I got my first client in my first try, but not again until somewhere near my 50th. Getting clients depends on a lot of factors, but you should definitely be able to sell yourself.
Most of my limited writing work's off-line, and I'm not looking for clients at all, but it is true that if you write in a way that people like, you can attract clients without doing anything much. Since I've been a member here (not all that long, and most of my posts are inconsequential ones in "General Chat", and I've never had a sig-file or a website saying that I write), people have approached me three times by p.m. asking if I'll write for their websites.
Great point! Great posts! I couldn't agree more. These wishful-thinking "copywriters" are only creating a bad name in the marketplace! Leave it to those of us with passion and talent! On a side note, it has become quite clear that marketing must be executed strategically to cater to the people who already see the VALUE in copywriting. Businesses must recognize that their corporate communications are lacking and that with more effective words, their sales may actually increase. It can sometimes be difficult to convince people that they NEED improvement when it comes to their writing. Many people think: "Well, it's good enough". NO! "Good enough" is not good enough - especially not in this economy. Effective communication with target markets is what will ultimately make the sales where they are possible.
I will attest to the fact that you will get very nice and well paying clients by merely contributing meaningful posts to the forum in appropriate sections. [General business, copywriting etc]. Often much better ones than you would get by hanging around the content creation section all day long. The important thing is that Your posts must show that [YMMV] 1] You are knowledgeable [and/or creative/interesting/funny/helpful] 2] You have necessary writing skills [Grammar, language] 3] Some hint of reliability/credibility [Good/Professional website, manners etc] In other words, when you are making posts in this forum, you are actually posting samples of your writing in a way. Of course, you might need to give people a hint that you can write/ want to write/are available for writing jobs. A relevant sig link or website in your sig will definitely help.
Sorry, to get off track, but I knew that you wrote, so I guess you did put that in a post or something.
Which illustrates the task I'm facing once I start consulting for this local publication. Since their business is mostly focused on print, they have yet to realize that they can also make serious money from their websites. But I digress...
Can you pm me the web address? Something pass as nothing interesting to you might of something interesting to another... me included
There is always the debate about whether you should write for love or for money. I write because of both. Writing has allowed me to set my own hours of work and to spend more time with my family. There is also the thrill of knowing you can reach other people with the power of words. But again I get paid upward of $10,000 per project, so I cannot speak for the $2 article writers. I cannot imagine how they live on that kind of income. Copywriting is the way to go. I write articles for my clients but they are $150 a pop. -Ray Edwards
I think when you do anything "just" for the money it shows, it really shows. Except maybe to get a job at McD's and wear a paper hat and talk through a loudspeaker about how large someone's fries should be. Yeah, that SHOULD be a just for the money job. lol What really frosts my cupcakes are the people who think that because I work from home - I'm sitting here eating chocolates out of a box in my pajamas while I read novels - and the checks just miraculously APPEAR! lol I actually had someone say "oh, so all you really need is Internet access and wordprocessing skills to do what you do?" I was in public and NOT in the mood to get into it with them so I stammered a bit and said "Uh, something like that." Money matters and there are all times we are thrilled when that check (or Paypal) comes through so we can go out on the town, or so you can pay the electric bill. But when you ONLY work for money - at anything - I think you wind up watching the clock while you work and it really shows in the results.
Since I'm still in high school, and make a lot more money that any other kids who have what they'd like to call "real jobs", I just tell them how much I make. It shuts them up.
Absolutely. But I suspect that the reality is that the majority of people "writing for money" are actually earning less than they would make doing that job at McD's.
It seems that many people actually believe that! Hence you get these 1$ and 2$ writers with ..... uh ..... Internet access and wordprocessing skills.
I communicate in order to sell stuff. That takes the form of writing in many cases. If I wanted to fulfill my teenage dreams of being a real writer I would have followed through and pursued journalism or some other career that had me writing every day. I didn't. Writing for money came as an outgrowth of needing quality marketing materials for my own businesses. That's just my path. Just for love there are a lot of things I prefer to do over writing.
I agree that the really cheap writers don't drag the market down, or places like Constant Content would not exist. People who want quality content are willing to pay for it. They know that their website's reputation depends on it. Most of that cheap content is going on adsense sites, not quality websites or blogs. And yes, it takes a LOT of work to earn a living at first. I haven't been doing this long, and it takes me 8-10 hours a day just to make ends meet, but I know I'm building content and a good reputation, and I'll be earning more soon. Right now, I'm taking low pay just to get the practice and exposure. I look at it like going to college to learn a skill. You have to pay to get the education, but it's worth it in the end.
maddie: we all have to start somewhere right? But I hope when you say 'low pay', you're not referring to the going rates here at DP.
The webmasters here at DP are mostly buying articles to put on their Adsense websites. They can't pay what they don't earn. The money is where people are looking to build websites that add value to their business [A doctor's health advice website, for example] or a website that aims to sell a related product by first pulling people with informative articles or such.
Thats the biggest problem. People don't read advice, just blindly following random blogs... Sad actually.
Anyone who's ever passed an English class thinks they can write and get paid for it. I've stopped trying to tell them otherwise.
What disturbs me isn't the fact that anyone who's ever passed an English class thinks he can write and get paid for it: it's the fact that so many of them are right about that.
I totally agree. To be honest I wouldn't be the one writing in any case because I have been there and done that. These days I am the type to pay for services and get others to do it for me.