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Your questions, answered: Do I really need a freelance writer?

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 07:07:30 +0100

Lately, I've been hearing from a lot of business owners who firmly believe the saying, “If you build it, they will come” - in regards to having a website. Some contact information, a little blurb or two about what you do, a phone number and maybe an address and you're done, right? Wrong. Your customers can tell if your website is hastily thrown together without much thought. Further, it's going to leave them with the impression that you conduct business the same way.

Making their site “presentable” is just one of the reasons some business and website owners opt to hire a freelance writer. No, contrary to popular belief, it's not just the big name brands that hire them. Small business owners just like you can benefit from their services just as well as the big names can. So what can a freelance writer do for your website? The short answer is: plenty. Here are a few examples:

*Create fresh new content to engage your traffic

*Integrate your Facebook Fan Page or Twitter stream to your website

*Create and manage a social media campaign to draw traffic to your site

*Alternately, help you establish your social media presence if you don't have one already

*Correct any grammatical errors in your website text, which can be a huge turn-off for some prospective customers

*Start a buzz about your business, its promotions and events by writing informational press releases to submit to all the major PR distribution sites

No, you don't have to hire anyone to do these things for you, but doing so can give your business and your brand an edge that your competitors may not have. On the flipside of that, if your competitors have already employed the services of a writer, following suit will allow your brand to keep up with the changes your competition is making to their game.

The Internet is a fluid, transient place – constantly moving and evolving. It's imperative that your site is versatile enough to evolve with it so that all your investments of time and money are not buried in those transitions.

Social Media & The "P" Factor

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 20:53:18 +0100

We all know what a blessing social media can be for your business and your brand. We've read article after article full of tips, tricks and hints to help us create a successful social media platform. And yet after all this research - one key element is still often missing. Which element is that, you ask? The P Factor, of course!

The P Factor stands for Personal Factor and it has to do with letting your clients have a glimpse of the "real" you. They've seen your business face and how competently you handle your clients, your brand and your business. They see you as an expert in your field and value your opinion, your advice and your products - but they likely know very little about "the man (or woman) behind the mask".

Getting to know your clients on a personal level makes them feel appreciated and welcome. It's one of the easiest ways that businesses can gain repeat, loyal customers. Letting them get to know YOU on a personal level strengthens that bond and lets your clients connect with you on a whole other level.

Alright, maybe you don't want to tell them everything about yourself, like how you got drunk at the company party last week and had to crawl home, but there are some tidbits you could share. Maybe your kids have a ballgame this weekend or you just finished reading a certain book. Perhaps you have a vacation or some other special event coming up. Maybe you ate your neighbor's cooking and realized again how much you truly hate broccoli. It doesn't matter. Any small, trivial, but personal and relevant tidbit is worth sharing. You could tweet it or put it on your Facebook status. No, it's not something you want to do all the time, but definiately something you want to include in your social media plan in measured portions.

Nobody wants to be "sold" to all the time. Keeping a lively mix of information flowing is imperative to keeping the interest of your social media followers.

How To Choose A Freelance Writer

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 05:49:42 +0100

Finding a freelance writer that fits your needs is like searching for the proverbial needle in a haystack. There are thousands of people in the world advertising themselves as the 'answer to all your content needs', but are they really? How can you tell? There are several things you should look for when searching for a freelance writer and knowing what they are can save you the grief of hiring someone you should have passed over. Here are a few questions you should have about any potential hire.

Do they have a website?

Not to say that you can't be a successful freelance writer without one, but having a website lends credence to their claims of being a professional. Successful freelance writers understand the value of a website and use it as a means to not only promote themselves, but to showcase their work, interact with clients and post news and information relevant to their services.

Does their portfolio have variety?

One of the most important traits to look for in a freelance writer is versatility. Have they written content in several formats (articles, press releases, blog entries, etc.) or have they mainly stuck with one type? Have they covered a wide variety of niches or do they tend to only write about the few they specialize in? Yes, niche writing is in high demand, but if it's not your niche, it won't do either of you a whole lot of good.

Do they present themselves in a professional manner?

Being that we live in such a technologically advanced time, “text speak” may be all the rage among friends and families who want to express themselves in as few characters possible. Cutesy messages like “g2g” (got to go) or “c u l8r” (see you later) may be okay in polite company, but don't quite cut it in the professional realm. The way you interact with people online is your virtual first appearance. If you are communicating with a prospective freelance writer and they type in “text speak”, it should serve as a pretty good indicator of how they approach business matters. Do you want to trust them with yours?

Do they offer any guarantees on their services?

If a freelance writer gives you a deadline, you should expect them to adhere to it. Sure, sometimes things do happen that are beyond our control and we get thrown off schedule. But how many times can your beloved cat die and how many grandmothers do you have to spare, each time one dies off? If a writer makes promises regarding turnaround times, it should give you some sense of security. For instance, my personal policy is that if I miss the deadline we agreed on, the project is free. Okay, nobody wants to work for free, right? So I'm going to do everything within my power to get your project back to you on time, if not sooner.

Of course, these aren't the only tell-tale signs of a good or bad freelance writer. Everyone has their own standards. However, these suggestions may serve as a starting point for when you're making your own freelance writer checklist.

Publicity For Profit Week: Give A Little, Get A Lot

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 11:36:12 +0100

Publicity is all about garnering interest and getting people to talk about your business. If nobody knows you exist, it doesn't matter if you offer and are able to deliver three kinds of everything under the sun – with a money back satisfaction guarantee. You're not going to earn a profit because, in essence, you have no business.

So how does a new business that's just starting out or an established business that's fallen into a stagnate rut drum up interest among potential clients? By giving a little something extra that the competitors do not. The old adage about you have to give something to get something may not be the whole gospel truth, but it sure can't hurt.

*Give established clients a considerable discount (40% or more) for bringing in new business via referrals.

*Give new clients a 2 for 1 deal on their first purchase.

*Make sure it pays to be a returning customer by offering incentives for every third, fifth, etc. purchase.

*Designate one day of the week to be Customer Appreciation Day by offering discounts or other perks. You could do this once a month, too, and make a party out of it with refreshments, games, etc.

*Hold regular contests that encourage repeat business. You could give away goods or services to one lucky receipt holder of a purchase made during a certain time frame.

Business isn't all about attracting new clients. It's also about keeping the clients you do attract. Let's face it – customers are most likely to do business where they feel appreciated, regardless of the price. They would much rather deal with a business that is friendly and welcoming and pay a little more than to be snarled at by grumpy staff just to save a few bucks.

Kicking Off Publicity For Profit Week February 7-13

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 22:03:41 +0100

In observance of Publicity For Profit Week, I'm going to be posting a series of blogs that will underline the importance of publicity and how it relates to a successful - and profitable - business. We will discuss different publicity methods and their effectiveness, the pros and cons of some popular publicity methods and which ones you may want to implement into your own marketing plan.

It's going to be a great series full of useful information that I can't wait to share with you.

Stay tuned!

New Freelance Forum Now Open!

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 06:39:07 +0100

I just wanted to pass on the information to prospective content buyers that there is a brand new forum where you can post your projects free of charge.

It's called Freelance Forums and we would be glad to have you as a member. Check it out! Post your content needs today.

Five Things Your Competition Knows - But Do You? (2 of 2)

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:50:47 +0100

This is the second of the two part blog entry titled Five Things Your Competition Knows - But Do You?

Updated Information

Having a website won't do you or your prospective clients any good unless you keep the content updated, fresh and engaging. Businesses grow and evolve over time and the vision you started out with may not be the one you have in mind now. Maybe you have replaced one type of service with another, expanded your hours or opened additonal locations. Your clients, new or old, have no way of knowing this information unless you tell them. Rest assured your competition is keeping their client base up to date of any little change that takes place within their company, especially if it has the potential to bring in more business.

Press Releases

Press releases are a wonderful marketing tool that successful business owners take advantage of whenever they can. These releases, once written, can be distributed to a number of free distribution sites on the Internet and have the potential of garnering thousands of readers - all of which are presented with a handy backlink right to your competitor's website.

Social Media Marketing

Another way your competition is able to market himself and his business to thousands, if not millions, of people is by harnessing the power of Social Media Marketing. By promoting his business on platforms like Facebook and Twitter, he is able to gain exposure in markets which would have been out of reach using traditional marketing methods.

Your competition realizes the value of all five of these marketing strategies and uses them to his full advantage. You could be doing the same! Instead of sitting by and hoping your business and products speak for themselves, take an active role in the success of your business by utilizing these tips to your advantage.

Five Things Your Competition Knows - But Do You? (1 of 2)

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:51:09 +0100

Let's face it. As more and more people turn to the Internet to conduct their business, any market you can imagine is already saturated. Go ahead and google a business type of any kind....painter, carpenter, website design - you name it - and the search engines will yield, literally, thousands of results. Each one of these thousands of businesses is competing for clients in their competitor's market. Faced with that kind of challenge, how do businesses manage to stay afloat? Because they know the importance of five simple marketing strategies that their competitors may not. Let's see how many of them you are putting to work for your business.

Website Functionality and Design

Internet users want information as soon as they hit "Enter" on their keyboards. They are not interested in reading through pages of text and clicking an endless list of links to find what they are looking for. Visitors to your site should be able to quickly locate and navigate to pertinent information within your site, such as "Services Offered" and "FAQs" pages. They want the ability to quickly discern whether or not you can deliver what they need. If they can't find that information, they will move on to a competitor's site that clearly states that they can.

Professional Grade Content

When people seek out your services, the promotional material you provide them with is your virtual first impression. Whether it comes in the form of signage, printed advertisements or website content - it must be grammatically correct and free of errors in order for people to take you seriously. You're putting yourself out there as an expert in your chosen field or trade that people should rely on. How can you expect them to trust you to deliver a quality service when you overlook something as simple as a misspelled word?

Stay tuned for the final three coming up in the next entry!

Timely Payment vs Timely Delivery (Why both are important)

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 06:18:54 +0100

One of the biggest complaints I hear from freelancers and content buyers alike is turnaround time. Content buyers often run into problems with freelancers missing deadlines and freelancers often have to chase down their payment once their work has been delivered. Both of these practices can really hurt your business and cast a poor light on you to potential customers.

As a freelance writer for a number of years, I am no stranger to deadlines. I always try to accommodate clients who have a special need regarding turnaround time, but in the event that I can't - and I know that I can't - I tell them up front so that they have the option of hiring someone else that can work within their timeframe and get their project to them as quickly as they'd like. Alternately, things happen - such is life. If, for whatever reason, I am unable to meet a deadline that I promised or agreed to and it's my fault - the project is free. This is a guarantee I offer all my clients - from the largest of projects down to the smallest. Knowing that I may have to work for free keeps me disciplined and focused on the project at hand, thereby allowing me to give my clients the attention their project deserves. I also know that 80% of my business is going to come from 20% of my clients - the old 80/20 rule. The happier my clients are with the service I provide, the likelier they are to, not only become a repeat client, but to refer me to their colleagues. Contrary to what any marketing guru will tell you - word of mouth is the very best - or the very worst - advertising your business can receive.

That same marketing logic applies to content buyers as well. The writing community, especially on the Internet - is quite small and closeknit. We talk to each other about our clients, recommend clients to each other, pass along job postings - and we also look out for each other (most of the time). If we have been stiffed in the past by a client that refused to pay or that getting payment from was the equivalent of pulling teeth, more likely than not, we're going to warn our peers about that client. As the word spreads, the pool of writers who are willing to take the risk of working for that client gets exponentially smaller. The more experienced writers will usually err on the side of caution and avoid that client like the plague, taking with them some of the better content available to the buyer. The less experienced writers may decide to take the chance, but will often times produce content that may not be on par with the more experienced writers, decreasing the likelihood that the client will be pleased with the results. It's a vicious, never-ending cycle. The more writers get stiffed, the more writers talk, the more word gets around, the worse it looks for the buyers.

We need to get back to the Old Days when a person's word was his bond - and apply the Golden Rule to our business dealings:

Buyers - Be the kind of buyer you would give your business to.
Freelancers - Be the kind of worker you would want to hire.

Twitter Reciprocity: Why It's Not Always A Good Thing

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 06:22:15 +0100

By definition, social networking sites are designed to foster interaction between people who share the common interests. When you find a like-minded person who has some traits you admire, you shoot them a friend request so they can be a part of your elite circle. In the case of Twitter, you may start to “follow” them – as in their posts, not in a weird stalky kind of way.

People who have their own business or organization often participate in social networking sites with one goal in mind – to spread the word about their company or services. It’s not about making “friends”. It’s purely one more marketing tool in their virtual toolbox. Perfectly acceptable, not a thing wrong with that. If, of course, it’s done right.

And doing it right does not mean following random people for the sake of upping your “following/follower” numbers. It doesn’t mean just because someone follows you, that you have to respond in kind. In fact, it doesn’t even mean that you should.

In order for social networking to be an effective business tool, there does have to be some degree of reciprocity. It doesn’t have to be in the form of “You follow me and I’ll follow you”, however. People have to be reading your postings, getting something from them, and hopefully passing them on for your postings to be doing anything for you. Your message won’t be reaching the masses via social networking if it’s falling on dead – or as in the case of yesterday’s blog entry – inactive ears.

One of the most unbelievable things I have found while doing research for these Twitter-related blog entries is that some accounts have three, four, and five thousand followers….without ever having tweeted their first tweet. They are perfect examples of the blind reciprocity theory. Once those lists get past a certain number of followers, they are no longer about being a marketing tool. They become mere status symbols – even if they are erroneous. Realistically, you cannot interact with thousands of people on a regular basis. And if you’re not interacting with your followers and the people you are following - or networking, as the sites intended – what good is it doing you to have them?

Here’s the short list of what to look for when deciding whether to reciprocate a following on Twitter.

1. Date of their last post – Was it a few days ago or some time last year?

2. A name with no recent post – These are the accounts that have never posted. Go check it out. Some of them have thousands of followers, but why? These are the accounts that will clutter up your lists and give the impression that you are more popular than you really are.

3. Content of their posts – Nobody likes high pressure sales tactics. We all have things we’re trying to market and sell, but it’s annoying to shove it down people’s throats constantly. If their entire page is full of sales fodder about their “new” or “improved” product, chances are that product is all they have to offer.

Happy tweeting!