How do make.....?

[Hope4]

A decent income each week? I have been trying to figure it out for a while now and I still can't seem to. I need to make, bare minimum, $500/week, but would ideally like to make $750/week. I have a few private clients, but the work isn't always steady and the pay isn't great. I just got on with Search Influence and again, the pay isn't the best. It seems that lately I am working my tail off and just barely bring in $300/week. Back in the days of glory with DMS, I was making $750/week easily and I wasn't working into the wee hours of the night. Any tips, suggestions, ideas, I would totally appreciate it. You can PM me, if you want.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[ErinHill226]

I guess I would consider the types of writing you are doing, and then try to find something else you could offer that demands higher rates. For instance, if you're writing SEO articles... I don't foresee the price of those rising to extremes any time soon. Clients still just don't care that much if they're written WELL.

A few ideas...

Product descriptions: Never take more than $2 for a short description, and check with companies who have a lot of work. I've made your weekly goal in a single DAY doing that kind of work. Granted, it was a very long day! I have found that type of work by contacting retailers directly. There are also lots of ecommerce groups on LinkedIn where you can network with people who hire those writers. Add things to the conversations and try to connect with decision makers. I've also gotten hired through a few job ads.

Sales letters: I know these pay several hundred to several thousand per letter.

Resume writing: If you get certified in this, there are a lot of firms who pay several thousand per month to their writers

I'm sleepy, so that's all I got right now. lol. Aside from that, I would say network your ass off, maybe get some SEO articles for yourself to lead potential clients into your site, and don't be afraid to make direct contact through email, phone calls, or sales letters. Ed Gandia has some great tips on effective email marketing.

If you have any long-term clients, you could also try upping your rates with them. Once you know their business and their way of doing things, you are more valuable to them. Who wants to train and educate another writer when you have one who already knows everything?

[anng]

Someone a week or two ago made a comment about foreign clients always seem to pay more. After thinking about it, I find that's true. Of all the private clients, I've had and sites like Populis and Wikio before they failed miserably, they've all offered more money than my U.S. based clients or the U.S. mills. Marketing to overseas businesses may help.

[ErinHill226]

Originally Posted by anng

Someone a week or two ago made a comment about foreign clients always seem to pay more. After thinking about it, I find that's true. Of all the private clients, I've had and sites like Populis and Wikio before they failed miserably, they've all offered more money than my U.S. based clients or the U.S. mills. Marketing to overseas businesses may help.

That's a good point. I find it ironic. Everyone complains that businesses outsource to India because they "work for peanuts." But, some of my highest paying clients were actually FROM India. Hmm...

[Hope4]

Thanks for the responses! How would you suggest marketing to overseas clients?

[anng]

Originally Posted by Hope4

Thanks for the responses! How would you suggest marketing to overseas clients?

I go through Craigslist listings in Canada, Mexico (especially if the ad says writers fluent in English), the UK and Europe.

[funmom91]

Originally Posted by Hope4

Thanks for the responses! How would you suggest marketing to overseas clients?

My overseas clients have come from digital point.

[ErinHill226]

Originally Posted by ErinHill226

Product descriptions: Never take more than $2 for a short description, and check with companies who have a lot of work. I've made your weekly goal in a single DAY doing that kind of work. Granted, it was a very long day! I have found that type of work by contacting retailers directly. There are also lots of ecommerce groups on LinkedIn where you can network with people who hire those writers. Add things to the conversations and try to connect with decision makers. I've also gotten hired through a few job ads.

Dang. I suck. Never take LESS than $2 for a short description. You get faster and then the money adds up pretty fast. I can do about 25 short ones per hour now.

[catwriter]

I have to ask... how do you start writing product descriptions? That's something that I'd like to do.

[ErinHill226]

Originally Posted by catwriter

I have to ask... how do you start writing product descriptions? That's something that I'd like to do.

I honestly lucked into my first job doing that, and it randomly happened that the company I was doing it for was a relatively large retailer. After that, it was easier getting the attention of companies when I'd apply to job ads.

I've also found A LOT of clients by finding retailers I'd like writing for, and shooting them a quick email. It's especially useful if you find retailers who are using manufacturer content so you can point that out. A LOT (and I mean A LOT) of them think it's fine to use the same copy as the manufacturers...without realizing that it actually hurts their search engine rankings because it's duplicate. I've heard of some catalog writers politely pointing that out, and/or including it in a sales email, as a selling point.

To find retailers who are using the duplicate content, find a catalog description on a manufacturer's website. For instance, Ashely furniture. Copy and paste the description into a Google search, and a list of retailers pops up.

If you have no samples, it's also very easy to come up with some. Just choose a few products you like and write for those. Or, some writers also choose a product from a site they'd like to write for and give a before and after of product copy to show how it could be improved.

I haven't used all of these methods consistently, but plan to. I just have write a good sales email that doesn't break the rules so I can compare which ones work best.

Guru and Elance and all those also have a lot of product description jobs posted. The pay is usually crap, though. I usually try and charge at least four cents a word for them. I've never averaged less than $35 an hour doing this type of work. If you can work for less, or don't mind, you could be a little more competitive while getting started.