What’s the toughest aspect of your client relationship? Managing expectations. What’s the easiest aspect of your client relationship? Managing expectations. Both are true. Hear me out. In the 17+ odd years I’ve been running a freelance writing business full time, I’ve come to realize one truth: [bctt tweet=”Managing your #freelancewriting client’s expectations is both the…
Is Your Freelance Cold Pitch Working? How to tell, and what to do if it isn’t
Everyone and his uncle is in hoarding mode, and things are getting weird. So far, I’ve seen the following shortages: Toilet paper Tofu Live magnolias in pots taller than 2 feet Plain white t-shirts in my size (and under $85) While the tofu was a bit of a surprise, the white t-shirt was just madness….
Your Freelance Writing Career Reinvention
As I was writing yesterday what was my fourth article in six days, I realized something: How busy your freelance writing business is right now really depends on what your focus area is. I was fortunate enough to fall into — and build — a specialty area that is pretty much recession-proof. That is, until…
8 Ways to Create a Productive Freelance Work Day (especially now)
It’s really easy right now to kick back and do nothing. It’s even easier for the ennui and the depression to sink in when you do kick back and do nothing, particularly when it’s a work day and you’re not getting any new work. What’s a freelance writer to do? I get it. Jobs may…
Boosting Your Freelance Writing Career (when there’s an economic meltdown happening)
I don’t need to tell you what it looks like out there. Over 16 million people unemployed. Businesses closed until further notice. But you knew that already. In fact, you may have lost a client or two because of the current pandemic. But guess what? You can gain new clients right now, too. Yes. You…
Beware the Freelance Writing Oversell
With the world in a literal crisis right now, you knew it was coming. It’s oversell time. Everyone and his uncle is trying to convince you that their product, their new book/webinar/course/paid whatever is exactly what you need right now. You’re probably already seeing sales, limited-time freebies, and pushes coming from the lists you subscribe…
8 Downtime Strategies for Freelance Writers
You know that thing you’ve been putting off? That personal freelance writing project? That marketing? That ___ ? Now is the time. Seriously, when is it going to be a better time? A few caveats first. If you don’t capitalize on this time that’s been gifted to you by one of the most life-altering, ongoing,…
3 Ideas for Successful Freelance Marketing (Yes, even now)
There’s an entire country of people who are about to do — or are already doing — what we do every day: Work from home. You already know the impact that’s having on businesses, particularly small businesses and those that were struggling before the pandemic. Some companies are scaling back drastically (Macy’s, Lush, Sephora, and…
What Every Freelancer Should Know About Relationship Marketing
Remember that saying “We’re going to hell in a hand basket.” Welcome to hell. Not so comfy in that basket, is it? The world is upside down and contorted in ways we never thought could happen. That includes the working world. Companies everywhere are seeing unprecedented losses thanks to statewide orders to shut down. I…
The Freelance Writing Sniff Test
Not long ago, I had an email from a potential client. Well, let me back up a little. It was an email from someone I’d just connected with on social media. I mean, I’d connected with them in that same minute. The email was a thank you, but it was also a request. The person…