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According to the 2006 hit movie, The Secret, attraction marketing is an extremely simple process. There are three easy steps for chasing down your greatest dreams:

1. Ask – Know what you want and ask for it – by creating a clear image of your dreams and visualizing them as being real, the universe will give you everything you could ever wish for.
2. Believe- Act as though your dreams are about to come true, even if you have to trick yourself in order to do so.
3. Receive – Be open and ready to receive – if you align yourself with the Universe then your dreams will come true.

Unfortunately, this system is utterly useless for freelance writers! You could sit on your butt thinking you’re the king of the world and it will never happen. You could ask to be the richest writer in your city, believe it to be true, and prepare yourself to accept – but nothing will happen unless you actually do something about your situation.

While The Secret was an inspiring movie, it doesn’t provide the tangible answers that can help you today. In the movie, even Jack Canfield talked about “imagining riches” before his book caught the eye of a publisher and went into print – but nothing would have happened if he didn’t take the previous action of actually writing a book!

In my experience, the harder you work the luckier you get! The more you put yourself out there as a freelance writer with marketing and networking, the more success you’ll see in the end.

Instead of following the ask, believe, and receive principles of The Secret – I’d recommend following a different set of rules.

Here are the Freelance Writer’s 5 Laws of Attraction – the five actions you can take right away to attract more projects, more clients, and more money…

1) Create a Website and Blog

If you’re a freelance writer and you don’t have a website and blog (or at least one), then you need to take action immediately.

Hundreds of thousands of prospects exist on the internet, it’s not good enough to have a Facebook account or Elance profile page. You need more!

In order to come across as a professional, you need to set yourself up like one. Your blog will show off your personality while also showcasing your writing ability and your website will provide prospects with a place to find out more about your services. These are must-haves for any freelance writer.

2) Participate on Bidding Sites

The easiest kind of writing project to obtain comes from people that are already looking for a writer.

If you know local companies that actively use freelance writers, submit a proposal or request an interview. If not – hit up the bidding sites (click here for a list – look under “job postings”).

Bidding sites provide a valuable opportunity to establish new relationships with people that hire freelance writers. However, if you take yourself seriously and want to make it in this business, do not try to win on price…it won’t pay off in the end.

3) Create a Sales Letter For Your Services

You’re a writer, so why don’t you use your skills to convince prospects to work with you? As writers, we use our strengths every day to help our clients make a fortune – but how often do we use our writing for ourselves?

By creating a sales letter that can be distributed to key prospects by direct mail or online landing pages, you can attract a lot of work. For a complete blueprint for creating a successful direct-mail package, see Pete Savage’s eBook, $64,000 Direct Mail Self-Promotion Package.

4) Network Online

Before people buy your services, they want to know, like, and trust you. So how does this happen? By building relationships!

You don’t need to meet people face-to-face to get to know them – the internet has plenty of venues for interaction. Blogs and forums are two of the biggest online hangouts for freelance writers, marketers, and prospects!

You already know the blogs I recommend…so here are a few forums to add to that list: Digital Point, The Warrior Forum, CopywritersBoard, and SitePoint.

5) Network Locally

One mistake many web-based freelancers make far too often is to hide behind their keyboards. While I don’t recommend convincing local businesses to use your services if they don’t outsource or even understand the idea, I do recommend building local relationships.

I’ve chosen to have 20% of my clientele based locally; not only do they provide a consistent flow of work, but they also provide me with a chance to get out of the house during my work day.

Instead of sitting around and begging for the universe to give you what you want, get off your butt and chase your dreams! By constantly dedicating yourself to meeting new people, providing quality work, and developing your expertise you’ll discover that success isn’t a secret after all.

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Photo by Matthew Fang

“Greater purpose is essential for lifetime growth. Many people start off their careers thinking that money is the goal. Money can be a useful measure of success or progress in certain circumstances, and it’s a resource we can use to realize greater possibilities, but at some point money without purpose loses its meaning. Money as an end becomes a growth stopper. Having a purpose that is greater than yourself will give you a constant impetus to strive.”

-Dan Sullivan, The Laws of Lifetime Growth.

Not too many people I know become freelancer writers for the money. You may have started freelancing for the flexibility, the freedom, or simply because you hated your job. Perhaps there were other reasons. I became a freelancer because I was fresh out of university and I wanted to see if I could build a career doing what I enjoy – writing.

Unfortunately, too many freelancer writers quit because of a lack of money and head right back into the vicious 9-5 without ever giving the career of their dreams a chance.

Being a freelance writer is much more than writing. It’s marketing to prospects, researching companies and projects, communicating with customers, invoicing clients, and constantly battling with your schedule so you can balance work and play. It’s not always easy, but it certainly has it’s perks.

In the end, it’s important for you to find a purpose in your career so you can build on it long into the future. Money will come and go – sometimes shrink and other times grown – but true happiness is found when you do what you love.

Your purpose must always be greater than your paycheck. So how do you do this? Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Never compromise your morals or desires in order to make quick buck (or establish a sketchy long term, well-paying relationship). The problem with compromising your values and purpose is that it’s nearly impossible to do it only once. This activity becomes a slippery slope that causes you to compromise what you really want over and over again. Something that once seemed like a big payoff for a little sacrifice quickly becomes a great sacrifice that you will have to deal with at some point or another if you want to enjoy your career.
• Have the courage to walk away from money in order to chase the life you desire. You most likely know how to do this – since you left the comfort of your career (or potential career) to become a freelance writer. But it’s important to continuously do this throughout your lifetime; it strengthens your commitment to your values. When you’re doing what you love, you’ll realize there are always new ways to make money and meet your financial needs while staying in line with your dreams.
• Listen to your heart. Your sense of purpose is more connected to your emotions than your logical reasoning. When you’re low on money it might seem like a necessity to walk back into the corporate world instead of staying focussed on your career. But you should listen to your heart instead of your mind. If your heart wants to walk back into the 9-5 then you should probably consider doing so, it’s not wrong to follow that sort of career – in fact, it’s probably better suited for people who appreciate stability more than time freedom. However, if your heart wants to keep on freelancing then you should do so. Let your feelings guide you where you want to go and then use your mind to figure out a way to make it happen.
• Clarify your purpose in writing so you have a direction for your career. Many people think they know what they want in life, but never actually plan to get there. By defining your purpose and writing it down you’ll create a reminder for yourself to focus on each and every day. Your purpose may be to create a mobile lifestyle, work four hours a day for the rest of your life, or help non-profit organizations market themselves more effectively. Maybe it has nothing to do with writing; perhaps freelancing is simply a means to an end. Do you want to travel the world? Do you want to go become a missionary? Do you want to spend more time with your family? Whatever it is – go for it!

Defining your sense of purpose and following it can be difficult, but it is an integral part of achieving true freedom. Finding purpose in your life and following it will always make you happier than a loaded bank account – and the great thing is, chasing your dreams often leads to more money in the long run – because passion sells!

1. Write to Done

2. Men With Pens

3. The Golden Pencil

4. Writing Forward

5. PoeWar

6. Inkwell Editorial

7. ChrisBlogging

8. Get Paid to Write Online

9. Fab Freelance Writing Blog

10. Freelance Writing Jobs

Copywriting

11. CopyBlogger

12. Makepeace Total Package

13. Direct Creative

14. Copywriter Underground

15. Michel Fortin

16. Bob Bly

17. Writing White Papers

18. Daniel Levis

19. Info Marketing Blog

20. Ray Edwards

Blogging

21. ProBlogger

22. North x East

23. John Chow

24. Daily Blog Tips

25. Performancing

26. MattNuts

27. Remarkablogger

28. Lorelle on Wordpress

29. Blogging Basics 101

30. Blogger Unleashed

Marketing

31. Chris Garrett

32. Seth Godin

33. Marcom Writer Blog

34. Baymard: Market Yourself to Success

35. The Opinionated Marketers

36. Publishing 2.0

37. Hubspot Inbound Internet Marketing

38. Dosh Dosh

39. Mashable

40. ShoeMoney

Freelancing

41. Freelance Switch

42. Freelance Folder

43. All Freelance

44. Anywired

45. Escape From Corporate America

46. Location Independent

47. Wake Up Later

48. The Anti 9-to-5 Guide

49. Freelancing Blog

50. Freelancer’s Union

Productivity

51. The Blog of Tim Ferriss

52. Zen Habits

53. Life Hacker

54. Rock Your Day

55. Stepcase LifeHack

56. 43 Folders

57. Dumb Little Man

58. Life Dev

59. Web Worker Daily

60. Get Rich Slowly

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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!

A few weeks ago, I received an email from Alex Andrei saying he followed my blog and wanted to send me his wife’s new book, Escape from Corporate America. I don’t get too many compliments as kind as his and I was ecstatic when I received a copy in the mail soon after. I mean c’mon, it wasn’t even going to be released to the public for another couple of weeks! How cool is that?

Well, it was very cool…but it was nothing compared to the material inside the book!

With her captivating and witty style, Pamela Skillings has put together the ultimate escape guide for anybody struggling with life in the cubicle.

She helps the reader decide whether or not there’s a problem with their career before providing a number of valuable solutions. There are worksheets, case studies, checklists, questionnaires and other tools that will prepare you for the career of your dreams.

While there are a number of blogs (and other resources) that can help you make the decision to ditch the 9-5 and find the freedom you deserve, I have NEVER found a tool as valuable as this one. In fact, I wish I had read this book before I started my own freelance writing career – because I am now able to see that I made the transition more difficult than it had to be.

I highly recommend this book to anybody who is bummed about their job or career and considering a switch. By reading Escape from Corporate America, you’ll find out how you can make your dream job a reality.

Buy the Book: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Chapters.

View the Website: EscapeFromCorporate.com

Read the Blog: Ready to Plan Your Escape?

Photo by Timothy K. Hamilton

I recently attended the Speed Money Seminar and had the opportunity to listen to great speakers such as Alex Mandossian, Armand Morin, Michel and Sylvie Fortin, Matt Bacak, Eric Graham, Ray Edwards, Kirt Christensen, and Stu McLaren.

Throughout the weekend I had hundreds of business ideas and blog posts running through my head. The article that I’ve been most excited to share with you, however, is based on Alex Mandossian’s presentation “How to Get MORE Done…Faster, Better and with Less Human Effort.”

If you’re interested in propelling your freelance writing career to the next level, regardless of what level that might be, read on. If not, you should probably spend your time doing something else.

Goal Setting: Before I pass on the tips Alex shared with me, I want you to think of your goals for the next 12 months, 6 months, 3 months, 30 days, one week, and even one day. If you plan ahead, you’re always heading towards your goals (even if you come up short). But without goals, your direction is a big fat “nowhere.”

• How much money do you want to make next year?
• What project do you want to act on the most?
• What is the least amount of work you need to do to get there?

Sometimes we try to get too fancy with our projects and never get them done. Forget fancy, get functional first!

Secret 1: “Identify your daily interruptions that rob you of the income and lifestyle you know you have always deserved!”

What stops you from accomplishing your dreams? Be honest…

It’s easy to list things such as email, voicemail, postal mail, phone calls, television, internet, etc… But how about family members, new ideas, and pets? Do you love those things – OF COURSE! But do they distract you from success?

By choosing a prime time to work and maximizing your efficiency during this time (NO distractions), you’ll actually have more time later on to do the things you enjoy – such as spending time with family.

“Work Hard, Play Hard” is a concept that works for many – but realize that hard work always comes first. By managing your distractions during your prime time you’ll make it so you have much more time to play.

Secret 2: “Write your action list the night before every workday!”

Planning is the key to success. I’ve touched on this idea before, but it needs to be re-emphasized. By making a to-do list every day of things that can actually be measured, you’ll find you get much more done.

Physical actions help you achieve measurable goals.

Good Example: Get 1 Chapter of eBook Complete .
Bad Example: Work on eBook

Secret 3: “Block out your Prime Time hours to help generate revenue consistently day after day, week after week, month after month.”

Sitting at your desk for 3 hours won’t always help you get 3 hours of work done. Find out what time of the day works best for you and block out any distractions for that period of time.

Let’s face it, as freelancers we often work long days with numerous periods of wasted productivity. Twitter, Facebook, MSN…you name it. Instead of staring at the computer and calling it “work” – take a break when you need to. But when you’re actually working – WORK!

For 30 days, block one 50 minute period of “prime time” each day and focus for 100% of this time. No phones, emails, web surfing, or anything! It will dramatically increase your productivity.

What your butt can’t endure, your mind can’t absorb.

Secret 4: “Find your countdown timer to put psychic pressure on you to get more done – faster, better and with less human effort!”

Alex recommends timeleft.info as a tool for your success. Instead of planning your prime time in 50 minute intervals going up, let it count down. The countdown effect puts added pressure on you to perform and often leads to more productivity!

When the time is up, get off your butt and take a break. Rinse and repeat as necessary.

Secret5: “Capture your BIG IDEAS on a recorder or notepad so you can later transcribe them into your Master BIG IDEA File!”

Question: What is more important than action?
Answer: The thought behind it.

Capture your thoughts so you can take hold of your future. Personally, I never go anywhere without my pen and index cards. Neither should you!

I hope these tips prove to be as useful for you as they have been and will continue to be for me. I challenge you to bookmark this post and revisit it in the future. Hold yourself accountable and work your way towards true freelancing freedom.

Photo by MarkyBon

As a freelance copywriter, you’ll come across a lot of people interested in your writing – but only a small percentage of them will actually use your services. While this can seem frustrating at times, it shouldn’t be. You’re not in this business to make quick business with many – you’re in it to forge strong relationships with a few.

If you’re wondering why so many people show interest in your work but so few buy, consider all the variables that have a role in “buying”.

• Value: How much is your prospect able to make by using you? Will your writing actually sell something or be used for another reason? The more you can make them, the more they’ll be willing to pay.
• Competition: Are there other writers they use – either in-house or freelance – that would be considered for this same job? While other writers might not do exactly what you do…your prospects might not understand the differences. How can you stand apart to justify the “buy”?
• Expertise: Have you proven yourself capable of accomplishing exactly what they’re looking for? While they probably agree you’re a good writer, you might not have any samples for the type of work they need. There are major differences between fiction writing and copywriting, research papers and auto-responders, web content and white papers, etc. By targeting prospects who fit your niche, you’ll have a much higher closing rate.
• Referrals/Testimonials: People love to hear about your abilities from somebody other than yourself. A referral can often get you a dream job that you couldn’t imagine getting otherwise. While you can’t control your referrals, you should certainly show off your testimonials. Consider putting a testimonial from recognized individual or company on your business card and website.
• Timing: Many times a prospective client will be interested in working with you, just not yet. They might like your samples and prompt communication, but maybe they simply don’t have work. While a prospect might have a large project on the go, most businesses would rather try a new person out with something a bit smaller.

There are many other factors out there. If you know one I’ve missed, please post it in the comments section and I’ll update this post with your comment and a link to your site.

So What Does This Mean to You?

Okay, so I’ve given you a few reasons why people won’t necessarily buy right away. But what does this mean?

It means that building a clientele is a process. It isn’t your job to sell people on your services, it’s your job to build lasting relationships with companies and individuals that will value YOU.

When you offer the same service as thousands of others, you’ll never win and keep a customer based on price. In fact, even incredible writers find it impossible to consistently win on ROI (return on investment).

The two most important factors in freelance writing are: establishing a strong relationship built on trust and producing valuable work on a consistent basis.

What do you think?

Photo by Jamelah

It’s that time of year again – college and university graduates are tossing their caps in their air and celebrating. But over the next few weeks, when the dust settles, many will be asking themselves “what next?”

I graduated last April and started out in a door-to-door sales job, then quit that job and relocated, then worked for a couple months as an Account Manager at a printer cartridge remanufacturing company, and eventually quit and decided it was time to take a chance. I couldn’t continue working in a job I didn’t like. I wanted to write, I wanted to chase my dreams, and I wanted to break free from the 9-5.

If you’re considering freelancing then you probably know what I mean. I hated asking for time off, I hated not being able to set my own schedule, and I hated knowing that I wasn’t following my passion – only a few months after graduation.

I had enough money in the bank to survive for three months…so I figured it was now or never. I would see if I could make money as a writer.

Tip #1: You really can make money as a writer…even as a fresh college graduate (or less)!

So there I was, stuck in my 600 square foot basement suite with no job, a laptop, and a lot of wishful thinking. I had this big idea for a couple months that I would create a website where companies could post writing jobs and writers could submit proposals…well, it was a great idea – but one that many others had thought of years earlier. When I discovered Elance I was amazed. It was everything I had imagined, but better!

So how did I get started? I bid…day in and day out. I bid on every job I could as long as I was confident that I could do it. I must have bid on 10 projects a day for the first week. But it was worth it.

Was I making a lot of money? No. But was I learning how to survive as a freelancer? Absolutely.

I remember writing product descriptions for a perfume website. I had to complete over 1000 product descriptions with 60-70 words each for a grand total of $450. It ended up around $10/hour…and you know what? I was happy.

Sure, the money wasn’t great…but at least I knew there was money!

Tip #2: Connections are more important than commissions.

You’ll meet a lot of people when you’re first starting out. Some people will only like you because of your rates, others will appreciate your style. In the end, it’s your job to make sure your clients like you.

It doesn’t matter what you charge, $10/hour or $500…if your clients don’t feel like you’re delivering value to them then you won’t earn any repeat business or future referrals. It’s that simple.

In everything you do, make sure you do your best. I’ve lost out on great opportunities with great businesses because I quietly scoffed at the rate I was getting paid and didn’t put in my best effort.

If I could go back in time then I would have spent more time in quality control. But I can’t go back in time, I can only go forward…and high quality work is something I am focussed on each and every day.

Tip #3: Make a Website/Blog

If I didn’t have a website then I wouldn’t have my largest repeat client.

One day, a successful small business owner was looking for a writer in Kelowna, British Columbia…so he searched Elance for Kelowna writers. It turned out there were four of us…but only one got a phone call that day, me.

Why? Not because I was more qualified, nor because I was cheaper. It was because I had a website. When my client saw my site (not this one…) he thought I was tech savvy and compatible with the vision he had for his company.

It’s now over eight months later and I’m still working 10 hours a week for him. It wasn’t a business card or referral that caught his attention, it was the simple fact that I had a website.

Tip #4: Relax

When I first started out as a freelance writer, I worked hard…but I didn’t work smart. I was running myself to the ground and doing everything I could to make money.

I was burning myself out.

One month in, I found myself confused when I left my suite and went for a drive – bright lights, other people, and a world that was running just fine without my perfume descriptions.

I soon realized that my lifestyle wasn’t sustainable. I was a much better worker when I gave myself time to exercise, time to travel, time to read, and time to do whatever I wanted to do. By getting more out of life you’ll also get more out of freelancing.

Tip #5: Productivity Rules

You’ll enjoy your freelancing career much more if you focus on productivity than if you allow yourself any freedom you desire. Believe me…sleeping in, working in pajamas, watching tv, playing video games, and browsing the internet do not improve your career.

It might be difficult to focus all day every day, but you should find a schedule that works for you. Personally, I like to wake up at a reasonable time (usually 7:30am) and get a couple hours of work out of the way before I shower, eat, and organize the rest of my day. After that, I outline my day so I can make enough money, secure future work, and play with some side-projects that will help my business.

Some people are morning workers and others prefer the evenings…find a schedule that works for you and stick with it.

Tip #6: Choose a Niche

The reason I put this one so far down the list is that it’s difficult to do early on. When I first started out I wanted to be a sports writer. While I still do a sports article here and there, it’s hardly my niche.

I took on a wide variety of projects early on so I could find out what I enjoyed doing the best. Personally, I enjoy copywriting the most and have found some success with it. I plan on making this the focus of my writing career and intend to build my entire business around it.

By choosing a niche, you’ll build your skills in one area so you can service fewer clients for more money. You’ll become an expert in one area of writing instead of being a novice in several areas.

Tip #7: Read, Read, Read

If you’re anything like me, you’ll land on a niche that has absolutely nothing to do with your degree. A four year English degree does not prepare you for a copywriting career. Sure, I learned a lot in school…but I couldn’t consider myself anything but a beginner when it came to copywriting.

The only way I could chase my passion was to learn what made other copywriters successful. I usually read three books a month that directly relates to my career so I can stay on top of things. If you’re not doing this in your own business, then you can be sure that your competition is.

Don’t ever act as though you’re done with school. Instead, educate yourself every day through the many opportunities around you…books, eBooks, audio books, mp3’s, blogs, and more.

Click here for a list of recommended blogs.

Tip #8: Network Like Mad

While online business is a great place to start, I think every freelancer should strive to establish a few local clients. Local clients tend to be more loyal and I’ve also found they’re willing to pay a higher rate since they trust you more.

So how do you find local clients? Networking.

Go out and meet business owners wherever they’re at – Board of Trade or Chamber of Commerce, Business Networking International, Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, or other social events. Just make sure you don’t push your services onto others. Networking shouldn’t be “work” at all. Just get to know people so they’ll get to know you, like you, and trust you…worry about everything else later.

Tip #9: Find out how to become more than a writer.

While being a freelance writer is significantly better than working the 9-5…you’re still exchanging time for money. To truly achieve success, you need to develop a passive income. There are a number of ways writers can achieve this – eBooks, joint ventures, affiliate programs, and more.

In the end, find something that works for you. There are hundreds of options out there…don’t feel pressured to do the same thing that’s worked for somebody else. Find a project that you want to work on that has potential for long-term income without long-term work…then get the wheels rolling on it.

Tip #10: [Insert Your Own]

The most important thing I’ve learned in freelancing is to learn from my mistakes. I’ve made tons of them, but I know that each of them has made me a better freelancer.

You’ll probably experience many of the same things I did, but you’ll also experience other things. Whatever happens – good or bad – learn from it and apply the lessons to your future. By finding out what works and how to improve what didn’t, you’ll gain the necessary skills to be very successful not only in freelancing, but also in life.

Personally, I’ve never had that kind of experience. When I ask somebody the big question – “what do you do?” – I don’t really care, I’m just trying to be polite. In fact, even if their career fits one of my specific needs, I’m not going to buy from them.

Why? Because elevator speeches are useless! They don’t tell me whether or not somebody is actually good at what they do, they don’t show me whether or not I can trust them, and they aren’t a proper foundation for a healthy relationship.

Bob Burg, the author of Endless Referrals, famously said: “All things being equal, people will do business with, and refer business to, those people they know, like and trust.”

If you want to be successful then you need to ditch the pitch and get real – hang out for the sake of hanging out and get to know others for the sake of getting to know others. Leave your prospecting glasses at home!

The only time time an elevator speech serves any purpose is when you’re attending one of those gimmicky networking events where everybody is jamming their business cards into each other’s pockets and putting on a face. But even then, how many long-term relationships have you made through those phony meetings?

Your purpose should be to build relationships and then business…not the other way around!

When you’re meeting new people, get to know them! Forget about your memorized sales pitch and leave your business cards in your pocket. Ad libs make you look like a salesperson and business cards make you look like you’re begging for work. Unless they’re prodding for more information or specifically asking for a card, you shouldn’t pursue it.

Talking about business early on is wrong!

I’ve been to too many social events in the past where people have brought up business with strangers. In my opinion, it’s the same as bringing up religion or politics. They’re fine topics to discuss with friends, but they only push people away if you don’t know them.

You should be looking to develop relationships before ever thinking about business! If you like them and they like you, the business will come eventually. However, if you’re starting with business then you’ll only make a bad first impression. A bad impression can cut a connection before it starts. A good relationship, on the other hand, can create a business opportunity that lasts forever.

So what should you do?

When you go to networking events, you’re usually looking for business now. Unfortunately, I’m not going to give you any pointers for fast money. Instead, I’m showing you how to s.l.o.w.l.y build a successful business.

Instead of searching for 5 new projects each week, look for one or two long-term relationships each month. These clients will be people you work for long into the future and these relationships will be ones that develop referrals so you don’t need to search for work on your own.

By ditching the pitch and getting real with people, they’ll see you for who you really are. If you’re likable, you’ll be successful by doing things right.

Stop selling your services… start selling yourself!

“They work long hours, often to exhaustion. Many are paid by the piece — not garments, but blog posts. This is the digital-era sweatshop. You may know it by a different name: home.”

Does this hit home for you? Perhaps you’re not a blogger, but you’re a freelance writer and an independent business owner. You’ve given up on the 9-5 for a career that is much more exhausting…

…but it doesn’t have to be this way.

As a rather new freelance writer with nine months full-time under my belt, I’ve struggled with many of the issues mentioned in the article. I’ve pulled all-nighters so I could meet a deadline, I’ve worked 70 hour weeks so I could stay on top of things, and I’ve spent three days straight without leaving the house.

It’s not healthy and it’s not sustainable…but it’s not the only way. In fact, it’s the wrong way!

Sometimes you’ll be writing away and all the world will escape you. You think you’re being productive when there are much better options right around the corner. You might be typing like mad for $15/hour, but passing up other opportunities for triple the pay without even realizing it. You don’t need to work harder to make it as a freelance writer. You need to work smarter.

The five main reasons why I am a freelance writer are:

• I love writing
• I enjoy being my own boss
• I like setting my own schedule
• I enjoy being at home
• I like the feeling of running my own business

You might have other reasons, but they’ll all be based on the same ideas: doing what you want, when you want, where you want, how you want, and with whoever you want. You can choose your projects, arrange your own schedule, work anywhere, and be extremely selective with your clients…if you want.

The sad thing is, most freelancers end up getting pushed around instead of grabbing hold of the life they’ve been chasing.

If you aren’t getting the exercise you need, spending quality time with family members, or able to do the activities you like doing – then you’re not running your freelance business the right way.

The internet moves 500 miles per hour and there’s no way you can keep up with it, so stop trying! Stop bidding on 50 projects a day, stop reading every blog post in your reader, stop ordering more eBooks than you can handle, stop subscribing to every eZine that appeals to you… YOU CAN’T HANDLE IT ALL!

Instead, take a deep breath and relax. Of course you can learn from others in the business – but it doesn’t mean you have to immerse yourself into everything that’s available.

Instead, figure out the fundamental elements of your business (the things that make you successful) and cut the fat. You could refer back to the 80/20 rule if you want… or you could just take my word for it.

By finding out what you NEED to get done and then looking at everything you’re actually doing, you’ll understand how to cut the waste out of your everyday life.

• Are you working for 12 hours a day but only billing for four? That’s a problem.
• Are you checking email every other hour? That’s a problem.
• Do you get distracted by phone calls, internet surfing, and other off-topic tasks? That’s a problem.

By cutting out your problems and un-gluing yourself from the never ending buzz of the internet you’ll realize that you don’t have to work so hard, you don’t need to be so stressed… you just need to focus and be more efficient.