Write to Beat the Recession: It's a Great Time to Be A Writer
Are you a full time or part-time freelance writer who's worried about the recession? Don't be. Here's what I wrote to ezine subscribers in this week's Fab Freelance Writing Ezine.
February 24, 2009
Hi fellow writer – welcome to this week's issue. This week we focus on using your writing skills to beat the recession.
Let's get one thing out of the way first: the "recession". Is there a recession?
Yes, and no. If you've just lost your day job, then yes, you know all about the recession. However, for most people, the only signs of a recession are that you get some bargains when you go shopping, and depending on which country you live in, some prices are going up.
As a writer, no matter what the current economic situation, you've got the skills to make a great income: there's always a need for expert communicators.
Let's look at a couple of ways you can write to beat the recession: create great deals using time structuring, and barter your writing services.
"Buy one, get one free" is a common marketing tactic. It's not for writers, however, because you're doing double the work and cutting your hourly rate in half.
Nevertheless, you can give your clients a better deal by using time structuring.
Here's an example of how time structuring works. Let's say that a client wants a package of ten 300-word articles, for which your best price is $100. Since this is your rock-bottom price, you couldn't lower the price without losing money. But what if you time-structured a better deal?
Most of your clients will have on-going writing needs. So you'll find that if you tell them: "You can have ten articles for $100, but if you'll commit to ten articles a month for six months (60 articles in total), the fee is $90 each month for six months. I'll deliver your ten articles on the first day of the month."
Clients go for this kind of deal because not only do they save money, but they also get the content they need delivered each month.
Sam, one of my writing students in Sell Your Writing Online NOW (SYWON) uses time structuring to sell ebooks. She told me: "Many of my ebook clients sell many different ebooks – I see them post ebook projects on Elance at least once a month. In January I got in touch with three of my past clients and offered them a four-ebook package deal: one brand new 50-page ebook on the topic of their choice, every three months, for $900 per ebook, over 12 months. I got three acceptances right away."
Amazing – Sam created a great deal for her clients using time structuring, and got a 100 per cent acceptance rate. Why? Simply because she made it easy for the buyers. By accepting Sam's deal, not only did they get ebooks at a great price, they also eliminated the hassle of having to constantly post new projects on an outsourcing site.
Bartering makes good sense. You can increase your buying power many times when you barter your writing services.
Many of my writing colleagues pal up with Web developers, or Web designers. Not only can a writer and Web developer or designer take on larger projects because they can offer a complete package to clients, they can also barter their services to each other.
Here's one example. Todd, a Web developer friend, teamed up with Inga, a copywriter. They've taken on several projects together, and when Todd needs copy, Inga writes it for him, and he gives her an IOU for Web development services.
Now here's the interesting part. Inga has limited need for Web development services since she already has a couple of sites and blogs. So she sells Todd's services to one of her clients, with a markup – if the IOU is for $800, she sells Todd's services for $1200. She's boosted her income via the magic of bartering.
A recession gives you added opportunities. As companies trim down their marketing departments, they're forced to outsource, and are willing to consider new writers. In boom times, you'd never have the opportunity to work with these clients.
Once you realize that a recession is GOOD for freelance writers, take the reins of your career and MARKET as you've never done before. You'll get (and keep) clients who will stay with you for years.
Hi fellow writer – welcome to this week's issue. This week we focus on using your writing skills to beat the recession.
Let's get one thing out of the way first: the "recession". Is there a recession?
Yes, and no. If you've just lost your day job, then yes, you know all about the recession. However, for most people, the only signs of a recession are that you get some bargains when you go shopping, and depending on which country you live in, some prices are going up.
A recession is a great time to be a writer
As a writer, no matter what the current economic situation, you've got the skills to make a great income: there's always a need for expert communicators.
Let's look at a couple of ways you can write to beat the recession: create great deals using time structuring, and barter your writing services.
1. Give your clients a better deal: use time structuring
"Buy one, get one free" is a common marketing tactic. It's not for writers, however, because you're doing double the work and cutting your hourly rate in half.
Nevertheless, you can give your clients a better deal by using time structuring.
Here's an example of how time structuring works. Let's say that a client wants a package of ten 300-word articles, for which your best price is $100. Since this is your rock-bottom price, you couldn't lower the price without losing money. But what if you time-structured a better deal?
Most of your clients will have on-going writing needs. So you'll find that if you tell them: "You can have ten articles for $100, but if you'll commit to ten articles a month for six months (60 articles in total), the fee is $90 each month for six months. I'll deliver your ten articles on the first day of the month."
Clients go for this kind of deal because not only do they save money, but they also get the content they need delivered each month.
Sam, one of my writing students in Sell Your Writing Online NOW (SYWON) uses time structuring to sell ebooks. She told me: "Many of my ebook clients sell many different ebooks – I see them post ebook projects on Elance at least once a month. In January I got in touch with three of my past clients and offered them a four-ebook package deal: one brand new 50-page ebook on the topic of their choice, every three months, for $900 per ebook, over 12 months. I got three acceptances right away."
Amazing – Sam created a great deal for her clients using time structuring, and got a 100 per cent acceptance rate. Why? Simply because she made it easy for the buyers. By accepting Sam's deal, not only did they get ebooks at a great price, they also eliminated the hassle of having to constantly post new projects on an outsourcing site.
2. Use bartering to get what you need
Bartering makes good sense. You can increase your buying power many times when you barter your writing services.
Many of my writing colleagues pal up with Web developers, or Web designers. Not only can a writer and Web developer or designer take on larger projects because they can offer a complete package to clients, they can also barter their services to each other.
Here's one example. Todd, a Web developer friend, teamed up with Inga, a copywriter. They've taken on several projects together, and when Todd needs copy, Inga writes it for him, and he gives her an IOU for Web development services.
Now here's the interesting part. Inga has limited need for Web development services since she already has a couple of sites and blogs. So she sells Todd's services to one of her clients, with a markup – if the IOU is for $800, she sells Todd's services for $1200. She's boosted her income via the magic of bartering.
Big Tip: the recession can help you to build your writing career
A recession gives you added opportunities. As companies trim down their marketing departments, they're forced to outsource, and are willing to consider new writers. In boom times, you'd never have the opportunity to work with these clients.
Once you realize that a recession is GOOD for freelance writers, take the reins of your career and MARKET as you've never done before. You'll get (and keep) clients who will stay with you for years.
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