A Second Google News Scoop
Over the last few months I've been writing for KOVideo.net, a music site which has an extensive news page.
This week they have just been accepted as a Google news site, so high traffic and mass exposure for them.
For me, I to get mass exposure and it makes it the second Google News site I write for.
Congratulations to KOVideo.net who thoroughly deserve their inclusion into the Google News network.
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To be a Successful Freelance Web Content Writer You Need…
This articles focuses on skills a good freelance web content writer needs rather than other posts which focus on a writer's qualities.
To that end, here are some useful skills to acquire which will make you more successful as a web content writer.
Content Management Systems. CMS knowledge is a must. At some point you will use one and a good rudimentary knowledge of their inner workings will make you faster and enable you to complete more work.
Make yourself familiar with WordPress and Blogger as a minimum, and consider using a CMS on your own website.
File Management. Understanding file management is essential for today's web content writer. Many of us are transferring files via flash drives, email, and scanning to name but a few. To know where your computer stores, and how to access these files is essential knowledge for any writer.
Photo and Video Management. Knowing how to change the sizes of pictures in content management systems is a very useful skill to acquire. As is learning which pictures you can use and which ones you can't. The world of pictures and video can get quite complex, and that's before you start learning how to edit it.
This list is far from extensive, but will serve you in good stead throughout your career.
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Marketing: The Essential Factor to Freelance Copy
One element that should always be infused into your writing is marketing. To be clear, this article is not about traffic promotion, but rather making whatever you write appealing and relevant.
Let's explore a basic marketing concept: People do not by products and services they buy the benefits of that the products and services provide. From a writing perspective, a reader reads an article not because the article is well written but because the content at least in part provides some benefit to them.
Therefore, by working out the elements that are important and appealing to the reader, and constructing your articles around them, will always make your articles relevant, and significant in the minds reader.
Before you begin to write, list what you feel is important to readers. It is an effective way to build a readership which has obvious benefits in the long and short term.
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Creating the Perfect Blog Post
There has been many articles written about how to write articles in terms of features. You probably have encountered advice on using pictures, bullet points and controversy to make your blog more readable and interesting.
Though there is validity in this approach, many fail to take into account the important person in the equation: The reader.
At all times and no matter what kind of writing you are doing, you should always keep the reader in mind. Blog tips such as pictures and bullet points, are just minor aspects in creating quality blog posts. Ultimately, your blog will be judged on its content and your writing style.
Before you start to write an article, think about the following :
Who your article is aimed at?
Through identifying and discovering who your readers are, you will discover the correct tone of voice for your blog, and in turn your style as a writer will develop and you will create better and more relevant writing.
Would a reader find the article you are planning to write interesting?
If not, there is no value to writing the article.
Identify what your readers want. The show business adage of giving the people what they want is true in the world of web writing. If they want more articles on one aspect of your blog but less on others, I would advise you succumb to their wishes. As writers, we feel we have a good idea of what people would like to read from our blogs. If you have been employed to write copy for someone else, then you will know that this is untrue. Take a look at what you are writing, put yourself in your readers shoes and see if the two match. If you have not done this before, I'll be surprised if they do. Write what readers want to read.
Would you like to read what you have just written?
If the answer is no, then alter it until you do. Try to get out of the habit of publishing something just because you have written it. It can harm your reputation as a writer if you publish poor quality work.
Don't be afraid.
If you are writing a potentially explosive piece do not be afraid to follow it through. This is what writing is all about and has been challenging views and perceptions since before Shakespeare. Be bold, be comprehensive, and explain your views well. There is a risk you could be wrong, but it is better to state how you feel rather then not to publish. You may well be right, and not publishing through fear just to learn you were right in the first place is worse than vise versa.
I will add this to post as and when the need takes me. For the time being, always think about the reader, and you will find everything else will fall into place.
Best of luck!
How to Cope With Freelance Copywriting Boredom
There can be no denying that certain assignments are more interesting than others, and though an assignment may pay well and is a straight forward job, boring and repetitive subject matter will at one time or another wear you down. So what can we do to combat freelance copywriting boredom?
Tips on how to combat freelance copywriting boredom.
- Take small breaks between articles, and tiny ones between paragraphs. This is especially important if you are writing the same article in a different style. Be careful not to let the break be an excuse not to stop working.
- Try not to think about other things when working on a boring assignment, as this can lead to an excuse not to work on the project and stop work. Facebook and that piece you were going to research can wait.
- Set small goals and celebrate as you complete them.
- Ensure you complete what you set out to do.
Remember that not completing assignments is self defeating, and ultimately will harm your reputation as a freelance writer.
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Moral dilemmas of a freelance writer
When I started my writing career which largely focused on product reviews and How-To guides, I never envisioned that it would evolve into moral decision making. Somewhat naively maybe.
Through the course of writing, I have been offered hard cash to mislead the public, albeit on a small scale. I've not done it, but if I'm honest about it, I can't honestly say I'd rule it out. That being said, I wouldn't write for groups which I find untenable, and I like to think I wouldn't write for a company or individual that would mislead or lie to potentially vast numbers of people.
Recently, I have been faced with a moral dilemma. On the one hand, the offer of hard cash to write a piece of work where you are fairly certain is untrue and will be used not to mislead people, but will give the impression that I like something I have never actually used.
I do not hold sway with the view that it's fine as someone else is already doing it. To me, that is not a reason or justification for doing something you may feel is wrong.
I read an article about this on another blog. The writer on that blog likened it to someone renting space in your house, asking you to decorate the room and then not live in it. They rounded off the article by saying that they were the worst kind of writing jobs.
It is also true to say that the feel of this blog would change.
It all comes down to commercially yes, artistically no.
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photo credit: h.koppdelaney
Freelance writing tips on winning the job
Making a good pitch when applying for a job is fundamental to freelance writing success. Often a freelance writer can be in competition with dozens, sometimes hundreds of freelance writers, all eager to win the work. Your pitch must stand tall in among this competition and be well supported by good, relevant examples of your previous work.
When I pitch for a job I have a template in my mind of points I need to include. They are:
Who I am and where I'm from. Sounds obvious, but many jobs specify someone from the English speaking world, and this shows that I am.
My experience. I normally state the number of projects I have been involved with. the more work I complete the better this looks.
My approach to the work, including gauging tone, keeping the copy interesting and informative, and to engage the reader.
My CV/Resume. This contains a cross decision of my previous work, along with testimonials. Both of these are significant.
A link to my website. The writers website provides a means of displaying their talents together with an opportunity to showcase what they can do. This recently won me a job and has done so in the past.
Depending on what the ad has asked for, depends on how I construct my pitch, and I mention any previous experience that I feel is relevant to the job.
Your bid is also an important factor in winning the work. Often, there is a budget specified for the job, and to stand a realistic chance of winning the work, it is best to put forward a bid that is within it. I have found that bidding slightly lower than the maximum, tends to give you a fighting chance.
Good luck!
Freelance Writing Scams
There seems to be a rise in scams aimed at freelance writers. I have been had twice, and the total cost to me stands at around £800. (This figure has been worked out through a combination of factors which include loss of promised money, loss of money that could have been spent working on legitimate projects, ant time spent tracking down scam artists). The last scam was a very professional operation. The perpetrator, Ralph Basinger, claimed to work for Mindsprout marketing, and furnished a contract to that effect which was written on Mindsprout Marketing headed paper.
Somewhat ironically, I did a search for his name on Google which showed nothing unusual. If I had searched a few days later, a search engine page full of results would have appeared warning me off the guy, and showing he was a fraud.
It is difficult to see what someone could hope to earn from the frauds, as material posted on a site could be easily tracked, and material sold to others would be peanuts in the grand scale of things. For this to be a truly profitable venture, new scams would have to be created, which ups the ante in terms of risk as writers like me become wise to the acts. Nonetheless, the scams do persist.
All I can add to what I have already been written before is to keep vigilant, check search engines regularly to see if there is any unpalitable news posted, and be sure to spread the word about the scam.
If you do get scammed, report it to this website, and keep your eyes peeled. Many scam artists have more than one going at a time, and have a tell tale style.
For info about Ralph Basinger visit http://mindsproutmarketing.com/blog/2010/04/alert-not-associated-with-ralph-basinger/.
The WC3 page for reporting scams visit https://complaint.ic3.gov
photo credit: aprillynn77
Non payment, Sorcha Doyle, and a big pile of rubbish
As mentioned previously, it appears I've had my first non paying client. I feel it is only fair to say at this point, that it was in part my own fault that this has happened, as for some reason to do with being in need of the cash, I failed to protect myself.
To give you the big picture, I responded to a job on Freelancer.co.uk, to write an essay. The job entailed completing a draft for which I would be paid £100, then a further £100 upon completion. All sounds fair enough. Normally, I work for companies which means that one, my contact is not spending or rarely spending their own cash. Two, I have someone higher up the ladder to talk to if there is no resolution over an issue with my contact. So far, I have not had cause to do this.
With an individual however, there is no ladder, no chain, and other than the site you obtained the work from, no other point of contact other than the person you are working for. If that point of contact dries up, you are stuffed!
To surmise, here is a list of the crucial mistakes I made in this instance.
- Failed to obtain full contact details before working on the job. This was especially important as it was an individual that I had not worked with before. This leads us to
- Did not use the Escrow system. To be fair I did kinda need the cash and thought an escrow system would work on a monthly basis. Saying that, getting £200 at the end of the month is better than nothing at all
- Supplied the work in full without half payment. There was a deadline involved that I did not want to miss, and thought the client needed the essay ASAP too.
After emailing the client on numerous occassions, I have not managed to get anywhere. Subsequently, I am going to investigate a website that can find contact details if you submit an email address, and try and pursue the matter through the small claims court. I will keep you posted as to progress.
photo credit: Patrick Hoesly
Results of the link campaign
As you know I have recently invested £8 into a link campaign for Teahon.co.uk. The campaign has begun and ended, and my site is appearing or due to appear on a 100 directory sites. Though this has made very little difference in terms of where I appear in search engine results, I am getting fairly regular traffic to the site from one of the directories in particular. I am now considering a further £8 to do another 100, I mean why not?
The sites are ticking over, and the quality of the content continues to improve. I have made up my mind not to write stale content, or content for the sake of it. This may mean a reduction in the number of posts, but 3 good posts, has to be better than 5 average ones?
Also, if I understand the results correctly, I have 5 RSS subscribers. One of which is me, but even so it is all good news. I know this is not setting the world on fire, but nonetheless an obscure little blog from Norwich, England, is doing fairly well. Cheers.
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