Copy Chatter for Freelance Writers with Ashley Gainer

These are my top 5 tips for managing your workload as a freelance writer.

People ask me all the time if I will guarantee their results if they join my programs. My answer might surprise you.

If you start as a generalist, it will eventually make sense to niche in some way. Here's how it looks.

If I'm gonna tell you it's ok NOT to have a writing niche, I'd better back it up with advice about how to proceed, right? Well... here ya go!

Everywhere you look, people are shouting about the millions of things you need to have or do or schedule or send or publish. We're bombarded with a massive list of things that we need to master and execute before we've even begun! It's completely overwhelming. Just-in-time learning is what will SAVE you. This podcast shows you how it works.

Are you a good enough writer to make it as a freelancer? There's only one way to find out...

Are you wasting your time on any of these major mistakes? If you identify with any of these, you'll be better off stopping and changing focus. - spending months on a website - social media profiles and content marketing - trying to start their blog at the same time - researching all day and all night without taking action or implementing anything; getting ready to get ready - making drafts but getting stuck in editing mode and never publishing them - spending months applying to job boards and nothing else - ghostwriting without being clear whether or not they can use those pieces in their portfolio (and not charging enough) - doing anything and everything to avoid looking for clients

How do you get anything done when life is chaotic? Whether it's a dropped nap or a global pandemic, instability and situational "noise" can put a damper on your productivity. In this episode, I share a few tips for keeping yourself in motion.

After a string of illnesses and then The Pollening, my vocal cords have been decimated. I'm hoping to be healed up and back behind the microphone in May -- and in the meantime, here's a quick message for you.

When you're thinking about getting a new course or joining a new program, how do you know if it's the right move? In this episode, I lay out 4 situations when it makes sense. Otherwise, you might be looking at some expensive procrastination tactics. I'm also giving you three things to ask yourself before giving it the green light. Keeping yourself in check is an important part of success, and this is one of the key areas that will make or break your career!

I've seen it pop up a lot recently... questions about things like "work history" and "qualifications" and freelance writing resumes. These are all symptoms of employee mindset, and they will keep you STUCK. So let's talk about why freelancing isn't the same as being an employee, and how to shift into freelancer mode. I'll also give you a list of things your freelance clients are legally NOT allowed to ask of you (even though I see it all the time).

If the fortune is in the follow-up... then how do you follow up? If you're using any kind of email strategy to find writing clients, there are a few different follow-up approaches you can take. I'll go over the spectrum of recommendations in this episode and offer you a few quick templates you can adapt, too. The most important thing is to DO SOMETHING! Keep testing and seeing what gets you the best results.

I want you to get off Upwork and Fiverr and all those other race-to-the-bottom, pennies-per-word sites. There are websites with a similar setup that will actually pay you what your writing services are worth. I scoured the web and put together this list of 10 content marketing agencies that "feel" similar to Upwork in a lot of ways, but the pay is loads better. I'll also give you my evaluation method for any writing gig, and 3 hot leads for agencies to pitch.

Maybe you've heard the rumors... you can find writing clients on Facebook. I'm here to tell you once and for all... that it's TRUE. And in this episode, I'm laying it out for you. What types of groups do you join? What does the process actually look like? How can you turn this into a major marketing strategy? All that and more!

Your writing rates are possibly one of the biggest decisions you'll have to make as a freelance writer. This decision alone can set the course for your business, good or bad. One of the best tools I know of to help you set -- and stick to -- your rates is the rate guide. In this episode, I talk about what a rate guide is, what to put in it, and how to use it. We'll also get into whether or not to post your rates on your website and the best ways to handle inquiries about what you charge.

The new year is a great time to look back and look ahead (though I say you can do that ANY time of the year). In this episode, we're talking about specific things you can do to set your business up right for the new year. Plus, we'll get into some strategic planning and talking about how to shape your business around the life you want.

Goal setting and quarterly planning are basically fancy ways of saying "figure out where you want to go and then figure out how you're gonna get there." In this episode, I break down my annual planning and quarterly planning methods to help you set and reach your own goals. This is something you can start doing TODAY, no matter what week or month of the year it is. Feeling stuck? Come ask your questions in the Facebook group!

This episode is unlike most of the other ones. I talk about the HUGE mistake I've been making over the past few months, what the fallout was, how I figured it out, and how I fixed it. Plus I invite you to my favorite place on the internet, so we can all hug it out together. If you're frustrated, anxious, and maybe a little resentful about the very reason you got started as a freelance writer... this one's for you. You're not broken and you're not alone.

Ever stared at your calendar with dread, knowing you had some gaps to fill and no work to fill it? One of the best ways I've found is to ASK for work... and I don't mean pitching. In this episode, I'll share what I do... and what I've seen tons of other successful writers do... when it's time to get new work, fast. Every time I have a gap in my pipeline and I need to drum up more writing gigs, I do these things first.... because THEY WORK.

When you hit a slow period in your business, it's time to crank up the marketing machine. These are a few things you can do to build some momentum when client work has slowed down for you.

I've been in business for almost 10 years now... and for the first 9 of them, I did pretty much everything by myself. Now I know better, and I want you to know better, too! There's a LOT that a VA can offer you, even if you're "just" a freelance writer. In the time I started working with my VA, Heather, I've learned how amazing it is to have someone else taking care of all the "little stuff" in my business so I can focus on big-result stuff. YOU can benefit from a VA, too, and it doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg, either. In this episode, I share how I work with my own VA and how I think you, as a freelance writer, could also benefit from having one. I'll also give you some pointers about how to know when it's time to hire, what things to outsource first, and where to find a great VA for yourself. (Hint: her name is Heather and she's awesome! breakingtheconfines.com or [email protected]) Don't miss this one!

We've talked about the difference between copywriting and content writing before, but today I want to take a closer look at the career trajectory, the pros and cons of either niche, and how much money you can make. With this info, you can start to map out where you are and where you want your career to go.

One thing I've dealt with many times over my career -- and I've seen other writers deal with it constantly, too -- is this idea of accepting low rates (or even zero pay) in exchange for "exposure." Normally I'm pretty skeptical and would say don't do it, but there are a couple of exceptions. This episode shows you what they are and gives you a framework to decide for yourself whether or not writing "for exposure" is worth your time.

What are some signs of a bad-news prospective client? Let's chat about the red flags that are set off by the people you DON'T want to work with.

It doesn't happen often, but there will be times when your client is less than thrilled with something you turn in. How should you respond? And what can you do to avoid the awkwardness?

Should you ever discount your rates? What do you say to someone who says you're charging too much? This episode shares some of my thoughts... and it gets a little feisty.

One of the most important questions you can answer for yourself is whether or not a niche is profitable. Now, I personally think it's possible to make some money doing just about anything. HOWEVER, there are some niches that just have way more opportunity than others. These are my best tips for knowing when you've found 'em (and some clues for finding them in the first place!).

I'm getting tons of questions right now about how to move into a new niche, whether it's a new one or one that you just want to add to the docket. In this episode, I'm sharing my "bridge" technique -- with real life examples -- to show you how to move into a new niche.

I've been talking a lot lately about why you should NOT pick a freelance writing niche, but that advice isn't forever for all people. So when DO you know you've found a good niche? And how do you move into it? That's what we're talking about in today's episode!

Probably the #1 question I get (or objection!) when I tell people they don't HAVE to pick a niche is this: "But how do I even market myself as a generalist?" This episode answers that question. As always, feel free to reach out with any questions, and the best way to do that is to join my free Facebook group! Find us at ashleygainer.com/facebook

I recently sent an email to my list about how it's ok NOT to choose a niche, and it sparked a lot of interesting discussion. This month, I'm bringing the conversation to the podcast. In today's episode, I'm sharing why I changed my mind on the whole "writers must have a niche" thing and offer comfort and encouragement to those of you who are struggling to get started because you don't have a niche. Join us in the Facebook group (ashleygainer.com/facebook) or send me an email with your thoughts and questions ([email protected]).

My mentor and dear friend Julie introduced me to the concept of the paper whiteboard. I took her idea and combined it with my trusty composition book strategy, added a dash of the bullet journal, and now I've got all my notes and brainstorms in ONE place. It's amazing. Now you can do it, too! Want more? Visit copychatter.com.

I've tried a bunch of goal-setting and time-management systems... and also no system. Calendaring is the thing that works for me, so today I'm sharing my mad method with you! Like what you're hearing? Come hang out with me on Facebook! Look up the Ink Well Guild... or just go to copychatter.com and follow the link. See you there!

Probably my least favorite question is some variation of "how do I keep going when I don't feel like it?" Here's my take on that whole "motivation" issue and what to do instead of relying on that flighty feeling. Want more? Copychatter.com has links to all my good stuff, including the Facebook group!

One of the things I get asked about the most is how to get stuff done when there are kids everywhere. I've got 3 small kids of my own, and I'm working from home... so I have a ton of experience and a LOT of opinions about this. Hear my best advice on today's episode. Want more? Check out copychatter.com and/or join us at the Ink Well Guild on Facebook.

I get a lot of questions about what my work looks like these days. In this episode, I'll share some of the major shifts my career has taken over the past 8 months or so and give you a peek at what's coming. Eek! You can get links to a bunch of this stuff over at copychatter.com, or pop into the Facebook group and ask away.

It's the million-dollar question, isn't it? Where do you find freelance writing clients who pay well? In this week's episode, I give you some pointers. Come join us in the Facebook group! Search for the Ink Well Guild -- that's where I'm hanging out these days. And if you liked this episode, would you mind leaving a review? That's such a big help for people like me. Many thanks in advance!

I get questions about blogging all the time, which tells me there's some confusion between blogging--running your own blog-- and freelance blogging--which is what we're doing. Learn the ins and outs, the key differences, and whether freelancing or blogging is right for you! for more info on any of the jibber jabber, visit copychatter.com. Don't forget to subscribe!

This is the second in a 2-part discussion of what lies "out there" beyond blog posts, for freelance writers. Last week we talked about other types of writing; this week I want to pull back the curtain and show you all kinds of services that pair well with writing. Have fun with this! If you're looking for help finding freelance writing clients, check out my new course! It's called Client-Bound and you can get all the info at copychatter.com/clients.

I like to teach my new freelance writers to start with blog posts, but there's a whole lot of other writing work you can do besides blog posts! I offer suggestions and resources, try to give an idea of the sub-types of gigs there are, and generally show you the great big world of freelance writing. (And next week, I'll talk about the other types of non-writing work you can do alongside freelance writing) To learn more about the podcast, visit copychatter.com. To learn more about Client-Bound, visit copychatter.com/clients. Leave a review if you're so inclined! And of course, don't forget to subscribe!

I feel a little bossy with the last two podcast titles, but I hope you'll hear me out! I see SO MANY freelance writers going around telling clients how new and green and beginner-ish they are. Stop doing that!! In this episode, I show you why that's such a problem and then we go over some alternative ways to present yourself. Please, please, please listen and get this right. Future you -- the one with all the writing gigs -- will thank you. On to today's links: ashleygainer.com/niche-challenge copychatter.com and the Facebook group is called the Ink Well Guild.

If you're a new freelance writer, the last thing you need to be worried about is SEO for your website. It's the long, slow game. It might bring you work in 6 months, but it will not bring you work tomorrow. When you're just getting started, you need to focus on things that will bring you work tomorrow. Hear what I recommend you do -- and not do -- when it comes to SEO for your writer website. If you're interested in this and other methods for finding writing clients, I invite you to check out my new course, Client-Bound! Learn more at copychatter.com/clients

There are tons of marketing strategies for freelance writers. All of them fall under one of two categories. Do you know the difference? And do you have a favorite? If you're ready to take your client-finding game up a notch, I highly recommend you join Client-Bound. You can learn more about it at copychatter.com/clients And as always, you can reach me any time at [email protected].

How many times have you NOT applied for something because you didn't think you qualified for it? Well... stop doing that!! Listen to learn more, and while you're at it, how about a review? Find us on Facebook by looking for The Ink Well Guild (and yeah, you gotta answer the questions to get in). And get your free guide to pitching and establishing yourself as a freelance writer over at copychatter.com.

I used to worry that I was training up an army of freelance writers to flood the market and drown in competition. Then I did some math.... If your pitches are getting you no work, or if you haven't even started pitching yet, download my FREE pitching guide and template at copychatter.com.

Exposure doesn't put food on the table. Don't work for free. Plain and simple. One of the most frustrating and heartbreaking stories I hear is of the earnest writer who's trying to figure out how to get ahead, only to fall for scam after scam. Don't let that be you! Visit www.copychatter.com to get your free copy of the Freelance Writing Starter Pack! Want me to cover something specific on the podcast? Send me an email at [email protected] and, odds are, I'll do an episode for you :)

While there are many ways to get started as a freelance writer, often those different paths tend to follow the same steps. If you want to become a freelance writer today, these are the 5 steps I recommend you take. Get your downloadable copy at https://www.copychatter.com/starterpack.

What does a Disney princess have to do with freelance writing? Hang with me as I pluck one of my favorite emails from the archives and share it with you. I don't know about you, but I'm ready for some Mickey waffles and a krispie treat right about now. As always, you can reach me any time at [email protected]. Let me know you're listening!

I have writers with income goals anywhere from $500 to $10,000 per month. My own income goals have shifted wildly over the years. Where are you on the spectrum? (There's no wrong answer.) As always, email me anytime at [email protected], or find the group on Facebook here.

The main benefit of being a freelance writer, in my mind, is also the benefit you want to be able to exercise as infrequently as possible. Setting up the right systems will make your life a whooooole lot easier when you need it, though. As always, feel free to email me with any questions! [email protected]