What kind of website?
Do you need a website?
If you’re just starting out as a writer or author, no. Websites take time and energy, so focus on writing. On the other hand, if you’re a professional, then yes, you do need a website.
There are endless ways you can create a website; some ways are free. We won’t go into your options for a site because it depends on the kind of site you want:
Want a one or two page quickie site? Use a template-based website builder like Squarespace or Wix;
Need a powerful website that will grow with you? Use WordPress: buy web hosting and install the WordPress script; the WordPress script is free. Most hosts today have one-click WordPress installs.
If you decide on WordPress, you’ve another challenge.
DIY or hire a designer? I won’t get into the pros and cons of WordPress designers here, because our focus is on visibility, and making your website sell. Site design will help you to sell, but you need to know what you want. Designers are focused on the appearance of your website, rather than its function.
From now on, I’ll be talking about making a WordPress website sell. However you can use the general ideas no matter what kind of site you have.
Make money writing
October 08, 2019
October 03, 2019
Sell Your Writing: New Theme In Newsletter
Sell your writing
Today, writers have it made. The world is our oyster, to coin a cliche.
You can write something in an hour which can change your life — or someone else's life. You can write something in eight hours which will make you thousands of dollars a day, and give you an on-going income for life.
Wonderful, right?
Yes. And no. Selling your writing is easy enough, but before you can do that, your buyers need to find you.
The first issue of the newsletter is out. Our theme -- selling your writing, no matter what kind of writing you do.
September 03, 2019
Christmas Bonanza: 3 Tips For Freelancers And Self-Publishers
Are you getting ready for a Christmas sales bonanza? Whether you’re a freelance writer or a self-publishing author, now’s the time to get ready. The holiday sales season starts in earnest in October and that’s mere weeks away.
Your actions over the next few months will set the stage for your best Christmas and year ever for your writing… (or not, if you fail to take advantage of the opportunities.)
Prepare now to make the holidays the happiest and best time of the year
I worked as a magazine writer for many years so I learned the importance of calendars, and the Christmas trading period. I tell my writing students that it’s never too late to get ready for the holiday season.
Major holidays are vital to all writers. These holidays include:
- Christmas;
- St Valentine’s Day;
- Halloween.
If you’re a freelancer, major holidays are both a challenge and a bonanza for your clients. They can become a bonanza for you too.
Self-publishing? Holidays are an opportunity for you to write themed novels and short fiction, as well as themed nonfiction.
1. Freelancer? Create holiday special offerings for clients
When I mention “offerings” I don’t mean price cuts. The habit of cutting prices is a fast route to a failed business for writers. You have expenses you must pay, as all businesses do. If you can’t pay those expenses, you’ll go broke.
By offerings, I mean services that you only offer during the holidays, or in the lead-up to a holiday period. The services you create will depend on the kind of writing you do, and on your clients. Brainstorm services you could offer in these lead-up months to Christmas.
If you’re not sure what you could offer, talk to your clients. Ask them how they’re increasing their holiday sales — what communications’ material will they need?
For example, many commercial websites send out daily mailings in December. You can offer to write them. You’ll often find that companies wish they could send out more sales offers, but don’t have the staff to handle it.
2. Self-publisher? Think SHORT: prepare your publishing and advertising schedule now
Hit the ground running. Create a publishing plan NOW. Aim to have at least one Christmas holiday themed book on sale no later than October, then keep writing and publishing your themed material.
Think in terms of short fiction. Check out our Short Reads Report and Write And Sell A Novella In 7 Days for guidance.
3. Hustle! Call everyone, then call them again (and again)
To increase your writing income, you need to hustle, no matter what kind of writing you do. Commit to calling every client you’ve worked with in the past year, and then calling them again, if you’re a freelancer.
If you’re self-publishing, commit to publishing and advertising more during the lead-up to Christmas.
Tip: increase your prices, otherwise you won't be able to complete with big publishing houses. They'll price you out of the market -- they can afford it. Their books sell for much more than yours do.
NEW: Write And Sell A Novella In 7 Days: Your Blueprint For Success
Check out our new program, Write And Sell A Novella In 7 Days: Your Blueprint For Success. It’s powerful, practical, and tested. Use it to enhance your sales when the holiday buying season starts in October.
How many novellas could you write before Christmas, if you could write a novella in seven days?
You’ll enjoy writing novellas; make this holiday season the best-ever for your self-publishing business.
November 08, 2018
(New) Write AND Sell In Just 8 Hours: Video Training
Do you wish that you could stop trading hours for dollars? You can. Over the past 12 months, I’ve had many requests for video training on our popular ebook, Write AND Sell in Just 8 Hours: Create Top-Selling Ebooks FAST.
The video training is available now.
AS ALWAYS, COACHING IS INCLUDED
You’re an individual, with your own needs. Personal coaching helps me to create products which work for you, whether you’re a beginning writer/ author, or are an established pro.
JUST IN TIME FOR HOLIDAY SALES: START CREATING NOW
I’m encouraging my coaching students to ramp up their productivity for the holiday season. What could you create and sell?
Whether you choose to create fiction, or nonfiction, I know that the new Write AND Sell in Just 8 Hours: Video Training will help.
Join us. Here’s the introduction to the course.
July 22, 2013
Short Stories Into Profit: Make More Money Per Word
I sold my first short story way back in the 1970s. At the time, I wrote the stories for fun. Publication was a challenge. There were few high-paying markets, and even fewer writers could make anything like a living at it. The stories taught me a lot however, and by 1980s, I achieved a multi-book contract for a series of romance novels.
A few years after that, I stopped writing fiction. It wasn’t worth the hassle — I foolishly signed several bad contracts, due to the efforts of a couple of New York literary agents. For the next couple of decades, I focused on various forms of writing which paid well (any form of writing which paid well, really): ghostwriting, writing for magazines, writing business books, and copywriting.
Writing fiction seemed to be a luxury I couldn’t afford. Then the world changed.
The Kindle arrives
In 2007, Amazon sold its first Kindle, and the world changed completely for writers. The gatekeepers were gone.
These days, it’s not only possible to make a living writing fiction, you can make a WONDERFUL living.
This week, our theme on our freelance writing blog is writing short material.
Our first article on this theme is “Writing Short: Short Material Sells, So Write It”:
You can make more money writing short material than you can writing longer material.
Let’s say you decide to write one short story a week. If you were to write 20 stories, one a week over the next five months, you’d have 20 short stories selling for $2.99 on Amazon’s Kindle bookstore.
Keep an eye on the blog, and subscribe to the freelance writing ezine, if you love the idea of making more money for every word you write.
NEW – “Fiction Fiesta: Write Short Kindle Fiction For Fun and Profit” – coaching workshop
Discover how to write short stories FAST. Write a short story a day, or a week, to build an ever-increasing income stream with the writing you do in your spare time. As your coach, I’ll guide and inspire you. Exercises will build your confidence. Your exercises will grow into stories you can publish.
Can YOU write short stories? Yes you can. You’ll love the Fiction Fiesta coaching workshop – it’s fun and easy.
January 19, 2013
January 16, 2013
It's Team Up Time Again
Team Up's early this year. I hadn't intended to run it until later, but I've had so many requests that I've given in. It's always fun for me, as it is for you.
What's "Team Up"? It's a way to get on track, and on the way to achieving your writing dreams. I learned in 2010 that "one small thing" (it's always small) can make a huge difference.
I look forward to writing with you... :-)
December 13, 2012
Make Money Writing Whatever You Like
I love self-publishing on the Kindle. Here's why.
You can write whatever you like. I've got a long list of ebook ideas. Many are ideas I ignored, because the potential market is small. Others are ideas which I thought were too small for a book.
However, with Kindle self-publishing, the size of the market doesn't matter. The books stay online for years. So the market will eventually number in the millions. As for small ideas: your Kindle ebooks don't need to be big. Your ebook can be 20 or 30 pages.
I was speaking with a friend last week. She's been writing for magazines successfully for over 20 years. She's very excited because she's now got a home for rejected article queries -- she can write her articles, and publish them as ebooks.
The world has changed. These days, you're in control of your writing life. You don't need anyone's permission to write a book -- there are no gatekeepers. Write what you like.
Should YOU write and self-publish ebooks? On my freelance writing blog, I gave you three reasons you should consider it.
What do you want to write?
Whatever it is -- short stories, a science fiction novel, a travel or recipe book -- you can write it, and you may even make money. Of coourse, there are no guarantees. You may make nothing at all. On the other hand, you could get lucky.
If you love to write, there's a whole new world of self-publishing open to you.
December 06, 2012
September 16, 2012
February 24, 2012
Writing for Money: Promote and Earn
You're an aspiring writer. You'd love to have a writing business, writing out of your home. (Sitting on the sofa, or even writing in bed.)
Can you do it?
Yes, you can, if you learn the secrets of easy, low-cost promotion.
For example, this article, 10 ways to market your work at home business for free (or low cost) | Support A WAHP, suggests:
"Start a blog. Love writing or taking photographs? Starting a blog has never been easier. My 12 year old has three blogs! You can earn passive income using Google Adsense or you can attract individual advertisers. On the Support a WAHP blog I have opted to only take individual advertisers from our community as, that way, I can ensure the ads come from legitimate businesses that are a good fit for our community. You can set up a blog for free on WordPress, Blogger or Tumblr or you can set up one on your own domain for a minimal cost (I recommend the latter option for branding purposes)."
Millions of people all over the world operate home businesses out of their home. These days, all the equipment you need -- a computer and mobile phone or tablet device, plus an Internet connection -- are low cost. If you're reading this, you have them already.
I know that self-promotion comes hard to many writers. We're introverts. That's fine. Just remember that if no one knows your writing business exists, they can't hire you. Look at it this way: you're helping people with your skill with words.You help other businesses of all kinds to make money: this is a very good thing, so don't hide.
I love blogging. I've been doing it for 12 years, and my enthuasiasm won't wane anytime soon. Blogging is simple and easy self-promotion for anyone who loves to write.
Create your own high-income writing career -- work fewer hours than you're working now
I write steadily for around four hours a day, starting at 5AM. At the end of four hours, I'm tired, but in a pleasant way. The rest of the day is my own. Yes, I need to do the housekeeping chores related to my business but my real work gets done in four hours. If I'm not seeing friends, I write for another hour or so in the evening.
I have lots of time to do the things I enjoy. I can read, watch a movie, play golf... That's the big benefit of a writing career. You can write during the hours you choose. As long as the writing gets done, no one cares. You don't even need to be at home to write: your business is wherever you set up your laptop, smartphone, or iPad.
Imagine what you could do with the rest of your time if you worked for just four hours a day... You can, when you build a lucrative writing career... and you can do it FAST.
December 21, 2011
Top Opportunities for Writers in 2012
Want to make 2012 your best writing year ever? It's time to explore some of the top opportunities for writers in 2012.
Over the next few weeks, I'll be covering various opportunities. I hope that several will be new to you, and that at least one will get your heart pumping and mind buzzing with inspiration.
To date, I've covered two prime opportunities:
* Google's "freshness" update;
I'll be publishing the opportunities on the freelance writing blog.
By the way, I'll be updating you on writing industry news via Twitter, right throughout the holidays. So, if you get bored, join me.
There's never been a better time to be a writer -- enjoy. :-)
October 23, 2011
June 21, 2011
Writing Articles: 4 Super Simple Ways to Get Great Ideas for Articles
Are you writing articles? Whether you're writing content for your own websites, or are selling articles to websites and magazines, quality content starts with a great idea.
These days, great ideas are essential. Google's Panda update declared war on junk content, so no one wants rehashed, stale material.
Better yet, they're prepared to pay for it. Companies are hiring their own "brand journalists." Allegedly, these folk have editorial freedom. Their job is to create good content, primarily for their employer, but also for others. When a brand journalist writes for another site, he gets a valuable link back to his employer's site.
Let's look at four super simple ways to get great ideas for articles.
1. Look for News in an Industry
Your first step is to check the news in an industry. Not so that you can rehash the news, but so that it informs your own thinking. In the news, you'll find indicators of industry changes. You'll also find sources for interviews.
2. Keep a Journal
Mae West said: "Keep a diary, and someday it'll keep you."
Truer words were never spoken. Successful writers journal. Your journal clarifies your thinking. It's a repository for ideas you'll write tomorrow and next year.
Journaling is also valuable as a writing practice: it keeps your mind focused on your writing.
3. Think About Your Audience
Whenever you're asked to write articles on a topic that's new to you, your first step is to understand your audience. Talk to people. Visit the blogs they read, and the forums they frequent.
What keeps your audience awake at night? What drives them to despair? Put yourself in your audience's shoes.
Talk to people. Sites like HARO give you access to sources.
4. Explore Press Releases, Forums, and Blogs
Press releases, forums and blogs are vital resources. Few writers use these resources effectively.
When reading press releases, forums and blogs, never research without a plan -- questions to which you want answers. Make notes. Keep the notes in your journal.
Set strict time limits on your research. I usually limit myself to ten minutes per session.
Stay focused on your research plan. You'll never know "everything." Your aim is always firstly to know enough to understand your audience. Then you need to get ideas, and finally, you need to know the answers to specific questions raised when you're writing.
You can generate a six-figure income, just by writing exclusive, unique articles. It's worth learning how to do this well, and it starts with getting great ideas.
"If You're Not Making the Money You SHOULD be Making from Your Writing, Do You Realize That You Can Make $100,000 a Year, Just From Web Articles?"
Whether you're a new writer, or are an experienced pro, you can make great money writing web articles. Discover a fast and easy step by step process to launch your new web writing career in "Article Dynamite: Make $100,000 a Year Writing and Selling Articles".
May 11, 2011
Writing And Making Money Online Made Super-Simple
Want to make money online from your writing?
I've created a new resource for you:
If you’ve been reading my work for a while, you know that I believe that the sooner you stop trading hours for dollars, the better.
To that end, I’ve create a new program for you: Writing It Rich. If you’re a member of Sell Your Writing Online NOW (SYWON) you’ll find it immensely useful. But even if you’re not, you’ll find it an eye-opener.
If you've ever wondered whether you could make money online, this is for you. Almost anyone can do it (if little kids can do it, so can you), but many people allow themselves to be crippled by doubt.
There's no need for any doubts. If you follow my simple instructions, you'll make money.
Angela Booth
I'm a professional copywriter, writing teacher, author and tech journalist.
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