Make These 5 Changes to Save Money in Your Freelance Business

The life of a freelancer isn't an easy one, especially when you factor money into the equation. Being dependant on others for work, there isn't always a guarantee that you will have the funds to make ends meet on a month-by-month basis. 

Still, there is much you can do to help yourself:

• You can do all you can to source new clients.

• You should look for ways to boost your bank balance. Check out our ideas here: https://www.alinabradford.com/blog/lifestyle-changes-that-will-boost-a-writers-bank-balance?rq=business

• You should also look for ways to save money in your business, as this way, not only you will have more to put into your emergency fund for those dreaded dry spells, but you will also have more spending power to grow your business. Consider our tips below.

When running a freelance writing business, money can be hard to come by. That's why it's important to save where you can. Here are five ways you can save money without cutting corners or sacrificing quality.

#1: Stop assuming new is best

Save money where you can when buying items for your business and stop going after the shiniest and the newest thing. Now, there are some things you should buy new, since the quality of your work might suffer otherwise. A freelance writer might want to buy a brand new computer, for example, as something second-hand could jeopardize productivity if there were technological issues causing computer and user slowdown.

However, there are some items where buying used is probably okay, especially where office furniture is concerned. You might buy a second-hand desk from a used furniture store, for example. Used filing cabinets, a refurbished printer and a used camera are all options, too. As long as it works, that’s what matters!

#2: Consider scrapping your landline

You don’t need a landline. You just don’t. You have a cell phone. If you want a seperate business number from your personal number you can sign up for a free one with Google Voice. It even gives you free voice messaging. The calls are routed to your cell phone and your computer, so you never miss anything, and you can make calls using your business number, as well.

You might also find it cheaper to use a cloud-based telephone service, especially if you are regularly operating the rest of your business online. Check out this example, https://www.singlepointglobal.com/services/unified-communications/, and make the switch if it's cost-effective to do so.

And even if you are reliant on your landline, you might still switch to a different provider if you can find a cheaper rate elsewhere. Consider the same with your cell phone too!

#3: Stop overlooking your tax deductions

Tax season: It's the bane of freelancers everywhere. If your tax bill is bigger than expected, then your finances will take a hit. However, you can make life easier for yourself by adding tax-deductible expenses to your tax returns. Unpaid invoices, internet, phone service, office supplies, laptops, monitors and more may be used as write-offs.

Check out this comprehensive list of deductible items for a few examples:

https://smallbiztrends.com/2016/02/top-tax-deductions-for-small-business.html

Speak to an accountant and check with the IRS for more information on what you could include when filing your taxes.

#4: Stop paying for software

I’ll admit, I love Microsoft 365, but the monthly fee adds up. To save, you can use free options. Use Google Docs instead of Microsoft Word or download WPS Free, for example. Also, trade Excel for Google Sheets. If you’re paying for Adobe PDF services, try switching to Foxit. It’s free and allows you to view and edit PDFs.

#5 Don’t pay for job leads

There are some sites out there that will promise you premium job leads if you just pay a monthly fee. Don’t believe them. These sites aggregate Craigslist, LinkedIn, Indeed, MediaBistro and more to get you these “premium” jobs. I do that for you for free and post them here every Monday. No fee required!

3 Simple Tips for Improving Your Chances As a Freelance Writer

Making it as a freelance writer isn’t a perfectly straightforward process. Like with any other job success at freelance writing takes a decent amount of work and persistence, among other things. If you’ve been interested for a while in moving into this line of work, here are a few simple tips for improving your chances as a freelance writer.

Read your writing out loud to yourself, and then edit mercilessly

Many people who don’t have a lot of experience with writing for an audience, often make the mistake of thinking that “sounding smart” – usually by misusing and cramming a bunch of highbrow words into each article – is a key sign of quality writing.

Ultimately, though, writing is all about communication – and the better you are able to communicate in a way that people can understand and relate to, and that seems natural, the more you’re succeeding in your primary role.

One great trick is to read your writing out loud to yourself during the editing phase, and to mercilessly cut out or reword anything that doesn’t seem natural. Also, try reading it backwards. I like to read through an article at least three times before I submit it.

As a general rule, you can be pretty sure that if your writing sounds clunky and awkward to your own ears when read aloud, it’s not going to make a great impression on many readers.

Have a well-presented and reliable website to serve as the cornerstone of your marketing efforts

The number one marketing resource for any freelance writer in today’s world, is going to be their website. Ideally, plenty of customers will stumble upon your site via SEO – but even those who you reach through more “old school” marketing channels will inevitably end up on your site’s landing page to get a better sense of who you are.

If you have a well-presented and reliable site at your disposal, you’re simply going to be in a much better overall position than you would be if your site was blatantly amateurish, and prone to lagging and crashing. 

In fact, your website is so important that it might be worth hiring a company to manage it for you. You can visit this website for an example of such a company.

Continually expand your experience and insight by reading a lot, and trying many varied types of writing

No one is born a good writer, but at the same time, being a good writer isn’t the kind of thing that you can necessarily just step into after spending enough time reading technical guides about the correct use of grammar and vocab.

Ultimately, much of what makes up “good writing” comes down to developing your sense of taste and insight, largely by reading a lot, and practising your writing ad nauseam.

Keep your perspective broad by reading plenty of different types of literature, non-fiction books, articles, and so on. And try many varied types of writing, in both a professional and private context. 

Each style is an art unto itself, and if you know something about how to write an ebook, and are also familiar with blogging and case study creation, you’re simply going to be a more well-rounded and appealing writer to anyone who might be shopping around.

7 IT Essentials For Any Small Business

The right infrastructure and IT support can help you to work smarter and harder, while your business grows. Here’s 7 IT essentials small businesses need to be successful.

1. Microsoft Outlook. As part of the Office suite, you get all the usual Microsoft programmes, like Word and Excel, but also get the often overlooked Outlook. Use Outlook to help you and your business stay organised. Outlook can be used for more than just email. Use to help you organise your files, organise your emails and manage your calendar to keep track of meetings. 

2. Cloud storage. If you store important files outside your own computer, you can make sharing them much easier. Collaborate more freely, as any staff with credentials will be able to access and work from the same files. It also gives you more freedom to work away from your office, as you can access your documents from your home, your phone or your laptop. Use cloud storage for flexible working for you and any team members who want to work remotely. Cloud storage can be more secure, as you can track any changes made, and your files will still be safely there even if a disaster befalls your work computers. 

3. Network security. Small businesses can often be targeted for cyber crime, as there’s often an assumption that their network security won’t be up to date. Be sure to protect your business from these kind of attacks by investing in network security to protect your files. Proper security also keeps safe any customer information and your emails. Protect your reputation by taking steps to reduce the risk of customer information being leaked. Keep your anti-virus software up to date all on devices used for work.

4. Accounting software. Keep track of your company finances with the right accounting software, without needing to use an outside form. Track your company income, expenses, tax liabilities and other important financial information. Using software means you can access your financial information on demand, and keep up to date more easily than with old fashioned methods.  

5. Inventory Management. Use inventory software to keep proper track of what’s coming in and going out. Manage inventory costs and monitor product profitability. 

6. Payment processing. Utilise IT to maximise earning potential, by making sure you can  accept credit and debit card payments. Most people prefer to pay by card these days and rarely pay business using cash or cheques. For online transactions, use a secure payment gateway or trustworthy service like PayPal. If you’re taking payments in person, you’ll need card readers and any point-of-sale systems. Make sure that any customer data taken during the payment process is being kept securely, to avoid data breaches. 

7. Communication. Any small business owner knows that communication is key. You need a reliable infrastructure to keep you in touch whether by phone or via the internet. You’ll want to keep talking to customers, suppliers, employees, contractors and relevant stakeholders. Make the most of the internet for keeping a well maintained company website to speak to customers. 

Best High-Paying Freelance Gigs of the Week: August 19, 2019

Get that resume and your portfolio ready. Here’s this week’s popping fresh gigs. These freelance writing opportunities pay at least $50 a piece, offer a full-time salary, or pay more than $25 an hour. Each one is labeled as a remote job, virtual job or work-from-home job, which means you can do the work from anywhere.

Also, here are 30+ sites that pay writers for articles and 20 high paying magazines looking for pitches, so be sure to check that out.

Note: I don’t know anything about these positions other than what I post. I weed out the seedy looking ones, but it is your job to be diligent when applying. Also, please don’t message me with questions about the postings. If a link doesn’t work the posting has probably been taken down because the gig has been filled. If you have a gig for freelance writers that pays at least $50 a peice or over $25 an hour, please contact me and I will include your gig in next week’s post.

Book loving writer

Pay: $75 to $100 an article

More information: Simply Hired

Freelance Content Writer for Fundraising Platform CauseVox

Pay: $25 to 50 per article

More information: Simply Hired

Lead online gambling reporter

Pay: Full-time

More information: Indeed

Writer For Poker and Casino Blog

Pay: $25 an hour

More information: Indeed

Freelance SEO Writer

Pay: $.10 per word

More information: Journalism Jobs

Copywriter for StickerMule

Pay: $70,000+ depending on experience

More information: ZipRecruiter

News curator and writer

Pay: Full-time

More information: LinkedIn

Freelance Ghostwriter for ForbesBooks

Pay: Full-time

More information: ZipRecruiter

Creative Services Writer/Producer

Pay: Full-time

More information: Glassdoor

Small Business Accounting & Tax Writer

Pay: Full-time

More information: LinkedIn

Credium Writers

Pay: $250 per article

More information: Credium Guidelines

Nova Scotia Advocate

Pay: $200 an article

More information: Sourced from Pitchwhiz- Our purpose in life is to write the stories others overlook, and give voice to the people you don’t often hear from. If you lived the story you want to tell, so much the better.

We can pay up to $200 for a story, maybe even more, depending on the complexity of the topic and how experienced a writer you are. Payment goes out the the same day we receive your invoice.

Poverty, ableism, racism, all kinds of unfairnesses, labour, the environment, the arts, those are the sorts of topics we cover, and Nova Scotia is our geographic focus.

You don’t have to be an experienced writer. We will help you, and you’ll find doing journalism is a lot of fun, and really not as hard as it is cracked up to be.

If this isn’t for you, maybe you know somebody who might be interested. Let them know.

Send us a line with what you want to write about, and we’ll get back to you. The email is rdevet@gmail.com.

Best High-Paying Freelance Gigs of the Week: August 12, 2019

August is almost halfway over. Have you made any new connections this month? Well, no matter how your month is going, these fresh gigs will get you motivated. These freelance writing opportunities pay at least $50 a piece, offer a full-time salary, or pay more than $25 an hour. Each one is labeled as a remote job, virtual job or work-from-home job, which means you can do the work from anywhere.

Also, here are 30+ sites that pay writers for articles and 20 high paying magazines looking for pitches, so be sure to check that out.

Note: I don’t know anything about these positions other than what I post. I weed out the seedy looking ones, but it is your job to be diligent when applying. Also, please don’t message me with questions about the postings. If a link doesn’t work the posting has probably been taken down because the gig has been filled. If you have a gig for freelance writers that pays at least $50 a peice or over $25 an hour, please contact me and I will include your gig in next week’s post.

Freelance News Blogger

Pay: $50

More information: Give Get Gigs

Technical Writer

Pay: Full-time

More information: Who We Are: Wild West Media provides competitive advertising strategies to the top 1% of Amazon Sellers. We create, manage, and optimize high performing pay-per-click campaigns driven by advanced market intelligence. We are a service business, partnering with our clients to scale their businesses and achieve their desired outcomes. We immerse ourselves in advanced advertising strategy to provide our clients with a competitive advantage.

Who You Are: Our agency is looking for an experienced Technical Writer to create documentation outlining our advertising processes. You have the skills and experience to create instructional materials that will support our existing team and help onboard new employees. Instruction materials will combine text instructions with software screen captures and video recordings. You have a basic understanding of digital marketing workflows. Key processes you’ll be documenting are keyword research, competitive analysis, performance reporting, and advertising campaign management. You have extensive experience creating action-oriented instructions for software, team workflows, and technical implementation. Even though we offer a remote opportunity, we work in a highly collaborative environment.

The Amazon Advertising platform is relatively new and constantly evolving and changing. It’s crucial that we have accurate and up-to-date process documentation for our team members. Technical Writer Responsibilities: • Meet and collaborate with team leaders to understand workflows for documentation • Break down large projects into milestones and deliverables • Create training documentation on how to use software platforms • Integrate screenshot sequences into written instructions • Create templates and checklists in Process Street • Translate complex workflows into step-by-step implementation guides • Collaborate with the advertising team remotely via Slack and video meetings • Create multiple drafts and refine your work based on feedback Technical Writer Requirements: • 3+ years technical and instructional writing experience • Immaculate written and verbal communication • Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills • Proficient in Google Docs and Microsoft Word • Screen capture software (TechSmith Snagit) experience a plus • Process Street experience a plus (training provided) Wild West Media values and rewards loyalty and hard work. We’re committed to creating great work experiences for our team with opportunities for advancement. ____________ Wild West Media has been scaling search and display campaigns in competitive markets for 15+ years. We've spent the last three years focused solely on Amazon Advertising, developing and executing winning pay-per-click campaigns for the top private label brands.

If you’re interested in learning more about Wild West Media’s advertising philosophy and strategy, here’s a link to our CEO, Cherie Yvette, presenting on Amazon Advertising: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyD0JjNbVic&t=58s

If you are interested in this opportunity, please e-mail a resumé and cover letter, including details about yourself and your technical writing experience, to cherie@theurbancowgirl.com. Please include examples of instructional materials you’ve written for digital projects.

Content Writer

Pay: Full-time

More information: Glassdoor

Part Time / Remote Proposal Writer (Defense)

Pay: $20 to $30 per hour

More information: Glassdoor

Technical Writer

Pay: Full-time

More information: Dice

Corporate Writer

Pay: Full-time

More information: LinkedIn

Content Writer

Pay: $20K–30K a year

More information: LinkedIn

IZEA Writer/Editor

Pay: Full-time

More information: Company Profile: IZEA created the modern influencer marketing industry in 2006 when we launched the first technology platform to pay bloggers to create content for brands. Since then, we have grown from a guy with an idea, to a NASDAQ traded company serving the worlds top Marketers and Creators. Our customers include the world’s biggest brands, agencies, top media organizations and the world’s largest newspaper publisher. Clients include, but are not limited to, Wendy's, Marriott, NBC, The Home Depot, Kraft, and Petco.

Job Description: IZEA is adding writers and editors to its talented team of creators! Get paid to create custom content for top brands, advertisers, publishers, and ecommerce companies. Join the creator marketplace full of freelance opportunities for journalists, writers, photographers, videographers, designers, animators, musicians, and composers. If you’re a writer and/or editor who loves making great content, we want to hear from you.

Sign up on our IZEA Zen platform to do freelance writing and editing. Claiming tasks in the app is a breeze, and you can track your processed payments by week, month and year to stay on top of your earnings. We even offer a handy payment tracker tool to track when you will receive each weeks funds. Content is paid per piece, and the price points vary depending on the client and type of content being produced.

Please take a few minutes to register on the IZEA Zen platform at https://manage.zencontent.com/#!/signup. There is no need to submit a resume or cover letter for this opportunity. We look forward to working with you on IZEA Zen and thank you in advance for your continued commitment to the craft.

Job Requirements/ Skills: Were looking for creators who have writing and/or editing experience, are able to follow detailed style guides, and can create content in a variety of voices.

Please apply to apply_484009787@activehire.com

Teach Literature, Reading, & Writing IN CHINA - Degree Required

Pay: $33,000 - $40,000 a year

More information: Indeed

B2B / Business Writers wanted!

Pay: $40 to $50 per article

More information: Hi, we are looking for freelance writers who can write blog posts in the business niche. This will be an ongoing gig for multiple writers as we always need fresh content.

Topics we cover usually range between small business, entrepreneurship, startups, career, productivity, collaboration, management, work culture, leadership, business tools, remote work, etc. 

Here are some topic examples: 

Three Ways Cloud Solutions Can Benefit Your Workplace Collaboration
How to Streamline Your Project Management Process

If you think you can write about such topics, let us know. 

We can pay $40-$50 per article.

Articles that we need are about 1,000 - 1,500 words long. The majority of the articles are informative “how-to” blog posts.

Ideal writers for our team:

• Are experienced in writing professionally in the business niche

• Are native English speakers with excellent writing skills

• Have a portfolio of the published content

• Have a 3-4 day turnaround for articles

• Can write at least 2 articles per week (for great fit writers we have more work)

When applying, please include:

• Links to most relevant business blog posts you’ve published (send us some samples)

• Your expertise: business topics you are most qualified to tackle

We hope for a long term partnership!

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply via email (content@fortis.agency) using the subject line "Business Writer – your name”.

Fitness/Gym Equipments/BodyBuilding Writer Wanted ( Long Term & On-Going work )

Pay $50 to $60 per article

More information: ProBlogger

Environmentalism Pitches

Pay: $0.75-1 per word

More information: Ensia Guidelines

Reporters in the Field Journalism Grant

Pay: 8,000 Euro

More information: Facebook.com/reportersinthefield

Content Update Editor, Lifewire

Pay: $25 per hour

More information: Mediabistro

GoSite Freelance Writer

Pay: $150+ per article

More information: Mediabistro

Better Bike Share Partnership Writer

Pay: $30 to $35 an hour

More information: Mediabistro

Content Update Editor, Verywell

Pay: $30 an hour

More information: Mediabistro

Freelance Managing Editor

Pay: $60 - $150 per hour, depending on experience

More information: Mediabistro

Milanote is a tool for organizing your creative projects into beautiful visual boards. Created to replicate the feeling of working on a wall in a creative studio - visual, tactile and sometimes a bit messy - Milanote is a great fit for freelancers in both the marketing and design spaces. Milanote has heaps of built-in templates to help you get started with a variety of different projects, from creating a moodboard to set out the visual direction for a project, to writing that perfect creative brief. Its sharing features make it a great option for those who regularly provide work to clients for feedback.

Milanote's basic plan is available for free with no time-limit.

Freelance Writing Gig: ClearVoice Review

If you’ve been on the freelance writing scene for a while you’ve probably come across “content mills” that pay writers a few bucks per article. These sites have a stall of writers that churn out articles for their clients, not particularly concerned if the writers can pay their bills or not. There are the few diamonds in the rough, though, like ClearVoice.

From what I’ve seen, writers get paid well for their work and the site supplies writers with a free portfolio, much like Contently. (The site literally scans the internet, though, and adds new clips to your CV with your approval, which is pretty awesome. )

It’s been around for four years, so it looks like it’s not going anywhere.

Here’s what I know.

Rates

Writers seem to get paid so well because they get to choose their rate. Yep. You get a say. And don’t worry about pricing too high. They have bigger clients that are willing to shell out a more money for good content, it seems. Some of ClearVoice’s clients include Carfax, Cabela’s, Esurance and Lifelock.

Gigs

There are two ways you can make money on this site. Clearvoice matches you with clients depending on your niche and you can pitch clients who are looking for article ideas. I pitched a client and got a gig right away. I’ve been matched with several clients, but haven’t gotten a gig that way yet.

Pay Day

What I like most is that you get paid on acceptance. There’s no waiting around. If you don’t use PayPal you’ll need to make an account, though.

Communication

Unlike other sites, ClearVoice allows you to talk to the client through a message board so you can be sure about what your clients needs. This is a big advantage over other middlemen sites.

Overall, I really like this site and I think that writers can really benefit from joining up.

Copywriting Mistakes You Could Be Making

Everyone, absolutely everyone, makes mistakes when writing copy every now and then. Even David Ogilvy, the father of modern advertising copy, once admitted: “I’m a lousy copywriter, but I am a good editor.” Perfection never happens the first time around, and even the best copywriters in the world are constantly re-drafting and making little tweaks. While some mistakes are unavoidable, some are more common than others. Here are a few of the most common copywriting blunders you need to watch out for…

how to become a better freelance writer

Bad Headlines

You may have some of the best content on the web, but if your headline stinks, so will the results. Using clickbait is probably one of the most common mistakes when it comes to headlines. Titles that scream controversy, offer incredible guarantees or apply similar cheap ploys, can serve a purpose, but only for a moment. If you do end up using clickbait headlines, you need to make sure the body of your copy backs it up in a big way.

Another common error is trying to be too original. It’s good to make your copy stand out, but there’s a reason why professional copywriting headlines follow certain conventions: they work! Good headlines are absolutely essential, so make sure you’re not making these common blunders.

Too Much Focus on Features

branding

This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t be clued-up on the product or service you’re trying to sell. Being familiar with whatever it is you’re trying to make people buy is absolutely essential for any piece of copywriting, whether it’s organic groceries or NFC cards or anything in between.

However, it’s a big, and unfortunately common mistake, for copywriters to focus their material too much on the features of a product, and not enough on the benefits it offers the target audience in question.

Customers aren’t interested in the quality of the materials, the high manufacturing standards, or the history of the business itself. All they want to know is what they’ll gain from buying this product or paying for this service. Features can certainly be important, but you should limit them to short, sweet, bullet-points. The bulk of your creative energy should be used for telling people how they can benefit from buying this or that product.

Poor Layout

A good layout isn’t going to make your copy successful, but poor layout will chase prospective customers away like there’s no tomorrow. You’ve probably had at least one instance where you went looking for some information on Google, clicked a promising headline, then glanced over a huge block of text, and went straight back to the page of search results.

The content itself may have been just what you were looking for, but seeing the way it was laid out, you decided immediately that you weren’t going to bother reading it. You probably went on to find some copy with well-spaced, legible font, broken up into subheadings and bullet points. Make sure you’re using layouts that are attractive and easily digestible to your audience, or your copywriting is sure to fail.

For every article you write, be sure there are:

• Separate paragraphs

• Photos

• Headings

• Bullet points or numbered lists, if needed

• Legible font (Times New Roman, Calibri or Georgia are some of the best)

Need step-by-step help starting your freelancing career? Take my master course.

Best High-Paying Freelance Gigs of the Week: August 5, 2019

Are you making the most of this week? Remember my moto: 12 in play keep the bills at bay. Make sure you’re sending out a dozen applications, pitches, or connections to potential clients per week. Here’s this week’s work-from-home freelance writing jobs to get you started. These gigs pay at least $50 a piece, offer a full-time salary, or pay more than $25 an hour. Each one is labeled as a remote job, virtual job or work-from-home job, which means you can do the work from anywhere.

Also, here are 30+ sites that pay writers for articles, so be sure to check that out.

Note: I don’t know anything about these positions other than what I post. I weed out the seedy looking ones, but it is your job to be diligent when applying. Also, please don’t message me with questions about the postings. If a link doesn’t work the posting has probably been taken down because the gig has been filled. If you have a gig for freelance writers that pays at least $50 a peice or over $25 an hour, please contact me and I will include your gig in next week’s post.

How-to Geek Food Writer

Pay: Freelance writing starting at $100 per article

More information: Ziprecruiter

Freelance Writer for Virtual Book Club Content

Pay: $150 for each book's content writing

More information: Simply Hired

Freelance article writer

Pay: $1.5 per word

More information: Slowdown Guidelines The Slowdown—a Medium publication dedicated to design, business, and technology—is seeking fresh perspectives from freelance writers. We especially love smart critiques paired with optimistic solutions. Do you have insight into bias in AI, how the designed environment affects society, or the future of work? Send us your pitch. Pitches should include links to past work, the basic idea you want to pursue, and what's new about your angle. Stories with original research are preferred, though we also welcome quirky, personal stories. Word count target: 500-2000 words. Check out our site to get an idea of the range of stories we're looking for. Your work will be widely promoted, and you will be paid promptly. The Slowdown is sponsored by Slalom, a modern consulting firm focused on strategy, technology, and business transformation.

Send your pitch here: theslowdown@slalom.com

Include these things: Samples of your work, a synopsis of your proposed story, and an approximate word count. And a link to your Medium account (you’ll need one to work with us). Target story length: 500–2000 words.

Writer for Matriarchal Culture Magazine

Pay: $250 per article

More information: Craigslist

Web Copy for Services Page for Attorney Website

Pay: $150

More information: Craigslist

Contributing Freelance Writer

Pay: $75-100

More information: Simply Hired

Atlanta Lifestyle & News Writer

Pay: Full-time

More information: LinkedIn

Business Writer

Pay: Full-time

More information: Ladders

Restaurants & Retail Business Staff Writer

Pay: Full-time

More information: LinkedIn

Legal Writer

Pay: Full-time- Hourly rate is $30.

More information: LinkedIn

Content Writer with Contract Management Experience

Pay: $20k – $40k

More information: Hitshop

Content Writer at wisp

Pay: $5k – $10k

More information: Wisp

Visual Arts News is now accepting pitches on the theme of architecture

Pay: $100 to $150

More information: Visual Arts News is now accepting pitches on the theme of architecture now until September 19th for our Spring 2020 issue. Check out our website for more information: visualartsnews.ca/about-us/

How to pitch:

Subject line: PITCH Visual Arts News

Email body: (200-300 words) What you want to cover and why it would be of interest to Visual Arts News, your angle and the format (review, profile, interview, feature). Include links to the artist’s website, the gallery website, and pertinent exhibition info (dates, location, curator, images etc.).

New writers, please also describe who you are and why your voice is a good fit for our publication. Please also attach your CV along with 2-3 writing samples to reviews, articles, or essays.

Send all materials by email to: editor@visualartsnews.ca.

All editorial decisions are made at the discretion of the Editorial Committee. If you are also submitting photos, please ensure they are 300dpi and a minimum of four inches wide. To be considered, proposals must be received by the issue’s stipulated deadline noted above.

Writer’s fees range from $100 to $150 per article, payable upon acceptance from the editor. All texts are submitted on a conditional basis. While the editor will work with authors to clarify their writing, texts are not considered accepted until the editor accepts the final draft. There is no “kill fee” for a declined text.

Editorial Policy:

Visual Arts News is the only magazine dedicated to contemporary visual art in Atlantic Canada. Although our focus is Atlantic Canadian art and artists, we also accept stories about national and international art and events that we believe are of interest to our readership.

Written in a clear and sophisticated style by some of the most talented arts writers in the region, Visual Arts News reflects the diversity of geographic and cultural communities in Atlantic Canada. The magazine is committed to providing balanced, engaging information about visual arts and artists. Our Editorial Committee is responsible for content selection, and the Editor assigns writers to each story. Although we are a non-profit organization supported in part by advertising, we recognize the importance of maintaining a clear separation between our independent editorial content and any advertising materials found in the magazine. Visual Arts News cannot guarantee editorial content or placement to advertisers.

Content Update Editor, Verywell

Pay: $30 per hour

More information: MediaBistro

Full-Time Writer And Part-Time Writer Needed For Reality TV News Site - Realityblurb.Com

Pay: Position pays $25 per article. Full-Time position will pay $3000 to $5000 a month plus bonuses

More information: MediaBistro

Outdoor Coffee Content Specialist – 1 article & 1 video week

Pay: $1,000 per month

More information: Problogger

PBC Guru Virtual Content Writer

Pay: $150 per day

More information: Indeed

Freelance Resume Writer

Pay: $3,500 a month

More information: Talent.Inc

Copywriter / Publicist (Choose Your Own Hours)

Pay: $2,500 per week

More information: Indeed

5 Tips for Starting a Home-Based Online Writing Business

It is easy to see why so many people are quitting their 9-5 jobs and embarking on an online writing career. Freelance work provides great flexibility and puts you in control of your earnings, but this is also a unique and challenging way of working that is not for everyone. It is important that you know how to succeed as an online writer, as it takes more than just a way with words to succeed in this (increasingly competitive) industry. So, if you are thinking of making the leap and starting your own online writing business, read on for a few tips.

1. Create a Routine

One of the perks of working remotely is that it provides great flexibility, but this can also be a curse, particularly for those that struggle with self-motivation. Creating a routine and sticking to it is vital for success and will ensure that you are able to get what you need done each day. It will also make it easier for clients to know when to contact you.

2. Avoid Cabin Fever

It is very easy to suffer from cabin fever if you work from home, and you will want to avoid this at all costs. This means that you should make an effort to leave the house each day, whether this is going to the gym, meeting friends for lunch, visiting a client or socializing in the evening. Many freelancers also like working from a laptop so that they have the option of working somewhere other than home.

3. Separate Home & Work

Following this, it can be hard to separate your home and work life when you start an online home-based writing career. Having a home office is one good way of doing this, but you can also help to separate the two by sticking to your routine (as above) and implementing an action to start and end the working day - a walk around the block is a smart idea because this also helps you to avoid cabin fever.

4. Have Reliable Transport

Leading on from this, it is helpful to have a reliable automobile when you are a freelance writer, since it will be helpful for getting out and meeting clients. Although you will be primarily working from home, you may also have to commute occasionally and run errands. A versatile and reliable vehicle like a Land Rover Defender 110 would be a good investment.

5. Avoid Burnout

There is a temptation to take on as much work as you possibly can when you are a freelance writer so that you can maximize your earnings. While you certainly should work hard each day, you should avoid taking on too much work as this can lead to burnout and reduce the quality of your work. Take on a manageable amount and make sure that you are taking regular breaks and leading a healthy lifestyle (which can be easy to neglect when working from home).

A home-based freelance writing career can be highly rewarding, but you must also know how to work efficiently and thrive in an industry that is becoming increasingly competitive.

Fancy Starting a Vlog? Here's What You Need to Know

A vlog essentially means a virtual log, and is fast becoming a new way of blogging. (Okay, it's not that new, but it's becoming mainstream.) You essentially record yourself and post it onto the internet, which people watch. There are dozens of virtual logs out there, and essentially comes in the form of something sat facing the camera and talking about things that are pertinent to them. It can be a great way to feature your expertise in a niche, or you can use your skill as a vlogger as an added benefit to choosing you over other freelance writers.

If you fancied starting one, then good for you! There are certain things you need to make it a success. These tips can help you get started. You may have already thought about some of these, but if not use them and apply them to your setup.

Supplies

There are certain things you need to do before starting your Vlog. First you need a camera to record yourself. You need to find the best vlogging camera for you. If you can’t afford one then you could use your phone if the camera is good enough. At least make sure your phone camera is over 12 megapixels. Otherwise the video will look grainy.

You also need to think about what kind of platform you want your vlog to rest on. YouTube is extremely popular, but you may want to post it on your blog to make it more accessible. Youtube is easier to access, but you are making more of a statement by posting it from your own website. Facebook Live, Instagram Live and Snapchat are all good options, too.

Choose Your Niche

You need to ensure you have some form of niche. Something that makes you stand out will pull people in. Check on the more popular vlogs and see what they are doing that attracts success. You need to do the same thing, but with a spin.

What are you an authority on? What are you good at? What makes you unique?

Get Viewers

Now that you have your vlog setup you need to start attracting people to it. They need to know it exists to give it a chance. You can help by shouting about it. Okay, not literally.

• Comment on similar videos linking back to your own.

• Tell people on social media, friends included.

• Offer to guest star in other people's videos that share the same topic.

The more people that know the more they will talk about it and you can’t beat word of mouth as the main pulling point for your new videos.

Take Feedback

As you post, the comments will pour in, some critical, others praising. You need to reply to the good comments and act on the bad feedback. Use suggestions to turn bad videos into good ones by listening to your critics.

Of course, there will be a lot of trolls, especially if you post on YouTube. If a person isn't offering constructive criticism that you can use, ignore them. Don't let it make you give up. You can do this!

Don’t Make Your Vlog a Slog

You’ve been uploading new videos and keeping a close eye on the view counter. You keep refreshing the pages, but the view counter for your videos just aren’t going up. The only person who seems to be increasing the view count is you, and that’s only because you keep refreshing the page to check the view count. Ha!

This is a disastrously common scenario for many vloggers out there. The fact is, vlogs are a dime a dozen - or maybe even a dime a hundred these days - and, while it remains an exciting medium, you really need something that will make you stand out from the crowd.

And on that note, let’s dive into the first common mistake that new vloggers make...

There’s Nothing Special About Your Vlog

A lot of vloggers aren’t really saying anything new or offering anything particularly funny or wise. They’re simply regurgitating what more popular vloggers are saying. While this may have worked for a few people who managed to get rich while basically ripping off the likes of PewDiePie, by and large the rip-off artists are called out as such right away and fail to grab an audience.

There needs to be something about your vlog that really compels people to watch more. Here's some ideas:

• Do you have a funny voice that makes your friends howl with laughter? Use it! A good example is Chelcie Lynn. She creates characters and videos them living their lives. The results are hilarious.

• Do you have a unique way of seeing the world? Make sure that shines through. Don't stifle it in the name of fitting in. My favorite example of letting your freak flag fly is Chris Crocker. He's funny, poignant and adorable, all wrapped up in one package.

• Do you like putting a spin on an old classic? BUG Bradford (my kiddo) makes parodies of TV shows and songs. While she's not a pro yet, a rendition of one song has gotten close to 30,000 views.

Your Editing Isn’t Any Good

Never, never, never underestimate the importance of good editing. The best vloggers out there tend to have great editing skills they use to make their videos funnier, clearer and more enjoyable. In fact, many of these vloggers find that the real creation of their videos is in the editing, not the filming. Resources like Training Connection may be able to help you.

The Videos Are Too Long - or Not Long Enough

People love to talk cynically about how ruined our attention span supposedly is. While the damage the internet has wrought upon our attention spans is a myth, it’s important that your vlog isn’t longer than it needs to be.

Of course, it depends what your niche is. A video that’s too short may not grab people at all. The sweet spot for many viewers seems to be somewhere along the four to seven minute mark, especially if you lean more towards comedy. Social commentary may take on longer forms; for example, a historical and economic video about Brexit will actually attract more viewers if it’s over twenty minutes!

You’re Not Interacting with Your Audience

The best way to engage your audience, beside making great vlogs, is to actually engage with them. This is why you need respond to reasonable comments on your videos, as well as use social media to converse with followers.

Twitter is a particularly good platform for vloggers. You can also use social media to follow and interact with bigger vloggers who may end up paying attention to your videos and giving you a wider audience.

Speedy Writing Tips for Beginners

I must admit. I’m a speedy writer. Not to say I don’t work hard to get stories in by their deadline, research new markets and craft queries. I just don’t like wasting time. I want to get it done and move onto the part I love, the actual writing.

There are many sites made specifically to aid writers on their quest for information, resources, and education. Below are some of the best to help you save time and get writing.

Reference at Your Fingertips

Everyone knows that you need a good dictionary, thesaurus and encyclopedia, but thumbing through these can waste huge masses of time. Besides, why buy these reference books when you can easily access them on the web? This saves time and money! Wordsmyth has a dictionary and thesaurus that are quick and easy to use. All you have to do is type your word into the box on the left-hand side of the screen. The site will give you the correct spelling, synonyms, definition, and a list of related words.

Merriam and Webster Online not only has a dictionary and thesaurus, but also Encyclopedia Britannica. This site also helps you with research related to the words you look up by providing helpful links.

Another great reference site is Writer’s Market.com. The digital version of this long time writer’s staple offers instant access to thousands of editors and agents just for $5.99 a month. This is a great time saver because it is constantly being updated. No more getting returned query letters because of address changes or business mergers.

Speedy Research

Doing research is one of the biggest time eaters there is for writers. Going to the library can take up a whole day. And typing random terms into search engines can be just as time consuming. Finding several surefire research sites is the best way to maximize writing time. The key is to stay focused on your topic. Say you are looking for information on the best places to go salmon fishing. You find several great articles on salmon fishing, but a few pop up about salmon recipes. Even if you are tempted, don’t stray over to other topics that may pique you interest. Stay focused! It saves precious time that you need to write your story.

Profnet lets you ask technical questions of experts and look up previously answered questions on anything from Ancient Egypt to Oklahoma injury settlements. For more, Game Press is another site that lets you connect with experts in the field of gaming.

Need really detailed information like statistics or government documents for your story? Don’t shlep to your local government agency. Turn to sites like Fedstats or Firstgov.gov. Fedstats has links to statistical data, statistical profiles of states, counties, cities, congressional districts, and federal judicial districts, while Firstgov.gov has just about any other kind of information you could want related to government agencies and policies.

Do you want to have just one website bookmarked where you can find all the research help you could ever need? Refdesk.com is the ultimate online guide to internet research. The site includes links to expert advice, reference facilities and news, as well as help and advice columns.

Saving time by using the internet is a great way to add more minutes to writing your story. Just remember to actually write.

Here’s everything you need to start a successful freelance writing business.

First Impressions Count: Why Your Website Matters

Having any website has to be better than no website at all, right? Wrong! Yes, a website is essential for writers, but not any old website will do. You pour your heart and soul into your writing business, so why would you want to downgrade it by plastering your business' name on a website that's not up to scratch?

There is no point in having a website, simply for the sake of having a website. Your website needs to perform a lot of tasks, so it needs to be done right. If you're still feeling unsure of why your business' website is so important, here's why it's a valuable tool that you shouldn't ignore.

First Impressions Really Do Count

Whether you are a new freelance writer or a well-known expert, people are going to want to do a little research before taking the plunge and hiring you. Guess where most people go to find out the information that they need? Yep, you guessed it, the internet. If you don't have a website, well, the chances are that your competitors will benefit. Nowadays, product research and purchase decisions are mainly carried out online, so don't miss your opportunity to get your business noticed. Don’t rely on a Facebook page. There’s only so much information you can give your potential clients there and it’s hard to show off your brand on a FB page.

How do you create a good impression? Here are some tips from Jorden Makelle:

Make Things Easy

Want to make your business stand out from your competitors? If so, your website can help. A well-designed website which looks great and provides your customers with all the information they need to make an informed purchase is vital. Creating a website which performs all of these tasks can be tricky. Your website needs to be professional and perform a variety of functions, including being easy to read on a phone or laptop. Therefore, it's a good idea to enlist the help of a web design company to guide you through the whole process and make your ideas a reality.

Having a great website performs another vital function; it helps to build up your brand. Keep your website consistent with the rest of your business' branding, and you will have the perfect medium for boosting your brand recognition and building up brand loyalty among your customers.

Multitasking Made Easier

Here are some more ways that you can add further value to your website:

• Use your website as a way of making sales by adding an online shop, complete with content packages. For example, one content package could be a quote for a month’s worth of blog posts for X amount. Clients like content packages because they know exactly how much they will be spending and what they’re getting.

• Introduce a blog section to help build a stronger connection to your customers and provide them with lots of useful information that will keep them coming back for more. Be sure to focus on your niche.

• Include a FAQ page, so that you can address any queries or possible issues that may be preventing potential customers from purchasing your services.

Your website is the ideal platform to use as a way of bringing together various elements of your business. If it is designed right, your website can work at multitasking your branding, marketing, sales and promotion. 

Best High-Paying Freelance Gigs of the Week: July 29, 2019

How’s everything going in your business? Have you gotten any new gigs recently? If not, or you need more, here’s help. Here’s this week’s work-from-home freelance writing jobs. These gigs pay at least $50 a piece, offer a full-time salary, or pay more than $25 an hour. Each one is labeled as a remote job, virtual job or work-from-home job, which means you can do the work from anywhere.

Also, here are 30+ sites that pay writers for articles, so be sure to check that out.

Note: I don’t know anything about these positions other than what I post. I weed out the seedy looking ones, but it is your job to be diligent when applying. Also, please don’t message me with questions about the postings. If a link doesn’t work the posting has probably been taken down because the gig has been filled. If you have a gig for freelance writers that pays at least $50 a peice or over $25 an hour, please contact me and I will include your gig in next week’s post.

Visual Arts News

Pay: $100 to $150

More information:

Visual Arts News is now accepting pitches on the theme of architecture now until September 19th for our Spring 2020 issue. Check out our website for more information: visualartsnews.ca/about-us/

How to pitch:

Subject line: PITCH Visual Arts News

Email body: (200-300 words) What you want to cover and why it would be of interest to Visual Arts News, your angle and the format (review, profile, interview, feature). Include links to the artist’s website, the gallery website, and pertinent exhibition info (dates, location, curator, images etc.).

New writers, please also describe who you are and why your voice is a good fit for our publication. Please also attach your CV along with 2-3 writing samples to reviews, articles, or essays.

Send all materials by email to: editor@visualartsnews.ca.

All editorial decisions are made at the discretion of the Editorial Committee. If you are also submitting photos, please ensure they are 300dpi and a minimum of four inches wide. To be considered, proposals must be received by the issue’s stipulated deadline noted above.

Writer’s fees range from $100 to $150 per article, payable upon acceptance from the editor. All texts are submitted on a conditional basis. While the editor will work with authors to clarify their writing, texts are not considered accepted until the editor accepts the final draft. There is no “kill fee” for a declined text.

Editorial Policy:

Visual Arts News is the only magazine dedicated to contemporary visual art in Atlantic Canada. Although our focus is Atlantic Canadian art and artists, we also accept stories about national and international art and events that we believe are of interest to our readership.

Written in a clear and sophisticated style by some of the most talented arts writers in the region, Visual Arts News reflects the diversity of geographic and cultural communities in Atlantic Canada. The magazine is committed to providing balanced, engaging information about visual arts and artists. Our Editorial Committee is responsible for content selection, and the Editor assigns writers to each story. Although we are a non-profit organization supported in part by advertising, we recognize the importance of maintaining a clear separation between our independent editorial content and any advertising materials found in the magazine. Visual Arts News cannot guarantee editorial content or placement to advertisers.

Freelance Blogger

Pay: $50

More information: Empire Resume

GoSite

Pay: $150-250

More information: Mediabistro

Full-Time Writer and Part-Time Writer Needed for Reality TV News Site

Pay: This will be a full-time position that will pay between $3,000 to $5,000 each month, at a rate of $25 per story

More information: Mediabistro

JTA

Pay: $150-300

More information:

The JTA is in the market for fascinating pieces that will spark conversation between Jews around the world. Whether it aims to delight, inspire, entertain or inform, an ideal op-ed provides something new and of value to anyone who reads it.

That might sound like a tall order, but if you’re feeling up to the task, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Read what we’ve published before.

The best way to get a sense of the op-eds JTA is interested in publishing is to read our Opinion pages. It should go without saying, but don’t pitch us a story someone else has already written for us.

Submit compelling, timely, thesis-driven pieces with a Jewish angle.

JTA is a Jewish news site, and as such, the most relevant pieces for us will relate directly to a developing news story of interest to the global Jewish community or an emerging issue that deserves wider coverage. In addition to op-eds tied to the news cycle, we’re also interested in pieces that offer fresh solutions to familiar or persistent challenges in Jewish communal, political, social and religious life. A piece that is thesis-driven is written to advance an idea, not an ideology, event, or organization.

Stake a bold claim and back it up with evidence.

Before you pitch an op-ed, ask yourself: Why am I qualified to tell the story I want to tell?

We love first-person pieces, and the best ones focus on the writer’s personal experience and how it intersects with or sheds light on a dilemma in the broader social, religious and/or political arena.

If you don’t have a unique experience or insight that makes you the best person to tell the story, you’ll need to be willing to do the work. Come armed with expert interviews, data and other sources to back up your claim. Make sure to source and hyperlink all of your claims, and ensure that there’s a clear connection between the evidence you bring and the opinion you present. Opinion journalism is still journalism.

Approach old ideas in a fresh and engaging way.

It’s not enough to just pitch a story with your opinions about anti-Semitism, Israel, identity politics or the Holocaust. While these are all topics our readers are interested in, new op-eds should provide something that hasn’t been said before.

Write with Jewish diversity in mind.

You know the old saying: Two Jews, three opinions. Our readers span the globe and all have different ideas about politics, Israel, religion and Jewish life. Ideally, op-ed writers will be able to add a unique voice to the mix and speak to all of our readers in a compelling way, whether those readers agree with your opinions or not.

Once you’re ready to write, send a pitch by email (a few sentences about yourself and the piece you’d like to write) to Ladkins@jta.org. If your piece is a good fit, we’ll be in touch. Unfortunately, we don’t accept any pieces that have been published elsewhere.

We look forward to reading your stories.

Freelance Food Content Writer

Pay: $100-150

More information: Roaming Hunger

Apex Systems is looking for a Freelance Writer

Pay: Full-time

More information: LinkedIn

Freelance Writer

Pay: Full-time

More information: LinkedIn

Science Writer

Pay: Full-time

More information: Glassdoor

Remote News Writer Covering Augmented Reality

Pay: Full-time

More information: LinkedIn

Zora

Pay: $1 per word

More information:

ZORA is Medium’s online publication by, for and about women of color. 
Launched in June of 2019, our goal is to provide women of color a must-read destination for daily stories that reflect, enhance and uplift the complexity of her life.

Our topic areas include (in no particular order): current events, culture, identity, race, justice, equality, work/life, family, self, sexuality, parenting, psychology, spirituality, career, friendship, aging, habits, love and dating, body image, trauma and recovery, caregiving, hobbies... and the list goes on.

We look at all these topics through the lens of the lived experiences of women of color. If a story touches on some aspect of pulling back the curtain—on the individual level, or the wider cultural level—it might be a fit for us.

Read more guidelines here.

Writer - Sports, Animals, Travel, Pop Culture, And More

Pay: Full-time

More information: Mediabistro

International Hemp Reporter

Pay: Full-time

More information: Mediabistro

Ghostwriter Wanted. Audience: Parents of High-Achieving Children

Pay: ½-page (approx. 200 words): $40 1-page (approx. 400 words): $60 1.5-pages (approx. 600 words): $80 2-page (approx. 800 words): $100

More information: Mediabistro

Finance & Politics Writer

Pay: $500 - 2000

More information: Mediabistro

Thought Content Drivers Wanted

Pay: $500 - 750

More information: DCG

Want to know how to snag great freelance writing gigs and keep them coming?

Check out the No-Fluff Freelance Writing Pack!

Never be lost again...at least when it comes to your writing career!

Here are just a few things in my No-Fluff Freelance Writing Starter Pack that will guide your way:

☆Client contract template so you don’t need to worry about drawing one up

☆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.

☆The No-Fluff Guide to Writing Web Content: From articles to blog posts, all the information you need without any fluff crammed into one awesome book.

☆Cover letter template

☆Ghostwriting proposal template

☆Invoice template

☆No copy coding for articles and blogs (prevents crooks from stealing your work)

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

☆Printable expense and income spreadsheets

☆Cover letter template

☆Exclusive information to help you market your business on social media

☆Article quality checklist to insure your articles are top-notch

☆Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown template letter

☆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

Smart Ways to Sell Your Knowledge

A great ways to make money is by passing on your skills or knowledge to others. You can sell your knowledge in a variety of ways, teaching people directly or creating materials for them to learn from. If you want to start making money from your expertise, you can create a great side gig online or by offering education and instruction in person.

Coach or Tutor Others

One option for imparting your knowledge on others is to offer coaching, tutoring, or teaching. For some skills, the best way to do this could be hands-on or face-to-face instruction. There are other skills that you might teach through video conferencing or perhaps by recording video tutorials. You could charge for access, or make money from sponsorships and advertising.

Create an Ebook

Not all skills require spoken instruction. A book can often be a great way of teaching something, and you can include resources such as images, graphs, or worksheets. An ebook is inexpensive to create and can be downloaded by anyone who wants to buy it, making it easier to produce than a physical book. For my ebooks, I upload to Amazon Publishing.

Offer Online Courses

Courses are another product or service you can offer online. You can deliver them in a variety of ways, from a series of videos to interactive learning software. Using a learning management system is one way to deliver online courses. I like the Skillshare platform for teaching video tutorials. It’s easy and you make pretty good money.

Here’s more about software you can use to teach:

eLearning Industry The Best 20 Learning Management Systems based on Customer Experience Infographic 2019 Edition

5 Top Tips To Consider When Writing For A Global Audience

Guest Post by Jennifer Ranking

English is the most common language spoken around the world. Whether you’re travelling to the Middle-East or to Europe, it’s likely that a fair number of local people will have English as a second language if not their first. But in business, if you’re looking to expand and grow then it’s important that you’re able to cater to all audiences which is writing for a global audience does have a different set of skills, even if you feel you’ve mastered the language of business. Here are 5 top tips when it comes to communicating to global audiences through your writing.

1. Grammar is correct

Grammar is essential when it comes to writing and it can instantly change the context of a sentence depending on how you use it. This is why it’s extremely common for many language classes and courses to focus heavily on grammar. If your writing isn’t grammatically correct, many of your readers are going to find it difficult to understand what you’re trying to say and soon become unfamiliar with common language patterns.

2. Keep your sentences short

Think of your sentences as like a long task. The more you break it down into sections, the more likely you are to understand its complexities. The shorter you can make your sentences in your writing, the reader will find it far easier to understand the points that you’re making and appear less intimidating. If you find your work is filled with long sentences, review it and see if you can split them up into sentences of about 20.

3. Minimise the use of abstract nouns

By definition, an abstract noun is “a word that refers to a state, event, quality, concept or feeling”. This means that it’s a word that’s something you can’t physically see. For example, abstract nouns are words such as meeting, anger or research. They’re something that aren’t really there. You can understand that this can become quite confusing for a reader who doesn’t have English as their first language so try to minimise these where you can.

4. Be careful with ‘helping’ verbs

Examples of modal verbs include the following; ‘shall’, ‘should’, ‘will’, ‘would’, ‘may’, ‘might’, ‘can’, ‘could’ and ‘must’. It’s strange to think that these types of words are only really used by speakers most familiar with the English language. They essentially provide a different context to the task or situation being applied to the sentence. For example, there is a major difference between saying that you ‘may’ submit your application for a UK visa compared to an application stating that you ‘must’ submit your application by the given date. ‘May’ implies that you have an option to and it won’t be an issue, whereas ‘must’ implies that it has to be done otherwise there’s no further option.

This can be confusing for non-native speakers, which is why you have to be assertive with your writing.

5. Avoid phrasing in the negative

Double negatives are also a term use that can be extremely confusing for readers. An example of a double negative can be “I don't want nothing.” You may be implying that you don’t want anything, but saying “I don’t want nothing” suggests that you want something. 

It’s important to note that although in the English language double negatives can lead to a positive, in other languages they can simply emphasise the negative. For example, someone from Spain may see a phrase such as ‘not unlikely’ as ‘very unlikely’, compared to some who speaks English who would see it as ‘likely’. It’s examples like these which can appear very confusing to global audiences.

When it comes to any aspect as well as writing, it’s always important to know and understand your audience. What may seem a normality to some, will be alien and confusing to others. Know your audience before you begin and you’re far more likely to be successful.

Are You a Sex and the City Writer or a Dragnet Blogger?

Your style of writing is important. It is what will make people follow your blogs and search for your guest posts. When you're deciding what your brand's voice will be, there is one thing you need to be clear on: Are you a Sex and the City writer or a Dragnet writer? Confused? Let me explain.

carrie bradshaw with joe friday

The Sex and the City Writer

Lovers of the iconic HBO series Sex and the City swooned at the thought of being Carrie, the main character. Carrie Bradshaw would sit at her laptop in her fantastic rent-controlled New York apartment, sip coffee or Cosmopolitans and type out juicy stories about sex and the Big Apple.  Eventually, Carrie's fantastic stories earned her a spot at Vogue writing 500-word articles for $4 per word.

All of this is swoon-worthy, until you actually think about Carrie as a writer. She puts not only the most personal information about herself into her column, but she also writes about her friend's sex lives, her boyfriend's hang-ups and, once, about a politician's kinks. All of this is put out there every week for all of New York to read. She has no secrets, her friends have no secrets and everyone she runs into's secrets are often revealed, too.

[bctt tweet="Your #writing style is important. Are you a Carrie Bradshaw or a Friday? Find out."]

Sex and the City

This may seem far fetched. No writer actually does that, right?

Actually, writers write like Carrie every single day. Some get paid like they are writing for Vogue and some get paid very little. They take some personal story or a story about someone they know and turn it into an article that gets right to the heartstrings of a reader.

Once upon a time, these types of writers called confession writers. Today, they are called bloggers or personal narrative writers.

Do you have the cajones to be a writer that delves into your personal life? Though I've dreamed of being Carrie more times than I care to admit, I just could never coax myself into the Carrie way of life. When sitting down to write a personal experience I would always wonder, "Will my mom read this? Or my kids?" Those thoughts put a stop to my more personal narratives. Maybe you don't have the same inhibitions, though. If not, you could create some amazing prose that others will love to read. And if they love to read your stories, they will keep coming back, gaining you site traffic and conversions.

Dragnet Writers

Just the facts, ma'am.

If you have problems putting yourself in the spotlight you may be a Dragnet writer. For those that don't remember Dragnet from a time before CSI or never got a chance to watch some reruns, I'll give you the gist. The star of the show was Detective Sergeant Joe Friday. Friday was a laced up, no-nonsense type of guy who only concerned himself with the facts and how they pertained to his case. No funny business, you see.

While writing straightforward posts and articles may not be as flashy as steamy tell-alls, it allows you to get in there and present the facts to the reader in a quick one-two punch that gets the job done. The writer doesn't need to get sentimental or provocative or provide any personal information. If you like to present "Just the facts, ma'am," then writing the Dragnet way may be the path you take with your brand writing.

Straddling the Fence

Why not mix the two? Dragnet in the City, anyone?

Of course, both of these types of writers are very drastic examples. There is a happy medium for those who don't want to lean too far in either direction. These writers pepper their fact-filled articles and blog posts with a personal story to add a little personality to their writing. This type of writing walks the fine line between confessional writing and news writing. You'll often see these types of articles on DIY sites, in home and style magazines and on sites like Huffington Post.

Don't know what type of writer you would like to be? Then you need to start writing to find out what writing style you are more comfortable with! It will probably take some time, but sooner or later your inner Carrie or Friday will emerge.

Want to learn how to make money from your writing? I offer a great course that will get you on your way. Click here for more info.

Best High-Paying Freelance Gigs of the Week: July 22, 2019

Here’s this week’s work-from-home freelance writing jobs. These gigs pay at least $50 a piece, offer a full-time salary, or pay more than $25 an hour. Each one is labeled as a remote job, virtual job or work-from-home job, which means you can do the work from anywhere.

Also, here are 30+ sites that pay writers for articles, so be sure to check that out.

Note: I don’t know anything about these positions other than what I post. I weed out the seedy looking ones, but it is your job to be diligent when applying. Also, please don’t message me with questions about the postings. If a link doesn’t work the posting has probably been taken down because the gig has been filled. If you have a gig for freelance writers that pays at least $50 a peice or over $25 an hour, please contact me and I will include your gig in next week’s post.

Wine & Country Magazine

Pay: $75-175 per article

More information: Indeed

Digital Travel Platform Needs Experiential Storytellers

Pay: $50 - 100

More information: Craigslist

Automotive Writers

Pay: $250 to $500

More information: AllFreelanceWriting

Adventure Cyclist

Pay: 25 to 50 cents per word

More information: Adventure Cyclist Submissions

American Educator

Pay: $300

More information: American Educator Submissions

Looking for Ideas

Pay: $1 per word

More information: FFWD is a new publication, and we’re always looking for story ideas

Feel you have something to add to the dialogue around online video? Want to write for FFWD? We’d love to hear your pitches.

What is FFWD?

Think of it like The Economist for online video (meaning at the minute YouTube, Twitch and TikTok), looking at the bigger trends and putting them into all-important context, explaining to readers what their wider impact is for society and how this shifts the way we work, earn money, and spend our time.

The publication will lead the conversation on things that I and others who know this space say are going to become big, while also acknowledging that perhaps trying to see outside of the online video bubble can be hard.

We won’t just up content daily for the sake of it, and focusing on fringe creators in a facile way. Stories need to be more in-depth than the current state of coverage of online video.

What do you want?

We’re running three stories (between 1,000–1,500 words) a week.

The best way to describe it is that the weekly reporting takes on big themes and trends in the online video space and look intelligently at its broader impact; when something warrants it and we have something useful to say, we’ll do a contextualising story on events as and when they happen, while also always taking the conversation on; or starting a whole new conversation.

If something breaks during the week, we’ll be looking for smart takes that go beyond what mainstream publications are doing, explaining why this is important.

How do I pitch?

Send me a brief summary of what you’d like to write about, including who you’d talk to and what you’d say! I’m at stokel@gmail.com and always happy to receive pitches.

Tech Writer

Pay: $150 per blog post, with higher rates paid for more experience and longer posts

More information: Mediabistro

Yes! Magazine

Pay: online reported articles is $.35 per word, and pay for print reported articles is $.50 per word

More information: Yes! Magazine Submissions

Marketing Content Writer

Pay: Fulltime

More information: Be Found Online

Chicken Soup for the Soul

Pay: $200 + 10 free books

More information: We have many Chicken Soup for the Soul books in development and we frequently add new titles. If you have a great story or poem you want to submit but it doesn’t fit with any of the topics listed, please save it and check this page again in the future to see if we have added a topic that’s a better match.

If you have a story or poem that you think fits two of the topics listed, you may submit it to both. Then let us know in the Comments section that you’ve done so. Also, you may submit more than one piece for each book.

We are always looking for new talent. So whether you are a regular contributor or new to our family, please share your story or poem with us. If this is your first time, please visit our Story Guidelines page, which will answer many of your questions about subject matter, length, and style.

Please scroll through the topics listed at the link to see what we're working on! Then click on the Submit Your Story link and you will be taken to our submission form.

Freelance Journalist

Pay: Fulltime

More information: Mediabistro

Associate Editor, SuperSummary

Pay: $22 per hour

More information: Mediabistro

Content Update Editors And Producers, Brides

Pay: $15-25/hr with potential for benefits

More information: Mediabistro

Freelance Reporter

Pay: Freelancers can make between $2000 to $3500 a month

More information: Mediabistro

Sports Betting Writer

Pay: Fulltime

More information: LinkedIn

Latinxs Digital Media Content Writer

Pay: Fulltime

More information: LinkedIn

Telecommute Medical Devices Writer

Pay: Fulltime

More information: Virtual Vocations

8 Beginning Blogger Mistakes to Avoid

Guest post by Jamie from Start Blogging Online

Your blog is a platform to voice out your opinions and thoughts. It is also a vehicle to raise money. There are advertisers willing to pay popular bloggers to place their ads on the site. It is a win-win situation. Relying on your blog alone to be popular is a big blogging mistake. Before you reach a point where you become an authority in a particular niche you have to build your name first.

Try writing for other blogs as a guest blogger to build your name. This will increase your online visibility. Be sure to add a link to your own blog. Of course, you have to reserve your best write-ups for your own blog.

The infographic below shows other mistakes bloggers makes when running a blog site. Avoid these mistakes so your site becomes popular in no time. It takes a lot to reach a certain level of popularity, but it can be done.

16 Ways to Get Visitors to Stay on Your Site Longer

It is estimated that there are 1.18 billion websites online right now. 152 million of those sites are blogs and over three million posts are written each day for them. Getting your site noticed when it is literally one in a billion is quite difficult. Think of a search engine as a gatekeeper. Getting to the top of a search engine’s list of results is key. The longer people stay on your site, the better your ranking will be. Here’s how to keep them engaged.

awesome website content

First, Make Your Content Awesome

The algorithms used to calculate search results change, but one thing doesn't: Stick to creating informative, reliable information that's interesting and you're sure to rank. You have to make sure that when living, breathing people come to your site, they find something that they want to read or watch and stay awhile. One of the things search engines look for are sites that keep visitors from clicking away. The longer visitors stay on your site, the better it ranks.

Creating interesting, original and unique content is actually the fun part of having your own website because it can be about whatever you want. Remember: it has to be good enough to set your site apart from a billion others.

Keep them Engaged

Other than interesting content, there are a few other things that can keep visitors on your site longer. Here are the other 15 tips:

1. Give them another place to go on your site by offering related post links in your copy and in the sidebar.

2. Make your internal links a bright color so they catch people's attention. My links are pink!

3. Post videos within your written content.

4. Add photos. Two to three photos in a post breaks up text and makes it seem more interesting.

5. Add headers, bullets and numbered lists to your post. These also make your post look more interesting and helpful at first glance, preventing people from clicking away.

6. Give your posts tags that link to collections of similar content.

7. Make sure your site's menu is easy to use so readers can find more of your content.

8. Make all external links open a new window or browser tab instead of leading the visitors off your page.

9. Put your most interesting information "above the fold." Often, if a visitor doesn't see the information they want without scrolling, they click back to the search results.

10. Make a gallery post that gets visitors to click through pages using interesting photographs.

11. Be sure that your site loads quickly. Most people don't wait around for more than a few seconds for a page to finish loading and NO ONE will click around a slow website.

12. Give your visitors a search box so they can quickly find information that they want to read on your site.

13. Use a font that is easy to read, like Times New Roman or Georgia.

14. Don't use big words. Remember, if you don't make everything as easy as possible, people will click away from your site.

15. Provide longer articles packed with great information.

Software Solutions for Your Home Business

While every business needs software to carry out everything from accounting to marketing, it often feels there’s too much choice out there. In this section, we’re taking a look at some packages that will get you to where you need to be in your business and that deliver just the results you need to take your business up to the next level. Talk to your Managed Services provider (if you have one) about integrating some of this software into your next upgrade.

HubSpot

Quite simply this is all you need when you need marketing done right. You can rely on HubSpot to make marketing personal, to take your message and deliver it right in front of your carefully selected customer base with clever designs and smart ideas on how to get your emails opened.

You’ll also be able to adapt and change as you go along with marketing analytics and insights that tell you what’s working and what needs greater fine tuning.

Asana

When you have teams that collaborate together frequently, you need software that can help make that a seamless operation and ensure nothing falls through the net.

Asana works by keeping everyone on track with team access to shared calendars, task lists and the ability to comment and tick off shared tasks as you go along. You can be confident that nothing will be missed off the list when it comes to that next big project.

QuickBooks

This is an all-in-one system that takes the hassle out of keeping up with your accounts. It is ideal for small businesses and is straightforward to set up and get running.

Use QuickBooks to pay your vendors, keep track of your expenses and create invoices. Take the pressure off your filing by scanning receipts and important documents, knowing they’re all in one place when it comes to figuring out your taxes.

Zoho

Looking for software that does it all? Then take a look at Zoho. With more than 40 apps in its suite, this package promises you mail, accounting, CRM and invoicing. Perhaps a little too much for some business, it certainly has its advantages when it comes to having everything under one roof and allowing your team access to shared documents.