Writing From Home – Let’s Debunk Some Myths
To outsiders, writing from home may seem like an easy, laid back lifestyle. I often hear comments about how others wish they could do thing the way I do. The reality of writing from home, however, is often quite different than what the outside world perceives. Let's dispel a few myths about working from home, shall we?
Myth #1: You Work in Your Pajamas
This is occasionally true. Like today. I'm working in my pajamas today. But it's Sunday. At noon. And I've been working since about 5AM, when I woke up with a crying baby. At this point, it's not about comfort, but about hitting deadlines and survival. After I've met my deadlines for the day, I'll likely shower and nap, but when mama duty and work duty call at the same time (on a weekend, no less), you do what ya gotta do.
Myth #2: You Work Quietly from Home While Your Toddlers Play at Your Feet
No lie, every…freakin…time I see those Google scam ads with the mother and the little kids, I laugh my butt off. If you've ever been a work at home mom, you know in an instant that they know nothing about the real world. Forget quiet. I work whenever I can squeeze in a spare minute. I've worked while nursing, while bouncing a sick baby on my lap, and while my children napped in the car. I've crammed myself into bathrooms and closets with my laptop to get some peace and quiet. I've even *gasp* put in a Dora DVD, knowing it would buy me the hour I desperately needed to hit a deadline. In this economy, every penny counts, and sometimes you've just gotta do what it takes to get things done.
Besides – when are toddlers EVER quiet? I work to the sounds of pattering feet, battles over teddy bears, and a constant Raffi soundtrack. That's just how I roll 
Myth #3: You Can't Earn a Full Time Income From Home
This is one of the worst myths out there. Every day, I see freelance mamas selling themselves short, thinking that they can't possibly make more than a little fun money. After all, they've got kids. If you want it, and you work at it, it's totally possible to earn a full time income as a content writer. From home. While you raise your kids. I make double what my husband does working full time, and I work about 30-35 hours a week, with no commute. I work in the gaps, a lot. I work early in the mornings, during nap time, late at night. We just added childcare into the equation a few months ago, and that helps immensely, but before that, I did ALL my work in the gaps. I was tired, but the bills got paid.
Don't let anyone tell you differently – writing from home is hard work. But it's also rewarding work that allows you to be there to tuck your kids in at night, make them breakfast, and do the things that are important to you. And that's worth its weight in gold.
Choosing Topics for Private Label Rights Content
Private Label Rights (PLR) Content, as we've discussed in the past, is content that you create and then sell multiple sets of rights to. I've had good luck selling PLR articles and videos, while others create graphic design packs, short reports, and more. The best part about PLR is that you do the work one time, but you get paid for as long as you sell the product.
Choosing topics for private label rights content is a sticking point for a lot of writers that I've talked to. It's really not as difficult as you might think to pick good topics for your private label rights content. In general, internet marketers sell to desperate or enthusiastic buyers. This means that if you write articles on these types of topics, they'll likely sell well. Marketers choose topics that frequently lead to impulse buys – holidays, inconveniences, diseases, financial crises, etc.
Niches that I've found to be popular for PLR content:
- Parenting Problems – bullying, fighting, teething, colic
- Health Related Content – acne, diabetes, STD's, quitting smoking, depression, anxiety, tinnitus
- Holidays – Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine's Day are big purchasing holidays
- Money – foreclosure, credit repair, obtaining credit, budgeting, money management
- Hobbies – crafts, popular collectibles, video game systems
- Electronics – video games, new models of phones, Apple products, Kindle
I generally price my PLR packages at $1-2 per article, depending on length, and I limit the number of packages I sell. This helps ensure that the content is in limited supply and remains popular. I also include a list of rights with the PLR, making it clear that it has to be rewritten by at least 30% before being used, cannot be resold as is, etc.
Tips for Finding Freelance Writing Work
Everywhere I go online, I'm hearing about the economy. Times are tough. People have been laid off. Jobs are scarce. That's the case with most brick and mortar jobs in my area, as well. However, online, it's a totally different story.
While the competition for online freelance writing work is tough, there are still many, many jobs available. Whether you choose to market yourself to private clients, work for a content mill, apply to individual job postings, or work the bidding sites – the jobs are out there. Content keeps the internet alive, and most webmasters simply don't have time to generate all of the content that they need.
However, the jobs aren't just going to fall into your lap. They're not going to suddenly appear because you've whined on a forum a certain number of times, because you've knocked another writer, or because you've finally flagged just the right number of posts on Craigslist. Fighting dirty and treating your colleagues poorly won't get you ahead at all, and might just knock you down a few pegs if potential clients see the way you're acting. (If you feel guilty now, I was probably talking about you).
Instead, try these tips for finding freelance writing work. You'll maintain your professional image, and you might even snag a client out of the deal.
#1 – Check the Job Leads. Daily.
It never fails – the one day that I skip this step is the day that the killer lead I'm perfect for has been posted and filled. Never fails, I tell you. Add the following sites to your feed reader, and actually…um…read them. You'll likely be pleased with the leads that you find.
#2 – Set Up Google Alerts in Your Field
Whether you're a tech writer, a mom blogger, or a jack or jill of all trades, you need to harness the power of Google Alerts. In just a few clicks, you can put Google to work for you – I use phrases like "we hire writers" and "we pay writers" to keep me informed. Often, a lead shows up in my inbox several days before it's posted on the lead boards or on the work at home forums, giving me a nice competitive edge.
#3 – Design a Killer Cover Letter
Take the time to compose a great cover letter template. You can use it again and again to apply for jobs, with a few tweaks each time to match it to the specific ad. This tip alone can shave minutes to hours off of your day.
#4 – Keep Samples Handy
Got an article that was never paid for? Drafted a sample for a specific gig, but didn't get the job? Keep these random content pieces handy to use for future samples. Convert them to pdf files, and send them along when samples are requested. This will allow you to put together a query quickly and easily, so that you can apply for multiple jobs daily.
Freelance Writing Opportunities for Beginners
It's no secret that I love the freelance lifestyle, and might actually shrivel up and die if I had to wear a suit to work. Ever again. However, I also find that there are quite a few of my mama (and papa) friends who have are dying to do what I do, but have no idea how to get started. I see it every day on the forums, when I talk to people while out and about, and in my email inbox – in this economy, people want to know how they can earn extra money, without having to worry that they're getting scammed.
Unfortunately, there are work at home scams out there. In general, if you're being asked to pay money for the joy of working for someone or receiving their list of leads, it's probably not a great idea. You've been warned. Now, on to the legitimate work at home jobs, in no particular order. (Since I wouldn't want them holding grudges or anything).
1. Textbroker
You'll be asked to register and submit a sample. An editor will evaluate it, and if you're hired, give you a score ranging from 1 to 5. Your pay rate depends on what you're graded at, and can be as high a 5 cents a word. Textbroker pays out twice a month.
This company pays around 9 cents a sentence for rewrites. Once you're hired, you can log in anytime and rewrite content for internet marketers. This is content that they own; they're paying to have multiple original articles created so that they can use them for backlinks. I find that this is an easy way to make money in my spare time. Human Rewriter pays weekly.
AC offers flat fee as well as residuals paid on page views. It's not a ton of money, and it won't make you rich, but it's a good site for publishing your samples online so you can link to them when you apply for writing jobs. I got started here, and still use my articles occasionally as samples.
None of these companies are going to make you rich, but if you're trying to break into the freelance writing world, you'll need samples and experience. These sites can help with that, while providing a supplemental income.
So what are you waiting for?
Are You Tarnishing Your Brand?
Deb Ng wrote an awesome post about getting writing jobs today that brought up a point that I’ve been pondering for a while. Her post, entitled Yes, you will be Googled, brings up a lot of good points that I don’t think most work at home moms keep in mind.
While I’m a member of a popular work at home mom forum, I rarely post. While I could join in the daily rants about clients, speculate about why an editor sent a post back for a rewrite, or wonder out loud whether or not I’ve been hired for a specific job, I choose not to.
Instead, I sit back, read the other posts, and glean the bits of information I need. By keeping my mouth shut, I learn who’s applying for what job (and who I’m competing with). I learn who’s working for how much (or how little). I learn more information than you’d imagine just by paying attention.
I often spend time wondering, however, just what in the world other posters are thinking. Do they not understand that their rants and raves are being recorded for posterity? Do they not get that the petty snipes they’re making at each other can be viewed by potential clients?
I’ve been attacked by members of this same forum for daring to express my opinion on how writers should market themselves. When I’ve suggested places to network, I’ve been called a bottom feeder. When I’ve suggested affiliate marketing as a great way to write for yourself and earn an income, I’ve been called a scammer.
As a work at home mom, it’s important to keep in mind that every syllable you type online can be found by potential clients. Sure, you can put a lovely cover letter together and send out a classy resume with it. But if the client googles you and finds you knocking other writers, acting like a prima donna, badmouthing your current clients, and swearing that it’s beneath you to work for less than <insert amount> – on a public forum – do you really think that’s going to bode well?
Doubtful.
Building a freelance business is primarily about branding. Online, you brand yourself with your words – words that are associated with the screen names you use and that can be found easily by potential clients.
Cheap Websites for Writers
If you’re getting started as a freelance writer, chances are that everyone and his brother is telling you that you need a website. A real, live website with a domain and hosting and all that other techie stuff.
If you don’t know how to do these things, you’re probably afraid it’s gonna cost you a small fortune – and if you go with the wrong person, it just might.
Luckily, there’s some really cool stuff going on over at Ittybiz. Naomi and her crew are trying to help tons of people quit their crappy day jobs this year, and she’s running a case study with one Johnny B. Truant.
Why does this matter to you?
Because the dude is practically giving his services away. No lie – he’s selling WordPress installations for $39 if you purchase hosting through him (and that won’t cost you a fortune, either).
Folks, I charge $250 for a WordPress installation and theme installation, and I get it pretty regularly. This is an incredible deal, and if you need a website, you should totally check it out.
So, head on over and get your cheap website, before he realizes he’s lost his mind.
