I’m a Hidden Brain junkie. No surprise then that this idea comes from a Hidden Brain podcast. The episode talked about hidden obstacles: why consumers don’t buy, why people aren’t convinced of facts, etc. It’s all about friction. More to the point, it’s about removing friction. Friction is that thing that stops you from acting….
Marketing
No-Marketing Guide to Freelancing
Everyone has a sweet spot. It’s that place where the struggle is over, the work and clients come easily, and that working-hard mode you’ve been in for ages has shifted to the hardly working mode. And you’re actually better off. Man, what a sweet spot that is. But what a ton of work you put…
How to Lose a Freelance Client Prospect in 4 Moves
We talk a lot about how to find and win over potential clients for our freelance writing life. What we don’t talk much about is probably more important — How you might be losing that client before you even win them over. But Lori! I sent out a letter of introduction! I told them all…
6 Ways to Sabotage Your Freelance Career
A friend of mine asked me the other day what I knew about a certain freelancer. It was someone who crossed her email, and there was some evidence I was connected to her. “Oh, not that freelancer,” I said. That response was telling. I hadn’t heard from said freelancer since 2015. And yet I still knew…
One Freelance Marketing Tweak to Boost Results
I saw a tweet the other day that, once upon a time, I would have agreed with. These days, however, I know better. The tweet: The reason you’re not seeing success with your LOIs is this: VOLUME. Send 10 times more of them than usual and see what happens next! You know what? That works….
Freelance Guide to Marketing Your Way
I make zero money from this blog. That’s on purpose. And it’s the reason why a lot of great marketing advice that’s been given to me over the years was never adopted. I do this because I love it. I have made some very good friends on this and other blogs, and I’m happy to…
Freelancer’s Intro to Inbound Marketing
It’s always a good day when Jennifer Mattern shows up on the blog. Jenn, who runs All Freelance Writing and Freelance Writing Pros, is one of the most business-savvy freelancers I know. She’s a no-BS blogger who tells you what you need to hear, but does so with the intent of helping you improve your…
Is Negative Branding Killing Your Freelance Biz?
Picture this: You’re on a public forum where lots and lots of company execs hang out. You can post anything you want to attract attention, build name recognition, draw people to you. Here’s what you choose: I’m sick and tired of prospective clients asking me the same questions! No, I don’t want to send you…
Market in 2021 Like a Freelance Boss
A few weekends ago, I sat down to tally up my invoices for 2020 and pay that final self-employment tax installment. It’s an exercise that used to fill me with untold amounts of angst. I loathe figuring taxes. I never get the percentage right no matter how high I estimate. This year, I still owed…
3 Moves to Power Your Writing Career Forward
Where are you in your writing career right now? Are you earning what you want? Coming close enough to what you want to be satisfied? Feeling stuck? Wanting the work to match the pay? Wanting work that interests you? We’ve all been there. Every writer who’s ever started a freelance writing business has had to…