As a writer for hire, my personal website sometimes suffers ... I seem to remember an expression about a shoemaker's kids going without shoes. Let me Google that ... Yes, here it is: I'm considering...
Convert More Customers from “Potential” to “Paying”
When dealing with a potential customer, you must build a relationship with them so they'll feel comfortable enough to give their money in exchange for your services. This can be quite a process....
Fast Risk or Slow Growth?
Previously I mentioned that I reflect on my business and life twice a year – in January and August. During my last reflection, I felt a little down on myself because my business has grown very...
6 Freelancing Truths I Didn’t Believe (But Now I Do)
When I first discovered freelance writing, I had my moments of, “This is too good to be true!” I didn’t doubt you could work from home, on your own terms, and make six-figures a year. But, I did...
Personal Growth and Business Growth … How’s Your Mindset?
“What if they say ‘no’?” “What if I mess up?” “What if …” I tortured myself like this for over a year. Then I heard Nick Usborne, an online copywriting expert, talk about how personal growth and...
Is Content King?
Everyone says, “Content is king,” but what does that really mean? There are two different views … 1. Quantity People who believe in this strategy say that the more content you write, the more...
Are You a Ruby, Sapphire, Pearl, or Emerald? Your Answer Can Make You a Better Writer Today
Have you taken a personality test before? I always learn something new about myself from them. But they’ve never told me how to use the information to better my life. It’s great to know that I’m...
The First Step to Becoming an A-Level Copywriter
We’ve all been taught to start with the basics and build a solid foundation, no matter what goal you have in mind. But a common mistake is wanting to cover the basics and move on to advanced...
How Do You Find Time to be an Expert?
As writers, most of the ways we become known as experts involve writing. But it can be hard to find the time to pack more writing into your schedule, especially when you’re just getting started....
What I Wish I Knew Then
If you’re just starting your journey to the writer’s life, you may fear there are a million things to learn. I certainly did. But the truth is, there are only a handful of things you need to know to...
How to Eliminate Your Barriers
Before AWAI’s Bootcamp last year, I was still struggling with knocking down some of my barriers to success. I was worried I wasn’t cut out to be a copywriter. I was afraid of failure – and success....
3 Things Copywriters Need to Succeed
At AWAI’s FastTrack to Copywriting Success Bootcamp and Job Fair in 2011, I had the opportunity to hear Joe Sugarman speak. Joe Sugarman is a copywriter who has created multiple multimillion-dollar...
Eat That Frog!
One of the great things about freelancing is the ability to raise your hourly income by being more productive. Planning doesn’t directly equal income. Productivity does. To make sure I’m getting the most important thing on my schedule done every morning, I … eat a frog … Huh?
3 Reasons You Should Embrace Social Media Now
You may have heard that social media is the hottest opportunity of 2012, but you might still be wondering how businesses use social media … and how it can be your path to the writer’s life. Social...
Danger … “Shiny Objects” Ahead!
Filtering out the temptations to stray from my path is one thing that allows me to live the writer’s life. Here’s how you can start avoiding shiny objects today …
The Problem of Too Many Goals and How to Solve It
A few times a year, I sit down and reflect on where my business has been, where it is, and where it's going. I do this at the beginning of the calendar year and again on my birthday in August. This...
5 “Shortcuts” to Success
If you’re a freelance writer – or working to become one – nothing will get you off course faster than a shiny object. Shiny objects are tips, tricks, or techniques that distract you from your main...
Why “Hypey” Copy Doesn’t Work
I like copy that takes a subtle approach, with ads that tell a story and build a relationship. At last year’s AWAI Bootcamp, I learned I’m not alone. In fact, I’m just like 85 percent of the buying...
The Story No One is Telling
Last year’s was my first AWAI Bootcamp. As I mentioned yesterday, I learned copywriting secrets there that I couldn’t have gotten anywhere else. Today, I want to share a unique brainstorming...
A Shortage in Copywriting Clients?
Christina Gillick here … with a confession. I worry – a lot. One of my biggest fears used to be that the copywriting industry would change and there would no longer be enough good-paying work to go...
Inspiration for Freelancers – Here’s to Opportunity!
Here's some inspiration for Freelancers (hopefully) :) ... When you see an opportunity, jump on it! Too many of us (myself included) wait for the stars to align. We think we need more experience,...
3 Ways to Profit as an Expert
As I told you yesterday, gaining expert status is one of the quickest ways to succeed as a freelancer. You’ll attract more clients, get more projects, and as a result, make more money. In short,...
How to Write an Article in 30 Minutes or Less
If you have your own blog or website, you’re going to need to write content regularly. Fresh, new content on your site can bring you more traffic, make you look like an expert, and as a result, increase your income. Read on …
How to Overcome the 5 Most Common Freelance Fears
Ask any successful freelance writer, and they’ll tell you about the fears they had when they first started: the fear of failure, the fear of success, the fear of not having enough experience, the...
5 Free eBooks from New Blogging and Social Media Website
"If you're not blogging ... you're doing something wrong." − Dan Zarella Do you agree? I do - and so do Valerie Leroyer and Faith Attaguile. I met Valerie and Faith last year at AWAI's Bootcamp and...
6 Things to Do When Clients Say They Don’t Need That “Social Media Stuff”
I recently ran into a client who thought he didn’t need social media to grow his business. As it turns out, after I showed him what a small investment in social media could do, he couldn’t get...
A Step-By-Step Guide to Writing Your First Book
Last year, I went to a workshop where I learned how to write a book quickly, with the goal of increasing my expert status in my niche. The book I’m planning to write will be about marketing to...
How to Create Content That Makes You Look Like an Expert
A quick way to position yourself as an expert is to create content. This could be in the form of your own blog, a money-making website, a book, or even guest blog posts or articles. If you’re...
3 Skills You Must Master To Succeed
I have a question for you … Are you still afraid to jump 100 percent into the writer’s life? Do you feel like you’re a great writer, but something is holding you back? Do you find yourself not...
How to Make Steady Progress
As freelancers, we sometimes get overwhelmed because we’re expected to juggle many different hats – business owner, writer, accountant, marketer, etc. This causes you to lose momentum and, as a...
A-Level Copywriters Ask for Help
Before I jump into today’s lesson, I want to tell you something: I do not like asking for help. I’m one of those people who would rather do it myself so “I know it will be done right.” I like to...
The Sad Truth About “Experts”
Let’s imagine for a moment you were one of the first web designers on the scene when businesses realized they needed to get a website up to stay competitive. Companies would have begged you to build...
My Fridge Says Nice Things to Me
I have the nicest refrigerator in the world. Every day, at least 10 times a day, it says the nicest things to me. You’re probably wondering how on earth my fridge speaks … A few weeks ago, right...
Are You an Expert?
I’m dedicated to helping you live the writer’s life, make more money, and find more clients. Becoming an expert makes all those things easier. You might be wondering, “How can I become an expert if...
How to Think Yourself into Success as a Copywriter
I realize there is a lot of controversy surrounding the Law of Attraction, which says that your positive thinking can “attract” whatever you want in life, and the film, The Secret, that explains...
You Can Be Their Hero
Today’s myth is a common one for freelance writers who are hesitant to add social media to their list of services: “My clients – or the clients in my niche – don’t need social media. So I shouldn’t...
How To Move Your Business Forward in 30 Minutes a Day
At the beginning of my copywriting career, I realized if I didn’t do something every day, I would never succeed. Because I had a full-time job, it was too easy to come home and crash on the couch if...