Weekend Discussion:Using a Writer’s Website to Promote Your Freelance Writing
July 6, 2007 by Deb Ng
Filed under Freelance Writing
by Robin Shreeves
I’ve been freelancing for a little over two years now. I don’t do it full time because I’ve still got a preschooler at home. I probably spend about 15-20 hours a week freelancing. I also don’t take on too many long term assignments because I don’t want to be tied down to a project for too long since my first priority is my family at the moment. So, I need to find new clients fairly recently and that means I apply to a lot of leads.
Recently, I’ve been getting very favorable replies to all of the jobs for which I’ve applied. It began to happen right after I started adding a link to the published works page on the writer’s website I created for myself. It’s not a fancy website. I used Google’s free Google Page Creator to create it. The website is not even completely finished, although the published works page is finished.
When I apply to a lead now, I send the required amount of clips and my resume, and I also write a sentence that goes something like this in my reply, “You can view more of my writing at my website, here.” (Go ahead and click on it to see what my page looks like.) Potential clients can then see where I have been published and the variety of writing that I have done.
I think that this simple step that I have taken (and believe me Google Page Creator is very simple) gives me a little more credibility with potential clients. There are so many writers, new and established, vying for each job. I think that having this site that I can update easily as I get more experience gives me a little edge when I apply for a job.
I was wondering what the rest of you think about having a personal website that is devoted to advertising your freelance business. Do you have a website? If you do, do you think that it is beneficial in helping you to land freelance work.
Has anyone out there created a website to promote his business but abandoned it because you found it didn’t seem to make much of a difference?
Finally, is there anyone who wants to create a website, but you don’t think that you have the time or talent to do so? What advice do those who have a site have for those who want a site? What’s the best way for a non-technical person to create a website without having to hire a professional? Once you’ve got a website, how do you promote it?
I personally recommend using Google Page Creator to create your site. I had my site up and running in about three hours using it. It doesn’t have any bells and whistles, but I have a professional website without any outside advertising on it.
Here is an article that I found helpful when I was beginning to plan my website: Creating an Author’s Website. It has some very helpful information.
I used to have a website, but now that I have so many blogs, I find they work just as well. When I apply for a job, I send a writing resume, plus I offer links to my blogs. Just about everything I write is posted on them anyway. It’s a formula that’s working for me, and it’s much less messy than clipping or cutting and pasting so many attachments.
I am taking my web site down after one year. I don’t think it has helped me land hardly any writing assignments. But if it works for others, great.
I also have multiple blogs, including a personal one, and I always include links to them in a query/pitch, plus I have links to my work on my personal blog. Personally, I think that it is getting more and more essential for a writer to have some kind of presence on the web, and I’ve found that more involved I get online, the more successful I’ve become.
I have never used a personal site. I always include links to published work. Do personal sites help? Possibly, though I think a poorly made one would do more harm than good. I have seen several writers link to a personal site on message board signatures and some of them are truly awful. If I were a client looking for a Web content specialist and their site was terrible, there is no way I would hire them!
When I became a full-time freelancer in November 2005, I paid a designer to create a Web site for my business. Though it’s important to have an online presence (and that’s why I’ve kept it), I don’t think I’ve had one lead from it.
I haven’t put the effort into SEO or publicizing the URL, partly because I’ve been busy with work that I’ve found on my own and partly because I don’t really want people off the street (i.e., first-time writers who are self-publishing) to contact me about editing and proofreading. I prefer to work with publishing houses and companies, and those gigs I’ve had to land on my own.
As far as linking to clips, it’s different for copy editors than it is for writers, obviously. I can link to Web sites I’ve proofed, or to outdoor-apparel catalogs I worked on, or to magazine articles I copy edited, but there’s no way for the person to know what changes I personally made — only if the copy is clean (or not).
It depends on the type of work that you do. I primarily seek out clients who work in educational publishing. Any material that I create belongs to that particular client, and it can’t be shared with anyone else. I don’t have a website and I’m not looking to create one since most of my material can’t be shared with new clients anyway. Many educational publishers also require a writing test that is specific to their company.
I have a website in the works right now, and I plan to use it for my freelance writing business. I’m having two sites in one, actually, so that when potential clients access my home page (www.elisabetherickson.com) they will have two options – Corporate and Creative. The Corporate site will be aimed primarily at business clients, and the creative site will be more personal.
After talking with my web designer, I decided to do both corporate and creative sites to integrate both sides of myself. I write for business, but am also a personal essayist and teacher, and this will encompass all of that.
For now, I have a temporary blog at http://www.elisabetherickson.com/creative.
My website has generated two unique jobs for me. I have had it up since Memorial Day only. I think it’s because I pulicize it. I also use it to “store” all my writing samples. One link and you can see most of what I’ve written, and even some before and after assignments of what I’ve edited/proofed.
I have a counter on it and have got 1200 hits since Mem Day. 2 jobs/1200 hit. Yikes!!!
I do not have one but after reading this article I am seriously considering making one! Great guest blog post, I enjoyed it. I am now excited to create my own writer’s website!
Andrea’s right – it does depend on the kind of work you do. I tend to do a lot of blogging and net related stuff, so a lack of a web presence would be detrimental. I’d personally recommend wordpress – not only do I use it and it has been great for me, it is fairly easy to create a professional looking site and keep it updated with your latest work. Also, I would tell any writer to consider keeping a blog – I’ve gotten lots of work through my blogs.
Lots of good feedback. Allena up above said
“I also use it to “store” all my writing samples. One link and you can see most of what I’ve written, and even some before and after assignments of what I’ve edited/proofed.”
That’s the way I look at the website that I shared with all of you. It’s a place where I keep a list of links to my online samples and some copies of print samples.
I think that for those who don’t want the work of creating an entire website, just one page with links to samples my would be helpful when applying for jobs.
I put up my website in April. I did it myself in one afternoon using my host’s website generator. Nothing fancy but I think it looks quite nice.
I know that I have gotten at least one long-term client because of it. When I write LOIs and responses to ads, I always put that they can find out more about me at my site – and if they want to see my more casual writing, they can look at my blog, which is at http://medhealthwriter.blogspot.com
I find that the website, which took one afternoon, was well worth it and continues to be, even if it only brings in the odd client.
I’m actually in the middle of creating one. Just like the post by Ms. Elisabeth above, my web site will be comprised of corporate and creative sections with the latter being a Wordpress blog. I also have some experience with web design so I can save money on hiring a consultant. Though of course it would eat much of my time which could have been spent writing more. Oh well. I guess that’s how it goes
I just got a website up and running last month and while it hasn’t brought jobs to me, it has certainly helped secure jobs that I apply for. I’ve gotten a much higher response rate when I apply to gigs and jobs on Craigslist these days and I think the website is partially the reason. All of my clips and information are stored in one convenient place. Plus, it looks professional to just be able to throw your website link out there.
That’s my two cents.
Hi
In the last 2 years I have had a bit of experience creating websites. I certainly am not an expert webmaster. All though I feel I am improving. I just want to mention to you all. You dont have to hire a consultant to make a website. In fact most web hosting sites are really user friendly. Keep in mind simple is good. If you do all kinds of fancy stuff you run the risk of your audience missing the point. Which is your writing not how beautiful you can make a website.
My second item. If I may. I am looking for writers to supply articles on my new website that I am launching Aug 15 07. How do I advertise on this site for my need for articles. And never been involved in paying for articles what is an acceptable compensation. Ya I think I am leaving myself wide open on the last question.
I dont think my email shows here. I have nothing to hide to here is my email.
email: robertjewell@abbygaymen.com
I have had my personal website up and running for a little over two years now. It has grown and improved throughout this time, and I think it’s looking pretty slick these days.
I think it has helped a lot — particularly as I accumulated more impressive clips in include in my online portfolio. I get a lot of compliments from potential and current clients, as well as from perfect strangers.
There is a lot of benefit to having a website. My site has an online portfolio, which I send to potential clients whenever I apply for a job; a services page; a testimonials page; and “about me” kinds of stuff. Eventually it will also be a sales page, where I can link to books and ebooks that I’ve written.
I also keep several blogs, which pull in most of my traffic. I have submitted a few marketing articles and PRs to distribution sites, but I primarily market my site via blogging.
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I have a website (if you click my name.) It started as a general website showcasing my various talents. Now that I’ve started to concentrate on writing, I’m thinking of taking out everything else and having it be focussed on that.
Thinking about it.