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Freelance Writers Have Other Skills Besides Writing

November 5, 2010 by 2 Comments

Many freelance writers have other skills besides writing. They have marketing, SEO, SEM, SMO, PR, graphic and web design, accounting, and other skills. Freelance writers who use all of their skills will set themselves apart from those who don’t. Their services will be in demand because they’ll add tremendous value to clients and their businesses.

Some freelance writers have graphic and web design backgrounds. Not only can they write search engine optimized web content, they can design websites as well. It’s a terrific combination that could save clients headaches in the long run.

FYI: It’s always best to hire a web designer that has a graphic design background because they understand color schemes, layouts, and how to properly use photos.

Many freelance writers write web content. This means they know and understand SEO. They understand how to use keywords and phrases within blog and articles without forcing them. They’re familiar with meta tags and how to use links within web content. Freelance writers also understand the importance of SEM and creating backlinks. Hiring freelance writers who are web savvy can boost page ranks within search engines; this translates to more customers and a higher profit.

Skills freelance writers have besides writing

  • Graphic and web design
  • SEO — search engine optimization
  • SEM — search engine marketing
  • SMO — social media optimization
  • PR
  • Marketing
  • IT
  • Illustration
  • Accounting
  • Organization
  • Coaching
  • Speak foreign languages
  • Use sign language
  • Train and teach others
  • Time management

The more skills freelance writers have the better they’re positioned to solve more problems and increase their income. Most clients are looking for people who can do more than one thing. While it’s true you can’t be everything to everyone, you can tap into your skills and use the ones that will complement your writing. It’s a win-win situation!

Rebecca

What others skills do you have beside writing? Share.

Filed Under: Clients, Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Publishing, Screenwriting, Search Engine Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media, Tips and Tricks, Travel Writing Tagged With: , , , , ,

7 Things My Business Degrees Taught Me About Freelance Writing

October 27, 2010 by 2 Comments

I have three degrees, two are in accounting and the other is a MSM degree. Needless to say, I had to write many papers and give presentations on my work. The biggest challenge was the business plan I wrote for my final project for my MSM degree. I created an outline and table of contents and stuck to a schedule. My business plan was 62 pages and had many appendixes — no presentation was required. My hard work paid off because I received an “A” and a high GPA. I didn’t realize my degrees would teach me about freelance writing but they did.

7 things my business degree taught me

  • Research skills are necessary and mine were reinforced. You must know where to find the information you seek. You must know how to narrow down your search. You may begin with a broad search but that could return too much information. Know how to “drill down” what you’re looking for.
  • Create an outline and table of contents to keep you focused on your subject.
  • You can’t get away from presentations. You’ll want to learn PowerPoint or some other presentation platform. Make sure you keep the slides short and to the point.
  • Make sure you proofread your writing and have someone else proofread it.
  • You’ll need to abide by writers guidelines and not go over pages and word count.
  • You’ll edit your work many times.
  • Deadlines don’t go away. As a freelance writer, you’ll have deadlines and sometimes they’ll change. Flexibility is the key when dealing with deadline changes.

Bonus!

  • Organization isn’t a bad idea. Whether you’re organizing your thoughts or your desk, implement a system that works for you. You may want to purchase a recorder to record your ideas and a filing cabinet to keep track of client contracts.

As a freelance writer, I pay attention to word and page counts, even character counts. I proofread my writing many times to ensure all typos are corrected and sentences make sense. Sometimes I have another proofreader read my work to make sure all mistakes are found and corrected. I use an outline and table of contents when necessary. I don’t freak out about deadlines; I’m an accounting major who’s used to deadlines. Yes, my business degrees did teach me many things about freelance writing.

Rebecca

How have your degrees helped you with your writing? Share.

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

Is Freelance Writing in Your Future?

February 4, 2010 by 2 Comments

Many people want to become writers. Furthermore, a greater number want to become freelance writers. Why? What’s the appeal of freelance writing? If you focus on the “glamorous” side of freelance writing or being your own boss, you may be in for a rude awakening. Make no mistake about it freelance writing is a business and it’s all on your shoulders. You probably didn’t think about that. Keep reading.

Freelance writing is appealing because you’re the boss and able to write from anywhere in the world. All you need is internet access, a laptop or Mac, and cell phone. You may choose to rent a flat (apartment) in the UK for six months. All you have to do is let your clients know where you are and that you’ll continue to provide great service from another part of the world.

Before you become a freelance writer, interview a couple of writers and get their story. How did they get started? What obstacles did they face? How did they overcome them? What were their expectations? What training did they have? What business skills do they have? Getting the answers to these and other questions will help you make a decision about freelance writing. It may not be for you and that’s all right.

Freelance writing takes discipline. Are you easily distracted by Yahoo! IM or social media sites? How will you schedule your time? How good are you at meeting deadlines? How well do you handle pressure? These questions are not meant to scare you. They’re meant to open your eyes to the business side of freelance writing. It’s not all brochure copy, headlines, taglines, newsletters, web copy, and other copy writing. It’s your business!

The business side of freelance writing is almost never addressed. What tax form do you fill out? Are you aware of the tax deductions you can take? Do you know what CPA stands for? Do you know when to file your taxes? How good are you with saving? What are your expenses? What are your income projections for the year? You probably didn’t think about these business questions. They’re important to your freelance writing career.

Before you become a freelance writer, speak to other writers and editors. These people have a wealth of information. They can shed some light on the business side of writing. It’s not all glitz and glamour! You may find that you’d rather work as a contractor for a corporation or at a publication. Whatever you decide, make sure it’s the best decision for you!

Rebecca

What is the appeal of freelance writing? Share your thoughts.

Filed Under: Clients, Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Networking, Overcoming Obstacles, Tips and Tricks, Travel Writing Tagged With: ,

Travel and Tourism Promotion Boosts The Bottom Line

August 7, 2009 by Leave a Comment

california_hotels_resorts

I recently drove to Northern California; the East Bay and South Bay areas of San Francisco. Don’t ask me why I chose to drive 12 hours instead of boarding a plane. It was a grueling drive because I was the only driver. I think I’m done with road trips for some time. I did contribute to the economy by spending most of my money on gas!

What surprised me about my visit to Northern California is the lack of travel and tourism promotion. I stayed at an independent hotel and they had no travel information. I looked around the lobby and front desk, but couldn’t find any. I thought this was odd since it was not a BIG hotel chain. They did offer free WiFi and provided a computer and printer in the lobby for guests. Still, it would have been nice to have some travel brochures that provided me with information about the area.

Small businesses within the travel and tourism industry can benefit from advertising and promotion. If you own a bed and breakfast, independent hotel, spa and salon, or restaurant, make sure to have promotional material readily available for guests. It’s a good idea to have a couple of travel brochures about the area as well.

If you want travelers to spend money in your community, you’ve got to help them out. Some travelers like to “fly by the seat of their pants” (I sometimes do) and don’t plan every little detail when they travel. How will they know what historic sites to visit? Where will they dine and shop? How can they improve your area’s economic situation if they don’t know what to do or where to go? This translates to lost dollars for your community.

Of course, I was in the area known as Silicon Valley. Maybe the area doesn’t need any improvement to its bottom line because the techie companies are “pumping cash” into the local economy.

Travel and tourism promotion along with great customer service can improve the bottom line of a small business. Promoting your business will ensure that travelers come back to your establishment. Have plenty of brochures at the front desk or in the lobby. When it’s time to check out, travelers can take a brochure with them. Remember, word-of-mouth is still a viable means of advertising.

Savvy Writer Rebecca

How do you promote your business to travelers?

Filed Under: Clients, Tips and Tricks, Travel Writing Tagged With: ,
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