A couple of weeks ago, a struggling freelance writer wrote in to me. This is exactly what was going on with her. She wrote:

QUESTION FROM A DISILLUSIONED FREELANCE WRITER

Hi Yuwanda,

 

I hope all is well.  I've been wanting to write this post to you for quite sometime.  I'm not sure if other writers are having the same issue, however, I thought I would ask just in case they are. 

 

 First let me tell you, I went to exercise this morning and I just broke down crying.  I mean I'm doing everything I can to get clients with a 0 budget( I'm still unemployed).   I don't know if there's a missing link in marketing from my end.  I see my fellow writers who I correspond with on Facebook, and all of them are making six-figures or pretty darn close to it.  Some of them serve the same market I do.  I guess that's why I started to lack confidence again, I'm saying to myself,  do I suck as a writer, why am I not getting repeat clients?( I do follow-up).  

 

I know I can use training to enhance my skills and I even invested in AWAI's Copywriting course before I got laid-off.  However, it's like a catch-22, I want to invest to better myself, and I'm trying all I can to get more revenue, however, it seems like no matter what I do, no one is buying.(Or they want my services for $ 5 bucks, and that's not going to happen).  

 

I'm trying to be optimistic and I  see people in my field who are very successful.   I guess, the real question is, " When you are giving your business everything you got and you are still not seeing the results you desire,  what do you do?  Or what steps have you personally taken if this situation has happened to you, Yuwanda?  Thanks so much for all your responses and your help. I truly value what you do, and am always thankful for your insight and knowledge.

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MY ANSWER

I. Rates: Are you charging too much or too little. Most get the "too much" thing; but charging too little can be just as detrimental to your freelance writing business [http://bit.ly/d4kAJv] (see #2 in this post).

II. Service Offerings: Are you offering the services that the market you're targeting needs? Do you offer a range of services, ie, a one-stop, freelance writing shop; or do you offer one or two services?

But as my clients started asking if I provided X, then I beefed up my SEO writing service offerings [http://bit.ly/3CrxLL]. Now, we offer almost anything a client would need in this area.

III. Competition: One thing many freelance writers don't do is take the time to assess the competition. I know I didn't when I first started out. I got lucky though (freelance writing back in 1993 isn't nearly as competitive as it is now).

Well I bet they have websites, blogs and newsletters. Snoop around? What are they doing that you're not? If you feel comfortable after doing some snooping, ask questions.

What NOT to Do When You Contact Successful Freelance Writers to Ask for Advice

Successful freelance writers are busy freelance writers, so don't ask general questions. If you choose to contact them asking for advice, ask specific questions that you can't find the answer to online. And, make it clear that you've poked around their site looking for info.

One of my pet peeves is people who write me asking questions so general that if they'd just taken 30 seconds to do a Google search, they could have found the answer on their own (my Google is your Google; use it).

My feeling is, if you don't care enough about your career to invest some time in researching what you want to know, why should I take time out of my schedule to answer you.

When you don't do your homework, so to speak, it says to me that you're not serious, so I don't even bother to answer because it's a waste of my time. And one thing I don't allow anyone to waste is my time.

IV. Professional Profile/Credentials/Website: Check all of these things to see if they're on par with the competition that you've checked out who you say are doing well.

Are your writing samples too general; is your website not professional enough (make sure there are ZERO grammar mistakes); is your professional profile nonexistent or not specific/detailed enough; are your marketing pieces not targeted enough; etc.

Check everything and rewrite, revamp and revise as needed.

V. Gut Check: I left this last because to be honest, this is the thing that stood out to me most about this writer. There's a lack of self confidence here that comes across heavily.

If it comes across in an email to me - someone who is a friendly ally in this freelance writing war we face every day - I can almost bet that it comes across in her marketing materials and client interactions as well.

When I first started as a freelance writer, there were projects I was afraid to tackle, eg, case studies in particular. I thought they were "beyond my scope." When I get a case of "the fears/lack of self confidence" like this, I talk myself right out of it.

I tell myself that if other people can do it, then so can I. And I use every corny, positive thinking trick in the book to get myself out of this negative-thinking place -- quick, before it can set in and do real damage.

What's Really Blocking Your Freelance Writing Success?

Lack of self confidence is really just fear. Fear of failure, fear of SUCCESS (yes, success); fear of not being good enough; etc. I talk about this in this post [http://bit.ly/bPuEJr].

Until you overcome this, you will have a hard time succeeding at anything. And just like running a marathon, positive self image is something you have to train yourself to do. This is especially true if you don't have positive people in your life or you've always been told and/or believe that you can't do something.

Luckily, I had parents who ingrained in me that I could do anything I put my mind to. So I have a foundation of confidence already. It does get cracks, but not for long - because of this gift from my parents.

Even if you've never had it though, it's a gift you can give yourself. The wonderful thing about being an adult is you get to define your own journey - in spite of what your past has been.

P.P.P.S.: What's It Like to Live & Work Abroad as a Freelance Writer? Find out in the living abroad as a freelance writer in Jamaica series (http://bit.ly/ctuM4K).

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