Sounds lovely, right? I won’t lie to you and tell you it’s as easy as clicking a button or signing up with some worthless content mill because it’s not. But if you’re looking for webmasters willing to pay decent amounts of money for content, you need to find them and then convince them to hire you…subtly.

Sadly, so many writers still haven’t actually figured out how to do this smoothly. So I’ll give you a big hint – it’s not by selling your soul in the Buy/Sell/Trade section of the forum! No free samples required here, people!

Forum Basics

Let’s start at the beginning to be sure we’re not leaving anyone behind here. A forum can be on any topic and can involve any number of professionals. Webmaster forums (and there are many – do a quick search, you’ll find them) are plentiful and a nice place to start honing your skills. But if you know enough in a particular area to be useful in finance, DIY, technology or any other topic – find the forum that is most active in that area. Writer’s forums are a great place to visit with other writers, but find some client-based forums first – while some do, most writers aren’t hiring other writers regularly.

Once you’ve found a forum you like, make a membership account right away. The membership has to age a bit to give you credibility, so go ahead and get a username established before you start reading.

 
And you must read.

The worst thing you can do on a forum is jump in to posting and chatting and offering services without getting a feel for the place. Think of a typical webmaster forum like a bar. You don’t just walk in, hop on a stool and start drinking and selling things to people around you. You need to stand at the entrance awhile. Check things over. Walk around a bit. Take a seat in the back and pick the wrapper off a beer while you observe to see if you like this place or not.

That’s your first step here and it should be a big clue that this is not a “get rich quick” scheme. You actually have to invest some serious time and energy in the forum you’ve chosen to make this pay off.

Become One with the Forum

Forum marketing takes time upfront and requires ongoing maintenance, but has a nice payoff if you invest wisely. To make your time pay, though, you’ll need to become a valuable member of an active forum.

Being a writer offering $5 or $1 articles in the Buy/Sell/Trade section does not make you an exceedingly valuable member of the forum. You’re like the shoeshine boy – the customers come by, pick someone selling cheap stuff and throw a few dollars your way. No respect in the long run. You want to avoid that.

Don’t make a sales page on the forum. Don’t start a thread about your writing.

Instead, start contributing. When someone asks a question about something you know about, give them a real answer. When someone asks for advice on their landing page copy, respond with some thoughtful advice. Your goal here is not to give away your skills, but to instead invest knowledge by sharing it with those who need it.

What site owners want most is someone they can trust with professionalism and knowledge. After your introduction period ends on the forum, make a simple signature with your name (real names and bylines count for a lot in the writing industry – it gives you real credibility), your title and a link to your professional website. Leave some space in the sig to offer some specials later.

Now just keep posting. You don’t need a thread in the forum. Making one makes it look like you’re competing with the shoeshine boys down there in BST. You have a web presence to do your selling for you. When someone looking for advice on press releases or how to install a new program reads your killer advice, he’ll naturally look to see who you are. Then, he might click on your site link to see what you do.

And suddenly he remembers that he has that project he’s been putting off – and wouldn’t you be perfect since you already know so much about writing press releases! He saw that in your carefully crafted posts that were so helpful! Finally, someone “real” online who he can trust! So the potential client sends you a private message or contacts you through your site and you’re off and running!

How long does it take? It can take days or it can take months. But the longer you invest in a community, the greater the results tend to be. Don’t just tell potential clients they need you in a sales page so much like other threads or pleas for work – show them with your well-written comments, posts and responses.

Include prominent, classy contact information and the serious clients will ultimately come to you. In a tight-knit community, as many of the inner webmaster forums are, recommendations start to fly between other members and soon you’re doing very little but posting about things you know to help others and answering private messages about paid work.

It’s a nice gig if you’re willing to invest in it.

Duhigg says that habits occur in loops that basically have three parts: the cue, the routine, and the habit. By recognizing the cue, or the thing that triggers the routine, and by changing the routine, you can turn bad habits into good ones.

For about a year, I’d been drinking powdered cappuccino every morning at breakfast. I was trying to lose a few pounds and realized I was drinking 160 unnecessary calories. So I switched to instant coffee, lost 3 pounds and had about $12 more to spend on healthier options.

Sometimes people don’t realize they have bad habits. These routines have been practiced over and over until they’re as natural as breathing and blinking. They may recognize the habit, but may not realize the negative impact. I realized the cappuccino was costing me $14 a month, I didn’t realize how much it was affecting my caloric intake until I started tracking.

I often hear people complain that they don’t make enough money. They think that making more money would solve their problems. Sometimes, that’s just not true. Often, the real problem is that these people aren’t making good choices with their money. You can’t change a bad habit if you don’t know you have it.

One of the best ways to pinpoint bad habits is to start tracking. If you’re having money problems, track your spending. For help with time management, keep a journal of how you’re spending your time. To figure out why you’re not reaching a weight loss goal, start counting calories.

Eliminating bad spending habits was key in helping me transition to full-time freelance writing. And since writing income fluctuates, keeping my spending habits in check is also key to remaining fully self-employed.

If you want to know more about habit formation, Charles Duhigg has a book on habits: The Power of Habit. I haven’t read it, but I have it on my list. Reviews say it’s not a self-help book in the sense that he tells you how to change your habits. It’s more of a psychological book that talks about how habits happen in the first place. And well, if you know how habits happen, you can change most of them yourself.

Let’s look back on all of our recent guest post contributions and recent posts from our regular All Freelance Writing team to make sure you didn’t miss anything.

• How to Know if You’re a Pro Writer — by Carol Tice
• Are You Prepared for Incoming Calls From Potential Clients? — by Chris Bibey
• Simple SEO Tips for Freelancers — by Josh Olswanger
• How Writers Can Prepare for the Perfect Interview — by Andrew Kardon
• The Easy Fifteen-Minute Marketing Plan — by Lori Widmer
• Freelancers: How to Get Started Without Getting Exploited — by Philippa Willitts
• 18 Local Prospects You Might Not Have Considered to Pitch — by Luana Spinetti
• Choosing a Word Processing App for Your iPad — by Jessie Fitzgerald
• Freelancer’s Union: The World’s Largest Invoice — by LaToya Irby
• Print Writing: Getting the Goods — by Catherine L. Tully
• How to Network, Find Clients, and Grow Your Writing Career — by Amandah Blackwell
• Applying for Your First Writing Gig: What to Include — by Shadab Mahbub
• I Write Like… Me? — by Rebecca Garland
• The Two Sides of the Guest Post Story — by Cathy Miller
• Are Cold Calling Misconceptions Holding You Back? — by Chris Bibey
• 5 Big Reasons Why You Want to be a Freelance Writer — by Kari Jenkins

Thank you so much to all of our recent guest contributors and regular contributors for their fantastic and thought-provoking content.

I used to fall into that last group. I’d work 60 to 80 hours a week early on in my writing and PR consulting business. And the work I loved started to turn into something I hated. By the time Monday mornings would roll around, I was just starting to relax from the weekend. And then it was back to the daily grind. It was no way to live.

There was an important lesson I had to learn the hard way — productivity is king when you’re your own boss. There’s no one there to ride you when things aren’t getting done. I worked hard to increase my productivity and more than double the amount of work I could get done in a day.

The result? I stopped working 60+ hour weeks. I started working only four days per week, taking off every Friday so I had plenty of time to unwind. And in my 28 working hours per week, I got far more work done and I made more money. Best of all, I started to love my work again.

That’s not to say I never slip. When other things monopolize my time, I still get behind on work projects (like the last couple of months when I was settling into my new place and trying to plan a wedding). Now I’m getting back to normal and the weight is finally starting to lift again. I just had to get back to the fundamentals that helped me increase my productivity in the first place so I could get more done and stress less.

You can do that too! If you’re feeling overwhelmed trying to run a successful freelance business, or you just don’t feel like you have the time to do what you need to do in order to grow, try these tips. They’re some of my favorite tactics for increasing productivity and getting much more done every day.

1. Keep a Task List

I’m a huge fan of to-do lists. I keep both a daily one and a weekly one, and calendars help if I have monthly deadlines to keep track of. There’s just something about checking off completed tasks that motivates me to get things done. I keep hard copy lists for this very reason (on various sized index cards). You can use those, paper, a white board, your smartphone, or a computer document. Do whatever works for you.

2. Streamline

I run a lot of websites, and that means there are a lot of administrative tasks to deal with. They don’t take long, as long as I streamline them. For example, I open a bunch of blog admin windows at the same time. Then I go to each tab and eliminate spam comments and approve valid ones. Then I run any plugin or WordPress updates that have to be run. Rather than doing all of this for each site separately, I do one task at a time for the whole bunch. The process is faster, because I don’t have to change the thought process as often. See if there are things you can streamline.

3. Race the Clock

When I’m really feeling unmotivated, I try to make work feel more like a time management game. You can too. Race the clock by setting a timer (I use the one at e.ggtimer.com). You can set it for any period you want. Personally I do best using the Pomodoro technique — 25 minutes working, then a five minute break (and longer breaks between every four-session block). You might just be amazed at how much you can get done in 25 minutes when you fully focus on the task at hand.

4. Outsource

Can’t do it all yourself anymore? Then it’s time to outsource. I’m a big fan of the DIY approach. But sometimes it just isn’t feasible. Spending money to hire help can leave you with more time to do the real income-generating work (meaning even though you spend more, you still make more). For example, you might outsource your blog comment management, your social media promotion, market research tasks, email marketing, proofreading, or website administration.

5. De-Clutter

Clutter can involve more than a messy desk (which itself can be a productivity killer — and which I’m sometimes guilty of myself). You might also have a problem with virtual clutter — an unruly inbox, easy access to too many social media sites, or too many blogs in your feed reader. These things become distractions. Find a way to get them under control. For example, you might limit your email to the start and end of your work day. Or you might set aside social media and blog reading time for certain times of the day (even during your Pomodoro breaks if you use the “race the clock” tip above).

6. Tackle Tiny Tasks

Sometimes productivity issues stem from a task feeling overwhelming. So we can procrastinate. Try to break things down. For example, I have a weekly blogging contract with one of my regular clients. To think about the work on a weekly basis would make my head spin. So I break his work down on my to-do list into individual posts. I get to check off all the little tasks, which motivates me towards finishing the big one — the weekly contract. I do similar things with white papers and e-books that I write for clients, breaking them into things like the outline, research period, each section or chapter’s draft, and then proofreading for example.

7. Take a Break

This might be the last thing you think you should do if you’re trying to get more done in a day. But it’s probably the most important tip I can give you. I didn’t more than double my output in the past because of all the little tricks I’ve already mentioned. Oh, they helped. But they would have been useless had I not also gotten more downtime.

That was why the four-day work week led to bigger and better things. I got to de-stress in between bouts of work. I wasn’t getting that before. And now it’s an integral part of every day. If I need a break, I take one. It’s better to take a nap for 30 minutes and come back fresh than it is to stare at your screen for an hour because you really don’t want to be there. That’s not to say you can be undisciplined. You have to have limits. But breaks prevent burn out. And if you let yourself hit that burn out point, you can kiss any semblance of productivity goodbye.

What kinds of things have you done to improve your productivity as a freelance writer so you can get more done every day? What’s worked the best and what didn’t work for you? If you tried any of these things in particular, how did it go? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Have you ever dreamed of waking up on a Monday morning full of sun glitter, stretching into a sprightly grin that even makes your cat look grumpy, and boomeranging out of bed with the fervent amusement left to three-year-olds on Pop Rocks? I know, it seems like a distant reverie that you could ever be that…happy.

Instead, how did your Monday morning play out? Was it damp and dark when you limped out of bed? Did you ransack the bottom of your closet for a tangled piece of clothing to stumble into while sponging fleshy cereal down your throat with kamikaze shots of coffee? Did you manage to get into your car, maneuver down the assembly line of street along with the cluster of other slack-eyed drivers and steer through the concrete artery of highway just to park in the same space as you did last week? Do you remember how you arrived at your job today or can you navigate it while your brain hibernates in the back seat?

I am here to tell you to pick your brain up and put it back into your happy head. If you have ever wanted something more for yourself, a life that rejuvenates you and makes you excited to be alive, then keep reading. These are the delicious reasons why you want to be a freelance writer:

1. I am my own boss.

While my neighbors scrambled out the door at six-thirty-two this morning, I lingered, still buried in my snuggly blanket dreaming of unicorns and rainbows. Now, I am not saying that being a freelance writer does not require hard work. It does.

But, because I work for myself, I set my own hours. I do not have a watery-eyed, chain-smoking manager breathing on my every move. I do not have to get authorization so I can leave my desk to pee. I never have to fill out a sheet of paper to request an hour to see my daughter win an award at school. I am an adult, and I am responsible, and I treat myself that way.

2. I determine my worth.

Did you ever work for a company that for countless years you toiled in peonage without as much as a thank you, much less a pay increase? Yeah. They were basically notifying you that you are not worth it.

Even worse, did they ever tell you that you should be thankful to have a job? Ouch. How does that make you feel when you step into the office every day? You see, when I sit down at my laptop to write or I speak with a client at a meeting, I am authentically excited to go to work and deliver my very best.

Why? Because I am the one in charge of my rates. I decide how much value I bring to the table and people pay. I give myself a raise when I consider it appropriate. Consequently, I am more confident and I know that my life has a significant purpose. Being a freelance writer feels nothing like what I experienced working at a corporate job.

3. My office is my home.

There are actually pros and cons to this, but I generally look at the benefits. I can skip out of bed, flip on the coffee to start percolating and sit down at my desk to begin my day.

Sometimes I stay in my jammies for far too long. Sometimes I snack all the way through lunch. But, hey, I can. I listen to Pandora while I work. I take breaks to lounge in the sunshine next to the potted lavender. I pet the cat. I do all this and still accomplish all the work for the day.

The thick sullen power suits collect dust in my closet. My pointy heels have already seen their glory days. My work as a freelance writer makes me smile, barefoot, my fingers flying across the keyboard.

4. I run the customer service department.

This reason coincides with the “I am my own boss” motive, but I wanted to take extra time to turn up the volume on this idea. Have you ever been informed at the company you work for that you care too much about the customer? I remember my managers as well as my coworkers advising me that I will never prosper in my career because I continually went the extra mile for my customers.

I needed to stop being so concerned if I wanted to be successful. Wow. I am so fortunate that I am innately stubborn and therefore never listened. Now, I can deal with clients how I see fit.

I can “care too much” all I want. Yes, it has bitten me sometimes, but overall, people appreciate my service so much more and they reciprocate. In the end, 99% of my clients have been a pleasure to work with, paid me sufficiently and spoken highly of me to others. That makes all the difference.

5. I get to do what I love.

Every day. And get paid for it. Enough said.

So the real question is, why do you want to be a freelance writer?

About the Author

Kari Jenkins is a freelance writer living in Southern California who enjoys writing, travel, reading, documentary film, strong coffee and dark chocolate, but not always in that order. Visit www.hotkofe.com to learn more about her personal journey to freelancing. You can also find her on www.facebook.com/hotkofe and www.twitter.com/hotkofe.

It Never Works

Let me be the first one to tell you that this is a lie. Simply put, cold calling can help you drum up new business. Are you going to make a sale every time you pick up the phone? Of course not. That being said, you are definitely putting yourself in position to land new clients.

Over the years, I have found some of my best clients through cold calling.

Everybody will be Rude to me

There is no denying that some people will hang up on you. Worse yet, some people will cuss you out and then hang up. But guess what? These people are in the minority. Even when I am told no thanks, most people are friendly and courteous in doing so.

Note: don’t let a few rude people stop you from cold calling in the future. If you get screamed at or hung up on, simply move to the next call.

It Takes a lot of Time

The only phone calls that take a lot of time are the ones that could lead to a project. Otherwise, you are probably on the phone for no more than a minute at the most. People who don’t have any use for you will not keep you on the phone for the fun of it.

By avoiding these misconceptions, you may find yourself falling in love with cold calling!

When you are starting your freelance writing career, finding new clients always seems like a daunting task. How does a writer find new potential clients and how do we approach them once we do? Do we send them an e-mail or do we call them? Do we attach our CV’s or do we just concentrate on sending our best samples?

I was always confused as to how to approach a potential client and the kind of language I should address them in. Do I be outright professional or should I be a bit informal and emphasize on the kind of person that I really am? It is extremely frustrating when you spend a good part of an hour writing an email to send to a prospective client but they do not bother replying to it. Nothing damps the spirit of a new and aspiring freelance writer like a cold lead. However as I gained more experience and interacted more with my clients (the ones who bothered to reply!) I realized the mistakes I had made during the start of my career.

The e-mail that you send your client is the only line of communication that you have and you have to make sure that it is impressive and professional. When I say professional, I do not mean rambling on about what you did in school, the degrees you have and including links to every piece you have ever written. Some simple measures can help make sure that your email consists of everything that your client wants to find and true, some time has to be spent writing it but once you have, you can use it to apply to countless other jobs!

1. Using a proper email address: This may seem like a mundane point because apart from signing in to our email accounts and while filling in the contact information section of a form, we do not bother with our mail addresses. We can apply for a writing gig and have the best credentials amongst the competition but your clients are not going to be impressed if you send in your job application from an address like andy_rocks@yahoo.om. It is the kind of address that seems cool in school but can hardly be regarded as professional. If you have your own domain name, you can have your own email address but if you don’t, you can use free email accounts of course but make sure that they are suitable for correspondence. yourname@gmail.com is much more befitting for a job application than yournameisking@gmail.com!
2. About Yourself: I personally find this the most tedious of them all because of all the “About Me” sections in the forum and freelancing site profiles I had to complete where I would elaborate on everything a client may need to know about me. It may seem monotonous but it can be the most important part. It may be the factor that singles you out from your competition and has your client favoring your application. Start out your email, with your name and stating where you are from. Say why you are a freelance writer and address each of the requirements or criteria of the job and explain how you are qualified to deal with them. Do not be afraid to incorporate humor or some aspect of your personality. Communication is a very important factor, especially for long term contracts so it is essential that you speak freely with your client.
3. Links to your best work:  As far as samples on a job application are concerned, quality reigns over quantity.  Try to find samples that are relevant to the job requirements or were published on an authority website, blog or magazine. Do not just copy-paste the links, say something about each of the samples like: “While working on this job, I gained a lot of knowledge about SEO and how targeting certain keywords in a website’s content can help increase organic traffic”. What this does is that it adds a certain degree of credibility to your samples and also features your experience and expertise.
4. Your Blog Or Website: It is not possible to enclose all your talents in a single email, which is why a blog or a website is very helpful for featuring your talents. It can showcase your writing skills as well as your knowledge about a certain niche and adds professional credibility. So update your blog regularly with interesting content and be sure to proofread everything.  Small typo’s on your site will put a dent on all your marketing efforts and can cost you jobs!
5. Rates And Billing System: It is a very good idea to include an overview on how much you charge and how you charge it. Many freelancers charge on a per project basis while others charge on an hourly basis. If your client is impressed with your credentials, the first thing they are going to ask is how much you charge. It is pretty basic follow-up information and including them in your application is going to minimize the number of email that you have to exchange; this way you can get a quicker and more definite response.
6. Links To Social Media: The level of your activity on social media has become an indicator of how enthusiastic you are about your job! Regular updates on Twitter and Facebook not only show the kind of person you are, but it also enables clients to interact with you on a more personal level. If potential clients can see the kind of business relationship you have with your existing customers, social media can be a very powerful tool for your business. So including links to your Facebook Page, Twitter Account, LinkedIn, MySpace or Pininterest in your email will give your prospects the chance to immediately build a casual business relationship. The stronger your social media presence, the stronger your credibility.

All of this in one email packs quite a big punch and makes a very credible impression. Such simple measures can help you land more writing gigs and also helps you brand your business. If you utilize other methods while applying for jobs, please feel free to comment and share tips and tricks!

About the Author

Syed Shadab.  I am a freelance writer at RnGWriter.com and I like to help businesses grow by providing them with cost effective and sustainable content solutions. More importantly I am awesome.

Follow Me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/RnGWritercom

Twitter: changing_shadab

It should be easy, right?

Forget that some writers, editors, and business owners have major connections and networks. It’s tempting to see them as ‘dollar signs,’ but the truth is, they’re complex people with feelings, busy lives, personalities, and quirks. They’re human beings.

It’s a dream come true when you meet people and you think they’ll help you grow your writing career, but a part of you may wonder…

How authentic are they?

“I look at how closely they respond to the topic versus how many times they segue off to self-promotional anecdotes about themselves. It only bothers me if they’re excessive or pushy about it.” ~ Christina Hamlett, writer/script consultant.

Is it possible to grow my writing career through networking?

The truth is you can become successful without people; however, it could take you longer, and you may not get the results you thought you would. Networking with the right people for the right reasons can lead you to writing opportunities and grow your writing career.

Here’s my experience…

How to network

Has this happened to you?

You attend writers groups, conferences, or other networking events. You join LinkedIn and Facebook, but the people you meet aren’t real.

Huh?

In September 2007, I moved to Chandler, Arizona. In December 2007, I answered a job posting for a blogger and marketing analyst. For a writing sample, I emailed my Edinburgh, Scotland travel article. Long story short, I ‘tested’ for both positions and the owners decided I was better suited for the blogging position. I was thrilled!

As I gained my ‘blogging legs’ and got used to the East Valley, I decided to sign up with Meetup.com. Since I was new to Arizona, I was desperate to make connections. By the way … desperation is a strong perfume that can be smelled from miles away. I don’t recommend it.

I joined a couple of writers groups and business networking groups. It didn’t occur to me that some of the writers/professionals wouldn’t be authentic. Sure, on the outside they seemed warm and inviting, helpful even. But deep down inside they were looking to advance their careers. There’s nothing wrong with this, who doesn’t want to advance their career? But there’s an ethical and not-so-ethical way to do it.

After I took off my ‘rose-colored’ glasses, I knew I had been fooled. Some of the people I met weren’t interested in me as a person, all they saw were dollar signs, or someone who could connect or refer business to them.

What did I do? I changed my approach to networking.

How to find writing clients

The key to finding and retaining writing clients is to develop relationships with people. Don’t see them as a sale. Don’t see them as a way to connect with top editors at magazines. They’re human beings, not commodities.

Many people approach networking from a sales point-of-view. Perhaps, you’ve been asked the following questions at networking events:

• What do you do?
• How long have you been doing what you’ve been doing?
• What made you start your business?
• What’s the number one problem you’re facing as a business owner?
• How can I contact you?
• When can we have lunch or meet for coffee?

These are all sales based questions. There’s nothing personal about it. Why?

Let’s face it; networking is about developing relationships with people. Instead of going in for the sale right away, get to know people. It’s why I do.

Author/writer Nicky VanValkenburgh looks for, “Common ground. Maybe we write about similar subjects or genres. Or maybe they have connections (knowing people in radio, TV or print) that would be willing to have me on their program or write an article about me.”

When I meet people at networking events, I really got to know them. I listen and hear what they have to say. Here are some questions I’ll ask when I meet another writer:

• You mentioned that you grew up in New York City. What was it like?
• I noticed you brought your iPad with you. I’ve been thinking about purchasing one. What do you like about it?
• I think it’s great that you write for non-profits. How did you begin freelance writing for non-profits? What do you enjoy about it?

As you can see, I ask more personal questions. Yes, I want to know about their writing. But I want to get to know them. Why? They may or may not be the ‘right’ connection for me. It’s the same with business owners.

Tip: When I network with people online, I send a personalized email or LinkedIn request.

The best part about my networking strategy is I no longer fear being rejected by others. This is huge! Most people, including me, have had or do have a fear of rejection. But it’s a matter of perspective. Instead of looking as rejection as a negative, turn it into a positive. I now believe ‘rejection is protection.’ Instead of being upset that a business owner doesn’t contact you for freelance writing, breathe a sigh of relief. Why? The project could have turned out to be a nightmare.

How to grow your writing career

I signed up with Reporter Connection, “a free service that connects busy journalists with experts

available for media interviews.” Before I knew it, I was networking with authors, business owners, writers, and editors.

I had the confidence to market my writing services by sending letters of introduction and querying/pitching editors.

The best part about networking is you get to help others grow their career while growing yours at the same time.

It’s exciting to hear about another writer’s ghostwriting deal with a major celebrity, a nomination for an award, or read about them in a magazine. You get to say, “I know so and so,” you get to send them an email and congratulate them on their success.

YOU CAN NETWORK, FIND WRITING CLIENTS, AND GROW YOUR WRITING CAREER!

You can network with writers, editors, business owners, and just about anyone.

Shift your mindset around networking.

“As a graduate of New York University with a degree in Occupational Therapy, I tapped into my hidden talents in 2011 when I authored my first children’s book – Aiden’s Waltz. I have quickly learned the art of networking and the power of the social networks. Through these channels, I have been fortunate to secure radio interviews and postings as an expert contributor on various websites.” ~ Victoria Marin

Don’t think of networking as chore like washing the dishes, something you have to do.

You can meet some cool, interesting people.

You want to help other writers grow their writing career and grow yours at the same time? You want to help business owners increase their online presence, right?

Guess what? You can.

I know it’s scary and you may think people will take advantage of you. Some will, if you allow it to happen. I know there are people who are genuinely interested in helping others. I know because I’ve met them.

I conducted a Q&A with authors and writers such as Christina Hamlett, Nicky VanValkenburgh, and Victoria Marin about networking. I actually met Christina a few years ago when I posted a query on Reporter Connection about screenwriting. Since then our paths have crossed many times. In fact, she asked me to collaborate on a book. I was thrilled to help!

See … You can network with great people.

Have faith and believe in you, your writing, and networking ability.

Start networking or revisit your strategy.

And yes … I mean start today.

About the Author

Amandah Tayler Blackwell is a freelance writer, ghost writer, and creative writer for markets such as travel, magazine, the arts & entertainment, real estate, personal and professional development, and more. She’s collaborated on many eBook and book projects. Amandah’s personal projects include screenplays, YA, fiction, short stories, poems, and non-fiction. Visit Savvy-Writer.com to learn more about Amandah and her writing.

Dozens of writers have added their names to the list. For example:

• Lanelle: $300 for Content Writing for Web Design
• Shirley T: $2,500 for Grant Writing
• David S.: $3,400 for Technical Writing
• Martin: $50,000 for articles sold to other publications without permission
• Melanie: $600 for copywriting

There are even a few people on the list who have over $50,000 in unpaid invoices. I can’t imagine being owed that much money.

Unpaid invoices is just one of the many risks of freelancing. Unless the client pays you 100% of the project upfront, there’s always some risk that the invoice will go unpaid. Size doesn’t matter – corporations and individuals alike can fail to pay. Sometimes even an established client-customer relationship doesn’t protect you from unpaid invoices.

You can minimize the risk of nonpaying clients, even if you don’t ask for full payment upfront. Break the payments into installments based on the work or the timeline. For example, get three payments for a three-week project. Or you can time payments to fall in line with the dates of specific deliverables. Getting paid in installments gives you a better opportunity to cut your losses. If the client misses a payment, stop working until they pay you. And cancel the project completely if they don’t pay you within a certain amount of time.

Reading a few of the stories on The World’s Largest Invoice Tumblr (where you can submit your own story) it becomes obvious that contracts don’t matter with unethical clients. Contracts are necessary to define the terms of the work, but don’t assume that because the deal has been signed that the client won’t walk away. A signed contract is still necessary, especially if you decide to take legal action against a nonpaying client; the client can’t claim ignorance if there’s a signed agreement.

The worst part of unpaid invoices – besides not receiving the money you need for survival – is that pursuing clients for payment can be time-consuming and costly. Calling and sending emails takes up time that you could be working on paying projects. Suing in small claims court is an option, but requires upfront filing fees and things get complex when the client lives in another state. Even a court judgment won’t force some deadbeats to pay up. You may have to go a step further and ask the court for a wage garnishment or bank levy. You could hire a collection agency, but they’ll definitely take a cut of anything they collect from you. Unfortunately, it’s sometimes cheaper – and less stressful – to take it as a loss and move on.

Do you still have unpaid client invoices?

When I started freelancing I thought I had to look for gigs far, far away. I live in Italy — a country where freelance is still a synonim for penny-pay— so that might be true to a certain extent, but ‘far away’ is NOT the only place you can go prospecting, much like browsing the Writers Market isn’t the only way you can find markets to pitch.

Think your country.

Think your region, your state. Your city.

Think local.

I found Italian and non-Italian (US, East Europe) clients and I was happy to work with each and every of them, no matter the site or the difference in pay rates. Freelance opportunities are everywhere and every business can use a quality-delivering, reliable freelance writer.

If you work locally, in particular, you work to build a solid reputation where you live and open for more opportunities. Because people talk and word-of-mouth is more powerful than ever, especially among people who appreciate your work.

Where to look for local clients?

1. Among old school teachers. Perhaps you still keep in touch with them. Do they need someone to write for their academic website? Perhaps a resume and bibliography rewrite? Ask them if you can help.

2. Your old school website. Does your old school have a website? If so, do you think it may need a consultation to improve visibility and accessibility? Call them and ask if you can offer your freelance services.

3. Family acquaintances. Do your relatives know of business people you can pitch? Ask them to help you by acting as intermediaries and getting you in contact.

4. Local stores in your town. Not the big ones, they may have their own copywriting staff already. But the less known, the handmade collectibles

5. Your favorite books’ publishers. There are books you just fell in love with, so much that you fell in love with the publisher too. Is there anything you can do for them? Contact them, ask!

6. Your neighbors. Spread business fliers and cards in your neighborod, make a special discount just for them. Should they need your services, they’ll contact you.

7. Your friends. Regularly email or call your friends for a chit chat, and ask them if they need a writer. Time may come they really do!

8. Your parents’ friends. I did, with my mom’s colleague who needed a web designer and a web copywriter. Your parents may have good prospects among their friends circle. Just ask, you never know.

9. Your volunteer association. I offered to contribute an article to a writing school I volunteer at as a cartoonist and they accepted. Nonprofits always seek new contributors in every field, and although sometimes you won’t get paid for your work, it’s a good way to build a portfolio of quality clips. Ask your volunteer association, they might need you.

10. Other nonprofits in your area. Charities, religious institutes, churches, student groups, animal shelters and so on. They may need a good advertorial or brochure copywriter to get the word out and touch people’s sensitive souls.

11. Your town hall. It’s like writing for the government, but at a smaller scale. Ask whether they need a freelance copywriter: chances are you may get one or more decent pay gigs.

12. The restaurant you go eat at on special occasions. Local restaurants need exposure to attract more clients, and that’s exactly what a good copywriter can do for them. Plus, you’re an affectionate client, so they’ll be more than happy to listen to what you have to offer.

13. Your favorire videogame’s website. Is there a videogame you like playing on weekends or whenever you have a little free time? Search for a website (local is better) dedicated to the game and email the webmaster, asking if they need a freelance contributor who’s also an obsessed gamer. You love the game, so you have good chances with that.

14. Your car repair shop. Next time you visit your car repair shop for a car check up, ask if they need a copywriter to provide more exposure to the business. Analyze their fliers and posters: maybe they need better advertorials? The slogan doesn’t work? Offer your services.

15. Your husband’s/wife’s clients… provided that your spouse is not a freelancer in your same field! They might be, but unless they’re willing to share clients with you, I wouldn’t ask. ;)

16. The copy shop in your town. Copy shops sometimes need better media exposure and better slogans. Since they can help you with your business (prints, business cards, etc.) why not ask for a partnership? You use their products, they offer you a discount and take your advice, and both spread the word about each other. Even better if you can refer clients to each other.

17. Your doctor. Do they have a website that needs a re-touch? Do they need a new brochure or business card? They help you stay healthy, you can help them stay in business!

18. Your kids’ teachers. Next time you setup an appointment with your kids’ teachers, ask them —before you leave— whether they may need a freelancer to help them with their work.

Everyone may need a copywriter or a blogger. The truth is that the world is filled with opportunities we often don’t see, even when they are right under our nose.

About the Author

Luana Spinetti is an Italy-based freelance writer with a passion for IT, Web Marketing and Character Blogging. She runs a freelance writing blog at Writer’s Mind.