I as soon as recorded a podcast episode with Seth Godin the place we talked about storytelling. Throughout our dialog, he made some extent that I assumed was fascinating in terms of discovering higher freelance writing purchasers.
Seth’s model of storytelling isn’t simply crafting a plot within the conventional sense — the traditional “The queen died, after which the king died of grief.”
He additionally appears on the implied tales in the whole lot we do. We inform a narrative with the tone of our voice on a podcast and the colour decisions on our web site. Our pricing, our response time, our About Me web page, our “Contact Me” kind … all of them come collectively to inform the story of your enterprise.
discover freelance writing purchasers
Some companies inform scary or ugly tales. Plenty of companies inform boring ones. Seth acquired me serious about the weather that I consider inform a extra inviting story for a writing enterprise — the form of story that pulls extra terrific freelance writing purchasers and higher income.
If you happen to’re a skilled author, after all it is advisable write nicely. But it surely isn’t simply capacity that makes a author profitable — it’s additionally sensible positioning. It’s the implied story that your enterprise tells.
Listed here are my ideas on 5 “story parts” that assist you to appeal to the suitable freelance writing purchasers, on the proper pricing, in the suitable numbers.
Story ingredient #1: Your Voice
For any enterprise, however notably for a author, the voice of your advertising is likely one of the most vital story parts you could have.
What does that seem like in your web site in the present day? Do you sound stiff and formal, or free and conversational? Like tends to draw like, and the persona you place into your writing voice will have a tendency to draw these qualities in your purchasers.
The alternatives you make invite the form of freelance writing purchasers you need
Ask your self what qualities your writing voice is conveying:
- Informally relaxed … or prepare wreck?
- Reassuringly skilled … or uptight?
- Charmingly approachable … or sloppy?
- Attentively detail-oriented … or nit-picky?
- Creatively agile … or distracted?
These are all the time subjective. What may appear annoyingly uptight and controlling for me may really feel appealingly detail-oriented to you.
Since you’re a professional, you could have extra management over your kinds of tone in writing than common individuals do. Use that talent to convey the sorts of qualities you need to see extra of in your purchasers.
Story ingredient #2: Your Web site
Prospects in the present day don’t simply need wordsmiths — in addition they need content material advertising strategists. (Whether or not or not that’s the phrase they’d use.) Terrific freelance writing purchasers need writers who perceive how the net works in the present day.
It’s onerous to come back throughout as knowledgeable and web-savvy when your web site design appears 10 years old-fashioned.
You don’t should chase each design development, however you do want your web site to look present, uncluttered, and contemporary.
Digital Commerce Companions is the company division of Copyblogger, and we concentrate on delivering focused natural site visitors for rising digital companies.
Story ingredient #3: Your Pricing
Value is likely one of the strongest nonverbal parts of any enterprise story.
- American Specific tells a distinct story from Visa
- Châteauneuf-du-Pape tells a distinct story from Two-Buck Chuck
- Mercedes tells a distinct story from Kia
Now, Visa, Two-Buck Chuck, and Kia are all issues that plenty of customers select and even like.
However belief me …
You don’t want your freelance writing purchasers to think about you because the Two-Buck Chuck of copywriting
As a way to generate profits as a contract author, you promote providers … which suggests you promote your time. Hours of your life — the one factor you’ll be able to by no means get any extra of. Promoting these hours at a reduction simply doesn’t make sense.
After all, for those who’re simply beginning out, you shouldn’t anticipate to command the identical charges as an skilled author. That’s why your first precedence is to work very onerous to get very, excellent, so that you spend as little time in “Two-Buck Chuck” territory as potential.
Crummy purchasers need low-cost writers to provide generic CRaP that, in truth, nobody notably desires to learn anyway.
Terrific freelance writing purchasers need skilled writers to provide great phrases that delight and serve their prospects.
Two very totally different tales. The second is way more enjoyable.
Story ingredient #4: Your Specialization
That is the place plenty of sensible writers begin once they’re serious about their positioning — and it’s an awesome story ingredient.
None of us is sweet at the whole lot. What are you nice at? What may you turn into nice at?
After I determined to turn into a contract author, I selected to concentrate on electronic mail newsletters, autoresponders, and different content material that nurtured relationships with prospects.
I’m actually good at that form of writing. I’ve plenty of expertise with it, which permits me to work effectively. I get pleasure from doing it. And purchasers wished it. It was straightforward for purchasers to know that I’d in all probability do a greater job with relationship-building content material than an unknown author on Upwork would.
I discovered the intersection between what I favored to do, what freelance writing purchasers wished, and what I may produce effectively and nicely.
A lot of sensible freelancers give attention to strong topical ecosystems, like healthcare or regulation or expertise. They keep on top of things, to allow them to write with authority on these subjects. They usually command charges which can be considerably increased than a “jack of all trades” author can.
Story ingredient #5: Your Professionalism
This one is admittedly old-fashioned … and actually vital.
When purchasers depart a question in your “Contact Us” kind … do you get again to them? How lengthy does it take you? Do you could have a strong course of to deal with these inquiries?
Are you hitting your deadlines? Each time? Placing in as a lot thought and look after a consumer’s fiftieth piece with you as you probably did whenever you began working collectively?
Anybody who works with plenty of freelancers will inform you:
Reliability is a matter. When purchasers discover a author who does what she says she’s going to do, each time, it makes a significant impression.
Reply to consumer inquiries rapidly. (This alone will make a big distinction in your income over a yr.) Observe up. Handle your deadlines.
No bandwidth for brand spanking new purchasers proper now? Arrange a fast ready record in your web site. Add a easy electronic mail autoresponder to allow them to know you’ll join as quickly as you could have the time to offer them your full skilled consideration.
Once you need to appeal to and retain terrific freelance writing purchasers, it is advisable maintain them just like the treasures they’re. It is going to get seen.
Your writing may be seen as a commodity or as a valued service. The cool factor is — since you’re knowledgeable wordsmith and you’re sensible about advertising — you get to decide on.
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