Sharon Wu

I hate when freelance writers use the word “really” or “very”. Me. Freelance writers is me… But sometimes I really need to use it to get one point across. But I know it can be very... redundant. I see some writers using “extremely” to give it a dramatic note, others using “incredibly” for emphasis, and there are always the ones using stronger adjectives like (or such as) paramount, remarkable, or unparalleled (well this last one may be AI). I’m still not convinced of those. Any tips on breaking this habit? #freelancing #freelancewriters #writing

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What’s with every freelancer/IC guru’s benchmark being “learn how to make $100k a year”? Is it just because it looks cool and round and simple? ——— I realize the job market right now stinks. A lot of people are forced into freelancing. Whether you choose it or not, don’t get hung up on the silly MRR/ARR numbers or big blanket goals. And don’t get me wrong…if you’re just starting out, or a junior with less experience, its a great target. Stick with it if it and work towards getting there. But if you’ve got more experience or you’re coming out of an in-house mid-to-senior role? In 2024 it’s…really not great money. Let me break it down. $100k/year when self-employed looks alot more like a $65k/year in W2 job. Why? • You owe ALL the taxes (employer side as well). • You will have business expenses. • You no longer have company benefits. So that $100k evaporates rapidly. If you’re lucky, your NET take home pay is $4-5k/mo. (in THIS economy?!) Oh. And not to mention the work you have to do to get to the work you’re paid to do. ——— Your best friend early on is to figure out what your financial needs are and price accordingly. Do not buy into a scarcity mindset. Learn how to value your time enough to properly value your time. Need help pricing your work for clients? Want to compare/contrast with me? I’m an open book. Let’s talk.

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✨I keep seeing freelance writing jobs with rates as low as $17/hour. ✨ And it really p***** me off. “That’s all the job is worth.” 🛑I beg to differ.🛑 🔷Over the course of a great piece of content’s life 🔷It could garner thousands to 100Ks of hits… 🔷That is worth some MONEY. And an experienced content writer? 🥇Worth their weight in gold. ✨SO: a case study of pay for MY team of writers at Excelsior Content.✨ I asked the freelance writers on my team their average hourly time spent per article. ↪️Which I used to figure their hourly pay rate. ✨✨Here’s what I found:✨✨ ⭐Average time spent per article⭐ –1500 words: 2 hours –2500 words: 3.1 hours ⭐Average pay per hour:⭐ –$52-$60/hour* *This range is based on the time spent per article. ⭐Factors that affect the writer’s time spent per article:⭐ 🦋Whether the content was a batch piece 🦋Familiarity with the topic 🦋Time spent at EC (the longest-employed writers tend to spend less time) 🦋Personal factors (i.e. caring for a child while trying to write) ⭐Individual writer pay breakdown⭐ Writer 1️⃣: $40-60/hour (dependent on if she’s caring for her child while writing) Writer 2️⃣: $60-80/hour (grad student/spends a lot of time writing/reading) Writer 3️⃣: $60-80/hour (does the most work for EC) Writer 4️⃣: $40-50/hour (newest to EC) ✨✨✨I pay all my writers the same per-word rate.✨✨✨ And I’m fully transparent about that fact. When they get a pay raise, it’ll be a collective one. I based my rate on the average hourly rate a writer will spend on my articles. 🏆In fact, streamlining content was an important goal for me… 🏆Only to ensure writers got better pay for the work they did. →Here’s how I help them mitigate the time they spend per article: 🔵I write the most detailed outlines/briefs they’ve ever seen ➡️I know, because they’ve told me 🔵I don’t believe in group feedback ➡️Unless it’s an error everyone is making all the time ➡️Feedback is specific to the writer ➡️I find they integrate feedback easier with this method) 🔵I vary their work ➡️Writers do better when they are not bored ➡️Some topics are boring! ➡️So, I split up the work among them 🔵I limit batch content per writer ➡️Batch content is important for content strategy ➡️But freelance writers burn out easily on it ➡️So I limit to two of the same-style pages per week, per writer 🔵I use daily due date systems ➡️Writers, like everyone else, need help keeping on track. ➡️Instead of weekly or monthly due dates ➡️I make assignments due on differing days of the week. Assisting writers with submission accountability WORKS. 🔵I work with long-term clients ➡️This means writers get to know each brand ➡️And experience helps you write in less time. I wish I could pay the writers on my team even more… 🙌🏽But I sleep well knowing the writers on my team are paid Almost DOUBLE the average pay ($23.27/hr) of other freelance writers in the U.S. #freelancewriters #contentwriters #freelancepay #contentslayer #payrate

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❌ The best thing about freelancing is not the freedom. ❌ Not being your own boss. ❌ Not the flexibility. It CHOICE. It's the choice to work 60 hours a week if you want. Or the choice to work 10 hours that week. It's the choice to work 9pm-2am as those are your best hours. Or the choice to work 8:30-5:30 because you still like that. It's the choice to keep your children home with you. Or the choice to have them in daycare. It's the choice to not work Mondays anymore. Or the choice to work weekends. 💡 This epiphany hit me like a ton of bricks on Friday. I went for a walk with my son, discovered a beautiful gem of a forest and didn't sit down to work until 1:15pm. 🌳 And I realized. ✅ Yes, freelancing gives you freedom. ✅ Yes, freelancing gives you flexibility. But there are also weeks where you work non-stop. Freelancing gave me this beautiful choice where I can decide how to spend my days. When I work. When I do life instead. This ability to choose whether or not I have my son in daycare ⬇ or if I work mornings and evenings ⬇ or if I work x hours a week This is here to stay. I didn't change that when I shifted to coaching. I don't think I ever could. What are you choosing this week? --- Hiya, I'm Kiri. I'm a business coach who helps you create your choice of life through freelancing. If you're struggling, not figuring out how to take your freelance career to the next level, DM me, I have some spots open and would love to be your coach. xoxo MTFBWY. P.S. here's a photo from my walk on Friday when I had that epiphany.

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you are a word processor not a writer...and thats a BIG problem Do you write with passion or just type words? Let's be real. Too many "writers" are just word processors. They pump out content. No soul. No spark. Are you guilty? Here's the problem. Writing without heart shows. It feels flat. Readers notice. And they won't come back. But you can change that. Inject your personality. Share your voice. Your unique perspective matters. Ask yourself: Are you telling stories? Engaging readers? Or just filling space? Don't settle for being a word processor. Be a writer. Capture attention. Make readers feel something. Why does this matter? Because writing with heart builds connections. Connections build trust. Trust builds success. Write with passion. Write with purpose. Today. P.S. I will write 30 Posts for you (without AI) in 30 days that will bring you the results you want! DM "Premium Penmanship" Now to get Started !

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📢 Unexpected Availability Alert! 📢 A client project has been pushed back by a month, so I've got a few days free in April and early May - want to snap up some copywriting or editing? But first: do you fit my client profile? 🔎 Who I work with: Marketers, PRs and other writers 📝 What I do: Write or edit blog posts, press releases, case studies and articles 🏭 Industries I work in: Evidence-based wellbeing Built environment, especially with a slant on how it can bring positives for the people who use it Tech Anything with a good set of features and benefits to get my teeth into! Yes? Then give me a shout to chat through your project - but be quick, my slots fill up fast! #copywriter #contentwriter #marketing #pr #marketer

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I struggle with a terrible nightmare before writing for any client who already has a content strategy in place. Because Google is extremely selfish with organic traffic. I trust you, but I need a glimpse of our content strategy. The wrong internal linking strategy (for example) is poisonous to, even, the best research piece. How are we promoting brand mentions for the content funnel level off-page? The nightmare when there aren't any green results makes me sick. I wouldn't be proud of my skills if you don't see results. I know you'll pay, but I need results from my work. I can't do it alone. How is the technical and off-page SEO? I'd appreciate a glimpse into them. I won't charge any money for audits and analysis. I want you to feel my value.

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Calling all content leads/managing editors/marketing pros – I've got your next best freelance hire. Writer & editor extraordinaire Alison Bowen has some availability for new clients and you should snap her up ASAP. I've been working side-by-side with Alison nearly two years, and I cannot sing her praises loudly enough. (If I had the work, I'd give it to her! So you're lucky she's temporarily available!) Here's what you'll get if you work with Alison: • A thoughtful, whipsmart, incisive editor who will source and manage freelancers, write assignment briefs, handle onboarding and invoicing, deliver developmental and copy edits, and upload to a CMS • A brilliant, award-winning writer and researcher who can tackle everything from front-page national newspaper stories to branded lifestyle content to B2B research reports. She spent over a decade as a features writer at the Chicago Tribune and she specializes in finding compelling human stories that make you care about the problems people are facing. • A kind, considerate, joyful person to work with. Alison is always positive without being Pollyanna. She approaches every business problem with curiousity and a spirit of collaboration. She can speak to CEOs and veterans with PTSD and treats everyone with the same level of respect and genuine inquisitiveness. • An organized, punctual project leader who can delegate to and mentor editorial collaborators. If you have a large-scope project that needs a careful, experienced guiding hand on copy, Alison is your person. • A veteran journalist who can work seamlessly with marketing and branded content stakeholders. Alison understands that the best branded content is produced with journalistic rigor and the highest editorial standards, while still uplifting and promoting the brand. I know I'm gushing. But it's all true. If you'd like any more of a recommendation, please DM me and I'm happy to share more about my experience working with Alison. I'll link to her portfolio in the comments, and you can reach Alison at byalisonbowen@gmail.com.

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Your skill could pay the bills. Really. (And if it's not yours, here's how to profit from someone else's.) If you have a skill online… Or know anyone else that does… You can make money out of it. • Know basic graphic design? ↳ Offer it on UpWork ↳ Start with a small hourly rate and increase with increase and expertise. • Fancy yourself a wordsmith? ↳ Craft compelling copy for businesses on Fiverr. ↳ Show your prowess in your OWN profile to make it obvious that you are "the one" • Got a knack for numbers? ↳ Freelance as a virtual bookkeeper on Freelancer. ↳ And help businesses balance their books from the comfort of your home. • Love teaching? ↳ Tutor students online via platforms like Tutor.com ↳ Make learning fun and earn from it, too! • A social media whiz? ↳ Manage accounts for small businesses on UpWork. ↳ Every post you craft could turn their followers ———› customers. • Master of the spoken word? ↳ Offer your voice for voice-overs on Voices.com ↳ Your voice could be the next big thing in commercials or audiobooks! • Skilled at making things look pretty? ↳ Sell your graphic design services on 99designs. ↳ Your designs could help brands stand out in the crowd. Now… you may have noticed that I mentioned: "Or know anyone else that does…" In the 4th line of this post. Yes, I meant that. (It wasn't a typo). Welcome to the art of dropservicing. If you have an "expert" in any of the skills shared above… And are certain that they can deliver good work… You can offer that as a service on different freelance platforms and take your cut. (Or, rather, give your "contractor" HIS cut). And thank me later! 💙 ———————— P.S. Curious, do you think you can make a living from any of these services? ♻️ If this hits home, repost to your audience → share the wealth 🔥 Follow me if you liked this post (tomorrow’s will be even more👌)

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Client: We'd love to hire you for a project! Here's the scope, briefly. Can you name your rate? Me: Oh sure, thanks for reaching out! I have a few questions! Question A Question B Question C What kind of budget are you operating with? Client: (Answers A-C) I'm not sure what out budget is! Me: Alright, well my rate for a project of this scope is X Client: Oh, that's out of our budget! 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ I can't get over how frequently I've been having this same FREAKING conversation with clients lately. And it's a huge waste of my time. Clients: if you have a budget, you need to say so from the get-go. This is on you. It's your responsibility to be upfront.

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Guest Posting Dead-End?  Discover the Secret Weapon (5 Content Types Editors Love!) Struggling to get your guest posts published? You're not alone. Many writers find the guest posting landscape competitive and frustrating. But what if there was a secret weapon that could transform your guest posting success? The truth is, editors are bombarded with pitches every day. They crave high-quality content that resonates with their audience and provides tangible value. That's where these 5 powerful content types come in: Let’s dive in! 1️⃣ In-Depth Tutorials ➜ Step-by-step guides provide value, ➜ making your guest post a must-read. 2️⃣ Original Research ➜ Exclusive data and insights ➜ showcase your expertise and attract attention. 3️⃣ Case Studies ➜ Real-life examples highlight your success, ➜ building credibility with the audience. 4️⃣  Listicles ➜ Engaging and easy to read, ➜ listicles are popular and highly shareable. 5️⃣ Thought Leadership Pieces ➜ Unique perspectives and expert opinions ➜ set you apart as a thought leader. Are you crafting the right content to make your guest posts stand out? DM me "guest post" to learn how to create compelling content for guest blogging. P.S. What's your biggest challenge with guest posts? Want to rank higher and boost your traffic/conversions? ............................................................................................. ( Limited Time offer ) 📩 DM me “Audit" I Will do FREE Website Audit. ➕ Follow Junaid Amin for more expert content. ♻️ Repost if you found this helpful.

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The 404 page. This lonely page is too often forgotten, and yet it's so important. Every website has one. It's the page someone gets when there isn't a page. You probably know it as "Page not found." If you shop on Amazon, you know it as the dog page. We spend all this time and money refining our website copy only to forget about helping someone when they need it the most. Most 404 pages: 😢 Blame the user 😢 Leave the user hanging 😢 Simply tell us to go home Some of the biggest offenders are the biggest brands out there. Instead, let's look at this as an opportunity to connect with your audience. Like really connect. You do this by: 😃 Taking responsibility. After all, they likely clicked one of your broken links. 😃 Let your personality shine through! Everyone knows what it's like to feel lost from time to time. 😃 Help them. Like really help them. Even if it means putting your primary nav links right there on the middle of the page as text links. A search bar is also nice, provided it actually works. Or, give them a reason to love you even more. Go to Amazon, and type in amazon [dot] com [slash] whatever. And get ready to meet the Dogs of Amazon. ✨ ✨✨✨✨✨ Thoughts courtesy of me, Jenn Prochaska (Pro HASS kah). As a Message Strategist, I define your foundational messages and brand voice, so your marketing dollars are spent wisely. I also love writing 404 pages and always include them in my website strategy & copy services.

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I’m a writer for a publication that gets over 1M views each month. Here’s what I suggest for your company blog: 👉🏼 Include subject matter experts (SME) in every article you possibly can 👉🏼 Work with a writer that knows SEO like the back of their hand 👉🏼 Include at least one internal link to another article in your blogs 👉🏼 If you do link out to other sources, make sure they are very well known and credible 👉🏼 Turn popular questions into blog subheadings 👉🏼 Make use of H2s and H3s 👉🏼 Add images in the body of blogs 👉🏼 Even better, make your own infographics in each blog P.S. wearing my hair wavy like this everyday bc it’s humid and HOT here lately — 👋🏼 Need a writer that will do all this and more? Take a peek at my services and sample work here: daniwrites.com/services

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How can you determine if you're ready to become a freelance writer? You aren't ready to be a freelance writer if you don't already have a source of income from freelance writing. Full stop. If you do, it should be from multiple sources, so that your entire livelihood doesn't collapse with the loss of one client. Or, there should be the imminent promise of a new client taking you on. You should also enjoy this work to some extent, or it should be a noticeably better alternative to your current employment. I say this because freelance work is volatile and some people quickly find out that leaving the workforce is much easier than re-entering it. Be safe. Think these decisions through.

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In "Freelance Writers: Should You Charge By The Word, By The Hour, or By The Project?" we break down the different pricing models to help you make informed decisions about your rates. Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting, this article is a must-read! https://bit.ly/3w1YPZR #Writing #Writer #Freelance #FreelanceWriting #FreelanceWriter #ArticleWriting #Medium #WritingBusiness #Business

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Designers don't hate me... But something Justin Welsh said at CEX keeps popping up in my head. He said... "Logos, fonts, colors—it doesn't matter." And I know what he meant. How easy is it to get caught up in what your brand looks like that you lose sight of the content itself? I mean... The color combos...deciding on imagery. (This gif below captivates the reaction 😍 ) But if you don't have high-quality content, keeping an audience around for very long is impossible. Which got me thinking. On top of focusing on content, there has been another essential factor in growing my brand this last year. And it's a two-word phrase having nothing to do with design. Interested to learn more? Subscribe to The Organic Freelancer Newsletter hitting inboxes tomorrow morning: https://lnkd.in/giTa3tjS P.S. Don't get me wrong, there's a point in time for design. But the content has to come first. #freelancers #freelancelife #contentmarketing #contentwriter

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Do you feel like broke prospects (leads) waste your time? Why are broke prospects on your calendar? I ask because I saw a post making a point about not wasting freelancers time if "you don't have the budget." Let me start by saying, the person who made the post has amazing talent IMO. Also, I know and appreciate the value of design. That being said, I checked their profile and their website. One was good, one was non-existent. Their profile highlights their creative brilliance. They had no website. Or at least I don't think they do because the url led nowhere. I went a little further and found them on IG but it directs back to Linkedin. This goes back to my post about expectations and assumptions. You expected a quality lead based on faulty assumptions. And mind you I'm not throwing stones, I'm making an inference because I've been reflecting on my brand brokenness. Since working on this live case study in the BTS Brandbaby Hook Up I've been pointing fingers at myself. 🫣 My funnel strategy has holes; 😳 My marketing strategy isn't fully functional; 🤯 My pricing strategy is impeded by my marketing strategy; and 🥸 I completely ignored my content strategy. Like so many entrepreneurs, I fail to do for myself what I do so well for others. I guess working with a client in front of an audience makes me wanna do better for myself. I can't blame the ATM for not understanding an unclear assignment. Folx thinking they can step any kinda way means my message isn't clear. And I don't wanna be a, "do as I say, not as I do," kinda Brandma. So as I work to fix my shit tell me, are broke leads wasting your time?

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Sometimes you're not sure exactly WHAT your website even needs. Do you need an overhaul? Is anything even wrong? Maybe it just needs a spring sprucing? My collaborator, Alethea Copelas of Inspired Website Design, and I are teaming up in a NEW way to provide a high-value, amazing cost website audit to those with a Wix (or considering Wix) site! This audit hits all the biggies and include a review of: - Design - Content - Performance Andddddd cause we'd never leave you hanging (what good is a diagnosis without a remedy!?)... you'll walk away with SPECIFIC (have you met me?! 😂) action steps you can take to get that site super duper! Here's the link to check it out and see if it's a good fit for YOU: https://lnkd.in/dnBHvhv6

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