Challenge #303 - Holiday

Welcome back to Wednesday! It's time for a new challenge here at ATSM. This week we want to see your holiday creations!

First, let's announce our winners for Challenge #301 Anything Goes

#71 Natalie K

# 11 Tenia Nelson

#76 Judy V

#23 Margaret A

Congratulations everyone!

Ok, let's get started with our new challenge!

Here is the design team with their amazing inspiration -

We have a BRAND NEW Designer joining us - Marsha is now part of the ATSM Design Team family and we are so happy to have her.

Asha

Monica

Meena Herale

Heidi Weaver

Amy

Marsha

Shyla

Željka

Susan

We hope you enjoy playing along! Have fun :)

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Turner’s Dairy at the corner of Ontario Street and West 17th Ave

Turner’s Dairy is a new collection of townhomes located at the corner of Ontario Street and West 17th Ave, Vancouver. This project will offer 13 contemporary townhouses, Sizes ranging from 695 square feet to 1,636 square feet. Contemporary and efficient living, designed for the modern family. Progressive meets heritage in these sleekly crafted and thoughtfully created homes. The building’s open and expansive spaces, high ceilings, and vast casement style windows harken back to the lofts and offices that were inhabited by generations of industrial businesses, starting with Turner’s Dairy.

The post Turner’s Dairy at the corner of Ontario Street and West 17th Ave appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

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Writing Copy That Sizzles: 6 Ways to Serve Clients Tasty Content

Ever wonder what the secret is to writing copy that sizzles?

You know, the kind of content that turns that one-off assignment into a long-term client.

When you take on a copywriting assignment, you have to connect with your client’s target market. Get this right, and you’ll be a lot more likely to convert readers into subscribers, and subscribers into buyers.

Think of it like grilling the perfect burger with just the right amount of seasoning and cooking time. Do it right, and your clients will be satisfied, and their audience will be hungry for more.

So what’s the secret sauce to writing copy that sizzles?

It starts before you write a single word. The prep-work you put in to serve your clients tasty copy can make all the difference between bland and boring or mouth-watering and delicious.

Want to learn how to write copy that sizzles? Here are six ways to crush your next copywriting assignment:

1. Speak the language 

It’s your first order of business for writing copy when you pitch a prospect or land a new client. And you typically have to ramp up fast with your own homemade immersion program.

• Study the website and blog posts.
• Read current and back issues.
• Ask Google to serve up more info about your client and target audience.
• And pay attention to the language and word choices that makes your client unique.

If you skip this step and jump right into writing copy, you run the risk of serving your client nothing but disappointment. Don’t do that, OK. Learn to speak the language first. For example:

• As a parent you might think sick means someone who’s unwell. But if you’re writing for a client teenage audience, their readers may thing sick means awesome or cool.
• If your client’s customers are millennial females you wouldn’t write in a style that would appeal to boomer-generation males. You need to speak their language.

2. Master tone and creativity

 If you get in on the ground floor with a start-up, or an established client wants you to handle writing copy for a new product launch, tone and creativity are critical. You might be tasked with writing copy for a video, social media campaign, article, or even a product name and slogan. And you’ll need some creative juice to make it happen. Some examples to get you thinking:

• Soft and gentle sells baby products: Pampers Swaddlers: “Love at first touch.”
• If you’re selling a sports car, speed and punch might be the right way to go like Mazda’s “Zoom, zoom,” tagline.

Some industries and clients are bound to take a more formal approach to copywriting than others. But learning to master tone and creativity will help you write better copy, stand out, land more assignments and more long-term clients.

3. Know the pain points

Your client’s target market has a problem, a pain point. And your client has the solution.

As a copywriter, it’s your job to write copy that resonates with readers and encourage them to take action.

One of the most effective ways to do this is by digging into those pain points, making an emotional connection, and helping readers know there’s a way out.

What are the pain points of your client’s target audience? Some common pain points can include:

• A hectic or busy schedule
• Budget limitations
• Lack of resources
• Not enough knowledge or education
• Low self-confidence
• Relationship problems at home or work
• Fear of failure
• Health problems
• Or some major decision that will impact their life or business

Once you know the pain points your client’s target audience is struggling with, describe the pain point. Help the reader experience the emotional struggle associated with it. And you’ll be one step closer to writing copy that gets results.

Try this copywriting exercise

You’ve got a gig writing copy for a cell phone company targeting parents thinking about buying a phone for a kid.

• What are the pain points for the parent?
• Can you make an emotional connection?

Answer these two questions, and you’ve just done some important prep work to write great copy.

4. Get to the point…fast

We all know how important it is to write clear, clean, concise copy. But with sales content you’ve got to get to the point right away.

Statistics show you have two sentences, or 10 to 20 seconds, to capture the reader’s attention before they move on to the next website, ad or article. (It’s the same reason writing effective query letters or letters of introduction to land gigs is so important.)

Using an engagement question is one of the best ways to get to the point fast. Here’s an example for selling lawnmowers:

• “Do you need a new lawnmower but don’t want to spend your life savings on one?”

If the prospect needs an affordable lawnmower, you’ve got their attention right away.

Now grab them with empathy and the answer to their problem like this:

• “We understand. That’s why we came up with a revolutionary lawnmower that’s easy on the pocketbook.”

5. Sell the sizzle

In marketing there’s a saying, “Sell the sizzle, not the steak.” In other words, sell the benefits not the features.

Here’s how copywriting guru Robert W. Bly explains this:

• Feature is a descriptive fact about a product or service. It’s what the product is or has.
• Benefit is what the product does. It’s what the user of the product or service gains as a result of the feature. For example, a one-year warranty is a feature. The benefit is peace of mind.

What are the features and benefits of your client’s product or service?

6. Get to know your client

It’s probably the most important step in the process before writing copy of any kind for your client.

You can get a lot of the info you need to write for a client by learning to speak their language, but nothing is better than a person-to-person conversation.

• Schedule a discovery call.
• Interview your client and find out how they connect with their customers.
• Ask about their failures and wins, short-term goals, and big-picture objectives, and get to know them.

You’ll gain invaluable insight by doing this that will help you write better copy for your client.

The secret sauce for writing copy that sizzles

Want to learn how to write great copy that satisfies your clients and makes their audience hungry for more? Follow these six steps to tap into the mind of your client and their peeps, and you’ll be able to make it happen.

Suzanne Boles is an award-winning content creator, feature writer and marketing coach. She also teaches writing courses at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada.

Need help writing copy that sizzles for your clients? Let’s discuss on on Facebook or LinkedIn.

The post Writing Copy That Sizzles: 6 Ways to Serve Clients Tasty Content appeared first on Make A Living Writing.

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Make Money Writing: 14 Business and Entrepreneur Sites That Pay $50-$2,000

Want to make money writing about business and entrepreneurship?

It’s a hot niche where you’ll find industry moguls, start-ups, and innovators hustling to make their mark, generate revenue, and build a brand. (And that’s a good thing if you’re a freelance writer.)

Right now, Amazon-style success is what a lot of businesses and entrepreneurs are trying to replicate in their own niche.

From the solopreneur to corporate CEO, they’re interested in the day-to-day stuff about how to run a business more efficiently, manage people, improve product development and customer service, and establish a business model that will be profitable for the long term.

If you want to make money writing about business and entrepreneurship, there’s no shortage of sites that will pay you to write about it. Here are 15 sites that pay writers $50 to $500 per assignment, and cover a wide range of topics in this niche.

If you want to make money writing for one of these sites, study the guidelines, get familiar with the site and its target audience, and start pitching:

1. Entrepreneurship Life

Robert Farrington knows what it’s like to work a retail job, deal with in-your-face customer service issues, make minimum wage, and wish things were different. So he hustled to make it happen, achieved some success and launched Entrepreneurship Life (and several other businesses) to help other people.

Want to write about your own entrepreneur journey or report on business, branding and entrepreneurship? Pitch your story idea to Robert Farrington. Pay based on assignment.

2. 99 Designs

Every start-up obsesses over logo design and branding. And at some point, almost every established company will plan a complete redesign of its logo, website, messaging, or all of the above. 99 Designs founders Mark Harbottle and Matt Mickiewicz launched the company in 2008, and now it’s a hub for designers and entrepreneurs.

Want to write for 99 Designs? Tips, advice, and how-to design topics are the staple of this site’s content. But 99 Designs also covers the business of freelancing, entrepreneurship, and crowdsourcing. Pitch ideas to Brand Content Manager Antonia Zimmerlich. Pay based on assignment.

3. Work Online Blog

Freelance writing isn’t the only way to make money online. That’s what Dhireshan (Dee) Gadiagellan discovered when he left his day job as a robotics and automation engineer.

After a lot of trial and error, he launched The Work at Home Blog to help other people by providing content, training, and resources to build an online business.

Have an idea for a work-at-home article? Follow the guidelines to pitch your idea. Pays $50 per assignment.

4. iWorkwell

It didn’t take long for Harvard grad Robert Padulo to realize that a lot of companies struggle with hiring and keeping great people. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

The iWorkwell blog provides readers with content about how to do just that, along with many other topics related to human resources essential to running a successful organization.

If you’re not a subject matter expert on all things HR-related, you can still write for iWorkwell by interviewing someone who is and pitching an idea. Pays up to $250 per assignment.

5. Income Diary

In today’s Internet-driven environment, business owners need to know how to leverage technology to be successful. And that’s what Income Diary founder Michael Dunlop aims to help business owners with at the Income Diary.

“We write about creating awesome websites, driving traffic, social media or making money online,” says Dunlop.

Follow the guidelines to pitch a story idea. Pays up to $200 per assignment.

6. Starting Business

This business consulting practice aims to help start-ups and established businesses with all the planning, legal requirements, strategy, accounting, recruiting and investing associated with building and growing a business. Pitch an idea for the Starting Business Library. Pay based on assignment.

7. Coaches Training Blog

If you want to add coaching to your business or turn your industry knowledge into a coaching program or service, where do you start? That’s what Coaches Training Blog founder Jeffrey Sooey teaches people via his blog, videos, courses and training.

Have an idea for a blog post or video about coaching? Follow the guidelines to submit your idea. Pay based on assignment.

8. HomeBiz Junction

As a freelance writer, you probably already know there’s a lot more to freelancing than just writing. Marketing, web design, email automation, customer service, networking, lead nurturing, taxes and accounting, etc.

Those are topics you can write about for HomeBiz Junction, but the site covers more than just the technical side of running a home-based business.

“We also do our best to uplift entrepreneurs to give everything and grasp success for themselves,” says HomeBiz Junction founder Cathy Bryant. “We know that the startup world is a difficult one, so we’re here to make things easier.”

Have a story idea about running a home-based business? Study the website and guidelines. Then pitch cathy@homebizjunction.com. Pay based on assignment.

9. Copyhackers

Drill down to the basics of running a successful business, and one common element will emerge that’s critical to build a brand, create a following, make sales, convert subscribers into paying customers, establish authority…copywriting.

“We’re here to teach you how to write copy you’ll be proud,” says Joanna Wiebe, who co-founded Copyhackers with Lance Jones. “It [copywriting] reflects your brand and vision, and it moves units. Or gets sign ups. Or whatever conversion looks like for you.”

Study the guidelines. Seriously. You’ll see Copyhacker covers classic topics related to copywriting and branding. But the site also accepts guest posts about running a business, user interface design, A/B testing, and digital marketing strategies.

Pitch your idea to joanna@copyhackers.com. Pays $325 per assignment.

10. LiisBeth

Can you carve out a niche that’s even more specific than entrepreneurship? That’s what the online magazine LiisBeth has done.

“We look for journalistic, edgy, positive, well-informed articles that offer readers’ a feminist’s perspective on entrepreneurship and innovation happenings, including policy and politics,” says LiisBeth Managing Editor Margaret Webb.

If you want to write for LiisBeth, here what you should do. Study the guidelines. Read past articles and content on the site. Digest the About page and the LiisBeth Manifesto.

Once you know the voice and target audience of LiisBeth, pitch an idea to Margaret Webb. Pays $100 to $2,000 per assignment.

11. GetAbstract

When Rolf Dobelli, Patrick Brigger, and Thomas Bergen were trying to climb the corporate ladder, reading books by gurus about business, mindset, and success strategies seemed liked a good idea.

But if you’re ultra busy, how much time do you actually have to read a book. That’s what sparked the idea to launch GetAbstract.

It’s a site that summarizes books into bite-sized chunks into a specific format to help someone get all the essential details in a fraction of the time. And they use freelance writers to do it.

To land an assignment, you have to apply first. Once accepted, GetAbstract pays up to $300 per book review.

12. Freelance Mom

Lisa Stern runs the Freelance Mom website designed to help moms build a freelance business to make money from home.

Blog posts include a mix of personal experience and how-to guides to teach moms how to run a freelance business. Plus, every post includes a 20 to 30-minute action plan to help moms take the next step, instead of the classic, “I’ll do it tomorrow,” (which really means never) response.

If you want to write for The Freelance Mom, study the guidelines and send a pitch to lisa@freelancemom.com. Pays $75 to $100 per assignment, plus potential $150 bonus for traffic.

13. Technical.ly

You’ll need to know the intersection of business and technology in Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Delaware, Baltimore and Washington, D.C, to write for Technical.ly.

This niche business site features content about start-ups, data analytics, Internet activism, and new ways to leverage social media, among other topics. Recent stories covered eSports teams based in Philadelpia, Yelp’s influence on Baltimore’s restaurant industry, the most popular programming languages for 2018, and more.

Want to write for Technical.ly? Study the site and guidelines. Then pitch your idea to Editor-in-Chief Zack Seward. Pay based on assignment.

14. Smart Business Trends

What’s the best…? Fill in the blank (WordPress theme, hosting service, content management system, email automation software, employee review process, etc).

Entrepreneurs and business owners ask those kind of questions all the time. And Smart Business Trends has positioned itself as the resource to provide thoughtful answers.

Want to write for Smart Business Trends? Study the site content, and pitch your idea. Pays $100 to $200 per assignment.

Hustle to make money writing

If you want to make money writing about business and entrepreneurship, start hustling. This is a short list of just a few sites that pay for articles, blog posts, and content in this niche. But there are many more sites, magazines, and businesses that need your help, too. Start pitching. Get some clients. Make money writing.

What business and entrepreneur sites do you recommend? Share on Facebook or LinkedIn.

Evan Jensen is the blog editor for Make a Living Writing. When he’s not on a writing deadline, or catching up on emails, he’s training to run another 100-mile race.

The post Make Money Writing: 14 Business and Entrepreneur Sites That Pay $50-$2,000 appeared first on Make A Living Writing.

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3 Tips for Removing Pet Hair at Home

Pets are lovely creatures that bring limitless happiness into any home. But no matter how much you love your furbaby, it’s normal to feel frustrated because of the amount of hair they shed. Good thing there’s a number of solutions available. Here are some:

Photo by Gulyás Bianka on Unsplash

Adhere to a regular cleaning schedule

A regular and thorough vacuuming is the best way to remove pet hair from your home. Start high and work low, using proper attachments to run the vacuum over walls, into corners and over draperies and window sills. Static electricity and low humidity in a home can help pet hair cling to surfaces. Running a humidifier is good for you and makes breathing easier, skin feel more hydrated and it helps keep tufts of loose pet hair from clinging to surfaces. If you have a pet, keep a schedule of regular vacuuming to maintain a home free of pet hair. Source: SheKnows

Use a squeegee

You can also use a dry rubber squeegee or rubber broom to lift up any pet hair from carpets. It might freak you out slightly and cause slight rage at your vacuum (why is it missing so much?!), but man, does it ever work. Just “rake” an area with the tool in short, fast strokes and you’ll see hair peeling up off the carpet. Source: CleanMySpace

Don’t forget to groom your pet

Don’t duck your grooming responsibilities; embrace them. Giving your dog or cat a quick one-minute brushing outdoors or in the garage every day will save time and effort spent dusting, sweeping and vacuuming every week. With a little hair off the dog (or cat) at a time and place of your choosing, you’ll soon see a reduction in the number of fur bombs you find around the house.

Bonus: Your cat won’t hack up as many hairballs for you to step on before you’re fully awake in the morning. Source: VetStreet

Don’t be afraid to let your pets roam around inside your carpeted home. If ever your carpet needs deep cleaning or repair, you can always call us. We’ll have it sorted for you in no time!

The post 3 Tips for Removing Pet Hair at Home appeared first on Curlys Carpet Repair.

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Challenge #302 - Make Your Mark

Hi everyone! Welcome back for our newest challenge!

We want you to use your pens, pencils, watercolours, markers, anything that creates a mark :)

Let's announce our winners for our 300th Challenge! It was a big birthday celebration!

Our sponsor was

The random winner of the prize from Happy Little Stampers is

#49 Valerie

Congratulations Valerie! Please email me at kyliepurtell@gmail.com to claim your prize :)

#1 Michelle

# 4. Mugdha

#57 Katrina

#13 Azuree Lovely

Congratulations everyone!

Ok, on to our challenge which is MAKE YOUR MARK. Here are our designers with their amazing creations for you -

Valentyna

Carol

Angie

Bobby

Monika

Ceal 

Ina

Gwendolyn

Julie

Nandini

Please pop on over to their blogs to see how they came up with their ideas. Over to you now and have fun!

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Writer Websites That Fail: Avoid These Cringe-Worthy Moves

Many freelance writers tell me they’ve never gotten a nibble off their writer websites.

If this is you — or you have yet to put up a writer site — let me spotlight some of the biggest problems right now.

See, there are some basic approaches, and some key phrases, that you really want to avoid on writer websites.

These blunders make you seem, variously:

• Desperate
• Pushy
• Snobby
• Self-involved
• Uninterested in doing client work

Want to skip all that and put together a writer website that presents you as a strong candidate for freelance jobs?

Here are the moves to avoid:

7 Phrases to delete from writer websites

Here’s a collection of popular phrases I see on writer websites — and they honestly make me cringe every time.

1. I would love to write for you — File this under ‘stating the obvious.’ It sounds like you’re frantically pushing to get a client, any client. You wouldn’t have a writer site if you weren’t looking for clients, right? We know you’d looove to write for prospects. The question is, how are you making them feel they’d love to hire you? This phrase doesn’t do it.
2. Let me help you — I know, you’re trying to seem accessible. But it just sounds desperate. There’s sort of an unspoken ‘please, I beg of you’ in here.
3. I can write anything — This probably seems like an appealing approach. But the fact is, few writers can really write every type of assignment. Most good writers specialize in some particular types of writing — they do content marketing, or write brochures, or magazine articles. Trying to be all things to all clients doesn’t win on writer websites, as most prospects are looking for someone with experience with their particular industry, or the type of writing they want done.
4. I also write poetry/novels — You might think showing your creativity will impress. But if you’re shooting for business clients, all it means to them is, “Woo-woo artsy person who wants to follow their muse — and who won’t really care about my deadlines.”
5. I’m a new freelance writer/just starting out/just graduated from college — This is not prospects’ business, and not a plus. Follow the tried-and-true rule of emphasizing your strengths in your site copy, not your weak points. You can write a strong site that helps get you hired, even as a newbie.
6. Do you need a freelance writer? — No, no, no. You don’t want prospects to hire A freelance writer. You’re not putting up a writer site because you’d like to educate the public that hiring freelancers is good. Yes? Instead, you want them to hire you. Keep the focus on your specific advantages, your unique selling proposition (USP).
7. I have X and Y advanced degrees — You’re mentioning these likely in hopes of impressing prospects. But in a decade helping writers, I’ve yet to hear from any who list their M.A., MBA, J.D., Ph.D. or what-all next to their name on their writer websites — and get good clients. It seems to telegraph: “Hi, I’m expensive and pretentious, too.” Let’s face it, academic writing style is stiff and formal compared to most business writing today. So it may worry marketers that your writing will read like a business letter from 1960.

These may seem like little things: a title stated here, a little phrase dropped in there. But add them up, and you’ve got writer websites that don’t come off professional. And that send clients away.

3 Big copy problems to avoid

The copy on your writer website needs to be sharp. Try to remember that your writer site is a writing audition. You can write sharp writer websites with no portfolio and still get website copy gigs off it! Your site is a writing sample in itself.

But most writers fall down in this task. I know, it’s hard to write about yourself.

Try to avoid these basic gaffes. Seen these way too many times:

1. Useless headlines — Most writer websites have a Home-page headline that says either, “Welcome to my website!” or just: “Hello!’ That’s not a headline that magnetizes a buyer. Headlines should quickly flash to prospects that you understand them. So you’re looking for something more like “Copy That Converts for Today’s Time-Pressed Technology Buyer.” Make sense?
2. Home page copy that’s all about you — You’ve got an ‘About’ page for telling your story. The home page is all about the client — their problems, the types of help they need. And then, you relate how you solve them. Your Home page isn’t a place to recite your resume, list all the types of writing you could do, or any of that boring blather. What converts is tapping into the fears and top pains of your customer, showing you understand them…and then, briefly saying why you should be their choice.
3. Quotes from famous authors — These simply don’t belong on writer websites. Remember, we’re trying to get you hired here, not Jane Austen or Mark Twain. Impressing clients that you’re well-read doesn’t lead to a hire.

Just correcting these three basic issues can create a big upgrade in how professional writer websites appear — so if you’ve got any of the above going on, time to make a few tweaks.

How to pass the 3-second rule

Researchers say that new visitors to a website give it 3 seconds. This time has shrunk steady over the past decade. Visitors quickly glance around, and if what they see doesn’t orient them, they move on.

What things do prospects need to be able to see, immediately, without scrolling down, when they land on the Home page of writer websites? Here are the fundamentals you need to show right away:

1. A picture of you. Remember, there are a lot of scams on the internet, and a lot of weird, anonymous ‘writer agencies’ out there, that turn out to be based in far-off lands. Show a picture and let them know you’re a real person.
2. How to contact you. Don’t hide it under a tab! Or heaven forbid, force visitors to fill out a form. Stick your email (and ideally, phone) in the header, right where people can see. Actually write out your email address — if you just have a graphic of email and code it with your address, many people won’t be able to see it. They’ve set their browser to block pop-ups, so it won’t load. Don’t make it hard for prospects to get in touch!
3. What industries you know. In my experience, the top thing prospects search for is along the lines of, “I need a writer who knows about ____ (manufacturing, marina management, healthcare IT, etc.).” But most writers either hide this information deep in their sites, or never mention it at all, in hopes of ‘not turning anyone away.’ News flash: that’s a strategy that sends most everyone away.
4. Orienting tagline. Loads of writers like to get creative with their tagline — trying to show that writing skill! But this isn’t the place for that, because taglines are a key place to put keywords for Google to help send you prospects. So choose “Atlanta healthcare writer” here, vs. “Wordsmith Extraordinaire.”

Bonus points: To keep more visitors, you could also tell people where you’re located. Some folks still like to take an in-person meeting before they hire a freelancer, so if you’re in or near an even mid-sized city, say so.

Extra bonus points: Get the meta-data of your Home page to use keywords for the type of writer you are. Instead of saying “Joe Smith” when someone mouses over the browser tab, it could say, “Finance writer Joe Smith.” Google will notice, and you’ll drive many more prospects in the door to see your site. If you’re not a tech-y type, make friends with someone who can show you how to make that happen on your particular website platform (hint: WordPress is the dominant platform, and the one I recommend).

How to make writer websites rock

What do you do after you’ve written a draft of your site, eliminating these basic problems and adding the important 3-second orientation items?

Add personality. Make it something only you could have written.

Then, get a writer website review (BLOG LINK TO DEN HERE) from an experienced pro, to make sure it’s optimized and ready to win clients over.

Finally — don’t forget to keep updating your site, as you get new clips! Writer websites aren’t static documents, so don’t let yours get out of date. Google likes sites that keep changing.

Did you rewrite your writer website, after reading this post? Come share a link on Facebook or LinkedIn, and I’ll check it out.

The post Writer Websites That Fail: Avoid These Cringe-Worthy Moves appeared first on Make A Living Writing.

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Wilson by BlueSky in Burnaby

Wilson by BlueSky is a new 39-storey residential highrise development located located at 5977 Wilson Avenue, Burnaby. This project will offer 287 studio, 1- to 3-bedroom condominiums, and 6 townhomes. To compliment the garden-like setting of the Central Park East Neighbourhood, Wilson will boast substantial progressive landscaping with publicly-accessible pedestrian and cycling linkages to local greenspaces.

The post Wilson by BlueSky in Burnaby appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

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Be Your Own Boss: 10 Free Business Resources for Writers

Want to be your own boss and make a living writing?

If you’ve got solid writing skills and even a little marketing savvy, you’re already ahead of the game.

But there’s more to freelance writing and running your own business than being a great writer and smart marketer.

For a lot of writers, it’s the how-to-run-a-business stuff that makes you go cross-eyed, causes your palms to sweat, or ignites a firestorm of anxiety and self-doubt. Sound familiar?

You might be a great writer, but how much do you know about attorneys, taxes, business licenses, and insurance?

It’s a rhetorical question. But if you’re already feeling a knot forming in the pit of your stomach, there’s a good chance you could benefit from a little help to be your own boss.

Fortunately, help is available. And if you know where to look it’s free or available at a low-cost to help you build your freelance writing business, move up and earn more.

Want to be your own boss? Check out these free business resources for writers:

In business to be your own boss…

If you’re a freelance writer, you need to know a little about how to run a business. But if you’re a little in the dark about all that suit-and-tie-kind-of stuff, don’t worry.

Help is just a few clicks away from a source you might not expect—your federal and local governments. All across the U.S. and throughout the world, publicly-funded programs are in place to help small business owners (and freelance writers) like you. And they’re free.

Whether you’re a new freelance writer who’s trying to get your business started or an experienced writer looking to take it to the next level, check out what your government has to offer.

Here’s a list of the kinds of things you can get help with to be your own boss and build your freelance writing business:

• Legal information to walk you through the steps of establishing yourself as a business. Don’t be intimidated—for freelancers in most countries, the process is very simple.
• Tax forms and guidance to save you from nasty surprises at the end of the year when you’ve got a pile of independent contractor forms to file for reporting your income and expenses.
• Financing and loans for starting or growing your business. The startup expenses for most freelance writers are delightfully low. But if you need extra capital for training, outsourcing tasks, or office rental, some resources offer grants or low-interest loans to offset these costs.
• Classes, support, and information on many aspects of running your business. Depending on where you’re located, this might include everything from a telephone support line to a blog to free, real-time classes and trainings about how to be your own boss, run a business, manage your money, etc.
• Extras like mentoring, coaching, networking opportunities, and access to contacts or databases you might not find on your own. Show up to a business networking meeting, introduce yourself, and you might find your next client.

Business resources for freelance writers

On the list below, you’ll find links to government agencies in the largest English-speaking countries, beginning with the U.S. first. Use it as a starting point, then do your own research to see what else is available where you live.

1. USA.gov

The main government website, includes an extensive small business section where you can search information about taxes, financing, and more.

2. Small Business Administration

The Small Business Administration oversees many programs, including special services for veterans, women, and others. Their site also includes links to local programs and resources.

3. Small business development centers

Small business development centers work with universities to provide free training and consulting.

4. SCORE

The Service Corps of Retired Executives offers one-on-one mentoring with experienced business owners.

5. Australia business resources

The Australian central government website for businesses includes information on starting, running, and funding your business. This page is especially helpful for small business owners.

6. Canada Business

CanadaBusiness, the main government website for business owners, includes information on starting a business, taxes, licenses, and grants. The government-sponsored Business Development Bank of Canada offers business loans and financial advice. And the Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada provides financing and research tools.

7. Enterprise Ireland

Enterprise Ireland, the government’s official business website, helps Irish businesses start, grow, and compete globally. The site includes information on funding and links to local Enterprise offices. You can also check out Supporting SMEs, a search tool to help you track down the government programs that best fit your business.

8. The Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (India)

The Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises is your go-to source for information about government programs. The Small Industrial Development Bank of India may also be a useful resource, if you’re considering a loan to launch or grow your freelance writing business.

9. New Zealand business resources

The government’s official business web page includes business plan templates, financing information, and plenty of tips and advice. New Zealand’s Support for Small Businesses is an eight-page PDF overview of government resources.

10. United Kingdom business resources

The business section of the gov.uk website has a wealth of information for new and seasoned freelancers, including a page for people who share the goal to be self-employed.” If you’re in the U.K., the government-run Business Support Helpline is a free resource that allows you to talk to a real business professionals on the phone.

Local and regional business resources for freelance writers

Most states, provinces or regions within a country have their own small-business resources. They’re often more personal and user-friendly than national agencies.

The internet is your best source for tracking down what’s available in your area. Search your state or region, plus “small business resources.” Outside the US, search your region plus “SME [small and medium-sized enterprises] support.”

Here are a few other ways to track down local government-funded resources:

• Ask other business owners what’s available. Check with your fellow freelance writers, but don’t stop there. Also ask colleagues who run other types of businesses.
• Check out your local chamber of commerce. Even if you don’t join, you might connect with people who can steer you toward government-sponsored business development programs. Or help you grow your network and land new clients.
• Contact local colleges, universities, and trade schools. Many schools sponsor trainings or other programs to help business owners with planning, money management, marketing, compliance, and more.
• Explore regional associations, online groups, and networking events for business owners or entrepreneurs. Someone in these groups may know of a resource that you overlooked.

Build your freelance writing business

There’s more to freelance writing than blog posts, articles, case studies, white papers, landing pages, and email marketing campaigns. If you really want to be successful, you need to treat freelance writing like a business. These resources will point you in the right direction, if you make use of them by doing the following:

• Verify all information. Most governments aren’t known for their efficiency. Some have multiple business websites. Double-check that the information you find online is up-to-date and accurate. This is especially important when it comes to filing taxes or jumping through legal hoops.
• Take advantage of programs for special populations. If you’re disabled, a veteran, a woman, or a member of a minority or indigenous group, there may be additional government-sponsored programs to help you launch and grow your freelance writing business.
• Ask for what you need. The people who work in government small-business support programs are there to help you succeed. If you’re looking for workspace, access to a database for contacting prospects, website help, or something else, let them know. They may be able to point you to exactly the right resource.

What free business resources do you recommend? Share on Facebook or LinkedIn.

Maria Veres is an Oklahoma-based freelance writer and Make a Living Writing contributor. She’s also used local and national programs to grow her business.

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Challenge #301 Anything Goes

Welcome back! Phew - what a big week we just had due to celebrating our 6th Birthday and 300th Challenge. Thanks to everyone for their wonderful wishes and support. Here's to another 300!

Our new challenge this week is -

Before we start our challenge, let's announce our winners for Challenge #299 - CAS.

#49 Trina P

#26 Silke

 #60 Jen H

#34 Maria

Congratulations everyone! Ok, onto our new challenge. Here are our Designers with their inspiraiton for you -

Meena Herale

Monica

Amy

Heidi

Shylaa

Asha

Željka

Wonderful creations, wouldn't you agree? Please pop on over to their blogs to see how they came up with their ideas :)

Over to you now, have fun!

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Is This Inappropriate Emotion Killing Your Freelance Writing Rates?

NOTE: Feel like you’re stuck with low-paying clients that will never pay higher freelance writing rates? This post is for you. Enjoy! —Carol.

Want to make money from home as a freelance writer? I’ve got a question for you today, writers. How do you feel about your freelance writing rates and the clients you work with?

I ask because today’s topic is just that — the feelings we have for our clients. Because business isn’t all dollars and cents. It’s also relationships. Our clients are people, too.

Some of the feelings we have for them are appropriate and useful feelings, such as enjoying a client’s easygoing personality or the feeling of satisfaction that comes from successfully completing a complex writing assignment.

But some feelings freelance writers have are sadly misplaced, and really hurt your ability to earn higher freelance writing rates. Check out what a couple of writers said to me recently, and I think you’ll start to see what I mean:

“My client is great and has given me a rave review on LinkedIn. I’ve worked with him for years, and continue to out of loyalty, even though the pay isn’t the best.”–Shari

“I’ve been writing for a ‘content mill’ and I do enjoy the work. It’s varied, the people who run it are genuinely lovely, and the man in charge has been happy to give me advice, and permission to email examples of work to clients, even though we publish without our own names on the work.

“Of course the pay is very low. I earn a penny a word (in the UK). But I have some loyalty to them, because they’ve really helped me out.

“I’m a qualified librarian (my degree is in English linguistics and literature, and my postgrad librarianship qualification is in information management). I can write well. Any suggestions?”-April

Yes, April, I have suggestions. Let’s start with this:

Don’t be misled

As you can see, some freelance writers are highly susceptible to the problem of misplaced loyalty.

We fall in love with our clients and stick with them, even though if they are radically underpaying us. When we should run for the hills instead.

We say they’re lovely people, even as they compensate us so little we couldn’t buy a bag of groceries with a week’s pay.

Let me drop the scales from your eyes, folks: While you are doggedly sticking with these clients out of “loyalty,” your client has no such similar feelings for you.

Try raising your freelance writing rates to an appropriate professional freelance wage, and you’ll see just how loyal your low-paying clients really are.

Then you’ll see this has been a one-way relationship all along. It’s you, being used by a crummy client. It’s a dysfunctional relationship like an abusive marriage.

It will only end when you decide to quit. Because the client has a great deal — a wonderful writer they’re getting for a song!

If they find another writer who will work for less, they’ll drop you in a minute. Make no mistake.

Why we cling

There’s one other point to consider about why writers hang onto to crummy clients.

Often, it’s because getting rid of them would mean admitting that you’re just spinning your wheels here. You’re filling your time with work that’s not paying your bills, and often isn’t even building your portfolio.

Also, that you need to be out marketing yourself to find better clients. If you really hate marketing, you tell yourself loyalty is the reason you can’t do any right now.

After all, loyalty is such a wonderful quality, right? You wouldn’t fault yourself for being loyal.

But you should, when it’s aimed in the wrong direction — one that could cost you your dream of earning a living as a freelance writer.

Where your loyalty should lie

Anytime you catch yourself experiencing feelings of loyalty to a low-paying client — wishing you had better clients but feeling you should stick with this loser just because they’re already a client, and you have all this history together…stop.

Take a step back.

And ask yourself this important question: Why are you in business?

I’d bet it’s to pay your bills, or to feed your family. The people in your life who depend on you — they are the people who deserve your loyalty.

Your business that helps those people is what you should be loyal to. If you don’t care about it and make it grow, nobody else will.

You need to act in the best interest of your business, before you run out of money and have to take a day job. That is priority one.

Otherwise, you’re not a business, you’re a charity. And soon you might be a charity case, too.

How to move on

Don’t delude yourself that nice people who underpay you are still good clients. They’re not. They  are sucking the life out of your business and putting your freelance writing business at risk of failure.

I know…but they’re so nice! Maybe when you chat on Skype they are. But really, they’re screwing you.

Freelance writing rates exercise to drop bad clients

If you need to, here’s an exercise that may help: Put up a poster next to your computer with your low-paying client’s face and a little talk balloon that says, “I don’t pay you fairly, and I don’t care about you.”

Then remember that every minute you spend on a low-paying freelance writing client is a minute you’re not out finding the clients who will pay you what you need and deserve for your hard work.

Are misplaced loyalties holding back your writing career? Let’s discuss on Facebook and LinkedIn.

The post Is This Inappropriate Emotion Killing Your Freelance Writing Rates? appeared first on Make A Living Writing.

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Freelance Writing Scam: Beware of This Offer to Make Money From Home

Want to make money from home as a freelance writer?

That the goal, right? Work in your pajamas. Be your own boss. Make your own schedule.

Being a freelance writer is a great career and lifestyle, but it’s also hard work. And scammers know it.

If you’ve got a writer website or social presence as a freelance writer, prospects aren’t the only people checking you out. Scammers are sifting through the same information in search of writers who are looking for work.

You might think you’re too savvy to fall for the cash-this-fake-check and bankwire-transfer scam, but at least one scammer has developed a clever way to lure writers in with big promises, drain bank accounts and disappear.

Think it couldn’t happen to you? Don’t be too sure. I thought I was pretty immune to “make money from home” scams, but I almost fell for this one. Here’s what happened:

Are you a scammer’s ideal client?

If you’ve posted your resume on job boards or built a writer website that includes your phone number, email address, and other contact info, you’re a target for this make money from home scam. Here’s how it works:

• An imposter recruiter contacts you about contract work
• It looks like they work for a reputable and established company
• The recruiter sets up an interview with you to discuss the gig
• You get hired. And then you’re supposed to follow a specific set of instructions to start getting paid.

But it’s all part of a sophisticated make money from home scam aimed at freelance writers. And I don’t want you to be next. Fall for a scam like this, and the average victim loses about $800, according to the Better Business Bureau. Here’s what this scam looks like:

The clever ‘make money from home’ come-on

It started with an unexpected text from Mr. Oliver Wyman of Mercer Consulting Unlimited. He’d “received my resume online. ” But I didn’t submit one. When I asked about this, he said he learned about me from my writer website and wanted to know if I was interested in an online editor position.

Contract work + benefits

Write and edit content for this talent recruiting firm. The pay was good, but not so high it put me on alert: $45 an hour, $25 an hour for training. I’d be expected to work a minimum of two hours a day at my convenience. And, though I was a contract employee, I’d get health insurance and paid time off.

Google it

I Googled the company and learned it was a reputable corporation. Excited that I’d attracted a potential client with my website and the possibility of steady income, insurance, and vacation pay, I ignored my gut’s frantic signals and agreed to an interview.

An unconventional interview

To my surprise, the interview was to be done on Google Hangouts. Having been out of the job market a while, I thought this might be the procedure these days and agreed.

Within 10 minutes, I was being interviewed via Google Hangouts Chat, “so my answers could be reviewed and documented.”

What about writing and editing skills?

The questions were standard first-interview questions. I noticed they didn’t ask much about my editing experience but decided those questions would be addressed in a second, face-to-face interview.

You’re hired…but first there’s a few things you need to do

The next morning I woke to the news: I was hired!  Mr. Wyman told me via text message the company would provide me with software and a new Apple laptop. I was to buy the materials from a specific vendor the company worked with.

The old cash-this-fake-check scam

Mercer Consulting would send me a check to cover the cost. At that point, Mr. Wyman wanted to know the name of my bank to ensure they had an agreement with it. Then he asked for my address.

Gut check and Den help

Finally, my gut got through, and I turned to the Den for help. Here’s what freelance writer Kaitlin Morrison said:

Following Kaitlin’s advice, I contacted the folks at Mercer Consulting who confirmed this was a scam, and I bailed.

Had I continued, I would’ve received a fraudulent check to deposit, using mobile banking or an ATM, in my account. Then I would’ve been instructed to wire most of that money to the “vendor” immediately. In a few days, the check would’ve bounced, and I’d be a $1,000 or so poorer.

How to spot a freelance writing scam

If a prospect you’ve never heard of reaches out with contract work they need help with, it might be a legit lead and potential client. If it is, it’s a sign your inbound marketing efforts are working. But if it isn’t, it might be a scam like this. Here’s how to avoid being Mr. Wyman’s next victim: 

• Trust your gut. If your gut’s queasy, take heed. Look up the company and see if the job is posted on its website or contact human resources.
• Don’t buy equipment. Legitimate companies provide any equipment you need to do the job.
• Never wire money. Asking you to wire money is a sure sign of a scam.
• Nix Google Hangouts interviews. Reputable companies don’t use informal sites such as Google Hangouts, and especially not the chat option, for interviews.
• Examine correspondence. Any email you get from a recruiter should be from the company’s account. If that seems to be the case, test it. Scammers often use emails that resemble a real company’s address: @dukeenergy.com instead of @duke-energy.com. Also, any correspondence with grammar, punctuation, and syntax errors is suspect.
• Only deposit checks that you know are from legitimate organizations. Many of the checks scammers use look real. If in doubt, call your bank.
• Protect your financial and personal information. There’s no reason for recruiters to ask for your social security number, bank account access, PayPal password, or credit card information. Keep this information private.
• Report it. Federal Trade CommissionIf you are the target of a scam, report it t the , your state attorney general, or the Better Business Bureau.

If you’re struggling to land client work, getting an out-of-the-blue offer may sound pretty good. And it may pan out. But do your homework, first. Pay attention to the warning signs of scams like this to avoid becoming a victim. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Heard about other freelance writing scams? Let’s discuss on Facebook or LinkedIn.

Lynda Van Kuren is a freelancer who specializes in writing about education, health and fitness.

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