Being a freelance writer is a challenging but rewarding career, and if you want to be successful, you need to be productive. Like anything else in life, productivity requires discipline and organization.
This might sound like an overwhelming task at first, but with the right tools and processes in place, it’s easier than you think. Here’s how I work hard so I can make more sales and maybe this will help you in your own career.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Prioritize time management and create a schedule to efficiently allocate your work hours. |
| 2. Set realistic goals and deadlines to stay focused and motivated. |
| 3. Implement effective strategies to overcome writer’s block and maintain creativity. |
| 4. Develop strong organizational skills to juggle multiple projects and meet client expectations. |
| 5. Continuously improve your writing skills through reading, practice, and seeking feedback. |
| 6. Stay proactive in marketing yourself and networking to expand your client base. |
| 7. Embrace technology and utilize productivity tools to streamline your workflow. |
| 8. Take care of your well-being, both physical and mental, to maintain sustainable productivity. |
| 9. Stay up-to-date with industry trends and adapt to changes in the freelance writing market. |
| 10. Cultivate strong communication skills to effectively collaborate with clients and meet their needs. |
Focus On Your Mindset
Now that you know how to get more clients, it’s time to focus on your mindset. This is where self-discipline comes in.
Self-discipline is the ability to control your thoughts and actions when they are not in line with who you want to be. It requires self-control, which is the ability to control yourself even when things are difficult or when there’s something tempting right in front of you like chocolate cake!
Self-motivation means finding ways for yourself to feel good about doing something; if there’s no motivation involved, we may as well stay in bed all day long!
You can use these principles at any point during your day: before going into meetings with potential clients; while writing articles for them; even when dealing with emails from readers who just don’t get what makes a great article great (and vice versa).
If you’re a freelance writer looking to be more productive and boost your sales, check out our comprehensive guide on 15 Tips to Help Gen Z Achieve Success in the Freelance Economy. These tips will provide valuable insights and strategies to enhance your freelance writing career.
Sales Systems
A sales system is a framework that helps you convert leads into paying clients. Every freelancer uses some kind of sales system, whether they know it or not. If you don’t have one, you’re missing out on the opportunity to be more productive and make more sales.
The first step in creating a good sales system is understanding what exactly it means for someone to use one:
- A sales system is designed to reduce the time it takes for you to convert a lead into an actual paying client (or whatever type of conversion goal works best for your business).
- Your job as the creator of this tool? To figure out how much money and effort will be required on your part before making any sale or getting any return from that sale.
Create Products
Create products that solve a problem, are in high demand, can be sold over and over again, can be sold at a high price, and are easy to sell.
The easiest way to create such a product is by using your existing skills and leveraging them into valuable information products (or digital products).
For example, if you’re good at copywriting then create an ebook about how to write better copy for your business. Or if you have experience managing other people then write an ebook about how to hire the right person for the job.
If you’re well-versed in SEO then create an e-book on how to improve your website’s rankings or get more traffic from search engines.
If you know how to manage social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter then create an e-book on what works best on each platform so that anyone who reads it will know exactly what they should do when posting something new online.
Curious about the traits that set Gen Z apart from previous generations in the freelance world? Explore our article on 9 Baby Boomer Traits That Gen Z Lacks and We’re Better Off For It to understand how the characteristics of younger freelancers can positively impact their success.
Create Partnerships
If you’re looking for a way to get the ball rolling, this is it.
Find someone who has what you want. This person can be anyone from an industry leader to your best friend’s aunt who just started her own business. They might not even realize they’re a mentor or coach yet, but they can help you out in some way that will help with your writing career.
If there’s no one who fits into one of these roles in your life right now, find a mentor or coach online (or hire one). There are lots of resources on the web: Try Google Scholar and check out other blogs and publications that appeal to your interests as well!
Look for an accountability buddy someone who will check in with you every day or week about where your work is going and how it’s going for them too! Finding someone who does freelance work themselves makes all the difference: They’ll understand why it’s important for everyone involved if both parties are getting something out of this relationship.
Maintain A Website/Blog
Another important aspect of being productive as a freelancer is having and maintaining a website. If you don’t already have one, you should consider getting one set up as soon as possible.
You can use it to promote your business, provide information about yourself and your skills, or even just show off some of the work that you’ve done in the past. Make sure that you keep your site up to date with new content, so visitors will always find something interesting when they visit.
It’s also important that your site be easy for people to navigate around and find what they’re looking for quickly.
You’ll want to make sure that whatever platform or CMS (content management system) you choose allows for easy updating from anywhere there’s an internet connection available on any device.
This way if there are any changes needed to be made on the fly during working hours (such as an urgent change request from a client), then it won’t require switching devices just because another one is more convenient than others at hand time/place
Use Email Marketing
Email marketing is a great way to keep in touch with clients, generate new business and promote your products. What’s more, it’s easy to do!
Here are some ways you can use email marketing:
To keep in touch with clients. If you’re an established writer, having a mailing list of your past and current clients is important. You can send out details about new projects, events, or even just a funny video now and again. This will help reinforce the relationship between you and your client.
To generate new business. Using an email newsletter signup form on your website or blog will allow visitors access to all the information they need from one place (your homepage). It’s also an excellent way for them to find out about any special offers or discounts available at that time only by signing up for updates via email.
Promoting products/services. By using social media platforms such as Facebook groups & Instagram feeds as well as emails sent directly into inboxes across many different networks such as Gmail & Hotmail accounts etc.,
Companies can showcase their products/services while providing useful information at the same time which may include links back into their websites where interested parties can then make purchases directly online through secure transactions taking place behind closed doors.”
If you’re running a freelance business and considering hiring Gen Z freelancers, our article on 13 Reasons Generation Z Is Perfect for Your Freelance Business will provide you with compelling insights into why this generation can be a valuable asset to your team.
Network Online And Offline
When you’re networking with people who are in the same industry as you, it’s important to be specific about what you’re looking for. You can build a reputation for yourself if you can accurately describe your talents and qualifications. If someone comes across a job or opportunity that might benefit from your skills, they’ll think of you when they pass it along. This is how word-of-mouth marketing works: people like talking about things they like!
It’s also good practice to network online by connecting with colleagues on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. These sites allow freelance writers to find out what other writers are up to in their social circles there may even be opportunities available on one of these platforms right now!
In addition, being able to connect with others gives freelancers access to helpful advice and resources related specifically to freelancing (such as how much money should be charged per hour).
Ask For Referrals
You can get referrals anywhere – from people you know, and people you don’t know. Ask your friends, family members, colleagues, and even neighbors. You could also ask the people who live near you on social media sites like Facebook or Twitter – as long as they’re open to helping out!
A good way to go about this is by posting about your services in general chat groups (like those for freelancers) so that anyone who sees it knows what kind of work you do; then when someone does need a writer, they’ll naturally think of asking for one who’s nearby!
Automate Your Productivity
There are several tools available for keeping track of your tasks and projects, including task managers, calendars, to-do lists, and project management tools.
Each tool provides a different level of detail in helping you stay on top of your workload. You can integrate these tools into one another or use them separately depending on what works best for you.
- Use a task manager to help automate your day-to-day productivity
- Use a calendar to keep track of appointments, deadlines, and other important dates
- Use a to-do list to keep track of tasks associated with each project
- If working on multiple projects at once is common for you then consider using a project management tool instead
Take Regular Breaks
It’s important to take regular breaks from your work.
As you’re writing, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment and lose track of time. You may even feel like if you’re not working, then that means less money for your business and family.
But this isn’t true! Taking breaks can help you be more productive when it comes down to crunch time because:
- You get a fresh perspective on the task at hand
- You can recharge your brain with some downtime
- The break will allow ideas or solutions that were previously blocked to come through clearly
The best way to take regular breaks is by setting an alarm on your phone or watching after every 20 minutes of focused work (e.g., writing). Stand up and go for a walk around the block or simply stretch out those fingers and toes before sitting back down again at the keyboard.
Try taking a five-minute break every hour instead of waiting until later in the day when all hell breaks loose you’ll feel better about yourself and more likely able-bodied when things get crazy around 3 p.m.
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Schedule Everything!
Schedule everything.
I know this sounds like a weird thing to say, but I promise it’s true. I know you’re busy and you have so much going on in life, but if you want to make more sales as a freelance writer, then you need to schedule time for everything!
Schedule time for each project or client. This is how I make sure that I get all the work done that needs to be done before the deadline (and get paid for it). You can use a calendar or planner app like Google Calendar or Microsoft To-Do (which is what I use). Just find which one works best for your needs and go with it!
Schedule time for your business. For example: “Monday My Marketing Plan” or “Wednesday Blogging/Social Media Posts” etc…
Plan things out so they happen automatically at specific times during the week without having any energy wasted thinking about what needs doing next because it’s already written down right there in front of me when I open up my planner app on Monday morning 🙂
If possible set daily reminders too so nothing slips through the cracks while still allowing enough flexibility if there’s something unexpected that comes up during those busy periods like needing more research materials etc…
Use A Checklist To Save Time
Checklists are great for freelancers, and they can help you to do your job better. They’re also a fantastic tool for remembering all the little things you need to do to make sure that your work is done right.
There are many ways in which checklists can help you:
Checklists keep track of small details that might otherwise get overlooked by freelancers who are busy trying to complete their jobs. If a checklist is used properly, it should ensure that no important steps or tasks are left undone when completing a job or project.
This helps eliminate any possibility of making mistakes when working on projects, which could cause problems later on down the line when deadlines loom overhead or if someone else needs access to information about what was done so far with their material/product/service etcetera (i think I spelled those wrong).
Checklists also help people stay focused during stressful times by providing them with reminders about what needs doing next whether it’s writing an article, calling up clients, or researching keywords; having all this information at hand means there won’t be any distractions during work hours!
Don’t Do It Alone. Delegate!
You might be thinking, “but I’m a freelancer! I can do everything myself!” And you know what? You could. But you shouldn’t.
Let me tell you why:
- Delegating means you don’t have to do the work yourself. This is huge! It means that instead of doing it all yourself, you can spend your time doing other things like making sales and marketing your business.
- Delegating also allows for more creativity in the tasks themselves because sometimes when we try to do everything ourselves, we get bogged down with less important details that aren’t worth our time or energy (like updating social media profiles).
Enhancing your freelance skills is crucial for success in the competitive market. Learn about the essential skills every freelancer should possess in our article on Freelance Skills Every Freelancer Should Have. This comprehensive resource will help you develop the right expertise to thrive in your freelance career.
Get A Coach, Mentor, Or Accountability Buddy
This is a fantastic way to get help in the form of a coach, mentor, or accountability buddy. Coaches are typically people who have been there before and can guide you through tough times.
A mentor is similar to a coach, but instead of being someone who has been there before, they’re often successful people who have achieved your goals and can give you insight into what it takes to achieve them yourself.
An accountability buddy is someone who will hold you accountable for sticking to your daily routine of writing or marketing they’ll keep you honest and make sure that what you say you’re going to do gets done!
Start Your Day Strong. And Finish It Strong Too!
As a writer, you have to be productive. It’s part of your job description. You can’t just sit around and wait for inspiration. You need to work hard, smart, and efficiently. You also have to make sure that you’re working on time management, focus, mindset, and productivity so that they all complement each other well.
If you’re struggling with any of these things then this article will help!
It will teach you how to get more done in less time by focusing on getting up early in the morning (and finishing strong at night), managing your energy levels throughout the day so that they don’t dip when it matters most, staying focused even when distractions are everywhere around us – plus many more tips on how we can achieve our goals through practical measures rather than just saying “I want it!”
Don’t Just Work… Work Smart! (Bonus!) 😉
So you’ve got your time management system in place and you’re ready to get down to business. What should you do first? Here’s a tip: Don’t just work, work smart.
There are tons of productivity-enhancing systems out there that can help boost your success as a writer (and make life easier). Here are some of my favorites:
Checklists
Your brain isn’t perfect it gets tired easily and makes mistakes when it’s overloaded with information or under pressure. Use checklists whenever possible to make sure nothing slips between the cracks. I keep one on my computer desktop that has all the tasks I need to get done over the next 24 hours so they’re always at the forefront of my mind!
Calendars
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from using calendars, it’s that time moves faster than you think it does…which means if something isn’t entered into your schedule then chances are high it won’t get done! To create a calendar specifically for freelancing purposes and use it religiously you’ll be glad when things start falling into place 🙂
Conclusion
Hopefully, we’ve given you a few ideas on how to be more productive and make more sales. But remember that it all comes down to finding what works best for you not anyone else. What works for them might not work for you, and vice versa.
So don’t hesitate to experiment with different productivity techniques until you find something that will stick! Good luck!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources you can explore to expand your knowledge on freelance writing and productivity:
Freelance Writing Facts: 10 Surprising Statistics: Discover interesting and eye-opening statistics about the freelance writing industry, providing valuable insights into the current landscape.
7 Ways to Be a Productive Freelance Writer: Learn practical tips and strategies to boost your productivity as a freelance writer, helping you accomplish more and manage your time effectively.
What Do Productive Freelance Writers Do Differently?: Dive into the habits and practices of highly productive freelance writers, gaining valuable insights on what sets them apart and how you can incorporate their strategies into your own work routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Know If My Freelance Writing Services Are A Good Fit For My Target Audience?
It’s hard to tell what your clients are going to want without asking them. But you can get a sense of what they might be looking for in the first place by looking at what types of content they’re currently consuming and sharing that will give you a good idea of the topics they’re interested in, which is an indicator of what kind of content they’ll be interested in purchasing.
What If I’m Not Sure How To Write Something?
Don’t worry! That’s why we’re here we’ll guide you every step of the way. You just need to tell us about your project so we can start brainstorming ideas for how we can help make it happen.
How Much Does It Cost?
We charge $X per word and $Y per hour depending on how much work goes into your project (and sometimes even less than that). We are more than happy to give you a custom quote based on your needs and requirements as soon as possible!
What Does Being Productive Mean?
Being productive means getting things done promptly. It can also mean that you’re working on the right things and not just wasting time.
How Do I Know If I’m Being Productive?
If you’re getting a lot done, and people are happy with the work you’re producing that’s a good sign! If you’re not getting anything done because you haven’t set any goals or prioritized your tasks, then that’s not good. You need to know what needs to be done so you can make sure it gets done on time.
How Do I Know If My Productivity Is At An Acceptable Level?
You should be able to meet deadlines without having to rush through them or spend too much time on one project or task at the expense of others (unless it’s necessary).
You should also be able to focus on each task without feeling like your brain is going to explode from all of the different things going on around it which usually means that there are too many distractions happening around your workspace right now (like TV shows playing in the background while you try to write out blog posts).
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.