There’s a common writer’s trap I think a lot of people fall into at some point early in their careers. It’s when they break out of it that they go from earning a living to really enjoying their business.
The trap is this…
You start landing some clients. They’re low-paying clients. But you’re doing it. You’re earning money as a writer.
In fact, if you put in enough hours working on assignments for these clients, you’re making enough money to pay your bills. Just enough. But still, it’s exciting! Your writing is paying your way.
But to pay those bills with the money you earn from those assignments, you’re working eight to 10 hours a day. After a month or two, you start to burn out. You’re not excited to get up and write any more. But you have to, because the money’s got to come from somewhere.
You’d like to land some of those higher-paying clients you hear other writers talk about, but when? When do you have time to market yourself? When do you have time to work on something else? Every creative minute you have is put toward meeting the demands of your low paying, but dependable clients.
It’s easy to fall into this trap, and hard to find your way out of it.
If you find yourself in this trap, here’s what you need to do…
First, if you can do it, get up an hour earlier each day, and dedicate that hour to marketing yourself. You could send pitches to prospects you find on job boards or that you’re connected with on LinkedIn, you could begin regularly nurturing your connections on LinkedIn using Michael Katz’s simple strategy, or you could start publishing more to build your authority and attract interest in your services. Those are three options and not an exhaustive list. If an hour in the morning won’t work for you, try to find at least three hours during the week — evenings or weekends — that you can dedicate to your marketing.
Second, only take on new work if it pays more than the work you’re currently doing. When you do get a higher-paying project, use the extra money to “buy” yourself more marketing time in the weeks following. So for example, if your low-paying work pays $25 an hour and you land a six-hour job making $100 an hour, you have a $450 surplus from that project. You can use that to put 18 hours toward marketing rather than filling those hours with the lower-paying projects.
Third, when you finish a project with a higher-paying client — and they are happy with your work — pitch another idea to them.
And finally, be on the lookout for retainer opportunities. If you’ve written a blog post for a client who was happy to pay you $300 for your work (rather than the $75 your other clients pay), offer to do a post for them on a weekly basis.
Follow these four steps diligently and within a few months, you’ll find yourself earning higher fees and having more time to do other things, like market your business, master a new skill, or relax.
If you haven’t fallen into this trap, it’s best to avoid it altogether. Set aside time to market yourself and nurture your business now. Treat it as sacred. If you do that, you’ll always have enough of your most important resource — time — to dedicate to improving your business and growing your income.
New on the Site
AWAI’s Virtual Bootcamp was a roaring success, jam-packed with experts and overflowing with ideas. In her latest Reality Blog, Suzanna Fitzgerald gives you a taste of the huge number of lightbulb moments she had while listening to this year’s speakers.
Did you get a chance to listen to Nick Usborne’s and my conversation about the best habits you can develop to give your digital copywriting business a leg up? If not, you can give a listen to the recording right here.
Do you like inexpensive productivity hacks that are easy to implement? Then you’ll love this look at one of the most effective, affordable ways to get more done. Michele Peterson shares a simple change that could improve your focus, attention, and overall energy levels. And, you may see a decrease in headaches and joint pain.
Mark Your Calendar
November 4: Running your own business is challenging, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. In this month’s Member Update webinar, we’ll be looking at five things you need to consider if you want your business to thrive without creating a lot of stress in your life. Details will be posted shortly.
Around the Web
Have you ever wanted to know more about video marketing? Backlinko has published a definitive guide.
If you want to write a great sales letter, it helps to know the components. Lisa Christoffel gives you a rundown of what matters most right here.
Curating content for social media can help you save time while building your audience… especially if you’re tapping into the right tools.
Masterclass shares 13 tips for faster writing, including stopping your work session midsentence if you can.
That’s all for now. Make it a great week!
