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Some writers may faint at the thought of “slicing and dicing” their work. The thought of removing this or that could send them running for the hills! You won’t feel the pain of weeding out extraneous words if you write in a clear and concise manner.

Freelance writers know that a blog post is between 350-700 words, unless a client specifically asks for 500 words. Make good use of the space by getting to the point. Take out words such as so, just, because, really, and other words. Say what you want to say!

Writers write from the heart. It makes sense they’d want to keep every word they wrote on the page. Thank God for editors; they’ll trim the fat without thinking twice about it. Articles are written with precision to alleviate spacing issues in publications.

Cut down on these extra words

• So
• Just
• That
• Also
• Seriously
• Really
• Because
• Usually
• This

It’s a good idea to put your writing away and come back to it with a fresh pair of eyes. Read it a few times and see if you can find words to cut. You may only find one or two words to remove; it’s better than nothing. At least you’ll have the satisfaction of taking out unnecessary words.

Freelance writers love what they do. Trimming words may be a challenge for some of them. It’s as if they’re taking a piece of their soul out of the writing. Or, they need the words in order to reach the specified word count! You may want to go back and reread your writing if you’re using “filler words” to guarantee a set amount of words. Remember, you’re a professional writer.

Ask any travel writer how to pack for vacation and they’ll tell you, “…when in doubt, leave it out!” Approach your writing this way. If certain words don’t make an impact on your article or blog post, take them out or replace them. It’s better to have a well written piece instead of one filled with puff!

Rebecca

What words do you eliminate from your writing? Share your thoughts.

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The number of blogs on the internet increase every day. What makes yours unique? Many blogs have the same theme. Perhaps they’re about freelance writing, blogging, Paris, SEO, interior design, graphic design, screenwriting, or whatever your niche is. How do you make your blog stand out with so many other similar blogs out there? This can be quite the conundrum!

Freelance writers are no stranger to blogs. They have their own and write posts for clients. It’s their job to make sure the content is unique and strikes a nerve with readers. No one wants to read a blog post that could put you to sleep faster than a sleeping pill! Hook the reader and reel them in so they keep coming back for more.

Writing a blog can be tedious if you’re writing on the same topic as everyone else. How many “how to” posts are really needed? Be original and break out of the mold. Use a different angle if you must write a “how to” post. Provide information that hasn’t been written about yet. This may take some research time but you can do it.

Tips to creating a blog that won’t make you gag

1. Write unique posts in your style, tone, and voice. Forget about copying your writer because that’s too boring.
2. Create attention grabbing headlines and back them up with solid information.
3. Change your color scheme one in awhile. You may get bored with the look of your blog or could use a makeover. Freshen your blog with a different a color scheme and layout. It could help with your ranking.
4. Breakout of the “how to and tips and tricks” blog posts. There’s more to blogging than “How to do this or How to do that.” Be bold and daring and write posts that make readers stop and think or at least present a “How to” post in a different manner such “Create Your Blog and Attract Readers to Your Site.”
5. Find your niche. If you’re not passionate about your subject matter it will show in your blog posts. Make sure you’re passionate about what you do and have fun with it.

Blogging can be your worst nightmare if you don’t like to write. This why hiring a freelance writer is a good idea. They’re creative people who think of ideas you didn’t even know were possible. They weave your keywords into each blog post which can increase your page rank. They can also find a photo to accompany your blog to make it stand out.

If your blog is making you gag, then it’s time for a change. Step back and reevaluate why you created a blog in the first place. What’s your goal for the blog? What do want to accomplish with a blog? You may want to consult a freelance writer who’ll critique your blog and provide you with solid feedback. It could be the investment you make all year!

Rebecca

What’s your blog about and how is it unique? Share.

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“Hear ye, hear ye. Court is now in session. Today’s matter is about settling the case between having a blog and not having a blog for your business. Some business owners are not convinced having a blog is worth the time and effort. Others feel a blog adds more depth and dimension to their website and it could potentially draw more clients. Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Is there no right or wrong answer? Let’s find out.

Make no mistake about it; there are millions of blogs on the internet. The key to making yours stand out is to provide unique, useful content. Even then, it could be a shot in the dark to draw readers who could become potential clients. If you think the housing market was overbuilt, peruse the internet and see how many blogs are posted on the internet!

You may be thinking you don’t need a blog and maybe you’re right. But people have become conditioned to asking questions such as 1) Do you have a website? and 2) Do you have a blog? That’s the way it is. If you don’t have a website, you may want to get on that right away before you create a blog.

Pro blog

People love FREE information! That’s the way it is. This is why you receive pens, hats, bottle openers, key chains, pencils, yo-yos, and other merchandise when you attend an event. It’s a thrill to receive something free just for showing up. Think of a blog as a marketing tool. You’re drawing people to you because you provide them with pertinent information that can have a great impact on their life. You can be the one responsible for helping them to change their life for the better.

You can Tweet about your blog, you can post your blog on Facebook, Digg your blog post, and post your blog on LinkedIn. These are the top social media places that can help drive traffic to your website. You never know who’ll discover your blog. They could be your next client or customer.

Take your blog post, change it by at least 30%, and post it on Ezine Articles which is the number one article marketing website. You can drive more traffic to your website by utilizing article marketing. This is yet another opportunity for you to show the world what you can do for them.

No blog

Blogs take too much time and effort. Since there are millions of blogs on the internet, why even bother creating one? There’s no guarantee that your blog will be part of the top 10 blogs within search engines. Why waste time and effort on a blog when you can take that energy to grow your business with traditional marketing efforts? You take the energy that you’d use to create a blog to come up with new promotions for your business, products, and services.

Blogging will become ancient history in a few years. Some statistics show that blogs aren’t as popular as they used to be because there are so many of them. Some business owners are choosing not to have a blog. They may offer a few articles on their websites but that’s it. Why start something now if it could become a relic of the past? Stick with the tried and true marketing endeavors such as direct mail, radio advertising, brochures, and newsletter.

Conclusion

Anyone that Google’s your keyword will find you one way or another. Whether or not you have a blog is up to you. Please note that most people are in the habit of looking for a blog on a business’s website. You could provide relevant articles instead of a full blown blog. Whatever you decide, make sure you weighed the pros and cons. Good luck!

Rebecca

Do you have a blog? What has it done for your business? No, blog. Why not? Share your thoughts.

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Photo by Pedro Simao http:///www.editae.com.br

Life is full of twists and turns. Sometimes freelance writers take part-time or full-time jobs in addition to their freelance writing work. Sometimes business owners moonlight as well in order to pay the bills. Whatever your case is time management is crucial. You only have 24 hours in a day, make the most of them to complete your projects.

Time management is easy when you have tools to assist you. If you have a PC, use Windows calendar to schedule your work. If you have a Mac, use iCal to schedule your work or some other application for Mac. Once you create your schedule, you’ll know exactly what to do each day. Just be prepared for days when unexpected events come up which requires you to rearrange your schedule.

Freelance writers can benefit from a schedule. It’s a great way to ensure that all of your projects are completed on or ahead of time. Use whatever system works for you from an Excel spreadsheet to a bulletin board. This is useful if you’re a visual person.

You may think that you can keep track of time, but you’d be surprised how fast it goes. Before you know it, you’ll be half way through the day and may not even be close to completing projects. Check-in with yourself to see how well you’re doing. Make adjustments to your schedule when necessary.

Time management tips!

1. Answer important emails. Do not answer or look at your emails unless they’re from your clients. Look at your email twice a day: once in the morning and then at night.
2. Choose a time management system that works for you. Use Windows Calendar, an organizer, bulletin board, online system, or some other time management system.
3. Answer important phone calls. If it’s not an emergency or your clients, don’t answer the phone.

Don’t lose track of your projects because you could lose more than time — you could lose your clients! Clients are your “bread and butter” and without them your business will not survive. Choose a time management system that works for you and stick to it. Good luck!

Rebecca

What time management tools do you use? Share.

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When you speak, do you say what you mean and mean what you say? Nine times out of ten, most people talk in circles. It’s like listening to a politician answer a question about the state budget! Communication is the key in any business, especially freelance writing. If you don’t know how to communicate with people, your writing will suffer.

Freelance writing appeals to most people because they get to work from home. Make no mistake about it, this is a business. In order for you to grow your business, you must communicate with others. However, you must understand their communication style. Some people don’t like the phone and prefer text, email, or IM. How adaptable is your communication style? If you can’t adapt to your surroundings, you’ll die out.

How well do you listen? Do you even know how to listen? Many people don’t have great listening skills. This is due to our “me” society. It’s all about me! Wrong! It’s not about you; it’s about the people who are your potential clients. When you meet people, be quiet. Listen to everything they have to say. Be genuinely interested in what it is they’re saying and you’ll have no problem gaining clients.

You’d think freelance writers would have impeccable communication skills. Wrong again! Many of them are used to being cocooned are from people. They forget what it’s like to have an actual conversation with people. Here’s a tip: get out of the house. Attend a networking event or fundraiser. Mix and mingle with people to exercise your communication skills.

Knowing how to communicate with others is imperative. People are from different generations and have different communication styles and ways of learning. For example, some people are visual learners. Telling them about your business without giving them a website to look at may not yield the best results. Make sure your website is on your business card. This way they can “check you out” and get a sense if your services are a match.

Communication is about connecting with people. Become a great communicator by first listening to people and then interjecting at the appropriate time. Many people are tired of being sold to and frown upon dishonesty. Be open and honest about you and your business and you’ll gain clients. Avoid selling to people because it will only deter them from working with you. Learn to sell without selling because it will take you far. Go out there and be the best communicator you can be!

Rebecca

How well do you communicate? Share.

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Freelance writers will do well if they think outside of the box. Did you know that you could become a W-9 employee? The next time you receive a call from a company inquiring if you’d like to work full-time for them, ask if you could be listed as a W-9 employee. They may find this peculiar, but it will be to both of your advantages.

Being hired as a W-9 employee means a company will send you a 1099 which you’ll use when you file your taxes. This is a win-win situation for you and the company. First, you’ll receive tax benefits. Second, the company receives major benefits such as reduced health care and other costs. Finally, both you and the company’s management team will preserve the environment because you’ll work from home. Perhaps you’ll be expected to go to the office once a month, but that’s better than Monday-Friday.

Working as a W-9 gives you tax advantages. For example, you’ll be able to write-off a portion of your home when you have a home office, phone, computer, paper, and other write-offs. Consult with your accountant about the tax benefits of being paid as a W-9.

Freelance writers, you could gain clients by asking to be classified as a W-9. Point out how you can save the company money. Don’t be afraid to propose being given a W-9 because you may receive a “yes” instead of a no. You won’t know unless you try. All you have to do is ask!

Rebecca

When was the last time you had a W-9? Share.

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I can’t tell you how many Facebook Friend and Fan Page Requests I receive from people I don’t know. They don’t tell me who they are or about their product or service. Assuming that everyone will automatically friend or follow your Facebook fan page is a misnomer.

Freelance writers utilize Facebook to market their work. However, before you begin to “friend” everyone on Facebook, tell them who you are and why you’re sending them a friend request. Perhaps you have similar backgrounds or a few friends in common. If they don’t know who you are, chances are they will not accept your friend request. The same applies to your fan page. Who are you and why would a person follow your fan page over another writer’s? What value does your fan page add? What are you doing that’s different from other writers? Knowing the answers to these questions can help your position on Facebook.

Tips and Tricks to Facebook

1. Tell people who you are. Sending out a multitude of friend requests and fan pages could backfire on you. People receive so much information today — they’re on sensory overload! They may discard your requests if they don’t know who you are or what you do.

2. Don’t assume everyone will follow you. This may sting for some people but that’s the way it is. People want to connect with you not feel like they’re being sold to all of the time. Make your request personal and you’ll probably receive a lot of new fans. Don’t assume all people will accept a request because their friends are on your fan page. Some will and some won’t. Combat this by telling them “why” it’s important they become a fan.

3. What value do you add? In order to get people to follow you, make sure you’re adding value to their lives. There are hundreds of thousands of businesses on Facebook. What do you do differently from another company?

4. Create an outstanding ad on Facebook. You’ll have to pay for ad space, but creating a well thought out ad can gain you followers and clients.

Many freelance writers and small businesses are now on Facebook, but they don’t know how to connect with people. Blasting out a ton of friend and fan page requests could work, but sometimes it will not. Personalize your friend or fan page request. Remember that most of the world is desensitized today because they receive too much information in their inbox. You have to capture their attention and interest in seconds! If not, you could be wasting precious time sending friend and fan page requests when you could have been attending a face-to-face networking event.

Remember, people are desensitized today because they receive an alarming amount of information each day. Do them a favor and let them know why it’s important they become of fan of your fan page. They’ll find your approach refreshing!

What approach do you use when connecting with people? Share your expertise.

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When freelance writers, artists, and business owners attend events to sell their product or service, they don’t greet everyone who walks by their table. Yet, business owners, freelance writers, and artists often complain about the little or lack of income they make. How do you treat people when you’re at an event? Do you greet them? Are you interested in speaking with them? Part of your job is to market you and your business. No one else will do it for you, unless you hire a marketing firm!

Here’s a test you can do the next time you’re at an event. Walk by tables and notice how many people take an interest in potential customers. You’d be surprised how many business owners, freelance writers, and artists have selective customer radar. It’s interesting because they complain to others that business is slow and they can’t find leads or customers. Perhaps the reason has to do with how bad you want to be noticed. How important is it for you to support yourself with your work? Maybe you secretly desire not to be successful. You could be sending the universe mixed messages!

Most successful people surround themselves with successful people. No wealthy person has made it on his or her own. Take a look at the people in your life and gauge how successful they are in their life. Of course, everyone has different meanings for success, but most people equate a healthy income stream with success. If your income stream is a slow trickle, you could be sabotaging yourself by hanging around with people who don’t share your beliefs about success. They may not have a desire to be monetarily successful. If your contacts and friends are broke, how will you learn to rise to a higher level? It may be time to change your circle of friends and contacts.

Freelance writers and artists often hear “the starving artist” remark from family and friends. In fact, you may have heard this as a child. It has been programmed into your mind that you can’t make money from your work. This is nonsense. You have the power to delete any negative or self-defeating thoughts and create new ones. There are artists and writers around the world who make a living from their work — they just know how to do it. Plus, they have other streams of income.

Take inventory of the messages you send on a daily basis. What are you thinking? How do you think? If you constantly think, “…I want success, but it will be difficult,” you just cancelled your desire for success. You can’t have a “positive, ambitious thought” and expect to receive your desire if you replace it with a negative thought. The universe doesn’t work that way!

Freelance writers, artists, and business owners, the next time you’re at an event, acknowledge the people who walk and stop by your table. You never know who you’ll meet. You could blow an opportunity of lifetime because of your communication skills. Perhaps it’s time to strengthen those skills with a class or two. It couldn’t hurt!

Rebecca

What mixed signals have you sent? Share your thoughts.

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Many small business owners, including freelance writers, believe they can build their business alone. Building a solid business requires people. You could go it alone, but the road may be winding and long. Success could take its time to grace you with its presence. When it does, you’ll be tired and won’t enjoy it that much!

Building relationships is like dating — it requires interest, patience, and care. Don’t rush people and immediately begin telling them about you and your business. Get to know them first and exchange phone numbers and emails. Set up a time to meet and go from there. Go slow and take it one step at a time.

Tip: When you meet people, ask what you can do for them instead of what they can do for you. Yes, it sounds like Kennedy’s famous speech but it’s true.

Freelance writers often work alone and may not be skilled in the art of relationship building. Don’t panic because you are capable of developing strong relationships. When you attend networking events, make sure you get to know people before you ask for business. Take time to get to know people first and business second. After you get a sense of how you can help, ask to schedule a coffee or lunch meeting. Listen to what they have to say before giving your 30-second elevator pitch. Many people hear, but they do not listen to what others are saying. Pay attention when someone is speaking then ask if you could offer your advice and services. If you receive a “yes,” explain how solve problems and add value to clients. This is where freelance writers can fall short because they believe they’re in the writing business. See What Business Are You in Today? for more information.

Tips for Building Relationships

• Get to know people before you ask for business. Ask people about their families, hobbies, or how they got started in their business. Don’t go for the jugular as soon as you meet people.
• Take it slow. Just like dating, you don’t want to propose on the first date! Ask for a coffee or lunch meeting to gather more information about a potential client’s business. After you collected the information, let them know how you can be of service.
• Get out of your comfort zone. Freelance writers are artists are solo professionals. The thought of meeting new people terrifies some of them to death. Take baby steps and join one or two business groups to gain your networking legs. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be attending three or four events a month.
• Be sincere. There’s nothing worse than a phony. People don’t like being taking advantage of and it could ruin your reputation. Remember “word-of-mouth” is still a viable means of advertising. Be genuine and take an interest in people. Everyone wants to know they matter and are making a contribution to the world.

Freelance writers remember that it’s not about you. What can you do for potential clients? What problems can you solve? How will you add value to their business? Think about these questions before you whip out your business card and tell people you’re the most wonderful freelance writer in the world and that’s why they should hire you!

Rebecca

How has building relationships affected your business? Share your thoughts.

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Many people comment on blogs for different reasons. Readers comment to gain backlinks, others like to “spread spam” around the internet (spam is deleted), and some want to connect with the blogger and readers of the blog. Whatever your reason is for commenting, you have the option of leaving your website URL. Unfortunately, you may be asked not to enter your URL.

When you leave a comment, you have the option of entering your website’s URL on the comment form. It’s a great way of saying “thank you” to visitors who take the time to read your blog. If this is true, why would a blog administrator email a reader and ask her to “kindly stop leaving your business website URL on the blog posts? It’s very perplexing. Aren’t business owners allowed to comment on blogs? Perhaps the blog is following the “No Follow” rule.

No Follow: “nofollow is an HTML attribute value used to instruct some search engines that a hyperlink should not influence the link target’s ranking in the search engine’s index. It is intended to reduce the effectiveness of certain types of search engine spam, thereby improving the quality of search engine results and preventing spamdexing from occurring” (from Wikipedia)

Some websites use the “no follow” rule which is fine. However, when you use a comment form box that includes a space your website URL, the rule becomes confusing. It makes more sense to take out the website URL from the comment form to ensure visitors do not enter their website URL.

One reason to eliminate the “website” URL option is you’re afraid of competition which is why you choose to use “no follow.” You can say it has to do with page ranking, but what’s the real reason? Maybe you’ve built it up in your mind that visitors will not stop by your website if you allow readers to leave their website URL. You don’t want visitors to leave a link to their website because you’re afraid they may not come back to your website. This is hogwash. There’s opportunity for everyone on the internet. How many times have you visited a blog/website that didn’t fit your needs? What did you do? You probably looked at other websites!

The next time you post a comment and leave your website URL, you may receive an email asking you not to do that. FYI to owners of blogs/websites who request readers not to leave their website URL: take out the option to leave a website URL!

Rebecca

What are your thoughts on the No Follow rule?

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