How to Blog: The Ultimate Guide to Mega-Useful Tools

When writers ask me how to start a blog, I usually start talking about blog-post topics, ideal blog-post format, monetizing strategies, and such…and then realize I’m on the wrong track. Writers have topic ideas! What many need to know is technically, how to blog.

As in: If you write a post, how does it show up on the Internet? What tools are behind the curtain, that make your blog go?

Over the years, as my blog has grown, sprouted my writer community, courses, coaching, and more…lots of new tools came into play. I’ve been meaning to share everything I’m using for a while, because I know bloggers want tips on the best tools.

So, here it finally is! A look at the many blog software tools that work behind the scenes at Make a Living Writing, grouped by topic for easy reference. I’ve included tools I used as a newbie, as well as more robust tools my blog uses today.

Many of these apps and blog software bits are free, some have free trials, some you’ll need to pay.

And yes, there certainly are affiliate links included here, since I personally use and happily recommend these. If you’re a technical noob and have wondered how to blog like a pro, your questions should be answered below.

Enjoy!

Accounting/invoicing/scheduling

Even if you’re just starting out, it’s a good idea to track payments and send invoices. I’ve been a longtime fan of using the accounting software Freshbooks, which makes easy, pro-looking invoices, and tracks my payments beautifully. But recently, changes have come.

Freshbooks used to have this nifty Paypal Business Payments plan, where if you invoiced through Freshbooks, you only paid $.50 cents per transaction of any size. I know! I have saved thousands using this, over the years. But it’s ending, as Freshbooks transitions to a new iteration.

Now, rival Harvest has the Paypal Business Payments deal. So check that out.

Blog hosting

When I started learning how to blog, I began on a host that got crashy, and I quickly outgrew it. So I’m going to point you instead to the ONLY blog-hosting platform that I have never heard a bad word about: Bluehost. Bonus: They’re also darn cheap.

If you get bigger, and need virtual private servers to keep your site from crashing, like I do, I’ve been super-happy for many years now with blog hosting from Knownhost. Their help desk has bailed us out in more than one hack-attack/site outage emergency.

Discount codes

If you’re a blogger worth your salt, once you learn how to blog, you’ll listen to your readers, learn what they need, and then create a useful thing for them.

Then, you will want to sell that thing. Next, you’ll want to offer your loyal blog subscribers a discount on it.

I’ve been using E-junkie for years, to create easy discount codes. You can easily give your peeps a dollar-amount or percentage-off deal. It’s easy!

P.S. You can also use e-junkie to run/manage an affiliate program, if you want to give folks a commission if they sell your thing. I use my membership software to run my affiliate program — see below for more.

Domain Names

When you’re starting a blog, it will need a name. And you will need to buy that website address (a/k/a URL) from somewhere. I recommend Dreamhost — they’re cheap, and it’s got a good tool for searching up what’s available and suggesting similar titles, in case your fave is taken.

Email marketing

If you’re wondering how to blog your way to riches, that journey begins with the email-management program Mailchimp. It’s free for the first 2,000 subscribers — what’s not to like? That little monkey took me a long way (his name’s Freddy, BTW).

You can’t sell to your audience if you don’t have their emails, and Mailchimp makes it easy to keep track of ’em.

Eventually, I needed a more robust email system that could send a lot of stuff automagically to various segments of my readers. When you hit that point, it’s time to graduate to Infusionsoft.

This platform is so robust they give you a 3-day training in how to use it! Does everything but cook your eggs.

GIFs and Screenshots

I had a freelance assignment recently, where I had to create GIFs…and they told me to use CloudApp . And now I’m in love. I’m going to show you how great CloudApp is with a GIF that’s in this very post — watch for it!

CloudApp is super-easy — when you want to screenshot something, you click the little cloud icon from your desktop and follow the steps to create a GIF, screenshot, short video, whatever!

Google tools

I know, some people hate Google and think it’s evil and taking over the planet. All I know is, it has some useful tools I couldn’t live without, as a blogger.

Let’s start with Google Analytics, a great source of juicy data about:

• Who’s on your blog
• What they read
• How many visit
• Where they come from
• What search terms lured them to your site, and more.

My team and I use Google Docs and Sheets (their answer to Word docs and Excel) to share info and plan marketing campaigns…a lot. Need to pop a PDF onto your blog? The WordPress plug-in Google Document Embedder is my choice there.

Lastly, IMO email is handled best by Google. Whether you have the basic, free Gmail or a pretty email using your domain with G Suite — Google does the best job at filtering out evil spam.

Membership

If you ever start a paid community — which can be an awesome way to monetize your blog! — you’ll need some way to keep track of who’s a member. For that, there’s Digital Access Pass, from Wicked Cool Plugins.

It’s another WordPress plug-in (see below for my platform recommendations).

Other membership-management tools cost waaay more. But DAP does all I need — we can create endless levels and prices for different bootcamps or membership drives.

As I mentioned above, I also use DAP to run my affiliate program. If you let affiliates sell your stuff, you will definitely want a piece of software that tracks it for you.

Payments

Once you make that thing and start charging for it, you’ll want a way to electronically collect payments. I’ve gone with the gold standard on that, Paypal. It’s kind of a love-hate thing, and Paypal definitely has its limits. But it’s the best-known tool, so more people are comfortable using it than about any other place.

Hint: Drive a lot of sales, and get Mass Pay from Paypal. Then you can send money to people (say, affiliates, or peeps who help you make your blog) without their getting charged the usual 2.9%. Fees to you are smaller, too.

P.S.: If you want to accept credit cards outside of Paypal, I like Square.

Photos

Good blog posts today have images. When you’re starting out, you’ll want those to be free. I’ve got three recommends here:

• Pixabay
• Unsplash
• Morguefile

 

Loads of folks use Flickr Creative Commons for this, but then you have to include an attribution link, which looks sorta cheeseball. These sites don’t need that, which is nice.

Photo editing

Once you’ve got an awesome free photo, you’ll probably want to improve it–say, put your blog’s URL on it for social sharing, at least. You’ll want a nice, free place to crop, resize, or otherwise alter your image. That’s where these sites come in:

• • • • • PicMonkey — another monkey one, yess!
        • Canva
        • LunaPic

Free trials galore there, so rotate around and you can save money.

My own designers — who make the cool cartoons for these posts — report they use Adobe Creative Cloud. Way too fancy for me, but good if you’re a visual pro.

Scheduling

If you become a popular blogger, people will want to talk to you. To make it easy to schedule time, and avoid getting double-booked (or people booking time when you’re out of the office), there’s Calendly.

What I like: it syncs with my calendar, so the booking notice pops right onto my iCal.

Security

Want to know how to blog your heart out and then suddenly, one day, lose everything you ever wrote? Just don’t have a backup program. Boom! Done.

If you have a Mac (and you should!), your computer comes with a backup system known as Time Machine. It’s awesome and allows you to go back in time to a particular day and get what was on your computer back when.

What if that computer fails, and you can’t use Time Machine to find stuff you shouldn’ta deleted?

Then you need Carbonite — backup in the cloud, away from your locale.

SEO research

I’ve been using Yoast SEO WordPress plugin for a long time — it’s a handy guide to optimizing your post to help Google send you readers. Consider learning SEO a critical skill, if you want to learn how to blog.

For finding good keyword phrases to use in your posts, I like KWFinder (recently broke down and got a paid plan).

KW shows you how many searches per month your phrase gets, related phrases that might work better, and how degree of difficulty for ranking well on that term (as well as who’s ranking tops for it).

Looking for long-tail question or phrases people search on in your topic, to give your posts more SEO boost? There’s a hilarious-yet-fascinating site called AnswerThePublic — enjoy the cranky old man who oversees your search (told ya you were getting a GIF!):

Social media marketing

Social media is one of the easiest ways to promote your blog and get new readers.

You’ll want to use social every way  you can. I often see blogs with no social share buttons, and I just think, ‘You don’t know how to blog!’

For share buttons on your posts, I love the AddThis plugin. The secret sauce? It customizes for each user, based on what social channels they use most. Sweet!

For proactive social-media marketing automation, I like Missinglettr. It automagically generates share content you can edit and customize, for each blog post you write. Then, it automatically shares them nine more times over the course of the next year, in your choice of social channels.

Here’s a peek at their content approval system, at work on one of my recent posts:

Say you’ve got a big list — like all the tools I’m mentioning in this post. And you want to tweet it individually to every company mentioned. For this, there’s HootSuite.

This handy scheduler allows you to plan social posts weeks ahead, and easily combine it with re-shared content from others in your timeline, to keep it more useful and less spammy.

Storage

That’s right, I’ve got so much to store (200 emails a day! Videos and podcasts for Den members!) that I’ve purchased two different storage solutions.

I recently went to a paid G Suite level to get more storage, and also have a business plan on Dropbox. If you’re sharing outside your team a lot, I’d say go with Dropbox.

Surveys

Do you notice a monkey theme going on? I think the cool companies like monkey mascots.

Which is my way of saying SurveyMonkey is the greatest, if you need to survey your readers and learn more about how to serve them better. Totally do that.

Team management

As your blog grows, you will acquire helpers. (Note: Don’t forget to hire helpers ASAP.)

Then, you will need to assign them tasks and give them deadlines. A good place to do that is in Asana.

Or, if you want to chat back and forth all day with teammates without clogging email inboxes, all of us here at MALW love Slack.

Title tags

Ever wonder if title tag you’re giving your blog post page is too long? Moz has a great tag checker that shows you how your title will look on Google.

Hint: You don’t want it to get cut off in the middle. You want the whole title to show up.

Video/audio recording

We all know audio and video really help get readers engaged in your blog. I am a loyal Camtasia user — TechSmith makes this an easy tool for recording screencast videos.

If you make long videos, you may find yourself with a very large file size. To shrink it down, use Handbrake.

Webinars

One of the best ways to sell a thing is through a live Webinar. I have used many, many platforms, and tested many more. All the costly biggies, GoToWebinar, AnyMeeting, WebEx, and more.

And the winner is? Instant Teleseminar. Made by longtime UX pros, it’s simple to operate, and only $67 a month (a fraction of the price at many of the ‘top guys’). Its one drawback — no screensharing or talking heads with your computer camera. Just slides.

If you need to screenshare, you can run a Webinar on Zoom. I tried it out recently, because I needed to teach something where screensharing was essential. Worked great! I also use Zoom for all my masterminds and coaching.

Website layouts

My designer Keira Dooley reports she and her team use Sketch for planning blog design (if you need a writer website done, check out her proven-to-convert template).

Website platform

This really should go first in any ‘how to blog’ tools post, because you can’t do anything until you have a creation platform in which to build your blog. But this list is alphabetical by topic. So…

One platform dominates the blog space, and it’s the one I use and love: WordPress. It’s open source, you can start on it free, and it’s dominance means there are umpteen great themes, plugins, and developers that can help you make your blog look awesome.

WordPress is a two-edged sword though — it’s highly flexible, and that means it’s also pretty complex blog software.

I meet people who feel overwhelmed by WordPress, so I’ll tell you the only other platform I think looks pro — Squarespace. There are some limitations here, including ability to use ads. But their sites look nice.

Choose the right blog software for you

Obviously, not every tool in this roundup is right for every blogger. But hopefully, this answer the mechanics of how to blog for you — and shows you how many blogging tools are available to make your blog look better and reach more people.

Considering that I’m a very non-technical person, it’s a badge of honor to me, that I’ve learned to use so many different blog software tools — there are 48 mentioned here!

Trust me, if I can learn how to blog, and how to use all this stuff, you can, too. And they’ll make your blog more effective and better-looking. Who doesn’t want that?

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4 Ways to Decorate Your Rental Apartment

Moving into your new apartment and thinking about how you can make it look more like your own space? Try the following ideas and you’ll surely be delighted on how well they can improve your new-found haven.

Photo by Grant on Unsplash

Install carpet tiles

A clever trick for transforming floors in a rental is to invest in a removable modular carpet square system. Available in solids, textures and prints, the squares are simply placed onto the floor then held together with stickers. The only tool needed for wall-to-wall installation is a utility knife. Once it’s time to pack up and move, the carpet squares can be packed up just like everything else and reused again and again. Source: HGTV

Show off your creativity with wallpaper

If you love the look of wallpaper but hate the idea of completely losing your deposit, try removable wallpaper to add color or patter n to your space. Try it in small areas that lack personality like entrance halls, closets, or even bathrooms. Just make sure to choose water-resistant wallpaper in wet areas. Source: MyDomaine

Change your window treatments

This is another area where rentals always seem to be sorely lacking. Whether it’s dirty old curtains or depressing vertical blinds, lackluster window treatments just scream “temporary home”. Sort it out by upgrading to fresh curtains (even cheap no-hem IKEA ones can look great) or simple roller blinds. Source: ApartmentTherapy

Don’t be afraid to make a splash

Peel-and-stick tile isn’t just for floors. You can also put it straight over an outdated or ugly kitchen backsplash, and peel it off when you leave (although, depending on how much it improves the apartment’s aesthetics, your landlord might not want you to). If you like a more graphic look, contact paper or vinyl peel-off wallpaper are also attractive, commitment-free solutions; so is double-sided tape and PVC paneling made to look like classic pressed tin.

Or, if you can get away with putting a few screws in the wall, cut a piece of plywood to size and mount it over the existing backsplash—and you’ll have a blank canvas for anything from wallpaper to fabric to subway tile that can be removed without a trace when you leave.

Source: MentalFloss

We can help you with any of your carpet needs. Feel free to give us a call today!

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ARIIA by Azora in the Norquay Village

ARIIA by Azora Group is a new townhouse development located in the Norquay Village, East Vancouver. This project will offer a collection of 10 two and three bedroom beautiful townhomes for the modern family, situated in a serene tree-lined setting. ARIIA offers a stellar location with easy access to other cities from the nearby skytrain station, or arrive at Downtown Vancouver in just 15 minutes by car. Recently there have been community enhancements, including bike routes and public spaces such as Slocan and Norquay Park, as well as the community fruit orchard.

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Online Writing Jobs in the Cannabis Industry: 15 Markets for Freelancers

If you’re looking for online writing jobs, the cannabis industry may be one of the fastest growing markets for freelance writers.

Just how big of a niche market is the cannabis industry?

With more and more states opening the door to medicinal and recreational marijuana use, it’s an industry that’s expected to generate more than $10 billion in revenue this year, according to market data.

And that’s very good news if you’re a freelance writer.

Now there are growers, processors, sellers, dispensaries, cannabis equipment suppliers, tech companies, and product manufacturers competing for a piece of the pie.

There’s also a growing list of online writing jobs in the cannabis niche cropping up.

For example, this summer Entrepreneur magazine launched Green Entrepreneur to cover the business, technology and lifestyle aspects of the cannabis industry. Even Forbes closely follows the budding cannabis industry.

And these are just a few of the many places you can find online writing jobs in the cannabis niche. Check out these 15 cannabis markets for freelance writers:

1. Big Buds

Big Buds is an authority pub for the cannabis industry, policy makers, growers and retailers, and users (medicinal and recreational).

“Our site covers reviews, interviews and features about cannabis,” says Big Buds Editor Josh Glazer. “But we are also looking for dedicated news and list writers.”

Got a story idea about cannabis growing and cultivation methods, medical research, legislation, or cannabis culture? Pitch with a query letter via email.

Pays: Competitive rates, per assignment

2. The Bold Italic

“We’re interested in what life is like within the subcultures that make San Francisco an eclectic city and how these trends affect the rest of the country,” says Bold Italic Editor Keith Spencer.

And that includes the city’s cannabis culture where marijuana has only been legal for recreational use in California since Jan. 1.

Pays: $50 and up, based on assignment

3. Cannabis Culture

Almost 20 years before Colorado became the first state in the U.S. to legalize marijuana for recreational use, Cannabis Culture cropped up as a voice to legalize marijuana around the world.

“We’re recognized as one of the best sources for information due to our highest-standards for journalism and news delivery about cannabis-related politics, activism, growing information, entertainment and more,” says Editor-in-Chief Jeremiah Vandermeer.

Pays: Based on assignment

4. Cannabis Now

Cannabis Now is one of just a handful of specialty magazines about the cannabis industry and culture sold in major bookstores, airports, and grocery-store chains. And it’s garnered a massive following of readers and subscribers in just eight years.

“Our goal is to enlighten, educate and entertain by providing [cannabis] information readers need to stay informed and on the cutting edge of industry innovations,” says Senior Editor Ellen Holland.

Pays: Competitive rates per assignment

5. Cannabis Tech

It wasn’t that long ago when cannabis growers operated behind closed doors with low-tech equipment and sold products discreetly.

But with more and more states legalizing marijuana for medicinal and recreational use, demand is up, and so is technology and innovation to meet those needs, says Cannabis Tech Publisher Christine Comatos.

“We serve enterprise decision-makers and users with the critical information they need to stay ahead of an evolving market,” says Comatos.

Got a story idea about B2B technology in the cannabis industry? Pitch your idea with a query via email.

Pays: Based on assignment

6. CAT Scientific

Ever wonder what the process looks like to make products like hemp oil, drinks, edibles, and topicals out of cannabis?

In today’s cannabis marketplace, companies like CAT Scientific design equipment for companies that manufacture cannabis products. 

CAT Scientific Manager Steve Gold works closely with cannabis product manufacturers and runs the company’s blog written by freelancers who understand cannabis post-processing applications. Send an LOI and pitch ideas for blog posts, or get your LOI reviewed in the Freelance Writers Den first.

Pays: Based on assignment

7. The Daily Chronic

For the person who knows how to grow the perfect crop of cannabis, those green-thumb skills can pay an annual salary of up to $250,000. Oversee compliance for a growing operation or run a cannabis dispensary? Those jobs pay $40K to $100K a year.

How much money can you earn in the legal marijuana business? Did you know an estimated 14.6 percent of adults have used marijuana in the past year? These are just a few of the latest stories written by freelancers for The Daily Chronic about the business and culture of cannabis, says Editor Scott Jaeck.

Pays: Competitive rates per assignment

8. The Daily Leaf

What if there was a version of Groupon to find deals on marijuana products and services?

That’s what The Daily Leaf founders Andy Yashar and Stephen Gold created after marijuana was legalized for recreational use in Oregon in 2015. Check out their interview in Forbes.

In addition to connecting people with cannabis deals, The Daily Leaf works with freelancers to publish content about the cannabis industry in Oregon, including reviews about locally-made cannabis products, wholesalers, and dispensaries, in addition to reporting on local cannabis events.

Pays: Based on assignment

9. Dope Magazine

In the old-school world of marijuana, “dope” was just another name for the plant like “weed” and “pot.” But that changed when Dope Magazine was founded in 2011 as a niche magazine that features news and content about cannabis culture, business, and legalization.

Based on the magazine’s mission, D.O.P.E. stands for Defending Our Plant Everywhere, says Editor David Bailey.

Have an idea for a feature story, blog post, or opinion piece about cannabis entertainment, health and wellness, law and politics, or the cannabis lifestyle? Pitch an idea.

Pays: Up to $150 per assignment

10. Green Entrepreneur

Earlier this year, Entrepreneur magazine launched GreenEntrepreneur.com, to give readers that latest news about entrepreneurship, business, technology and lifestyle aspects of the cannabis industry.

“Rarely does a new industry explode with the exponential success that the legal marijuana trade has experienced,” Entrepreneur Media President Bill Shaw, said in a press release. Green Entrepreneur recently published a list of the Top 100 Cannabis Leaders in the industry.

If you want to write for Green Entrepreneur, study the guidelines and pitch a story idea about the cannabis industry via email with a query to Executive Editor Jonathan Small.

Pays: Up to $1.50 per word, based on assignment

11. High Times

Sean Cooley (yes, that’s his real name), is the director of content for High Times. “We use cannabis as a vehicle to cover news, politics, advocacy, entertainment, health and fitness, food and drink, travel, culture, and more.”

Recent stories include:

• Actress Kristen Bell on using cannabis
• Findings from a clinical trial that used cannabis to treat adults with autism
• The latest in marijuana legalization
• Tips for growing better cannabis crops
• Soda made with CBD oil, and much more

Have a story idea for High Times? Study the site content. Read the submission guidelines. And submit your story idea with a query to Cooley or the editor.

Pays: $0.40 per word

12. Leafly

Leafly started out as a resource to help medical marijuana patients learn more about different strains available to help treat various health conditions. But it’s evolved since then to serve a larger audience of recreational marijuana users, too.

“If you’re a writer or reporter and have a story you’d like to write, send me a pitch,” says Leafly Associate Editor Ben Adlin.  Include a brief description of your proposed story for the news section, a tentative word count, and any relevant clips.

Pays: Based on assignment

13. Maximum Yield

Maximum Yield is a trade pub for the cannabis industry that provides tips, information, and updates on equipment and technology to improve growing and harvesting cannabis.

“We’re looking for writers with experience in the industry to help us in our mission,” says Associate Editor Cameron Maxwell.

Recent stories include tips for growing greenhouse cannabis, identifying and treating marijuana leaf problems, using hydroponic water systems to grow cannabis, and more.

Pays: Honorarium per assignment

14. NXT Alpha

Did you know serial entrepreneur and investor Gary Vaynerchuck recently acquired a 50 percent stake in the cannabis marketing company Green Street? He’s also been an early investor in companies like Twitter, Facebook, and Uber.

But if you’re going to invest in the cannabis industry, where do you get financial data and information to make informed decisions?

“We’re a financial news site focused on Canadian and U.S. cannabis public companies with a focus on quality journalism for financial investors,” says NXTalpha Editor Tony Zerucha. “We’re seeking writers to provide financial coverage of the emerging cannabis industry.”

Pitch a story idea or send a letter of introduction.

Pays: Based on assignment

15. Nugg

It’s no secret that recreational marijuana has received most of the buzz lately. It’s now legal in Washington, Massachusetts, Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington D.C.

But there’s an estimated 3.5 million people who get a prescription to use marijuana for medicinal purposes. And that’s the market Nugg serves, connecting patients with dispensaries and even facilitating doctor-patient telemedicine calls via NuggMD.

“Nugg is a trusted go-to resource for cannabis users and proponents,” says Nugg Co-founder and Marketing Director Alex Milligan. “Through our website, publications, and events we offer a vast body of cannabis-related content, trustworthy information, knowledge and resources to the cannabis community.”

Want to write about cannabis and medical marijuana for the Nugg blog? Check out the blog, study the guidelines, and pitch an idea to Milligan or Nugg Editor-in-Chief Emily Hois.

Pays: $0.07 to $0.10 per word based on assignment

Online writing jobs in the cannabis industry

If you’re looking for online writing jobs in the cannabis industry, there’s no shortage of sites, magazines, and businesses that need freelance writers. In the next 10 years, industry experts project legal cannabis sales to generate $57 billion annually worldwide.

And that means now is a great time to pitch cannabis story ideas to editors and reach out to marketing directors with letters of introduction to land more freelance work.

What cannabis markets for freelance writers do you recommend? Let’s discuss 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 ultramarathon.

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NUDE by Battistella in Calgary

NUDE by Battistella is a new 18-storey highrise condo development located in Calgary’s most dynamic neighbourhood, the West Beltline. This project will offer 177 homes, sizes range from 400 sqft to 800 sqft. Inspired by timeless architecture, NUDE reflects a considered aesthetic where symmetry and articulation combine to create a simple and calm elegance.

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Challenge #311 - Anything Goes

Welcome back to our weekly challenge! We know you will love this one!

Before we get started, here are our winners for Challenge #309 - Clean and Simple

#38 Marina

#42 Ma-Mi

#34 Claire

#54 Katrina

Congratulations everyone!

Ok, let's go! Anything Goes! Here is our inspiration for you -

Meena Herale

Marsha Reed

Monica M

Asha

Heidi

Amy

Susan

Shylaa

Judy

Željka

So much inspiration for you! Please visit our DT to see how they came up with their ideas and say hi :) Over to you now - have fun

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Duchess & Horley Townhomes

Duchess & Horley by Baron Projects and Priivan Development Group is a new townhouse development located in Vancouver. This location is fantastic with Vancouver’s ONLY mandarin elementary school directly across the street and the 29th Ave. Sky Train station only a few blocks away. This project will offer 6 units, sizes ranging from 995 – 1196 sq ft. with 3 bedrooms + flex.

The post Duchess & Horley Townhomes appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

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The Swift-Kick Move to Triple Your Income for Freelance Work

You dream of being a successful writer. But instead you’re stuck with freelance work writing for content mills and clients who pay you $20 or less per post.

Sound familiar?

Deep down, you know it’s time to drop these low-paying clients and find better-paying freelance work, but the thought terrifies you.

Isn’t it risky to just let your clients go? What if no one will pay your higher rates for freelance work?

If you’re struggling to keep up with deadlines and the volume of freelance work for low-paying clients, where are you going to find the time for marketing to get better ones?

I understand where you’re coming from. I was in this very situation less than six months ago. And then I did something that felt a little crazy and scary. I gave most of my clients a swift kick.

What would happen if you let all your clients go tomorrow?

It cleared the way for me to get higher-paying clients and triple my freelance work income. Here’s how it’s done:

Understand your worth as a freelance writer

Writers often sell themselves short in the beginning just to get a little freelance work. I discovered this the hard way as a new freelancer writing for low-paying clients. Still, it took months for me to acknowledge that I was underselling my services.

How do you know if you’re selling yourself short? Here are some warning signs:

• You’re nowhere near your content writing income goals
• You’re working long hours, but struggling to make ends meets
• Your clients act like you’re expendable, easily replaced by the next writer willing to do freelance work for cheap

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Remember, you are in control of setting your freelance writing rates. Consider how your services benefit your clients and decide how much you need to earn per month. This will make it much easier to calculate your new rates.

If prospects or clients aren’t willing to pay your rates for content writing, give them the boot or move on.

Punch fear in the face

After realizing I couldn’t make a living writing for content mills, I knew I had to find better clients. But I was paralyzed with fear. I kept thinking of worst-case scenarios:

• Maybe I wasn’t experienced enough to land good content writing clients.
• What if prospective clients balked when they heard my rates?
• What if I let my clients go and never found work as a freelancer again?

Been there, done that? These are common fears that prevent you from getting paid pro rates for freelance writing work. But if you give into to your fears and stick with content mills, you’ll never be a successful freelancer. Once you come to this realization, you can learn to accept your fears and move forward.

Commit to take action

To reach your income goals for freelance work, you need to take action. And that means you can’t keep doing the same low-paying freelance work for clients, expecting your bank account balance to grow.

Here’s what I recommend:

• Join an online writer’s group like the Freelance Writers Den to get support from other writers, learn more effective marketing skills, and put them into practice.
• Send out query letters and LOIs to qualified prospects. Instead of chasing freelance work on content mills, Craigslist, and job sites with thousands of writers competing for work, focus on connecting with good prospects that value professional freelance work. Pitch an article idea to an editor with a query letter. Reach out to marketing managers with a letter of introduction. Be consistent. Create a daily or weekly marketing goal.

Going after higher-paying clients is worth the effort

After becoming a Den member, I began emailing LOIs (letters of introduction) to marketing managers and blog editors at tech companies. Dozens of my emails went unanswered. And that gave me a lot of self-doubt at first.

Finally, the editor of a popular design blog responded, offering me the chance to write a trial post. To my amazement, she offered me $200 to write the post. A rush of excitement came over me, and I finally started to believe that I could make it as a freelancer.

Let your lowest-paying clients go

With my new-found confidence, I decided to let the low payers go. You probably don’t want to drop all your clients at once. But landing just one assignment that pays more than any of your current clients will help you make this mindset shift. And you’ll realize:

• Low-paying clients really sap up time and energy
• Writing for content mills is a dead-end strategy that will never pay pro rates for freelance work
• Your time is better spent on marketing efforts to land quality clients in your niche
• It’s not worth it to hang on to low-paying clients when more lucrative freelance work is out there

Go get some higher-paying freelance work

By improving my marketing plan, I landed more clients who understand the value of my services and gladly pay my new rates. After just a couple of months, I tripled my income and reached my freelance business goals.

If you’re tired of working for low payers, these steps can help you manage your fear, take action, and grow your income. You’ve spent enough time dreaming of being a successful freelancer. Now go and make it happen.

Need to boost your income for freelance? Let’s discuss on Facebook or LinkedIn.

Tara Malone is a professional freelance copywriter who specializes in writing long-form blog content for tech companies.

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2030 Barclay in downtown Vancouver’s West End

2030 Barclay by Marcon Developments is a new 10-storey concrete building development located in downtown Vancouver’s West End. This project will offer 14 2-bedroom, five 3-bedroom homes, ranging in size from 1,661 sqft – 2,341 sqft. Conveniently situated just a half block from the outstanding Stanley Park, and within walking distance to numerous restaurants and shops along Denman and Robson streets, 2030 Barclay is an exceptional example of Vancouverism.

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644 Como Lake in Coquitlam

644 Como Lake by Woodbridge Properties is a new condo development located in Coquitlam. This project will offer 116 market condominiums, sizes range from 539 sqft – 1,156 sq ft. By choosing to live at 644 Como Lake, you’ll appreciate the growing value of this burgeoning community and the convenient mobility offered by Skytrain’s Evergreen Line.

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4 Ways to Add Character to Your Home

Your home is your sanctuary. It should be as comfortable as possible without compromising style. You’ll want a place that is homey yet it reflects your personality. Doing this task is rather easy if you follow these simple tips:

Photo by Mengyi Hu on Unsplash

Transform an empty space

Give an awkward area a purpose and appeal. Transform a basic bay or boxy window into a reading nook. Or furnish an empty corner of the living room with a game table and storage cabinet. Source: BHG

Display your favorite art

Hang wall art to reflect your taste, but avoid using too much of the same style. Place a large mirror vertically on the floor and lean it against the wall for an easy style, or hang it on the wall horizontally for a more formal look. For a whimsical theme, take close-up photos of a few balls of colorful cereal floating in a bowl of white milk. Blow up the photos and frame them. Hang them throughout your living room to create conversation pieces. Source: HomeGuides.SFGate

Mix and match

It’s important to add variety to your space to give it unique character. You can do this by mixing different accents like pillows, or even with accessories. But don’t get carried away with it–if your accessories and accents differ too much from each other, your living room will end up looking like an old antique shop with no rhyme or reason to it. Source: Homify

Brighten up the place

String up lights. Use lighting in your living room to create a mood. Incorporate floor lights for task lighting and contemporary desk lights for atmosphere.

Fairy lights are a simple, budget-friendly way to brighten up a living room. Hang them over mirrors, shelving or door frames to illuminate dark corners.

Don’t forget traditional candles for the evening to give your living room a warmer and more inviting feel. Source: Houzz

Installing a carpet on your flooring can definitely score you additional style points. It would depend on the overall look you’re hoping for, but if you like to add character on a rather plain room, then patterned carpets are just right for you.

Need help on installing a new carpet or giving life to your old one? We can help you out! Call us today!

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Vista Green at The Falls in Chilliwack

Vista Green at The Falls by Kerkhoff Construction is a new collection of 66 duplex-style townhouses development located in Chilliwack. You’ll enjoy stunning views of the golf course, Fraser Valley and mountains, as well as the convenience of having shops and services a short drive away. Surrounding you is the beauty of nature and an abundance of recreational opportunities. It’s like being on vacation every day. And for those who like to travel, you can lock up and leave with complete peace of mind.

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3535 Princeton in Coquitlam

3535 Princeton by Nordel is a new townhouse development located in Coquitlam. This project will offer 27 executive townhomes with rooftop patios that provide a rare opportunity to enjoy outdoor entertaining from the privacy of your own home. Bordering Burke Mountain Creek and a protected green space, family living is made easy with 3, 4 & 5 bedroom townhomes boasting between 1,370 to 2,523 square feet of open living space. Within close proximity to the convenience of city life, this is a home for those who value living in a natural setting.

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Hudson & Singer in Langley

Hudson & Singer by Tridecca Developments is a new 6 storey condo development located in Langley. This project will offer 152 units, sizes range from 495 sqft to 1262 sqft. Residents will have exclusive access to the Avondale Room – a fully equipped theatre and lounge, perfect for watching the game or entertaining with friends, featuring luxurious furnishings, a full kitchen, coffee bar and patio area. 

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Exhausted? 7 Busy Writer-Moms Share Their Fall Productivity Formula

If ever there was a time of year to come up with a productivity formula for getting more done as a freelance writer, it’s fall.

Know why I say that? Well, fall is a special time because:

• Editors and marketing managers get back from vacation
• Companies plan next year’s marketing calendar and start assigning projects
• Editors complete their editorial calendar, and look for special-section writers
• If you do marketing now, you could still book more writing income this year
• Kids go back to school, and writer-parents suddenly have a lot more time for freelance writing

See the potential fall has to ramp up your writing income?

Except that you’re suddenly transitioning from sleeping late as you like to having to get up at 6 a.m. to put kiddos on that early school bus. And you’re…dragging.

Also, maybe feeling the pressure that now, you’re out of excuses and actually need to do this thing.

And the fall productivity formula is just the thing to help you grow your freelance writing business. Ready to get started?

New season, new habits

How can you get in a super-productive fall groove and make the last quarter of the year your best-earning one? Wondering if there’s a fall productivity formula successful freelancers use to move up and earn more?

Well, I was recently discussing this very topic with my Den 2X Income Accelerator mastermind grads.

Many of these women are in a $20K-per-quarter club. They are high-powered and super-organized. (In one case, they wanted to be anonymous.)

And they all shared how they’re getting back in the fall groove. I’ve added a few tips of my own, too.

Plus: There’s a recipe link! Dig in:

Are writers tired? Let’s listen…

Amy Hardison White: Morning y’all. So, I was thinking I am going to get so much more done with the new school year. The kids get on the bus at 6:53 am.

However, I am having a lot of difficulty getting used to the early wakeups. I get back here after the bus and I am EXHAUSTED.

It’s been almost a month, and I was hoping to be used to it by now, but no dice. Anyone else having this experience as well? If so, what do you do during the mornings to feel productive, even if you’re exhausted?

The brainstorm begins

Kimberlee Morrison: I used to wake up at, like, 4:00 a.m., and after sending the kiddos off to school in the morning, I was so tired. I’d just work when I woke up and napped after I sent the kids.

A 20-30 minute nap can work wonders! I find that naps are super important for keeping me productive.

I find exercise absolutely crucial for a healthy body, and a sharp, creative brain. When I skip yoga (the only exercise I do) I find myself sluggish and in pain.

So take a nap, get into a regular exercise routine and give yourself permission to adjust to the new schedule.

The power of sleep + exercise

Anne Marie Hardie: Amy, I hear you. I’m exhausted after the drop off.

I usually try to get in a 15-minute walk (weather permitting). Lately, I’ve been downloading copywriting podcasts [to listen to during the walk], so it puts me in a frame of mind.

And yes, writing a task list the night before is key (or right before you end your work day is key). If I can’t do that, I’ve been trying to do 15 minutes of yoga (I love Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube, as she has short and long sessions), just to get my brain going. It’s just 15 minutes, but it makes a huge difference.

I also have smoothies in the freezer already made and protein balls so I can get a healthy burst of energy when I need it. And drink lots and lots of water.

Live by the to-do list

Melinda Rizzo: Hey Amy, I’m with Anne Marie about doing routine stuff to get it out of the way.

Now’s the time to observe what tasks you do best and when–and try to be kind to yourself. A month really isn’t all that long to adjust to a new normal. You’ll find a rhythm.

I also find if I’m blocked or “wrung out” doing one activity, I switch to another for a fresh take, and to remain productive.

Better than beating the dead horse and coming up dry. And yeah, naps are huge. If I have a long day (evening meeting to attend or cover), I try to get a nap in during the afternoon.

Boost energy levels with simple changes

Caitlin McCormack: What time are you going to bed at? We just went back last week, and I had to give myself like 9-930pm bedtimes to cope with the shift back to 6:30 a.m. wakeups for a few days.

Can you try getting to bed earlier and see if that helps? Otherwise I’d take a 20-30 minute nap after drop off and then get to work

Anonymous: I want to second the exercise suggestion. I’ve had a terrible time sleeping for the past couple of months, and I know it’s mostly because of two things: I don’t get to bed early enough (and I’m not consistent), and I’m out of my normal exercise routine. I was sleeping SO well earlier this summer, when I was exercising regularly.

Also, exercising first thing in the morning is extremely helpful. It feels like the worst time to do it, but it gets your blood flowing. I make sure I’ve at least walked a mile before I start work, and I can really tell the difference when I haven’t done it.

Carol: For me, I love to put walking/biking/gardening/swimming or whatever exercise I’m doing at the end of the day. Sooo helps me to blow off the stress!

Amy: Thanks, y’all. I appreciate all the input. I am taking a nap, but it’s generally much later in the day (2 or 2:30, before I meet the bus at 3:20). And I’ve been going to yoga or a dance class around lunchtime, so I’m getting some exercise in.

Anne Marie, I bet your protein balls/smoothies make a difference! I’m also having this issue where I get hungry at weird times, and then I have a dip in energy. Need to whip up some of those, so I have them ready!

And @Caitlin, you are right – I don’t go to bed early enough. Usually lights out at 10:30 and I’m up at 6. BLECH. I may try the morning nap and see how it goes.

Brain food for freelance writers

Carol Tice: Personally…we now have one kid who needs to hit a 7:30 bus, she switched to the arts-magnet school in downtown. AND wants to go on a dog walk with Daddy before that! So we’re back to 6:00 am wakeup, from 8-ish.

Secret for me is: gotta go to bed earlier. Seriously. I also take melatonin, if I’m not winding down properly.

It’s always a brutal transition, rolling back the bedtime. Also, I often wake up at dawn anyway, so now I just GET UP instead of rolling over and trying (often unsuccessfully, anyway) to go back to sleep.

I always have my to-do list for tomorrow done before I end each work day, so I have that to guide me if I’m in a fog.

Amy: For right now, I’m thinking that it would help to make a short list of “brain-dead” activities each evening. That way I have the list ready in the mornings, and I don’t have to think about anything. Invoicing, LinkedIn updates, website tweaks, etc.

Also, maybe just take a walk after I get them on the bus. Might as well get a little exercise.

Carol, you are so right about going to bed early, and just getting out of bed when you wake up. I have been waking up at 5:00 or 5:15 and going back to sleep, and then I feel like arse when I get up at 6:00. BLECH.

I wanted to share this protein bites recipe that I made yesterday. The kids are eating them up, and I’ve already eaten one this morning to help with my mid-morning slump.

No Bake Energy Bites Recipe – Smashed Peas & Carrots

Carol: I love these type of breakfast-bar/energy bite snacks. My webmaster Keira brought some with peanut butter and big hunks of chocolate when we went to Playa Del Carmen, and I keep meaning to make them…got the recipe.

The productivity formula

Let’s boil all those ideas down into a handy, 6-point fall productivity formula:

1. Sleep

Roll back the bedtime. Then, keep rolling it back until you wake up naturally at your new get-up time. Take melatonin if you’re not sleepy.

Get up early if you wake, instead of struggling for an hour or two for more sleep you may or may not get. Nap later!

2. Eat & drink

Have protein smoothies, energy bites or other quick, healthy hits ready to counteract a slump. Good nutrition helps you transition to the earlier wake-up.

Also, stay hydrated! Time for a nice new, big water bottle for your desk, or maybe a beverage warmer.

3. Exercise

Whether you walk before you start working, or bike after work, make sure exercise is a daily habit. Our bodies need the break from the screen.

Carol’s rule — if I’m still having trouble sleeping, I need to work out more. Lift some weights or add a second workout session to the day. Sound sleep is key!

4. Planning

Write down tomorrow’s key tasks before you leave today. That way, you’ll still recall them quickly next day, even if you’re in a fog.

5. Work

Write what you’re feeling in the groove with — and if not, take a break and come back to it. Switch to something else!

Respect your chronobiology and try to write when you’re in the zone.

Make marketing a regular part of your weekly schedule. Even if you’re pretty booked, find 15 minutes a day first thing, or maybe a couple hours each week to get a bit more pitching out the door.

6. Forgiveness

Give yourself permission to take a little time to get up to speed! Beating yourself up doesn’t make this go any better.

It helps to talk productivity tips with your writer community.

Thanks to all my mastermind students who contributed to this brainstorm to develop a fall productivity formula for freelance writers!

What’s your fall productivity tip? Come share it on Facebook or LinkedIn.

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