13 Mistakes New Freelance Writers Make

And how to fix them

A short tutorial by:Laura Finger

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Mistake: #1: You don't think you're qualified

Don't assume all “real writers” have English or Journalism degrees

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Solution: Utilize the Internet

Sign up for MOOCs Community college continuing education

The more diversified your background, the higher your earning potential

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Mistake #2: You think you can't start without clips

Feel as if you need clips in order to get clips?

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Solution Offer to write for a local non-profit

Contact your local Chamber of Commerce Create a mockup of what you would write for a

fictional cilent

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Mistake #3: You are giving your work away for free

Did you fall for the “just do it for the exposure” line?

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Solution

If a site can cough up money to pay hosting fees, it can afford to pay you. Never say yes to a client who cries hardship

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Mistake #4: Job hunting on popular sites

EVERYBODY and his mother is on Craigslist and Copyblogger. How are you

going to stand out and get your email read?

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Solution Start seeking out clients

Vette a potential client before you contact them

Learn how to network

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Mistake #5: You submit and accept low bids

Don't have a clue how to quote a price to a client?

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Solution

Swipe other writers' rates Figure out what you need to survive

Learn what the market can bear

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Mistake #6: You Ignore Local Clients

Are you determined to do all of your work online? Are you nervous about meeting people in person?

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Solution Reach out to local non-profits

Look into shared office space or “hot desking” Write an op-ed or article for your

local newspaper

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Mistake #7: You only market when you're hungry

Sporadic marketing can leave huge, gaping holes in your income!

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Solution

Budget 30% of each day for marketing Check in with current and past clients first

Divide and conquer the phone book

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Mistake #8: You don't know about the December-Feburary lull

Every business experiences it (except for credit card companies).

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Solution Line up projects to run into the New Year Pitch clients ideas for holiday promotions

months in advance Use the time for other types of writing

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Mistake #9: You are NOT networking

Are you hiding in your home office instead of Interacting with other human beings?

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Solution Go anyhwere you can find another human being

Trawl LinkedIn ads for leads Type up a Letter of Introduction (LOI)-

the e-mail version of a “cold call”

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Mistake #10: You haven't mastered deadlines...yet

Feel like deadlines constrain you? Learn to harness their power

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Solution The more disciplined you are, the

more money you can make Deadlines make you more efficent

They do not stifle creativity

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Mistake #11: You try to recreate a 9-5, 40 hour work week

Those don't work for anybody- so stop giving yourself grief

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Solution Give yourself permission to have a

personalized work week Work the days and hours that work

for you and your family

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Mistake #12: You thought you'ld be making a profit by now

New businesses can take years to turn a profit

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Solution Stop saying “I should have ____ by now.”

Cut yourself some slack Stop thinking you're a failure

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Mistake #13: Thinking obstacles and setbacks are a sign that you should give up

Hit a speedbump?It means that you're moving forward.

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Solution Understand that speed bumps and

dead ends happen throughout your career Learn that in the big picture they really

aren't a big deal

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Want to learn more?

Want a FREE e-book copy of this presentation? Click here.

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