Aoyuan Dawson Street by Aoyuan International is a new vibrant community in Burnaby, South East of Willingdon Avenue and Dawson Street. The project includes signature residential towers, commercial and retail space over four phases on an 9.3 acre site. Aoyuan Dawson Street will include around 1,400 condominium units and 50 townhomes. This community has stellar location, just a 3 minute walk to the Brentwood Town Centre and Millennium Line Skytrain Station.
Terraces 3 by Brydon Projects Ltd. is a new luxury townhome development in the heart of the city of Langley. The 56 three-bedroom townhouses bring modern living to the family home, featuring personal roof top patios and 9’ ceilings. These homes come equipped with forced air heating, rough-ins for air conditioning, quartz countertops and stainless steel whirlpool appliances. Just steps away from schools, recreation, shopping, dining and entertainment, these homes are built with the family in mind.
It may not be as cold as it could get in winter yet, but now’s the perfect time to start drilling down the habit of saving electricity when you can. Prepare a list of things you should do before winter fully sets in and don’t forget to include the following:
If you have rooms that you never use, like guest rooms or large storage areas, close and seal off the vents in those rooms to be more energy efficient and direct the flow of air to the rooms you use most. Energy bills run, on average, $183 per month. By using a space heater in the rooms where you need it and setting the thermostat to 62 degrees, you can save approximately $200 each year. Source:Money.USNews
Insulate the attic
Cover up the attic entry with plastic, pieces of insulation, old blankets, weather stripping, saran wrap, painter drop cloth, or even a few old shirts. Any of it will help to slow, if not, stop, the drafts and warm air from floating away through your roof. Heat rises and may be getting pulled right up through the attic so you may not notice a cold draft even though your expensive hot air is floating away. Source:TheBalance
Adjust the thermostat
A couple degrees cooler when you’re away or asleep can make a big difference on your heating bill (without any sacrifice from you).
Tip: Get a programmable thermostat, and let it make the adjustments for you. Source:TheSpruce
Switch to a tankless water heater
Considering water heating costs account for 11 percent of your utility bills, switching out your water heater can drastically cut energy bills, according to This Old House. Consider gas and solar options, many of which are tankless to maximize efficiency.
“Traditional water heaters maintain a full tank of warm water, which requires constant energy to keep warm,” said Than Merrill, founder and CEO of the real estate investment education company FortuneBuilders. “Tankless water heaters, on the other hand, only heat water on demand. That way, you do not have the extra energy consumption occurring when hot water is not being used.” Source:Time
Carpet can provide good insulation for your floors, especially if you choose the thicker type with underlay. Give us a call and we can help you pick a carpet that would be perfect for your home all year-round.
Sit back and enjoy the flight. If travel writing is your niche, that standard flight-attendant message should get your attention.
Let me explain.
With the Thanksgiving holiday in the rear-view mirror, an estimated 30 million people in the U.S. are back home or back to work after catching a plane to celebrate. Many more travelers will book flights between now and New Year’s.
And for every passenger, there’s a little something for them in the seat pocket in front of them. No, I’m not talking about the barf bag. It’s the in-flight magazine.
You won’t find many of these custom pubs in Writer’s Market (there’s only two listed).
But nearly every airline in the world has one. And most in-flight magazines depend on freelancers for travel writing pieces, profiles, features, and front-of-book content.
Want some of those travel writing assignments? Explore these 20 world-class in-flight magazines and start pitching.
Not all in-flight magazines openly publish writer’s guidelines, but Alaska Beyond is one that does. About 75 percent of this magazine is written by freelancers. Best way to break in: Pitch a short piece for “The Feed” department. Pays $150 to $700 based on assignment.
In-flight magazine for: Alaska Airlines Published by: Paradigm Communications Group Editor:Paul Frichtl
The estimated readership for American Way is kind of crazy. About 200 million people board an American Airlines flight every year. Check the media kit for reader demographics, cover stories, and departments to pitch story ideas about destinations, food, sports, music, entertainment, and more.
In-flight magazine for: American Airlines Published by: Ink Global Editor:Bill Kearney
Got a travel writing idea for world-class destination? Brussels Airlines magazine, b.inspired, features stories about people, ideas, culture, society, food, fashion, travel and business anywhere this airline flies (that’s three continents).
In-flight magazine for: Brussels Airlines Published by: Ink Global Editor:Vicky Lane
Even if you’re a frequent flyer on American Airlines, you may not have seen this magazine. Celebrated Living is published exclusively for first-class passengers. Pitch story ideas for an affluent audience about travel, food, culture, fashion, accessories, property, or emotionally and spiritually enriching experiences.
In-flight magazine for: American Airlines (first class) Published by: Ink Global Editor: Erick Newill
Here’s another in-flight magazine that publishes writer’s guidelines. Carol happens to be a regular contributor to Delta Sky, including a story in the November 2018 issue. Pitch story ideas about food, sports, lifestyle, business, and travel (including international destinations).
In-flight magazine for: Air Canada Published by: Spafax Canada Inc. Editor: Caitlin Walsh Miller
“We engage our audience through intelligent writing, insight, humour and spot-on service journalism,” says Editor-in-chief Jean-François Légaré. Study the guidelines, back issues, and media kit before pitching a story idea.
“Hana hou!” means “one more time. It’s an islander phrase you’ll hear from a crowd after a performance. This custom pub is primarily aimed at vacationers. Query with story ideas about the people, places, events, and culture that makes the Hawaiian Islands special.
In-flight magazine for: Hawaiian Airlines Published by: Pacific Travelogue Inc. Editor: Michael Shapiro
The United Airlines in-flight magazine, Hemispheres, happens to be one of two in-flight magazines listed in Writer’s Market listed with a $$$ pay rate. And it’s one of many in-flight magazines published by Ink Group. Publishes stories about global culture, adventure, business, entertainment, and sports. For personal essays, check out “Three Perfect Days” feature.
In-flight magazine for: United Airlines Published by: Ink Global Editor:Ellen Carpenter
You’ll need to have a sense of British irreverence, wit and attitude to write for British Airway’s magazine, High Life. It’s a perfect market for travel writing pieces about international destinations, vacations, and luxury living.
In-flight magazine for: British Airways Published by: Cedar Communications Editor:Andy Morris
Page through issues of Norwegian Air’s magazine, n, and you’ll find stories about space travel, dining on insects, exploring the Arctic, destination guides to more than 130 cities, and more. Get to know the magazine and readers, and study the media kit before pitching.
In-flight magazine for: Norwegian Air Published by: Ink Global Editor: Sara Warwick
Emirates Airlines carries more than 3 million passengers a month to places like Dubai, Sri Lanka, London, Switzerland, Maldives, Indonesia, and more. Read the current issue here, and study back issues before pitching a travel writing piece.
Qatar. It’s one of the smallest countries in the world located in the Middle East. It’s a hub for oil production. But it’s also a destination place for wealthy travelers served by Qatar Airways. Last year Orynx went through a redesign, and adopted a monthly-theme format for each issue. Study the magazine and get to know the readership before pitching.
In-flight magazine for: Qatar Airways Published by: Ink Global Editor:Mandi Keighran
Qantas Editor Kirsten Galliot has earned Editor of the Year at the Publish Awards three years in a row for this Australian-based in-flight magazine. Qantas features stories, profiles and features about the best destinations, restaurants, top hotels, and food in Australia and around the world. Read the current issue and back issues here before pitching.
In-flight magazine for: Qantas Airways Published by: Medium Rare Content Editor:Kirsten Galliot
Take a closer look at the in-flight magazines listed here, and you’ll notice they’re all managed by media or publishing companies, and not the airlines. And that includes Sawubona (in Zulu it means: “We see you. Hello. Welcome.”), the in-flight magazine for South African Airways, published by Ndalo Media. Publishes stories about travel, business and lifestyle articles for areas served by South African Airways.
In-flight magazine for: South African Airways Published by: Ndalo Media Editor: Ingrid Wood
Open the current issue of Scandinavian Traveler, and you’ll find stories about an Egyptian billionaire who built a European ski resort, a prolific fiction writer, California wine, the popularity of podcasting, and much more. Pitch stories about places, people, lifestyle, food and drink. FYI: Travel writing features are a staple for this magazine.
In-flight magazine for: Scandinavian Airlines Published by: Off the Wall Editor: Anna-Lena Ahlberg Jansen
Wondering what SilverKris means? A “kris” is a 14th century Malaysian weapon thought to have magical abilities. Later the “kris” became a family heirloom passed down to the younger generation, along with its stories. That’s where Singapore Airlines got the name for it’s in-flight magazine. Publishes stories about Singapore-based events, celebrities, experts, fashion and destinations.
In-flight magazine for: Singapore Airlines Published by: Ink Global Editor: Delle Chan
Look through the latest issue of Smile, the in-flight magazine for Cebu Pacific Air based in the Philippines, and you’re read about Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding, an outdoor wonderland in Malaysia, a curious attraction in Bangkok, Thailand, and much more. Study the magazine and back issues before pitching. Travel writing stories and celebrity interview are a staple of this magazine.
In-flight magazine for: Cebu Pacific Air Published by: Ink Global Editor: Kimberly Koo
Need some help coming up with stories to pitch Southwest: The Magazine for Southwest Airlines? Check out the editorial calendar for 2019. Writing for the January issue is out. But take a look at deadlines for the rest of the year. Southwest plans to publish stories about music, Hawaiian vacations, summer season travel, food, college football, pets, winter travel, spirits, and more.
In-flight magazine for: Southwest Airlines Published by: Pace Communications Editor: Tommie Ethington
If you’ve been paying attention to the names of custom publishers that handle in-flight magazines, you’ll notice Ink Group practically owns the niche. It’s not the only custom publisher for in-flight magazines, but it’s portfolio includes more than two dozen in-flight and travel-related magazines, including Traveller.
It’s the in-flight magazine for easyJet Airlines. This low-cost airline based in London that carries passengers to over 820 destinations in more than 30 countries. Traveller features a mix of stories about travel, sports, business and lifestyle, from around the world. Check out the most recent issue here.
In-flight magazine for: easyJet Airlines Published by: Ink Global Editor: Jonny Ensall
Forget about pitching Vera, the in-flight magazine for Virgin Atlantic Airways, for just a minute. Go read the profile of Ann Dowd (aka Aunt Lydia from The Handmaid’s Tale) in the November 2018 issue. Then page through the rest of the magazine to get a sense for the magazine’s style and content. Features about travel, entertainment, fashion, destinations, food, and more.
In-flight magazine for: Virgin Atlantic Airways Published by: Ink Global Editor: Claire Bennie
Travel writing for in-flight magazines
In case you’re wondering, this is just a small sample of in-flight magazines that publish travel writing and other stories for jet-setting passengers. It’s worth exploring this hidden niche of travel writing markets, because most in-flight magazines use freelance writers for 75 percent or more for every issue.
Want to land a travel writing assignment for an in-flight magazine? Follow these basic steps:
Study back issues and site content. It’s really the only way to get to know your market’s style and start thinking like the editor. Read through writer’s guidelines, media kit, and editorial calendar if available.
Write and proofread your pitch. Take the time to write a great pitch or query letter with research, interviews, and other resources. Proofread every word, or ask a fellow writer to proofread your pitch before you send it to an editor.
Accept feedback. If you hear back from an editor with a rejection, don’t give up. Study up on the publication, find out how to improve, and give it another shot.
Keep going. Even pro writers get rejected or never hear back from an editor. Laugh it off, and keep going. It’s a numbers game. The more pitches you send out, the more likely you are to land an assignment.
Have you written for in-flight magazines? 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 ultra-marathon.
Norquay Nine by Bosworth Ventures is a new boutique townhouse development located at 2396 East 34th Avenue in East Vancouver. This project brings 9 exclusive townhouses to Norquay Village for the modern family, featuring large windows and modern finishes. All units include carefully considered floor plans, contemporary designs, spacious balconies and luxurious kitchens. Norquay Nine offers stellar location, just a short walking distance to shops, schools, services, transit, and community centers.
Brillia by Benest is a new condo development located at 2628 Duke Street in Vancouver. The 29 unit project features 1, 2 and 3 bedroom homes, fully equipped with smart living features such as voice controlled Google Home throughout, Nest thermostats and smart LED lights. The units include refined finishes including various colour schemes and floor-to-ceiling windows, along with European-inspired modern kitchens. Brillia amenities include a landscaped rooftop featuring BBQ areas, a children’s playground, and communal space, a fitness studio, secured underground parking and storage, electric vehicle parking, and car share stalls. This project brings peace of mind and convenience through warranty coverage, 24-hour security, and wheelchair accessibility.
The Thurlow by Intracorp is a new project bringing natural luxury and sophistication to the West End of Downtown Vancouver. This 32 storey tower features 96 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units, with plenty of indoor and outdoor amenity space. Homes will have stellar views of English Bay, Stanley Park, Downtown Skyline and the North Shore mountains. The Thurlow is just steps from the water, seawall, high-end fashion district, cultural centres and the Vancouver business district.
Elevate at Sunstone by is a new project in the village of Pemberton, just 20 minutes North of Whistler Blackcomb ski resort. Elevate will feature modern and open-concept townhomes, integrating into the natural setting, including green space, community gardens, bike paths and nature trails. The 52 homes, ranging from 2 to 3 bedrooms brings West Coast contemporary design to outdoor living, with expansive decks with unobstructed views of Mount Currie.
Hey! We hope you are ready for another challenge here at ATSM? We have an interesting photo to inspire you this week. It isn't focusing on Christmas or upcoming holidays but you may like to use our photo anyway you like!
You will see that the Design Team have come up with heaps of different ideas using this photo!
Before we get started, let's announce our winners for Challenge #318 - Holiday
First Light by Westbank is a new 48 storey residential project in the heart of downtown Seattle, Washington. The elegant tower will integrate architecture and art, using light and glass to modernize and liven all aspects of the building. The 459 units, equipped with a cool and natural design will include floor to ceiling, triple-paned windows with stellar Olympic Peninsula mountain and ocean views. Amenities include a private luxury car share program for residents, 24 BMW electric and conventional bikes, 3000 sqft wellness center on the 46th floor, pet services and a 47th floor residents salon for gatherings, celebrations and meetings. First Light features a floating rooftop pool with one of the best sunrise and sunset watching vantage points on the West Coast.
1488 Alberni by Landa Global Properties is a new twin tower development in the heart of Vancouver’s Coal Harbour. The towers, at 43 and 48-stories, are designed to reflect the architectural style of Vancouver, with classic brick façades and period embellishments. This project will have approximately 358 luxury condominium units, as well as 133 market rental apartments ranging from one bedroom to four bedroom homes. The Alberni towers’ stellar location is just steps from Stanley Park, beaches, the Seawall, transit and entertainment.
1818 Alberni by Landa Global Properties is a new 21-storey all residential building in the heart of Coal Harbour. The modern design, offering just two homes per floor, brings spacious and luxurious living to downtown. This project features 26 high end residential units, 24 affordable market rental housing units, 3,906 sqft of ground level retail space, and 3 levels of underground parking with 109 spaces. 1818 Alberni has stellar location, just steps from Stanley Park, the Seawall, beaches, restaurants and Robson Street shopping.
It can be the most baffling part of finding new clients, as a freelance writer: What initial freelance projects should you pitch, to try to get in the door?
You look at their website and you think…. uhhh…. I dunno. Looks great! You can’t tell what they need.
Well, good news — once you know what to look for, this is easy.
Once you know those, it’s simple to find a first project to propose that’s got a high probability of getting a ‘yes.’
What are these categories?
Here are my top five project types to pitch to new freelance writing clients for an easy sale:
1. The missing element
If you’ve spent much time looking at business websites, you know there are some fundamental items you expect to find. These include:
Team bios
A press page or ‘news’ area
An About page that tells the company’s story
Product descriptions
Sales pages
Contact information
Some type of content marketing — press releases, blog posts, articles, special reports, e-books, white papers, case studies
Look at your prospect’s site. Is one of these standard items missing? That’s your pitch.
“I noticed that while most business websites have an About page that tells the company’s founding story, yours doesn’t. Since people buy from companies where they feel a personal connection, would it make sense for me to interview the founders to create a great company ‘origins’ story for your About page? Let’s tell the world about the passion behind this business!”
Pitch tip: Read their press releases. Did they announce a new product or partnership? Perhaps a follow-up that updates the public on their progress is the missing item.
2. The outdated item
Websites have a way of getting old and stale. If you spot a copyright notice at the bottom of the website that’s 5 years ago or older, that’s an easy pitch:
“Hey, I noticed it looks like your web copy was written quite a long time ago. I’m betting your business has some exciting new developments since then. What about hopping on a call to discuss a website refresh?”
You’ll notice that pitch script didn’t say, “Hi, your website copy sucks.” Even though it probably does.
Just note that it is out of date. Everyone likes to be current.
After 20+ years covering business, I can tell you if that business didn’t have some fresh news to add to its site after 5 years, it would be out of business. I promise you, there are new developments. They have added services or products, opened a new location, changed who their target audience is — there’s news to share.
Plus, online copy best-practices have changed a lot over the years, so the vibe may no longer reflect how the company wants to communicate with customers. Offer to do a style & tone rewrite, to convey a more 21st Century feel.
3. The interrupted marketing
Companies start many marketing initiatives. They have high hopes each will get them buckets of new clients.
Maybe they do, maybe they don’t. But what happens is that like all businesses, they try many things, and then find they don’t have the bandwidth to keep them all going.
The most obvious example of this is abandoned business website blogs. Of which there are legions. Truly.
You take a look at their blog, and the last post was a year ago. They understood blogging could help build their business, but they ran out of ideas or didn’t have time to keep it up.
Now, they have a sad, dusty-looking, abandoned blog — and you have an easy pitch angle. Think up 2-3 snappy, new blog headlines that would fit their audience and send off a pitch.
It’s not just blogs, either. For instance, I recently checked out a fairly large national company’s press-release zone online — and discovered their most recent release came out in…2016.
That means they understand press releases are a good idea, and could help them get free publicity. And in turn, more clients. But…the effort sputtered out.
Perhaps a fresh set of outside eyes could help them develop a new schedule of weekly press releases to kick that strategy back into gear, hm?
What I love about this pitch angle is you spend zero time trying to convince them they should have a blog, or put out press releases. They already get it — all you have to do is point out they should resume using this form of marketing.
4. The industry best practice
Take the top 10 companies in any industry. Look at all of their websites. Now, look at the sites of your prospects.
You’ll probably immediately spot some forms of content that the big dogs do that the medium- and smaller-size companies don’t.
That’s your pitch.
“I was checking out your website, and I noticed you don’t have any (X type of marketing). Since all of the top 10 companies in (niche) use this form of marketing, I wanted to check in to see if it’s time to bring your company’s marketing up a level, so you look as authoritative as the big guys.”
The best-practice items will vary by sector — maybe it’s explainer videos or a podcast you should be paid to script, or bait-piece e-books for blog subscribers. But when you point out their top competitors all do it, you won’t get a lot of objections.
5. The authority builder
You probably know that one of the hottest forms of marketing today is aimed at building authority — setting up the CEO or other C-suite exec as the go-to expert in their field.
It raises their profile personally, and can greatly enhance a business’s reputation, making sales much easier to make. These authority pieces take many forms — placed articles in magazines, special reports, e-books, white papers, print book ‘in the back of the room’ for public speakers.
If you check out a company website and don’t see any obvious authority-building efforts, that’s your pitch. Combine with your best-practice research for maximum effect, as in:
“I notice many of your competitors put out special reports, e-books, and print books that help build their authority. But I’m betting you have just as much expertise to share.
Have you always thought you had a book in you, that would raise your profile in the industry? If so, I’m happy to talk about ghostwriting and making that happen sooner than later.”
If you’re not up for ghosting books, maybe pitch them ghostwriting an article or series. Choose your authority weapon, and go for it.
Easy pitches for more freelance projects
With these simple elements to check on a company’s website, you should be able to come up with a great pitch idea fairly quickly. And that’s key to being a successful freelance writer — you can’t spend hours researching each prospect.
Take a quick spin around your prospects’ websites and look for these five elements. I’d love to hear what you find – let’s discuss on Facebook or LinkedIn.
For more pitching help, check out what I’ve got for you below:
Whether it’s because of scary movies or the general eeriness that comes with going down a flight of stairs to the basement, we can’t deny the fact that basements can be quite scary when not decorated correctly. Here are some design tips that you should consider:
“In my opinion, carpet is 100 percent the best flooring for a basement, because it can fit any budget and any style of decor” says Donna. “If you want your basement to feel like a living room, do a thick pad underneath with a nice thick carpet; if you’re creating something that’s primarily a play area for the kids, choose a low carpet.”
For bathrooms and bar areas where moisture is more likely to become an issue, stick with hard tile and invest in a radiant heat system to keep the floor warm and comfortable. Source:HGTV
Pick the right paint color
The general rule is that lighter colors are best in a basement. Light and bright fabrics, floors and artwork will help lift up a dark and dreary basement – but they’re not the only options. You can certainly go with darker colors as long as you have sufficient lighting.
That said, don’t go with a dark color on the ceiling. It will become oppressive and heavy. A good idea is always to go with a lighter shade of the wall color or some version of off-white. It will make the ceiling appear higher which is exactly what you want in a basement. In a basement, you want to draw the eye up and create as much height as possible. Hanging art on the walls is another great way to incorporate color and pattern into a basement. Decide on the look you want and then go for it. Just be sure not to hang your art too high. Hang it at eye level to create the illusion of height above the piece. Source:TheSpruce
Have adequate lighting
Effective lighting makes all the difference in a basement, which typically has little or no natural light. Lamps are one option, but most people prefer a central lighting option. The most common lighting solutions are recessed lights and hanging lights.
Recessed lighting is set into the ceiling and effectively hides the bulb while eliminating the need for fixtures. Hanging lights hang down from the ceiling and allow you to choose your style of fixture. A combination of the two options keeps the room from looking too cluttered. Source:DoItYourself
We can help make your basement look cozier with fluffy carpets. Find out more when you call us today!
Are you struggling to find well-paying freelance work and good clients?
Maybe you’re panning for a nugget of gold on a bidding site for writers. Or you’re chipping away in the content mills hoping to find better-paying freelance work. Maybe you’ll strike it rich.
Prospecting this way usually ends up being a huge waste of time. You’ll get a bite. And then discover you’re negotiating with bottom-feeders who want to pay 90 percent less than your asking rates for freelance work.
If that sounds anything like your prospecting experience as a freelance writer, I’ve been there. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can change the way you look for clients.
Identifying and vetting prospects is one of the most important things you need to do as a freelance writer. You need quality clients that respect your skills and pay well. Right?
Want to learn how to find better-quality prospects in less time?
When I started using this prospecting strategy, I booked $4,000 in revenue in just six weeks. Pick up your tools and follow me.
Step 1: Create a simple prospecting tool
If you want to find well-paying freelance work, you need to get organized. But please, don’t buy a list or spend a fortune on special software. The only prospecting tool you really need is a simple spreadsheet with columns for:
Company name
Prospect name
Position in company
Contact email
LinkedIn profile
Notes: I’d also suggest adding a column for Notes. You can use this area of the spreadsheet to store information for a customized LOI (letter of introduction), or details from a phone or email conversation with the prospect.
Status: You may also want to create a Status column. Use it to keep track of who you’ve contacted and when. It’s a lot easier to see at-a-glance this way than trying to sift through your inbox.
Step 2: Dig for clients in the right places
Sure, decent companies do sometimes head to Upwork. If your prospect is looking for a freelance writer on Google, they’re bound to stumble across Upwork in the search results. But identifying good prospects on platforms like this among all the junk gigs takes forever. Instead, look for big-name brands and organizations, and up-and-coming startups in your niche. Here are the resources I use to find prospects:
Crunchbase. Use it to search by industry, funding, company size and more
Inc 5000 (both US and EU). Use it to search the fastest-growing companies in your niche
Every week, I spend up to 30-plus minutes going through these lists. When I find a prospect that has potential, I’ll visit their site and take a few seconds to scan through it. If it still looks promising, I’ll move on to Step 3. If it doesn’t, stop digging and don’t waste any more time on it.
Step 3: Follow the money
Step 2 can help you find potential prospects, but it’s not a guarantee that those companies can pay pro rates for freelance work. Here are a couple of things to look for to find out if a prospect is worth your time:
Annual revenue or sales data. Companies with $10 million to $100 million in annual sales are far more likely to pay pro rates for freelance work than a mom-and-pop store in your town.
VC funding. If you want to write for small businesses or start-ups, look for prospects infused with venture capital funding. Lots of start-ups need freelance writers. But too many are run by wannabes full of excuses like,”We can’t afford you because we’re just a startup.” A few minutes of research can help you avoid those prospects.
This step can save you a lot of time. Look for companies that have built enough credibility to attract the attention of venture-capital firms. Look for big businesses and companies in your niche that are growing fast. If the prospect still looks promising, move on to Step 4. If it doesn’t, stop right there and move on.
Step 4: Watch for trust and authority ‘tells’
You’ve verified the prospect has enough financial stability to pay pro rates for freelance work. But there’s a few more things you should look for before you start filling out your spreadsheet and sending LOIs.
Start by asking yourself this question: Is this prospect a respected start-up or established company in your niche? If your answer is “no,” you may want to end the vetting process. If your answer is “yes” look for any red flags on the prospect’s site such as:
Spelling, grammar and punctuation errors
Stylistic issues, such as repetition and overly generic content
Spammy advertising content and a complete lack of benefit-driven copy
SEO – If it’s at all obvious that a page has been optimised, then it’s spam
Misuse of industry-specific jargon
If you come across any of these problems, you might think you’re just the perfect writer to improve their copy. But if a company can’t even be bothered to craft half-decent homepage content, then chances are it’s not a worthwhile prospect. If I see any more than one or two (minor) red flags, I move on.
5. Complete the spreadsheet and reach out
If a prospect makes it through Steps 1-4 of the vetting process, takes a few minutes to complete the spreadsheet. Find the right person to contact and reach out with an LOI. Need a little help? Check out these resources:
If you want to move up and earn more, take a little time vet your prospects. If you’re not doing this now, start. You’ll avoid bottom feeders and low payers, and book more freelance work that pays pro rates.
How do you find quality prospects for freelance work? Let’s discuss on Facebook or LinkedIn.
Charles Owen-Jackson writes about enterprise technology and digital marketing. He also blogs about natural science at Earthly Universe.
Capital Park Residences by Concert and Jawl Properties is a new vibrant community in Victoria’s Inner Circle, offering over 100 condominium homes and townhomes. This project features two apartment buildings, along with a collection of townhomes, plazas, courtyards, office and retail space. These homes are large in size and contemporary finished, within an expansively landscaped setting. Homes include generous roof terraces, fenced backyards and front porches, giving the convenience of condominium living the perks of a single family home. This community is closely located to beaches, hiking and scenic waterfront, as well as urban shopping and entertainment.
Are you a digital hoarder? There’s a good chance the way you organize your freelance writing jobs is a complete mess.
Take a look at your inbox, computer, and work space. If there’s clutter, junk, and “important” information everywhere, you may have a problem.
When I started freelancing, I hustled a ton of work just to make money writing. Getting started was great. But it didn’t take long to realize I wasn’t organized.
I wasn’t doing a very good job at keeping track of assignments, pitches, contact information, deadlines, story ideas, invoices and payments from clients for freelance writing jobs.
My digital hoarding habits were preventing me from being able to move up and earn more. And I knew something had to change.
Sound familiar?
If you think digital hoarding habits may be preventing you from freelance success, it’s time for an intervention.
Use this strategy to organize your freelance writing jobs:
Use Trello to organize freelance writing jobs
When I reached the tipping point of running a disorganized freelance writing business, I started looking for solutions. And that’s when I found Trello.
It’s a list-based website that allows you to keep track of your pitches at every stage, from fleeting idea to published article, and much more.
Before Trello, I kept story ideas in a notebook. But I was constantly searching through it to find pitch ideas for clients. It wasn’t a good use of time. Sometimes I couldn’t find what I was looking for. And if your shorthand sucks, you might not be able read your own writing.
Trello makes it easy to organize your freelance writing jobs, assignments, pitches, and deadlines to be more productive. Here’s how:
Organize the flow of freelance work with Boards
If you’re consistently marketing and landing clients, you should have a mix of freelance writing jobs at various stages from story idea to awaiting payment.
I can tell you from personal experience the “notebook method” isn’t the best approach. Trello Boards can help you organize this part of your freelance business based on where you’re at with a pitch or assignment. At a glance, you can look at your workflow like this:
Assigned to write
Pitched this month
Crafted pitches
Pitch ideas
Backburner
Awaiting publication/payment
When you set up your Boards this way, it’s easy to keep track of where everything’s at.
Here’s how it works: When a pitch is accepted, just move it over to the “Assigned to write” board. It’s a lot better than the notebook method, old-school file folders, or a mess of digital files on your desktop or computer.
But you can do more with Trello Boards than just organize the flow of projects. Once you create a Board, you can add cards for each pitch or assignment and make it a lot easier to track.
Use labels to filter assignments
Tired of sifting through a notebook for that story idea you had weeks or months ago? Create a card for the pitch and add it to a Trello board. Give your pitch a title and a color-coded label.
This allows you to filter your cards and reduce search time. For example, I can easily find pitches I’m working on based on labels I use like “LGBTQ+” or “Crime Shows.”
Schedule deadlines with the calendar
Trello’s calendar function allows you to see what pitches need your attention.
Create a due date every time you update a card, and you’ll be a lot less likely to miss a deadline or opportunity to pitch that seasonal idea to a magazine.
You can use the calendar to remind you to:
Pitch an editor
Complete an assignment
Follow-up on a pitch
Make sure you get paid, or
Send your pitch to another publication
If your pitch has a short shelf life (i.e. the retirement of Anthony Kennedy) or is tied to a future event (i.e. Halloween), I’ll use the due date function to remind me to pitch at the right time. The calendar is also a great feature to help you meet deadlines and know when you’ll get paid.
Create a Card for every pitch
Trello’s top-level organizational structure is a lot better than the “notebook method” for freelance writers. And once you have Boards in place, start adding cards. When I got started, I transferred all the pitch ideas from my notebook to Trello cards so everything would be accessible in one place like:
Pitch idea or description
Working title or headline
Notes
Sources
Contact information
References
Links to websites
Media (images, videos, social channel content)
Publications to pitch
If you don’t keep everything you need for an article in one place, it’s easy to lose important information between pitching and submitting.
Working on a pitch or assignment with lots of stops and starts? You need a way to keep everything organized.
Here’s an example: I have a pitch about LGBTQ+ films released in 2018, which will be pitched in December. So throughout the year, every time I’ve seen a related trailer, I’ve attached the YouTube link to a card for this pitch.
When I’m ready to write this pitch, there’s no tearing the place apart like a hoarder looking for a special scrap of paper. Everything I need is on the card.
More Trello features for freelance writers
There’s at least two other Trello features you can use to keep your freelance writing jobs organized.
Points to mention
Gotta give a virtual fist-bump to the Trello software developer who thought of this. The old-school outline is dead. So how do you make sure you include important details in a blog post or story assignment?
Use “Points to mention” on your pitch card to write an information outline. You can also use it like a checklist for all the steps you need to take to go from idea to assignment.
Comments
Here’s another massive time saver in Trello. Add comments to your card. That could be important information you can’t include as an attachment or notes from a conversation or email from an editor. (If you’re a digital hoarder, you can never find those details when you need them).
Get organized to move up and earn more
If you want to be a productive writer, give up your digital-hoarding habits and get organized. When you have a system in place to pitch ideas, follow-up, meet deadlines, and make sure you get paid for freelance writing jobs, you’ll be able to move up and earn more.
How do you organize freelance writing jobs? Let’s discuss on Facebook or LinkedIn.
Emma Murphy is a queer British freelance writer specializing in politics, travel, and entertainment. Barack Obama (yes, that one) follows her on Twitter, and she’s never been sure why.
U Eight by Mission Group is UBC Okanagan’s final U-District community project, bringing a variety of contemporary and open-concept studios, 1, 2, and 3 bedroom homes. This project is built with students in mind, featuring in-suite laundry, full kitchens, and a bathroom for each individual bedroom. With a shortage of housing on campus, U-District aims to tackle the growing need and demand for student housing by providing a great location, design and amenities for students.
The cold weather is here and it’s the perfect time to redecorate your home. Enjoy more time indoors during this season by creating a sense of warmth using the following tips:
Area rugs are the most essential décor additions for immediately cozying up your home. They don’t have to be fancy or expensive. Invest in a few seasonal area rugs that add comfort and color to any room in need of a coziness boost. Area rugs also warm up cold floors and your feet on cool mornings.
Looking for more warmth than an area rug provides? Installing new carpeting isn’t that crazy of an idea. If it’s something you’ve been wanting to do, the fall season is a great time to do it before the winter hits. They are beautiful, quickly installed, quiet and warm under the feet. Source:ImproveNet
Focus on decorating one area
Save money by focusing your fall decor. Instead of spreading a few items here or there around the room only to have them get visually lost, concentrate your fall decorating on the natural focal point of the room. If you have a fireplace mantel, an entry table, or a built in book case, these would all be great areas to generate some fall “cozy”. Source:TheBudgetDecorator
Add heavy window treatments
Heavy drapes keep out drafts and lend an opulence to the room, especially if you let them pool an inch or so on the ground. Switch out summer sheers for pattern drapes with a heavier hand. Source:BHG
Brighten the place with soft lighting
Lighting makes such a huge difference in the feel of a space. Get ready for fall by adding some low, soft lighting to your bedroom — a bedside lamp with a low-watt bulb (40 or lower) is a good place to start. Be sure to pick bulbs with warm tones, too. Source:ApatmentTherapy
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You think you’ve got time management dialed in to be a successful freelance writer.
But do you really? Be honest.
Go ahead. Cough up an hour-by-hour report of how you spend your time.
It might sound like a frivolous, time-wasting task. You’re too busy, right? Too busy doing what, exactly?
I can almost guarantee the exercise will deliver some serious truth bombs about your time-management skills and commitment to make a living writing.
There’s the made-for-TV dream version of what freelance writers do all day. You know, where you spend like five minutes a day writing.
And then there’s the reality of being a freelance writer (which doesn’t look anything like the dream version of the freelance life).
When you look at your day-to-day activities from a time management perspective, it’s a telltale sign of where your writing career is going…down a dead-end to nowhere, or on a path to move up and earn more.
Here’s how to find out where you’re headed:
What do you do all day, freelance writer?
If you’re struggling to get started or wondering why your freelance career hasn’t taken off, your hour-by-hour playbook should reveal the answer.
Here’s a clue. You’re not going to build a successful freelance career by writing five minutes a day. And if you’re serious about this, you won’t be spending large chunks of time like this either:
Gallivanting through the countryside
Shopping in the city
Pursuing a love interest, or
Staring out some rain-streaked window of introspection for hours waiting for your muse
But a lot of writers seem to take a laissez-faire approach to freelancing, says freelancer and writing coach Linda Formichelli.
Linda’s recent post on LinkedIn sparked a lively “Dream vs. Reality” conversation about time management for freelancers. Is this how you spend your time?
If you think this is what the freelance life looks like, here’s a few truth bombs about time management to set things straight:
1. Cashing checks takes a few minutes…not hours
Sit around and wait for freelance checks to roll in. Then spend half a day driving to the bank and signing your name in perfect penmanship to cash those checks.
The truth. It doesn’t work like that. Today, lots of clients pay electronically. You can even use a mobile app to cash a paper check with your phone. And if you do need to stop by the bank, the successful freelancer isn’t going to make it an all-day affair.
2. Taking long naps whenever you want rarely happens
It’s no secret that 7 to 8 hours of sleep is ideal for best health, brain function, decision-making, and creativity. And if you need to fit in a nap to make that happen, the freelance life gives you the flexibility.
The truth. If you’re hustling to move up and earn more as a freelancer, you should be willing to sacrifice an afternoon nap to meet a deadline, send a query or letter of introduction, or schedule a call with a prospect to book more work.
3. Obsessing about coffee won’t make you a better writer
Gulp down a cup of Joe and get your caffeine fix. That’s one way to start your day. And if you must, drink another cup or two to keep going until you’ve wrapped up that project on time for a client. But it’s hardly a requirement to be a successful freelance writer.
The truth. Too many writers use coffee as an excuse to waste an entire morning. If you’re a self-described coffee aficionado, you may even refuse to brew your own coffee at home. But if you’re serious about freelancing, you’ll set the timer on the coffee maker in the kitchen to get the most out of your day.
4. Journaling may be therapeutic, but it doesn’t pay
There’s nothing wrong with keeping a journal to document your life, express your feelings, and even work out problems. But if you think journaling is something successful freelance writers spend a lot of time on, think again.
The truth. Journaling doesn’t pay you per word, per assignment, or per hour. It doesn’t pay anthing. Sure, there’s a small chance you can use your journal to someday write a memoir. But in the meantime, you should be writing for clients.
If your time management analysis shows you’re spending a lot of time on journaling, make this your next entry:
Dear Diary, I’m done journaling for a while. I’ll be back after I write that query letter, send out a batch of LOIs, get some clients, and make money writing.
5. Writing about whatever you want is a fool’s game
A lot of freelancers think writing about your passions is what you’re supposed to do. After all, that’s what the made-for-TV writer usually does. But if your writer’s blog includes posts about your kids, pets, political views, favorite movies, and recipes, you’re in trouble.
The truth. If you want to make a living writing, focus on a few niche industries. But instead of writing about what you’re passionate about, get some clients and write about what they want. And get paid for it.
6. There’s a lot more to freelancing than just writing
Did a few of those truth bombs about freelancing give you something to think about? Good. There’s a lot more to freelancing that just writing. And it requires consistent effort that doesn’t look anything like the dream version of the freelance life.
The truth. The laissez-faire approach to freelancing will never work if you want to quit your day job, move up, and earn more.
So what should you be doing as a freelance writer? Here’s how Linda explains it:
It’s a career that requires skill, perseverance, hard work, and an investment of time and money. Making it seem otherwise is a disservice to freelancers…and to their clients, who think they can get great content for pennies because, ‘it’s so easy to create!'”
This is what your time management plan for freelance writing success should look like:
7. Marketing efforts determine freelance success
Take a closer look a the pie chart for a reality check. If you want to be a successful freelancer, writing isn’t the only thing you need to carve out some time for. And it isn’t even the most important priority.
The truth. It’s marketing. And a lot of writers don’t do enough of it. The staples include writing query letters to land magazine assignments, and LOIs to land copywriting gigs. And then there’s in-person networking, cold calling, your writer website, guest posting, and more. Think about it like this.
How do you get your first client? Marketing.
How do you find better clients? Marketing.
How do you book more work and boost your freelance income? Marketing.
How do you stand out as the writer in your niche? Marketing.
Time management + marketing = freelance success
If your freelance career feels like it’s headed down a dead-end to nowhere, give yourself a time management reality check. Then prioritize marketing, writing, and running your business to move up and earn more.
What’s your best time management tip for writing? 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 ultra-marathon.
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Sit back and enjoy the flight. If travel writing is your niche, that standard flight-attendant message should get your attention.
It can be the most baffling part of finding new clients, as a freelance writer: What initial freelance projects should you pitch, to try to get in the door?
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Are you struggling to find well-paying freelance work and good clients?
Are you a digital hoarder? There’s a good chance the way you organize your freelance writing jobs is a complete mess.
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You think you’ve got time management dialed in to be a successful freelance writer.
