10 Job Boards for Freelance Writers

If you’re on the hunt for a job with flexible working hours and great income potential, freelance writing is one opportunity you’ll want to check out. Being a freelance writer allows you to work from home (or a coffee shop, or your daughter’s ballet recital if necessary). And while it may be hard to imagine making an income while lounging about the house in your pajamas, there are plenty of people in the world who are able to make a great full-time income exclusively through freelance writing.

Of course, with the same draws that come with freelance writing, there are some drawbacks. One such drawback is the need to be continuously seeking out new work. Even seasoned freelance writers will have dry spells between clients when it will be necessary to seek out new work, but if you’re just breaking into the freelance industry, a large portion of your day will be spent looking for work. Freelance job boards are a great solution to this problem, helping connect freelance writers to the people who need them. If that sounds like a perfect place for you, then you’ll want to check out the websites on this list of 10 legitimate job boards for freelance writers.

Upwork

Upwork is one of the leading freelance job boards on the web right now, and most freelance writers have made an appearance there at one point or another. One great thing about Upwork is that the freelance work available is not just limited to one type of writing—or to writing at all. Instead, people and companies both can post listings for jobs that need to be done, leading to an endless bevy of opportunities.

In turn, freelancers can put in a bid on the jobs they’re interested in. Typical bids include not only a price point, but also a cover letter indicating why you’d be the best fit for the job and links to any relevant freelance writing you’ve done that they can use as an indication of your capabilities.

An overall great job board, the one struggle with Upwork is that because it’s so popular and trusted, new freelancers may have a hard time getting their toe in the door without much of a portfolio to speak of. Still, it’s a great site to have in your back pocket, even if it’s not one you spend a lot of time on until you’re a little more established.

Pitchwiz

Check out my review of this great, high-quality job board here.

Verblio

Once known as BlogMutt, this job board has recently been rebranded as Verblio. Verblio specializes in companies that need frequent content on certain topics. Writers can write articles within these topics for companies, and the companies can choose the articles they like best.

Though the downside is that you only get paid for articles that get selected—and articles are sometimes not selected because the company has received too many on the same topic, not because there’s anything wrong with your writing—the upside is that it’s entirely possible to build a reputation with a company, making them more likely to choose your articles going forward or even request special projects from you.

FreelanceWriting.com

If “set it and forget it” is a phrase that you hold near and dear to your heart, FreelanceWriting.com may be the perfect place for you. They compile freelance writing opportunities from some popular sites, including Indeed.com, and send out a daily newsletter promoting some of the best freelance writing opportunities on the web.

Their website itself also helps connect writers to writing jobs, so on days you’re feeling more actively invested, you can go there for even more opportunities.

BloggingPro

BloggingPro looks more like a traditional job board than some of the other freelance writing job boards available, with multiple companies listing ads and freelance writers applying for them the way they might apply for any other job. One great thing about BloggingPro, however, is that it links to not only short-term freelance opportunities but also more traditional part-time and even long-term writing jobs, meaning you have a chance of landing a full-time client here if you time things correctly.

Online Writing Jobs

Online writing jobs is a job board with high expectations of its writers. In order to be approved to write for their site, you have to read and understand a litany of stylistic rules and regulations. The trade-off for the extra research—and, often, extra edits—that goes into their jobs is a higher pay rate on approved articles. This is also a great job board if you’re looking to grow your skills as a writer as it forces you to learn about different stylistic choices and to write to very unique criteria.

Text Broker

Text Broker is a great site for aspiring writers as it allows you to build your reputation over time. While early jobs will only earn pennies at a time, you get ranked as a writer the more you write. Higher rankings mean higher earning potential, so if you’re willing to hone your craft, you can make a halfway decent income through their jobs.

Writer Access

One unique aspect of Writer Access is the entry exam, which rates writers as they come in and gives them an initial star rating. This star rating helps determine pay rates and hourly rates for writers, setting everyone to a standard while rewarding some of the more skilled writers on the market. Writer Access also offers free online webinars and podcasts on being a content marketer, which makes it a great place to learn more about the industry while also writing for it.

JournalismJobs

Not all freelance writers want to write blogs or product descriptions. Freelance journalism jobs do exist, and JournalismJobs.com specifically caters to these jobs, as well as to more long-term journalism jobs. You can even narrow your search results by location and preferred salary range, allowing you to be a little more nuanced in your selection process.

All Freelance Writing

Another more traditional type of job board, All Freelance Writing stands out from the crowd because it clearly displays the pay range for writing jobs and the date they were posted, allowing you to determine at a glance whether or not a job is worth further investigation. They also make a point of only keeping listings on their site for 30 days or fewer, ensuring that you’re not wasting your time applying for jobs that have long expired.

3 Ways to Save Some Time in Your Workday

Sometimes you just can’t save time. After all, preparing for the important events you truly wish to get right does require a significant time investment. To meet quality and speed in the middle, you need to plan carefully, consider the right services, or ensure that you double and triple check your work after applying any time-saving measure. But there are also small, time-savers you can apply directly to your smaller working habits. Take a look at these three.

Presentations

If there’s anything that makes people nervous, it’s public speaking. Not only do they have to communicate your points efficiently, but also in an assertive, collected and punctual manner. This can be difficult. It certainly takes time.

It can be incredibly important to use awesome to keep your crowd’s attention. You can wow your colleagues with Beautiful.AI, a service that uses AI to seamless incorporate essential animations to get your point across - without having to worry about waiting for designers to do the work.

This allows you to focus on your delivery, cutting to the core of your points, and being more forthright with your proposals. This can help you impress your boss, client, colleagues, or other potential partners, all while saving time on the smaller expectations.

Synchronized Devices

Browsers, suites, accounts, they are all essential to our workflow. They can also take time to log in and out of. While keeping an eye on security at all times, you can thankfully still systemize this process to help your information and workflow seamlessly track across devices to save time.

I like to use Chrome, Keep Notes, Google Docs and Drive, and OneNote. They these services sync across my laptop, phone and tablet, so I always have access to the project I’m working on.

Brevity

Communication wastes tons of time. Making use of brevity can be essential in all of your communications. This means cutting down on flowery email messages (no fluff!). Get to the point and don’t let the other person get off track.

Keeping it simple can also help you avoid confusion when you need to get to the meat of the matter. If you remind people you are on a tight schedule, they will learn to respect you time and keep their communications short, so don’t worry about a little reminder every now and then.

Drowsy After Another Restless Night? Try These 5 Tips For A Good Night’s Sleep

Writers need a good night sleep to do their best work. Millions of Americans, though, toss and turn much of the night, unable to fall asleep – or to stay asleep once they finally do drift off.

Maybe it’s worry about bills. Maybe it’s relationship problems. It might even be a sleep disorder keeping them awake when they should be snoozing soundly. Whatever the reason, more than one-third of American adults don’t get enough sleep on a regular basis, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Without proper sleep, you could be drowsy at work the next day, unable to properly perform your job and irritable with everyone around you.

And that’s not all.

“Lack of sleep can leave you fatigued and with a weakened immune system, which could make you more susceptible to infections,” says Dr. Shab Krish, author of Restore Your Rest: Solutions for TMJ and Sleep Disorders (www.krish.com).

“Lack of sleep can also decrease your mental acuity, disrupt natural hormone levels, and lead to a variety of other significant health problems.”

Krish, who is also director of TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of North Texas, offers a few suggestions for those who find themselves still grumpy and exhausted when morning arrives:

• Set your clock to remind you bedtime is approaching. You probably already set your clock so that you wake up when you need to in the morning. But Krish suggests you also set an alarm for 30 minutes before bedtime. “That will be a reminder that you need to shut off your electronic devices and start to unwind,” she says. Krish says you should strive to go to bed at the same time every night.

• Set the mood. Krish says your bedroom should be an oasis. She recommends having dark shades covering all windows and eliminating any noise. Set the temperature between 68 degrees and 72 degrees.

• Follow rituals. Establish nightly bedtime rituals, such as taking a warm bath, listening to relaxing music, or reading. “Getting into a nightly routine will tell your brain that it’s time to start relaxing and preparing for sleep,” Krish says.

• Use your bed only as a bed. People lead busy, stress-filled lives, and sometimes they take their work to bed right along with them, determined to answer one last email or finish that report before they turn out the light. Bad idea, Krish says. “Doing work or other stressful activities while in bed can make it difficult for your brain to relax when it’s time to sleep,” she says. “Go into a different room to finish that work. That way when your body hits the mattress, your brain knows it can start to relax.”

• Rule out a sleep disorder. Experiencing trouble falling asleep, waking up regularly during the night, and snoring are a few of the indications that you might have a sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea, Krish says. “When you wake up in the morning you should feel refreshed,” she says. “If you don’t, that might be an indicator of a more serious problem and you should consider talking to a medical professional.”

Finally, Krish says exercise also can help.

“Regular exercise is not only good for your body and overall health, it’s also good for your sleep,” she says. “A solid 30 minutes of daily exercise can make a huge difference in your quality of sleep.”

Need more tips? Here’s 7 Ways to Make Your Bedroom More Sleep-Friendly.

About Dr. Shab Krish

Dr. Shab Krish, author of Restore Your Rest: Solutions for TMJ and Sleep Disorders, is director of TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of North Texas (www.krish.com). She has board certifications with the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain and the American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine. She is also a double specialist in both periodontics and endodontics.

Make Your Readers Fans by Developing Your Writing Voice

Standing out among all the other writers on the vast internet by using your own unique voice will make your career. Developing your voice may seem like a daunting task, but don't sweat it. Knowing your target audience, deciding on a specific style, and simplifying your writing are the top three ways to help you start a successful blog. Then, you need to consider how you talk in real life. It sounds like a lot, but it really isn’t folks!

Who’s Your Target Audience?

Knowing what you'll write about for your blog is easy, but knowing to whom you're writing for is a bit more difficult. Who you’re writing to can change the voice you use while writing. Think about the age group, gender, and financial state of the audience you want to target. Are these people more buttoned-up or are they looking for a friendly voice?

An easy shortcut? Viewing your audience as a single person. What's this person's personality like? How does he or she dress? What music does he or she listen to? Knowing your audience's personality is essential to knowing how they'll respond to your blog.

Here’s a tutorial on using formal and informal tone when writing.

This sets you up for the next step: choosing your writing style.

The 4 Writing Styles

Choosing the writing style for your blog is as simple as matching your writing to the content you're blogging or the product you're marketing. The four main types of writing styles are:

• Expository

• Descriptive

• Persuasive

• Narrative

Tailor your writing style to your blog audience and to those you want to reach. Expository writing is good for informing your audience, while descriptive writing is used to describe a certain recipe or product. Persuasive writing is used to convince your audience to believe something, and narrative writing is important when you wish to convey a story to your audience. Use the style that works best for your blog.

Simplify, Simplify, Simplify

The third step is knowing how to simplify your writing. After choosing the writing style that will best fit your audience, the next step to success is writing content for your blog. Keep your word choice simple and your sentences and paragraphs short. Blogs are frequently read on mobile devices, so sticking to these guidelines will help keep your audience interested in your content and avoid skimming out of boredom.

Writing a blog is hard work, but following these three simple steps will keep your writing clean and straight to the point. Knowing who your target audience is will help you to build a trustworthy brand as well.

Listen to Your Natural Voice

Now, that you have those three steps out of the way, go visit a friend, go to the grocery store, call your mom, call a customer service line. While you do these things, listen to how you talk. Are you straight-forward? Blunt? Extra friendly? Silly? Funny?

If you can’t decide, ask your friends what they think about how you express yourself.

You know I’m the No-Fuff writer. That’s because I like to get to the point, on a page and when I’m telling a story to my friends and family. I don’t add extra. Sum yourself up like that. Take all of these notes and try to remember them when you write. Fold your natural voice into your writing.

Ready to take your blogging to the next level, but don’t know how or where to start? Let me help! Getting into freelance writing or writing for yourself doesn’t have to just be a dream. Grab my No-Fluff Freelance Writing Starter Pack to help build your business today.

Here's How Writers Can be Ready for Disaster

This story is from a few years ago, but it still sends shivers down my spine. A writer ran into a burning building to save his two novels from disaster. He managed to save his work without getting hurt, thankfully.

Screenshot of BBC article.

A while back I faced every writer's worst nightmare, though it wasn’t as bad as this guy’s problem. My computer died and wouldn't start back up. Luckily, it turned out to just be a damaged power cord, but it could have been worse. I've had lightning hit my laptop, for example. It fried everything! I’ve also worked in a blackout during an ice storm.

Do you have a plan for your work when disaster strikes? Do you know what you would do if tragedy struck your laptop of desktop? How would you handle client work? How would you access your precious files?Here are some ways you can keep everything safe…and allow you to keep working, even after fires and during blackouts.

Start by getting a back-up device

First, you'll need a computer-like device that you can use to check emails, create articles and more. You probably already have a phone or a tablet that can do everything you need. Just download some apps to get you going, like Word, Google Docs or OneNote, for article creation.

Next, connect your search engine account with your device so you can access all of your bookmarks in the browser. Finally, if you connect with clients through Slack, Blue Jean or another messaging system, be sure to download it to your device.

Save your files somewhere else

All of my files are saved on a My Passport Ultra 1TB external hard drive. All I need to do is plug my hard drive into another device and I'm good. You'll probably need to invest in a hard drive with 1TB to 2TB of storage. You'll be surprised at how fast they fill up!

If you don't like the idea of having an external hard drive, consider storing your files in the cloud. Google Drive is a good choice. Another good cloud storage service to look into is provided by Microsoft Word 360.

Have a power supply

When there was an ice storm my power was out for days. You can't exactly run your online business without electricity. When your laptop battery dies, you can move to your tablet or phone, but how will you power them when they die?

I highly recommend getting a solar charger like the Everything Tech Gear Solar Charger. It powers my phone with no problems. I'm using clean power, too, so I love it.

Make things easier with a portable keyboard

My phone, a wireless keyboard, headphones and a solar charger to power it all. It's awkward, but at least get work done.

I can type pretty quickly on my phone, but putting together an article is a nightmare using the on-screen keyboard. I have a wireless keyboard by ZAGG that syncs with my phone or tablet and it's almost full-size, so typing is MUCH faster!

Don't wait until you're in a predicament. Go set up your backup right now. You never know when you'll need it.

3 Ways to Be More Productive as a Writer

Sometimes, writing is more than just creativity. Becoming a strong writer requires self-discipline and attainable goals. Here are three ways to boost your writing productivity.

Remove Distractions

Some of the hardest things to eliminate from a writer's life are distractions. Distractions can impede your productivity and really bog you down mentally. While you’re writing on your tablet or a laptop, this can be an especially difficult challenge. The urge to keep multiple tabs open is one of the main traps. Checking your email and browsing social media are among the top diversions for writers.

One way to avoid this and get back to more productive writing is to start composing by hand again. Just use a simple notepad and pen to start writing as you would on your laptop or tablet. You don't have to do this all the time, but it's a good way to kick-start your productive writing sessions and get into the habit of distraction-free composition.

You can also use browser extensions that can block social media and other online distractions for certain amounts of time. Stay Focused and Work Mode are good, free extensions for Chrome. If you use Firefox, Blocksite is a good choice.

Find Your Space

A great habit to get into to boost your writing sessions is to find a space of your own that inspires you. Whether that place is the quiet of your room, a local coffee shop, or outside at your favorite park doesn't matter.

Another great way to unleash your creative muse is to go into work each day at a place away from where you live. There can be advantages to using coworking spaces as well as other spaces that are outside of the comfort of your home.

The first advantage is the flexibility to collaborate with your peers. You may want to write alone most of the time, but there are times when collaboration is sorely needed. It can be one of the best ways to brainstorm ideas, collect constructive criticism, or get fresh eyes on your writing when editing.

Set a Daily Word Goal

Whether you are steadily working on a major effort or continually tackling small projects, it is wise to set a word goal for your day.

One tip for setting your daily word goal is to constantly adjust the number of words you write per day. This assures that you are constantly challenging yourself and that your writing abilities get better as each day passes.

BTW, keep track of how much you write each day. Routinely monitoring how many words a day you can successfully produce a day can help you project how much money you can make in a day, week or month.

Writing is a marvelous creative outlet, and it is even better if you can get paid for it. Keeping your distractions in check, finding your space and setting daily goals will put you on the road to becoming a more productive writer in no time.

Want to know more secrets about being a successful writer?

• The Warning Signs of a Trouble Client & How to Safeguard Your Writing Business

• How Do You Create High-Quality Content?

How to Make $100 to $200, Be Lazy and Never Leave Home

I make around $100 to $200 per hour. I work at home and I make my own hours.

make money online

Not bad, eh? A lot of freelance writers I know don't think this is possible. They grab $3 articles from auction sites like oDesk and Upwork, then work their fingers to the bone to bang out enough of these little stinkers to keep their power on.

Now, I admit, I'm lazy. Belting out article after article, eight hours per day, seven days a week just seems like too much work. I like to work smarter, not harder, so I end up writing higher paying articles, clips and how-tos a couple hours a day.

Oh sure, you're probably saying, as if higher paying articles are just ripe for the picking!

Look, I'm not talking about Cosmo rates, here. I'm talking about articles that pay in the $50 - $200 range. These are easy enough to get if you have some sort of writing talent, and often only take an hour to type up.

Let's look at the math:

• Three $20 articles per day x 30 days = $1,800 per month

• Two $30 articles per day x 30 = $1,800 per month

• Two $40 articles per day x 30 = $2,400 per month

• Two $50 articles per day x 30 = $2,800 per month

• Two $100 articles per day x 30 = $6,000 per month

• Two $200 articles per day x 30 = $11,200 per month

Of course, in real life you wouldn't have an jumble of articles that were all worth the same amount. The point is, you want to be working at that larger end of the scale, not for peanuts.

Okay, you're probably still thinking, ya that's great, but where do I find the work? My book

The No-Fluff Master Classes for Freelance Writers

 will teach you how to make good money without working so hard your brain turns to mush.

How To Stay Focused at Your Job as a Working Mother

Tips for working mothers to help them keep their sanity and productivity, no matter what the kids are up to.

Guest post by Ujëbardha Bekolli, Mother Works

Every once in a while everyone experiences a downhill at their workplace. We get fed up by daily drama, same old routine and everything looks like a bore.

However the loss of focus that mothers experience is entirely different. Whether you work part-time jobs or full time, this lack of focus has a taste of fatigue, tiresome, chaos and imbalance. That is because our mind is floating in 20 different things within one minute.

We’re worrying about whether the baby is asleep right now, if the nanny forgot to feed her, wondering if we manage to make it home for dinner, maybe that co-worker will give me a hand, what if our plans for next year’s summer camp fail, is the world we live in a safe place to raise children?    

And this is just the average of what’s going on inside our heads. So, how can we manage to gather our senses and focus on our job?

Write.stuff.down

You can be the most efficient person in the world who memorizes everything, and yet without having a proper list,, your brains will feel chaotic. So in order for you to feel more organized, make a list of things you have to do throughout the day. Better yet, make two lists. Divide whatever it is that you have to do once you get home, and the tasks you are assigned to do while being at your work desk.

Visualize yourself crossing a huge line in between these two, without being able to go back and forth from one list to another. This will help you feel more at ease, and it will clarify your thoughts. Cross each task out of the list once finished, and the sense of relief you will feel is utterly amazing.

working mothers

Use breaks efficiently

There is no use in working 3-4 straight hours while you're always thinking about getting a snack or grabbing a coffee. Although breaks work differently depending on people, use them to the maximum, to recharge and to gain balance.

Use that balcony at work to go outside and breathe some fresh air, while sipping your coffee. Call your husband or talk to your toddler. It will help you gain back some inspiration, and you will return stronger, knowing that you are blessed with those people who will be eagerly waiting for you to come home. You’ll come back wanting to hug your boss out of the sweetness you’ve received from a phone call. Don’t do it though, he’ll think you’ve gone mad!

Make ‘you’ time and ‘we’ time

You would be surprised to know how much time off of work impacts your time at work. When you’re stressing out over lack of sleep, or that discussion you had last night with your partner over the kids, you will be constantly distracted.

So set up dinner dates with your loved one, open up a bottle of wine after the kids have gone to bed and spice things up a little bit. That spontaneous drive will keep you going throughout everything.

But don’t forget to make some time for yourself as well whether that be in the early sunrise or those late hours of tranquility. Recharge, take a bath filled with scents, take some yoga classes or go out for a long run. It might sound like a cliche piece of advice, but it will add some blissfulness to your daily routine.

Sharing

You do not have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. When I say share, I do not only imply the sharing concept of chores, although that is what you should do in the first place. Let your partner pick up the children, do laundry or wash the dishes every once in a while. Let your daughter cook and don’t laugh out at her chicken recipe. This will ease your responsibilities, and it will grow out your children to be good-willing independent human beings.

But also, share your concerns. May that be with your spouse, friends, co-workers or fellow parents who are also struggling to find that work-family balance.

As you commiserate with people going through the same situation, you will not feel alone. In fact, you will gain strength as they make you feel great about all the work you're doing.

Keep your expectations real

All those stories you hear on TV about how you can do it all, you can be perfect, or that ‘Beyonce also had 24 hours at her disposal and look what she achieved’ nonsense, ignore them all. You are doing everything that a regular, normal mum can do. So do not set unrealistic expectations for what you owe to be doing, or what your children should become like.

Follow a reasonable pace and let things flow. I promise you will feel peace captivate you once you know your worth and realize that some things take patience. You have to go by a list of priorities, and follow that list through whatever. If your priority is a presentation you have for tomorrow, don’t start scrolling through food recipes for dinner. Resisting that sweet call of Facebook to keep scrolling will reward you with positive feedback at work tomorrow.

Do nothing day

I know it sounds luxurious, being both an employee and a mum, but sometimes doing nothing isn’t really a waste of time.

You’ve heard people talk about cheat days, how about applying that version for you and your family. Cheat your career every once in a while, by lingering in bed for some extra hours, watching cheesy tv shows or ordering Chinese.

Your children will think you rock, and I’m sure you’ll be able to put up with some mess once you get a bucket full of laughter in return.

Bio:

Ujëbardha Bekolli, SAHMjobs

Ujëbardha Bekolli is a writer for https://sahmjobs.net/. SAHMjobs is a job portal designed to bring together stay at home moms and recruiters. The platform also brings helpful articles in the Blog section regarding mothers who want to return to the workforce.

What You Need to Know About Reviews as a Freelance Writer

If you’re a woman writer that wants to build a successful career writing online articles, blogs, and whitepapers, then one of the most important things you should consider are reviews. They can be positive or negative, but you need to know how both can help your writing career and how to get online writing them in the first place.

Social Media Can Be a Help

Social media is everywhere these days. From teens all the way up to the POTUS, everybody's on Facebook, Twitter, and so much more. As a freelance writer, you can get your name out there and start building your own particular writing brand by engaging all of the benefits of social media (and ending up with some great reviews).

According to Make a Living Writing, “Once you’ve gotten acquainted with some influential people, start sending them stuff and asking them to share it with their audience.” Start with one and then continue on to find your place on all of the current social media platforms for the most in positive exposure.

Here are a few basic social media pointers to get you started:

• Learn all of the proper social media etiquette

• Make some new friends

• Be a good listener

• Be helpful to others

• Search for like minds on all platforms

• Bring your A-game

• Don’t waste a lot of time on social media (half an hour a day and no more)

I get the bulk of my reviews on social media. I always screenshot them so I can add them to testimonial pages on my site or on my product pages.

Make Sure to Ask for Positive Reviews

According to Podium, “It's a fact that 91% of people read online reviews, and 84% of people trust reviews as much as personal recommendations, so don't underestimate the impact of a few 5-star reviews.”

Here's some advice on how to gain online reviews. The first and most important piece of advice is simply "Ask for positive reviews." Don't be shy and don't think that you're bothering your oh-so-busy clients. A positive review will only take a few minutes for them and, although many clients will post a positive review without you even having to ask, some need to receive a request from you to follow through.

A couple of reviews for my book The Fluff-Free Freelance Writing Master Course Workbook

Follow Instructions

Following directions to the letter is the first thing to remember. When a client wants something written in a specific way, give it to them. If you don't understand those instructions perfectly, don't be afraid to ask. It's better to get the answers you need up-front than it is to have to rewrite the piece or get a bad review.

The better you understand the task at hand, the better it will turn out. Knowing how to follow a client's instructions can be improved by learning what goes into a good set of instructions for a writing job. You do your best and they will do their best to help you when you need a review. ;)

Handling Negative Reviews

You probably already know that not every review will be a positive one. According to Website Planet, “Well, one bad review doesn’t just obscure hundreds of positive reviews, but it can hinder your chances of future collaborations. Testimonials and social proof build trust in the freelance market, which is key to success as a freelancer or the hiring party.”

Sometimes you may have asked all the right questions about the instructions, done major research, and then given it your all, but still get a bad review. Sound familiar? Just like in a tennis match, when you miss the ball, forget about it and focus on the next ball.

On the other hand, if your client actually offered some useful comments, take them into consideration and save them for later. There's always bound to be a writing job in the future where you could use those comments to make your writing better. Make a file on your computer and organize those comments in it for later.

My worst reviews? “Congratulations on writing a completely useless article.” “This article could be considered criminal negligence.” Oof!

Averaging Out Reviews

Remember, although five-star reviews are the goal, others can also add to your overall writing level. Many writing sites and places like Amazon average out the number of stars to come up with your niche in their writer lineup. You can go from beginner to expert faster the more reviews you have under your belt.

Something else to remember about writing sites is that the clients often have reviews, too. A client who posts a job that looks pretty good but has a 25 percent acceptance rate is probably not a good bet.

Don't Ever Get Discouraged

Just as there's no crying in baseball, there's no getting discouraged in writing. According to Writer’s Digest, “Writing is a process and as writers we are constantly evolving. We don’t get good overnight. There are a lot of road bumps along the way and many times (perhaps even once a day?) you may want to throw the towel in.”

One week, you may encounter a bunch of clients who don't seem to be happy with anything no matter how good your writing may be. And, some weeks nobody seems to be paying much and you have to write a ton of small jobs to get paid an acceptable amount. Don't get discouraged, however, because right around the corner is a more flexible client and some that even pay a higher rate. The key is to move on and continue building up those positive reviews!

Now that you know a little something about reviews as a freelancer, you're armed with additional knowledge to help you to succeed with your writing. Remember, you're one of the lucky few who can make a living at home in your PJs. No gridlock, no horrible bosses, no catty co-workers, just an excellent way to make a living while expressing yourself. Let reviews and social media help you to climb the ladder toward higher-paying jobs as a reviewer who is in constant demand from clients.

What is the best — or the worst — review you’ve ever gotten?

Use this Website Checklist to Make Sure You're Ready for the Masses

Confused about how to start — and finish — your website? Humans form impressions within seconds, and the look of a site can impact the way we feel about a brand long before we give the owner a chance. Make sure your site looks the professional, then go one step further and make it useful and easy to find. 

Here is a checklist that you should use to optimize your site:

• Use a simple color scheme and use it throughout. (You'll notice my color scheme is grey and pink/purple.)

• Make sure you have a Contact Page, About Me page, Policies page and a Clips and Clients page.

• When was the last time you put yourself in a customer’s shoes? If it’s been a long time, take a tour of your site, make notes and consider how you could improve the user experience.

• Are there broken links? Fix them. A good plugin can do the work for you. Broken Link Checker is my favorite.

• Have you got pages that are out of date? Update them and give them a new publishing date to put them back on the search engine's radar.

• Are there images or video clips that aren’t loading properly? Use a photo compression plugin like Smush.

• Is the site slow? Use a speed booster plugin. I use Speed Booster Pack.

• Use the same font family throughout your site. Avoid comic sans.

• Stay on topic. Pick what you'll write about and keep at it. Use Don’t know your niche? Here’s a guide to help figure it out.

• Avoid long paragraphs of text and use different types of content, such as images, videos and virtual tours.

• Focus on creating engaging content that is informative and useful.

• It’s useful to include an FAQ section and a live chat feature to enable you to respond to queries.

• Use social media, email marketing and search engine optimization to market your web address and encourage more people to visit your site and take a look around.

• It’s all very well having a website, but if nobody knows where to find you, you’re going to struggle to make a splash. Check out this SEO guide for writers to make sure you're on point.

• Include your website address on any merchandise you sell or hand out at events or trade fairs. Many people prefer to shop online now, so providing this information is key.

• Make sure your blog posts show up on the homepage. Everytime you add a new post, the site will look fresh to search engines.

• Use call to action buttons (CTAs).

• Make all of your main subheadings H2.

• Use pictures, videos and gifs to add visual interest to every post and page.

• Feel free to let your personality shine. What makes you special is what will make your business stand out from the rest.

If your site isn’t slick, you have concerns about online security, or it doesn’t make life easy for the client, consider seeking advice from experts like those at Total Tech Team to make improvements.

How to Fight Imposter Syndrome

One of the biggest challenges for writers isn't finding clients. It isn't perfecting a sentence. It isn't even getting paid what you're owed. The greatest challenge that holds you back in almost every area of your freelance writing business is imposter syndrome.

You know what I'm talking about.

Some days you just feel like you're pretending to be a professional writer. It doesn't matter how much success you've had or how hard you work, you still feel like a fraud. Imposter syndrome is common for creative types.

It’s even a problem for the magnificent AOC:

I get struck with it at least once a week, even though I've been running my business for 20 years. My stomach starts to ache. My head feels fuzzy. A tiny voice says, "Hey, they're going to find out you're just a big faker. You're going to lose everything."

There's no justification to feel this way, I know, deep down.

On days like this I know I need to push through, because clients aren't going to wait for me to feel good about myself, right?

Here's how I do it.

Stand back

First, you need to step away from the blank Word document for a few minutes. Walk around in your yard. Go for a jog. Pull some weeds. Scrub your bathtub. Dance around to a favorite jam. Anything that will get your blood pumping for a few minutes is a good idea. Happy chemicals will start to flow and your anxiety will lessen.

Get Hyped on Yourself

This is kind-of embarrassing, but I keep a three-ring binder full of good reviews, awards and emails from happy clients. After 20 years, it's pretty huge. When I feel really off, I just thumb through to remind myself that people do enjoy my writing and I'm not a fraud.

Don't have any accolades yet? Take out your trusty notebook and write down what you're good at and why. Also, write down any accomplishments you've made in your career. Even if it's just a published article or a client contract, that's a big deal!

Get Fancy

Another way to boost your confidence is to get out of your pajamas and dress up for work, even if you're just heading to the recliner with your laptop. Dressing up can make you feel like a professional. Be sure to take some selfies!

Want more tips for becoming a successful freelance writer? Grab a copy of my book: 

The Fluff-Free Freelance Writing Master Course Workbook

How Do You Create High-Quality Content?

If you've read anything about content marketing lately, you've probably seen it: article after article proclaiming that the new SEO tactic is filling your site with content that your readers will love. They are 100% right, but what is high-quality content? You probably think you've been posting quality content all along. It may not be stellar, but you think that it does the job, right?

content help for your website

The problem is you need to be more than adequate to secure a spot in search engine results. Even more important than SEO, you want people to share your articles and blog posts. You don't want to leave your site's future up to the whims of the search engine gods. So social media shares should be a big part of your traffic strategy. It takes a fantastic piece to get shares, though.

I've been around the block (over and over again) for almost two decades, so I know what content ranks and what content typically gets drowned out in search results. I also know what readers love. Let me clear up some misconceptions and clue you into what's up with quality content.

long form content

Long Content = Good Content, Most of the Time

There've been quite a few studies that discovered Google loves long form content. Long-form is any article or blog post that ranges from 700 words to 2000 words. Long articles are beloved by Google and the population at large because they give in-depth, nitty-gritty, wonderful details about a subject that people want. They aren't just a generic overview that most short article offer.

For example, I do a lot of writing for Live Science. A typical reference article for the site is broken down into sections that will cover every angle of the subject. Take this article on Earth Day that I wrote. Before I wrote it, I brainstormed all of the things a person might ask about Earth Day, such as what is Earth Day, who started it, how successful it's been, who celebrates it now, etc. Then, I answered those questions in my article. It has been one of my most successful articles with more than 7,000 shares in just a little over 24 hours.

[bctt tweet="Long-form = good #content...Most of the time! Here's when it's not:"]

While I agree that long content does get a lot of search engine love and it gives readers what they want most of the time, you shouldn't get stuck on just adding long-form content to your site.

Why? Here are just a few reasons:

• People love variety. Your regular readers are going to get bored if you continually serve up articles that take 10 to 15 minutes to read.

• People love infographics! Sometimes people want an informative infographic they can skim, and search engines tend to rank infographics, too.

• There are times when people are just looking for a simple answer to their question. Don't go too short, though. Google sees pages with less than 200 words as "thin content."

Layer Your Content to Create Quality

what is in quality content

Rand over at Moz says that to rise to the top, you need content that's 10x better than everyone else's. I wouldn't go that far, but you do need to offer up content that no one else is serving.

Think about your favorite restaurant. You go there because it offers something its competitors don't, like better atmosphere, juicer burgers, tastier pasta or a finer selection of wine. It wouldn't be your favorite if it didn't stand out. Website content is the same. People, and search engines, love content that feeds their needs in a way that others can't.

To create content that stands out, you need a process that I call "content layering."

1. You start with a layer of beefy content. Pepper the text with helpful links, facts and data. Salt it with Click to Tweet quotes to make sharing easy.

2. Chop up some long text and turn it into a bulleted or numbered list for easy reading.

3. Slather on a layer of images rich with colors and interesting subject matter that's relevant to the text.

4. Finally, slap on a layer of audio or video content that will make visitors linger and savor your message.

The end result is a site post sandwich that satisfies and excites your visitors and search engine bots.

Mmm, mmm, good!

Photo credit: quality via photopin(license), Almost 3.5 feet_4120 via photopin(license), and Quality always via photopin(license)

5 Tips For A Perfect Blog Headline — One That Gets Clicks

Whether you’re talking about building authority on your blog or crafting compelling posts for an SEO company client, you can make your it more powerful by creating strong headlines. What makes a headline strong? The perfect blog headline will communicate quickly, capture a visitor’s interest and make the post easier to find by search engines. It acts as an accurate and interesting teaser for the rest of the post.

How do you make yours more effective? What goes into writing winning blog headlines? To help answer these questions, here’s a look at five tips for creating blog headlines that work:

1. Be specific. The more laser-focused your headline, the better it communicates to readers what it will cover. Take this post, for example. If the headline had been, simply, “Blog Headlines,” you would have had a general idea of the subject matter — but you wouldn’t know if the post was about the history of blog headlines, examples of good headlines, examples of bad headlines, tips on writing headlines, or none or all of the above. A specific headline gives readers specific expectations — so it attracts the people who are interested in what it truly provides.

2. Clarify and categorize. If your blog post fits into a specific type of content, such as a new report, an interview, an infographic or a slideshow, add that clarification in brackets after your post title. If you’re writing about a new study on infant formula, for example, the headline might be: “How Infant Formula Boosts Brain Development [New Study].” Why is this worth trying? According to research from HubSpot, headlines with bracketed clarifications perform 38 percent better than those without them.

3. Keep it short. When it comes to blog headlines, more isn’t always better. Stuffing a headline with extraneous words only makes it easier to lose readers. What’s the sweet spot? It depends. According to research from CoSchedule, the ideal length is 11 words — but it’s not a hard-and-fast rule. Other research, from Content Marketing Institute, says to stick to no more than 10 words. In different industries or for different audiences, shorter or longer headlines may perform best. So, whether you’re writing for your site or a client’s, test different headline lengths with different posts, and observe click-through rates.

4. Include relevant keywords. To optimize a blog post for search engines, you want to include relevant keywords in both the headline and body copy. What keywords are best? Think about words or phrases your audience is likely to be searching for, as these will be the keywords that bring them to your post. For best results, put keywords at the beginning of your headline to catch the attention of search engines.

5. Use numbers. The human brain likes numbers, which organize information into a logical order. When you want a headline to grab the attention of readers who are quickly scanning and deciding where or where not to click, include a number. Note, also, according to FastCo Design, round numbers typically work best, as they’re how humans naturally group amounts.

Blogs are a mainstay for freelance writers — so when you’re crafting copy for your next post, keep the five headline tips above in mind! By writing headlines that draw attention and get more clicks, you can generate more traffic to your content and improve your writing results.

Author bio: Shanna Mallon is a contributing writer for Straight North, one of Chicago’s top Internet marketing agencies. She’s also been a freelance writer since 2007.

No-Fluff Guide to Building Your Freelance Business Brand

Your brand is what makes you stand out from the crowd, writers. So, as you build your freelance writing business, you need to focus on what makes you you and how you’re going to convey that to the masses. This No-Fluff guide will walk you through the process.

What is Branding?

Branding is a huge buzzword right now, but it is so much more than a trend. No matter what you call this type of marketing, companies big and small depend on it to compete in competitive markets.

Branding definition: Making your brand stand out from competitors with marketing that is consistent and recognizable as belonging to only your company.

Keeping a consistent message, tone and feel to your marketing makes people remember you and that is a HUGE part of selling. Content on your website plays a big part in this image.

Businesses Are Going About Their Branding Process All Wrong

Life isn't a contest, though. Often, when freelancers start to visualize their brand they think about all of the other competitors out on the market. They wonder how they can be the best.

Each night I try to write an inspirational quote or a tidbit of knowledge that I've gleaned along the way on the bathroom mirror for my girls to see before they head off to school the next morning. One night, I wrote:

There is always going to be someone smarter, prettier, faster, etc. Be the best YOU can be. Life isn't a contest.

I think too many people get caught up in what everybody else is doing and they don't focus enough on what makes their brand special. Notice I said "special" and not "better."

Proving your better than someone else is like trying to prove you love your spouse to someone who doesn't know you. You can show them all the proof in the world, but they still won't be 100% sure. That's because all humans are just a little suspicious of each other. In the back of our minds we're wondering if that guy really loves his wife or if he's cheating with Ms. Robertson next door. It's the same with businesses. They say they're the best, but are they just full of hot air?

When people look at your branding, don't make them wonder if you're just full of hot air. Give them a positive feeling and you are off to a great start. Get them to laugh, or feel nostalgic or feel at home. That's what branding is all about. Conveying a feeling right off the bat and threading that feeling through everything that you present to your customer.

Assignment: What’s Your Brand?

I'm going to ask you some questions. Answer them as honestly as possible. Let's get started.

Will you be the face of your freelance business? For example, I am the face of my company. In fact, my company name is my own personal name. My company is 100% my voice and no one else's. Another example would be Dave Thomas of Wendy's. The restaurant was named after his daughter and her face was the logo, but he was the one that stared in many of the early commercials. His face, voice and sense of humor were what cemented Wendy's brand.

If you don't want your freelance business to center around you, no problem. We can work with that! You just need to know how you are going to present your business to the world. Will you have a logo instead of a professional photo to represent your business? Will your business be your name or will you come up with something else to call it? What colors will represent your business? Remember, branding needs consistency.

What do you think is special about you? For example, do you have a passion for the environment and want to be seen as a “green” freelancer? Could your former job give you an interesting insight into your niche that you could capitalize on?

(This is an excerpt from my book: The Fluff-Free Freelance Writing Master Course Workbook)

Do potential clients hate your brand?

Ring, Ring, No One's Answering: Poor Content = Sucky Conversion Rates

If your bounce rates are high and your conversion rate stinks, one thing is pretty clear: your website visitors hate you and your brand is sucking. Don't take it personally. It happens to the best of us. You just need to fix the problem and build your branding platform.

Your visitors hate you primarily because your content sucks. The number one key to good content is answering your visitor's needs, which is a huge part of getting your brand right.

Many websites draw in visitors from social media sites with sensational headlines, but then fail to deliver in the content. This is called click-baiting and it results in loss of trust from your visitors. They bounce before clicking on anything else on your site. This, in turn, impacts your conversion rates.

You don't need to have a sensationalist headline to let your readers down, though. Any content that doesn't answer the specific question that the headline promises is poor content.

Why Great Content is Essential for Branding

branding image

Content Branding Makes People Like You

Remember how your visitors probably hate you? As I mentioned before, content not only draws in traffic from search engines, it also makes visitors get a feel for your brand. Crap content makes them feel crappy about you.

Let's take a look at an example:

Web copy #1: At XYZ, we focus on producing quality soda that tastes good and is good for you.

Web copy #2: Hey, we're XYZ and we love to tingle your taste buds with soda that provides antioxidants and minerals your hard working body needs.

The copy in #1 is yawn worthy. The copy in #2 lets visitors see into the company's personality. The company seems fun, which is great if you are targeting a younger demographic.

Which company would you like to spend your money with? One that's bland or one with a personality and a point of view?

Getting Content Right

Many businesses start their content production by studying keywords and then building content around the keywords.

Wrong!

Fixing online customer service

This is a horrible practice because they are creating content for search engines, not people. Sure, most people will get to the content using a search engine, but it's the human that clicks on ads, call to action buttons or the next article, not the search engine.

So, you want to appeal to search engines, but you need content visitors will love. To get a home run, follow these steps:

1. Do your keyword searches, but look for keyword phrases with more than 20,000 monthly searches and low competition. These keyword phrases are the questions that people are asking and no one is answering. That's where you swoop in and save the day!

2. Use the keyword phrase in the title of your post and pepper it once in the article and once in an H2 headline. Remember, Google and other search engines are smart. No need to keyword stuff.

3. Write a fantastic article that not only answers the question at face value, but also goes above and beyond to give the reader some extra morsels of information about the subject. This makes for happy readers. Also, be sure to use your brand's voice throughout the piece of content.

4. Add some great visuals that mimic your brand and you're done.

Creating fantastic content that satisfies your reader is tricky. When you do it right, though, you will see your bounce rates and conversion rates get much better. Bottom line, happy readers equal content leaders. Now that you have that covered, it's time to consider content and branding.

Combine these branding strategies with great content and your brand identity will start to bloom. Best of all, people with GET you. That translates to customer loyalty and sells.

giving your brand personality

Keep the Personality Train Moving

Don't just stop the personality in the copy, though. Blog posts and articles should also contain the same personality your copy employees. This is where a lot of businesses fall short. They think that content is solely for driving conversions or drawing traffic and they forget about the people reading the words. People want to be entertained and they want to get to know your brand. Fantastic content can do all of the above. Give them what they want!

Get the Sizzle: 5 Steps for Building Your Brand Identity with Your Website

Building your brand identity starts with your website. Everything you add to your site will affect how visitors will feel about your company. Revamping your site to create a more cohesive brand is the best way to boost sales and make consumers remember you. Once you have this down pat, then you can move on to creating content that your audience loves and that drives conversions.

1. Branding with Colors

Step one is the most visual way to brand your site. Using one or two colors throughout your site, marketing items and packaging creates is more than just making things matchy-matchy. It gives consumers a visual cue as to who you are. It has even been proven that colors can influence purchases. So, choose one or two colors that will represent your business, ideally colors already used in your logo.

branding

2. Branding with Font

Like colors, you need to pick two to three fonts, tops, that will be used on your site. Mimic the font used on your packaging or in your logo for headers or H1 titles. Be sure that your page text is easily readable, though.

3. Branding with Your Logo

Now, your logo isn't just for the header of your website. Use it throughout. Watermark images with it. Use it on your about page. Use it in the footer. Be sure that you use it throughout your site.

4. Branding with Images

Have you ever been to a website that uses images that all seem to go together? That theme is their image brand. If you visit my site often, you'll probably notice that I use a lot of GIFs and fun images. I like to keep things light while talking about serious subjects. That's my brand.

You can do it, too. Come up with a theme for your images and be consistent. For example, product images could all have the same background or images could all work together in a common theme such as nature, modernism, zen, etc.

Here are some free places to find images.

5. Branding with Content Tone

Once you have the visuals in place, concentrate on the tone of your text. Every article, blog post, content description, etc, should have the same tone. Don't bounce from fun and peppy to straight-laced and staunch. Stay the same. Let consumers know who you are. Build a personality through your text.

Attention Getting Tips for Your Brand from 3 Experts

My goal is to get eyes on my client's brand. If you write marketing emails or website copy for clients, then you do, too. I got to wondering how other writer/marketers do the same. So, I sent out a call to people in the industry for their best tips.

Here are some great lessons from three experts.

Get Shocking

This is the very first response I got:

Subject: I STOLE YOUR DOG

Alina,

I didn't really steal your dog. In fact I don't even know if you have a dog. But I did see your post on Profnet about getting the attention of people for your blog, website or marketing purposes and I felt that this use of a subject line (which is what I do for all reporters and publications, though usually not with stolen dogs) is a perfect example of my approach to getting your attention and that of our target audiences.

There are a bunch of ways to get eyes on your business' brand.

Shock them. Then tell them you're pitch. We have garnered a large number of articles in publications using this method. My favorite subject line is - PRINTER INK IS MADE FROM UNICORN HORNS or some variant of this.

[bctt tweet="My favorite subject line is - PRINTER INK IS MADE FROM UNICORN HORNS or some variant of this" via="no"]

Let me know if you would like to learn more about my guerrilla marketing tactics and I will expound.

Have a nice day. And cuddle your dog for me if you have one.

- Al

Al Ruggie, Public Relations Director

Go Local

Elizabeth had a different approach:

I’ve published ebooks for more than 30 authors and I have extensive knowledge and experience in building and selling a business from the ground up. As an author, the best strategy I've used to build a following was the simple idea of starting local. I created my Facebook profile initially unsure if anyone from my home town would even remember me, as it had been years since my last visit. It only took a few weeks before the word got out of my new memoir, Long Blue Line, which is based on my teen/young adult experience growing up in South Lake Tahoe, CA.

I began getting several friend requests and I quickly built a solid fan-base to begin my career as an author. Now that I've reflected back and thought about why it was so easy to build my following, I've come up with a couple of theories:

• People need to have the ability to relate. Whether it be relating to a book, article, product or service, if the person feels a sense of belonging they're much more likely to take an active interest.

• It only takes a few good followers to help get the ball rolling. I always make sure to respond to every message that I get from my fans. This aids in the word of mouth strategy. If you can get just a few people to actually talk about your product, you're going to be at an immediate advantage.

-Elizabeth McNew, (author of Long Blue Line and Digital Publishing,National E-Book Association Founder), featured on BellaOnline, Tekk3.com, and Flippa.com to name a few.

Build Relationships

You don't have to give them a hug, but relationships build long-term results.

After numerous years working (and teaching) integrated marketing communications (IMC), Bonnie Harris, founder of Wax Marketing, Inc., says one of her top tips for generating long-term interest is:

"Find out who the influencers are within your genre and build authentic relationships with them. Follow them on Twitter and other networks. Curate their articles, retweet their tweets, comment on their blog posts and interact with them whenever an opportunity arises. Do this in a thoughtful manner with smart commentary. The attention you generate from these interactions can lead to substantial promotion of your own blog/site or company, and links back to your content. This tactic works better than any 'get followers fast' type scheme and it lasts."

Do you have any tips? Do share! Leave a comment below!

Your Cat Might Just Make You More Entrepreneurial

Just thought my No Fluffers would be interested in this study. BTW, I have two cats! lol

Infection from the globally prevalent parasite Toxoplasma gondii may increase a person’s likelihood of pursuing entrepreneurial and business-related activities, new University of Colorado Boulder research finds.

The Study

In a study of 1,495 undergraduate students, CU Boulder researchers found that T. gondii-positive individuals were 1.4 times more likely to major in business and 1.7 times more likely to pursue a pursue a management and entrepreneurship emphasis. In an additional survey of 197 adult professionals attending entrepreneurship events, infected individuals were 1.8 times more likely to have started their own business compared with other attendees.

The researchers also compiled national statistics from 42 countries over the past 25 years and found that T. gondii infection prevalences (ranging from 9 percent in Norway to 60 percent in Brazil) proved to be a consistent, positive predictor of entrepreneurial activity, even when controlling for relative national wealth and opportunity factors.

What is it?

T. gondii, which reproduces in wild and domestic cats, infects an estimated 2 billion people worldwide. While human infections often lack acute symptoms, T. gondii has been correlated with impulsive behaviors and health outcomes such as increased risk of car accidents, road rage, mental illness, neuroticism, drug abuse and suicide.

The explanation behind these altered behaviors is as disturbing as it is fascinating: Because the parasite needs a cat to reproduce, any changes in host behavior that make them more likely to get eaten by a feline are hypothesized to benefit the parasite.

So We’re Not in Control Anymore?

The new study, which was published today in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, highlights the hidden, underexplored role that transmissible microbes could play in affecting human decision-making and cultural behaviors on large scales.

“As humans, we like to think that we are in control of our actions,” said Pieter Johnson, the co-lead author of the study and a professor in CU Boulder’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EBIO). “But emerging research shows that the microorganisms we encounter in our daily lives have the potential to influence their hosts in significant ways.”

Other examples of such parasite-host interactions abound in nature, including the infamous Ophiocordyceps unilateralis fungus that hijacks carpenter ants’ brains and compels self-destructive behavior. More benignly, the human gut microbiome contains bacteria that have been linked to mood, diet and immune system functions.

Economics research has historically emphasized the importance of rationality in explaining human decisions, with individuals considering benefits and risks before acting in their self-interest. T. gondii exposure, however, might nudge individuals toward higher risk, higher reward activities and deviating from economic theory.

No Fear

The study found that nations with a higher infection prevalence saw a lower fraction of respondents cite a “fear of failure” as a deterrent to a new business venture. But that’s not to say that all of those businesses will work out or that T. gondii necessarily deserves credit or blame for any individual outcome, the researchers said.

“We can see the association in terms of the number of businesses and the intent of participants, but we don’t know if the businesses started by T.gondii-positive individuals are more likely to succeed or fail in the long run,” said Stefanie K. Johnson, lead author of the study and an associate professor in CU Boulder’s Leeds School of Business. “New ventures have high failure rates, so a fear of failure is quite rational. T.gondii might just reduce that rational fear.”

Bottom Line

The researchers emphasized that the study is correlational, rather than causal, in nature and that individuals predisposed to high-risk behavior could be more likely to be both entrepreneurial in their attitudes and exposed to T. gondii through animal contact.

“Infectious diseases have strongly shaped human history and culture over millions of years,” said Pieter Johnson. “Today, we like to believe our decisions and destiny are ours alone, but the contributing roles of our microscopic companions are increasingly apparent.”

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Colorado State University’s One Health Program, and CU Boulder’s Deming Center for Entrepreneurship provided funding for the study. Co-authors include Marissa Beldon of Leeds; Dana Calhoun of EBIO; Markus Fitza of the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management in Frankfurt, Germany; Daniel A. Lerner of the University of Deusto in Bilbao, Spain; and Elsa Chan of City University of Hong Kong in China.

What do you think about this finding?

Everything You Need to Run a Successful Writing Business is On Sale

Just starting out as a freelance writer and want to cut the bull and get to the money making? Save time building your freelance writing business with the ultimate No-Fluff Freelance Writer Starter Pack. It’s on sale for $80, that’s 20% off!

When I was starting out as a freelance writer, I had nothing. I felt fear rise up every time I realized I didn’t have something I needed that professionals would have. I need to write up a contract? I don’t know anything about that! Write code that prevents people from stealing my posts on my blog? Uh, sorry, I’m not that smart. Draw up an income spreadsheet for my taxes? Oh crap.

It took me years to gather together all the templates, spreadsheets, job hunting knowledge and more that I needed to run a successful business.

I don’t want my No-Fluffers to go through all that. So, I gathered it all together into one amazing collection. I would have given up my morning caffeine for this when starting out. (This shit is serious, folks!)

The No-Fluff Freelance Writer Starter Pack is my 20 years of experience crammed into one enormous, glorious package!

The collection includes:

• Client contract template so you don’t need to worry about drawing one up – $100 value

• The Fluff-Free Freelance Writing Master Course Workbook : The only course that gives you concrete, actionable information to building a successful freelance business without any fluff.

• Cover letter template – $50 value

• Ghostwriting proposal template – $25 value

• Invoice template -- $10

• No copy coding for articles and blogs (prevents crooks from stealing your work) – $25 value

• An exclusive look at a resume that got me a gig at a huge company making $100 an hour -- priceless

• Printable expense and income spreadsheets – $25 value

• Example cover letter– $25 value

• Exclusive information to help you market your business on social media -- $500 value

• Article quality checklist to insure your articles are top-notch – $10

• Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown template letter – $100

• How to Be a No-Fluff Writer video

• No-Fluff Guide to Finding Freelance Writing Jobs

• No-Fluff Manifesto wallpaper for your laptop and phone

• How to Write an Article the No-Fluff Way Cheat Sheet

• The Ultimate Social Media Tool Kit for Freelance Writers 

Get it now before the price goes up! The kit will be delivered immediately to your inbox.

It Wasn't Luck: How I Became a Successful Writer

I posted this inspirational quote in my No-fluff Freelance Writing Group on Facebook: Not so controversial, right? One writer thought so:

Now, getting told to shut up got under my skin, but what really got me is, "Oh lucky you." My career as a successful freelance writer has been anything but luck.

So if not with luck, connections or money, how did I get where I am today? I'm going to tell you.

• Tenacity: I didn’t take no for an answer. If someone told me I wasn’t good enough, I just tried harder.

• Reading: From the age of 11 or so I have read just about everything I could get my hands on about being a good writer.

• Research: I learn everything I can on a topic before I write it. Being knowledgeable on a topic makes for good writing.

• Politeness: I don’t tell people to shut up. I also say please and thank you. Politeness can get you a long way in any business, especially in this modern world. People like to be treated right.

• Flexibility: Gig not work out? I don’t get bitter. I shake it off and move on to bigger and better things. Niche not making money? I switch to something with more promise.

• Class: To quote the wonderful Michelle Obama, when they go low, we go high. Don’t trash people on the internet, even if you think they will never see it. Potential clients may see your rant and get turned off. (Notice how I’m not trashing the writer that told me to shut up? I’m turning it into a reflection moment, which is much better.)

• Evolution: I’m constantly crafting myself as a writer. I grow, reshape, add to, subtract. The world of writing doesn’t stay the same and you shouldn’t either.

Want to know more about how I got clients? I put everything into a step-by-step guide called The Fluff-Free Freelance Writing Master Course Workbook.

The Secrets to Finding Writing Jobs

Finding paying freelance writing jobs on the internet is hard. You find a great gig, then realize they are only hiring on-site writers. Or you find a local freelancing gig and it doesn't pay. Grr. I feel your pain. Over the years, I've come up with some easy ways to dig up work that fits my niche, freelance lifestyle and pay requirements. I'm going to spill them right now.

Hit Up Twitter

I love Twitter. It is so useful for gathering writing tips, networking and getting inspiration. It's also a great place to look for freelance work. Businesses and publications often post about open gigs. All you need to do to find the posts is to type some hashtags into the search bar.

Here are some to get you started:

• #bloggerswanted

• #writerswanted

• #copywriterwanted

• #bloggerjob

• #bloggingjobs

• #writtingjobs

• #publishingjobs

• #journalismjobs

• #freelancewriterwanted

• #remotewriterwanted

• #fbloggerswanted (Fashion bloggers wanted)

• #healthbloggerswanted

Search Google the Right Way

Searching for writing jobs on Google can bring up job posts from 2005 or jobs that are five states away and require on-site work. Such a waste of time!!! You can avoid all of the crappy job posts by searching smart. If you want to search a certain site, put site: in front of the site name, then add keywords in quotation marks. For example, I've had a lot of luck with this search: site:craigslist.org "remote writer. " Some sites to try other than Craigslist are:

• Problogger

• LinkedIn

• Freelancewritinggigs.com

• Glassdoor

• Monster

• Indeed

Some other terms you can try are: • "content writing companies" • "freelance writing companies"

To get newer job posts, add the date:

site:craigslist.org "remote writer " July 15th 2016

Now the secret to finding high paying jobs. Just add the type of payment you're looking for:

• site:craigslist.org "remote writer " July 15th 2018 pays $220

• site:craigslist.org "remote writer " July 15th 2018 $50 per hour

• site:craigslist.org "remote writer " July 15th 2018 .50 per word

Successful writer Jennifer Mattern recommends this combination: writer and "compensation: * per article" site:craigslist.org (Replace the * with the monetary amount you want to be paid.)

If you want to search everywhere, just leave off the site and type in the rest of the search. This will bring up high-paying gigs from company job boards that most people never look at.

To get more great writing gig tips like these, read my book: The Fluff-Free Freelance Writing Master Course

7 Ways To Market Your Freelance Writing Business Online

As a freelance writer, your job is more than just writing. In fact, you tend to wear many hats and that can often make you break out in a cold sweat (I hear you!). But you have to become okay with it...at least until you can hire an assistant. 

So if you’re ready to start pushing your business forward, you’re going to want to start marketing yourself. As a copywriter or website writer, the bulk of your work is done online, so it’s also a great idea to market yourself online. You can do that using these seven methods.

With Your Website

The first thing that can act like a great marketing tool for your writing business is your website. So if you don’t already have one, you’re going to want to think about getting one. Your website can be your hub for samples of your work that can show prospective clients, listings of your awards, you blog and more.

And Your Own Store

You may even want to go one step further and have a website that is transactional too. With the right kind of website, like Tank Prints setup for network marketers, you may be able to offer a streamlined services to your customers like package deals. 

Here’s how to set up your own store with Shopify:

SEO

While we’re talking about your website, you’re then going to want to think about the SEO, too. If you’re not currently ranking too well in search listings, this is going to be something that you need to start working on.

Whether you choose to do it yourself, or work with an agency, you will find that doing your keyword research and populating your site should help you to gain more organic traffic and custom.

Here's an in-depth SEO guide to get you started.

Guest Blogging

Another side of SEO is also guest blogging, and this can also aid with your traffic too. If you’re new to guest blogging, then you’re going to want to come up with a strategy that you can work with in your own time. Again, this is something that you can choose to work on yourself or hire an SEO expert to help you with.

Social Media

You’re also going to want to think about promoting yourself and your writing business on social media. This doesn’t always feel that easy to do, so coming up with a social content calendar can help you here. Not only should you look to identify what platforms you should work on, you should also try out different kinds of content to see what is going to work the best with your audience.

For example, my Instagram is full of quotes and helpful tips that my target audience (writers) would like. If your niche is tech, though, you could post short video reviews, eye-catching images of the newest gadget or images of you trying out a gadget. If your niche is pets, cute photos of your dog, care tips and funny animal videos may be the way to go. Give your people what they want and they will follow you. This will build your platform and present you as an expert to clients.

Advertising

Up next, there’s also advertising to think about. And when it comes to online advertising, you’re going to find that there are lots of different methods that you can work with. So, it may be in your interest to trial out a range of different methods. You may find that display advertising doesn’t give you as good results as PPC advertising. But you’re not going to know this until you try.

Affiliate Marketing

Then, you could also think about working with an affiliate marketing strategy. As a writer, it’s easy to see affiliate marketing as something that you should be making money from as a publisher. But when you’re a business, you can also set up your own campaign to help generate sales. This can be particularly relevant if you do sell your services as products on your site, or even if you have products such as ebooks and courses that you’ve created yourself.

Need help finding gigs? Here's my ebook on how to become a successful freelance writer, step-by-step.