When it comes to launching or growing your freelance business — or increasing your freelance income — what ONE question would you like to see answered in detail?
We’d like to know what it is, and we’ll give you a free special report for helping us out!…
The three of us (Ed Gandia, Steve Slaunwhite and Pete Savage) are putting together a special report that answers your most burning questions about building and sustaining a successful freelance practice.
We’re going to invest a lot of time and energy answering a select number of these questions, so when the report is published this fall, it will not be free. However, YOU can get a free copy simply by submitting your most burning question right here on this blog…
Everyone who submits a question will receive a complimentary copy of that report as a “thank-you” for their input.
Pretty good deal, yeah?
The only “catch” here is that there is a very short time window in which we’ll be accepting questions. That’s because we want get started on creating this report quickly… as in next week!
How to Submit Your Question:
Just use the comments field below to enter your question, by Wednesday, September 30 at 8pm (EST). The only rule… you can only enter ONE question. Please make it single and specific question.
OR if you’d prefer, send us your question privately via email to ask@thewealthyfreelancer.com.
Here’s are two examples of a valid question:
Q: After sending a sales letter to prospects, what’s the best way to follow up?
Q: What should I do when a client asks me to give them a price over the phone?
Our objective with this report is to provide answers to questions in as much detail as possible, but in such a way that thousands of freelancers can put our recommendations into practice. Therefore, it’s not necessary for you to provide any background about your own circumstances in the comments below. (You certainly may if you like, just please know that it will be your question, and not your specific circumstances, that we will be focusing on as we prepare the answers for the report.)
Okay! Questions are officially being accepted… NOW! Let’s hear from you by Wednesday, September 30 at 8pm (EST).
To your success,
~ Ed, Steve, and Pete
P.S. You can email your question to ask@thewealthyfreelancer.com. OR enter your question in the comments field below. If you use the comments field, please make sure you put your accurate email address in the appropriate field – it’s the only way well be able to send you your free report when it’s published this fall.
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
My biggest challenge is: When I get a big project, the selling stops. What’s the best way to keep marketing/sales activity happening on a regular basis when the best (and preferred) use of my time is billable project work?
What’s the easiest way to get a large number of well-paying clients while working a full-time job?
What do you do when you have had a successful gig with a magazine and the editor of the story (and your only contact) moves on? Easy answer seems to be follow the editor, but she went on to become a ski instructor which was not much help to me. The new editor appeared to have his own stable of favorites…I tried a couple of times to contact him, but now it’s been almost two years. I still want to work for the magazine, but what does that letter of inquiry look like at this point?
Second Question: Is there a good way to say, “yes yes I’m the expert in X thing… but I’d really like to write about Y?”
My biggest challege is: proposals. What is the best way to deliver one to ensure I close the deal? The issues I am running into are: 1 – sending over a proposal and getting 0 response / no business. 2 – sending over a proposal and being asked to perform several revisions / I eventually get the business, but I waste a lot of time securing it. 3 – dealing with clients who can’t decide what they really want or need / they seem sure when they ask for the proposal, then I submit it and they take a long time to make a commitment. When they do, it is often for a scaled down version of the original proposal – meaning I spend a too much time to land a small project.
For a new copywriter what is the best way to find clients in the city in which they live?
I’ll go for the obvious one: After sending a sales letter to a prospect, when and how is the best way to follow up?
I have been experimenting with different ways of pricing my services. I started out with a basic hourly rate, and then also a project rate with a flat amount for more complicated projects. I recently introduced packages of services at different price points, because it seemed like the people I met were talking about wanting a little bit of everything. So my question is: is it better to offer a project rate, an hourly rate, or a package of services, and will it be confusing to clients if you offer all 3?
What is the most effective method of building a solid customer base for a new freelancer?
How to keep myself productive and motivated?
Generally, I have felt that networking groups are a waste of time, since most of the people I meet are small business owners who can’t afford my services. Is networking a viable option for freelance copywriters? If so, what networking groups would you recommend?
What are the best ways to leverage your time? Freelancing involves trading time for revenue, so your maximum revenue is limited by your time. To get out of the time/revenue trap you need to use leverage (small effort-large result), for example:
Write an Ebook once, and sell it many times.
Teach a course (Speak once to many listeners).
Conduct a teleseminar (Speak once to many listeners).
How can a freelancer’s time best be leveraged?
Hello, re: Burning question on successful freelancing.
Question: What is the number one online content business to business opportunity for freelance writers? Also, which business option is the best for repeat business?
Between Facebook, Twitter, or Linkedin – is there one that is an absolute must for freelancers dragging their feet into the social networking arena?
What is the most cost effective website option for freelancers on a budget?
Wordpress, Blogger, or something else?
I look forward to reading your report.
Thank you.
Tim Cotroneo
tim@mdsstaffing.com
I worked for 15 years in print advertising and after 10 years in another line of work I would like to transition into corporate communications.
My question is: How do I successfully promote myself with a portfolio that is 10 years old whe it seems that companies want to hire writers for web-based marketing, SEO and social media marketing?
Q: When just starting out, would it be helpful to live in an area where a lot of your prospects do business?
I live in a rural California Coastal town now and write for the Holistic health field. I’m considering moving to Florida where my “dream clients” live and work — to “immerse” myself in their arena. Do you think it could be helpful, or a waste of time?
How do you find local resources to help you set up a business entity? How do you find out about licenses and tax numbers? Do I call a CPA or a lawyer? How do you know when you need the help of a professional? How do you know what KIND of professional help you need?(Sorry, I couldn’t figure out how to make that into one question!)
Okay, here’s one for you. What kind of freelance work do you think people should avoid if they want to build a sustainable business?
For example, I learned early in my career that mom and pop businesses pay poorly and tend to be fickle. They are making little money and assume you should too. They see you as an expense, not a partner. Now I only seek out big businesses with deep pockets and lots of work.
These are all fantastic questions, everyone! Keep ‘em coming!
I’m about to take a month or so off to have a baby. How does one maintain client interest during an extended time off to avoid starting from scratch upon return?
How to determine the correct price to charge at your customers as a freelancer?
Although I have had many years of business writing and training experience, I am a novice in writing web content. What is a realistic price breakdown for writing web copy, blogs, auto-responders, etc. I have Bob Bly’s numbers but most of us newbies don’t have his years of experience.
Thanks for doing this,
Alice Zyetz
Here is a question on getting lists.
Which are the best places to get lists of potential clients without spending a lot of money? Money is a bit tight now. I know lists are not free, however, other then a phone book, what else is out there for us newbee’s to use?
I’ve been reading quite a bit about companies begging for content writers and looking for “good” copywriters who know their craft. Where are these companies? Who is hiring that I don’t see on Odesk, Career Builders, Freelance Writing Jobs, etc.
I don’t need to be rich. I just want to pay my bills and be comfortable.
Is finding a mentor an important step in starting a freelance career, and if so, how do you determine who’s worth hiring?
What is the best way to use article writing to promote your freelance writing business?
Bob Bly mentions this tactic, but I would like to see how others are using the tactic to promote their writing business. Where do they publish? What do they publish? How do you use the article to pull in leads? Does it matter if you quote other experts in the article vs. you being the only expert in the article, etc.
I’m terrible on the phone but much better in writing.
Ways to get around this or to take advantage of it? Cold calling = nightmare!