The End of Content Writing Jobs?
As the number of Demand Media titles slowly dwindles, and work at home writers search elsewhere for content writing jobs, multiple forums carry rumors and fearful discussion. Work at home writers are wondering if this is the end of the world as they know it, if they'll have work next month (or next week), and how they're going to adjust to the end of those twice-weekly payouts. While the Google Panda updates that occurred last year may have been the end of the How-To article as we know it (and trust me, I missed them too, for about five minutes), it's nowhere near the end of the world of web writing. So, I've got some tips for smart writer mamas and papas who need to make a living, but aren't sure where to begin.
1. Market, Market, Market
The writing's been on the wall for awhile, and chances are you've been told over and over again that you should be looking for work. And don't get me wrong, you SHOULD be. But if you don't know how to market yourself, how to really sell a potential client on the benefits of your services over the other 200-500 applicants that are applying, you're screwed.
Take the time, today, to brush up your resume. Add all the writing clients you've picked up over the last six months or so. Sell the benefits that you've got to offer.
But don't stop there. That's where everybody else stops, and you want to be ahead of the pack.
Instead, take another hour or so and write a killer cover letter. I'd post mine here, but I don't wanna. I mean, why would I give away all my secrets? Compose it as a document, so you can copy and paste it into multiple emails. I've got mine saved as an automatic pull down option in my gMail account, so I can just insert it into the email body and tweak it appropriately for potential clients. I've actually got three, one customized to each of the areas I specialize in. Which brings me to my second point.
2. Specialize
In the golden days of content mills, it was great to be a generalist. You could get accepted at a wide variety of writing sites, and you could write on tons of topics. That was then. This is now. Now, if you want to compete, you should probably give at least a passing thought to specialization.
Take some time to dig through your writing samples. Chances are that at least a few of them are on the same general topics. Ta-Da! You've got a specialty. Now sell it, using the tips above, and you've got an in with potential clients.
3. Do It Better, Faster
Once you've got a client, remember that you don't keep them by default. In this economy, you can't afford to be lazy. Instead, you need to constantly be wooing them. Turn an assignment in a day or so early. Send polite emails following up, to let them know you received their deposit and are working on their assignment. Take the time to remember things you've discussed with them in phone conversations or by email. In short, treat every.single.client like they're the only client you have. It's more work for you – tons, in fact – but it will help guarantee that you've always got income coming in.
4. Remember that Applying to Ads is a Numbers Game
I've got nothing against applying to ads for writers, whether they're on Craigslist or somewhere else entirely. In fact, my two biggest clients both hired me after I responded to their advertisements. However, if you choose to apply to ads seeking writers, be aware that there are a ton of other writers doing the same thing.
You may lose out to one of them just because they got their first, their resume was a little stronger, or they had better samples. Don't rely on any one ad or job until you've signed the contract and received the deposit. Instead, concentrate on finding as many ads that meet your personal qualifications (whatever those may be). Apply for them quickly, forget about them, and move on. It's far better to have a full plate than an empty one.
