Detachment is the New Black in 2017

January 31, 2017 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

Four weeks into 2017, and I’ve come up with my Word of the Year…

Detachment

Every January I crown one word (maybe two) “Queen.” With the exception of last year, a significant word gets this honor, coupled with my intention to think, act, and meditate on it.

Previous year’s words were “Build, Listen, Thankful, Pray, Breathe, Ask, Joy,” etc. I literally apply the word (in sticky letters) to the steering wheel of my car, and post it on my office wall so that I’m reminded daily to follow it.

After several years of this practice, I know it has an effect. Adopting a word-of-the-year (a WOTY) provides a mental framework for the change you want to see and feel in your life.

In hindsight, I can identify a thread of purposeful action as a result of having an intention right in front of my face for 12 months. So much so, that I recommend choosing a single word as your focus, particularly if you’re not into setting specific New Year’s goals.

In past years, I’ve come up with my WOTY based on something I’ve been hoping for or trying to accomplish, but this year, the word chose me…

Early in the month, I had coffee with a friend, also a parent of teenagers. She showed me an inspirational card featuring the word “Detachment.” Through the lens of our teenagers’ shenanigans, we talked about what detachment might mean if applied to real life.

I thought I knew, but as the days passed, the word kept floating into my consciousness.

So many opportunities to detach…

I heard a news story on the radio, and thought, “Detach.”
A disturbing text from my child’s friend lit up my phone at 4:30 am, kicking off a few days of drama, as teenagers dish it up. Again, my mind presented the mantra, “Detach, detach, detach.”
I read a Facebook comment I wished I hadn’t. “Detach.”

The word arose so many times in the past few weeks that I’m certain it’s my Word of the Year. Ironically, the seed of “Detachment” hitched in my brain and now I can’t stop thinking about it.

So I’m hooked. But what’s detachment really mean?

Detachment can be a negative emotional crutch, blunting feelings toward others. It can create a widening moat of isolation, a lack of empathy, or even abuse. But that’s not the kind of detachment I’m talking about.

I’m envisioning Detachment as a positive tool, and trying to employ it less as a protective device, than for moving ahead with creativity, and a “lightness of being.”

Backing up a bit, I should mention that I’ve never been known for an unwavering, long lasting attachment to anything. Fierce, yes; steadfast, not so much. Some people say my flightiness drives them nuts… “Whimsical” is a nice way to put it.

My mom attributes it to my being a Gemini. She claims she never knew which child was getting up in the morning. Diplomatic to a fault, I’m as comfortable with ambiguity as I am with black and white. I figure it’s just natural to allow folks the right to change their minds, while expecting the same consideration in return. You don’t know what you don’t know yet. My dad calls it “fickle.” Just don’t call me shallow, though it may look that way…

An old college friend told me once that he couldn’t “just cut his losses,” like I seemed to. He couldn’t just walk away from things, people, or situations.

It was a shot to the heart, to be sure. I took it as an admonishment to take more care of people and their feelings. And when I wipe out, try not to take anyone down with me!

Skating the surface allows you to quickly cover a lot of ground. (Think of Mercury, with wings on his heels.) Luckily, so far, every time I fall, I brush myself off, and – eventually – laugh. I may lack many admirable qualities, including a propensity for serious, focused pondering; but resilience, curiosity, and invention hopefully make up for a lot of them.

The silver lining of having a mercurial personality is that I couldn’t hold a grudge for thirty minutes if it had a handle on it. I get over things pretty fast. If you piss me off or I get my feelings hurt, I might forget about you for a day or two, but when your number shows up in my contact list, my first thought is probably, “Hey! Missed you!”

Why God made me this way is his business, but that’s the way it is and has always been. Sometimes I’d like to change…

Oh well, so much for true confessions.

This might not be easy…

Adopting “Detachment” as my word of the year seems like it would be easy for someone like me, wouldn’t it? But it’s not.

Detachment does NOT mean you have to pretend something doesn’t matter to you. No, life is messy and wonderful. You should let yourself feel it and react accordingly.

But oh my goodness, all that advice about finding one thing you’re passionate about stops me dead in my tracks. Should I list them alphabetically, or by season?

The trick is to hang on tight to a few things that make you feel happy or purposeful, then practice those things daily. Enjoy the people you love and let them make their own mistakes and live their own lives.

Why “Detachment” is my Word of the Year

Which brings me right back to my WOTY. Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been trying to practice true, eye-opening detachment, detachment that doesn’t mean cutting my losses, or jumping the track, which (for me, at least) is the easy thing to do.

Detachment, in it’s best form, requires being open to Not Knowing. It’s knowing you’ll be OK not knowing; it’s a walk in faith.

Detachment isn’t just about accepting other people and events as they are, and minding my own business. It’s not about turning away from them, either. It’s accepting that there exists an outcome I haven’t thought of yet, an outcome that means I don’t get to step out of the picture and let the chips fall; it’s accepting the task of participating in an outcome that involves everyone, just not necessarily on my terms.

Detachment is more connective than I thought, but it also means you have to get really comfortable with yourself, even the bullshit — and only you know what that is, for you. You have to stop believing all the stories you’ve come to tell about yourself and others.

A detached mind isn’t easily fooled.

Some particularly close-hitting fallout from this experiment in detachment is coming to terms with the need to temper any automatic, distorted thoughts. That means releasing my practice of defining events and concerns with emotional, value loaded words (a skill that comes easily to a copywriter); overgeneralizing a situation; or permitting a memory to loop over and over in my mind.

Just because something is this way now, doesn’t mean it’s always going to be this way.

This is nothing new to people familiar with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Healthy detachment feels more like hanging in there, and waiting to see, than like jumping out of a moving vehicle. It’s staying in place and accepting the outcome that presents itself. It even feels a bit like commitment. Ironic, huh?

Sales expert Lisa Sasevich, a former mentor of mine, advocates being “committed, but not attached.”

There’s more creative challenge in that one phrase then an entire book of concrete advice! In business, relationships, sports, politics, and any area where you want to influence others; commitment without attachment is a lot harder than just following a prescribed list of expected behaviors.

Why? Because being committed to something means you get to (have to) define what you’re committing to without hitching your personal well being to it. In other words, beware of placing your bets on other people, physical things, and world/local events. You can lose your soul out there.

The Challenge in Detaching

The poem The World Is Too Much With Us, by William Wordsworth proves this is not just a contemporary problem. People are always looking for peace and a way to buffer themselves. Trying to find comfort in the midst of it all is the human condition, provoking the pondering of poets:

The world is too much with us; late and soon,

Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;

Little we see in Nature that is ours;

We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon.

Detachment, the way I’m thinking of it, means you take into account the chips you’re putting on the table — your experiences, values, expectations, talents, resources, relationships, etc. — and you decide the extent to which you personally own them.

By allowing a buffer between your emotional involvement and your work, you protect yourself. But this can cut both ways.

Your actions have an effect on others and your environment, but you don’t always get to own the effect they have. Sometimes, you’ll work like crazy to prevent something from happening. It looks like business as usual from the outside, but you struggle to maintain the status quo. You never get kudos for staying out of bankruptcy, paying your employees on time, keeping your family fed, and eating healthy. Yet you do it to avoid worse.

A happy soul does this work with benign detachment.

Then there will be times you are blamed for things you never intended. You can be the most generous parent, but your child remembers the rare event when you said no to his request. You can be the most productive, reliable employee, but everyone notices when you have to leave early. Your consistency is taken for granted, and you’re punished the rare moment it falters.

But when you are detached, you can simultaneously give it your all, and hold it close to your heart. You know — and God knows — even if others don’t.

It’s a mental trick that comes with personal responsibility, padawan. One you master with practice.

Abe Lincoln: A Master at Detaching and Staying on his True Course

As I read Team of Rivals, The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, a few excerpts moved me to tears imagining the steady detachment Abraham Lincoln. Most people know he lost more elections than he won, but are less familiar with his other personal and professional trials.

In 1855, as the popular candidate of the Whig party in Illinois, and a leader in the anti slavery movement, Lincoln ran for a Senate seat. A major blizzard prevented several supporters from showing up to vote on the designated date. Due to the storm and to a few men who would not vote across party lines, Lincoln could not gain the majority vote. Ultimately, Lincoln forfeited his candidacy to a candidate with fewer votes in his party, in order to uphold the cause of anti-slavery in general.

His supporters were crying over the loss, but Lincoln was not crushed. He magnanimously put aside his personal ambitions and committed to a cause, when it would have been easy to confuse the two.

We tend to think our involvement is so crucial to an outcome, that there should be some reward and rest at the end. Laying down your sword before the end of a hard-fought battle sucks. It’s only possible if you are able to detach, and offer up your hard work as a byproduct of your life’s trajectory.

Lincoln knew his path as a leader and a politician. He would unite the country over the slavery issue. Setbacks and slights were bumps on the road to achieving that dream. He couldn’t have known, or even hoped that slavery would be abolished, yet he persisted.

In another situation, a colleague treated Lincoln horribly, but he took it on the chin and transformed an injustice into one of his most elegant career moves.

Right after the Senate seat letdown, a prominent patent case was to be tried in Lincoln’s home state of Illinois. In spite of Lincoln’s lack of a formal, prestigious education, the lead lawyer, George Harding, chose Lincoln to assist him in the case because he “understood” the appointed local judge. Soon after Harding hired Lincoln, the case was moved to Ohio, where Harding changed his mind and hired Edwin Stanton, the star attorney he really preferred.

Harding neglected to inform Lincoln that he wanted no further further help from him, so Lincoln continued to do the legwork he was hired to do, and showed up in Cincinnati on the designated day.

As it turned out, Harding and Stanton dissed Lincoln hard. They made it clear that Lincoln should withdraw from the case, which he did. They also treated him with such rudeness; it would have made a lesser man react in anger and spite. Lincoln never lost his composure, nor did he take offense. He had no negative words regarding the snub. Instead he endured the scorn of the man who had hired him to try a case; who not only sent him on a wild goose chase gathering material to try the case, but ignored the fact that Lincoln had spent months working on it, and had traveled far from home to help.

To add insult to injury, Stanton made fun of Lincoln’s clothes, his posture, etc. and even excluded him from taking meals with the legal team. Basically, their behavior was despicable and immature.

Lincoln responded by simply showing up and being 100% present, a true indication of a positive, detached mindset. He bore the mistreatment with poise and grace, and even stayed to watch the trial.

Afterward, he had not one negative word regarding the experience. Instead, he praised the quality of the lawyer’s expertise in trying the case and stated that he was heading back to Illinois to study law and improve his skills.

The whole nasty experience was a low personal blow, but Lincoln didn’t show it. Rather, he expressed admiration for Stanton’s professional prowess. Six years later, as president, Lincoln would appoint him to his cabinet as secretary of war.

The example of detaching from an outcome means that you’re going to be neither crushed nor elated. Detachment in the face of unanticipated results requires dogged endurance and quiet optimism. Lincoln never stopped pursuing his ambition for higher office. He encountered setback after setback, without letting them fester.

On his path toward excellence, Lincoln refused to let his failures take root or shred his resolve to make good. His unwavering detachment divested power from his past failures and opened doors to his future success.

By adopting an air of detachment, you learn who you are and what you’re made of, in spite of extenuating circumstances, and you reveal a calm face to the world.

This self-knowledge seems to manifest as reliability and prudence. It’s as comforting for others to see, as it is for you to feel, even if you don’t always like what you learn.

It’s the journey. It’s like being on a train and knowing your destination. You’re free to engage with other people, enjoy the scenery, get up and walk about, or doze off for a while. You’re assured of where you’re going.

Let me tell you, I’m not even close to having this down. It’s easy to get swirled into a conflict you can’t resolve.

The Inherent Rewards of Detaching from Your Emotions

Conscious detachment, while not necessarily uncommon, is not easily recognized nor frequently rewarded. Why do we crave recognition and reward anyway? Because that’s what ultimately puts food on the table and assures us there are people to eat with. Most everyone wants to feel simpatico with others. We want to know that all is well, that we belong.

Although practicing detachment keeps you steady on your path to excellence, but it is also a misunderstood source of personal power, which means sometimes you’ll end up just barely scraping by, or eating alone.

You’ve seen all those signs riffing on the British adage, “Keep Calm and Carry On,” right? Well you can’t keep calm without a sprinkling of detachment…

Boss ignored your request for a meeting? Whatever, you’ll find another way to get the job done.
Child chooses goofing off over studying, and gets a D on a math test? It’s his lesson to learn.
Tree falls on your roof? That’s nature.
Crappy customer service? It’s not you.
Coworker bailed out again? Bring it on.
Candidate lost? Get back in the saddle and work harder.

Masters of detachment have reserves of calm and quiet optimism.

The people who get the most attention in the news, the boardroom, and the playground are those who throw fits, and embroil themselves in messes trying to assert their will and personality on others. They’re not always the most effective, though.

Even if you don’t outwardly show distress, detachment keeps you steady. When you are inwardly involved in a negative or positive outcome, it’s easy to get whipped around by your own emotions. The stress that doesn’t serve you.

Yet who hasn’t experienced that? I’ve been there a thousand times, interpreting others’ actions or comments as personal slights, allowing events and circumstances to blur my core intentions and values.

This year, I’m keeping the word Detachment close, like a secret charm.

I’m hoping this theme takes effect in several areas of life, enabling me to peel away too much association with physical possessions, wasteful professional pursuits, unhealthy relationships, and even, to some extent, unnecessary personal goals.

While I’d never want to ditch the important things, I do want to create a healthy space in my mind and spirit where there’s no fighting paper tigers to maintain fleeting happiness and peace of mind.

With a long-overdue divorce finally on the horizon, some new resolutions regarding work, and my physical environment settling down after years of upheaval; it’s more important than ever to keep my little boat from capsizing in this swift-moving river of life. A little cheesy, maybe? I’m done protesting too much.

I hope a healthy detachment translates into growth this year. Having made some decent progress, I certainly don’t want to lose any ground.

It’s time to balance the paddling with the natural current; detach, and go with the flow.

Need A Creative Freelancer Who’ll Crush The Job? Here’s How To Find Her.

December 7, 2016 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

Are you ready to hire a freelancer to help you out with your business?

As a small business owner, solo-preneur, and even a freelancer yourself, you will periodically need help for key tasks. To start, you might need a logo, some well-designed, branded memes for Instagram, product photos, a website, copywriting for your blog or Facebook ads, email newsletters, etc.

You may already have a running list or things you’d like to get done, but something’s holding you back. Maybe, like a lot of new business owners, you’re not sure where to start, and you don’t have much time to learn the ins and outs of digital and print content.

From working with a lot of small businesses, I know that many folks believe they don’t have enough work to hire someone yet. They assume they can throw something together themselves, or hire the neighbor’s son or a local student to get a website up, etc.

This can be a workable solution just to get started. Still, it’s easy to fall behind on basic jobs, particularly in the area of marketing.

The web moves fast, and you just don’t have a lot of time to pull a cohesive creative plan together. And when you’re realistic about it, your priority is sales! At this point, you just need to get on with what you’re good at.

If that scenario sounds familiar, consider hiring a freelancer.

For entrepreneurs and business owners stuck with some portion of a project, I recommend working with a creative professional. Freelance marketers can even help you conceptualize your brand and plan a strategy, even before hiring a creative freelancer, like a writer or graphic designer.

Rest assured that the right person is out there.

Consider all your options for finding a freelancer who fits your needs as well as your budget. It’s not like you’ll have to turn over too many stones. There’s a ton of talent out there. Here are a few places to look.

Bidding Sites

Probably the quickest, immediate (and sometimes the cheapest) satisfaction can be found on job bidding websites.

As described in an earlier post, a few websites I used to frequent were Upwork.com (formerly Elance and Odesk), Fiverr.com and Guru.com. In fact, I got some of my earliest gigs on Elance, and even work with some of those early clients today! When I have slow patches, I still pick up gigs there.

Note to new freelancers, Upwork is a great place to hang your shingle if you’re new to freelancing. You’ll pick up other freelance providers’ tips and tricks there, too.

On these hiring websites, you’ll find plenty of reliable and talented people who can help it take wing.

Thousands of providers on Elance alone claim writing as their specialty; and writing is just one of the hundreds of categories of expertise to choose from. With those numbers, it’s practically impossible NOT to find someone you’re comfortable with after the first or second job. If you enjoy the process and you are satisfied with the completed work, you may even ask about hiring that person again. Then, when a similar job comes up again in her field, you have a go-to expert to contact. Creative people LOVE repeat business!

Bidding work sites have been lifesavers for me, both as a hirer, and a provider . If you’re stuck in a problem at work, discover how easy it is to access affordable resources right from your desktop. The experts are there to serve you, no matter how minor the job.

“Matchmaking” Job Sites

In addition to the bidding websites, you might also look to the agency-style website where you describe your job, and the agency matches you with the right freelancer in their roster. The benefit to these sites is that you have a higher-level marketing team watching out for you and assigning a good fit based on the freelancer’s experience, the price you’re willing to pay, and other criteria you specify.

You spend no time deciding whether a possible freelancer has the chops to do the work, because the agency has already vetted them. Instead, you get to concentrate on your project and the deliverables you require. Be prepared to pay slightly higher fees for this service.

Referrals

Finally, if you’re looking for someone you can work with directly on a long-term basis, don’t neglect turning to your personal network. Ask friends and colleagues who’ve had similar work requests done to their satisfaction.

Referrals are a good freelancer’s bread and butter, and most people are happy to refer good talent. (It makes them look good, too!) If your business friends will share the name of the freelancers they use for past projects, then by all means, start there.

LinkedIn, Blogs, and other Web Searches

Let’s not forget the power of content. Many freelancers are full of helpful advice and opinions about implementing their craft. Providing information and free content is how they attract clients like you!

They show off their web development expertise on blogs and social media; they share personally written articles on sites like LinkedIn and Medium; and they exhibit their artistic talent in shops like Creative Market. When an article, font or design catches your eye, note the author or artist and track her down.

When you’re browsing for the right expert to help you, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Divide a large project into smaller chunks and let a few different providers prove their abilities. Test the mettle of your top few picks to see which one you like the best. Then bring the winner on board for the bulk or remainder of the project.
Read the feedback on the outsourcing website. You will learn about the professional’s work ethic, timeliness, communication, etc — qualities and details you may not have considered before, but which might mean a lot to you once they are on your radar.
Read the personalized messages from individual bidders. See if there’s enthusiasm behind the pitch. Is he excited about your project? Why? Does he have experience with your field on a professional or personal level? For example, let’s say you need an article written about child athletes’ nutrition needs. Maybe a novice writer whose child just happens to play competitive soccer is better qualified for your sports piece than an experience sports writer who covers cycling and racing. Test the waters, and use your intuition. Sometimes the “hungrier” bidder will do a better job than the one with an impressive portfolio and hundreds of finished jobs under his belt. Sometimes it pays to look closely at the eager new freelancers with a smaller, promising portfolio as well as the ones who have valuable experience.
Google the people you are considering. After circling a freelancer on a bidding website like Upwork, for example, I like to check around the web for more insight into the freelancer’s work, if it’s available. A search may unearth negative reviews on another site. If that’s the case, you’d want to know before you hired her. Chances are, the opposite is true. Your prospective freelancer’s work around the web could be just what you need to see to assure you to take a chance on her.
Take the time and effort to write a clear, detailed job description because people can’t read your mind. If you can’t be bothered to put in the effort to describe your project, then you won’t get the results you really want.

Remember that as you’re building your business, you need to be focusing on the important work that makes you big money, not struggling to learn how to do a task someone can easily and happily do for you. You intuitively know what jobs are $1000 jobs, and which ones are $50 jobs. Do the high level stuff and hire others to do the rest.

If you’re just starting out, you don’t get to that point instantly. Growth takes time. But a professional creative will make you look good and keep things humming while you build your business.

Now that you’ve found the right creative person for your project, what next?

Start small until you’re comfortable.

Start with a small job if you’re unsure how to navigate hiring and working with freelancers. As you grow more confident outsourcing projects and recurring tasks, you’ll learn to rely on others for help in your business.

You may even come to rely on freelancers and contractors exclusively. The benefit to hiring freelancers is that they are as flexible as your needs.

Will you decide to build a team of remote freelancers who regularly work together, or occasionally ease your workload by hiring one freelancer at a time? Will you stay local or reach out to creatives in other countries? It’s up to you.

Other Tips for Hiring Freelancers

Bookmark pages or graphic designs, fonts and colors you like, to show your new freelance hire the vibe you want to convey.

Will there be ongoing work if the right freelancer nails this project? Say so, and you may attract better freelancers from the get-go. Just remember that all freelancers have seen ridiculous promises from hiring sources, and certain tactics for getting cheap labor probably won’t work in your favor.

Of course you need a creative freelancer who will fit your budget (the range is great), but please never say that you expect the work done for free because it’s such a wonderful opportunity for the freelancer to build their portfolio or to gain the chance to work for you again in the future. I’ve never understood why anyone would dangle that obviously poison carrot. Why would anyone worth their salt want to work for a cheapskate who wants free work done now, let alone in the future? You get what you pay for.

Most experienced freelancers describe where they add value in a proposal. For example, you may find that pro copywriter demands higher fees than another writer. The reasons may range from their experience in the subject matter; to a keen understanding of the genre. As an example, press releases, newsletters, white papers, blog posts, and PPC ads are examples of four very different types of writing skills; if you’re looking for a specialist in one genre, it’s worth your while to hire a pro with that experience.

Another example of added value that really pays off: Your copywriter may provide the added service of researching keywords and markets; and generally spending time learning the audience before jumping into the activity of writing. These “hidden” extra tasks and levels of expertise often translate into a higher cost to the hiring party. They also ensure that the copy is exactly on the mark, which offsets the high cost of cheap copy that doesn’t convert.

Be prepared to pay a fair market price for excellent work. Expect a good freelancer to require a deposit to start work, and incremental payments as specific milestones are met.

Feel free to ask questions about her past work, how she works, when she’s available to touch bases, and when she typically is in “creative” mode. That way, if she’s not answering your texts in the morning hours because that’s her productive writing time (or walk-the-dog time, or hit-the gym time, etc.), you’ll know why. Every great freelancer will provide times when she’s be available for meetings and calls, but the hours may not be your usual nine-to-five. If weekday, workday accessibility is important to you, make sure it’s spelled at the beginning. This means you must also take into account the difference in time zones.

If you have a brand kit, allow your freelancer to access to it for correct use of fonts, style and colors. The more you let your freelancer into your world, the better she can deliver exactly what you imagined, and more. You want to be wowed — you deserve it — so give your freelancer the boundaries you require, then let her run free.

By the way, if you get exactly what you expected, then you’ve probably kept the leash too short. Creative people and freelancers who have been at their craft for awhile love to deliver work that is a little surprising sometimes. They work hard to raise the bar, so keep an open mind. Make her part of your team and the right creative will give you way more value than you bargained for.

As freelancing becomes a common way to work around the world, more companies and creatives will hop onboard. The benefits are pretty cool for both the provider and the hirer, as long as expectations are clear. It’s worth it to invest in finding the perfect freelancer and continue to build a relationship with that person. Over time, as projects pop up, you’ll feel you have an extension of your core team at your disposal.

Do you have any questions or ideas about hiring freelancers? Are you interested in getting some of your marketing tasks — social media posts, blog writing, email strings — take off your plate? Give us a call or fill out the form below. We’d love to hear about your next project.

How To Handle The Nasty Pre-Election Freelance Slump

November 1, 2016 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

It’s not you. I don’t think it’s me, either. If you’re phone’s not ringing, and you typically serve small US businesses, it’s probably not your fault.

Blame the Election for the Freelance Slump

In July I started noticing that things were slowing down.

I’d planned a week of travel, and then another week to stay-cation and get the kids ready for school, so I almost didn’t notice. In my vacationing mindset, I (not the economy) was the one who was slacking a bit.

My excitement to manage my freelance business from the road for a week, took me off my game — my marketing game, that is.

For about a month, I was just riding the jobs I had and feeling content.

Double-whammy mistake, right there. During a month when I should have been marketing, calling, hunting, and hustling for new business, I was on island time.

I’m sure you’ve never rested on your laurels, have you, fellow freelancer?

When I returned in full force in September, small businesses were starting to express their uncertainty of the economic future in their spending habits. One client cancelled blogging services, another scaled back on social media updates, my emailed inquiries tapered down and still I didn’t exactly sense what was happening.

I get a little nervous when “looking for jobs” becomes my predominant activity over actually writing. At the same time, I believe that the Universe clears a path for what must be done. Bring it on.

In his book “The Obstacle Is The Way,” Ryan Holiday attests that things that look like barriers may actually prevent you from wasting time on the wrong thing, and point you toward your true path… Indeed, sometimes pushing through them delivers the answers.

But I’m open to a new direction, come what may, I still blame this freelance slump partly on the election.

A lot of people — especially small businesses people — are just not spending money right now. Scarcity, worry, and dread seem to be hanging in the air.

Unfortunately, marketing is usually the first expenditure to get crossed off the list of discretionary spending. Keeping the lights on, writing payroll checks and delivering on promises to current customers take precedence. That marketing campaign, not so much.

Here’s what I’m doing to turn things around.

Just in case you’re going through the same slip of jobs and income, either now or sometime in the future, I’m sharing my strategy and mindset. You can’t have a plan without a healthy realization that the plan could go sideways. That’s where a truckload of faith comes in.

Make a decision to weather this pre-election slump and take action.

Be the Client You Want To Have.

The #1 take away here is that it’s time to step up your marketing efforts. Yes, you, a freelancer.

Not only is this the best time to find your way into the hearts and minds of your next client or niche, but it’s also the easiest. I am no economist, but there are murmurings that some kind of economic calamity looms on the horizon. This spells opportunity for those freelancers who have a savvy marketing plan in place. Fortunes are made in recessions, as they say.

Take advantage of the downtime (or downturn) and step up your game.

Get your resume in order.

Talk to past clients for some testimonials and recommendations, spruce up your resume and portfolio. Here’s a great article on writing a freelance resume with tips on what to include and how to use your social media channels to get noticed by hiring managers.

Research new niches.

Is there a re direction you’d like to take your business that you’ve not had time (nor maybe the confidence) to go? While companies are scaling back, there will be a lull. Start now to collect all the information possible, and foray into that niche with a small job or even a personal project of your own. Maybe you could contribute to a relevant volunteer effort, or compile resources to educate yourself in a new industry. Learning new skills is a positive way to use your downtime wisely.

Network.

Just because you’re not working as much as you’d like, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be networking as much as you can. Spend a lunch hour attending a Freelance or Business Meet Up. Attend a local chamber meeting and strike up some conversations with colleagues and possible clients. You never know who you might meet who could introduce you to your next client.

Speaking of networking, if you haven’t created a profile on LinkedIn Profinder, now’s the time. It’s a useful new tool connecting freelancers and those who hire them. Besides your usual social networking online, take some time to explore the ProFinder website and showcase a few of your top-level, frequently recommended skills.

I’ve been approached at least six times since creating my page there a couple of weeks ago. The hiring party who placed the search for a freelancer may only receive up to ten resumes from ProFinder members, so when you see a job in your email inbox, jump on it.

Pursue a personal or professional pet project.

Getting in better shape, writing your book, working on a nagging health issue, pursuing a hobby you’ve been delaying for “someday…” These are all on the table now. You have some wiggle room to make some magic happen. You may even be called to patch a relationship, or spend more time with someone in your life who could use your influence right now. Maybe that’s what this whole “slowdown” is all about.

That may sound a little “woo woo” to you, but I’m serious now…

There Are No Accidents.

I believe in cycles in everything. If the economy is providing you with some obligatory “time off” make good use of it. Even if you dip into savings, this could be the downtime you need to grow. You might find you need to be “bored” awhile for that good idea to emerge, or to hear that inner voice calling your name to rise up to the challenge of whatever it is that’s meant to be your next step.

But you must be open, and listen for it.

Consider Agency Work.

After years of running a small agency, pulling in other freelancers to make projects shine, I’ve decided to pursue jobs within larger agencies. This is new. Instead of seeing them as competition, I’m excited to discover what it will be like to work with other creative marketing agencies.

What’s funny is that as I’m researching available jobs and positions, I’ve been coming across terminology that I’m not familiar with. As soon as I Google the unfamiliar term (e.g. gap analysis), it’s inevitably a marketing concept I’m totally familiar with because I’ve done it or used it. I’ve just never use the agency lingo to describe it. Ha! So I’ve been working on coming up to speed on some marketing terminology. A benefit to a slugging period: You might learn new things!

Search for new clients in new companies.

Other jobs you might pursue are collaborative jobs within corporations. If you’re a small business B2B freelancer, it may be time to cast your nets to companies with extensive resources to invest. Individuals with the ability to hire freelancers at larger companies might not feel the same personal strain of economic jitters as much as small business owners. A larger organization rides out an economic slump with a longer vision and (hopefully) more funds in reserve to attain it.

That said, corporations may also be more inclined to hire freelancers. I’ve been watching some online job boards, and discovering that there are many opportunities available for contract and freelance work lately with larger corporations, including Fortune 500 companies.

While I’ve tended to stay away from large companies in the past, I’m beginning to realize that many organizations are beginning to embrace more agile work environments and have departments that are quick and entrepreneurial leaning, just like small businesses and the small biz culture that I enjoy. Check out this list of Fortune 500 companies that are open to remote, flexible, freelance workers. Do you have any contacts on LinkedIn or in your locale?

Are you worried that the industry you typically serve may be unable to hire your freelancing services? Short-term opportunities are scarce in certain sectors during times of economic uncertainty, while others thrive.

Find a niche that has a bright horizon, and you’ll weather the storm. Some industries, like luxury and vice brands will always need freelance services, and may even experience rapid growth during a recession. Take note of these industries that will probably continue to be able to pay you!

In my ebook, Seven Steps To better Freelance Gigs, I was critical of job boards where bidding is the norm. Too often, you end up bidding against people who are able to bid a lot lower than you can afford to bid for the exact same work. That said, when times are slow, you may find yourself perusing bidding job boards to get some business, just to stay afloat.

You can get the ebook for free. It’s included in the free content library at My Team Connects. Sign up here.

Beware of spending too much time crafting exquisite proposals for hiring parties without the budget to pay you. (With unknown hiring parties, you really don’t know if the job will even get filled.) If a project looks like it could work with your schedule and budget, then go for it, especially if payment is waiting in escrow when you’re selected.

Let’s be honest, when jobs aren’t coming in you’re tempted to accept lower-paying work than you’re used to. Average jobs are better than none at all, both to make ends meet and for your mental drive and confidence. You don’t want to lose your mojo; catch it by its tail any way you can! Just a warning not to get sucked into a mindset where you don’t’ feel like you are growing.

Keep promoting yourself. This is a great time to gear up for something new.

With the craziest campaign season almost behind us, who knows what America will look like six months from now? Be ready for whatever happens! With a good marketing mindset you’ll use your natural freelancing flexibility and agility to ease into the next phase ready for anything.

When you’re hungry for work, a freelance slump isn’t the most comfortable place to find yourself. But if you keep your mind sharp, stay current in your industry, and keep your nose to the ground for the next opportunity, you’ll land that next job.

Ditch Your Lists And Be A More Focused Freelancer

October 10, 2016 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

If you are a freelancer or blogger, you have a lot of tasks to juggle.

Chances are you use lists to inspire you and keep you on track. But how effective are your lists?

Do you make lists only to cross of a few items every day?
Do you transfer the rest of today’s list to tomorrow’s list?
Do you have a zillion ideas for new projects, blog posts, content, or activities, but you don’t know which one to start?
Do you have trouble finishing projects on deadline?
Do you have trouble keeping all your jobs organized?

I was guilty of all of these. While my clients’ jobs were and are, usually under control, that was about it. If I wanted to grow my business or focus on accomplishing some writing projects for myself, I always felt like a failure. I repeatedly wrote list after list, filling notebooks, and file cabinets with notes and links, resources, books, recipes, etc. that definitely had a purpose… just not right then… just not until I finished this other thing…

I even started to buy into that little voice telling myself that I’d never retrieve and act on even a small portion of my “good ideas.” I’d write things down knowing in my bones that I’d forget them as soon as they were filed.

Ugh! How demoralizing is that? I was literally becoming the crazy bat who wrote down every thought, and filed it away. Like the woman with the jar of strings “too short to save.”

Lists are great, but for a lot of us, they’re not effective.

Thanks to a friend of mine (who runs this school carnival supplies business) I discovered a new way to deal with all the things that need doing. Not just in my work, but in my family and personal life, too. The great thing about my new system is that I can keep as many ideas as I want, and store them within an organizational method that makes me feel like the type-A person I’m not. (You really can fake it till you make it.)

It’s called Kanban Flow, and it resembles a grid-like organizational chart where you move components from one section of the chart to another as you finish them. At least that’s the way this novice is using it. It’s not a bulletin board, though you could visualize it that way. It’s called a Trello board, an online chart where you can see your entire newly- categorized life laid out like the yellow brick road.

This Trello thing could make you crazy effective! The longer I use it, the better habits I have, so I just have to share it with you. This might change your life…

The Kanban system was created in Japanese manufacturing plants as a way to keep track of inventory. As it turns out, kanban (sounds like “bonbon”) is a great way to manage all your to-dos, brilliant ideas, shopping lists, team meeting agendas, car maintenance schedules, or family calendars as well!

Name your project or whatever you’re working on now; you can probably get it done better with a Kanban flow.

Although there are a few Kanban apps out there, I use Trello because it’s free and easy to learn. In fact, I’ve used if for a couple of years now, and I’m just beginning to really embrace how to integrate it into my daily routine and allow it to help me be more productive.

How Do Kanban Flows Work?

Here’s the idea. First you create a board and give it a title. This is your overarching category or theme. Say you are a content writer or copywriter. You might call your first board…

Blog Post Ideas
2017 Blog Content
Guest Blog Categories
Get More Instagram Followers…

Pick some goal or project you imagine conquering.

As you begin creating your first Trello dashboard, you’ll find there a learning curve regarding how you set up your boards.

First there’s the “problem” of being too general. You might start with boards titled, “Things I need to do in October” and then discover that it makes more sense to actually have two boards: “Personal Things I Need to Do” and “Professional Things I Need to Do.”

You may also realize that each project should have its own board. As soon as you begin adding lists to each board, you start seeing how simply and quickly a project that previously seemed out of hand could actually be accomplished.

On the other hand, you might realize that a project requires more steps than you originally thought.

Here’s where you learn to love lists again.

Every board consists of a panel of lists laid out from left to right. Lists consist of cards. Not mere jots and scribbles, but actual separate areas where you can place images, thoughts, get comments from team members, add articles and links found on the web, add checklists, and PDFs or Google docs, etc. from your computer

With the ability to add cards to a list, you are able to flesh out every item on your list with supporting material. It’s list-making for clean freaks. Everything looks tidy and your work is suddenly streamlined, but you still have everything you need. You don’t have to kiss goodbye all those tangential thoughts, and sparks of fancy. They all have a place where you can retrieve them if necessary, but they’re not yammering all over the place disturbing your concentration. (We creative types struggle with that.)

Lists might include background research, questions, hypotheses, history, etc. They could also include active working areas, like components of a project to which different team members are able to make contributions.

I personally like to add a “Done” list to just about every board I start so that I can swipe a task from a working area to that oh-so-satisfying “Done” column. Bliss.

The best way to start feeling that productivity mojo is to just go to Trello right now and start playing.

But if you still need some inspiration for how a freelance writer or blogger can use the Kanban flow, here are some ways to get started.

Here are eight ways I use Trello Boards:

1. Mind Map

Mind Maps! If you’ve ever used a mind map to develop an idea into a finished outline for an article or post, then you know you can either scribble a main idea in the center of a sheet of paper and draw arrows from there; OR you can jot all your ideas onto post-it notes and stick them on a large sheet of paper in some orderly fashion. Either way, mind maps are helpful, fun, and sometimes messy.

Unless you’re really ready to work on an idea, you might not want to start all that brainstorming. You may not appreciate all those notes and sheets of paper cluttering up your workspace either. If you want to insert some order, just use a Kanban flow. (By the way, Kanban people use words like Lean and Agile to describe productive workflows…but Orderly won me over.)

2. Blog Content

This is why I started using Trello in the first place and where the bulk of my usage is still.

Every company or website I write for has its own board. Usually when I’m writing for a blog (or as a ghost blogger) a good part of the work is coming up with ideas. Sometimes the business owner has a monthly or quarterly theme in mind. Sometimes she’s gearing up for a product launch and so the content will lead up to that. And sometimes, it’s up to me to come up with some interesting content ideas.

I keep a board for each website where I’m a contributor. My first column is typically a smorgasbord of content ideas. I toss them up there in no particular order, using the Trello app on my cell phone whenever a good idea comes to me as I’m mobile. Once an idea is on that first column, and if it’s any good, usually I will start to add supporting ideas to it. It’s weird how easily this happens. As soon as I come up with a sticky idea, suddenly everything I see looks like a green light to write it. For example, I might read an article that supports the idea, or hear a podcast that has some relevance to the topic. I may run across a photo or a tweet that would be nice to include. The post practically writes itself if it’s right.

Once I have added a few notes to a possible idea, I take it as a sign that I should run with it. So I move it over to a list of posts I’m currently working on. From there, it will eventually find it’s way to the calendar, if it hasn’t already been assigned, and then to the “waiting for approval” column, then to “Done.”

At the GO phase, it’s just a matter of progression and time, not so much ideation.

Now another other cool thing about Trello is you can add a calendar to your boards — perfect for keeping tabs on publish dates — as well as invite others to your board so they can comment. While I’m pretty strict about tuning out contributing voices as I write, the overall content strategy definitely benefits from others’ opinions.

Again, for blog content, the arrangement of cards means nothing is ever really lost. I make a new card for every general topic I create for my own blog. Right now I have ideas for about 20 articles that are “simmering.” This means I am not exactly tackling these topics right now, but they are generally on my mind.

Unlike my filing system I mentioned at the beginning of this post, all of these blog topics and “great ideas” are accessible and viewable. When I see something that complements the topic, I simply click the chrome extension on my browser and the link is captured. A small Trello popup opens and I can simply add it to the appropriate board and list. It looks like this (right).

Why is this so effective? Because I can touch it once, and store it in the right place; but I don’t have to think about it again so it doesn’t occupy any more room in my mind.

The major benefit for me is, I’ve dealt with it as much as I’m going to until I’m ready to compile all the facts and ideas into an article. Then I’ll have everything on hand to outline and create a first draft… if the idea ever gets that far.

After that, I include checklists, another feature that I like. Now I can get the post ready with all the pertinent details: Whether it’s formatted for WordPress, the due date, images selected, title graphics, optimized headlines, keywords, tags and meta tags (SEO items), etc. You can see at a glance how close a blog post is to being ready to publish.

You may be wondering at this point, what can you add to a Trello card?

Here’s a list of some things I’ve uploaded: Images, links to articles, comments, PDFs, Google docs, things I’ve clipped to Evernote or Dropbox, quotes, tweets, and comments from clients. The software is set up to help you access and use a lot of the other apps and software in conjunction with Trello, and you can “power up” your boards with them. Yay!

But wait, there’s more…

Here are some other ways freelance writers can use a Kanban system like Trello to get and stay organized:

3. Job and Contact Management

How do you keep your job searches and contact communication organized? When I’m applying for a freelance job, or after I’ve talked with a prospect I want to work with, I start a card under the list “Jobs” under the Board “New Work.”

I keep list columns for jobs and projects I applied for or bid on, whether I sent a link to my portfolio, I post a link to my proposal and bid, along with a copy of the cover letter. And then I have a follow up list and/or signed contract list.

4. Long, Ongoing Projects

Ebooks, infographics, and longer projects I’m working on. Here again, regular practice and doing the same things over and over again, will help you make progress. If you’re just taking stabs at the thing whenever you “get a chance” you’re probably going to become frustrated that the project is not gaining traction. I include lists for research, various edited drafts, whether it’s formatted for CMS, milestones and deadlines, and graphic design components.

5. Guest Post Management

If you are a blogger, you probably already know about the value in guest posting to other blogs. Similar to the blog board is my guest blog board. In addition to content ideas, there are other things that are important to keep track of:

A spreadsheet of blogs accepting posts
Blogs I’m most likely to get accepted
Ideas for posts geared to specific blogs (sometimes outside my wheelhouse)
Drafts
Sent drafts
Drafts responded to (or neglected or declined)
Articles resent to an alternate blog (because why waste?)

6. Digital Hoarding Collections of Things

As a writer, of course I’m a content consumer, too. I keep a board of books I want to read, courses I want to take, movies I want to see, etc.

7. Personal / Household / Family

My personal projects and goals are perfectly fair game for a healthy Kanban flow, and I’m beginning to use it more for that.

For example, my son is at the age where it’s time to teach him to drive. In Texas, there is a convoluted path to teenage driving. It starts with ordering a parent instruction packet from the DMV. After that, there’s online tests, application for underage permit, logging of driving hours under certain conditions, etc. I will be using my Trello to get us through this.

Another issue that seems clearer thanks to Trello is a household IT problem we’re grappling with these days. Every technician, cable guy, and “geek” has a secondary troubleshooting idea for us. I started a list on my household board dedicated to solving this. I’m keeping the names of specific routers and other products I can try. I’m noting actions we’ve taken to fix the intermittent Internet outages, and network password reminders. Rather than jot notes on paper to transfer later, I just upload the idea or note to a card with my phone. Trello’s mobile app is great!

I’m sure there are other personal and professional goals and projects I could be hacking with a Kanban flow method. Now that I’m beginning to get cozy with Trello, I’ve stopped just throwing things together.

8. Recurring Tasks

Finally, there are those pesky recurring tasks that must be done. Unless you’re a robot or your have extra help with certain tasks, and have your routine so perfectly ingrained in your programming, a Kanban flow could help you with this, as it helped me.

While you can power up a board with Trello’s “Card Repeater,” another alternative is using a Zap or the handy Echo app built by Dennis Martinez. I’ve set this up and it works quite nicely.

I use my recurring tasks board more as a reminder that I have to do these things than as an organizational tool. Just set Trello to automatically open upon login, and you’ll know first thing every morning. Some of my recurring tasks include posting to social media sites, bookkeeping, payments, taxes, filing tasks, etc. I sort them by weeks, months, and quarters.

Are you ready to add an element of organization to your life that you simply can’t touch with lists?

The Kanban method will change your life because it guides you toward changing your habits.

If you want to become a focused freelancer who is ridiculously in charge of your day, you still have to open up your dashboard and take action. Discipline is so important. What Trello does so well is allow you to see the forest of your freelancing business, so you don’t get lost in the trees.

If you’re feeling scattered or unable to keep up with your job searches, invoicing, research, or even your writing, try Trello and begin to know your business — and DO your business — like the true, productive professional you are.

Trello is simple and sleek for easy use. If you have any questions about it, and how to use it in your freelancing business, I’m happy to share more. Just drop me a comment on Facebook.

[NOTE: I am not a Kanban expert (they are out there!) and I don’t make a cent from Trello, by the way. I just like their product. I’m on the free plan now, and when someone I refer signs up (again, for free), then my account is temporarily upgraded to “Gold,” which has a few more perks. When my team gets a little bigger, I’ll be upgrading to the next paid tier for a reasonable monthly fee. This would allow for larger uploaded files, unlimited Power-Ups, the ability to organize boards into Collections, and more control over team members use abilities, privacy, etc.. ]

I wrote down my top seven ways to get more done, have more fun, and make more money freelancing. That ebook is included in the free content library and it’s my treat… Get it here!

18 Content Writing Jobs To Make More Money As A Freelancer

September 19, 2016 by Elizabeth 2 Comments

Did you know that writers can make over $50,000 a year? If you are considering a freelance writing career, then this is a great time to start. There is a massive need for content and incredible, high-quality writers are needed, even more, to craft them.

People often think freelance writing is primarily about blogging, article writing, or writing corporate blogs. New freelancers tend to box themselves in these stereotypical content writing jobs. It’s time to think out of the box and get more out of your freelance writing career.

Commonly Applied-for Content Writing Jobs

Blog Writer

Blogs needn’t be for personal information. Blogs that people find useful and relevant are shared more often. Companies with a successful content marketing campaign will have at least 3-5 blog posts a month. General info, tips and how-to’s related to health, travel, fashion, education, beauty, wedding, photography, music blogs, entertainment blogs, etc. A beginner may earn anywhere between $20 to $30 per blog post.

Article Writer

Do you know that blog post and article writing are two different things? Before writing a print or web article, know the do’s and don’ts and make sure you’re thoroughly acquainted with the magazine’s current content and tone. There are many websites and companies that need high quality article writers who have a good command over the language and a more sophisticated writing style. Do your homework; send queries or finished, well-researched articles to magazines and potentially earn over $500 per article!

SEO Copywriter

Content writers who know rudimentary SEO and CMS skills can pursue these jobs. These jobs typically pay higher than regular blogs and articles.

Ghost Writer

Busy CEO’s, executives, leaders, celebrities who don’t have the time (or the skill) hire ghostwriters to write their blogs or books. Reflect whether you’d be OK to give credit to someone else for a job you did. If you don’t mind that then you could easily take up this job for experience and learn from the criticism and feedback. Ghostwriting is a lucrative niche.

The problem with these common content writing jobs:

Writers often struggle to find well-paying blog sites, and articles… but really, you can make a lot more by just specialising in content writing jobs other than blogs or articles.

There is more to content writing than blogging!

Different content writing jobs exist. These are outside of writing articles, blogs or even ebooks. Sometimes you find what you like because of the skills required. Other times, you may stumble upon these new opportunities. If you do, make sure you grab them, each time! Here is a quick list of other content writing jobs that you can explore and earn more while you’re at it.

Why we love these 14 other content writing jobs (and you will too!)

Email Marketing

You need copywriting skills, jammed with analytical skills, marketing, and research to ensure consistent email quality. If you have these skills, then consider venturing into this thriving market. If you want to know how to become an email marketer, then here is a great article by Career Lancer.

Writing Bios and About Pages

Writing about oneself or one’s business can be difficult. Trying to find the right balance between being informative and not sounding arrogant can be even harder for some. Writing bios and about pages is the perfect job for an unbiased content writer. You may want to read this informative article by Heather Hummel on HuffPost for more on bios.

Resume Writing

As long as there are jobs, there will be the need to create, design, and edit resumes. If you have a knack for interviewing people or have superb editing skills that people envy, put a price on it. There are plenty of opportunities online. The pay depends on the type of resumes; for instance, an entry-level resume can earn you up to $400!

Social Media Coordinator

You need to be a writer to write engaging content, implement changes in the media platforms, market products and services, facilitate conversation and share information, besides analyzing the best route to meet customers’ needs through social media. A social media manager earns between $34k to $56k a year! Here’s a handy infographic guide to get social media jobs, created by The Daily Muse.

White Papers

If you enjoy doing research and are able to intelligently piece critical information together, then writing white papers can be a very rewarding alternative to blogging. Instead of doing a one-off white paper, Gordon Graham says you can focus entirely on this niche. Since white papers take up plenty of time and effort, firms readily outsource this work to content writers. A beginner can make up to $3000 per white paper, if the finished product is polished and well-researched.

Presentations

There are a number of businesses like insurance companies, startups and sales teams that need effective presentations. They need to drive the message and engage their potential customers, not bore them away with heavily worded technical jargon. A content writer can help streamline their message for the presentations, and help them relay it in a way that’s meaningful to their audience. Content fees for PowerPoint jobs typically range upwards of between $70/hour – $125 per presentation, depending on length.

In-Person Event Writer

People are hard pressed for time these days. When time is a constraint, the in-person event writer is asked to attend meetings, seminars etc. then collate information, and/or deliver the content through social media or email.

Videos

Vlogs or Video blogging are on the rise. In fact, Variety conducted a survey in the US that shows teenagers like vloggers better than mainstream celebrities. Vloggers connect with audiences through Youtube, Instagram, and other sources. Because YouTube is the second largest search engine after Google, content writers are required to fulfill the SEO need to write meta titles, meta tags and keyword based descriptions. These are just as relevant for YouTube as they are for websites. Integrate SEO skills and you’ll position yourself as an even more valuable contributor.

Podcasts

A podcast writer needs to be clear and concise. The delivery should not sound like a speech, but spontaneous and natural. Use of simple, conversational language is important here. Moreover, podcasts need a short write-up to describe each session. Show notes, as they are called, need to be enough to arouse curiosity, while not revealing so much that the audio is ignored. It’s tricky, and that’s why a content writer may get paid well here.

Print and e-Newsletters

To expand their reach, businesses send out mass print or e-newsletters to subscribers. Writers in this huge niche are involved in research, design, content writing, calls to action, testing, and tracking responses. Knowledge of HTML and analytical skills add to a writer’s value to clients in this field.

Webinars/ Webcast

People want to learn new skills quickly, and during hours that fit their personal schedules. These days, seminars, lectures, presentations, training events, or workshops are conducted over the internet to meet the preferences and convenience of users. More than 60% of marketers use webinars as part of their content marketing campaigns. Content writers are needed in this niche more than ever before.

Brochures

Writing a brochure requires some unique skill. A brochure writer must engage, create a rapport, then convince a customer to either buy the product or request more information. Often working closely with a graphic designer, a brochure writer can easily charge $100 – $150 per assignment.

Bid Writers

A bid writer works on documents that help companies win contracts to provide their services. Good communication, excellent research and writing skill is required from a content writer here. A beginner can earn from $60 and $150 per hour. Note that experience adds even more value to the bid writer, since the more understanding a writer has of a company’s services, the more likely the company will win a signed contract or purchase order.

Medical Writer

A medical writer works closely with doctors and scientists. Writers need to understand and create clear and effective documents relating to research, drugs, diagnoses, treatments, and other related medical information. In addition, the document created by the medical writer must have a proper structure and format. The pay depends on many factors, and usually requires experience within the healthcare industry.

The Best Part About Finding Your Niche

The best part about exploring all these other content writing jobs and what we love about them, is that, you can:

Narrow down your potential clients.
Serve the right ones better.
Do what you love!

Freelance content writing is one of the best emerging options for those who want to ditch the cubicles and the rigid working hours.

Explore your possibilities and you’re sure to find your specialty.

As a newbie freelance writer or even an established one, start paying more attention to other content writing jobs, and not just blogs or articles. Take some time to reflect on your skills and interests. Specialize in a couple of niches, based on your strengths. Hone those skills to attract new and better clients in those specific areas.

Finally, don’t forget that you can always approach media and marketing agencies that service specific industries or genres, such as the technology, fashion, travel, religious, or professional sectors; for content writing jobs other than just general blog or article writing. If you have a keen interest in a subject, or experience within one particular industry, you may carve out your niche as the go-to writer.

There is always room for growth – if you let yourself think outside of the box.

So what are the other content writing jobs that you know about? Comment below!

Elizabeth Alex is a freelance content writer for hire. Follow her on her website, Honestliz.com, Facebook and Twitter.