May 21, 2012

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5 Sources for Free Online Writing Training

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online trainingUsually we think of hitting the books in the fall, as students around the world head back to school. However, autumn can be a hectic time for freelancers as their editors and clients return to the office and ramp up holiday marketing efforts or plan content for the next several months.

If you have any downtime this holiday season, then it could be your chance to brush up on your reporting skills, learn a new tech tool, or otherwise boost your writing chops. Here’s a roundup of places that offer free training opportunities for writers, marketers, and journalists. I may write a follow up piece listing training opportunities that cost money, so if you have a favorite online class, be sure to leave a link in the comments section.

  1. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism
    I’ve tuned into several Reynolds Center webinars and gotten tons of useful information on slanting stories or reporting on local businesses. If you cover business–even if you’ve been on the beat for awhile–I highly recommend these webinars. In fact, they’re offering one on Quick-Hit Business Investigations next week.
  2. Freelance Writer’s Den Open House Calls
    Den Mother Carol Tice has invited me to appear on her monthly open house calls, which cover a variety of freelance writing topics including social media marketing, idea generation, and various writing niches. If you listen in real-time, you might win a door prize or get your questions answered, but I often download the recordings to my iPhone so I can listen while I’m folding laundry or running errands. The next Open House Call is slated for December 8 and covers effective email prospecting with Ed Gandia of The Wealthy Freelancer. 
  3. iTunes U
    iTunes U includes recordings of journalism courses from several prestigious journalism programs including Oxford, Yale, and Poynter Institute. This platform’s course offerings are vast, so it’s also an opportunity to further your subject matter expertise, learning more about, for instance, international relations, the stock market, or healthcare policy. These are also handy for listening on long car trips, train rides, etc., if you’re traveling over the holidays.
  4. Internet Marketing for Smart People
    This 20-part, email-based course from the smartypants behind the popular blog Copyblogger covers the four pillars of online marketing success: relationships, direct response copywriting, content marketing, and having something worth selling. I have all the messages in my in-box, and I’m hoping to set aside some time later this month to read through them. (Such is the challenge with email courses, isn’t it?)
  5. The Knight Digital Media Center’s Multimedia Skill Tutorial
    In addition to their week-long boot camps at UC-Berkeley, the Knight Digital Media Center offers a free multimedia skill tutorial available online. These self-paced tutorial covers web design tools, audio recording, video editing, storyboarding, and more. I haven’t gone through all the tutorials yet, but it’s on my to-do list.
What about you? Is there an online training program for copywriters or journalists that you’d add to this list?

Photo courtesy of Michal Marcol / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Filed Under: freelance writing, writing Tagged With: , , , ,

8 Ways Freelancers Can Show Gratitude

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Thank YouA few days ago, I received an unexpected package: a box of goodies from Good Karmal along with a note of thanks from a fellow freelancer. It was a very sweet way to show appreciation, and with Thanksgiving approaching, it got me thinking about how freelancers can express gratitude to our clients, our colleagues, and others in our lives. Here’s a list of eight ways

  1. Write a note.
    I’m a sucker for pretty stationery, so I’ll use almost any excuse to buy a card on Etsy or break out my collection of paper goods. I may not have the best handwriting in the world, but I always enjoy getting a handwritten note, so I’d imagine other people do as well, especially since so much of our communication is via email or text nowadays. I recently got a nice card from an author who interviewed me for her upcoming book. And sometimes I’ll find a handwritten notes sandwiched inside a galley or a review copy of a book. Hint: if you don’t have someone’s mailing address, you might be able to find it at the bottom of their email newsletter, since CAN-SPAM requires emailers to include a physical address. Or you could just ask.
  2. Send a small gift. 
    Who doesn’t enjoy caramels with inspirational sayings on the wrappers? The Good Karmels were a nice surprise, but other small gifts work, too. After a Twitter follower spent some time helping me with a technical glitch in my ebook, I sent him an Amazon gift card (bonus: you don’t need someone’s physical address to email them a gift card). Books also make great gifts for the literary-minded and they’re inexpensive to ship via media mail, so I’ll sometimes send a friend a book they might enjoy just because.
  3. Link liberally.
    Bloggers want links. Journalists want eyeballs on their articles. When I come across something worth sharing, I’ll link to it on my blog, post it on Facebook or Google +, or tweet it. Linking is good karma, but it’s also a great way for your friends or followers to discover interesting content. For instance, I recently saw an interesting post on successful mom bloggers and another on ways to find new freelance clients.
  4. Leave a comment.
    Comments make a blogger’s day! Although negative comments can show that the article or post sparked debate and attracted attention (and yes, some bloggers post controversial statements specifically for this reason), I prefer to play nice. You might disagree with someone, but keep it respectful.
  5. Offer a testimonial or referral.
    Testimonials offer social proof, while referrals keep many freelancers and small businesses afloat. If, for instance, you’re partnering with a graphic designer who does an awesome job on a brochure, you could write them a recommendation on LinkedIn or refer them to some of your other clients. Remember, though, just because some asks for a testimonial or referral doesn’t mean you have to give it. And if someone writes a lukewarm testimonial or refers you to a prospect who isn’t quite right, you can always graciously decline.
  6. Give a #FollowFriday shout out.
    If you’re on a Twitter, then you’ve probably noticed people using hashtags like #FollowFriday or #FF towards the end of the week. The idea is to make recommendations about who to follow on Twitter, but in my opinion, it’s turned into a whole lot of noise. That’s why I choose just one person to highlight each week and include a short tidbit about why they’re worth following.
  7. Buy a book.
    I’ve already posted about ways that readers can help their favorite authors, and #1 was (of course) buying their book. Buy copies for yourself, give them as gifts, donate them to your local library if you can. Books have gotten pricier, but if you think about them relative to other types of entertainment, they’re pretty affordable on an hourly basis. And once you’re done with it, you can keep it to reread, pass along to a friend, or swap it on a site like BookMooch.
  8. Post a review.
    I sometimes feel guilty for not buying the full-price, hardcover edition of all my colleagues’ latest books. So, for instance, when Amazon was offering a free Kindle download of a fellow freelancers’ new book, I downloaded the Kindle version and posted a review on Amazon (mentioning that I knew her, of course).
What do you think? Anything else you’d add to this list?

Flickr image courtesy of woodleywonderworks

Filed Under: freelance writing Tagged With: ,

12 Places to Find Freelance Writing Gigs

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freelance gigs

Many people will tell you the best way to land decent-paying freelance writing gigs is through networking. I agree, but if you’re just starting out, then you may not have much of a network to work with or samples to show off.

That’s why I’ve updated this list of places to look for freelance writing gigs. These site run the gamut from copyediting to creative writing and everything in between, so you may have to scroll through a few before you find the one that fits your needs.

Before you respond to an online ad, watch out for these red flags and always use your best judgement before starting a new project. My rule of thumb when responding to ads is to only respond when the ad gives lots of specifics that fit my skills and interests. Otherwise, it’s just too broad to be worth my time.

  1. CraigsList.org
    A healthy dose of skepticism is key when you’re not sure who you’re dealing with, but you can find legit writing gigs on Craig’s List (I’ve done it, and many others have, too). Look under gigs and don’t limit yourself to your local edition, since you’ll be working remotely. Another strategy I’ve used is posting a services ad instead of responding to ads.
  2. CreativeHotList.com
    CHL is most useful to copywriters, copyeditors, and those who write for interactive media (graphic designers and web developers will find plenty of gigs, too). But it’s worth putting up a free profile with some samples so that companies and recruiters can find you. When I posted my profile a few years ago, I got half a dozen or so inquiries (none of the gigs were right for me, but it was worth a shot).
  3. Ed2010.com/jobs/whisperjobs
    Also lists fact checking, proofreading, and editing gigs, some of them full time or geographically specific. But when they list freelance writing opportunities, they’re usually good ones that you won’t find elsewhere.
  4. FreelanceDaily.net
    I used to pay $3.95/month for this email service, and I think it’s safe to say that I earned backed subscription price several times over. Sure, there’s a little overlap with the other freelance job sites, but there are usually a few other jobs that slip under the radar.
  5. FreelanceSuccess.com
    Freelance Success (FLX to those in the know) publishes a weekly newsletter covering a decent paying freelance market in depth (usually the markets pay at least $.50/word). Plus, you can read the archives and get referrals from other members using the forums. Membership is $99/year, so I would suggest this for serious writers who are full time or considering full-time freelancing.
  6. FreelanceWritingGigs.com
    Get your daily dose of writing and blogging tips, gigs, and more. This blog aggregates new job listings every weekday morning and has a huge freelance following, so be sure to read the articles and comments.
  7. GorkanaJobs.com
    If you’re a business or finance writer looking for your next gig, then be sure to bookmark Gorkana Jobs. You could also sign up for their newsletter, which announces editorial changes, conferences, events, and writing opportunities. In fact, I started profiling for entrepreneurs for Portfolio.com after reading a listing in Gorkana’s email newsletter!
  8. JournalismJobs.com
    This site has a special section devoted to freelance gigs, and I landed a very juicy ongoing gig by answering an ad in that section.
  9. LinkedIn
    Sometimes you’ll see freelance gigs posted in the jobs section, but if you see a full-time job that fits your skillset, you could always apply and see if they’re interested in working with freelancers, either in the interim while they fill that position or as a long-term strategy to supplement their full time staff.
  10. MediaBistro.com/joblistings
    This tends to be mainly full-time media jobs, but you can set an alert so you’ll automatically get an email when new jobs get posted that meet your search parameters. MediaBistro also has great content about pitching specific publications and general media topics.
  11. WritersMarket.com
    I like to do my own market research (that way I learn about the publication in the process), but many writers swear by this website, because the listings are comprehensive and you can search by all kinds of different criteria. Plus, the web version is more up-to-date than the print one.
  12. WritersWeekly.com
    Here you’ll find lots of great articles on writing for print and web. Check the “Whispers and Warnings” section for the dirt on delinquent publishers and the “Paying Markets and Freelance Section” for, well, you get the idea… Updates are published on Wednesdays.
Have you used any of these sites? Or do you have others to add? Leave a comment and let me know!
Filed Under: freelance writing Tagged With: ,

Guest Post: Content Marketing Planning that Really Works

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content marketing planningBy Katie Saxon

Since the Google Panda update slapped down sites with dubious (and often duplicate) content, SEOs have been clamoring to get a content marketing strategy in place.

While this is great news for copywriters, freelancers need to ensure they are ahead of the game to stay in a job. And one way to do that is to understand the value of planning and strategy for content marketing.

What is Content Marketing?

Content marketing is a promotional strategy focused on creating unique, high-quality content. Well-written blog posts, white papers and case studies are now the name of the game.

So, as a professional copywriter, you should already have the edge over the competition – quality isn’t something that can be churned out on mass. And, to give yourself a really unfair advantage over your competition, get to grips with content marketing planning and strategies.

Content Marketing Planning

For years the oft-chanted mantra in internet marketing has been “content is king.” And yet, if this had been true all along arguably there would be no need for Panda. Simply producing great content isn’t enough – people have got to find it, love it and above all, link to it.

So what can you do to help your clients create a successful content-led internet marketing strategy?

Remind them of the value of planning.

Questions that you can ask a client to help them to get more from their content.

  1. Basic targeting questions:Who is this for? What is your target market? What is the purpose of this? What will your reader get out of this? Why should they care?You probably already ask these, but it can help your client to really think about whether what they are suggesting is genuinely something that people would want to link to.
  2. Promotional questions:How will you promote your content? Have you got a list of appropriate bloggers, journalists and webmasters to promote the content to? Do you plan to use several different promotional techniques, e.g. press releases, Twitter, PPC adverts?Help your client to decide how the great content you produce for them will get in front of the right people – and remind them that social media alone isn’t magic; unless they already have a massive following it will take more to attract attention and links.
  3. Technical questions:Where will your content be hosted? What format(s) will it be available in? How will users share it? Have you made it easy to use?You need your client to think carefully about this – unless there is a very good reason not to, hosting on site should always be the preferred option. They can make it easy to promote with sharing buttons, embed codes and more, but self-hosting gives them control of their content in a way that social media doesn’t.
  4. Timelines: When will the content be released? Will they run a teaser campaign? Will they tie in the launch with another large scale event?
    Another essential question to help you do your job effectively, but it also includes more sophisticated questions that should help them to develop effective plans.
  5. Competition:Is anyone else in their niche doing anything similar? Can they build on what’s worked before – or learn from competitor mistakes? Will their plans clash with another big launch?This potentially provides you with research material, but also ensures that your client understands the role of their activities within the wider marketplace.

Your role is to try to help your client get the most from their content marketing. They can use their answers to your questions to build a content marketing plan.

Doing this is a win-win scenario – it helps to ensure that your beautiful content doesn’t get lost in cyberspace. And by encouraging your client to approach digital marketing using traditional offline techniques they are likely to get a better return on their investment and want to use you again.

Content marketing isn’t ground-breaking, but to do it well businesses will need to go back to marketing basics. Help clients on their way to cement your role as their freelancer of choice.

Katie Saxon is a digital marketing executive working for the UK-based SEO agency Boom Online Marketing. She works on both SEO and PPC campaigns, and you can follow her on Twitter @ksaxoninternet for more internet marketing tips.

Interested in contributing a guest blog post of your own? Check out the guest blogger guidelines.

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Filed Under: business of writing
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