Unable to use keywords appropriately
• Not interested in putting out quality content
• Making it up as she/it goes
• Doing no research
• Talking with no consideration for how the message is coming across
• Making no damn sense
• Providing no factual basis for the assertion

This writing came from a blog — a writer-focused blog. Do you really want to take pointers from someone who argues that “marketing is changing marketing”?

Didn’t think so.

Alas, we’re not bots, so no one can blame our mistakes on bad algorithms. Well, they could, but we’re not exactly math geniuses, we creatives. “Algorithms” is something we can spell, not concoct.

[bctt tweet=”There are plenty of mistakes #freelance writers make that scream ‘amateur’ to clients. Here are a few.” username=”LoriWidmer”]

Begging for work.

That repetitive tweet (especially the one with the hashtag that targets other writers) is making you look desperate. Come on, mix it up. Use a new message. Don’t beg. Give them a reason why you’re the writer for the job — tweet about successes, projects you just finished, interesting things potential clients might actually want to read about. That’s going to land a lot more clients.

Bitching about clients in public.

Haven’t seen this in a while, thankfully, but there are far too many writers who think that if they write it under a certain hashtag or on their writing blog, no client will see it. Yes, they will. They go looking for you when they’re about to hire you. I once said out loud on my blog that I’d contacted a potential client, but they must not have liked what I’d sent because they didn’t respond after a week. Color me surprised when the contact referenced that in her email and said “Really, I didn’t forget about you!” Everything you present online is visible. Assume they’re watching.

Presenting your worst work.

Maybe the project was above your paygrade. Maybe the client wanted you to string together far too many keywords, or reference sketchy sources. You may think your hands are tied in those cases, but they’re not. Back away from what you clearly don’t understand — it saves you both frustration, and it impresses them with your honesty. Refuse to do anything that bends the rules, even a little. Plagiarism, even if sanctioned by the client, leaves a stain on you. Not them. We’ve all read a lousy article and judged the writer for it. That’s why it matters.

Throwing things together thoughtlessly.

Like our SEO bot demonstrates, a half-assed job done is not going to win you any points. We all want to get going and make a splash in freelancing or with a new client base, but don’t let that splash be your drowning. Take the time to put together quality. If you don’t know what quality looks like, then don’t write until you do. It takes more than one blog article and a good idea to make you a successful writer of quality content. There are no shortcuts.

Leading with the know-it-all attitude.

Not one writer I know has all the answers. Not me, either. But those writers who go into forums or on social media spouting their wisdom are convinced theirs is the last word on the subject at hand. You, freelance writer, will never stop learning. I haven’t. My peers teach me something new almost weekly. I would never pronounce, nor argue, that what’s in my head is chapter-and-verse everything to know on any topic. Far from it. Drop the defensiveness (that’s what it is). It’s okay to not know something. Listening makes you a better writer.

Writers, what other actions are screaming ‘amateur’ to you?