Hey i've had my article writing service for a while now and it always comes in stages, sometime I get overwelmed with work I have to turn it down and then I get none. I only use dp so far to find my work and the prices started out at $1 per 100words and gradually gone up to $1.50 per 100 words which I think is still cheap considering the article is unique and good quality. I've not had anyone be disappointed in one yet. *Touch wood* The question I have is that do other newbie copywriters find it hard to get a constant flow of work? Thanks for any information in advanced
I wouldn't call myself a newbie, but my work still comes in spurts. I have some steady customers that I write for on a weekly basis, and others that show up once in a blue moon. I suggest you use the downtime to build up other projects such as PLR offerings, your websites, blogs or your professional network. You should always be marketing and working to improve yourself. If you're not writing, you should be reading.
When things are going well, you should market the hardest. Many writers (pros do it all the time) and business people, relax when work/income is overflowing. And that's why some get dramatic ups and downs. While your work may have seasonal slowdowns, marketing harder when work is coming in can help you achieve a more consistent flow of income.
Well, do you necessarily have to turn the jobs down just because you don't have time right now to get them done? What I often do, when I'm currently all booked up, is schedule work for the future. Some clients complain about having to wait two or three (or more) weeks to get their content. Others, who really like your work, will wait. I do get clients who whine and get huffy about the lead time, but I politely tell them that they're not my only customers and I'm not the only writer, so we don't have to work together. Besides, it's not my fault they didn't plan and execute their content strategy in advance. And I agree with the others that you should never stop marketing, particularly when you have an influx of clients. PLR = private label rights. In reference to articles, plr allows you to sell the content multiple times, usually for a low price. Do a forum search, you'll find quite a few threads on the topic, even on this forum.
I think i should search outside this forum for customers and like you say, keep hold of them instead of saying i cant do them at the moment
Work definitely comes in spurts at first. And yes, you should never, ever turn away work. Instead, build yourself a simple database and start a Waiting List. Let your new clients know that you have "X" number of people on your waiting list and they are number "X". Also tell them about how long that means they'll have to wait for their content. If they're impatient, they'll go somewhere else. If not, accept their payment and put them on the list, then work your way down. Never turn away work, unless it's a job you don't want. Also, spread the love, as far as marketing yourself is concerned. Don't concentrate all your efforts in one spot. Market yourself offline too. This year I am focusing on building a solid base of a few full-time clients. When you can specialize, or offer your ideal clients a unique talent, you're more likely to keep getting return clients. Especially when they know that your work is quality. Hope Wilbanks
Deborah's blog is always a nice way to try and find a little extra work if things are going slow. (Google Freelance Writing Jobs, it should be the first result.) The key is as someone else said: just because you have work, don't relax. I find that when I have work it's easiest to get more, because telling people "I can't do X right now, I'm working on X for a client" makes you sound more in demand, and people usually have no problem waiting a little bit. When you DON'T have work, still write. Whether it's on your own blog or an up-and-coming site looking to make it big but not paying yet, just writing gives you more experience, quality links to show people, and hopefully readers to recommend you or help you find work later on.
Marketing your services can be a lot of work, and it can be quite addicting, too! lol New content writers usually have slow business at the start, but it gradually improves as they continue marketing their services in a proper manner. If you manage to get more work than you can handle, just turn down projects you don't want to do or just simply can't. As for the jobs you would want to do but time seems to go against your plans, just inform them straight up about your conditions re: turnaround. If they're forcing you to give them a definite delivery date for the content that you just can't beat, turn them down. If they agree on your terms, update them about the status of their pending projects and your current workload as often as possible without spending too much time though. Set up a workable schedule, and don't forget about your marketing time. Hope this helps. Thanks. Good luck.
After about six month of working myself ragged, I now set myself working hours and stick to them as much as possible. Ive Im working for someone in a different time zone and I have to be online to 'talk' to them, then I factor that in and take time off in the day. Ive found since doing this my workload seems to have settled down, and spreads itself quite nicely. I tend to book work in around two weeks in advance. If a client needs it 'now', then I weigh up the pros and cons (how much I need the fee, what else I have on that week, and whether the client is a long standing one etc). Having worked as a staff writer, I found that I was often taking work home with me - now I have rented an office, and make sure that I leave work there as much as possible! Work always comes in batches when you first start out, but you will probably find that it settles down as you settle into your new way of working. Good Luck! Christine
Cheers for all the feedback everyone, Things are coming together slowly, i have a few clients which book work very regularlary and i have the odd one come in via here to keep me busy. The thing is now i get greedy and over work myself as take on as much as possible, probably because im young and the spare cash comes in handy
Re: spare cash I think it's cash that you can spend on recreational drugs, gambling, charity, etc. lol
Work loads in spurts is not a phenomenon limited to newbies alone. Not even the tendency to relax when it is going great guns. All suggestions here are worthwhile and practical. I came into this profession by sharing someone else's work load and now it is 2 years and we still do it and it is both ways now.This works out nicely for the clients as well as us. Yes, it's a different matter that there were occasions when we both had our hands full. You can also work out a similar relation with some one you know and have trust in. But choose your partner/s care fully. Good luck.
Well for me i have a full time job too so i do my writing in my spare time so i class that as spare additional income I agree the advice here is definately worth a quick read. Ive started working with someone which is great at providing me work so i couldnt live without her