Comments on: How To Start Your Freelance Writing Business: Education

By: Surf’s Up: Creativity Links for October 20, 2008 « Creative Liberty

Surf’s Up: Creativity Links for October 20, 2008 « Creative Liberty — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:26:46 +0000

[...] Closer to home, the Writing Journey blog recently had an important post discussing the proper educational background for a freelance writing career. Blog author Bob asserts that a lack of business savvy doomed [...]

By: Freelance Advice from the Blogosphere | Freelance Parent

Freelance Advice from the Blogosphere | Freelance Parent — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:49:03 +0000

[...] great advice in his series on How to Start Your Freelance Writing Business. I liked this post on Education. While you’re there, take the time to check out another posts called Recognizing [...]

By: Toni Shrader

Toni Shrader — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:03:08 +0000

Thanks for this series…these are things that you have learned as we all do “the hard way” and the advice and information you give to someone who is just starting out is priceless. Keep up the great work you are doing here.

By: Cedric Solidon

Cedric Solidon — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:54:03 +0000

Hi, Bob. I’ve been through the same pitfalls that freelancers with only a tiny idea of business and marketing encounter. Nice to know that I’m not the only one, and that you stand as an example of the way to overcome it.

Great post!

Cedric Solidons last blog post..Why Now is the Best Time to be a Freelancer or to Start a Business

By: Alexander

Alexander — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 03:05:22 +0000

Like always your posts are amazing and educating. Alexanders last blog post..Working Together In The Bedroom prt 1.

By: Steve Coleman

Steve Coleman — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:11:35 +0000

Everything in life can be looked at as a business, in most cases must be looked at as a businesss.

As such the basics of the business must be learned to have any chance of success.

Writing is a business with human resources, production equipment, office supplies,customers and suppliers, all the things that any business has. Why do we think that it can be treated any other way than in a businesss manner and succeed?

Learn the basics before you start and the rest as you develop your skills and the chances of success are far better.

By: 10/14/2008 Writing Jobs and Links » PoeWar

10/14/2008 Writing Jobs and Links » PoeWar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:00:58 +0000

[...] How To Start Your Freelance Writing Business: Education: There are some things you should learn before getting into freelancing. [...]

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:34:51 +0000

Two things I’ve learned over the years that I think all beginners need to understand –

Marketing is a constant need, even in the busiest times (especially, in my opinion).

Securing at least two regular clients is essential to surviving when the work inevitably wanes.

Okay, three things -

This is a business. It’s not your ego, it’s not a personal endeavor, nor is it a personal attack when a client balks on paying or fusses you didn’t deliver what was expected. It’s just business. The moment you make it personal, you fail at that business.

Loris last blog post..Ask the Expert – You

By: Joe Wallace

Joe Wallace — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 04:24:17 +0000

There is SO much for a new freelancer to absorb about being a good marketer. Knowing how to write is only half the battle…Bob, you really nailed it there. And like you, if I only had it to do over again…I would have changed my whole approach. I could have saved myself at LEAST a year–365 whole days of low-to-no pay–just by being smart about marketing my skills.

Great article.

By: LShep

LShep — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:01:56 +0000

Yes, I wish I'd been more aware of when there were freelancers with an agenda to push. There are sites out there that tell you what not to do, but only because they will profit more from it if you don't. Freelancers need to be willing to do what works for them rather than from what some cheesy guru says is right. I lost countless hours to one such cheesy guru. LSheps last blog post..Kontera

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:57:58 +0000

I think that the first step to any business has to be a plan. You need to have a direction that you want to go before you begin heading in that direction. If you create a business plan for your freelance writing then you will know how to educate yourself to best meet that plan. Kathryns last blog post..Finding Time

By: Study Abroad Programs

Study Abroad Programs — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:46:47 +0000

Of course it is important do learn some of these things. Especially if you don’t possess the required level of the skill, the important is you can learn from it from what you are doing.

By: Jenn Mattern

Jenn Mattern — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:52:56 +0000

Glad to see someone talking about this. One of the biggest mistakes I see with new writers in my network is that they’re often clueless about the business side of freelancing – admin work, bookkeeping, marketing, etc.

Coming from a business and marketing background myself, I really can’t imagine succeeding as a full-time freelancer without that – or at least not nearly as easily.

So thanks for shedding some light on the topic, and hopefully other new writers will give some of these things some more thought before jumping in.

Jenn Matterns last blog post..New Web Writer’s Guide E-book Launched TODAY!

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:19:35 +0000

@ Ron – you’re welcome. Enjoy the rest of the series, and good luck with your new endeavor!

@ Evan – What I’m thinking of, specifically, isn’t so much the full-blown details of what’s selling at any given moment. That changes from one day to the next.

No, I’m talking about the big market paradigms – copywriting vs. sales writing vs. blog writing vs. SEO, and how they all differ, and what they have in common. The bird’s eye view, so to speak.

As far as giving people what they want, a business succeeds by giving people what they want. Now, sales is all about helping the client know what they want in the first place. The trap to avoid is where you or I think we know better than the client. We can recommend, but it’s up to the client, in the end.

If we don’t like the direction the client wants to go, we can always say “no.”

So, actionable advice? There will be more to come as the series goes on. For now, it’s this: study the freelance marketplace. See what kinds of things people are buying and learn the differences between them.

By: Evan

Evan — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:02:35 +0000

I guess the biggest thing for me would be a way to find out what ‘the market’ really is.

What I mean is a way to find out what people care about, are interested in (and willing to spend money on).

There are lots of shoulds about giving people what they want (I have some reservations about this approach) but little actionable advice on how to do it.

Evans last blog post..How to Calm an Angry Person

By: Ron Moore

Ron Moore — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:13:02 +0000

I'm unemployed and just received an opportunity to extend my benefits by starting a small business. The state will provide training so I will understand the business implications. I believe I can do what I want with my life and your article feels like another supporting coincidence. Thank you Ron Moores last blog post..Writing Sober