simple steps to build a (tax free) location independent income
11-12-2014, 05:13 AM
Quote: (11-11-2014 01:40 PM)micha Wrote:
So while I respect BB and I partially heed his advice (I do pro bono work as well for a portfolio) I don't see a way to get a lot of work in the beginning without whoring yourself out.
I appreciate the respect, but I'm here to rag on you some more. What do you need a lot of work in the beginning for?
There are two ways to approach the business. You can do a lot of work and charge a little, or you can do a little work and charge a lot.
Imagine, for instance, that you had a full schedule and doubled your rates (a good idea when your schedule fills up, actually). Imagine doing so causes half of your client list to move on.
You just cut your workload in half and are pulling in the same income. And probably working with clients that don't waste your time. Not too shabby.
It's not the same scenario, of course, but I think you get the point.
Focus on building a presence online and creating marketing streams besides just bidding on elance (blogging, guest blogging, warm emailing, etc) instead of whoring yourself out and land better jobs from the get-go. The ball will roll slower at first, but it will have a lot more momentum when it gets going, and you'll maintain your integrity as a writer.
Not to mention that doing cheap work can damage your reputation (and your skills) in the long run. As woot says, if you do cheap work, get in and then get right out. Raise your rates as soon as you get two good testimonials, and don't write more than one or two articles for those first jobs.
I messed around on textbroker for a short time to fill in hours - a long time ago. I popped right into the highest paid ratings, but the higher you go the less work there is, and I ditched the site as soon as I go there. A lot of the work is really tedious stuff too. I opened an account again a couple years later to see if the site had changed or I'd missed something - same ole' shit.
I suppose it could be a good way to get some practice and build some confidence, though. Or to generate some change if you're hard up on cash. But your efforts would be used better elsewhere.
I've been doing this over six years now, maybe seven, and I've seen people get their start and give up on the business (the cheap writers especially burn out). I've seen others go on to turn it into a full-time career. My best advice is that unless you absolutely need the cash right now to put food on your table, the way to do this is to put more energy into building a legitimate, long-term business and growing it the right way rather than worrying about filling your pipeline as fast as possible.
The best thing a freelance writer can do for himself is learn marketing. That's where all the difference lies between a writer who gets $10 per article and a writer who gets $100 - $500 per article. Or even the mid-range rates in between.
Never whore yourself out.
The biggest, most common mistake in this industry is competing on price, and it's very easy to get stuck there once you fall into that trap.
EDIT: $0.03 a word is at least getting somewhere, so you're on the right track. Just keep raising those rates (ASAP), especially when you start struggling to keep up with jobs - that means time to radically change your rates. Believe it or not, the only thing standing between you and a higher rate at this level is a lack of understanding or confidence in the worth of what you're producing. Written content has great value in this world. Far more value than these rates - I assure you.
Beyond All Seas
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling
![[Image: banana.gif]](https://rooshvforum.network/images/smilies/new/banana.gif)