Wed, 24 July 2013
If you've ever bought a product online, at a store or through a catalog (OK … if you've ever bough anything!), chances are you read the product's descriptive copy before making your final buying decision. And guess what? That copy didn't just write itself. The manufacturer or distributor hired a copywriter to put it together. What's involved in this type of writing? How well does it pay? How do you land projects? And are there any opportunities in the B2B arena for this type of work? |
Wed, 17 July 2013
Did you know that entrepreneurs are willing to pay writers $3,000 - $6,000 (and even more!) to write a business plan for them? There are many reasons why. But one of the most important is that most banks and investors need to see a well-written business plan before they even consider investing in a business. My guest for this episode is Jessica Oman, founder of Write Ahead and an expert on writing business plans. In this interview, Jessica explains the opportunity in writing business plans for clients. |
Wed, 10 July 2013
One of the fastest ways to propel your writing business to the six-figure level is to become a MUCH more efficient writer. And in this week's show, you'll learn 8 simple steps to boosting your writing speed by 30% or more. My guest is Daphne Gray-Grant — an authority on writing faster. Daphne's strategies are a big reason why I earn $200++ per hour when I write for clients. |
Wed, 3 July 2013
Networking. The very thought of it makes many writers break into a cold sweat! But who said networking events and opportunities have to be so nerve-racking? In this episode I interview Ilise Benun, an author, consultant, national speaker and co-founder of Marketing Mentor. Ilise shares how to choose the right event, and how to prepare to make the best of your time. Additionally, she tells us some smart things you can do to stand out, get noticed and increase your chances of starting some dialogue to continue after the event. |
Wed, 26 June 2013
You have a full-time day job. >:( It's not something you love, but it pays the bills. Unfortunately, it also leaves very little time for launching and growing a freelance side business. So, how are you supposed to make the transition from cubicle hell to full-time freelance writing? That's the dilemma Kathryn Messer faced a few years ago. As a well-paid executive, she couldn't afford to simply walk away from her day job to pursue her dream of full-time freelance writing. Yet she knew there HAD to be a way. Using Ed's customizable transition action plan as her guide (detailed in Stop Wishing and Start Earning), along with a heavy dose of hard work and persistence, Kathryn finally made the leap. Not only that but by the time she made the transition, she was already earning more as a freelancer than she was in her executive position! In today's interview, Kathryn details her journey during this transition. And she provides solid advice for those who are trying to make the leap to part-time or full-time freelance writing. |
Thu, 20 June 2013
#009: The Surprising Truth About High-Paying Clients — And the Four Assumptions That Keep Writers From Landing Them
According to the comprehensive 2012 Freelance Industry Report, the biggest challenge facing freelancers is landing clients: 37% named that as their top challenge. Other surveys we've conducted at International Freelancers Academy show similar results. One of them revealed that attracting more, better, and higher-paying clients was by far the top challenge for 53% of freelancers. I wanted to address this pressing issue in this episode, because I believe that the common view and attitudes about attracting and landing quality clients are simply misguided. They're based on a limited view of reality, and they're destroying freelance businesses every day.
In this episode I will:
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Wed, 12 June 2013
For many writers, the idea of having to negotiate with a client makes them break out in a cold sweat. But negotiating is a critical skill. It can help you land more work at better fees. And it can protect you from savvy clients who know how to negotiate well. Fortunately, you don't need to be an expert negotiator to reap the benefits. Even basic negotiating skills will take you far. And in today's episode, freelance writer Carol Tice will show you simple and practical tips for negotiating more effectively as a freelancer. About This Show The High-Income Business Writing podcast is a production of B2B Biz Launcher. It's designed for business writers and copywriters who want to propel their writing business to the six-figure level (or the part-time equivalent). To learn more about negotiating smarter, I interview Carol Tice for this episode of The High Income Business Writing podcast. Carol is a freelance writer for publications and businesses. Since 2005, she has been a full-time freelancer writing for a lot of different clients. Before that she was a staff writer for the Puget Sound Business Journal writing about retail, ecommerce, restaurant, nonprofits, higher education and more. She spent five years at National Home Center News (now Home Channel News) learning how to sell merchandise at 100% markup while covering home improvement retailing for the trade publication. Carol also teaches other freelancer writers how to grow their income. In this episode, Carol explains how to negotiate well and make the most money possible for each gig. Frequently, freelance writers just take what they the prospect says they want to pay or expect the prospect to take what they tell them. From past work experience as a paralegal at the William Morris agency, Carol learned negotiating is normal. It is done in all industries; it is a part of business and most importantly, it is expected. Nobody is insulted or going to walk away when they ask if there is more money in the contract!
When someone doesn’t want to negotiate with you, they probably are not a good prospect anyhow. |
Tue, 4 June 2013
Today I'm continuing my story of how I went from corporate sales professional to freelance writer — and to a combination of freelance writer and coach/trainer. This is a departure from the type shows that I've been publishing. But I'm constantly asked about my business, how I spend my time, where my income comes from and how I got to where I am today. I've addressed these questions individually and in different training episodes I've published. But I've never told my full business-launch story in detail. And I thought this podcast format would be the ideal way to do that. If you haven't listened to part one of this story, you probably want to check that out first. |
Wed, 29 May 2013
Today, I'm taking a departure from the types of shows I've been doing since I launched this podcast. Instead of doing an interview, I'm going to share my story with you. The story of how I stumbled into freelance writing and how I've turned it into a six-figure business. I've shared parts of my journey in articles and video trainings. But I've never shared the whole thing in one place.
I'm going to do this over two episodes. I'll share both the successes AND the struggles. I'll show you why I truly believe that any writer with solid skills can do this. And I hope to satisfy much of the curiosity out there about what I do day to day, how I spend my time and where my income comes from. |
Wed, 22 May 2013
Have you ever wondered how freelancers are using LinkedIn to find and land clients? Is LinkedIn truly a valuable prospecting tool? Does it live up the hype? Are there practical ways of using it to drum up business? |