Just launched my site... Can anyone help me with this?

Hi, yesterday I launched my site: http://www.godofwriting.com. The problem is that I've been an offline writer all this time and I've authored very little content online. Plus, I don't have rights to most of that content (since it's all been sold). So, how do I put up any samples?

I'm not very sure my former (offline) employers would allow me to reproduce any of the content I wrote for them on my site so I'm in kind of an imbroglio here.

I've received queries from some 6 people already asking me for samples or quotes and I've explained my situation to them. Some of them want me to write free samples for them. Is this a good idea?

Or would it be a better option now for me to write a few random articles or something and put them on my "samples" section?

Suggestions please...

 

I wouldn't write samples for anyone, I'd pull from my portfolio. You could write some random articles, but I think you handled the situation well on your website. If someone is interested, then provide them with samples.

Your site is entertaining.

 

Thanks seasidewriter... I guess it's the sarcastic/humorous/stupid plugs in the content that are bringing me the great buyer response I've been getting.

And getting back to my samples issue, the problem here is the portfolio itself. If I want to include anything from my 'folio, I'm going to have to run after people, asking for permissions and stuff I suppose it's not an impossibility but I'm kind of lazy plus I don't own rights to a lot of the material I've written which obviously means I can't display it anymore...

So I guess I'll just start writing some random articles then (though I'm fresh out of ideas).... unless that is, if someone has a better suggestion.

 

Personally I would never write free samples. Usually, clients like to see content that is published and has a certain amount of success anyhow.

Just think ahead, and tell your next client that you want rights to use the published content as a sample if it does indeed become popular.

 

Yes thanks a lot, I suppose I will. But, to many people on the internet, complete ownership seems to be an obsession. Transfer of all rights is one incentive, I think, that can turn heads any day.

Cheers

 

Your clients don't have to give up ownership rights. Really, you only need to request to use their URL/proof of publication.

The only reason they would object is if they stated confidentiality concerns. And really, that doesn't happen too often. (Although I do have a couple of clients that stick hard to confidentiality, which makes it tough to get up to date samples out.)

Really, I would recommend you start your own website with good content, and use it as a sample itself. It's what I did and I have no regrets on the vast hours of time I've put into everything.

 

Say, that isn't it a bad idea. In fact, I think I'll do just that. Glad I thought of it.

I mean, thanks a lot, Zac

 

IMO, its not that bad. Write 2-3 articles for free - short ones and you can place em on your site as samples along with the testimonial or include the URL where articles are published. It won't take that much time. 2-3articles of 250words each will do. Else, open your own site, write articles and show em to your clients.

 

Your employers may not want you to use the articles you wrote for them, because they should be unique.

 

I personally would not hire you to write me articles, no offence but "God of writing" - it sounds really nonprofessional to me.

 

Somehow, I don't think I'll lose any sleep tonight.

 

godofwriting, I love your site!

For me, your Welcome page is evidence enough of your capabilities.

Samples, Schamples.

Good luck, my friend. Somehow, I don't think you're gonna need it much.

.

 

Nix "Welcome" and put a headline up there that is compelling and says something about what you do or bring to the party. Have some fun with it. I don't have a headline on my page but then it's not really designed to have one. I have had one, though. I change it and play with it because I am the client and I can do what I want and experiment with it.

I don't get this. Is it a regional thing?
"(hint: Nobody worships Thoth anymore)."

But it's coming along and it's a start. So build on it and keep at it. Let it marinate and then add some visuals if possible to break it up a bit.

 

If the region is Egypt. Thoth>Egyptian god of knowledge IIRC.

 

I liked your site's content presented on your welcome page and i think a serious buyer can easily judge from those words only about your interest and capabilities of writing good.Good luck with your work!Even i liked the humorous tagline"I am the God of writing and I don't need a tagline" ..keep it up!!

 

I did not mean to sound rude, apart from the name, like other said, I liked the welcome note

 

Thanks a lot. As far as the welcome page goes, it's been pulling in more buyer queries than I can handle . I'm glad you like it.

Webgal, thanks for the suggestions. Though I'm not sure how to best replace the "welcome", I'll try to come with something. I haven't thought about visuals but I am considering adding some audio to the page. You know, a small player that'll let people "hear" the content of the page instead of having to read it. I'm just a bit too busy to record

And like shallowink says, Thoth is the Egyptian god of knowledge and writing (I didn't know this myself before playing Age of Mythology a few years ago). I'm no Egyptian but I imagined a lot people would have heard of big T. Guess he really isn't that popular anymore

Thanks byyp. Glad you find it interesting.

No hard feelings.

 

Have you thought about submitting some articles to some of the article sites, that would show off your work and get you links back to your site.

 

Actually I have but I've been thinking like if I can build a whole new site full of my own articles and then link back to the original godofwriting.com, then I'd have a place to showcase it all under my own control. That doesn't mean I'm discounting article sites though. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

Usually, you can for self promotion unless they had you sign a confidentiality agreement. I have only one client that requests that I not share his samples on my website. This usually holds true with photographers, writers, production studios and anyone else that makes a living off produced content/visuals of some kind.

But they do get a sense of your style on that first page. You just need that cool stuff at the top right off the bat so they read further down and get the whole picture. You have a style, apply it to that Welcome word whether it's welcome to my cloud or something that makes fun of the fact that the entire web universe defaults to "welcome to our website". You've got the style, apply it here, too.