On Marketing a Blog...

Today I'm being interviewed over at the Wagg.it Blog. The blogger found me through LinkedIn, so if you're still debating the merits of yet another networking site, maybe this'll convince you. We discussed earning money as a blogger, promoting your blog and dealing with critics. Check out the interview.

The Myth of the "Working Vacation"

OK, I’m now convinced that I need a BlackBerry (thank you, everyone who weighed in on that debate). Here’s why…

Wednesday evening I was supposed to fly to Baltimore/Washington, DC to visit some friends and family. The plan was to scale back on marketing but still keep up with email and some ongoing projects from the place where I was staying. I didn’t even call it a vacation, because I thought I could just quietly board a plane, keep typing away on my laptop, and pop out in an hour and ten minutes to check my email and voicemail. Nobody would even know I was gone, because I’d be accessible via cell and email for almost the entire trip.

Here’s what actually happened:

I scrambled to answer emails and squeeze in one last phone interview before hopping a cab to the airport. When I arrived, my flight was delayed about an hour. But I didn’t think it would be a big deal, since flights are often delayed and sometimes you can make up time in the air. I diligently typed away on my laptop as we waited to board. Then we waited another THREE HOURS on the plane (during which we not allowed water, food or use of electronic devices) before they let us go back to the terminal. By this time, my laptop battery was out of juice and my mind was totally fried. It was my own personal purgatory where I couldn’t work and I couldn’t relax.

Waited in line at the ticket counter (meanwhile I also called customer service and waited on hold for what seemed like eons) and successfully rebooked for the following day. That flight was delayed an hour, so I arrived at my destination almost 24 hours later than anticipated.

Then my return flight was delayed several hours, so I went through that whole song and dance again in reverse, arriving home at 2am this morning. This time I reluctantly paid the $5/hour for internet so I could get a jump on projects for the week ahead. Even though I’m morally opposed to paying for wireless because so many places have it for free, I could justify the expense since I can earn several times more than that per hour. Plus, it kept me sane. By the time we boarded the plane, we were so desperate to get home that we were willing to overlook the water dripping from the ceiling (“that’s just the AC unit, it won’t impact your safety,” the flight attendant told us).

All told, I spent over twelve hours in airports this weekend and less than three actually in the air. Of course, had I been carrying a BlackBerry, I would have been able to check my flight status en route to the airport, looked up weather conditions in both cities, and checked my email and Google reader for free (sort of).

The other complication was that in the three days leading up to my trip, I had three people ask me to take on new projects. Talk about an embarrassment of riches! One of them was a rush assignment that I had to decline, but I was able to postpone the other two until I get back. Now I’m back and buried in work. But I supposed that’s better than having no projects coming in.

It seems to me that even with a BlackBerry, I can’t count on having the same level of productivity on the go as I would have at home under more controlled circumstances. But hopefully it will give me a bit more mobility. Any thoughts on staying productive during a trip? Should I just give up on work and try to relax? Or is it realistic for me to stay plugged in with the appropriate gadgets?

Do's and Don'ts of Decorating Your Workspace

I think your workspace can say volumes about what you're like as an employee and a person. My desk, for instance, reflects the fact that I'm always working on a million projects. Call it creative chaos. I try to keep it tidy (as I hate messes), but usually my creativity and my "always on the go" lifestyle supercedes my desire for neat little piles. It's not such a big deal now that I work from home, but when I was working for a startup, I used to get those all company emails reminding us to keep our cubicles clean for potential investors and I'd feel guilty knowing I was part of the problem.

Sound familiar? Check out my article for Yahoo! HotJobs on decorating on your workspace.

The Secret to Job Satisfaction

True to my word in last Friday's post, this weekend I attended a bachelorette party and spent a few minutes chatting (more like yelling, as the music pulsated through the room) with a management consultant. He mentioned that he was working on a PhD in Happiness.

"So, how does happiness relate to management consulting?" I asked.

"Well, someday I hope to help people be happier in their jobs," he said with an earnestness that would been really cute if I were single.

"I know the secret to being happy in your job," I told him. "Be self-employed."

He couldn't argue with that.

Befriending Other Freelancers

Last night I took a course on general freelancing: making the transition to self-employment, dealing with clients, setting your rates, that sort of thing. Most of the material was no surprise (after all, I've been like a sponge these past few months trying to soak up as much information as I can). But it was interesting to hear it from the perspective of a computer consultant, rather than a fellow freelance writer. He pointed out that by cross-pollinating and socializing with people outside of your immediate area of expertise, you can hear solutions and ideas that might be applicable to your field but come from others. That was probably the most salient lesson of the evening.

The class included designers, computer programmers, small business owners, translators, and all of us had essentially the same issues. How do we earn what we're worth and how do we define our ideal client? That was also the topic of conversation over brunch last weekend when I chatted with a friend who earns her living as a private music teacher. I was fascinated to hear stories about her students and their parents, plus how she uses word of mouth to keep her studio running. We also commiserated over the whole self-employed tax situation...

So, this weekend as you're heading to BBQs, baby showers, or bachelorette parties, I recommend that you spend a few minutes chatting with other small business-owners, freelancers, or consultants. Drop the whole "do you need a writer?" or "let me give you my card" routine and ask them about their favorite project. Or how they're dealing with issues of work-life balance. I bet they'll have interesting things to say.

Back to School

Since I started this blog a year and a half ago, I've gotten a lot of questions from readers. How do you find paying work? Where should I promote my blog? Is it true that redheads really have more fun? I'm honored that people find the blog useful and interesting, and I've decided to compile all of that information into a 3-week course on writing for the web.

Starting in September, I'm teaching a class through Boston Center for the Adult Education. My class on freelance writing for the web will answer those first two questions (the third one should be obvious) and also cover writing query letters, brainstorming for ideas and the differences between writing for print vs. web. It should be fun and informative all around!

Computer Essentials

I think my boyfriend's love of tech toys is rubbing off on me. Last weekend I agreed to help him pick out furniture for his new apartment, but somehow I ended up parting with more money than he did! The man cannot commit to patio furniture, but he gets a vicarious thrill out of watching other people spend money. Still, I think my purchases will come in handy.

Purchase #1: a headset so I can conduct phone interviews via Skype instead of eating up all my cell phone minutes. There's a reason I don't have a landline, but it's a long story involving roommates and a trip to India... In any case, I'm sure that using a headset is better for my neck than cradling my cell phone on my shoulder as I type like a madwoman.

Purchase #2: a motorized laptop cooling station. My laptop seems to generate enough heat to keep a small Russian village warm for the winter. Not what I need in Boston in July when I'm too cheap to turn on the AC. Hopefully this will help.

Potential Purchase: a BlackBerry. Still debating the pros and cons of this one. Right now I have a very basic cell phone, but I'm eligible for an upgrade and mobile email access is tempting. Any insights?

5 Tips for PR People Pitching Writers

Let me preface this by saying that I understand the challenges that PR people face. I used to be one. I get it. You're busy, you're under constant pressure to generate media coverage, your clients sometimes ask you to pitch stories that just aren't newsworthy, and you might have been burned by a freelancer or two in the past. I work with a couple of awesomely helpful, friendly PR folks.

But as I've been using Peter Shankman's Help a Reporter, I've noticed several mistakes occurring repeatedly (and to be fair, some of the responses are really fantastic and in those cases I'll overlook one or two of these). Here's how to wow me with your pitch:

1. Spell my name correctly. Susan. Not Susane, Susanne, or Susana. The greeting is usually the first thing I read, so it can't hurt to get it right. However, enough people misspell my name that I usually keep reading anyway. I can only imagine that writers with obscure names have an even tougher time.
2. Be informative. I sometimes get emails saying simply "I have a source for you. What magazine is this for?" I know you're busy, but short, curt emails are a turn-off. I need to figure out if your source is qualified to speak on my topic and will make a good interview subject, and you need to figure out if the article is worth your client's time. A better approach would be: "Susan, I have a source who has worked in the hospitality industry for 20+ years and may be able to help with your article. Could you tell me what magazine this is for?" There, now you're collaborating instead of hoarding information.
3. Follow directions. I've started asking for more specifics in my HARO requests. This saves time and helps weed out people who don't take the time to write a few sentences on my topic. Usually, I ask for the business name, industry, location, and one or two other details relating to my article. Easy, right? You'd be surprised by how many people send me a lengthy email without answering those basic questions. A little background information is helpful, but please keep it short!
4. Don't spam me. A little over a month ago, I wrote a piece about eco-friendly spas (a departure from the usual career and service articles I write). Despite putting an end date on my query and specifically saying I'm not looking for the names of products, I'm still getting press releases about green skin products and other topics that are only tangentially related. Not emails targeted to my query or newsletters that I signed up for. Press releases that look like they were copied into a mass email bcc'ing me and a hundred other unwitting freelancers. Unless I say "I'll be covering X topic again in the future," please respect my inbox. Oh, but my faovrite was yesterday when I got an email from a plastic surgeon saying he wanted to offer himself as a resource since I cover his area of expertise. Umm... I think I'd remember if wrote about plastic surgery!
5. Follow-through. A few weeks ago, the publicist of a very prominent person contacted me saying her client would be delighted to discuss X topic for my upcoming article. Sure, I said, when is your client available? Then I heard nada. Fortunately, I was able to line up another source. But the fact that she initiated contact with me, offered up her client, and then went AWOL seemed a little tacky.

OK, writers, what are your PR pet peeves? If you work in PR, what tips do you have for freelancers seeking your help? I'd love your insights!

Welcome, Media Bistro readers!

Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend! My latest article on MediaBistro.com just went live, so some of you may be reading The Urban Muse for the first time. Thanks for reading!

Here is an overview of some of my favorite posts:
Five Places to Find Ideas for Articles
Five Ways to Promote Your Blog
Five MORE Ways to Promote Your Blog
Six Ways to Find Writing Markets
Six Ways to Network Between Projects
Ten Things to Do Before You Quit Your Day Job

If you like what you read, then please add me to your feed so you can stay up to date on new posts.

Maintaining Momentum

My article on maintaining marketing momentum during the summer months just went live at WorkHomeYou.com. There's no direct link to the article, but it's the main feature once you get the through the sponsorship page. I'm in a really busy period right now with several deadlines coming up (which makes me really happy), so this might be the last post before July 4th weekend. Happy 4th!

10 Things to Do Before You Quit Your Day Job

Ever since I left my day job, I've had a lot of people asking "how did you know you were ready?" or "what can I do to get to that point?" Everyone is a little different in terms of their career trajectory, financial situation, and comfort level with the unknown, but here is what I'd suggest for wouldbe full timers:

1. Test-drive your new gig for a full day. Sure you can write or blog in spurts at home, but are you disciplined enough to do it for longer periods of time with no one looking over your shoulder? I used a few holidays and vacation days to see if I could commit to a full day of writing. Fortunately, I discovered that it hardly feels like work (except when an editor or client asks me for rewrites – that feels like work!).
2. Create your website. These days, if you don't have a website, then you're missing out on a major marketing opportunity. You'll want to do this before you go full time so you can actively market yourself (see #3). I set up a website inexpensively through VistaPrint and found that having an online presence boosts my credibility and gets me assignments.
3. Build your network. Having several clients and editors who give me steady work gave me the confidence to leave my job. The confidence factor is especially important. I also convinced my old boss to hire me as freelancer while they found my replacement. Most people suggest that you establish relationships with several clients so you're not relying on one or two for all of your income.
4. Find people to advise you. I'm fortunate to know several experienced writers who have taken me under their wing and helped me break into higher paying markets. A mentor can also advise you on negotiating your rates and dealing with a difficult client. They might even give you some of their overflow work when business picks up for them. Be sure to thank them. Often.
5. Join professional organizations in your field. Organizations like Media Bistro or Freelance Success give you a way to connect (and sometimes commiserate) with others in your industry. They also provide a social outlet for people who spend their days working from home.
6. Look into medical and dental insurance. I'm fortunate to live in Massachusetts, where I can buy inexpensive health insurance through the Mass. Health Connector. If you live elsewhere, then you might consider joining the Freelancer's Union or buying COBRA. Factor these costs into your monthly expenses so you'll know how much you really need to make to stay solvent.
7. Save up so you'll have a financial cushion. Experts recommend that you save between three and six months of living expenses (some even say you should bank full a year's worth of expenses!). Of course we all like to think that we'll be able to make money right away, but it takes extra time to process those invoices and cut a check compared to working as an employee and getting direct deposit. One website that I wrote for took over a year to pay me. I haven't written for them since.
8. Open a small business account. You'll want to track your business expenses and make sure that you aren't exceeding your income. You can do this easily with a separate bank account (mine is linked to my other account so I can transfer money easily), which also reminds you to treat your enterprise as a business, not a hobby.
9. Order business cards. You're a professional, remember? No excuses for scribbling your email on a napkin or Post-It. I'm amazed by the random places I meet people who hire writers. I also gave a stack of business cards to my mother, because she loves talking up her daughter's business.
10. Set up your workspace. Once you leave your job, you'll want to hit the pavement and start working. If you take a weekend or evening to stock up on office supplies and organize your files, you won't have to spend time on this later on.

OK, fellow freelancers, who advice would you add? Anything I'm missing?