Photo by Carf

How would you like it if you had no control over your daily decisions? You want Vector cereal but you get Shreddies, you want a hot shower but the water comes out cold, and you want to watch playoff hockey but you’re stuck with Dancing with the Stars instead. It would be a pain!

So why do you let other people control who you work with?

As freelance writers, we tend to sit around and wait our clients to find us. Much like allowing somebody else to choose what you eat in the morning, this practice is completely backwards!

Instead of taking on whatever work you’re presented with you need to identify your ideal client profile and actively seek prospects that fit that description.

If you really enjoy writing for alternative health websites, the best way to ensure more work in that field is to market yourself to alternative health companies. If you aren’t able to choose your clients, then you’ll likely be presented with a wide range of work – much of it that you don’t particularly enjoy.

Doing too much of the wrong work makes you feel like you’re in the wrong job, even when you’re not! And there’s nothing that leads to a faster burnout in our industry. You need to find out how to stop the madness and start on your way to true freedom…

Seven Steps for Choosing Your Own Clients So You Can Enjoy Your Work More Than Ever Before…Each and Every Day

1. Choose a Niche You Enjoy: What kind of work do you enjoy the most? Copywriting? Web writing? Fiction writing? Get even more specific…Copywriting for alternative health companies? Web writing for technology sites? Fiction writing for children’s literature? There are obviously hundreds of options out there which is why you need to choose one (or two…or maybe even a few if you really want).By specializing in a certain area you’ll be able to market yourself as an expert in that field, ensuring you more work that you enjoy.
2. Define Your Ideal Clients: Who do you wish you could write for? What article are you begging to publish? What blog do you wish you could guest post on? Is there a local company you wished would contact you?Define exactly what you want to write and who you want to write for. Be specific. If necessary, ask yourself: “What 5 companies would be my ideal clients?”
3. Study Your Field: So you know what you want to do, but if you’re not already an expert in that area then you need to study it diligently.Find blogs that relate to your niche and read the archives, follow the links that push you in ever direction until you find the answers you’re looking for, and go to a bookstore and pick up some resources.Do everything you can to understand your clients, your clients’ target market, and the writing style that is required.
4. Craft Your Image: So now you know what to do, but if you contacted any of these prospects you wouldn’t be perceived as a specialist just yet. Do something about it.Put together a website that is focussed on your writing within that niche. Build it with your ideal clients and audience in mind.
5. Develop Thick Skin: One thing most writers understand within a couple months is that letdowns are a part of the business.Not everybody will want your services and not everybody will be pleased with your work. It’s part of the business. You can only do your best. The only way to consistently succeed and keep a positive mindset is to ignore the negatives and focus on the positives…like the fact you get to work in your pajamas.
6. Market Your Services Directly: While there are many ways to market your writing, the best way to hand select the exact clients you want to work with is to market directly to them. The most important thing is to be creative.Your dream clients are likely the dream clients of many other writers out there, and because of that they’ve probably been pitched in a hundred ways before. Find a way to stand out. I’d recommend staying away from emailing them…email is too easy!Send them a direct-mail package with a gimmick that catches their attention and a sales letter that speaks directly to them (first name and everything). Explain the benefits of your services and why you are the solution. But the most important part…give them a reason to follow up! A strong offer and call to action is the only way to get a response. But even if they don’t respond, it will certainly warm up an opening phone call.
7. Follow Up Time and Time Again: You don’t want to be pesky as a service provider, nor do you want to come across as desperate for work. Both will make you look unprofessional and unworthy of a project. Nonetheless, you do want to build a relationship.While your services should always be a part of your back and forth communication with a prospect, your personality is what needs to shine through.

By defining the work you enjoy doing and choosing clients that you want to work with, you’ll build a much more sustainable career and provide yourself with more opportunity for advancing your income. You’re worth more than a few measly pages for a deadbeat client that won’t even pay the invoice for months on end…capture your dreams!

Why?

Because it works…even when I’m not bidding.

You see, I’m one of only three writers listed from Kelowna, British Columbia, and the only one with any earnings on the site. When people are looking to outsource, they don’t always post a project – sometimes they go straight to the source.

In my six months of freelance writing I have had three people contact me for work because they found my profile on Elance. One of them, as it turned out, is now my largest source of work with over 10 hours per week – every week…and that’s without the pesky Elance fees.

Not everybody is happy with the changes – CatalystBlogger isn’t going to be using Elance anymore, JCME isn’t sure what to think, and others are pissed off. In fact, I’m not happy with the changes…but it doesn’t mean Elance isn’t worth using.

While I might not agree with Elance’s membership rates, I can’t argue with their results. I hate having to pay for every bid as well as give them 8% on my earnings – but I understand that they’re the ones setting the rules, not me. They aren’t looking to keep everybody happy, they’re looking to make money – and they’re doing just that, but I’ll continue to use them anyways.

Pros of Elance:

• Profile attracts clients.
• Decent paying jobs.
• Guaranteed payment for completed projects.
• Tons of projects to bid on.

Cons of Elance:

• Expensive
• Many projects aren’t rewarded.
• Providers tend to be poor communicators.

What are your experiences with Elance since their November changes? Are you still using Elance to find jobs?

One of the biggest complaints about freelance writing is the amount of time it takes to find jobs. What would happen if you removed that problem? How great would it be if you never had to look for work?

For many of us, the idea of never having to search for work seems like an impossible pipe dream – but it’s not. Here are three ways to set yourself up for passive marketing – work that comes to you while you sleep.

1. Keep in Touch - If you glance over your client list from the past year, you’ll probably notice that you haven’t made contact with many of them during the past month. By keeping in touch with your past clients, you will be the first on their mind when another project comes around. Your past clients are your ideal prospects because you know that they need freelance writing and you already have an established relationship with them. A few ways that you can keep in touch are emailing, sending a personal newsletter, or giving them a brief phone call.
2. Set Up a Blog – I have had this blog up for just over a week now and I’ve already had the privilege of making a new work contact. Your blog doesn’t just act as a method to communicate with others about what you do, but it also shows others the quality that you are capable of. By adding a “hire me” page, you are showing your readers that they can come to you for work.
3. Ask for Referrals – When you complete a project with a client, old or new, always ask them if there’s anybody else they know that could benefit from your services. If you’ve done a good job for them, they will most likely feel comfortable introducing you to somebody else…Just be careful to not ask for referrals before you’ve delivered quality services.

By keeping in touch with your clients and building long-term relationships, you’ll be able to take advantage of their contact lists as well as your own. It won’t happen quick, but over time you’ll realize that you’re bidding for jobs less and having people come to you for work more often.

The more time you can spend on writing, the more money you make. By limiting your time spent on other activities you give yourself a better chance of becoming a 6-figure freelancer.

Here are seven ingredients that you should always include in your bid:

1. Respectful Greeting – Everybody likes to be greeted in a respectful manner. If they have given their name then you should always use it (ex. “Hi Chris,”). It’s amazing how often this simple step is missed. It’s such an easy thing to do and it makes a world of difference.
2. Credentials/Experience – In order to win a bid you need to prove that you are capable. If you have a degree that relates to the project then you should mention it. If you have a lot of experience in the type of work that is requested then you should portray yourself as an expert. If you don’t have any education or experience in the matter then say so, but explain why you think you are capable (ex. “I may not have a degree in English or a whole lot of experience in this type of work, but I have read a lot and am able to offer you unsurpassed attention, dedication, and value).
3. Benefit Statement – Don’t rely on your education or experience to carry you, the buyer still wants to hear exactly how you will benefit them. Be specific in explaining the added benefits that you are able to offer. If you have something that you can do better than most people then you should mention it.
4. Explained Rate - Some bidding websites let you see other people’s bids while other don’t. Don’t worry about the other bids, simply offer your rate…but always emphasize the value behind it. Some people might be bidding $50 for a 5 page sales letter. We all know that you can’t get a 5 page sales letter finished at that price. So explain your rate! Discuss the amount of time that you’re estimating it will take and the quality that they will receive in the end.
5. Guarantee/Promise - This is a risk removal tactic that always improves your chances of winning a bid. You should always guarantee error-free work and promise a number of re-edits to ensure complete satisfaction. By doing this you immediately take down any concerns they may have around quality.
6. Offer for Open Communication - People like to have open communication. By offering constant communication throughout the entirety of the project, they will feel like you are somebody they can trust. There are a number of ways to do this. I tend to briefly explain that an email never passes through my inbox without being responded to within 24 hours.
7. Samples - Always include samples of your work if they are similar to what the project is asking for. By doing this you will prove that you are a capable candidate and give them a glimpse of what to expect. However, you must ALWAYS ensure that your samples are error-free!

*Note: In everything you do, make sure that you are coming across as confident but NEVER arrogant. Arrogance is a sure turn off and an immediate way of erasing any chance you have at winning a project.

Writing a bid for a project is a lot like writing a sales letter, but instead of selling a product or service you’re selling yourself – and the person reading your sales letter most likely has another dozen or so sales letters that are also offering the same benefits.

You aren’t going to win a lot of projects if you don’t set your bid up correctly. It’s your job to position yourself as the bid that will provide them with the most bang for their buck. You don’t necessarily need to offer the lowest bid, but you do need to offer the best perceived value.

Always remember that you won’t win them all. But much like a sales letter, if you can always work on improving your conversion rates then you will certainly make more money in the long run. Good luck and happy bidding!

If you’re a relatively new freelance writer, then these five methods of finding work will really help you out:

1. Online Bidding Sites: This is how I started my freelance career and it’s a great option for you as well. The difference between online posting sites and online bidding sites are that instead of applying for jobs, you’re directly bidding against other freelancers. When bidding, you’ll want to mention to mention your education, expertise, and other factors that will convince the buyer to choose you. But remember, price is always a key factor. A few of the more popular sites include Elance, Online Writing Jobs, ScriptLance, iFreelance, and GetAFreelancer.
2. Online Posting Sites: Typically, posting sites will have lengthier job openings than those found on online bidding sites. One difficult that I’ve found with posting sites, however, is that they are either over flooded with bidders or cluttered with buyers that are poor communicators. If you can find a job on these sites however, you’ll likely have a stable reliable source of income. Some of the more popular sites include Freelance Writing Jobs, Craigslist, FreelanceWriting.com, and Ed2010.
3. Local Classifieds: Sometimes you’ll be able to find short term writing gigs through the local classifieds. If not, try putting up your own advertisement regarding your services. The great thing about local jobs is that they typically end up providing more repeat business.
4. Local Advertising Agencies: Advertising agencies are always looking for good copywriters to help out when they are tight for time. If you can get your foot in the door, this may be one of the most rewarding positions out there. Not only can you charge a great rate, since you know they’re making solid money from their clients, but you’ll also have the opportunity to build a reputation for your work locally.
5. Online Publishers: This is one source of freelance revenue that I haven’t tried yet, but I’ve heard numerous writers talk about how it helped them fill in the void of limited work. If you’re interested to see how one writer used it, check out ChrisBlogging.com’s articles on Associated Content. These websites typically pay you for each article you submit, whether by an estimated value or for how many page visits you receive. Some of the more popular choices here include Associated Content, Suite101, Constant Content, Helium, and Triond.

If you have any other sites or methods that you recommend for getting started in freelance writing, feel free to add them in the comments section.