NOTE: This is part 2 of a two-part episode on the spiritual aspects of freelance success. If you haven't yet listened to part 1, make sure to do that first.

The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of this podcast. There's a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe to this podcast series in iTunes.

To listen to part one of this conversation, please go to Episode #033.

Question #4: Am I letting my outer circumstances, and not my vision, influence my thoughts and feelings on the subject?

If you don’t have a strong vision of the outcome you want, you’ll always be in reaction mode. If you have a vision, it will guide you in your thoughts and actions.

Example: Joseph Murphy, The Power of Your Subconscious Mind.

See if this sounds familiar...

You try your hardest to launch your business. Or to get to a certain income level. Or to land that high-profile client you've been chasing for months.

But no matter how hard you try, you can't seem to get there. You've followed the formulas. You've toiled day and night. You've given it all you've got ... to no avail.

What's going on here? You've played by the rules. You've worked your tail off.

In part one of this two-part episode, my good friend Pete Savage (from ExpandYourself.com) and I explore this issue. And we talk about the missing link in this complex puzzle: the spiritual side of freelance success.

I'm not a fan of going after small local businesses for writing work. Most of them don't understand the value of great copy and content. Or if they do, they can't afford professional-level fees.

But I recently came across a writer who proved me wrong. Her name is Shawndra Russell, and she's earning a six-figure income writing for small clients in her hometown of Savannah, GA.

Oh, and get this -- she just started freelancing a couple of years ago!

In this episode she explains how she does it and how she keeps the work coming in.

The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of this podcast. There’s a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe to this podcast series in iTunes.

I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for the coaches and mentors I've worked with over the years.

These individuals have enabled me to accelerate my progress, avoid costly mistakes and grow both personally and professionally.

In today's episode, I share some of the most valuable lessons I've learned from these coaching relationships. And I'll tell you how you can get the most value from a business coach, if you ever explore that option.

I also share my thoughts on gratitude and how making thanksgiving a daily practice helps attract wonderful things, people and circumstances into your business and personal life.

SEO is one of those topics that I have a love/hate relationship with.

It can be fun to optimize a website for the search engines. But the constantly changing rules drive me nuts! What worked yesterday will get you in trouble with Google today.

It's a maddening cycle!

Yet I have to admit that there is great value in knowing how to optimize your OWN freelancer website. And fortunately, the time to do that has never been better, thanks to the big fundamental changes Google has made over the last couple of years.

To explain these changes and how you can use them to your advantage, I've brought in my good friend Dianna Huff to the show. Dianna is a seasoned SEO pro who works with small business owners and midsize companies drive more traffic to their websites, generate more leads and get more business.

If you're already an SEO expert, this may not be for you. But if you want to better understand what's going on with SEO and how it will impact you as a freelance business writer, then I think you'll find this interview interesting, practical and helpful.

Impatience has been a recurring theme in my life. Once I decide to pursue a big goal, I can't WAIT to make it a reality.

This goal-centered mindset has served me well. But it has also caused me to miss many of the little moments that make up that exciting journey.

Moments I can't ever get back. They're gone forever.

In this episode, Jeff Goins, author of The In-Between: Embracing the Tension Between Now and the Next Big Thing explains why moments of breakthrough are NOT where life's greatest transformations happen. Instead, they happen in the "in-between" moments.

Waiting in the checkout line, waiting for our first big client, waiting for that big trip to Europe...

This is an important discussion for all freelancers, regardless of where you are in your journey. I hope it's as helpful to you as it was for me.

Why do so many writers avoid networking as a marketing strategy?

Some will tell you that they just can't find the time. Others claim that there are no good networking opportunities where they live. And many will admit that they put it off because they're shy and introverted.

These might be true to a certain extent. But I've found that you can overcome any of these challenges when you follow a simple, proven framework.

Without a framework or roadmap, it's very difficult to navigate the networking waters — especially if networking is something you're afraid to do.

My guest this week is John Corcoran, a writer turned solo attorney who developed a simple framework for networking more effectively. His approached has worked so well that it landed him a staff writer position at the Clinton White House and a speechwriting gig in the California Governor’s office during the Davis Administration.

He attributes these achievements to his methodical yet authentic approach to networking. And in this episode, he details this approach and how you can use it to network with greater confidence.

The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of this podcast. There's a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe to this podcast series in iTunes.

It's easy to talk about achieving a healthy work/life balance. But it's much harder to put it into practice.

And that's true no matter where you are in your freelance journey.

In this week's episode, freelance writer Rachel Foster explains why she's decided to set clear boundaries in her business. She talks about her daily routine, her experience outsourcing some of her tasks, and the expectations she's learned to set with clients.

Rachel is a Toronto-based freelancer who helps B2B marketers improve their response rates, clearly communicate complex messages and generate high-quality leads. She shares her insights on B2B marketing in her articles for the Content Marketing Institute, Business 2 Community and her Fresh Marketing Blog.

The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of this podcast. There's a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe to this podcast series in iTunes.

Peter Bowerman -- the author of The Well-Fed Writer and other "Well-Fed" books -- is one of the most influential mentors in the world of commercial writing.

One of the many things Peter does very well is generating strategic partnerships with freelance designers.

Through these arrangements, Peter gets a well-paid writing gig, the designer lands work she may not have won otherwise, and the client benefits from a turnkey service solution.

In this episode, Peter reveals how this strategy has added tens of thousands of dollars to his income over the years. He explains how to contact designers ... how to find them ... how to structure these opportunities ... how to price your work ... and much more!

The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of this podcast. There's a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe to this podcast series in iTunes.

One of the biggest, untapped prospecting opportunities is our own personal and professional networks.

But many of us are reluctant to do it. Why? Most common reasons are because you:

1.      Have a fear of rejection

2.      Don’t want to sound stupid

3.      Don’t want to mix business and friendship

4.      Don’t want to feel awkward

5.      Believe there's no value in it

6.      Don’t know how to explain what you do to a lay person

None of these have to be true. They’re only true if you believe them — or if you’re not prepared to address them.

Let's analyze each of these reasons...

Do you have professional liability insurance? Do you even need it?

I mean ... do freelance writers really get sued?

In this episode of The High-Income Business Writing Podcast I interview Jared Kaplan, CFO at insureon, a national online insurance company for freelancers and other self-employed professionals.

Jared explains the types of insurance policies available, what they cover, when they're worth considering, and what they'll cost.

This may not be the most exciting topic in the world ... but it's a hugely important one. So try to carve out some time today to listen to this discussion.

The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of this podcast. There's a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe to this podcast series in iTunes.

I firmly believe that establishing yourself as a content writer is the surest way to freelance writing success. It's the most realistic opportunity in the world of writing. Especially if you go after the corporate market.

That's because the fundamentals of content writing are stronger than ever. Content marketing has gone mainstream — and is not showing any signs of slowing down anytime soon.

In this episode, I interview Joe Pulizzi, founder of The Content Marketing Institute, Content Marketing World and Chief Content Officer magazine. Joe is also the author of the newly released book Epic Content Marketing[EG1] : How to Tell a Different Story, Break through the Clutter, and Win More Customers by Marketing Less.

Joe explains why content marketing is hot and getting hotter ... why businesses need writers desperately ... and how to get hired at top rates.

The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of this podcast. There's a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe to this podcast series in iTunes.

Lack of self-confidence is one of the biggest silent killers of freelance writing careers. As an independent professional, you have to believe in what you’re doing and what you’re going after.

But when things go wrong, how can you take yourself from self-doubt to self-confidence? How can you manufacture that experience? How can you turn things around quickly?

Even with his success, Ed still struggles with self-doubt at times. And in this podcast, he shares his own tips and ideas for getting out of a funk and developing stronger self-confidence.

The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of this podcast. There's a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe to this podcast series in iTunes.

Most freelance writers I talk to never want to go back to a regular job.

But many of them do miss the steady paycheck. (Usually that's the only thing they miss!) Which begs the question: How can you add more predictability to your freelance income?

I'll be showing you several ways to do that over the next couple of months. Because, frankly, there's no single way to ensure predictability. It requires smart strategy and hard work.

But let's get started on that discussion by addressing one potential solution to the income variability dilemma: adding email newsletters to your list of services.

My colleague Michael Katz has made a great living over the last 13 years writing, producing and managing email newsletters for clients. He's also taught many freelance writers how to do the same. And in this lively interview he details the opportunity — including what it entails, what you can charge, how to lock yourself in with great clients who can pay you $700 to $2,000 every month.

The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of our interview. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. And you can also subscribe to this podcast series in iTunes.

If you've followed me for a while, you already know that I'm NOT a fan of quoting hourly rates.

At least not when you're a freelance writer.

There are many disadvantages to the hourly rate model, and I still believe that in most cases it's much better to quote flat project fees.

However, there ARE some situations where it makes more sense to quote project work by the hour. And if you do it right, you can still earn a great living and keep your client happy.

I recently corresponded with web content writer and SEO specialist Katherine Andes. Katherine quotes most of her work by the hour. And one of the many things I admire about her is how successful she's been with this model.

In this episode, Katherine explains why she's chosen the hourly rate model. How she makes it work for both her and the client. And how she handles pricing objections and pushback.

Many freelance writers get to a point where they want to scale their business in some way. Or they want to diversify their income stream by launching a new side venture or project.

Mike Stelzner is a classic example. From 1996 until just a few years ago he was a freelance writer. Today he is the founder and CEO of Social Media Examiner (SME), an online magazine for business owners and marketers who are trying to figure out social media.

In less than 4 years, SME has attracted 222,000 email subscribers and 800,000 website hits per month. And Mike's podcast, The Social Media Marketing Podcast, has 21,000 listeners! As if that weren't enough, Mike recently launched a new website: My Kids Adventures.com -- a site for parents looking for fun things to do with their kids. We’ll come back to this one later.

It's great to have a formal prospecting system in place. But sometimes the best opportunities come to us through unconventional means.

In this episode of The High-Income Business Writing podcast you'll hear from Angus Stocking, a successful business writer who specializes in the infrastructure industry.

Angus has had great success landing good-paying writing clients using low-cost "guerilla-style" methods.

The notes that follow are a basic, unedited summary of our interview. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. And you can also subscribe to this podcast series in iTunes.

Over the past few years, LinkedIn has evolved into one of the most important social media platforms. The site boasts more than 225 million users as of this recording.

Even though much of the conversation about LinkedIn revolves around drumming up business leads or new jobs, there's an opportunity for business writers that's not often discussed: writing profiles for LinkedIn members.

Who in the world would pay a writer to write their profile? Turns out that many business professionals do! Not only do they pay handsome fees for this work, but it can also become a great way to build trust and land additional projects.

To learn more about this opportunity, I interviewed Victoria Ipri. Victoria started as a copywriter in 2006, and her business has evolved over the years into Ipri International, a Linkedin training consultancy providing telephone coaching and on-site group training.

What follows are some notes summarizing the information in this week's show. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. And you can also subscribe to this podcast series in iTunes.

One of the biggest factors that holds back new and aspiring freelance writers is the idea that they have to find their niche before they launch.

This "niche quest" tends to do more damage than good. It creates confusion, stalls progress and kills momentum.

Don't get me wrong. Having a niche or a specific target market is a good idea. But it's not a prerequisite for launching your commercial writing business.

In this episode I give you a simple framework and a series of questions to determine if you should define a niche ... how to find one that makes sense ... and what to do if you can't come up with anything viable.

Blog posts, articles, white papers, case studies, marketing collateral.

These are some of the most common pieces business writers come across. The bread-and-butter projects that pay the bills.

But occasionally you may come across a project that's so massive, it requires a different set of skills to execute. Your writing chops alone won't save you.

My friend and colleague Denise Kiernan knows this firsthand. Not only has she written dozens of books and large-format pieces, she recently finished the largest and most complex writing project of her career: The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II Touchstone/Simon & Shuster), now a New York Times bestseller.

(Side note: This week marks the 68th anniversary of the world's first atomic bomb attacks in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.)

To tell this true story of the women who helped build the first atomic bomb, Denise spent years conducing intense research all across the U.S., doing live interviews, writing and rewriting. It was the kind of assignment that required flawless project management, excellent organization skills ... and unshakable faith in a story that had to be told.

I recently sat down with Denise to learn more about how she approached this massive project. She shared some excellent tips, insights and advice that apply to ANY writer facing a large-scale project.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

• Explain why the common view and attitudes about attracting and landing quality clients are completely warped.

• Discuss why a new view or paradigm about client attraction is desperately needed.

• Show you what this new view and model are all about and why you need to adopt the mindset that comes with it.

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.

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.

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.

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?

 

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 leveraging LinkedIn (LI) to grow your writing business — I interview Jill Konrath for this episode of The High Income Business Writing podcast.

Jill is the author of two bestselling sales books and is a popular speaker who helps sellers crack into new accounts, speed up sales cycles and win more business. She has conducted extensive research on how top professionals use LI to build a professional platform.

In this episode, Jill explains how to turn LI from a dull career/job finding site to a powerful business-building tool.

Have you every written a short article for a magazine, newspaper or trade journal?

Not the most profitable work these days, is it?

If you're looking for a better way to leverage your storytelling skills, case studies are a great way to do that.

To learn more about the opportunity in case studies — and how to approach these projects — I interview Casey Hibbard for this episode of The High-Income Business Writing podcast.

About This Show

The High-Income Business Writing podcast is a production of B2B Biz Launcher. It's designed for business writer and copywriters who want to propel their writing business to the six-figure level (or the part-time equivalent).

In this week's episode I interview Casey Hibbard, a successful freelance writer who specializes in writing customer case studies (also known as "customer success stories"), and author of the excellent book, Stories That Sell: Turn Satisfied Customers into Your Most Powerful Sales and Marketing Asset.

Casey explains what case studies are and how they're used by clients. She gives us a primer on the basic components of case studies, including what elements you should include in order to make them more effective. And she explains why they continue to be so popular in the marketing communications arena.

Casey also talks at length about:

• How she manages these projects
• What key deliverables you should include
• Guidelines for pricing case studies
• Different types and formats of case studies
• What makes a great case study writer
• What to do if you have no samples but want to get started

In part two of this two-part episode (check out part one here), I interview one of the most knowledgeable and experienced white paper writers in the business: Gordon Graham.

Gordon is the author of the newly released book White Papers for Dummies, a must-read book if you're considering writing white papers — and an invaluable resource if you've been writing white papers for years.

White papers have been critically important in my writing career. They gave me a serious income boost when I needed it most (in fact, this is the type of project that first propelled my income to the six-figure level). White papers are also fun to research and write, and they're one of the first types of assignments clients outsource to freelance writers.

In this session you'll discover:

• The three "flavors" of white papers and how to determine which one you need, when.

• A detailed discussion of each white paper type, including length, tone and how much you can charge as a freelance writer.

• How to effectively approach a white paper project.

• Potential pitfalls and landmines to watch out for when writing a white paper.

• How to keep white paper projects on track and within scope.

• Dealing with difficult clients and edit-happy reviewers.

• What a Google executive told Gordon about white paper writers they've worked with (this one's a shocker!).

• So, you want to write white papers for a living? Here's where (and how) to get started.

• And much, much more!

In this episode of The High-Income Business Writing Podcast I interview one of the most knowledgeable and experienced white paper writers in the business: Gordon Graham.

Gordon is the author of the newly released book White Papers for Dummies, a must-read book if you're considering writing white papers — and an invaluable resource if you've been writing white papers for years.

White papers have been critically important in my writing career. They gave me a serious income boost when I needed it most. They're also fun to research and write, and they're one of the first types of assignments clients outsource to freelance writers.

In this session you'll discover:

• A detailed explanation of white papers, including what they are, who uses them and how they're used.

• Why white papers continue to rise in popularity in a world of new media and an ever-growing stream of shiny objects.

• The opportunity for writers today. Plus, the future of white papers and how it will impact white paper writers.

• The industries that represent the hottest white paper opportunities for writers (and why).

• How much you can charge for a white paper. Gordon will reveal what he personally charges and what you can quote when starting out.

• Why marketers are struggling to find good white paper writers.

• What makes a good white paper writer, and how to know if this type of writing assignment is for you.

• What if you have no white paper samples? How do you get started?

• And much more!