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Do You Have a Blog for Your Author Website?

February 9, 2011 by 2 Comments

If you don’t know what a blog is then you must not be ready to embrace technology. A blog is short for web log. It started out as an online diary; however, businesses, artists, musicians, and professionals began to implement it as part of their marketing strategy. If you have an author website, you may consider creating a blog either as apart of your website or you can keep it separate by ‘linking’ it to your website. Either way, a blog is a great way for you to communicate with your fans.

Authors could benefit from having a blog because it’s a way for readers to connect with you. They’ll be able to leave comments on your posts and tell you what they think of your books. Take criticism with a grain of salt. You can’t and won’t please everyone all of the time.

If you wrote a book then you’ll want to have a blog on your author website. Readers will be interested to know about your characters and how you developed them. You don’t have to divulge all of your secrets but it would be wise for you to share how you came up with your characters, what makes them unique, or why you’re attached to them. This insight will help your readers understand your characters better; they’ll be able to connect to them.

Since you’re an author you won’t have a problem writing unique content for your website. However, if you have ‘off’ days, you may consider inviting others to become guest bloggers. In fact, you may want to invite some of your readers to write guest posts. They could write posts about how they feel connected to your characters, why they like your books, share what your books mean to them, and other topics that you may suggest. Not only will these guest posts will draw readers to your website but it will show readers that you actually value their opinion.

If you don’t have a blog on your author website, start one today. You can use Blogger, WordPress, Typepad, or some other blogging platform. It’s fast and easy and you have nothing to lose. A blog will only enhance your website — you could gain new readers. What are you waiting for?

Rebecca

What’s stopping you from creating a blog for your author website? Share.

Filed Under: Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Publishing, Search Engine Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media, Travel Writing Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

How to Get Started in Freelance and Eulogy Writing

February 4, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I received an email from Christina who wanted more information on freelance writing, specifically eulogy writing. She writes:

Hi Rebecca-

I found your site on a google search and I am hoping you could provide some insight for me on your line of work, particularly in regards to eulogy writing. I’ve recently been curious about how to be hired on as a freelance writer, and have an interest in eulogy writing specifically. Through helping friends and family with anything from cover letters to eulogies, I’ve found a value in alleviating a stress that a family goes through by giving the gift of my writing at the time of their loss. Just recently my aunt passed away, and my family turned to me to turn around a eulogy in a few hours. I was honored, and I’m told I exceeding their expectations. To be able to give back in this way would be a valuable use of my skills, and allow me to provide comfort to people during difficult times.

I’m based in San Francisco, and have a successful career in sales at a start up company here. I’m 27 and while writing has always been a passion, I am curious what it takes to pursue another level. My schedule is flexible, and I’d be able to dedicate time interviewing and meeting with families in the Bay Area to ensure the highest quality of work.

Thanks for taking the time to read,
Christina

Thank you for contacting me!

Freelance writing is a great part-time career that could turn into a full-time one with the right attitude and ‘niche’ market. Sometimes freelance writers like to be everything to everyone but it may not work out for you if you’re stretched too thin. I always recommend choosing three or less ‘niche’ or specialty areas of writing because you want to make sure you’re 100% focused on your clients and their projects.

Here are some freelance writing tips

  1. What do you like to write? Blogs, bios, articles, curriculum, web content, ghostwriting books, short sales form, long sales form, eulogies, advertising and marketing copy, speeches, and career are just a few ‘specializations’ you can choose. If you’re beginning in freelance writing (don’t quit your day job), test the waters and select a couple specialties. Not only will you be able to pay the bills, but you’ll discover your what you enjoy writing.
  2. Make sure you’re really passionate about freelance writing; if you are create a website using WordPress, Blogger, or some other platform. The website should be user friendly with a pleasing color scheme.
  3. In addition to the About, Bio, and Contact page, create a portfolio page. Clients love to see samples of work. This gives them the opportunity to view your work. Also, ask for testimonials. A testimonial will add to your ‘authority’ and increase your reputation.
  4. Create a business card.
  5. Create a Twitter account for your writing. Once you gain your ‘freelance writing legs,’ create a Facebook fan page. If you’re not already on LinkedIn, you may want to sign up for it.
  6. Networking is a great way to spread the word that you’re an available freelance writer. You can network online through groups such as the ones on LinkedIn or join groups in your city. Visit Meetup.com because you’ll find plenty of networking groups on the website. Check out my ‘Resources‘ page because I list networking groups that can be found across the U.S.
  7. Become a guest blogger to increase your online presence. This is a win-win situation because you’ll provide content for websites and receive a backlink to your website.
  8. Peruse Craigslist (use with caution) to find freelance writing opportunities. Sign up with Mediabistro because they have plenty of writing opportunities.
  9. Learn SEO because clients will ask for ‘optimized’ blogs, web content, or articles.

How to obtain eulogy writing opportunities

  1. This may sound weird, but you may want to contact funeral homes. Introduce yourself and ask them if they provide eulogy writing to their clients. If you’re told “No,” tell them who you are and that you’re available to work with families. Who knows, you could strike up a partnership with one of them.
  2. You may want to approach churches and other places of worship.
  3. You may want to contact cemeteries. It may sound morbid but a cemetery is a final resting place for the dearly departed. Perhaps the families are so distraught they haven’t thought about writing a eulogy for the funeral and or cemetery service.
  4. Consider approaching assisting living and nursing homes. I’m not sure what they offer people when their relatives pass away but it’s worth a try.
  5. If you wrote eulogies for family and friends, get their permission to use them as samples.

Freelance writing is a great career but it’s also a business. You must be comfortable with sales and marketing and reaching out to people. Networking plays a big role as well. If you’re ready to embark on a fun and rewarding journey, become a freelance writer today. Good luck!

Rebecca

What’s your ‘writing’ passion? Share.

Filed Under: Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Search Engine Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: , , , , ,

Tips for Writing a Formal Champagne Wedding Toast

February 2, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Caviar and champagne wishes to the married couple! We didn’t think this day would ever arrive (guests laugh), but here we are celebrating the two of you. Many people go through life searching for that perfect partner only to come up empty handed. Congratulations to the both of you for finding each other!

May your marriage be filled with love, joy, and happiness,
May you sail through difficult times with a smile on your face,
May health and prosperity bless you every day,
May you cherish one another for the rest of your lives.

The above champagne wedding toast is a sample of what you could use for your wedding toast. The best man and maid or matron of honor gives the wedding toast. Of course, sometimes the mother and father of the bride and groom toast the happy couple as well. Make sure you’re prepared to give your wedding toast. You give an impromptu wedding toast but it may not turn out as you had hoped.

Writing a formal champagne wedding toast

Start by writing down your thoughts

  • How do you know the couple?
  • Why did they select you to be the best man, maid, or matron of honor?
  • How would you describe the bride and groom? Think of great adjectives to use such as adventurous, caring, generous, boisterous, etc…
  • What were the bridge and groom like before they met each other? How did each of them change by meeting one another?
  • List interesting anecdotes about the couple.
  • If you’re married, what words of wisdom can you share with the couple?

Beginning

Introduce yourself because some guests may not know who you are. If guests are still speaking, you could say, “Excuse me, may I have your attention. Thank you. I’m John Smith, the best man and groom’s brother, (friend, son, cousin, etc…). Grab guests’ attention with a joke, short anecdote, or quote about marriage. Thank the parents if they paid for the wedding. If they didn’t say, “We’re thrilled all of you can be here to celebrate this joyful occasion.”

Middle

This is where you use the notes you wrote down. Tell a funny story about the bride and or groom — don’t humiliate them! If you’re married, give your thoughts on marriage and what you’ve learned. Tell a story how you met the bride and or groom, or talk about how you first met the bride and groom as a couple and you knew they were meant for each other. Do not bring up the ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend; that’s the past. Keep your champagne wedding toast rated G and or PG because children may be present. Avoid talking too long because people have a tendency to ‘tune’ out. Be sincere and speak from the heart.

End

Wrap up your wedding toast with a quote, blessing, prayer, wish, or traditional toast for the bride and groom. Ask everyone to raise their glass and say, “Congratulations to the happy couple! Cheers, Salud, Salute, I’chaim, Na zdrowie, and drink to your toast!

Write your wedding toast on a note card or two and practice it. Read your toast over and over until you have it committed to memory. Say your wedding toast to friends and family and ask for feedback. Carry your note card(s) with you but try not to look at them when you give the toast. You can breathe a sigh of relief when you finish and enjoy the celebration!

Tips on delivering the wedding toast

  • Speak loudly and clearly; annunciate your words.
  • Don’t drink too much before giving the wedding toast! You don’t want to be ‘wasted’ and make a fool out of you and the bridge and groom.
  • Don’t read from your note card(s) because the wedding toast won’t be sincere. Have your cards with you in case you stumble or lose your place. Glance at them and paraphrase your words.
  • Remember your posture! Stand up nice and tall.

Don’t panic the next time you have to give a champagne wedding toast. Use the above list as guide to creating your wedding toast. Of course, you can always hire a freelance writer to write the toast. They’ll take your notes and write a heartfelt wedding toast that will melt the hearts of the bride and groom and their guests. Cheers!

Rebecca

How many wedding toasts have you given? Share.

Filed Under: Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: , ,

The 3 C’s in Forum Writing

February 1, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Many people post on forums because it’s a great way to create backlinks for their website. However, forum writing is an art form. Leaving a generic or vague comment won’t make you an expert; it will make you a nuisance to those who take the forum seriously. If you want to be taken seriously, write thoughtful replies to forum questions. This way your credibility won’t be questioned.

The 3 C’s in Forum Writing

Clear. Before you respond to a forum question, read it carefully. Don’t be in a hurry to post a comment. Take time to read the question and read it for a second time if you must. Think about what you want to say and how you want to say. Posting an answer that doesn’t make sense could get you kicked out of the forum. Remember, people use forums to find out information; they don’t want to read entries that don’t make sense.

Open up Word, Notepad, or some other program and write your response. Read it and read it again. Make sure your answer makes sense and it flows. Do you understand your answer? Will other readers understand it? How can you sharpen it? Think about these and other questions before you post your response. If you’re 100% certain your answer is spot-on, post it in the forum.

Concise. There’s no reason to write a lengthy response to a forum question. People want to get in and get out when they visit forums. Keep your answer to one or two paragraphs, anything beyond may lose the readers. Don’t write ‘wordy’ response to show how many words you know. Readers are looking for solid information that can help them with their problem.

Compelling. When you write a response, be direct. Think about the five ‘W’s': who, what, when, where, and why. Create a thoughtful answer because it will show readers and other forum members that you took the time to think about the question before you answered it. The first sentence is the most important because it will ‘hook’ readers; they’ll want to read more. Don’t be a bore and cut words where you can. Write a compelling response to a forum post, and readers will consider you to be the authority on the topic.

Forum writing is an art form. Remember the 3 C’s of forum writing the next time you answer a question in a forum. Hint: Make sure you can contribute to the forum before you answer. Don’t spam forums to create backlinks to your website. If you do, you’ll be barred for participating in the forum. Be courteous and you won’t have any problem with when you respond to a forum question. You’ll be seen as an expert in no time!

Rebecca

How many times a week do you post in forums? Share.

Filed Under: Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Search Engine Optimization, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: , , , ,

Freelance Writers Stop Finding Disappointing Clients

January 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I come from a military family. My father loved the military, specifically the U.S. Army, and served four years. He instilled in me many values which include honesty, trust, and loyalty. In addition to stressing honesty, trust, and loyalty, my mom and dad taught my sister and me the importance of keeping your word and making sure you know beyond a shadow of doubt that you can keep a commitment. If I couldn’t keep a commitment, I was told I had no business saying I would do something if I couldn’t follow through with it.

Honesty, trust, and loyalty are becoming very rare these days. When a freelance writer signs a contract with a company, they expect the project to be solid. After all, who would waste time and energy drawing up a contract for a freelance writer and then back out of it? This isn’t the way to do business and you could gain the reputation of not knowing what you’re doing.

A company shouldn’t put an advertisement online if it’s not 100% certain of the direction of a project. Many freelance writers will apply for the opportunity, especially if it’s an exciting one. Before you get their hopes up, make sure you know the project is a done deal.

A freelance writer who spends time filling out paperwork only to find out the project is a bust could have spent time marketing and speaking to another potential client who has a solid direction for a project. There’s nothing worse than wasting precious time when you could have been working on another project.

Freelance writers will encounter disappointing clients from time-to-time. If you do, brush yourself off and learn a lesson from it. Before you commit to a project, make sure it’s a solid one. Make sure the people in charge know what they’re doing and are absolutely sure of the direction of the project. Life happens, but there’s no excuse for sloppy business.

Rebecca

How many times have you had a client go back on their word? Share.

Filed Under: Clients, Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: , ,
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