We've seen a bunch of posts lately on setting your fees as a copywriter; and I thought I'd start a thread so that everyone here could post their goals as copywriters for the new year. Do you want to raise your rates? Write more - write less? Learn how to find new clients, or even just want to break into a different field of copywriting? Whatever your goals are, put them here for everyone to see. Articulating where you want to see yourself by the end of this year going into the next, will help to serve as a reminder. Often we say to ourselves, "Man, I'd sure like to...;" but many never tell anyone else what their goals are, or even write them down. I thought perhaps if we all shared which direction we'd like to see our careers go in this year, we could better support each other to stay focused on our goals. The family that plays together..., and all that rot I'll happily start: For the last two years I've been working on a course for writers looking to break into copywriting. It's a bit more like a textbook than anything these days, but I'd like to see it in print before the end of this year. I even stopped taking on new clients just so I could get it finished. What about all of you? Where do you want to see yourself by the end of 2008? I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts! Thanks for playing along
I have a pretty monstrous goal list this year, which I believe I posted on my writing blog. But here are a few for '08: 1. I raised my rates on press release writing and a few other related services. 2. I lowered my rates (a little) on business content, and separated that type of writing from my PR and actual copywriting (now at FirstRateContent.com). 3. Now that the copy on FRC is finished, I need to completely overhaul the copy on my main business site. 4. I'm re-organizing and changing the layout (soon) on my business blog, and I'm in the middle of finally re-launching my indie music webzine. Those, along with my freelance writing blog, will be my big online efforts for '08. 5. I have several e-books that I'm planning to publish this year - one will be done by the end of this month during the 14 day e-book writing challenge I'm running on my blog, the first big one will be on pre-launch book publicity, and another definite big one is a complete overhaul and expansion of my current short e-book on press release writing. I have a few other concepts I'm bouncing around, but I'm not sure if they'll be released as e-books or "reports." Overall, my biggest goal is to move more away from consulting and other client work, and really push my own publishing efforts (including a book proposal that I absolutely promised myself I'm going to finish this year). Most of my attention will be on my sites and blogs, my e-books, and some more regular clients as opposed to a lot of new ones. Jenn
Way to go, Jenn! Wow what a list, too! Your sites look great, and I look forward to seeing what you'll publish this year
1. I'm working on a book, hopefully I'll finish it in 2008 2. I actually want to write less for others and more for my own websites. 3. I want to break into the local copywriting market with my company 4. Raise my rates to $0.05 5. Learn how to write a press release properly. I never got around those *ashamed*
This is a great thread I normally post my goals on my wall where I can see them while I work, but I like this idea much better. My poor wall is papered with work related stuff. 1. I plan to raise my rates to 10 cents per word by the end of 2008. I'm doing it slowly so my clients don't all scare away at once 2. I am also working on my website that I plan to use to gain new clients. I hope to have it finished in a couple of weeks. 3. I have a book in mind, sort of a novel/children's book. I'm not sure yet what route it will actually take but I hope to have it at least started in the next few weeks. 4. I also plan to complete my first e-book this year. Jenn's e-book writing course is very exciting and I don't plan to miss one minute of it
These are all great goals, guys. Keep 'em coming! Tudi, Vanessa, I can't wait to see what you two publish this year!
2008 looks pretty promising for me; I "intend" to really achieve a lot this year what with all those stellar goals of mine carrying over from.... uh... oh yeah, 2005. Let's see now: 1) I own three good domains, and none of them have been put to any good use yet. I want to really write for myself, put some content up on my own websites and get myself noticed but I can't seem to find the energy and make the move. 2) I want to increase my rates and write more (like 8-10 hours a day) so I can amass those $25 Gs I need to self-produce my debut album. I'm giving the album away for free once it's done so I'm basically throwing 25K down the wishing well, praying for recognition... so, it's like I have to make ends meet and at the same time, find a way to make some good extra money (like an extra 5K :O) every month and can gear that towards the album's production. 3) I'm being redundant here but I really want to write for myself This time, I mean like, make some small AdSense sites or something. I've also been thinking of creating affiliate mini-sites; you know, like a small review of a product with a squeeze page so I can bring some PPC traffic in and make affiliate commissions. 4) I'm kind of good at writing guides, reports, ebooks etc so I want to start publishing my work. I'm also thinking about writing a humor/satire ebook but only as long as it doesn't steal too much of my time. 5) I have enough clients already but I'm really thinking about waving goodbye to a few and getting some new ones to replace them. Not that I don't like the existing but some of them expect way too much work for way too little pay. So, given my financial situation, their patronage is more of an encumbrance than a blessing 6) I've always wanted to learn English. Maybe I'll do that this year. Cheers fam
Here goes..... 1. Make at least as much money freelancing in 2008 as I did in 2007. I got some good jobs last year, so in order to feel successful (and pay the bills) I'll need to maintain a certain income level. 2. Sell an article to a publication outside of my region. 3. Learning how to write press releases would be a goal for me too. Here are two goals that I have already accomplished this year. I got a job blogging and I found a new regional publication that is interested in two pieces I submitted. Good luck everybody. I'm really liking all this sharing!
Oh wait... is it too late to my goals? If not, here's another one: 7) Get more MALE writers to join DP because boy, am I feeling outnumbered here!
1) Buy more tampons. Kidding godofwriting. I just could not resist that ultimately feminine reference to torture you. 1) Network more outside the office. Made my first networking lunch date on the 31st. 2) Send out some new business newsletters. Working on that now. (well after I post) 3) Concentrate on the eTutorial I have written and produce supporting products. Make a pdf mac version. Market it through local channel networking as well as the web. 4) Put elements in place to free up some time to volunteer more at my sons' schools. I already volunteer a lot, however, I have one who will be in college in 3 years so I want to make the most of that time. 5) Travel more. Next to Jenn's list this looks petite. This is the short list, though. I really have double as much planned as Jenn. I just didn't want to post it all. (lie, lie, lie)
I completely understand. I have a lot of ongoing clients from my $10/500 words days and I keep producing underpriced work for them, just because we have a good relationship and they're long time customers. What do you guys suggest? Show them the door, or ask for my rights? Btw GOW, you're not the only male copywriter on DP. In some circles (crop) I'm known to be pretty male myself. Some even say they've spotted my penis.
I am brand new to freelancing so... My goals: Find consistant work- I would like to make $300-$400 per week. Finish my freelance website. Learn how to advertise. Learn where to get clients. Basically, GET CLIENTS!!! Man, I hope I don't fail at this. I am having a blast!
Reading everyone else's goals makes me want to add more goals to my list. Here is what I would like to do in 2008: 1. Create a niche website 2. Create a freelance writing website 3. Look into PLR and start that as part of my freelance website 4. Write an eBook 5. Market...Market...Market 6. Oh, and of course increase my earnings.
Ok, just give me a minute; think I'm going to toss my cookies. If you've been writing for low prices all this while and you suddenly ask for more, those clients of yours kind of lose the incentive to hire you in the first place. I think it'd be a good idea to sever ties with them now. You could, of course, approach them with your new rates but I doubt they'll want to pay more. And yeah, I know you're a dude. I said I was outnumbered, not alone... and what's with the penile references?
You know us men, throwing penises around just for the sake of reassuring themselves they have one. And you're right about the clients, I think I'll just thank them for their projects and drop them.
Count me in. The lack of links in my signature kind of sums up my complete lack of any experience. I have no blog, no website, and no colledge edumacation, but I can stand up to pee and that's what counts. Is there actually a niche for a 33 year old guy with no formal training who only likes to write about sports, gambling, sex, and shiny electronic crap? Also consider that I am disgustingly stereotypical and overly opinionated (but my opinions are always right, so that's good). I talked my parents into paying for a 2-day creative writing seminar when I was in fifth grade, so my goal for the year is to recoup that $250 (plus interest compounded weekly at Fat Louie's prevailing rate, currently prime +23%) by doing a little writing.
Huge, actually. As a matter of fact, I regularly turn down projects in three out of those four niches. Market yourself as a writer specifically for those niches, and you'll soon find yourself with more work than you can handle!
It's not really a copywriting goal, but I'd like to get an A* on my English and English Literature GSCE, which is vaguely associated with writing I guess .
Let's see. I want to make more than I did in 2007 (duh). I want to concentrate on my blog, promote it like crazy and get down to monetizing it at some point. Most of the other goals are related to the blog - free reports, ebooks, the works. 2008 has just begun, so there's hope. I want to learn a new skill related to my writing career (maybe press releases), so I can diversify my portfolio. I want to query more publications - at least 15 a month. My last query was sent more than 2 months ago, and I haven't even logged into my Writer's Market account this year. Definitely need to put more effort there. Lastly, I need to learn better time management. Procrastination is the bane of my existence. No more checking up on Britney's latest meltdown, when I am supposed to be writing on preschoolers and manners.