Leads…
- Freelance Writers @ Lafayette Journal & Courier
- Freelance Writer @ WJLA-TV – Arlington, VA
- Freelance Proposal Writer - Wilmington, DE
- Freelance Script Writer @ Autodemo LLC
- Freelance Canadian Investment Writer
- Local Freelance Writers – ME, NH, MA ($50-$100)
- Freelance Article and Assigning Editor for Luxury/Lifestyle Publication
- Freelance Managing/Copy Editor – New York
- Resume Writers @ Get Interviews
- Transportation/Urban Planning Freelance Writer @ Intransition Magazine
- English/French Translations
- Writers for Urban Lifestyle Magazine – Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver (up to $50 for less than 600 words)
- Script Writing for Commercials
- Copywriter Editor Proofreader – Atlanta ($18-$25 per hour)
- Travel Writers/Editors Needed – Boston ($200 per neighborhood)
- New Blogging Service Seeks Thoughtful Content ($100)
- Seeking Multilingual Writer – Chicago ($15-$25 per hour with travel expenses included)
- Freelance Writers Needed for Dallas/Ft Worth Bride Magazine ($0.05 per word)
- Ghost Writer Wanted
- College Student Content Writer for Web Site ($15.00 per hour)
- Freelance Tech Writer; Content Writer Needed – Los Angeles
- Alt. Music Writer Wanted ($60)
- Letter Writer
- Fine Art Experience Writer Needed
- Proofread from Home – Horsham/Philadelphia
- Mortgage Blogger Wanted ($15/hour)
- Writer @ Tails Pet Media Group ($200/month)
- Textbook Question Writer ($10-$13 per hour)
- Two or Three Political Writers Needed - Washington, D.C.
- Professional Writer – Georgetown
Good Luck!
Jodee
Thanks Jodee, my lifesaver.
You are quite welcome!
Welcome back, Jodee~ (or at least for the day)
I’m happy to report Jodee is back for good. Revenue was down in September and I wasn’t sure if I could afford her, but I decided she’s worth the loss.
I am new to this site (about a month) and have so enjoyed your threads of conversation. I have been trying to start a freelancing career for a year and have garnered some work and have been published in print and on-line. I check the on-line postings daily and apply to as many as I think I am qualified for and can pull off. It is of course slow as I expected – but I am wondering – what other strategies do you all use to drum up work other than on-line? I have done some reading, okay a lot of reading, and am trying to stream line an approach that will work. Any suggestions? I would really appreciate it! Thanks!
Lara
Lara, this is only a tiny one-off experience, but my best job is one where I responded for free to questions about one of my subjects for a long time, and when the site got big and profitable they emailed me and asked for a regular column at $150 per. Lesson is don’t forget to get around and be seen writing sensitive and grammatical responses (sense of humor helps.)
Lara,
If located in or near a community of any size, look into the chamber of commerce. Many will have “after hours” networking events. Though the Web means you can build a business without ever meeting clients, don’t forget old-fashioned techniques of face-to-face and phone.
While I don’t have any local clients, I went out of my way to meet with a Nebraska client when she was in Chicago recently. Cost me half a day of work, but it should be a worthwhile investment to solidify the relationship.
When business was starting out, I did more face-to-face, and had some small local clients. As business grew, relationships no longer made sense for either side, so we parted ways.
After 16 years of freelancing (following 15 as a print employee), I get a good amount of work on the phone. Phone calls to follow up e-mails (unless they stipulate no calls) is another good method.
Thank you both for your responses. I will try and keep my mind open to new possibilites in unusual places. One more question on the business side. How long into your writing career did you become an offical entity (LLC)? Thanks again!
Lara,
My business is a full C Corporation. LLC’s were not yet available in Illinois when I incorporated.
I was a sole proprietor for a year first, mainly because I had been an employee for 15 years and didn’t expect this to become full time/permanent. Once I started making more money than a job would offer, I incorporated — about 13 months after going on my own. I filed a short-year (less than 12 months) corporate return the first year and have been on a calendar year basis ever since.
Some accountants will recommend going on something other than a calendar year for a full C, but I find that it’s easier to keep fiscal and calendar years the same.
Due to that, if it was me, I’d look to become an LLC at the begining of 2008. That gives you enough time to check out business name (make sure no one else has it) and do other planning in order to set up a business.
Others may have very valid opinions for doing things other ways, but this is what has worked for me.
Thanks again, Phil. I have an appointment with a CPA this afternoon and wanted some additional advice. My background is health care so the business side of this is a stretch for me (although a welcome one!). Your point about keeping fiscal and calendar years the same is valuable. Thank you!
Lara,
One caution about meeting with a CPA. I’ve known small business owners who’ve been given advice that meets CPA’s needs rather than the needs of the business (accrual accounting vs cash basis, timing of fiscal year). I’ve taken five semesters of accounting and covered small business, so I did have some background in these matters.
I like calendar year, but a fiscal year can make more sense if you have a seasonally slow period (i.e., July) where you have time to catch up on all bookkeeping/accounting, etc.
Before making any decisions, also talk to a local SCORE counselor. They are volunteers, so they won’t give you improper advice just because it helps them.
Also, not all CPAs are bad, I just know owners without business knowledge who didn’t get the best advice.
Thanks again, again, and again Phil. One more question – what does SEO mean???
That is Search Engine Optimization. But others who frequent here are better than I to give you more complete info on that topic.
I’m curious about the New Blogging Service Seeks Thoughtful Content. What does the $100 pay for? How many words/posts?
Lara,
If you have a background in health care, there should be plenty of opportunities. There was an item here a few days ago for someone with ortho or some similar background. Also check AMA pubs. I wrote for them in the late 1990s before they went for people with more of a medical background.
I was wondering the same thing, del. I’ve emailed them, asking about pay rate and number of posts/words per post. We’ll see.
Happy to hear Jodee is back for good.
Lara, sounds like Phil’s got you started with some really good advice. Hopefully your CPA will be good. I had to go through a few to find one I really liked. As far as drumming up business offline, I agree about the Chamber of Commerce.
SEO is used when writing for websites. The goal is to write the page or article so it will be found in relevant searches. For example, if I go to Google and type in “freelance writing jobs” this blog appears at or near the top. Since the way a page ranks is based both on optimization (SEO) and backlinks (the number of high quality websites linking to your site), most people who have websites want their content to be SEO-friendly. There is a free guide (which I didn’t write but have read and found useful when first learning) at http://divinewrite.com/seosecrets.htm. (Deb, I hope it’s ok to link here… if not, I won’t be offended if you edit this out.)
I just heard back from that $100 blogging job ad.
It’s a service that you have to sign up with and then call them (you pay the charges) to post your blog entries. When you’ve posted a three times, you have to fill out a survey and then they will send you $100 they claim.
Thanks, Ann G. Sounds a bit too screwbally for me. The search continues.
I went to the website to check it out. The site is http://www.utterz.com.
It sounds like you send their service your voice messages and it sets them up in your blog for you and they have contracts with cell phone providers to get a cut of the money you pay on your monthly cell phone bill. That’s why it is currently free.
I don’t think I’ll sign up. From what I gather, they would have to have your blog links and permissions to post your voice mail entries or photos to your blog for you. I’m a bit of a control freak so I can’t see myself being happy with that situation.
Ann, I just heard back too. I guess it was mass-mailed. :/
Thanks, Ann G. I had a feeling about it just from the ad, but I’m glad you followed up and let us know.
Amy,
Yes, Phil did get me started thinking in some new, creative ways! I am lucky that my CPA is my brother! So I didn’t have to look very far. I will check out the link and so appreciate you taking the time to add to the discussion. Thanks again!
Lara,
I wish I had a handy brother like that.
I hope that ebook helps you. If not, at least it’s free!
Hey guys! Was wondering if anyone wrote, or was contacted by, the people seeking 30 second spot commercials–they were fairly vague in their post. They don’t tell you if you are writing for clients they have or just writing scripts for some sort stock pile…
I emailed the 30 second commercial people but didn’t hear anything back from them.
I did too and haven’t gotten anything as of yet–but maybe they have been inundated with submissions–*shrugs*