Jun 20, 2020 07:52:42 PM Edited Jun 21, 2020 06:51:45 AM by Andy H
Good morning, folks.
I’ve created a PDF guide on how to succeed as a content writer (link below). It’s completely free and doesn’t have any affiliate links or other offers embedded into the content.
All I ask in return is a little feedback or constructive criticism from those who read it.
Thank you in advance,
Andy H
Solved! Go to Solution.
Jun 21, 2020 06:00:46 AM Edited Jun 21, 2020 06:01:46 AM by Will L
Try it and see, Andy.
If there's a prohibition one of the moderators will remove it. Or they might recommend you post it on a different board, such as here:
https://community.upwork.com/t5/Coffee-Break/bd-p/break_room
Jun 21, 2020 05:40:06 AM by Petra R
Andy H wrote:Bump
I would not add a PDF (may not even be possible), just copy and paste it into a post if you like. People come to the forum to read posts, not open PDFs.
Jun 21, 2020 05:50:46 AM by Andy H
I just want to know if it's permissible, Petra, that's all.
If it is, then I'll upload the file if the system lets me. I don't like to assume with stuff I'm unsure about, hence the message.
Best regards,
Andy H
Jun 21, 2020 06:00:46 AM Edited Jun 21, 2020 06:01:46 AM by Will L
Try it and see, Andy.
If there's a prohibition one of the moderators will remove it. Or they might recommend you post it on a different board, such as here:
https://community.upwork.com/t5/Coffee-Break/bd-p/break_room
Jun 21, 2020 07:05:00 AM by Drew D
Hi Andy,
There is some useful advice in here. I like the discussion of the trap of charging middle-range rates. However, I don't agree with the following:
"Set the minimum you’re willing to write for as a new freelancer. Aim for $10-15+ per
1000 words for straightforward projects, and $15–20+ for research writing. It’s
ultimately up to you, but don’t jump in too low, or you may end up stuck in a rut."
I realise that this might be a reasonable rate in countries with a very low cost-of-living. However, this is far too low, even as an entry rate, to recommend for writers in higher-cost countries. This would result in a pro-rata wage far lower than the minimum wage.
In addition, no matter where you live, there is a major risk to starting that low: Your earnings per job send a signal that you are a low-cost freelancer, which can make it hard to transition into higher-paid jobs.
Jun 21, 2020 07:20:25 AM Edited Jun 21, 2020 07:26:30 AM by Petra R
I now see why you wanted to attach the PDF, clearly you made a ral effort and the content is beautifully presented. It looks like something I would enjoy reading.
I don't have time to read it properly right now, but look forward to reading it when my deadline is (hopefully) met
I fully agree with Drew about the prices you suggest. Too low for native speakers.
The whole "$10 to $15 for 1000 words" thing is likely why some clients faint when I tell them I'd charge them $100 to translate their stuff... lol.
Jun 21, 2020 07:34:56 AM by Jerry U
Jun 21, 2020 08:24:57 AM by Drew D
Hi Jerry,
Unfortunately, due to the current economic crisis, there is a lot of competition for jobs right now. However, all of us started with zero reviews at one point in time, so it's perfectly doable.
Having a brief look at your profile, I would say:
-get verifiable testimonials relating to your writing from outside Upwork and put them on your profile;
-add portfolio pieces from other writing you have done;
-optimise your profile. You have excellent experience in risk and quality management, but this is a bit lost in your profile as you are advertising your ability to write everything. I would make your profile more targeted to a few areas (e.g. science and risk management).
Once that is done, focus on applying for jobs specific to your area and where you have demonstrable experience. I work on similar topics to you, and not many writers have first-hand experience in risk and financial management, so you could be a good candidate. Make your expertise very clear in your proposal.
Last, but not least, proofread your profile and all your proposals very carefully. There are mistakes in your profile, even in the first sentence (for example "with focus at detecting errors and expunging ambiguities" should be "with a focus on detecting errors and expunging ambiguities"). This is especially important as you advertise yourself as an expert proofreader.
Jun 21, 2020 07:59:14 PM by Andy H
Hi, Jerry.
There’s still plenty of work on offer. My advice would be to choose jobs with care and promote yourself without too much waffle. The most attractive jobs get a lot of attention, so I find that a short, well-written bid works better than a page full of selling oneself. Yes, I’ve experimented with both.
I agree with all the points Drew mentions too. And whatever you do, don’t have spelling or grammatical errors on your profile page or in your bids. That might be okay for some professions, but not as a writer 😉
Andy H
Jun 21, 2020 07:52:40 PM Edited Jun 21, 2020 08:46:14 PM by Andy H
Hi, Drew, thanks so much for your feedback.
What to Charge
It’s an interesting perspective, and I did wonder about adding fee suggestions in the guide. I do have other copies circulating outside of Upwork, too. I decided to add some recommendations based on the feedback I got from those.
This particular file is Upwork-focused, so I wrote it with that in mind. Work at these prices tends to dominate job feeds and many others below my suggestions, as you know. I may neutralize the ‘what to charge’ tips, but I’ll wait for a couple of weeks to see what other feedback I get.
Petra and Drew
I do agree with your warnings about starting too low. The raw novice, though, is not usually qualified to bid for challenging jobs for a while or ask too much as an entry-level writer. These tasks should be short-term and only taken on to build some feedback and get a few ratings. The writer can then go on to bid for higher-paying work with renewed confidence and displayed experience.
I did think about saying, “What you charge is entirely up to you,” and leave it at that. But then it doesn’t answer the question most wannabe writers want an answer to. Maybe that approach is better suited for this Upwork-focussed guide.
It’s an interesting one, and you may be right, so I’ll keep my eye on other feedback over the next couple of weeks.
Thanks once again for your response, Drew and Petra, I appreciate it 😉
Andy H
Oct 7, 2020 08:41:10 PM Edited Jan 2, 2021 02:50:07 AM by Marissa Cecille S T
Jun 27, 2020 07:09:23 AM by Rachel U
Hello, Andy, I hope you're well.
I finished reading your guide 5 minutes ago (it's a 30-minute read) and found it very helpful. It is my fourth week as a freelance content writer, so there is a lot to learn. Thank you for sharing your experience with newbies like me. I will consider your suggestions the next time I apply for a job.
Best wishes,
Rachel U.
Jun 28, 2020 05:35:47 AM by Andy H
Hello, Rachel, thanks so much for your feedback.
As a "newbie," please let me know if anything in the guide is unclear or missing. My focus was to add all the stuff I didn't know—but wished I had—when I started out.
This is the first draft, so I might update it if necessary. If it proves popular, I may also follow it up with a series of guides that are more targeted than general.
Best regards,
Andy
Jun 29, 2020 02:42:46 AM by Rachel U
Thank you for your response, Andy, here are my suggestions for you:
Many clients ask freelancers to have discussions over Skype or Whatsapp. I don't apply for those jobs because I don't want to risk my account. It would be great if you address this topic.
Moreover, I often fail to negotiate the payment terms with prospective clients, so I would highly appreciate if you could share some useful insights about successful negotiations. By the way, I followed your guide and managed to convince a client to change an hourly job to a fixed-price milestone, so thank you very much! 🙂
Best wishes and regards,
Rachel
Jun 29, 2020 11:54:40 PM Edited Jun 30, 2020 12:05:39 AM by Andy H
Hi Rachel, thank you for your feedback.
CLIENT COMMUNICATION
Unfortunately, I can't write about the issues you raise with any authority. I always use Upwork Chat for communicating with new and existing clients. I don't see why it would be necessary to communicate in any other way. The question to the client would be, what can we discuss outside of Upwork that we can't discuss within it? It's a bit of a red flag if you ask me.
I also have clients outside of Upwork, and my preferred method of communication with them is email. I only ever had one conversation by phone and two on Skype in 10 years. Moreover, it's impossible to forget or overlook something that's set down in writing. The same can't be said for a voice or video conversation unless you take notes. But then it's up to the client to provide written descriptions for their job.
NEGOTIATION
Negotiating for jobs that ask for rates per X number of words is easy. All you do is put in your bid and move on if they don't accept it. Or, come back with a reduced proposal if you have room for a little flexibility. Don't waste time negotiating further if the client doesn't accept your minimum offer, though.
Sorry, I can't be of more help. Hopefully, someone with more knowledge of these things can contribute.
Best regards,
Andy H
Jul 1, 2020 07:15:03 AM by Rachel U
Thank you, Andy, your response is quite helpful. 🙂
Best wishes and regards,
Rachel U.
Jul 29, 2020 05:52:08 PM by Adrianne S
Andy,
Thank you for sharing. As a new member, I found it helpful. I have to work on my profile, I find writing about myself difficult. I have unpublished works and wonder if I should post some to my profile. Would a personal essay/political opinion peice be inappropriate as an example of my writing?
Thanks again,
Adrianne
Aug 17, 2020 08:13:56 AM by Andy H
Hi, Adrianne.
I'm so sorry for the late response. I checked the notifications box but didn't get any email updates, hence the delay.
The best advice for your profile on Upwork is from Upwork resources. I'm sure it's okay to promote work to highlight your talent not done for clients through this platform. Don't forget, you can go in and tweak and retweak your profile, so it doesn't matter if it's not perfect right off the bat.
Here's a link to a recent article on this very topic 😉
https://www.upwork.com/resources/9-tips-create-freelancer-profile-stands-out
Good luck, Adrianne.
Andy H
Oct 14, 2020 08:48:58 AM by Susan S
I like this! I'm not a writer, but there's still information here that's interesting and useful. Thank you!
Oct 15, 2020 11:39:55 AM by Deborah P
Thanks for putting this quick guide together, I have been through it and it helps. Well done!
Oct 30, 2020 04:37:04 AM Edited Oct 30, 2020 04:41:01 AM by Adrian M
I know I'm a few years late but thanks for sharing that!
Jan 26, 2021 03:52:37 AM by Andy H
My response is even later, sorry, Adrian, and thank you for your feedback.
I select 'Email me when someone replies', but I've never been notified, hence the delayed response.
Andy H
Dec 30, 2020 02:37:31 AM Edited Dec 30, 2020 02:39:00 AM by AleksandarD A
Sorry but I didn’t write this compilation of content writing. I just posted
a question....
#- Please type your reply above this line -##
--
—————————
Marissa S. **Edited for Community Guidelines**
**Edited for Community Guidelines**
Dec 30, 2020 07:03:36 PM by Marissa Cecille S T
This very helpful excellent post was made by Mikko R of VR/AR consultancy. Pls direct your reactions or questions to him as he is the author of this post. Thank you and have a nice day!
Dec 30, 2020 08:47:19 PM by Petra R
Marissa Cecille S T wrote:Pls direct your reactions or questions to him
They **ARE** "directing" their responses to the discussion thread on a public forum. Nobody is responding to you specifically.
If you get emails that's because you subscribed to the topic.
Dec 30, 2020 10:29:31 PM by Marissa Cecille S T
Jul 22, 2021 09:17:15 AM Edited Jul 22, 2021 09:45:44 AM by Andrea G
Please kindly send me details on how to trained as a virtual assistant.
**Edited for Community Guidelines**
Thanks
Jun 21, 2021 08:35:06 PM by Lindsay M
I have recently begun freelancing on Upwork, and came across this resource. It is excellent. Thank you!
Aug 7, 2021 04:07:28 AM by Andy H
User | Count |
---|---|
472 | |
432 | |
326 | |
250 | |
180 |