My Top Ten Tips for Making Money as a Freelance Writer

Nick Making Money 7 Comments

Some of you may know that for more years than I care to remember I made my living as a freelance writer. Nowadays I am semi-retired but still take on writing work from time to time, alongside running this blog, of course!

I know many people are interested in freelance writing, and it often appeals to older/retired people, as you can do it part-time and it doesn’t require any expensive tools or equipment. Writing is also something you can do even if you have health issues or disabilities.

So today I thought I would share a few of my top tips about freelance writing for money, based on my years of experience. To be clear, I am talking mainly here about writing for editors and other clients, rather than books or ebooks (which I previously covered in this post about books and this one about ebooks).

I hope this article may be of interest to younger people, as well as my core readership of over-50s.

1. Don’t Worry About Not Knowing Everything

When I was starting my writing career, I worried a lot about what I didn’t know.

Every time I came across a word I hadn’t seen before, rather than view it as an opportunity to learn something new, I took it as a further sign that my vocabulary wasn’t wide enough to succeed as a writer. (In fact, I now realise that while having a good vocabulary is definitely an asset, you could go through an entire writing career without ever knowing the meaning of palimpsest, clepsydra, ursine, and many more…)

It wasn’t just vocabulary either. I worried that I didn’t know whether I should use “toward” or “towards”, “forever” or “for ever”, “continuous” or “continual”, and many more. And I could waste a whole morning agonizing over whether I should use a dash or a colon in my opening paragraph.

What I realise now is that most of these things matter little. Quite often, either choice will be acceptable. My advice to a new writer today would be to get a good dictionary and style guide, and refer to these whenever you’re in doubt. But if you’re still not sure, just make your best guess and move on. The chances are that whatever you choose, your editor will change it anyway!

Our American friends have a very good expression for this: Don’t sweat the small stuff.

2. Specialize

There are lots of other would-be freelance writers out there, so you need to do whatever you can to make yourself stand out. For me, anyway, that has meant specializing.

Specializing has all sorts of advantages for a freelance writer. If you are regarded as an “expert” in your field, editors and publishers will turn to you when they need a writer on the subject in question. In addition, because of your perceived expertise, you may be able to charge a higher rate than an “ordinary” freelance.

Don’t just stop at one specialism, though. Try to develop a number. My specialist subjects over the years have included self-employment, advertising and PR, careers, the Internet, gambling for profit, popular psychology, English grammar, writing for profit, personal finance, and several more. At least then, if there is a fall in demand for one of your specialisms, you have other strings to your bow.

My advice to a new writer would be to start with an area you know a lot about, or have a particular interest in, and make it your business to become an “expert” in that field. Write a few articles about it, perhaps for low-paying markets when you’re getting started. Once you have published some work on your specialism, people will start to regard you as an expert in it, and more work is likely to follow. By researching more articles and talking to “real” experts, you will build up your store of knowledge, until you really are something of an expert in your chosen field. It’s worked for me, anyway

3. Don’t Take Criticism Too Seriously

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you shouldn’t listen to constructive feedback on your work. However, you should evaluate it carefully and be prepared to reject it if you don’t agree with it.

Remember that judgements about quality (or otherwise) are often subjective. There’s a story I tell in my CD course Write Any Book in Under 28 Days (more info here if you’re interested) about a time when I regularly wrote careers information articles for a large UK publishing house. These were basically four-page articles about different jobs.

I submitted my articles to one particular editor at the publishing house. Invariably they came back to me covered in red ink, with insertions, deletions and transpositions all over the place. I tried to learn from her comments and improve, but still every time the articles came back changed almost beyond recognition. She still put the edited articles through, but I honestly felt like a schoolboy whose report card read, “Could do better”.

Then I got a new editor – a man this time, as it happens. I submitted my latest article to him, and waited for it to come back to me covered in red ink as usual. And waited. And waited. So eventually I phoned him up and asked what had happened to my article. “Oh that,” he said, sounding surprised I had even mentioned it. “It was fine, so I put it through for publication.”

The truth is that in writing, as in life, everyone has different views of what is good and what is bad. So listen to criticism by all means, but try to evaluate it objectively, and always feel free to reject it if you think it’s wrong. And never, ever, take criticism personally.

4. Put Yourself About

However good a writer you are, no publisher or editor is going to beat a path to your door. Especially when you are starting out, you must be prepared to send off torrents of query letters, emails, book proposals, and so on. I first connected with one of my longest-standing clients, Lagoon Games, after I replied to an advertisement they placed in the Guardian newspaper twenty years ago. I am still working with Lagoon today, incidentally.

Put yourself about in the flesh too. Join your local writers’ circle, go on writers’ courses and conferences, volunteer to give talks, and run classes in adult education. In the online world, set up a writing homepage and/or a blog, and join at least one writers forum. And sign up at social networking sites such as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. All of this will help raise your profile as a writer, and make it more likely that potential clients will get in touch with you.

And also under this heading I’d add, build up your network of useful contacts. These can come from all sorts of places: fellow writers you meet, proofreaders and editors you work with, folk you meet on courses, people you interview for articles, people you connect with via online services such as Twitter, and so on. Many of the new writing opportunities that have come my way over the years did so as a result of networking.

5. Don’t Rely Solely on the Internet

Don’t get me wrong, the net is a wonderful thing, and there are lots of great resources on it for writers. However, there was no internet at all when I was starting out, and it didn’t hold me back!

If I was starting today, one thing I would certainly do is approach potential clients directly offering my services, including local companies, agencies and organizations. I would also read the job ads in newspapers and magazines, not only looking for writing jobs, but for businesses who are hiring in the fields of information management, PR, and so forth. They might well be in need of freelance writing assistance as well, and a speculative application could turn up a regular source of writing work. Again, this is a strategy that has worked well for me in the past.

6. Be Reliable

This is one of the most important qualities any client needs in a writer. He (or she) wants to be confident that you will deliver your article (or whatever) by the agreed deadline. If the deadline arrives and your article doesn’t, it can create all sorts of headaches for them.

If you can see you’re going to have problems meeting a deadline, therefore, DON’T just cross your fingers and hope for the best. Tell your client. Given sufficient notice they may be able to make alternative arrangements, e.g. bringing another article forward and postponing yours till next month. But if you don’t tell them in advance, it may be too late for this. Don’t then expect them to offer you any work in future.

7. Be Available

Clients sometimes need to contact writers at short notice, e.g. to check a fact or request a partial rewrite. You don’t have to be always just a phone call away (though that won’t hurt), but it should be possible for an editor to contact you by some means and get a reply within 24 hours. Always aim to have your mobile with you, therefore, and check this and your email regularly, preferably at least twice a day.

And if you’re going away on holiday for more than a day or two, it’s a courtesy to let the editor know, especially if you have just sent them some work!

8. Don’t Argue

OK, this one is a bit controversial. If you disagree with a client’s decision, you can say so. But don’t push it. At the end of the day, it’s her neck on the block, not yours, if she publishes your article and it goes down like a lead balloon with her readers.

Here’s an example from my own experience. In my capacity as a newsletter editor I was pitched an idea by a semi-regular contributor. Normally I liked his ideas, but for various reasons I couldn’t use this one, so I turned it down with a polite explanation. I then received a long, aggrieved email telling me quite forcibly that I was wrong and he was right, concluding with words to the effect, “I think I know our readership by now.” As you might guess, I didn’t commission many more articles from him after that…

9. Be Friendly but Professional

It’s good to build relationships with clients and editors. Over a period of time you will inevitably get to know one another quite well, and genuine friendships often result.

However, remember that the client is also – in effect – your employer, so it’s important to remain professional in all your dealings with them. Don’t assume that because ‘John’ or ‘Mary’ is your buddy, they won’t mind if you palm them off with inferior work or take other liberties with them.

Another example here (all names changed to protect those concerned). A few years ago one of my regular clients, a guy I’ll call Phil, was looking for an additional freelance writer. I recommended a woman named Clare to him, whom I’d worked with on a couple of projects.

All seemed to go well at first, and then I heard that he had dropped Clare quite suddenly. As I knew Phil pretty well, I asked him what had happened. He was a bit reticent at first, but then he told me, “We’re a family company, Nick, and we choose the people we work with very carefully.”

A little more probing finally revealed that he had been on the phone to Clare one day, and she casually dropped the F-bomb into their conversation two or three times. Phil hadn’t said anything to her at the time, but I guess he was a bit shocked by this. Anyway, he decided that he couldn’t work with her any more.

I must admit, I don’t know why Clare did this. Maybe she wanted to show she was “one of the boys”, or maybe she’d just been watching too many Hollywood movies. In any event, it was exactly the wrong tack to take with Phil, who abhors bad language in any form. And so it cost Clare the opportunity of a continuing source of well-paid work.

That’s perhaps an extreme example, but it does illustrate an important point. A good, friendly relationship between writer and editor/client can be very rewarding for both parties, but you should never let it become an excuse for behaving unprofessionally.

10. Be Enthusiastic!

One final thing experience (mine and other people’s) has taught me is that enthusiasm will carry you a long way as a writer. I’m sure it’s true in other fields as well, but clients generally are more inclined to hire writers who are enthusiastic about their work rather than those who seem simply to be going through the motions.

Obviously, you DO need in addition the writing skills and other qualities to deliver a good job. Without enthusiasm, however, you will probably never get the chance to demonstrate that you have these skills and qualities.

Look at it this way. If a client gets two applications, one from someone who is relatively inexperienced but brimming with enthusiasm and ideas, the other from someone with an impressive CV who sounds as though they could barely be bothered to get of bed this morning, nine times out of ten it’s the writer with the enthusiasm who will get the gig, even if they may not have as much experience. It’s human nature that we all respond better to people who radiate a positive attitude themselves.

So before sending off an application for any writing job, ask yourself honestly: Do I really sound as if I want this job? Do I appear excited by the prospect of working with this company? Can the client see that I am bursting with ideas and raring to do a good job for her? Or, conversely, does my application sound half-hearted? Does it sound as though I don’t really expect to get the job, and don’t much care one way or the other? If the latter is the case, hit “Delete” and start again. You MUST, MUST, MUST convey enthusiasm in all your applications and proposals!

I do hope you find these tips helpful. If you have any comments or questions – or any other useful tips for new writers – feel free to add them below as comments.

Happy writing!

Make Extra Money With TaskRabbit

Nick Making Money 2 Comments

Today I want to share with you another opportunity to make money via the so-called gig economy.

TaskRabbit began in the US and is expanding internationally. In Britain it launched in London and is now also available in Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester, with other cities said to be in the pipeline. The full list of cities where TaskRabbit currently operates can be viewed here.

TaskRabbit puts people who need various sorts of chore performed in touch with those who have the time and skills to do them (for a fee, of course). The company calls the people who work via its platform “taskers”.

A huge range of skills are required, including gardening, flat-pack furniture assembly, household repairs, parcel delivery, cleaning, moving and packing, pet sitting, laundry and ironing, event staffing, and many more. Clients can even hire taskers to queue up for them at product launches, buy theatre tickets, and so on.

Once a tasker has been hired they go and do the job, with payment handled automatically through TaskRabbit. The company takes 30% of the fee charged, with the remainder going to the tasker.

How Do You Become a Tasker?

As mentioned above, currently you have to live in or near London, Birmingham, Bristol or Manchester.

Beyond that, you need to be 18 or over in the UK and able to offer some of the types of skill listed on the TaskRabbit website. In practice the great majority of people should be able to do at least one of these.

You need to have a UK bank account and credit card, and must also have a smartphone. Tasks are allocated and managed via the TaskRabbit app, which is available for both Android and Apple iOS.

If you meet these requirements – and can provide some sort of personal identification – you can apply via the TaskRabbit website. Once your application is approved, you can expect an invitation to a two-hour orientation session where the TaskRabbit system is explained in detail and any questions can be answered.

After that, it is simply a matter of downloading the app, looking for tasks you can do in your area, and applying for them.

TaskRabbit Pros and Cons

Clearly nobody is going to get rich working as a tasker. You will be paid an hourly rate, which for many jobs is likely to be little more than the national minimum wage. You will be competing against other taskers for jobs, which can have the effect of pushing rates down.

In addition, your status will be that of a self-employed contractor. That means you won’t be eligible for holiday pay or sick pay, or any of the other benefits employees routinely enjoy (although this may change in future). Neither is there any guarantee you will have paying work from one week to the next.

For all those reasons, TaskRabbit is unlikely to be a good choice if you need a full-time income. On the other hand, it does have the big benefit of flexibility. You can work at times convenient to you, perhaps to supplement other earnings or save towards a holiday or other major purchase.

Another attraction of TaskRabbit is the variety of the work. Every task is different, and brings with it the opportunity to meet new people and do new things. This can be a welcome contrast for those whose normal jobs may be monotonous and/or solitary.

TaskRabbit can be a great resource for self-employed people, to provide income when other work is scarce. It can also be a good option for those with health problems and/or caring responsibilities who are unable to do a full-time job. Retired and semi-retired people – which of course includes many Pounds and Sense readers – can also supplement their income this way.

And finally, TaskRabbit can open doors for tradesmen/women looking for new clients. You might, for example, tackle a small repair job and mention to the client that you are also available for bigger projects if the need arises in future. Be sure you have a good supply of business cards to hand out!

As already mentioned, TaskRabbit is only available in certain cities. There are, though, many other opportunities in the gig economy if this type of opportunity interests you. Some of these such as Viewber I have talked about in previous posts on Pounds and Sense. Another is Deliveroo, which offers the chance to earn a sideline income delivering meals for restaurants and takeaways. You can learn more about Deliveroo here if you wish.

Summing up, TaskRabbit offers anyone the opportunity to earn extra income doing small jobs of all kinds. If that sounds like something that might interest you, visit the TaskRabbit website for further information and to sign up.

As ever, if you have any comments or questions about TaskRabbit, please do post them below.

Get Paid to Post as a Freelance Social Media Manager

Nick Making Money 2 Comments

If you enjoy social media and want to make some extra income, offering social media management services to local businesses is well worth considering.

It’s easy to do from home, fitting the work in around your other commitments. You can start part-time and (if you wish) go up to full-time as you build your client base.

Age is no barrier, so long as you have a lively, inquiring mind. And all you really need to get started is a computer with a reliable internet connection.

Who Needs This Service?

Short answer – practically every business!

Nowadays social media is huge. Customers increasingly expect businesses to have a social media presence. If they don’t, it may even be seen by some people as suggesting they have something to hide.

Social media is also a great tool for businesses wanting to attract new clients by harnessing the power of personal recommendation. After all, what would you be more likely to act on? An ad at the bottom of page 37 of your local paper or an enthusiastic Facebook post by a friend about the great meal they enjoyed last night at a local restaurant?

Your average business owner will know this, but in many cases they won’t have the time or expertise to do it themselves. And that’s where you can come in, as a freelance social media manager.

What Does the Work Involve?

You will normally start by agreeing a social media strategy with your client, based on what they want to achieve. You will then set up social media accounts on their behalf (assuming they don’t have these already) and post regularly on them.

Posts will typically include some promotional posts on behalf of the business, along with news, tips and advice, photos, and humorous items. You might also set up (and run) contests, giveaways, and so on.

You will monitor clients’ accounts, responding to any comments made or questions asked, and try to generate activity and engagement from readers. This will help ensure that the posts concerned get liked, seen and shared by more people.

You can also offer to run social media advertising for clients, generally using Facebook. Of course, you would pass on the cost of this to clients or include it in the fee you charge them (see below).

What Skills Do You Need?

If you’re an enthusiastic social media user, you’re half-way there already!

Clearly you will need a good grasp of how social media works and first-hand experience with the main platforms. The most important is Facebook, with Twitter not far behind.

For businesses whose work can be depicted visually (designers, builders, hairdressers, and so on) Instagram and Pinterest may be important too, while LinkedIn can be relevant for professional and business-to-business services.

While you don’t need to be Shakespeare, you should be a competent writer, able to create content in a chatty, friendly style that is also appropriate to the image your client wants to project. A good visual design sense helps a lot as well.

And finally, you should have the ability to be diplomatic with visitors to your clients’ social media pages, especially when they post complaints. Pouring oil on troubled waters can be an important aspect of the job, though in some cases (e.g. dealing with trolls) you may need to be firm and decisive as well.

What Should You Charge?

In this field it’s normal to charge a monthly fee. You can offer various levels of service and charge accordingly.

To give you an idea, Oxfordshire-based agency Social Sidekick offers a basic service (which they call The Small Package) for £200 a month plus VAT, as follows:

• No fixed term contract
• 7 unique posts per week
• Up to 2 social platforms managed
• £10 per month on Facebook advertising (included within monthly fee)
• Monthly report
• Basic strategy
• Social media resources pack
• Account manager

At the other end of the scale, this is what they offer for £380 a month plus VAT in The Big Package.

• No fixed term contract
• 14 unique posts per week
• Up to 4 social platforms managed
• £40 per month on Facebook advertising (included within monthly fee)
• Monthly report
• Social media strategy
• Social media resources pack
• Account manager

To get more ideas about fees and services, I recommend searching on Google for “Social Media Management Services”. This should bring up a list of companies and individuals in this field, and advertisements for such companies as well. Spend some time comparing what they charge and what they offer in return.

Finding Clients

To operate successfully as a freelance social media manager you will need a blog or website and a strong social media presence yourself.

It’s then a matter of advertising your service through local media and/or contacting businesses directly to offer your services.

You can use traditional mailshots, telemarketing or emails to contact potential clients. Email Marketing Robot is a service I have used for the latter purpose myself and recommend. You can try it out free of charge via the website.

Another good strategy would be Facebook advertising. Facebook lets you target ads very precisely, based on geographical area and the profiles and interests of the people in question. Of course, your Facebook ads should look smart and professional, as this is one of the services you will most likely be offering to your clients.

In Conclusion

Social media management is an enjoyable and lucrative business to get into. You need only a handful of clients to make a substantial income, and they will go on on paying you month after month if they are happy with your service.

And while in this article I have focused on local businesses, as the actual work is done online there is no reason you couldn’t branch out nationally or even internationally as well.

With the seemingly endless rise of social media, demand for this type of service can only continue to grow in the years ahead. In my view, there has never been a better time than now for setting up a social media management service.