Skip to content

Words on the Page

a freelance writing resource.

Menu
  • Blogs Worth Reading
  • Courses
  • Ebooks
  • Free Writers Worth eBook
  • Guest Posting Guidelines
  • Home
  • Marketing 365
  • Monthly Assessment
Menu

5 Ways to Navigate the Writing Client’s First Draft

Posted on by lwidmer

I’m out of the office this week — at least I hope I am. As I write this post Thursday afternoon, I’m certain I didn’t go anywhere on Friday. My car decided it wasn’t done bleeding money out of me. A day after I paid $850 for new struts and an alignment, the brake hydraulics…

Read more

Writer’s Worth: Marketing Strategies to Use Right Now

Posted on by lwidmer

I’ll be here starting tomorrow. Ontario never looked so good as it does right now after a long week of many projects. You can tell I’m about to go on my twice-postponed vacation — the work is flooding in. This week alone I picked up six projects. Luckily, not all of them have the same…

Read more

6 Signs Your Freelance Writing Business May Fail

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Fade Into You by Mazzy Star Another wildly busy weekend. My son was visiting, so we were happily busy for much of the weekend. Because we’re still painting the upstairs, he had to stay at his sister’s house, which worked out well. Since we seem to be a revolving door when…

Read more

The Online Writing Persona You Didn’t Know You Had

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Anna by Will Butler It’s been a good week so far. I’ve had a conference call with a new client, have worked on a project for a newer client, finished a project for an existing client, and have had time to relax a little. And paint. There’s one more bedroom to…

Read more

Relationships and the Writer

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Sweet Dreams by The Eurythmics Remember when weekends were relaxing? Since my kid and her husband moved out (just over a week ago), we have been working nonstop to paint bedrooms, a bathroom, clean carpets, and furnish the empty rooms because, you guessed it, another kid is moving in. Maybe. The stepson…

Read more

Free Advice Friday: Turning Ideas Into Article Queries

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Have Love, Will Travel by The Sonics What a week. Unlike most summers, I’ve been working to the point where I had to postpone my vacation a few weeks just to get caught up. I did, but more came in. No matter — I’m out of here either way. I need…

Read more

Guest Post: 3 Steps to Vetting Writing Experts

Posted on by lwidmer

One of the best people you can possibly befriend in this freelance world is Paula Hendrickson. Paula is a sharp, intuitive, and skilled writer who is  as fun as she is generous. You’ve read here about the LOI? Paula introduced me to that method. In fact, her first post here was teaching us all about…

Read more

6 Hard Facts About Freelance Writing

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Dirty Dishes by Deer Tick What a week. My daughter and her husband are moving out all this weekend, starting yesterday. Amid a good bit of work, and with more work coming in, I had to pause and help clean, unpack, and sort. Today will be more of the same. I…

Read more

7 Ways to Attract Your Ideal Client

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee What’s on the iPod: A View That Almost Kills by We Invented Paris Since Monday, I’ve gotten quite a bit done. I have to — my daughter and her husband move out tomorrow and we’ll be busy. Then Monday I’m off to Ontario for some…

Read more

6 Ways to Compound Your Writing Success

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Anna by Will Butler A new week, a new chance to get it all done and take a vacation. My daughter and her husband move this week, so Friday is lost, as I suspect is Thursday afternoon. If I intend to get out of here anytime soon, I have to wrap…

Read more
  • Previous
  • 1
  • …
  • 74
  • 75
  • 76
  • 77
  • 78
  • 79
  • 80
  • …
  • 267
  • Next
  1. Anne Wayman Avatar
    Anne Wayman

    Lori, it's been my experience, in writing and in life, that I'm only stuck when I forget I have choice.

    Reply
  2. Lori Widmer Avatar
    Lori Widmer

    That's the smartest thing I've heard all day, Anne. Great insight!

    Reply
  3. Peter Bowerman Avatar
    Peter Bowerman

    Great post, Lori!

    And Anne, I had to smile at Lori's comment to you above. Now, if only it'd been 11:16 *PM*… 😉

    Seriously, good stuff. And #'s 2 & 3 just underscore that absolute truism of freelancing: It's always easier to get more work out of an exiting client than to land a new one. So, poke around their web site and see where there might be holes.

    Could their web copy copy use some sprucing up? To give it more of a marketing spin, perhaps? Do they not have any case studies posted, but are in a business that would absolutely benefit from having them? But, by all means, ask them directly (assuming, of course, that they're happy with the work you did for them).

    And I heartily second #3: Unless you've done a wide range of stuff for your clients, they'll tend to cubbyhole you in the category of the project you did for them. Proactively remind them of other project types you're able to execute. Perhaps even see if they'd be willing (assuming it's a local client) to sit down with you and have you show them some other work.

    One freelancer I know (and her suggestion went into TWFW) puts a note (as a footer, of sorts) at the bottom of all her invoices, in essence, doing just that: Something to the effect of, "And keep me in mind if you need help with X, Y, Z, etc."

    Good stuff!

    PB

    Reply
  4. Lori Widmer Avatar
    Lori Widmer

    Peter, if it had been 11:16 PM, I'd have been posting in my sleep. 😉

    Great advice on the footer! I hadn't considered that one, and it's an easy way to upsell.

    You couldn't be more right about suggesting other project types. I'm working with a client now and then who thought I did just articles. I exercised #3, and they've hired me for other projects going on two years now.

    Reply
  5. Eileen Avatar
    Eileen

    Look at your network, and see whom you trust who has skills that complement yours. Then let your clients know you can provide a more complete solution. A long-time client asked me if I could do a video script for him. When I said yes, I also pointed out that my daughter recently started her own videography business and we could provide videography and editing services as well. Since this client has worked with me regularly for over 5 years, he trusted me … and thus I ended up as producer/writer in charge of the entire project even though I'd never done anything of that scope before. It was a blast. I'm about ready to contract for a second video project with the same client.

    Reply
© 2026 Words on the Page | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme