3 Ways To Keep Small Business Operations in Check
Regardless of the kind of business you run, you will always need to make sure that you are doing whatever is necessary to keep the operational side of things in check. If you fail to do this, it means that you can expect a huge knock-on effect to begin, with the ultimate result being a business which has no customers, is unable to continue in its current state, and needs serious help to get anywhere at all.
Of course, keeping your eye on operations is a big part of your job as an entrepreneur, but it is something of a learned skill. For that reason, it’s important to look into what kind of areas you might need to focus on most of all, so that you know where to begin in this journey.
Outsourcing
For most big businesses these days, outsourcing is actually something of an essential. Without being able to put some of your work out there to other businesses, you will find it impossible to get everything done. What’s more, there will be many occasions when you actually don’t have any option except to outsource something, such as when it is too technical or you don’t know enough about it to do it in-house.
Generally, businesses have this issue with technology, and if you find that you need the help of a managed IT services team, then you are absolutely not alone. Getting that kind of assistance on board will lead to considerable improvements in how your operations are run, and will help you to save time and money in the long run.
Funding
It doesn’t matter what else you might be doing: if you don’t have the necessary funding, then you are not going to be able to keep your business afloat. The operational side of your business will simply dry up if the money isn’t there, so this is actually a hugely important part of this procedure.
Funding can be made simpler, but the most important thing you need to do is to make a point of looking far enough ahead that you can avert any major disasters. That is something which you will find tricky at first, but with the right kind of foresight you should be able to do it - and keep your operations in check throughout.
Management
Promoting someone to a management position in operations will not only help you by removing some of your workload, it will also mean that you have created a position which is directly responsible for everything that happens in operations. That is bound to lead to some distinct improvements in how things are done, and you might even be surprised at how quickly they come about.
Of course, you need to make sure that you promote or hire the right person, so try not to rush through your process here. Do that, and your business will be in a much better place in no time at all. Operations can be made a lot simpler in this basic way.
Improving Your Business' IT Systems In 4 Steps
For most modern businesses, IT is the backbone. Improving your IT systems is something your business can do straight away to make your systems more efficient, and maybe even save you some money too. Transform your technology and change the way it serves your business with these four steps for improving your business’ IT.
1. Reassess your needs
A business’ technology needs can change over time, so it’s important that you assess regularly to make sure you’ve got everything you need. This is especially important when you’ve got new employees around. You need to make sure they have what they need to do their job effectively - including equipment and software that meets any special requirements they might have. Anything that is wasted and costing you money needs to go.
2. Find systems that work for you
IT isn’t always a ‘one size fits all’ solution. In fact, different businesses in different industries will have different requirements for their IT systems. Do some research and recruit a provider who can meet your bespoke IT needs, and consider one that provides ongoing support to ensure you can resolve any IT problems quickly. For example, Vertex specializes in IT services for law firms, while another firm would specialize in other areas.
3. Improve your security
Security measures are another element that needs to be reviewed regularly to ensure that your business stays up to date on the latest threats.IT security is more important than ever. From protecting the personal data of your clients and employees to keeping your accounts information secure, there’s a lot of potential for disaster. Improving your IT security requires putting the right protection in place, as well as limiting human error by educating your employees.
4. Cut costs
Your IT spend could be having a serious impact on your business’ running costs, but they can also be an area in which you could save money. Some ways you can think about cutting your IT costs include buying refurbished equipment or leasing it. You can also cut down on the amount of paper and other materials that you use, while making sure that all systems are shut off when not in use will save money on your company’s energy bills. There are simple ways for your business to save money, you just need to know where to look.
Improving your business’ IT systems is something that will need constant review to make sure your systems are operating effectively, while giving your business the best value for money. Technology is important, and getting it right can save your business a lot of time and hassle. Looking for other ways to improve your business? Why not look at improving your human resources next?
Five Ways to Make Blog Posts More Popular
Is your blog content the nerdy kids sitting by itself at the lunch table? Do you want it to be the head cheerleader, front-and-center at the pep rally? Everyone wants their site to have amazing content, but actually creating popular content isn't easy. I should know! I've been producing site content for clients for almost 20 years. Along the way, I've picked up a few tricks that can make your content shareable and search engine friendly. Up until now I've been using all of these tricks for just for clients. Today, I'm going to share them with you.
my blog isn't popular
1. Always Include Interesting Images...and Then Some...
You probably know that you need an interesting photo to share your content on Pinterest. That goes for the rest of social media, too. Content that has photos gets more shares. For example, research done by Socialbakers.com and published by eMarketer reports that 75% of content posted on Facebook are images and found that images have an 84% interaction rate. Research by Media Blog also found that using photos gave Twitter users 35% bump in retweets.
Okay, so it's clear that people love images. I won't keep hammering it into your brain.
What types of images do people love most?
photos that affect twitter results
Glad you asked.
The Neilson Norman Group did some research on what photos draw the most attention. Here's what they found:
People love looking at people...but not generic people. So, don't use stock photos of people. Try illustrating your posts with pictures of you doing a task or having a reaction to the subject you're talking about.
If you post a photo of how to do something or a product, give them the option to see a larger version of the photo. The larger version should be at least twice as big. People want to see details!
Don't use photos as filler. The photo should be original and eye-catching, not a stock image.
Posting a photo with your blog text isn't enough, though. You want to make search engines find you using your photos, so make sure that you fill in the caption, Alt text section, description and meta with relevant keywords and phrases.
More images are better, too. The highest ranking articles have 3.2 photos (see the infographic at the end of this post).
2. Cook Up a Title that Gets Attention
Back in the day, any informative title would get your blog post great views. Now, there's too much competition. If you don't stand out you don't get views.
The best way to craft a title that people pay attention to is to play on emotions. Make the title:
Shock
Make the reader feel guilty
Make the reader curious
Make the reader feel mad
Make the reader feel like they are going to get a deal (free is always a good word to use)
You get the idea. Here's an infographic to give you some title ideas. (Pro tip: There is more of this post below the infographic.)
Use emotion in your marketing.
3. Meta It Up
Yoast SEO Plugin
Did you know that every single page on your site has its own meta? This helps search engines find your new blog post and help it rank. The best way to add meta to your blog post is to use a plugin like Yoast. (No, I don't get anything for telling you about Yoast. I just think it's great.) It's free, and it makes adding meta easy while it guides you through toning up your SEO in every area of your post.
4. Link Up with Success
You've probably heard that adding links to reputable sites will get you more search engine love. That's true, but there is another reason that you should add links. Links to further information on the topics in your post shows your readers that you care. You don't just try to tell them what you want them to know; you go the extra step to give them even more information. Your readers will appreciate that and will come back to you. They will also be more likely to share your post with others if it's chock full of helpfulness. The highest ranking articles have around 10 links. Mind you, these articles are over 1,000 words. You wouldn't put that many links into a shorter article.
5. Don't Be Boring!
The most popular posts are entertaining. That doesn't mean that you need to be Jim Carry wild to get laughs, but you can inject personal stories into your posts, touching customer testimonials or a joke or two that goes with your post.
The Perfect Blog Post Infographic
Is There Such a Thing as Too Many Sales?
For those who run home businesses, (like a freelance writing business!) there are a number of unique challenges you're likely to face. For example, you end up with a huge spike in sales in a short space of time. It might sound funny, but when that happens it can be something of a nightmare. Suddenly, having lots of sales to deal with is a drain on resources.
If you’re just starting out, you might be wondering what you need to do to keep on top of it all. Here's what you need to know.
Freelance writing business
Tell The Taxman
First, let’s think about the legal implications. Whatever you earn, you need to declare. So, when you suddenly start bringing in more you'll want to make sure that you keep the IRS informed as to what is going on in your business financially.
This doesn’t mean you have to do it straight away, but you should at least remember to keep records as well as you can. The more you stay above board, the easier the whole process is, so this is a vital first consideration when your sales start to spike.
office supplies for a writer
Switch To Buying Online
You’ll need to start trying to find ways to make better use of your number one resource: time. A great way to do this is to start buying all those essential little things online rather than at the store. This is true for everything right down to the smallest items of stationery.
In fact, it is often the smallest things where this is truest, partly because going out and buying them constantly takes up so much time. I have an Amazon Business account, which gives me discounts and makes it easy to keep up with what I spend.
Even stamps can be bought online - you just purchase and then print them on a printer. Doing this will save you plenty of time, allowing you to deal with the sudden influx of sales.
Consider Hiring Help
You might well be used to working alone, especially if you have your home office all set up there. But when things start going haywire, it might be time to start hiring some outside help.
This can come in a number of forms. It might be that you want to actually take someone on as an assistant in your business. This will depend on space and what kind of money you have spare, of course, but it might be worthwhile. You might alternatively decide to use the online workforce which already exists, and outsource some work to other remote workers.
However you decide to do it, getting some help is likely to prove useful in the long run. Don’t go it alone if you think that you really can’t manage.
Bonus tip: Here are How to Increase Sales – 25 Tips from the Pros that can help you uplevel, too.
What to get to the point where you have more work than you can handle? Then read my book. It has surefire ways to get clients and to build your business, whether you are a newbie or a seasoned writer:
The Fluff-Free Freelance Writing Master Course: The only course that gives you concrete, actionable information to building a successful freelance business without any fluff.
What's the Difference Between Copy and Content?
Do I need a copywriter or a content writer? Is there a difference?
Is it copy or content?
I've been asked this so many times. In fact, I just saw someone ask this question in a copywriting forum on Facebook. Some writers don't even know the difference!
I've written articles about it for other websites, but I thought I should probably lay down the knowledge here, too. Let's get started.
The Difference Between Copywriting and Content Writing...In a Nutshell
There's probably going to be arguments about this. Some people feel that content and copywriting are the same thing, but it really isn't in my opinion. Here's the low-down:
Copy is marketing writing that does nothing but sell, like an ad or a marketing email. Content sells and/or informs or entertains.
Let's look at some examples.
Copywriting from the Coke website.
This example from the Coke Rewards website is simple copywriting. The whole goal of the text is to get visitors to sign up for Coke's new reward program so Coke can sell more soda. That's it.
This text is by the same company, but it is classified as content instead of copy.
This text is also presented by Coke. It's sole objective is to tell visitors about the mission and vision of the company. While its overall purpose is to convey a positive feeling about the Coca-cola corporation, it also informative. A kid who is writing a school paper about Coke could go to this page and be supplied with facts about the company's mission. This makes the text content.
What you're reading right now is content, by the way. The text on this page of my site, though, is copy.
Do You Need to Hire a Copywriter or a Content Writer?
You can take this quick test to decide whether you need to hire a copywriter or a content writer.
If you answer yes to these questions, you need a content writer:
Does the text need to draw in traffic?
Will the text be informative or used to engage the visitor?
Will this text be shareable?
If you answer yes to these questions, you need a copywriter:
Is the intent of this text to sell?
Will the content have a call-to-action?
Will the content be used for direct mailings, sales emails, homepages or social media?
What if you need both? What if you need copy and content? Well, there are writers that do both types of writing very well. For example, I've written copy and content for big and small companies and they have been very happy with the results.
What's the Difference Between Journalism and Content Writing?
Paid news isn't ethical. Don't get greedy.
There's one more type of writing I think I should talk about before I close out this post: journalism. Business owners tend to get news and content writing confused. A news article is one that excludes bias towards a business, product or person. So, if you are paying a writer to create a news article about your business to be published in a magazine or newspaper, that's unethical.
Think about this scenario:
A business owner contacts a journalist that writes for a print or online newspaper or magazine and asks if the writer would do an article about the business. The business promises to pay the writer for an article or a mention. The writer agrees and the article is published.
A totally legit transaction, right? NOPE. This is an incredibly shady practice.
A news article is defined as written content that excludes bias towards a business, product or person. If the writer is being paid by a business, there's no way the article isn't biased.
Most, if not all, news publications have rules about this sort of thing. As a writer, taking a payment is a great way to get fired and have your name smeared from here to eternity.
(For everyone about to leave a comment about big media: I'm not naive enough to think that money never exchanges hands in journalism, but that doesn't mean it's okay.)
If your business has a newsworthy story then you shouldn't have to pay for news coverage. A publication will want to cover your story. Plus, a publication writer is already getting paid from their publication. If they get paid by the business and the publication they're just double-dipping.
The exception to this rule is blogging. Independent bloggers don't get paid by a publication and may require payment to cover your business. This is called a sponsored post.
Okay, so that's your three basic types of text that can be found online and in print.
Achieve Any Goal with These 4 Steps
US Women’s National Team midfielder Carli Lloyd visualized herself scoring a bunch of goals in the World Cup final in 2015. She netted three in the first 16 minutes of play to propel USA to victory. She got her goals. Literally. Here's how you can, too.
Carli Lloyd USA Women's World Cup
Use Visualization to Achieve Your Goals, Too
“There’s a four step process that when applied, works wonders in helping you achieve your goals,” says Life Coach, Anne Deidre. “Whether it’s the World Cup, losing weight or starting your own business, whatever you want to do, you can!”
The 4 Step Process To Achieve Any Goal
Get An Idea – Pay attention to those light bulbs that go off in your head. Dream big and set your goal.
Visualize It As If It’s REAL – Imagine you are already doing what you set your sights on and, here’s the key, feel the feelings that come with it. See it and feel it as if it is already a part of your life. What emotions are running through you when you put on your dream jeans and they fit? When you open your doors for business?
Map Out Your Plan – Get a calendar out and pen, not pencil, in time for you to work towards your goal. Even if you are a busy mom, you can carve out time. Plan meals in advance, schedule activities in advance and STICK TO IT.
Take Action – Because you’ve been thinking, seeing, feeling and planning for your success, by the time you take action, everything is in alignment. What you do will flow effortlessly, moving your goal closer and closer until you can reach out and grab it!
Is your goal to become a successful writer? You need my book:
The Fluff-Free Freelance Writing Master Course: The only course that gives you concrete, actionable information to building a successful freelance business without any fluff.
How Your Small Business Could Attract Independent Contributors
Most people who are brave enough to set up their own small business have some form of adequate multitasking skills. However many small businesses get stuck and find that they don’t see growth. You may not be seeing a decline in sales and dissatisfaction from customers, but you just can’t seem to break through a monthly target. You as the business owner are the main voice in deciding what direction the products and services your company provides go. However, a lack of different voices can slow the efficiency of a business down and damage a company’s appeal. Enlisting the services of people who can bring a fresh, new perspective to your small business can inject a much-needed dosage of innovation.
hiring freelancers
Attracting Professionals
First and foremost you must have multiple reasons for independent professionals to work with you. Free agents in the world of business are more than likely looking for two things: a challenge that they can sink their teeth into, and a reliable employer with a valid payment scheme.
Researching, developing and making a new product, something which your business has never tried, is a great incentive for independents. It shows you’re expanding and you’re serious about a new project, therefore, the jobs that you will offer will have some kind of short-term permanency.
A contract is a very serious agreement in the world of employment and especially in the world of business. You could show the pool of talent you have all your ducks in order and ready to go with a carefully written temporary contract and/or job advertisement, you may see an overflow of applicants all vying to please your needs.
Supply, Order and Payment
You also need to show you’re good for payment. It’s not just the challenges of your project that should be alluring, but the instantaneous and modern form of paying wages.
When you allocated them a task, you’re essentially ordering from a supplier. The supplier will give you back completed work in the desired fashion, thus adding to a project’s completion. You’ll then be given an invoice by the freelancer for the amount of work they have completed for you.
For a consistent and trustworthy technology that can decipher invoices without the need for manual input, get answers at www.dataserv.com/solutions/ap-automation. This type of services eliminates the need for an accounts payable department because it can read and automate all of the figures and names on invoices.
If you like the manual approach, I prefer PayPal's invoice system.
Becoming Part of the Team
Finally, the temporary part-time or freelancer staff you hire should be made to feel a part of the regular working staff. Human relationships in business are crucial to a smooth running machine and to prevent hiccups due to the lack of communication.
You could offer the option of working in your offices so the hire can take part in the decision making. This also gives you a chance to see whether a short-term role can be transitioned into a permanent full-time role. You may find that taking freelancers to business expos, presentations and pitches will also tighten them into the fabric of your business and allow you to get the best out of them.
Great Freelancing Ideas For Stay-At-Home Moms
Being a stay-at-home mom is a dream for many, but it's hard to do when you need to make a living. I've been there. I decided to build a business from home, while I raised my babies. Now, I'm successful and my babies are teens. If I can do it, you can too!
Try these money making ventures to fill your days and your bank account.
Freelance Writing
If you love to write, then freelance writing may be for you. That's what I do. I built my company during nap times and often with a toddler on my lap as I typed. I write articles, blogs and sale's copy for websites. If you'd like a step-by-step guide to becoming a freelance writer, grab a copy of my book The Fluff-Free Freelance Writing Master Course: The only course that gives you concrete, actionable information to building a successful freelance business without any fluff.
wham
Open An Etsy Shop
Etsy is a great place for crafty people to sell their goods. There’s all sorts of items on there. Always check the competition first. You aren’t likely to get very far if there are already lots of shops selling the same kind of thing.
This is perfect for stay at home moms because you can get the kids to help out with making your products so it gives you a good opportunity to spend time with them doing something fun while making some extra money at the same time.Visit http://stay-a-stay-at-home-mom.com/selling-on-etsy.html for some great tips on how to make yourself stand out from the rest of the stores on there.
Blogging
Maybe you should start an advice blog? It doesn’t have to be anything about parenting if you don’t want it to be. If you’re considering starting an Etsy shop, you could do a craft blog about how you make your products. Whatever you decide to do, there are plenty of different ways that you can monetize your blog.
If you don’t want to commit to maintaining your own blog, you could look into writing guest posts for other people. There are so many different sites out there that are looking for guest writers and you can decide how much work you want to take on each week. Just by doing a quick Google search you should be able to find some blogs looking for guest writers.
Dog Walking
If you’re an animal lover, you could earn money for spending time with dogs all day. Sounds pretty perfect, doesn’t it? It’s easy to set up your own dog walking service. Just get a few flyers printed online and hand them out around the local area. You can also advertise on sites like Craigslist to find more work. Sites like https://www.rover.com list dog walking jobs in your local area so it’s a great place to get started. It’s a brilliant way to earn extra money and get a bit of exercise while you do it.
How to Move from a Home Office to a Commercial Building
So, it’s come time to say goodbye to the home office. At least, it won’t be your central point of operations now because you’re moving up in the world! You’ve got yourself a commercial office space, likely because you need to scale up. But, any drastic move in business comes with its own risks. What are the road bumps that you would be better off avoiding?
Anticipate Those Overheads
One of the reasons that so many people start a business from home is because of the extremely low overheads involved in running the business. Now that you’re moving, you need to look over the finances of the business again.
Look beyond how you’re going to budget the initial move and any down payments or security funds. What are the costs you have to start considering? Don’t go into a new office without creating a financial plan for how you’ll handle the operating costs.
getting an office for your freelance business
Think About How You’ll Use that Space
A return on investment is what you’re looking to get from any property. In this case, the space has to allow for as much workplace productivity as possible. You and your team have to be able to do the work there that can make up for the costs and then some.
To that end, planning out your space can be one of the most effective steps.
How do you lay out desks?
Do you have zones appropriate for solo work and cooperation?
What resources will the team share and where is the most convenient place in the office for them all?
These are all questions you must consider.
Minimize Your Downtime
You’re going to need to plan some downtime while you move the setup from one business to the next. Planning for it is crucial, but so is making sure you minimize it as much as possible. Pair with commercial movers and find your furniture and tech suppliers well in advance. Make sure the dominoes are all ready to set up by moving day so that when it comes, everything moves as one. The sooner you get yourself set up, the sooner you’re back in business.
running a writing business
Know Your Responsibilities
Once you’re in an office, the responsibilities you deal with change somewhat. Most crucial is the health and safety of the work environment. But you might also be moving from remote freelancers working alongside you to more permanently situated employees, so know their rights and draft up a formal company policy to deal with them. You also have to consider employee morale and relationships from now on, forming a corporate culture that enhances their efforts.
Keep Everyone Updated
If your customers or clients don’t know how to reach you after you’ve moved, you obviously have a major problem. Publicly display the pertinent information on your website and social media. Go through your contacts list and update your most important clients.
There are others you need to inform when changing your business address, too. Don’t forget to keep it all above board by informing the postal service, the federal revenue service, and so on.
Some upheaval, some stress, and some unexpected costs should be anticipated. But so long as you avoid the major problems mentioned above, your move should get you into the next phase of business as quick as possible. Now, it’s about finding your next step upwards.
3 Things You Need To Do If You Want More Website Traffic
Seeing your shiny new business website for the first time, you might feel a significant burst of pride. This is your very own online space where you can show your customers exactly what you’re all about – after all, despite the rise of social media, websites are still the number one place customers visit when they want to find out more about a company. You may have got website developers in to do the work for you, or perhaps you’ve put the time into learning about website building and have produced the whole thing by yourself. Whichever it is, you now just need one thing – people to come and see it! One common mistake many business owners make is creating a stunning, functional website, and then simply expecting the online traffic to flow. The reality is, most people are not going to know whether your website was there from one day to the next. It might be a thing of beauty, but you still need to put in the ground work to persuade people to come and look at it. The website simply ‘existing’ regrettably won’t cut it. Ready to start bringing in the clients? Here are some of the top ways you can attract more traffic to your website.
how to get website traffic
Make Sure the Content is Relevant
You may think that it's vital your potential customer is exposed to as much information as possible regarding what you can offer them. But achieving this in an online format isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Websites with too much information on them not only look messy – they can also appear spam-like, and you will struggle to get them to work well with search engines. Undertake an online mba marketing strategy so you know exactly what kind of content works in the digital age. Keeping things smart yet concise tends to be the general trick here.
Share Wisely
You may be anxious about putting your company website ‘out there,' but how else are people going to find it? Use your business’s social media accounts to link back to your website, and make sure it is fully optimized for mobile usage as well.
You may also want to look into linking your website on other online pages, in a process known as link-building. Or, you could attempt to do this organically, by directly interacting with influential marketers such as bloggers yourself. Occasionally, linking up with other local businesses can too pay off, but just be wary of getting too involved with any direct competition.
Optimize SEO
If you’ve been in business for a while, chances are you have a basic understanding of the ins and outs of SEO. But if these techniques are not yet getting you the results you want, it may be time to go rogue. Examples of advanced SEO techniques include using Adwords in your on-page copy and utilizing facilities such as Google Search Console (a tool that helps you identify discrepancies in your rankings). If you don’t feel confident engaging in more complicated SEO matters, or you simply don’t have the time, you could always consider outsourcing your SEO expert instead.
Software to Improve B2B Customer Relations
When talking about customers, most of the focus relies on the everyday consumer, without regard to how the B2B business world has changed over the years. For example, businesses today expect to be treated relatively similar to how companies treat the consumer. They want to be able to buy stock or materials from suppliers through an online portal. They expect to be able to see where their stock is and have shipping information. They want to be kept in the loop. With today’s technology, it is easy to provide this level of service to them, but you don’t want to make it easy to make just one sale. You want to create a long-lasting relationship with all the businesses you partner with.
To accomplish this level of partnership, you will want to start using these top five software programs in your business today:
Attracting Customers
One of the first things you need to note when it comes to B2B operations is that businesses are very effective at sourcing out suppliers. In fact, it is estimated that almost 57% of businesses have already done their research long before they ever contact you, which means that you need to provide information to them readily without them requiring to make the first contact.
Blogging Software
Blogging is a great way to show your expertise to potential business customers. It is considered one of the most powerful methods you can use to acquire new B2B customers again and again.
Digital Communication
You want your business to be available for a phone call or email at any time of the day, but that isn’t the only way you can improve customer relations and get that next client on board. A great method today is to use website chat boxes. Much like social media chat boxes, these are located on your website and allow businesses to ask questions in a low-key way.
For existing customers, however, you will want to add a more human touch. Invest in a quality conference camera and conference software so that you can host meetings in your boardroom to clients anywhere in the world. Seeing someone and hearing them in a face-to-face capacity is a great way to improve B2B customer relations.
Improving Customer Relations
For larger businesses who work with suppliers and businesses alike, it is recommended that you investigate the Omnia product suite for SAP running organisations. This can be customized to your needs, but one platform you absolutely should have is:
Omnia B2B Ecommerce
To provide an easy way to purchase online from your range of products you will want to use an Omnia B2B eCommerce platform, which can provide a custom experience depending on the type of business you are working with. Use Omnia to safeguard your SAP investment and provide greater service to your B2B customers. With the product suite offered by weaveability.com, Omnia can easily be implemented within your existing SAP ERP environment and put to work with ease.
Improvements You Should Make to Your Freelance Writing Career
freelance writing
Becoming a successful freelance writer isn't easy. A lot of people hope they can make a career out of doing it on a full-time basis, but a lot of people end up going back to the daily grind after a few months. This doesn’t have to happen to you. Here are some improvements you should make for your freelance writing career to get it off to a great start.
Work at Making Your Proposal Perfect
Proposals are just part of the biz, so you need to learn how to make glittering beacons that potential clients will respond to. A good proposal explains exactly what you can offer a client and details the experience you have, usually in the form of an email. It can be difficult to make yours stand out from the crowd when the client will be getting proposals from tons of people, though.
Here are some tips:
Make sure your email subject line is on point. Make it something eye catching without being too mysterious.
Double and triple-check the spelling and grammar in your proposal. Clients don't want writers that can't even send them an error-free email.
Talk about the experience you have which relates to the job at hand. Leave out any unnecessary tidbits about your life.
Link to at least three previous freelance jobs you have completed. That way, they get a good look at what you have done before.
If you can, break up information with bullet points.
Keep it short. Three short paragraphs is plenty.
Improve Your Writing Skills
If you are struggling to gain freelancing writing jobs, you need to take a good look at your writing. After all, if it’s not up to a high standard, you are going to struggle to win jobs and you might not get repeat work if you are doing a poor job. Here are a few ways to get up to snuff:
Keep a current copy of AP Style near your computer and check it when you have a question.
Blog, blog, blog. Writing your own blog gives you the practice you need to hone your writing skills.
how to become a freelance writer
Work on Your Timekeeping Skills
When you're freelance writing, you'll often have deadlines. You need to ensure you stick to these deadlines or your career as a writer won't go far. After all, being reliable can help you win over clients to gain some more freelancing work. Here are some tips for getting your work delivered on time, every time:
Set up a Google Calendar (which is free!) or keep a desk calendar specifically for scheduling client work.
Cut big projects into smaller parts and spread it through your time allotted.
Time yourself when doing projects so you know exactly how much time to block out in your schedule for each client and each task.
Give yourself an extra day. Always plan to finish a project a day early. If something comes up, you always have that extra day of cushion.
For step-by-step instructions on how to go from a newbie to a successful freelance writer, check out my book:
The Fluff-Free Freelance Writing Master Course: The only course that gives you concrete, actionable information to building a successful freelance business without any fluff.
Simplifying Your Startup: Three Tasks To Outsource (That You Probably Hadn't Considered!)
Want your business to be more efficient? Why not consider outsourcing some of your tasks to virtual staff? Not only does it mean that you don’t have to manage a hundred and one jobs in-house, but it also ensures each area is up to date on the law and being performed to the highest standard. Chances are, you’ve already considered outsourcing jobs such as payroll, HR and fulfillment to make things easier for yourself, but there are quite a few other tasks to you could have taken care of that you might not have thought of.
Here are just a few of them!
Three Tasks To Outsource
Credit
As a business, you of course receive a lot of mail. Instead of hiring another receptionist to trawl through it all each day, why not outsource it and sign up to an internet mailing service?
They help you to create a ‘paperless office’ and can make things quicker and more convenient for you too. They scan and upload your documents, so you have access to them any time, ad they can also deposit checks and pay bills. These companies are very secure, so you have peace of mind that everything is being handled safely and efficiently.
If you’re currently working from home, a mailing address gives you a physical office address too- better than a PO box as it looks more professional.
Blog Writing
Blogging is a fantastic way to promote your business, gain a loyal following and improve your website’s ranking in Google search. The higher the page rank, the more organic traffic you’re likely to get. It’s the perfect way to show potential customers that you’re a professional business who knows their stuff- basically there are plenty of great reasons why you should be getting on board.
You could outsource the work to a company, or sign up to a freelancing site as a customer and hire freelance writers- there are always hundreds online at any time who are ready to go.
State what you want the post to be about and if there are any points you’d like them to include and within a day or two you have fantastic, unique and interesting content ready to be published on your blog.
Video Editing
Creating your own video content makes your company look professional, and can help to grab potential customers attention. Perhaps you want a welcome video on the main page of your website, or want to create a ‘how to use’ guide for your products or services? Perhaps you want to create a Youtube channel and publish videos that can be integrated into your blog content. Either way, you need the help of a skilled video editor. Rather than hiring additional people on your team, it’s much easier to outsource the work instead.
While outsourcing tasks does come at a cost, it can actually work out cheaper in the long run. You don't have to employ as many workers, and it also ensures everything is done to the highest standard without you having to oversee each job.
Infographic: Social Media Post Idea Templates
How to write a good social media post.
At a loss for social media post ideas? Well, this infographic has you covered. All you need to do is fill in the blank with information that will make the post pertinent to your industry. Absolutely fool proof! Feel free to share this post. Embedding code is below.
Use this code to embed this infographic on your site: <iframe width="891" height="2683" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="overflow-y:hidden;" src="http://www.easel.ly/index/embedFrame/easel/2225792"></iframe>
How to Automate Your Social Media Accounts for Free
social media accounts
Keeping up with various social media accounts can be a pain when you have a business to run. If you're like me, you have a Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram account. You know you are supposed to post regularly to get the most benefit from each site, but who has the time, am I right?
Well, the best way to solve your problem is to automate your social media accounts. It's easy to spend big bucks on social media automation, but I've tried and rounded up the best free options for you.
Klout
Cost: Free
Works with: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Blogger, Google+ and LinkedIn
I have to say, out of all the free automation tools for social media that I've tried, Klout is one of my favorites.
I remember when Klout first hit the scene. Everyone I knew was saying things like, "How does Klout decide on your Klout score? It's just an arbitrary number used to lure you into paying them!"
Since then, Klout has revealed how they come up with their Klout score. It basically rates how well you use your social media accounts. Really, the score was only helpful if you were trying to prove to a potential employer or client that you're good at using social media. (My Klout score is 60, which puts me in the top 10% of social media users, by the way. Not an easy task!)
Sharing content using Klout is easy.
Time went on and now Klout offers users a very useful way to automate their social media accounts with fresh, interesting content. To access it, download the Klout app on your phone or log into the site and click on "create" option on the left side of the screen. By adding keywords that target your follower's interests, Klout will find interesting articles that you can share, complete with photos and links. You can schedule posts to go out whenever you like.
[bctt tweet="Forget when social media experts tell you to post. Here's a customized approach. "]
automating social media with klout
My favorite part is that Klout will analyze your social media accounts and tell you when is the best time to share your posts to reach the largest number of people. Forget when social media experts tell you to post. Now you have individualized times that fit your audience right there, plotted out for you.
Klout will also measure the amount of engagement your posts get and will suggest people that you should follow based on your interests.
The only drawback to Klout is that the apps a little glitchy. The benefits are well worth the glitchiness, though.
Crowdfire review
Crowdfire
Cost: Free
Works with: Twitter and Instagram
Crowdfire is my second favorite app for organizing my social media feeds. You can only use it with Twitter and Instagram, though.
It's key feature is that it sends automated welcome messages to your new followers. This allows you to send out a CTA (call to action) so new followers can visit your website or follow you on other social media.
Crowdfire also helps you find new people to follow and tracks your new followers and unfollowers. Don't like to follow people that aren't following you back? It generates a list of non-followers so that you can go through and clean house.
Buffer
Cost: Free
Works with: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+
Buffer is a lot like Klout because you can use it to schedule social media posts in advance.
Buffer's best feature is its Power Scheduler. This feature allows you to schedule a post to repost in a few hours, days or months on multiple accounts.
buffer review
Another great feature is that by adding Buffer to your browser, you can craft posts from any account while you're using it. A Buffer button is added to the post screen. After you press it, you can add a post to your schedule or add multiple posts, so there's no need to log onto your Buffer account in another tab.
buffer tools
Also like Klout, Buffer analyzes your posts to tell you which ones got engagement and which ones totally bombed.
a tweet's engagment
So, there you go. All the automation and analysis that you could want for your social media accounts, free! Do you have any social media tools that you love that I didn't list?
Want to join me on Twitter? I'm @alinabradford.
Follow Baiting: The Great Lie of Twitter
Twitter tips
Can we chat? I want to talk about something that I have been seeing a lot on Twitter: Follow Baiting. (Yes, I coined that term and yes, you can use it.)
It's when:
You follow someone
Wait until they follow you
Then unfollow that person
What is the purpose of this? When nice people see that someone is following, they usually follow back. There are people out there that have learned how to exploit nice people. These people believe that if your following number is much lower than your follower number you look like an expert with, well, a following. These people will do anything to make their follower numbers inflate, from buying followers to follow baiting.
There are several reasons why you shouldn't follow bait. First, it's kinda mean taking advantage of people's niceness to make yourself look better. Second, who's to say you aren't follow baiting someone who is just going to unfollow you right back when you unfollow?
I've been tracking follow baiting for the past few weeks. Here's the pattern I've observed:
One guy follows someone
Waits for the follow
Then unfollows
The other guy unfollows the first guy because they got unfollowed
A few days later, the first guy refollows the second guy
The process restarts all over again
It's a big old fat waste of time for everyone involved. People today use sites like Just Unfollow to track who's following them and who isn't. If you follow bait, you aren't fooling anyone. Get your followers with legit tactics, like tweeting things that people want to read and share, or hire someone to do it for you, like me.
Follow me on Twitter: @alinabradford
Be the Expert! Hold a Seminar for Your Business
business help
Positioning yourself as an expert and finding new clients are two things that are very important in the world of freelancing and small business. In fact, they are two things that feed on each other. The more expert you seem, the more clients you get, and the more clients you get, the more expert you seem! But is there a way you can kill two birds with one stone, here?
Well, there are several ways of bringing attention to yourself in a way that shows your expertise. Blogs are one of the most popular and effective ways of doing so. But if you want to take things a step further, then you should consider holding a seminar or a similar type of talk.
Whether you’re hosting or speaking at the event for customers or for clients, this idea can really take your business and your reputation to new heights. This is a quick guide to getting started with this endeavor!
seminar for businesses
Choosing Your Topic
So what exactly should you be talking about or instructing on? You should, of course, ensure that it has something to do with your expertise and specific business field. If you have a particular success story, then this always makes for a good jumping off point when it comes brainstorming topics.
Let’s assume you’re a freelance writer. You have loads of topics you could discuss. How to create eye-opening content, how to get more clients, how to keep sane as a home-based writer… there’s a bunch of things you could talk about in this profession that will interest others!
The Venue
How does one pick a venue? Don’t make the mistake of booking one and then trying to fill it up; you should start with a rough estimate of how many people are interested in attending (and can actually attend - someone who lives in another country who displays interest probably won’t turn up!)
Creating event pages on Facebook or running polls on Twitter can be a great way of gauging serious interest. If you can find a venue in a central area that’s fairly low-cost, then this is a pretty good bet. Public places like churches and schools often have areas you can rent with relative ease. If you want something more high-class, then hotel conference rooms and restaurants may be good bets!
ted talk
Getting the Word Out
That interest gauging and rough estimate of possible attendees isn’t all you should do. Once the venue is selected and you’ve got times locked down, you should make sure that word about the event is spread out as far as possible.
Free publicity can be found by taking to social media and confirming the event as booked; this can generate more interest than the initial interest gauging posts.
You can also look into paid advertisements, which will help you get the word out even further. Be sure that such marketing is targeted, however. You don’t want to spend a load of money on a vague digital marketing campaign that spreads the word out just about anywhere. If you run a freelance writing business, for example, you should be running ads in business- and writing-oriented journals and websites.
seminar for your business
Sharing
So what happens when all is said and done? Well, if you want to record the event, then this could give you even more opportunity for exposure and positioning yourself as an expert. Recording the event as a video is the best way to go about it.
You can upload the video onto the Internet for viewing and sharing; you can also look into getting assistance from print businesses such as Clone Media if you want to get it printed as a DVD that can be given away.
You can also take the audio from the video file and upload it as a podcast or a standard .mp3 on your website. Basically, you can turn your seminar or talk into web content, increasing the chances that people will become interested in you and your business! Just look at the success of TED’s online content if you’re skeptical!
The Follow-Up
Once the event is done, ensure that you know as much as possible about its impact. If you get registration data from employees in the form of email addresses, then you can keep in touch with them in the form of newsletters. If they want to send you feedback or engage in further discussion about the topic, then encourage them to do so. If you share the content online, then make sure you pay attention to the feedback you’re getting there. This can help you sharpen your focus if you feel like ever doing it again!
Putting The "Free" In "Freelancing"
freelance life
Although it’s indicative of an easy life for a lot of people, the freelancer lifestyle is not always what it seems. Now, being a freelancer is, for all intents and purposes, running a one-person business. You should treat yourself as a commodity. This is how you'll make progress, but we’ve all hit those snags where we're on the brink of giving up and getting a “proper” job. This is why you should never do that…
The Freedom...
It's not just the waking up whenever you want, there's a greater sense of control over your life. This is why so many people are turning towards freelancing. It’s not just Millennials leaning towards self-employment as a means of earning their crust. The appeal has spread to all walks of life, from those that are looking for a new way to earn money, to those that have been so dissatisfied with their 30-year career that they’re looking for something that they actually care about. The freedom that comes with running your own life is very liberating and is probably the most enticing thing about this line of work.
And besides, if you look at the standard term of “permanent employment,” the average amount of time is now between six months to a year; is this “permanent?” It doesn’t sound like it to me. It’s much better working in a position with a lot more emotional freedom rather than somewhere where you have to potentially clock in and out, and you may be out the door in six months anyway!
The Control...
When the stock market crashed in 2008, many people were so desperately unemployed, that they took to getting a business loan and started running their own small businesses. It turned out to be the best decision they ever made. It’s almost as if they woke up finally, and they kissed goodbye to their old lives.
Being plunged into that situation made them adopt a sink or swim mentality, and for a freelancer, this is what gives you the edge over many others. It’s a great quality. It keeps you on your toes and makes you realize what you're all about.
The Hard Times...
We’ve all been there, when we’re feeling overwhelmed and wonder why we’re even trying to make a living going from paycheck to paycheck (or invoice to invoice). But everyone has had their huge struggles, from Steve Jobs to Hillary Clinton, and every great mind you can think of. Look at this site of leadership quotes if you're ever lacking in inspiration, and realize that you're not alone. And although everyone might be pushing at you to join the rat race again, do you really want to hand over that sense of control to someone else? I didn't think so.
So if you ever think about throwing in the towel, I've got one question to ask: Even though you' could be struggling for money and you’ve got to take on more work than you're capable of, are you happier now than you ever have been?
9 Awesome Tips To Improve Social Marketing
Guest post
Social media marketing is really effective if used the right way. Considering the number of people getting information online, it is easier for you to reach out to them by using social media.
It is important to note that not everyone can be reached online. There are those who are willing to read your ads while others would simply ignore you. You should find a way to listen to them and gradually engage with them.
Make them feel like you are interested in addressing their needs. Respond to their questions. Leave comments when they say something good about your business. Share their responses or retweet them. This will definitely make them more connected to you.
Social media marketing takes time to take off. You reach a lot of people in one post, but not all of them would respond to you. Take time listening to them and find a way to improve your company based on their suggestions.
As long as they feel like you really care about them and not just in improving your sales, they will be more supportive of you. If possible, hire someone to be your IT guy. You want someone to manage your account so that you can easily respond to all inquiries or suggestions.
The infographic below shows some of the most effective tips to increase your social media presence and be appreciated by a lot of people. Hopefully, this turns into something great for your business. If social media is used wisely, it can go a long way.
Leap Of Faith: From Freelancer To Managing Director
Business tips for freelance writers
Becoming an independent freelancer can be a pretty bold step to take, but transitioning from freelancer to business owner is a much bigger one. It creates a shift in your responsibilities, your needs and how you operate. The challenges change and become bigger, but they are so worth taking on because a being a freelance copywriter compared to being the managing director of an agency has huge rewards.
The most complex part of the process is knowing how. That is why I have come up with a list of steps you can proactively take to make the shift from self-employed freelancer to a business owner, AKA the boss.
Stop Marketing Yourself
If you want prospective clients and customers to think they are dealing with a legitimate and thriving business, then you need to market yourself as exactly that. Stop using the word ‘I’ and start using the word ‘We’.
Don’t stop there either.
Establish the core value of your company
Sell your business on your website
Have a company email address
Change your email signature to MD
Tweak your invoices so the numbering starts at 1100 and not 1.
Little things make a big impact.
Get Your Money Right
If you want to take your career to the next level then you are going to need to have the cash to do that. It is always worth luring in the bigger fish first, but at some point, you will need to consider small business loans to grow to where you want to be. When you’re freelance, you can weather dry months. When you have overheads, like salaries, you need to have a cash flow that will sustain this. In order to make money, you have to spend money; it is the golden rule of business.
Up The Advertising Ante
Thomas Jefferson said it best, "The man who stops advertising to save money is like the man who stops the clock to save time." To grow a business, you have got to invest in advertising and keep the pressure on. Don’t just think it is enough to do a radio advert or stick to Facebook; success and growth come from the best cohesive strategies. Diversify your ad strategy.
Refine What You Do
It is imperative for you to have a quality assurance strategy in place if you are to be a successful agency. Quality assurances means your customers and clients are getting a consistently good product.
It is also the best way to build a brand. Think about McDonald’s. You know what you are getting from a Big Mac no matter what branch you go to. That is consistency synonymous with their brand. It will take some time to get the processes perfect, but keep working on them until they are finely tuned and everything replicates time after time. This includes training new staff, coming up with fresh content, engaging with clients, briefing employees, dealing with issues, editing scripting problems, beta testing... everything and anything you can think of.