The Caffeinated Blog

AIW Presentation: Online Writing and What Online Clients Want

Yesterday I participated in a panel discussion for the American Independent Writers, held at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.  If you attended, thanks for coming!  I think it went extremely well (despite Tropical Storm Hanna bearing down), and a lot of excellent points were discussed by both the panel and the audience.

Big thanks to Kristen King, who organized and mediated yesterday's discussions.  I also want to thank my fellow expert panelists, Jill Kurtz, Beth Bates, and Mayra Ruiz-McPherson.

I promised I would upload my presentation, which outlines the kinds of content needed by online clients, the types of skills online content writers need to have, and where to find online writing gigs and projects.  My presentation also includes a number of links to online SEO tools and freelance writing resources, all mentioned during the discussion.

For more on writing for SEO, check out my recent post SEO Tips and Tools for Content Writers.

If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment!

Whole Lotta Link Love Friday, July 25

Better late than never, here's another fun-filled and informative edition of Whole Lotta Link Love!  It's been an interesting (not in a good way) week for me: my laptop died, and I've been playing Musical Desktops between the other PC in my apartment and the business center for the complex (which is why this post is a little late).  Thank goodness my documents are all backed up and accessible; but I've been without some of the niceties I was used to - Firefox (my husband has an extreme aversion to it), the SU toolbar, and Twhirl.  I just ordered a new laptop yesterday, so this is only temporary.

Despite my laptop issues, I've managed to find some very interesting (in a good way) links to share with you today.  Without any further delay...

1. What are the ingredients for a successful blog? Checkout this great Blogging 101 post over at Freelance Writing Jobs to find out.
2. Commenting on a blog post is like having a conversation with the blogger - so commenters should have something interesting to contribute. But should you delete comments from your blog? Allen at Blog Content Provider thinks so.
3. Whether you're a freelancer (like me) or a small business owner, make sure to read this post at Marc and Angel Hack Life: What Everyone Should Know About Selling Hours for Dollars
4. I found this great (but almost tragic) post through Twitter this morning (thanks Chris Brogan!): Eric Karjaluoto talks about how some PR firms just don't get yet how to use social media properly. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll hurl.
5. Have you joined the Social Media Love-In?
6. Here's an awesome post about personal branding and online reputation from one of my new Social Media Love-In friends, Harry Hoover at My Creative Team.

Have great weekend everyone, and here's to your laptop not blowing up.

Inspiration for Freelancers (or anyone, really)

I'm a member of a local group for women in tech/Internet-related careers called DC Web Women.  It's an extraordinary group, consisting of highly intelligent, incredibly talented, and really supportive women who are in various jobs (ranging from development and design to writing and marketing) and in various stages of their careers.  Being a part of this group has been such a God-send for me, as they provide an excellent local resource of information and help.  It's also a great place to find jobs.

As a member of DC Web Women, I'm on a Listserv list and receive tons of messages through the list, including job postings in the DC Metro area.  I saw one posted today which caused quite a stir among the group.  It was for a Web Project Manager position that was paying about $20 an hour.  I didn't pay much attention to it because it's not a position I would be interested in; however, I paid attention to the chaos that ensued as a few other members began to complain about the ridiculously low rate being paid for that position.  The person who posted it was not the hiring manager and had begun the post with a standard "Just the messenger" line; but nonetheless received the brunt of the criticism (although not necessarily aimed directly at her).

She replied with a truly inspirational story that rallied everyone (even those who initially complained) behind her.  Here is that story (it's a little long, but well worth it):

"I know there is some talented tech diva out there looking at a $25 or $30/hour gig and wishing they had it, because sometimes when you're trying to keep a roof over your head, put food on the table for your kid, and keep the phone from being turned off (again), being able to pay SOME of the bills is better than paying no bills at all. I've been there (except the kid part).

"Back in 1999, before I had any clients to speak of and when no one knew my name, I was undergoing a painful transition myself. I had totally burned out on my retail e-commerce business. I knew I needed a change and wanted to transition to freelancing/consulting but wasn't quite sure what to focus on or how to go about it. To pay the bills while I figured it out I took a $18/hour temp job. Not a web temp job, but a receptionist, go-make-copies, please-format-my-Word-doc temp job. I did such a stellar job making crystal-clear copies and being on time that I got bumped up to $20/hour. Oh, joy. The climax of that miserable three months was when some office big wig wished me a 'Happy Secretary's Day. Or whatever.' I didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or wring her neck. Actually, I did cry. Pretty much daily. I was feeling worthless, hopeless and the bill collectors were calling non-stop.

"I was trying to get out of there and applying for gigs all over the place. I was registered with all the web staffing agencies. I got all excited when I landed a decent-paying 2-week consulting gig through Aquent, but then it was right back to temping when it ended.

"What saved me was the DC Web Women list.

"Someone posted a 'freelance web producer' gig on the list. I couldn't believe it -- it was like the job was written JUST for me. It needed my specific but rare blend of writing AND design skills, and it was for a topic that was close to my heart. And it was for a major, big-name organization.
And the pay was...Guess what? $20 per hour. It was ridiculously low, insanely even. No benefits. In fact, it wasn't even a staffing agency doing the recruiting and taking their cut -- this was a post directly from the company itself. And it was offering the EXACT same rate I was making to befriend the photocopy machine and phone.

"Even though the pay was pretty insulting for the skills required and for the kind of project it was, I applied anyway. I knew that position was for me. I figured at least it wasn't LESS money, and given the high-profile nature of the project and the prominence of the organization, maybe I could get my foot in the door for something better. At minimum, I would have a big-name client on my resume. I had nothing to lose.

"I was offered the 3-month on-site contract. Desperate for a little more money, I talked them into paying me $3 more per hour by ditching the payroll processing firm they used for freelancers and letting me invoice them directly. They agreed. Ooh-wee, a whole $23 per hour. I was feeling bold, so I also asked for free parking so I could cut back the overhead required to service their project. They agreed to that, too.

I" went in there and did that job like they were paying me $123 per hour, not $23. The project went well and was a big hit. They extended my contract for another 3 months. Eventually, that project went on to win a bunch of national awards. But before that happened, my phone was already ringing. My work got noticed. Big name people were calling me for projects, and I had to pretend like it was no big deal that I used to watch some of these people on TV or read their books. But they were calling little ole me. They all assumed I was making respectable money, so that's what they offered. Once I even tried to apply for an 'HTML coder' gig and got turned down -- they said that 'we have a much better use for someone of your talents' and a month later offered me a more senior project with fantastic compensation. And the folks at the original project were more than happy to give me glowing recommendations. And even a few more small freelance projects (with more money).

"If I hadn't taken that measly project that offered a mere $20 per hour, I wouldn't be here to type this long-A email today. That project jumpstarted my career in a big way.

"Don't get me wrong, I've been through lots of business ups and downs, but I'm happy to say that, with the exception of those 3 months of temping hell, I have been continuously self employed for 11 years, 5 months, and 2 days. Considering that I'm just 34, I can't complain.

"That is why I always forward job posts and freelance gigs to DCWW, even when the pay is ridiculously low. As long as it's web related and in the DC area, I'm posting it. I'm very fortunate that I don't need the gigs right now. But I KNOW someone else does. It's rough out there. There's some really talented woman out there, struggling, just trying to make it. That low-paying gig (or even high-paying one) might be just the break she needs.

"Don't get me wrong. I think many of these companies need to GET A GRIP and start paying people what they're worth according to their valuable experience and skills.

"I guess I just took a long way to say just two things with this email:

1) If you're struggling, keep your head up and your eyes open for possibility. There is hope. If all you see around you is lemons, find a way to make some friggin' fantastic lemonade.

2) Thank you, DCWW, for all that you have done for me. This continues to be THE BEST professional network I've ever belonged to, hands down, online or offline."

Thank you to Jamila White, the E-Commerce Diva, for posting this really awesome story.  I think that no matter what profession you're in, what level you're at, or what gender you are - this should ring true.

You Get What You Pay For: Understanding the Value of Your Content

In the one month that I’ve been a freelance copywriter, my biggest frustration has been losing projects to other “writers” who’s proposals were filled with really bad grammar, horrible spelling mistakes, and even “text-speak” (you know, things like “ur”, “lol”, etc.); however, their proposed cost was 10 times less than what I was proposing. Forget the years of experience I outlined, the variety of samples I provided, the glowing feedback I presented, and the triple-proofread proposal I submitted. What the buyer wanted was cheap and fast.

This has made me wonder about the value many businesses place on their website content. I mean, if you have a website, you have to have high-quality, original, compelling, and informative content. Content that will help your site to:

• Rank high in search results
• Keep visitors longer
• Bring in new visitors
• Generate leads and/or sales

So if you want content that will do all of this (and more), and you don’t have the time/expertise/in-house staff to do this, then naturally you would want to hire the right freelancer to create high-quality content so your investment will yield a return many times over.

Let me repeat that and highlight the keywords here:  You want to hire the right freelancer to create high-quality content so your investment will yield a return many times over.

Here’s the breakdown:

Your website is one of the most, if not the most, valuable asset of your business. The content you put on that website is its centerpiece – what everyone will be reading to find out what your business does and decide if they want to purchase from you or not. By hiring a freelancer with the knowledge and creativity to write content for your site that does all of the things I listed in the bulletpoints above, you’re making an investment in your business. That investment, made wisely, will then yield a return in the way of increased sales, higher search rankings, more new visitors, etc.

Is this a cheap investment? No.

So when you’re looking for a freelancer to create this killer content for your site, think about the value you place on that content and its ability to sell your products or services and build your online brand – then decide how much you’d be willing to invest to ensure you achieve that value. Then measure the freelancers you’re considering by the quality they can deliver, not how much they can deliver for how little. Quantity does not equal quality.

Cinco Reasons Why Freelancing Might Be For You

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

You may have noticed that I’ve been posting a lot more than I have in past months. You may have also noticed that I’ve starting pimping myself with “Hire Me” links (hey, what else can I use my own blog for?!).

Why? Because I’ve just ventured into the wonderful (and uncertain) world of freelancing.

Yes, I’ve left the old nine-to-fiver and made the leap into that great big unknown chasm of freelance copy writing.

To be honest, I didn’t plan it. Not long after I left my job, I just…well, decided to try freelancing. I mean, why not, right? I have the experience under my belt, and I feel that I can add value to the websites of businesses everywhere by providing them with my services. What’s more, I really enjoy it.

So could freelancing be for you? Here are 5 reasons I came up with (based on my experiences thus far):

1. Low Startup Cost: If you don’t have a lot of startup capital, or don’t fancy putting yourself into     further debt taking out a business loan, than freelancing is an excellent business to start. You don’t have a lot of overhead (you just need a computer and an internet connection), and you can market your services in a number of places for no or low cost. You can list your services on freelance sites like Guru, Elance, and iFreelance, place an ad on Craigslist, work your network on LinkedIn, approach web design and marketing firms offering your services, approach other (busier) freelancers about working with them…the list goes on.
2. Ease in with Part-Time Freelancing: Not quite ready to give up the full-time grind to go all in on your own? You can still start your freelancing career on a part-time basis. This will take extra time on your part, like evening and weekend work; but if you’re willing, able and committed to turning this into a full-time business, then this could be ideal.
3. Learn and Work in Other Industries: They say variety is the spice of life, and it certainly spices up freelancing. How else do you get to work on a project for the life sciences sector one week, then in music the next? It’s always interesting…
4. Flexing Your Creative Muscles: As a freelance copywriter, this is the most appealing to me. In my previous full-time marketing position, I got the occasional opportunity to use the right side of my brain and do some writing and work with the designer on the website and marketing materials; but much of it was very analytic (as marketing is these days – it has to be). Going full-on into copywriting has brought my creative side out for some fresh air – without my brain hurting.
5. Love is Patient…and if you love freelancing, you’ll need a lot of patience. There have been times, even in the short time I’ve been freelancing, that I thought “No one wants to hire me, the      competition is too great, I should go back to full-time…” Trust me on this – you need to give it some time before you throw in the towel. If you really want to make your freelancing business work, put in the effort to make it work. It won’t happen overnight; but just keep plugging away, and eventually you will begin to build your business.