Tag: freelance writer

How to Succeed as a Freelance Writer – An Interview with Blogging Badass Anne McAuley

Courage. Perseverance. A bit of the Badass spirit, perhaps?

These values describe the resolve behind so many of history’s most influential minds and their history-transforming advancements. They also describe how the freelance writer sitting quietly with a computer and a dream in 2015 can change his or her fortunes.

That’s right! These three values have as much to say to the aspiring successful freelance writer as they do to the savviest and most successful CEOs of our time.

Don’t believe me?

Well, then welcome to another installment in the How to Succeed as a Freelance Writer series. We’ve talked to successful freelance writers Nikki Steele and Suzanne Heyn about how they found their place in this space, and this week, we’re fortunate to interview yet another successful freelance writer in the Phoenix area, Blogging Badass Anne McAuley.

Anne has graciously agreed to answer the same four questions with which you are now so familiar, to give us her unique take.

Read well. What’s here could be two (or ten) invaluable tips to help give your freelance writing dream just the badass kick start it needs.

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What is your academic and professional background in the writing space?

I’ve been a professional blogger since 2010 when I was laid off from my job in corporate America. When I looked at my job description after being laid off, I realized what I loved about my job was everything that wasn’t in the job description – networking, marketing, and, of course, writing. I decided it was time to make my dream of being a professional writer a reality and McAuley Freelance Writing was born.

What were some key factors that got you thinking about a freelance writing career?

When I thought about pursuing a freelance writing career, I knew there was a fair amount of risk but also a fair amount of freedom. I could choose the projects I would work on instead of someone else telling me what to do. I could make my own schedule and work from home. I could create my own future without relying on someone else to do it for me.

Where would I get my clients? Networking and meeting other business owners.

Could I handle not receiving a biweekly check? I worked with a personal budgeting coach to understand how to budget my freelance money as if I were getting paid biweekly from an employer. We worked out a personal and business budget that gave me peace of mind.

Who is my target client? All too often freelancers and small business owners want everyone to be their target market. It sounds like a great idea until you dig in and try to market to everyone; it’s impossible. Over the years my target market has changed but I’ve always had one and it has streamlined my networking and marketing efforts.

What steps did you take to get your freelance career off the ground?

I spent the first two years of my business networking my ass off with in-person and online events and meetings. I formed strategic partnerships that I still have today that have helped me grow my business.

The other steps I took were to develop a social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and develop relationships with my community. As a result, I now have a Facebook group called Blogging Badass where we talk about how content and social media work together and I receive referrals through all of these networks.

What are some key tips you can give to those considering a freelance writing career?

  • In the beginning, you will work more hours than if you had a j-o-b but it pays off when you can take a day or week off to spend time with family and friends without asking a boss for permission.
  • The work won’t come to you. You have to network and build relationships with people in-person and online.
  • Build a presence on social media.
  • Don’t be afraid to grow and change. I am working on a rebrand from McAuley Freelance Writing to Blogging Badass because I am more than a writer. I am a content marketer with a keen understanding of how content should be part of every marketing plan.

Being a freelancer doesn’t mean you’re a starving artist. It means you’ve chosen a path of being your own boss, making your own rules. While the road might be tough getting started or at times throughout your career, it’s worth it to have the freedom to create the life you desire.

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Anne’s advice is strong and clear: If freelance writing is the path you want to take, you should get out there and make it happen. You need the courage to believe in yourself, the perseverance to market and build your platform, and a bit of the badass to make it all work!

But in the end, you just might have a whole new career and a whole new sense of freedom.

Anne McAuley, the Blogging Badass, is a Phoenix, Arizona-area freelance writer. You can find her at McAuley Freelance Writing and on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn.

How to Succeed as a Freelance Writer – An Interview with Suzanne Heyn

Portraits of the freelance writer.

There you are in front of the computer, your thumb resting gently on the space bar. The cursor blinking in a hypnotic rhythm. Perhaps you’re trying to come up with four more ideas for your “Top Ten Things to Avoid When Moving” article that you’re writing on spec for a random website. Or maybe you have one eye on a blog post you’re creating and one eye on your email account, waiting to see if that local dental practice that needs some marketing copy on gingivitis has gotten back to you.

Maybe this sounds familiar. Maybe not. But one thing’s for sure—if you are trying to make it as a freelance writer in this world, there is no direct path. No one “right” way. No instruction manual that can guarantee success and financial security. But there are clues. And there are people who have gone before and have made it in the freelance writing world!

With all that said, I want to welcome you to another installment in our series on freelance writing. Our previous article, featuring Nikki Steele, got some of you thinking and talking, so I decided to jump back in with a new feature on Phoenix-area freelance writer Suzanne Heyn.

I presented Suzanne with the same four questions, and have provided her answers below. Take a look and see what she has to say. Perhaps it can provide guidance as you navigate the freelance writing maze!

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What is your academic and professional background in the writing space?

I studied journalism at Temple University, and then went on to write for newspapers for four years. I probably learned more in the newsroom than during college. I learned how write fast, be accurate, meet deadlines and self-start. Then I worked in marketing communications for a small consulting firm and did the corporate thing for a while.

What were some key factors that got you thinking about a freelance writing career?

I hated my corporate job and wanted to quit. I missed the independent yet collegial atmosphere of the newsroom and decided I valued my independence more than a steady paycheck, so freelancing it was.

What steps did you take to get your freelance career off the ground?

I didn’t do an LLC. I’m a sole proprietor.

The first thing I did was set up my writer website. I had a .wordpress one at first, but had a high bounce rate, so then went ahead and bought my own domain name. I think that’s really important. You don’t need to have a super snazzy site, but it needs to look professional and like you’re committed.

Then I marketed my butt off. People always say not to answer Craigslist ads, but I’ve gotten some really good clients from that site. One of them I still work with today, and they’ve turned into my biggest client. I also cold called a lot of people and sent letters of interest. Cold calling didn’t really bring in a lot of results, but letters of interest turned out well. I landed a big trade magazine client that way, and the editor gave me a ton of work.

I was interested in pursuing magazine journalism initially, so I broke into some local magazines with pitches.

What are some key tips you can give to those considering a freelance writing career?

Have money saved up or a spouse willing to support you for a while. It takes a few months to get going, and you won’t have much money coming in at first. You don’t want to have to take low-paying work because then you won’t have time to market for better jobs.

Also, you need patience. The first few months are really hard and you’re pouring a lot of yourself into an enterprise that isn’t necessarily giving you anything back. So take care of yourself, get plenty of sleep, remember to exercise and hold out for clients who respect you and pay you well. They’re out there, it just takes work to find them.

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Suzanne provides some strong advice. First, decide if you value that steady paycheck or more independence—it’s a key threshold question to determine if the freelance life is right for you. Then, project a professional image and don’t be afraid to market yourself. And finally? Patience. Understand the ball may start rolling slowly, but that you will build up momentum over time.

If you’re just starting out as a freelance writer, or even if you’re a freelance veteran, we’d like to hear your stories. How did you get started? How do you maintain success?

Suzanne Heyn is a freelance health and wellness writer, author, yoga teacher and mindfulness expert based in Phoenix. You can find her professional work at SuzanneHeyn.com, and tips for living a more peaceful, authentic life at ModernYogi.today and on Instagram @modern.yogi.