Want more money? Offer more value

by Matt Ambrose

Breaking free from the conveyer belt of keyword articles and into the plush realm of well paid writing is one of an aspiring freelance writer’s biggest challenges. The traditional route is to knuckle down and slowly build your credibility until you attract clients happy to pay for the quality that comes from experience. However, the role of the writer is evolving so fast that rewards are there to be won if you can offer value beyond your words.

People now spend hours on the web searching for product information. Writers who can provide info so it’s engaging and promotes the credibility of their clients are a valuable asset. The problem is that many businesses still don’t realize that they need more than a landing page and a few jpegs to convert browsers into buyers. So it’s up to you to start telling them why you’re so valuable if you want more money.

Valuable content builds trust

Selling products online presents unique challenges in building trust and confidence. You don’t have the physical presence of a shop to prove your credibility, or a shop assistant to answer the questions blocking a sale. You have to find other ways of persuading people why they should trade with you, and you can do it through your content.

Nowadays, people are ignoring advertising and are cynical of sales messages. They’ve been bombarded with ads for so long that the quickest way to lose their trust is to hit them with ambiguous sales spiel on your landing page. People surf the web for information, not advertising. To barter for their attention you need to have something of value to offer.

Writing valuable content takes skill

Whether it’s in a blog, eBook or newsletter, providing useful content that educates, informs or entertains is how you form relationships with customers. Insightful articles offering advice on solving a problem are what will build confidence in your client’s expertise.

Writing content that attracts readers as well as the search engine spiders is not easy. Anyone can churn out paragraphs of keyword drenched articles fit to pass Copyscape. But only a skilled writer with a dedication to their craft can weave their client’s information so it engages their customers’ passions and builds a closer affinity with their products.

You’re not just a writer – you’re now also a content marketer

If you want to boost your paycheck, the next time you meet a new client educate them on the value of well written, useful content in a low trust world. Many still see words as a commodity for attracting the search engine spiders, and don’t consider the mental path people take before they can be persuaded to click ‘buy’.

However, awareness of the power of engaging consumers with useful, valuable content is growing all the time. Soon more businesses will want to start driving Internet marketing campaigns running on the fuel of well written words. Beat the rush by updating your services to reflect your new persona as an ‘added value writer’ with content marketing expertise, because there will be plenty of clients who’ll want to know.

Matt Ambrose writes weekly articles at The Copywriter’s Crucible offering tips and advice on how writers can help drive marketing success in the online world.