Grammar.
How’s yours?
It’s a tricky thing to judge. You might think your grammar’s perfect, when really you’re making some howling mistakes. Then again, you might fret that your grammar isn’t good enough when it’s absolutely fine.
So I just want to say two things about grammar, and then we’ll get on to the $100 blogging opportunity. đ
1) Grammar is in the brain of the reader
If they care about split infinitives and subjective versus objective pronouns, then you should too â because picky readers will leave if they’re irritated by grammatical errors. But if your readers don’t give a shit about grammatical correctness, then you can split as many infinitives as you like.
Bear in mind that in this context, your “readers” include your editors, your clients, and your potential clients. So if your pitches, proposals and portfolio pieces are dripping with grammar screw-ups, you risk putting some people off the idea of hiring you.
But to be honest, sometimes you sound like a dork if you don’t bend the grammar rules. Stuffy. Uptight. Worry about grammar too much and you end up writing “nonsense up with which I will not put.” [That quote is a misattributed and misconceived but nevertheless brilliant illustration of the concept.]
2) Grammar is a set of rules you can look up
But there are a lot of rules, so you might want to try using a grammar checking tool instead. đ
I’ve been trying out Grammarly with a Premium account â it warns me about all sorts of grammar mistakes and tells me how to fix them. It’s damn handy for checking my own blog posts, and even more useful if you’re prepping something for a client and want to know how correct your grammar is before you submit it.
Plus it understands English way better than Word [in tech speak, it’s got superior semantic processing capabilities] and it’ll spot the kind of errors you can only judge from context. As a fan of artificial intelligence, I’m impressed.
Free Grammarly accounts are available, so check it out if you want a fast, easy grammar rescue. And if you win Pitchfest this month, you’ll get 6 months of Grammarly Premium as well me sending $100 to your PayPal account. [Big thanks the the Grammarly team for donating the bonus prize!]
You might be relieved to hear that we’re NOT judging you on your grammar in this Pitchfest. We’re looking for a great blog post idea and the ability to convey it in writing.
So pitch us your blog post idea and weâll choose our winners. Iâll explain the rules in a minute, but firstâŚ
Your theme for this Pitchfest
This time, we want you to plan your pitch to fit one of the existing categories, sections or departments of the publication you’re pitching to.
This is a crucial skill when you’re pitching to clients or editors who already have a well-organised blog going, so let’s get some practice.
Here at Be a Freelance Blogger we’ve organised all the blog posts into 6 categories:
- Blog Better (17 posts so far)
- Get Hired (35 posts so far)
- Get Paid (18 posts so far)
- Get Started (11 posts so far)
- Level Up (46 posts so far)
- Stay Sane (31 posts so far)
Plus there are 3 extra categories:
- Guest Posts (for every guest post ever)
- Top Posts (for only the most popular, most conversation-starting and most useful posts)
- Uncategorized (which we don’t use at all)
But you can ignore those last 3; your post will definitely be a Guest Post, might become a Top Post, and definitely won’t be Uncategorized.
Focus on putting together a blog post idea that fits nicely into one of the 6 main categories listed above. Then when you submit your pitch, tell us which category you’re targeting and why.
The rules
- Anybody can enter the contest by typing (or pasting) their pitch into the comments box at the bottom of this page.
- Only ONE PITCH per person, please.
- Follow the pitch format Iâll tell you in a moment.
- After you submit your pitch, Lauren and/or Sophie will offer feedback to help you optimise your idea for this blogâs audience and improve your pitching skills. You may also get feedback from other entrants, BAFB team members, and innocent bystanders â pay attention, because they represent your readers here.
- After you get our feedback, you can revise your pitch if you like and re-submit it by pasting it into a follow-up comment. And yes, that means you can offer us a completely different idea if we’ve told you your first idea won’t work for this blog.
- If you win, weâll ask you to send us a draft of at least 1000 words, so bear that minimum word count in mind when you pitch.
The prizes
- First prize: $100 for your guest post, paid on publication, PLUS 6 months’ premium membership of Grammarly, worth up to $179.70.
- Second prize: $50 for your guest post, paid on publication.
- Third prize: a freelance blogger mentoring group session in exchange for your guest post.
The deadline
- Submit your pitch before the end of Thursday, March 19th, 2015.
- Weâll announce the winners on March 21st.
- If we choose your pitch, we expect you to deliver your first draft to Lauren by April 4th. (But if you’re about to head out on a month-long safari or something, let us know and we’ll work around it.)
How to pitch
- Read our general guest blogging guidelines first, then come back here to submit your pitch.
- Start your pitch by telling us which category you’re aiming for, out of the 6 we already use (see the category list).
- Suggest at least one headline designed to make freelance bloggers want to read your post.
- Follow the headline with the opening lines youâd use in the post. No less than 30 words, no more than 60. You DONâT need to write a whole post (or even a whole introduction) before you pitch â weâd like to give you feedback on your idea before you write a draft.
- After the opening lines, give us no more than 6 points youâll make in your post, and provide a one or two sentence summary of each point. (If you plan to make more than 6 points in your post, only tell us the most important 6 in your pitch.)
- Then explain in no more than 3 sentences who you are and why youâre the right person to write this post for Be a Freelance Blogger.
- Put your pitch in the comment box at the bottom of this page.
- Check the little box that says âNotify me of follow-up commentsâ so youâll know when weâve given you feedback.
- Submit your comment and if you followed all the steps above, youâre entered into the contest.
Extra tips
- Remember to tailor your post idea to your chosen category!
- To get a better idea of what Lauren and I are looking for in your pitch, study the pitches and responses in previous Pitchfests.
- Save a copy of your pitch somewhere before you post it here â if your comment gets lost in the internet, you donât wanna have to re-write it from scratch.
- Your comment may get held in a moderation queue, especially if it contains hyperlinks. Don’t worry if that happens; we’ll get to it and reply!
OK, enough talk.
Let the Pitchfest begin!
Victoria Franzese says
Category: Level Up
Headline: 5 Things All Freelance Bloggers Should Have on Their Homepage
Your website is the perfect place to demonstrate your skills as a freelance blogger. But you only have a few seconds to grab someoneâs attention once they get to your site, so make the most of that time by ensuring that your homepage includes these five important elements:
1. A description of what you do. Tell visitors to your homepage about your work as a freelance blogger in one or two brief sentences, including what kind of topics you specialize in and what kind of experience you have.
2. Obvious navigation elements. There are some bits of information that internet users are used to finding on most websites. These are often part of a navigation bar or box that is in the same spot on every page. Common navigation elements are links to pages titled âAbout Me,â âContact Me,â and âFAQs.â Think about what navigation elements are right for your website and be sure to use them consistently on your homepage and every other page throughout your website.
3. The right tone. What attitude do you want to convey? If you write about financial topics, you may want the tone of your page to be serious. Other topics may require a tone that is whimsical or even irreverent. Make sure that your tone is not only reflected in the words you write, but also in the design and images you use on your homepage.
4. Examples of your work. Link to your best pieces and to your most prestigious publications. Nothing will win you more freelance gigs than proof of your reporting and storytelling skills.
5. A call to action. Let visitors to your homepage know what you want them to do next. Do you want people to sign up for your mailing list or contact you for more information about your services as a freelance blogger? Whatever your websiteâs objective is, be sure that the next step is immediately obvious.
Why do I think I am the right person to write this post? I have experience advising small businesses on using websites and social media to market their companies (and since most freelance bloggers are essentially running their own small business, this advice is quite relevant). As a former entrepreneur who owned and operated a series of advertiser-supported online travel guides, I also have 15 years of hands-on experience in seeing what works on the web.
Sophie Lizard says
You know, I like this but I feel like I just read 300 words of a 500-word blog post. Do you have other points you plan to include, or would you build these 5 points out with more detail to get past the 1000-word minimum? Let us know! đ
Victoria Franzese says
I would like to build on these 5 points with specific examples so that the BAFB reader can learn 1) how to make improvements to each of the elements on their own site (e.g.how to make a “good” description even better) and 2) how all 5 elements work together to help freelance bloggers achieve the objectives they’ve set out for their site (e.g. building a list of readers of their blog, selling advertising on their site, or obtaining freelance blogging assignments).
Sophie Lizard says
Cool – thanks, Victoria. đ
Victoria Franzese says
Glad to make this more clear. Do I need to re-post the pitch with these details spelled out?
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
You can re-pitch with those details added in if you’d like the practice pitching (we don’t mind!); if not, we’re fine with taking your comment into account.
The comments here on Pitchfest are basically the same as what goes on behind-the-scenes when you e-mail us. You pitch, we e-mail back with questions, you e-mail back with the answers, etc. Only THIS time, everyone can see that exchange publicly!
Alicia Rades says
I like this topic! I talk a lot about freelance writer websites, and I look at a lot of them, so I know a lot of freelance bloggers miss these elements. I personally wouldn’t say you need samples right on your home page as long as you have a portfolio tab, but I’d definitely listen to your argument for having it on the home page! I actually really like it when writers are able to get everything on the home page in few words, so I’d love to see more examples.
Victoria Franzese says
Thanks for your feedback! I hope I get the chance to post this piece on BAFB!!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
I love Pitchfest! Whenever Sophie tells me there’s going to be another Pitchfest, I respond with “PITCHFEST! PITCHFEST! WOOOOOOOOOO!!”
I’m really looking forward to this month’s pitches! Don’t let me down, BAFBers! <3
Sophie Lizard says
It’s true — Lauren really does say that. Well, she types it, anyway. đ
Sarah Best says
I wish to pitch a blogging post about âGetting Startedâ. A suggested headline is: Conflict between your full-time career and making it as a professional blogger.
The opening lines of the post: You know that feeling when you have so much to do that you end up suffering from total paralysis? You have deadlines to meet, and yet you end up giving yourself an internal telling off when instead you are drawn to checking Facebook or the news. Itâs frustrating isnât it?
Five points about my post:
* Time pressures: understanding the problems that can occur when your commitments are pulling you in different directions.
* New to blogging: acknowledging some of the challenges for new bloggers.
* Goal setting: setting realistic and achievable goals.
* Information overload: practical steps to help overcome this.
* Insights: useful lessons and tips from other bloggers and guidance on staying sane.
3 points about me and why I should be on Be a Freelance Blogger:
* I am a teacher and writer and an effective communicator. I started my blog in January, so I believe that I am a good candidate to write a post on âGetting Startedâ.
* I enjoy writing and blogging and wish to make it a full-time career. I often ask myself, why have I not been doing this for longer!
* My own blog focuses on blogging and academic writing, where I utilise themes from the subject areas I teach: Psychology and Sociology. Therefore, I have the experience to apply some of the the content to the world of blogging, including areas such as goal setting and positive reinforcement.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to read my pitch.
Sarah Best
Sophie Lizard says
Wow, Sarah! You either have a great instinct for writing voice, or you put some effort into researching the kind of introductions we favour on this blog. Either way, nicely done. đ
I’m not sure Get Started is the right category for this post — it sounds more like Stay Sane material, even though some of it is aimed at new bloggers. When you talk about having deadlines in the intro, that isn’t going to ring newbies’ bells because they don’t have clients yet. And the idea of conflict between your day job and freelancing is also more relevant to people who’ve already got their side business moving. Does that make sense?
Considering your background, I would actually prefer to see this as a Stay Sane post with as much psychological and sociological insight as you can offer. If you’d like to go with that angle, please replace the point for newbies with something more relevant to people who’ve been successfully moonlighting for a while but have come up against growth barriers related to their day job — and resubmit your pitch as a follow-up comment here. đ
Sarah Best says
Thanks Sophie,
I like to think that you mention at the beginning is both đ
I will make the alterations that you suggest and re-post it.
Thanks again!
Sarah Best says
Hi Sophie,
I made the adjustments that you suggested, I hope that they are appropriate. Your feedback was really helpful.
Blogging post theme: Staying Sane
Possible headline:
Balancing your full-time career and your other as a blogger.
The opening lines: You know that feeling when you have so much to do that you end up suffering from total paralysis? You want to dedicate as much time as possible to your blog: pitching for work and meeting deadlines. Yet, you end up giving yourself an internal telling off when instead you are drawn to checking Facebook or the news. Itâs frustrating isnât it?
Five points about my post:
* Time pressures: identifying the problems that can occur when your commitments are pulling you in different directions, for example between your full-time job and that of moonlighting as a blogger.
* Barriers to growth: understand how these conflicts can have an impact on the growth of your brand and your blogging career.
* Goal setting: setting realistic and achievable goals.
* Information overload: practical steps to help overcome this.
* Insights: useful lessons and tips from other bloggers and guidance on staying sane.
Three points about me:
* I am a teacher and writer and an effective communicator. I started my blog in January, so I believe that I am a good candidate to write a post on âGetting Startedâ.
* I enjoy writing and blogging and wish to make it a full-time career. I often ask myself, why have I not been doing this for longer!
* My own blog focuses on blogging and academic writing, where I utilise themes from the subject areas I teach: Psychology and Sociology. Therefore, I have the experience to apply some of the the content to the world of blogging, including areas such as goal setting and positive reinforcement.
Thanks again,
Sarah
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
When I first read your introduction, I was concerned your topic would be too similar to our post on “analysis paralysis,” but you were very clear about the points you’d be covering and sufficiently convinced me your post would be unique. đ
Looks good, Sarah!
Angie says
This is a great topic! I often find it challenging to juggle the demands of my full-time work with building my freelance blogging career. I look forward to reading more!
Kyle W. Weckerly says
How success can be found in sleep deprivation.
Writers are a creative bunch, always thinking of ideas. Me, especially, the ideas donât stop coming and I must write them or Iâll go insane. But I have to work a time-consuming job in order to pay bills, like a grownup. On top of the that stress, when will I have time to write? And what do I write?
*Tom Monteleone- In The Complete Idiotâs Guide to Writing a Novel, Mr. Monteleone suggested getting up just a little bit before youâre used to, stumbling to the computer, and writing down your thoughts. In essence, youâre writing your dreams.
*Harsh adjustment- Getting sleep is a biological need. Fortunately, I had an example to follow; growing up, his wildlife biologist of a father took him out to study the âmajesticâ elk at the godforsaken hour of 4 am. So Iâve already got some experience waking up way too early.
*Sleep Deprivation becomes an ally- The exhaustion of my time consuming job, coupled with early mornings, leads to a tinge of sleep deprivation. With this affliction, Iâm able to stay somewhat loopy and thus, Iâm able to write more creatively. True, I canât completely forgo sleep, I usually clock in six hours a night. But it turns out this early morning writing time isnât such an inconvenience.
*4am becomes the best time- Getting up and writing, the first thing in the morning, makes me happier, for Iâm doing something fulfilling. Thus, the time lost to my job isnât so bad, Iâm not always in a foul mood, and Iâm now Iâm using this time to build a freelance writing career.
Kyle W. Weckerly is a freelance writer for hire. Getting up early to get to writing is something he looks forward to everyday. This way he can vent his creativity, his passion, his frustrations, and his dreams.
Kyle W. Weckerly says
Oh yeah, it’s for the Blog Better category
Sophie Lizard says
Thanks, Kyle! I like the concept of sleep deprivation helping you write, but I feel like this needs more powerful evidence/rationale behind it. Can you find some sleep/creativity studies that support the connection between sleep, early rising, and writing or creative thinking?
Kyle W. Weckerly says
What, my word isn’t enough?
Alright, alright…
Here’s the pitch again with the research added in.
And it’s for Blog Better still
How success can be found in sleep deprivation.
Writers are a creative bunch, always thinking of ideas. Me, especially, the ideas donât stop coming and I must write them or Iâll go insane. But I have to work a time-consuming job in order to pay bills, like a grownup. On top of the that stress, when will I have time to write? And what do I write?
*Tom Monteleone- In The Complete Idiotâs Guide to Writing a Novel, Mr. Monteleone suggested getting up just a little bit before youâre used to, stumbling to the computer, and writing down your thoughts. In essence, youâre writing your dreams. Research by done at UC Davis seems to support that REM sleep assists in creative problem solving, as those whoâd just woken from REM sleep showed a higher ability at solving problems creatively. Another study from the University of Milan in Italy shows that more synapses are created while weâre awake, theoretically leading to more âbrain powerâ the longer weâre awake. And lastly, a self-experiment by Lateral Actionâs Mark McGuiness had him writing in a book for thirty minutes right after he woke up. Upon reading what heâd written after the experiment was done, he found his writing to be more coherent than heâd anticipated, as well as a short story idea that would become the catalyst to a winning short story for a university contest.
*Harsh adjustment- Getting sleep is a biological need. Iâve also been one to lie awake at night, lost in my thoughts. But I worried about getting up early and how it might affect my overall daily performance. Fortunately, I had an example to follow; growing up, my wildlife biologist of a father took me out to study the âmajesticâ elk at the godforsaken hour of 4 am. So Iâve already got some experience waking up way too early.
*Sleep Deprivation becomes an ally- The exhaustion of my time consuming job, coupled with early mornings, leads to a tinge of sleep deprivation. With this affliction, Iâm able to keep some of my REM sleep thoughts alive until Iâm able to get them down and start developing them. True, I canât completely forgo sleep. I usually clock in six hours a night. But it turns out this early morning writing time isnât such an inconvenience.
*4am becomes the best time- Getting up and writing, the first thing in the morning, makes me happier, for Iâm doing something fulfilling. Thus, the time lost to my job isnât so bad, Iâm not always in a foul mood, and Iâm now Iâm using this time to build a freelance writing career.
Kyle W. Weckerly is a freelance writer for hire. Getting up early to get to writing is something he looks forward to everyday. This way he can vent his creativity, his passion, his frustrations, and his dreams.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/sleep-deprivation-amps-up-brain/
http://www.sleepdex.org/creativity.htm
http://lateralaction.com/articles/interrupting-sleep-creativity/
Andrew Langerman says
Your idea is begging for a counter-post. As someone who suffers from occasional insomnia, I would argue that sleep deprivation stinks! Debating posts!
Sophie Lizard says
Maybe you could look into ways of getting more sleep and turn that into a post? I bet “23 Never-Fail Insomnia Cures for Writers” would be popular. đ
Kyle W. Weckerly says
Challenge; can you make a better counter post?
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Interesting…
Seeing Andrew and Kyle face-off with dueling Sleep blog posts would be pretty neat, too.
Anagha Patil says
#PITCHFEST
Im looking forward to pitch a post regarding ‘Stay Sane’.
The headline may go like “Resilience : Deal with setbacks in your freelancing career” or something like “The content’s rejected,not the writer!”.
Opening- Trash-flooded bins and floors that bear every write-up rejection for newsletters,firms,websites,blog sites,mags,journos,freelance guest posting- Is that how your writing arena looks.(And,not to mention a disturbed cranium too!).On a serious note,the content got rejected,not the writer.Rejuvenate your mindset and start working off bro.These are some helping hacks!
Bullets points:
1.Criticism-Special focus on how you know whether the critique group or the criticism bench is valid.Do you really think YOU got rejected?
2.Dig deep in your work-How you should do more of querying and do writing gigs that will thrust up your spirits.
3.Work on your offbeats-Your mind being more screwed than your work,doing this might seem tedious of a work.But analyse,scrub,redo is an essential workstyle.
4.Failed again?No matter.Fail again.Fail better- That’s Samuel Beckett’s way.Failing better ultimately leads to working better.
5.Recycle your junk-Your dished out work provides a good manure with a little editing and scrubbing and you can actually be a cool successful JUNKIE.
6.Keep the spark on-How failing can actually boost up the level of versatility you work with.
3 reasons why i believe i should freelance my work:
1. Ilovewriting
2. Ilovewriting
3. Ilovewriting
(And to be honest,I Dont write to sell.I write to tell.Too short a reason but that’s how it goes.)
I have published articles to mags and journos with rewarding replies.I myself have went through a heap of adversities and rejections so I thought this could be the correct post i can pitch.
Thanking in anticipation.
Love,
Anagha.
Sophie Lizard says
Thanks, Anagha. đ I’m afraid this might be a bit too similar to our previous posts on dealing with rejection and fear. Can you tell us what will make *your* post feel fresh to our readers?
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Thanks for your pitch, Anagha! I agree with Sophie though: You’ll need to make a strong case for why YOUR article will be different or we’ll continue to assume that it’s too similar to past posts.
And I wouldn’t recommend banking on your love for writing as a thing that makes you stand out. Every writer loves writing (that’s why we’re writers!).
Andrew Langerman says
Categoy: Staying Sane
Headline: The three most important words every blogger needs to know!
Just show up…and practice mindfulness (okay six words, but I am a writer not a mathematician).
There is no greater enemy for a writer than fear. It has turned more hearts to stones than Medusa, and even artists who are considered successful have to fight through fear. Even Adele, with all of her talent, suffers from dreadful stage fright.
Structure:
*What is fear? How can we deal with it if we do not know what it is. Fear is a lot more than Scooby jumping into Shaggy’s arms when a ghost pops out.
*What do I mean when I say just show up and practice mindfulness? There are many people who hear the word “mindfulness” and think of a hippie sitting cross-legged on a hill, but that is not it at all (not that there is anything wrong with a hippie on a hill).
*My story: I am not just standing on a soapbox selling snake oil. I was a published freelance writer until fear crippled me. It took emergency brain surgery and a cancer diagnosis to make me choose between mindfulness and a breakdown. Two weeks after surgery I started “showing up” and resumed my writing career. If I can do it, imagine what you can do.
*Strategies and suggestions: There are a lot of helpful, free, tools to help someone learn about mindfulness. I am going to suggest some strategies and give link to a few resources.
I am uncertain if I should lead with my story, instead of defining the enemy. Perhaps my story would be more of a hook for the reader.
Why me? Because I am a cool guy!
No, really: Because I think that before any strategy, technique, etc., can work, a writer must deal with their fear. They must be able to show up in front of the keyboard and stay there. Fear is a projection of the imagination and has killed many a dream. I do not expect readers to walk away from this post as a monk, but hopefully it can plant a seed which can grow at its own pace.
Alicia Rades says
“There is no greater enemy for a writer than fear. It has turned more hearts to stones than Medusa.” That’s an AWESOME line!
I was a bit confused reading your pitch, though. At first, I was like, “What three words is he talking about?” Why not rename the title to “6 Words?” Or maybe just go a whole different route with your title. I don’t know… It threw me off.
Otherwise, I think you have a great idea going!
Andrew Langerman says
The three word, six word idea reminded me of Monty Python. You may be right about reworking that idea.
Sophie Lizard says
“Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three.”
I for one would love to hear more about your brain surgery and how it’s affected your career. I think it’s important for freelancers to realise how precious their health and sanity are!
I like your pitch but given the intense drama of your story I’d be inclined to open this post with a more jump-right-in introduction to what happened, almost like the first lines of a fiction piece.
Andrew Langerman says
In 2007, my freelance writing career was on fire. I had a steady gig with a trade magazine, which included a cover story. Just as my career was turning the corner, I encountered a writer’s greatest enemy: fear. My fear was like Medusa, instantly turning me to stone.
Fast forward to 2013, and I began having what I thought were fainting spells. I went to an incompetent Neurologist, who assured me there was a .001% chance that I had a brain tumor. I took an MRI a week later, found myself in intensive care an hour after that, and underwent brain surgery two days later.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Nicely done, Andrew. You definitely caught our attention.
Though, in your case, I’d definitely share your personal story. We love unique personal stories! Especially if they can be used to help other become better bloggers. (In fact, one of our previous Pitchfest winners — http://beafreelanceblogger.com/rockets-freelance-fear/ — wrote a post about how living in a war zone affected his blogging)
Sophie Lizard says
Even more jump-right-in than that. Start with the impending realisation, then fill in the gaps.
Example: “I was waiting in line at the bank (or whatever you were doing) when I had the first fainting spell. Several unexplained losses of consciousness later, I saw a neurologist who assured me there was nothing to worry about. But within a few days I was in emergency surgery, trying not to die from brain cancer.”
No need to resubmit your pitch — if you win, we’ll look at the intro at the drafting & editing stage. đ
Andrew Langerman says
Thanks. I also realize that the title would be the “most important” word and not words. Just showing up is a part of mindfulness, so it is more a strategy than headline.
Dwayne says
Category: Stay Sane
Headline: You’re going insane right now – Five things to do about that
Opener: You see that tiger-striped clown over there? Heâs basically going to be running your life soon, and you wonât see it coming. It will happen just like a dream â gradually, seamlessly, and before you know it youâre in public doing something that you really shouldnât be doing without pants. Why is this happening? Youâve given the clown a perfect home.
*Snippets of the Five Points*
-Just mess up already-
Positive psychology 101: We acclimate to everything, which means that nothing remains 100% as pleasurable as it was for the first time â that applies to clothes, food, sex, and your own accomplishments. Chasing the phantom of perfection in all that you do is like promising to fill up a skeleton with vodka until it overflows. Quit investing precious, irretrievable time in that depreciating asset of perfection and just get it done!
-Binge on endorphins-
Endorphins are your bodyâs infinite supply of a self-producing wonder drug. You can get any time, without risking your life to meet up with disposable cellphone-using psychopath on Craigslist. Weâre not suggesting that you blitzkrieg your entire life, change your profile picture to something sweaty and start begging your friends to buy protein shakes, but a pushup can go a really long way.
-Stand the hell up and stare at a different wall-
If you have ever said anything against cigarette smoking, but sit down for more than an hour at a time, you just joined the hypocrite club. Sitting down will destroy you, mentally and physically. Lots of things in life involve sitting, which means the system us you from square one and it isnât completely your fault. You need to get up and let the blood flow back down to your legs at least every half-an-hour to slow the process down!
-Lose the Linearity-
Logically speaking, completing A, B, and C should naturally take you to D; life isnât logical, however, so you can throw that nonsense in the trash right now. If things happened in an order that made sense, you would be reading blog posts like this before you had your current problems.
-Do Yourself a Favor-
Be more selfish. Make a habit of actually saying ânoâ to plans that suck. Eat the one that you shouldnât. Mother Teresa was selfless because she wanted to go to heaven, which technically makes her SUPER selfish, and we celebrate her for it! Being selfish and being a good, dependable person are not mutually exclusive. Ironically, taking more time to do what the hell you want to do will put you in a better mental position to actually be there for others.
-Yes, youâre going to die-
Everything you enjoy is owed to the fact that youâll be dead. The impermanence of our time here is why our time here isnât even more boring than it could be. Aspire to see your life flash before your eyes and be able to say, âWow, that person is awesome! Their successes are inspiring and their failures are pretty funny. Iâm sure glad I can watch them do awesome things instead of watching them sit and wish they could try things.â
Three points about little ol’ me:
-I blog a lot. I freelance write a lot. I like living more than writing, which helps me write like a person.
-My university position gives me access to a massive registry of peer-reviewed psychology abstracts and studies from academic journals around the globe; in English, that means I can tell you cool stuff about your brain thatâs actually true.
-I used to be super fat, now Iâm 140 pounds less super fat. I used to go to public school in a dangerous DC neighborhood, and then I went to boarding school to eat swordfish in the preppiest slice of Massachusetts on the east coast. I have been chased by the police in a hurricane. My first girlfriend would have been literally stoned if her family knew I was dating her at the time, and I once successfully escaped the friend zone. Basically, I have a few stories to tell!
Sophie Lizard says
I love your voice and sense of humour. I’m a little concerned that easily-distracted readers will follow your digressions instead of your main theme, though. As long as you make your logic clear and easy to follow through the post, this is a solid idea.
Also I kinda feel like I already read your whole post in the pitch… did you hold anything back for your draft? đ
Dwayne says
Hi Sophie, glad you liked the tone!
I could definitely add more meat to this if I continued, and not just with extra clown metaphors. The sanity methods could be expanded with examples that specifically relate to writing blog posts đ
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Dwayne! I like your style and I think this would make a great post — I’m just not sure it’d make a great BAFB post. I didn’t see much in your outline that showed how these tips (great though they may be) would apply to freelance bloggers specifically.
Sophie Lizard says
I agree with Lauren — can we take a peek at some of your freelance blogging related examples? đ
Dwayne says
Oh and just to clarify, in the pitch I submitted, those five “Stay Sane” snippets are included alongside an additional point at the end “Yes, You are going to die” that just summarizes the general attitude that comes along with employing those methods – more like a closer than a sixth method.
Just in case there’s any confusion about that đ
Dwayne says
And just a couple more little things:
1:) There’s bit of an error in the wording of point three.
It’s typed, “Lots of things in life involve sitting, which means the system us you from square one and it isnât completely your fault.”
When it should read,
“Lots of things in life involve sitting, which means the system is against us from square one and it isnât completely your fault.”
Also, I forgot to shamelessly plug in my Elance profile. This is just to show that I’ve actually written things for people before and they didn’t hate it. đ
https://www.elance.com/s/dlinds5/
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
No worries. I wouldn’t focus TOO much on the sitting aspect anyway seeing as we just published a post about the dangers of sitting last month: http://beafreelanceblogger.com/sitting-blogging/ đ
Alicia Rades says
I’m going to be thinking on a pitch idea and hopefully be back with something good. đ
Sophie Lizard says
Excellent! đ
Andrew Langerman says
How goeth the inspiration? I am looking forward to reading your ideas.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Looking forward to it, Alicia!
Victoria Doronina says
Topic: Level up
Let It Go: My experience of blogging corporate hell (and how to avoid it)
Many become a freelance to escape corporate bull***t: incessant meetings with no real purpose, a lot of âpretend workâ with no real value, strict hierarchy. However, sometimes you can combine uncertainties of freelance with the worst of corporate hell. I would like to tell you my story.
(I would like to tell the story as it developed with âwhat I should have doneâ sentences after each part, may be in bold).
*Background: I worked with this corporate client, a marketing company, which hires freelance writers on case-by-case basis, when I just started blogging. Their pay was OK, and then they disappeared for a year. I have been working with online businesses, where the owner hires the writer directly and my pay increased several times since then.
*This time the âwritersâ supervisorâ contacted me and promised me at least 4 blog posts with a byline on a corporate blog and possible long time collaboration. I did not negotiate the price, because I expected at least the same pay.
*The client demanded a conference call, which due to the time difference should have been in the middle of my full time working day. I agreed and took a day off work. The âaccount managerâ cancelled the call by 15 minutes before the call without apology or explanation. I asked to reschedule to any day but the next Tuesday. They scheduled it on the Tuesday. After further re-scheduling, I had the call, which lasted 30 minutes and did not give me any more insight in what they want beyond the brief Iâve had already.
*The account manager wrote to me informing me about the payment per post – minimal. I tried to pull out. He told me that I can add âresearch hoursâ to the price. I decided to stay.
*I submitted my first two pieces on time, the company accepted them. I wrote to the account manager proposing a media campaign beyond the corporate blog and got a very angry e-mail from âwritersâ supervisorâ that I went above his head.
*The client did not like the pieces. Somebody in their company, who speaks the same language as the posts were in (my native language), said that they are âwritten in a weird language, probably a dialectâ. The âwritersâ supervisorâ told me that my by-line will be removed and I have to do âimprovedâ two pieces twice the word count in 12 hours. I pulled out and hope never to hear from them again.
I am a freelance science and technology content creator in English and Russian, specializing in biology but looking to expand my portfolio. My columns appeared in the US magazines The Scientist, Science (Careers) and Russian on-line media based in Russia and Belarus. I am a regular contributor and the only columnist on the BiteSizeBio.
Alicia Rades says
I’d love to see this as a full-length blog post!
Victoria Doronina says
Thank you.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
This was an interesting experience to read about and I know that there would be a lot of lessons for our readers to learn from your troubles; however, I’d love to hear more about how YOU plan to help our BAFB audience.
Rather than focusing solely on yourself and your experiences, try sharing your experience…and then what the reader could take away from that experience.
Victoria Doronina says
Lauren, Thank you for your feedback. Of course, this is an outline, rather than the post itself. As as I said in the pitch, all my points will be summarized as advice. For example, after the first problem “Even if you worked with the client before, don’t assume that nothing has changed. Always negotiate the contract conditions before getting involved” etc.
I realize that the style of my proposal is abit different from your blogs’ ideal post, but sometimes style change is refreshing and a personal story usually plays well.
Sophie Lizard says
Yeah, I think if we change “what I should’ve done” to “how YOU can avoid this problem” in Victoria’s pitch, it’ll work fine. As long as you have advice to offer on each point, there’s no need to revise the pitch.
When you’re pitching an idea to an editor, it’s always worth showing them how your post will help the audience. It’s not that this *idea* is different to our usual posts, just that the *pitch* is focused on the background story and we’d rather check out the advice you’ll give our readers. đ
Victoria Doronina says
Wow, Sophie herself! Thanks for the valuable lesson, you can probably see that this is my first time on Pitchfest. Yes, the idea of the post is “what YOU can do in a similar situation”.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Yep. Sophie said what I was trying to say, but better. đ
Anyway, thanks for clarifying.
Leah K Stewart says
Category: Getting Started
5 Newbie Blogger Fear-Traps and How to Escape Them Alive
Letâs talk about those initial wobbly, embarrassing, baby steps towards a self-made blogging income. We’ve all been there! This early phase needs recognition as the emotionally turbulent and challenging experience it is, despite the simplicity of your actions when viewed from the outside. You’ve made a free blog (whoo!), you’ve tweeted about your first post (brave!) and thenâŚcont.
1. You will hail your first post as a divine creation until several weeks later when you re-read it and immediately start editing that trash you wrote when youâd just started! >This is about recognizing progress and celebrating it.
2. You will follow excellent advice thatâs written for bloggers beyond your level and then wonder why itâs not working (nope, canât multiply zero!). >About applauding action above daydreaming and having the awareness to change tack if itâs not the right time.
3. Why does the perfect âhow toâ appear immediately after making that stupid mistake the author warns against? Dooh! >On seeing these moments as funny rather than frustrating and, unless youâre going to pay for a course on blogging, these moments will absolutely happen.
4. Blog envy; hello! >Interpreting feelings of jealousy as a compass pointing towards something youâre hoping to create for yourself.
5. That inner critic is yapping too loud. >This is about the voice that wants to keep you comfortable and how to engage with it rather than feeding it with negligence.
Iâm Leah K Stewart (@learntSchool) a newbie blogger and am literally now pulling myself out of these 5 traps. With another few months, as my momentum and skills grow, Iâm afraid of forgetting the feelings and lessons of this phase of the journey. I feel like a post acknowledging the rapid cycles of crushing incompetence and empowering recognition experienced as a person creates heartfelt content and offers it to the world for the very first time would benefit readers who need some emotional camaraderie in the first stages of blogging.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
“You will hail your first post as a divine creation until several weeks later when you re-read it and immediately start editing that trash you wrote when youâd just started!” <-- This gave me a chuckle. Not bad, Leah. đ
LeahKStewart says
Oooh, that pleases me Lauren! A nostalgic giggle for some and a reassuring nudge for others… that’s the aim here.
I’ve posted a ‘Hello’ in the BAFB Community! Finally! Exactly 3 weeks ago I created my BAFB account, then avoided mingling because I didn’t feel ready to stand up and say I’m a real blogger.
Can I share my latest guest post here? I’m nearly weeping with joy at the comments that came in overnight! http://nancyebailey.com/2015/03/15/making-schools-the-best-in-the-world/ Only a couple of days ago I was saying how still everything was and that I didn’t know what to do… then this! Emotional turmoil đ All before making a dime. And it’s totally worth it!
Sophie Lizard says
I like your way with words, Leah, and your advice is sound — but this idea seems to be more for bloggers than for *freelance* bloggers. Can you tell us more about how you’ll tailor your tips to our audience’s specific needs?
If not, we’ll have to pass — but this sounds like a good post and should definitely be published *somewhere*, so do pitch it to other blogs! đ
Leah K Stewart says
Thanks Sophie. You’re right, I don’t know how to make money from blogging yet… so not ‘freelance’. As you can see, this idea is around the hurdles even before the making money hurdle. A nostalgic giggle for some and a reassuring nudge for others. Thanks so much for your feedback and encouragement! I’ll save the pitch and keep an eye out for another home for it. All the best! Leah.
LeahKStewart says
Whooo! In the name of adding the *Freelance* to my new *Blogger* title I’ll be there tonight with my keen student hat on. Freelance Blogging Self-Coaching Secrets Workshop = Great timing đ
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Before you leave, I wanted to say that you could share your blog post in the forum. đ There’s actually a section to get your website and/or blog posts read and reviewed by the other community members. Check it out!
LeahKStewart says
Thanks Lauren! I will take a look. Well done Winners and Everyone! This was great fun xx
Catherine says
Category: Get Started
Topic: Shake off the ice and start writing!
Have you written dozens of articles that exist only on your mind and never get to put those ideas down into actual writing? If this is you, it is time to get started in being a writer indeed! Blaming it on procrastination? Drop the act, as the thought of writing any piece of work feels like plunging yourself into icy water.
Points about my post
⢠Dare to be different
Unleash the power of writing present within you by making use of your unique writing style. Finding the topics in your mind weird? They become weird once you compare them with those of other writers. (Learn the secrets of being unique and how to unleash the power of writing present within you).
⢠Write to communicate
Does the thought of transferring the ideas in your mind into written words make you flick out? This is common when you want to make a perfect piece that will bring in huge bucks into your account. (Learn the art and essence of writing to communicate to target audience).
⢠Organize a mind map
Fold up the sleeves and start writing by coming up with a mind map. Come up with a topic, breaking it down into small chunks. (Get points on how to develop the structure of the article).
⢠Fill in the structure with flesh
Do research if need be but let your mind go wild while you write down the ideas as they come. (Learn the importance of putting aside that stingy perfectionist self, how to use the power of imagination and importance of research).
⢠Prepare to handle criticism
Distinguish between those who criticize you and those who critique your work. Learn to handle those who applaud your work and haters whose mission is to âshot the messengerâ. (Learn how to handle and overcome criticism).
I am Catherine Nduta an upcoming blogger. I wish to be the one to make this post in Be a Freelance Blogger, in order to help those who have not yet made the first few steps into the writing career to make their first move. Also, I wish to make my writing skills better through the comments given by the community of writers.
Thank you,
Catherine
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Catherine! This seems like it would be a nice basic post; however, I’m getting the feeling that it might be more about freelance writing in general rather than freelance blogging specifically (our niche). I mean, I can infer that some of the tips are directed toward bloggers — but where’s the freelancing aspect? How would this advice help a blogger earn more money? đ
Catherine says
Hey Lauren!
Thanks for commenting on my pitch!
This is my first pitch and it makes me excited to have you commenting on it.
In the full post, I will add aspects on how to choose a topic that is unique but relevant to the specific niche the blogger is writing for and how to write a blog that is calling for desired action from the target audience.
I plan also to add 6th point- Practice effective marketing strategies: Here, I wish to discuss effective marketing strategies.
I think this will help a freelance blogger to get started and make money through blogging.
Thanks once again, I appreciate your challenge!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
All right. Thanks for clarifying! đ And congratulations on writing your first pitch!!
Mandy Gardner says
Category: Getting Paid
Cash, Cheques, Wires and Confused Bank Tellers: How to Get Paid When You Freelance Abroad
Writers love to freelance for a number of reasons – they can choose their hours, pick their topics and wear boxers and t-shirts at least 80% of the time. For me, this career has mostly been motivated by my two great loves: literature and travel. As it turns out, however, the two don’t go hand-in-hand as easily as you’d hope. Earning US dollars and UK pounds while spending Mexican pesos sounds pretty ideal, but getting that money into your hands can be an absolute nightmare.
* Bank Transfers. At first glance, being paid via a bank transfer is fairly straight-forward. The client sends a payment, and in a few days that money you’ve earned is sitting in your bank account. But wait! Where did these fees come from, and why has the payment disappeared into the digiverse?
*Wire Transfer. Wire transfers are incredibly quick, and can get you out of a financial jam just in time. Unfortunately, you’ll have to prepare yourself to lose an awful lot of your pay in fees, and hope the client remembers to stop by Western Union on the way home.
*Cheques. Yes, there are people still writing cheques out there, I’ve seen it myself. Usually, this turns into a Bank One talking to Bank Two and disagreeing sort of thing. If that cheque is from another country? Forget it. Better just send it to your mom.
*PayPal. This is how I do it for 99% of my work. Usually I suffer no fees, but connecting my PP account to a physical bank address can be a hassle no one wants to deal with. Did you know that one PP account doesn’t necessarily cover you for all international transfers? Well, you’ll find out soon enough!
*Cash. Cash! It is a wondrous way to be paid, and oh-so-rare. To make this happen, I’ve done writing for locally-based businesses, wherever I happen to be travelling.
I’m a Canadian freelance writer currently based in Mexico. Since most of my work is done for US, UK and Canadian clients, I have had to juggle all kinds of payment methods to make this business work for me. Sometimes it’s like trying to extract money from an old shoe; other times I have to barter: “I’ll rework the English side of your web site if you build a big carpeted cat house for me.” When all the moons align, getting paid on the go is the best thing in the world đ
Alicia Rades says
Awesome idea! I’m not a traveler, but I can see this being useful to a lot of freelance writers/bloggers.
Mandy Gardner says
Thanks Alicia!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Looks good, Mandy! So long as you tailor this post to be about/for freelance bloggers rather than freelancers in general, I think it’d be a great fit. And it’s definitely a topic we need covered on here.
Sophie Lizard says
I like it! đ International payments can be such a pain in the ass.
Have you ever tried other, less well-known payment methods?
Mandy Gardner says
Thanks! I will absolutely tailor this towards bloggers đ I have experimented briefly with lesser known payment methods (MoneyGram, e-transfers, cashier’s cheque) and will be happy to add information about these as well as the methods I’ve already listed. I would love to include a section about the weird, roundabout ways I’ve had to sidestep official guidelines in order to get paid! For example, having Canadian clients transfer payment to my mother, who then transferred it to her PayPal account and THEN sent it to me; or setting up PP for me and my fiance and splitting payments into both accounts to get around the whole “unverified foreign customer” fiasco. Fun times!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Better and better, Mandy. Our community members ask about this kind of thing fairly often in our forums, so I know for sure there’s an audience for this. Great stuff! đ
Laura Nistor says
Category – Get Paid
Headline 1: How you can use this blog post to put a price on your own blog posts
Headline 2: The Shocking Truth About Choosing the right pay for your blog post
If you think payment is a subjective thing in the writerâs world, you are wrong! You can put a price on your blog posts by following the 5 steps outlined below and you shouldn’t have to explain why you are charging what you are charging.
1. The time you put for the research. (The importance of spending enough time to do to a thorough research to write a great piece and the disadvantage of spending too much time â my own experience and research)
2.The resources you use. (the authority of the resources used and their credibility â my own experience and also use examples from http://www.copyblogger.com/ and their resources on authority)
3. The time you put in writing it. (the value of not rushing into writing everything that comes to your mind)
4. The time you put in proofreading it. ( a clear mind is better than a tired one)
5. the time you put in re-writing it. (having the strength to cut much of the article if it doesn’t have clarity)
I am a long-time writer who has left writing for her other passion, languages. I am currently working as a teacher, virtual coordinator for a language company and Iâm the Translations Manager for oplang.org. I am the best person to write this article because after getting only $5-10 gigs I started getting higher paid jobs and finally reached the point when I am turning down clients.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Laura! It looks good, but I’m a bit concerned it might be too similar to this post: http://beafreelanceblogger.com/blog-post-parts-paid/
You name different elements though, so I could see this post as a potential sequel to the one above. Something along the lines of “5 MORE Blog Post Elements You Sure As Hell Deserve to Get Paid For.”
Laura Nistor says
Hi Lauren, thank you for your feedback!
I must have missed the post – http://beafreelanceblogger.com/blog-post-parts-paid/ , sorry đ
I will do a rewrite and come back with it tomorrow. (I like the idea of a sequence and mostly because it will be written by 2 writers with difference voices and styles)
Kind regards,
Laura
Adelina says
Category: Get Paid
Headline: The dangerous way to win customersâ loyalty (and how to counteract)
Remember the thrill of meeting new clients? If youâre a decent writer, it must have happened to you lately⌠But what about the hair-raising question âCan I get a discountââŚ? Yes, discounts make the most dangerous way to win customersâ loyalty. Nobody really enjoys turning down, yet you really have to. So how do you actually do it?
I â Before raising an eyebrow, hereâs why you should do it â a short list of disadvantages; main note – when saying yes to discounts, you advocate that you weren’t good enough to prove your value to the customer.
II â The right and wrong reasons to approve discounts â in an ideal world writers should never do it. In a world where you struggle to make a living writing, you do it more often than you should. If you do it, make sure that: itâs only for long-term customers; itâs a sign of appreciation, not a desperate way to hook a new client; and you choose the right context to announce it.
III â The PTH rule of rejection: politeness, timeliness and helpfulness. (Naturally, I made up the PTH âruleâ, but these 3 pillars are essential). Rejection should come politely, ASAP and together with alternatives, not as a simple turn down.
IV â What can you do, precisely:
1. Insist to start higher, promise to RENEGOTIATE later, if you disappoint (of course, you wonât disappoint!)
2. Discuss what you can offer for what they pay (ex. have them provide you with the topics and/or the sources)
3. Present your offerings as if they were extras (ex. I will optimize your content for a given keyword – something that you do anyway, if youâre a smart writer)
4. Recommend someone else (makes you more popular among other writers and pictures you as a solution-giver among customers)
5. Postpone project for when your agenda is thinner (if you estimate it will eventually beâŚ)
6. Let the client say the word (just because they bargain doesn’t mean they also expect to get the discount; let them say how much and you might discover itâs less than what you were expecting)
Conclusion: Your goal is to write less and earn more. Discounts will only take you to write more and earn less. Thatâs why you have to say no. Hopefully, you now know how to do it professionally, without raising hard feelings.
Who am I and why me? Iâm a journalism graduate with +4 years of writing experience, trying to become a full time freelance writer. Both my day job and my side writing projects have been constantly hassled by this misconception that discounts make my customers happy and therefore make me happy. Well, I disagree and I am so frustrated and willing to prove the opposite that I simply canât go wrong with this article đ
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
I like this topic, Adelina (I struggle with being “too nice” when it comes to my rates!); however, I’m concerned your outline is a little too similar to our other “don’t give discounts” posts: http://beafreelanceblogger.com/client-discounts/ & http://beafreelanceblogger.com/saying-no/ (The latter came out on the blog less than a month ago)
Adelina says
Thanks a bunch for your input Lauren! I really see what you mean đ I have personally looked up for this topic on this blog before choosing it. From where I stand, it seemed to me that both of the articles you mentioned rather focus on why you shouldn’t accept discounts.
Therefore I was planning to focus my article on how to refuse them, hence the 6 points at IV – What can you do, precisely. I was hoping I could give more helpful information on this part, since everyone is telling us to say no, yet we rarely get advice on how to do so.
And it seemed to me a tad abrupt to move straight to the how part đ
Sophie Lizard says
I like that you’re focusing on the “how”. I think we could skip point (I) and go straight to point (II).
No need to resubmit your pitch. đ
Adelina says
Awesomeness! đ
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Sounds good, Adelina! Thanks for easing my mind. đ
Anton Roder says
Hi everyone,
Here’s my pitch:
The 3 crucial things writers must do
Based on my experiences with just starting out I want to write an article on the three things writers actually have to do. When I started out I found that for three weeks I had just been reading about the 101 things you have to do to get started.
The truth is that everything can be broken down into the following:
1. You have to write.
2. You have to market your writing and yourself
3. You have to network
My article will discuss these three things in detail and provide some insights, resources and tools to guide writers in these 3 things.
This article will be most relevant to beginning writers, so it should be in the “Getting Started” category. Of course I hope that some experienced writers will find it an interesting read as well.
Alicia Rades says
I think these are great points! I’d add something to the end of your title, though, to make your topic more clear. For example, “3 Crucial Things Writers Must Do to Succeed” or “3 Crucial Things Writers Must Do to Land Clients.”
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
I agree with Alicia except that I would make it “3 Crucial Things Bloggers Must Do to Succeedâ or â3 Crucial Things Bloggers Must Do to Land Clients.â
However, I also agree with Laura: How are you going to make these points unique/interesting…? I feel like you said all you had to say in the three sub-heads. How will you stretch this out to 1,000+ words without adding in a bunch of useless filler?
Laura Nistor says
How do you plan to develop the 3 points? Because every writer knows they’ll actually have to write in order to be called a writer.
Why – 1. You have to write. – would be such an interesting point?
Anton Roder says
Because, no matter much you read about what a good header is, or what good post structure is, you’re only going to get better when you actually write something. And from reading some people’s comments and my own experience, that’s where many new bloggers end up: They’re so anxious about writing a perfect post, that instead of writing 10 posts that start off terrible and improve through experience, they ALMOST write that one perfect post. Which is to say, they don’t actually write anything.
Laura Nistor says
Thank you Anton. I agree that you only get better by writing, and I had a hard time starting the first posts, too because I wanted them to be perfect.
Aisha Sulaiman says
I think the network part is crucial, most freelance bloggers tend to spend time on their own and sometimes get carried away and forget to mingle. I am guilty of that but struggling to change.
Charles says
Hi Sophie and Lauren,
Here is my pitch.
Title:Â Eliminate Your Distractions and Get Your Work Done Faster.
A lot of people dream of working from home. A dream that, as freelance bloggers, we have achieved. But those people donât realize that it comes with new challenges.
In particular, one of the hardest part of working from home is dealing with the constant distractions that prevent our work to get done.
#1 Distractions are killing our productivity.
In this section, I identify the types of distractions (on or off the computer) we are concerned with and how they affect our capacity to work.
#2 Identify your biggest distraction.
I guide the reader to identify its own distractions. To this purpose, I introduce techniques and tools (like RescueTime or ManicTime for instance) and give step-by-step explanations to get the most out of them.
#3 Overcome your biggest distraction.
Relying on willpower to try to get rid of our distractions doesnât work in the long term. I give several methods to systematize it, offering different levels of complexity/effectiveness for the reader (he can choose the one that fits better his needs and desires).
#4 Common distractions.
While the previous section is for distractions in general (and directly follow section 2), here I talk more specifically about the common distractions we all face: emails, social media, messy desk, other people, etc., and offer solutions.
I am the founder of BecomeATopPerformer.com, a blog that helps creative freelancers to grow their business by being more productive and more organized in their work. For years, I have been reading books and articles, testing methods, building systems and trying new techniques to improve my productivity (while staying sane). Now, I want to contribute back and help people by giving them what works best.
Thank you for creating the Pitchfest and taking the time to write so many feedbacks!
Laura Nistor says
Hello, thank you for sharing your pitch with us. I think you should come up with something fresh to bright up the post a bit because as freelance bloggers, people who are working from home, we’re used with distractions and we, most likely, can tell what our distractions are.
So instead of – #4 Common distractions., probably you could focus on uncommon distractions. Just a thought, I hope it helps!
Charles says
Thanks Laura for your feedback.
I think your comment strengthen the point of my post. When you say you’re used to distractions, I hear that it is become the norm. And it shouldn’t be.
The article won’t simply tell you what your distractions are, but also offer step-by-step solutions to get rid of them, once and for all. By the way, most know their distractions, IÂ agree, but most don’t know how much it hurts them.
I will wait Lauren’s or Sophie’s feedback before starting to change my pitch for another fresher topic.
Laura Nistor says
Agreed Charles. I have turned off my notifications a few months ago and I really look forward to read your other suggestions.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Charles! At first your pitch reminded me a little too much of this: http://beafreelanceblogger.com/blogging-productivity/ However, your idea of “systematizing” under sub-head #3 piqued my curiosity. I’d love for you to elaborate on that a bit. (You don’t have to give away all of your tips in the pitch, but I’d like an example or two).
Charles says
Thanks Lauren for your comment and your questions!
The principle I develop in Section #3 is about putting barriers between us and the distractions. Here are two examples to illustrate this principle, with different levels of complexity.
#1: Remove the distraction from you taskbar, bookmarks bar, and/or desktop.
When the distraction is only 1-click away, it’s very hard to fight it, since you usually get there without even noticing it.
#2:Â Uncheck the box “Stay logged in”.
Similar to #1, a very easy and simple tweak, but that makes a huge difference. If you have to type your password, every time, chances are you will get there less often.
#1 and #2 are the equivalent of putting your chocolate bar inside your pantry instead of on your desk. Not a definitive solution, but already a big difference.
#3:Â Use two browsers (Chrome and Firefox, to make things simple). One is for work, the other is for distractions.
On the work browser, you can use #1 and #2, you can deactivate the History so that need to type the entire distractive website url (but still access quickly to your productive website with a simple tweak), you can use plugins to entirely block the website, etc.
This strategy is more complex to set up, but also more effective than #1 and 2.
#4-5-6-…
I keep this short, I think you get the idea đ In Section 4 I expand more specific tools or systems for specific distractions.
Sophie Lizard says
As a highly distractable person, I like this pitch a lot. Nicely done! đ
Sophie Lizard says
Just noticed you didn’t tell us which category you’re aiming for, Charles — I’m guessing it’s for Level Up?
Charles says
Oh you’re right!
At first I was thinking of the “Stay Sane” category because most of your articles around productivity are there.
But the “Level Up” category is also good, and probably fits better because this article will help the reader to grow his business. If I have a choice to make, I choose the “Level Up”.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Thanks for elaborating for me, Charles! I like this quite a bit. đ
Alicia Rades says
Category: Level Up
Headline: 5 Simple Tweaks That Will Put a BANG Back into Your Writer Website
Intro: If youâre like most writers, youâll spend days, months, and even years slaving away at your writer website, and you still wonât feel like youâre âthere.â
Weâll forgive you for cursing and killing your computer mouse out of frustration.
But learning how to build your website, and deciding what elements to include, doesnât have to feel like slave labor.
*This article will cover common mistakes I see writers make in their website copy and how to fix them. Where appropriate, I will also include examples from writer websites that work well.
*Drop the Welcome Intro: Here, I’ll include examples of intros that work well. My suggestion: use a question or service-oriented statement that addresses your prospects.
*Turn “I” into Opportunities of “You”: Here, I’ll reference a quote from Neil Patel and also give examples of how to tweak “I” language and make it client-oriented.
*Limit Your Home Page Copy: Clients want to know one thing: Do you offer the services they need? Only after that do they want to know if you’re the right writer for the job. Many writers fill their home page with long “about me” copy. Instead, you want to entice clients to move down the sales funnel by greeting them with easy-to-digest text that doesn’t feel like it will take an hour to read.
*Develop a Clear Call-to-Action: I’ll include tips on how to keep your CTA consistent across your website along with examples from writers who do it well.
*Ditch the Biography: Clients don’t care where you grew up or why you started writing. They want to know how your experiences make you the best candidate for the job. So, you might not mention your four puppies unless you’re targeting clients in the pet industry.
Why me? I’m a freelance writer with 4 years of experience. I also find lots of writers coming to me asking me to evaluate their website, including here on the BAFB forums and on my blog at FreelancerFAQs, and I even co-authored an eBook on the subject, 11 Rookie Mistakes You’re Making on Your Writer Website. This is a topic I’ve looked into a lot and feel very passionate about helping other writers with.
I’m seeing lots of fantastic pitches this time around. Good luck everyone!
Catherine says
Great ideas there Alicia.
All the best!
Leah K Stewart says
Alicia, this works for me! …I’ve just signed up to your blog to learn more from you.
Laura Nistor says
Love your pitch as always Alicia. Very professional!
Alicia Rades says
Thanks everyone!
Jesse LaJeunesse says
Wow, this is great advice even in this format! I’m definitely doing some of those things wrong already.
Aisha Sulaiman says
Hi Alicia would love to read the whole post , I hope it will be on this blog.
Best wishes.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Love it, Alicia! You were our original Pitchfest winner back in 2013 and this is a perfect example as to why — your pitches are always stellar! You could probably run a pitching clinic for new bloggers.
Also, as an active member of the BAFB community, you know just what our audience needs (and hasn’t already seen several times before).
Alicia Rades says
Thanks, Lauren! I’m seeing lots of great pitches this time around, so you ladies are definitely helping everyone learn how to pitch!
Sabita says
I second Lauren’s comment. She’s given a great idea. Many people fear pitching new editors. So, it’s a great favor you’ll do to many out there.
I really look forward to it.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
That’s one of the things I love about Pitchfest (and why I get so excited whenever a new one’s announced). It has value for both the people who enter AND the people who lurk. And that’s pretty darn awesome.
Daniel Rose says
Great pitch Alicia, it definitely left me wanting to read more. I really hope I get to read the full post.
Liam Newman says
Category: Get Hired
Headline: 6 Tips To Boost Your Soccer Blogging Career
Getting paid to express your thoughts on the world of sport is the dream job for millions of writers across the globe. Unfortunately, that palpable allure makes it a ferocious arena to break into and standing out from the crowd can be a truly daunting task. Fear not; here are some steps you can incorporate to ensure that your work doesnât fade into the shadows of internet obscurity.
– Stand out by gaining expertise in a niche area
For example, I get a lot of work from being well educated on the betting side of football
– Have ideas for long-running items
I produced a series of 10 articles looking at football ultras.
– Find your voice
People normally get their news from reputable sources. Expressing opinions and covering unique stories is more likely to help you stand out.
– Emphasise your strengths
I have followed the England national team for 10 years, watching them in over 35 countries. My strong relationship with supporters has helped me gain work with the likes of Shoot!
– Network
Not specific to football writing, but it definitely rings true not only when trying to get paid but also for acquiring a readership for your own blog.
– Donât be afraid to ask
Ex-players can be very accessible. Interview them about a fresh and interesting topic to engage your readers.
I am a freelance football (soccer) writer with several years of writing experience who was able to turn a hobby into a career. I have worked for the likes of Bleacher Report, Goal.com, SportsKeeda, West Ham United and several magazines in the UK.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
This is pretty nifty, Liam. We haven’t read a sports blogger’s take on freelance blogging before. (Though a fashion blogger was a former Pitchfest winner – http://beafreelanceblogger.com/fashion-blogger/ )
Rather than writing the post as a sports blogger FOR aspiring sports bloggers, I’d love to see how skills you’ve learned as a sports blogger could be utilized by ALL bloggers. (Interviewing skills, for example, are valuable for nearly all niches; however, most bloggers don’t know where to start).
Liam Newman says
Absolutely agree that the skills, knowledge and experiences gained from sports blogging can be transferred to other disciplines.
For example, I’ve always found it much easier to grab interviews with ex-players if I offer to mention their current business ventures as it gives them promotion and also gives them a chance to discuss something they are passionate about. I’m sure that method could be used in other blogging sectors.
Sophie Lizard says
I think this would be better for the Level Up category, as chunks of it aren’t *directly* about getting yourself hired. And I agree it’ll play better here as “freelance blogging advice from a soccer writer” than “soccer blogging advice from a freelance writer”. đ
Angela Alcorn says
Hi Sophie and Lauren! Here’s my pitch. Hope you like it!
Ange.
———
Category: Blog Better
Headlines:
Freelance Blogging Insights From Watching Too Much Game Of Thrones
What I learned About Freelance Blogging By Watching Game Of Thrones
8 Lessons Game Of Thrones Taught Me About Being A Freelance Blogger
——-
Note to Sophie and Lauren:
I thought you could use some pitches to your “Blog Better” category, even though I can think of hundreds of post ideas for other categories too. Most importantly, this one comes with a great news hook in that Game of Thrones season five will be shown worldwide on the 12th of April. That may mean a little rearranging of plans in order to run the article just before that date, but it would be worth it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjQj4BCQSzo
——-
Opening Lines:
If I were to ask you what Game of Thrones had to do with freelance blogging, what would you say?
That I’m nuts? (You know, you could be right).
That said, I think there’s plenty you can learn about being a great freelance blogger by watching Game of Thrones. And you’ll thank me for this, you’ll see.
So, if you were considering watching season five of Game of Thrones instead of being a diligent freelance writer in your evenings, you can now do so knowing that you’re learning valuable skills about freelance writing and life. Whew!
——-
Six Points:
1. Example lesson: Winter Is Coming (A lesson from one of the more famous house words http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/House_Words) . Freelance writers need to prepare for lean times by building passive income streams and saving funds for the future. It’s not always going to be summer.
2. Example lesson: Being witty and intelligent will win you adoring fans of the right sort on the Internet, even if it gets you into trouble in real life. (Yes, we’re talking about Tyrion here).
3. Example lesson: Rules about acceptable guest/host behaviour are developed for a reason. Once your post has been accepted, consider that you’ve eaten the host’s food and both parties should behave as friends while you’re under their roof. That means no sudden exits, no badmouthing and definitely no Red Weddings.
4. A lesson about building a tribe the right way. To build a following due to your honourable principles and genuinely good actions wherever you go. Being a little quirky and looking impressive doesn’t hurt, either.
5. A lesson from the behaviour of a couple of different characters. We’re talking about survival tactics in freelancing and life, here.
6. A lesson that ties in with how to make friends with other bloggers in your niche, despite the fact that many newbies expect bloggers to be in competition with each other. There are so many examples in GOT for this one!
PS. Sorry, I don’t want to give away all the actual comparisons I’ll make in the article here because it would ruin the final article, but I’ve instead given you the gist of where the ideas will come from and what it will tie into. There will be more than six points and I plan to tie each point into a relevant article on the BAFB blog. I also want to get creative with some shareable images and tweets to support each point. The plan is to make this REALLY shareable, yet with some solid freelance blogging advice to read.
———
Who Am I?
I’m Angela Alcorn of http://AngelaAlcorn.com, http://OnlineCareerist.com/ and http://WriteRevolution.net/ among other places. I’ve been a freelance blogger for several years and in my own blogs I currently strive to help other people become freelancers online, particularly to become writers. I’m also a big fan of both this blog and Game of Thrones, so I know exactly how I’ll tie this together to make other fans of both very happy.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
I haven’t read or watched GoT and this still caught my attention. Great job, Angela!
And I like how you added in a sense of urgency — “Hurry up and nab this while it’s EXTRA relevant!” — to your pitch. Well played. đ
Angela Alcorn says
Lauren, you are SERIOUSLY missing out. GOT is brilliant. Read it, then watch it, then do it all over again. đ
Glad you liked the idea, too. I really think it will do well if it’s timed right. If BAFB doesn’t want it I’ll write it for my own blog for sure.
I don’t think I gave too much away, but I’m still hoping no-one from B***feed or the like sees this and does it first. Not mentioning names in case it gets their attention. đ
Sophie Lizard says
I like GoT and I like the idea of drawing lessons from it, but I’d really want to see how well you can tie the show in to your advice for freelance bloggers before we’d accept this pitch. (And we have to check that you *are* tying the show into the advice, rather than forcing the advice into a post about the show — sometimes writers get carried away talking about the finer plot points when they discuss their favourite shows!)
I get that you don’t want anyone to steal your idea, but the concept of “99 Lessons You Can Learn About X From Game of Thrones” has been up for grabs every day for several years now so I’m pretty sure Buzzfeed and every other pop culture site has has time to come up with the idea independently. đ
Angela Alcorn says
You’re probably right. đ So, here’s a bit more detail for you.
ââ
1. Example lesson: Winter Is Coming (A lesson from one of the more famous house words http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/House_Words) . Freelance writers need to prepare for lean times by building passive income streams and saving funds for the future. It’s not always going to be summer. Just because you have a great client doesn’t mean that the client will continue to hire you (what if their blog gets hit by a Google update?). What if the currency you’re earning in gets devalued? Keep diversifying your income by blogging for many different clients. And always save for lean times.
2. Example lesson: Being witty and intelligent will win you adoring fans of the right sort on the Internet, even if it gets you into trouble in real life. (Yes, we’re talking about Tyrion here). Your writing voice is what sets you apart from all the other bloggers. All the best writers will appreciate your writing for its wit and eloquent prose, and they’ll look forward to reading more of what you write. You could even land a book deal from it. Keep cultivating your tone and style, as that’s what your fans love about you.
3. Example lesson: Rules about acceptable guest/host behaviour are developed for a reason. Once your post has been accepted, consider that you’ve eaten the host’s food and both parties should behave as friends while you’re under their roof. That means no sudden exits, no badmouthing and definitely no Red Weddings. When you do freelance blogging, your employer sets you up with an account and lets you use their platform as a way to tell your stories. They’re letting you borrow their audience and they’re taking a chance on you, hoping that you’ll write something that their readers will love. Not only do you need to come through on that basic promise of a great post, but you need to be grateful for the opportunity they’ve given you. They’re your host for the time being and as a guest there are plenty of things you can do to show your gratitude. (Would add a little more detail and link to “5 Ways to Rock Your Guest Post After They Approve Your Pitch”)
4. A lesson from the Khaleesi about building a tribe the right way. To build a following due to your honourable principles and genuinely good actions wherever you go. Being a little quirky and looking impressive doesn’t hurt, either. For the freelance blogger, this firstly means working on your personal branding. What makes you stand out? What makes you unique and memorable? How can you infuse a little of that into all of your posts and profile images so that your audience makes the connection? Secondly, make sure that you’re genuinely trying to help people with your writing. If you can liberate your readers from whatever their problems are, you will gain their respect and admiration. And if your readers then remember you (because your personal branding was spot on) then you’ve gained a new fan for life.
5. A lesson from the behaviour of a couple of different characters, Arya and Sansa. We’re talking about survival tactics in freelancing and life, here. Both characters have very different ways of surviving: Arya learns to fight, disguises herself and escapes, while Sansa suffers stoically, learns how not to get hurt too often, and relies on strangers for her escape. As a freelancer, both styles of survival come in handy. Sansa’s style of sticking to a client even when they’re no good for you is not a long-term plan, but in the short term can mean you’re not left without rent money. Talking to other freelancers is also the perfect way to gauge where else you might be able to make some money, so it’s important to make friends and not leave your client too hastily. On the other hand, Arya’s method of learning the skills you’ll need to survive and being self-sufficient is the ideal making of an entrepreneur, which is often the next step for freelancers. In freelance blogging, this could mean learning HTML/CSS/PHP, or brushing up on your public speaking skills and learning how to vlog.
6. A lesson from the knights that ties in with how to make friends with other bloggers in your niche, despite the fact that many newbies expect bloggers to be in competition with each other. It doesn’t matter what side you started on. When bandits surround you, you’ll realise you’re safer fighting on the same team. Think about the land of blogging, stuck in the vast world of all the pages on the internet. Every single blogger is fighting to get heard in this gigantic space, but is completely powerless against all the ecommerce sites, marketers and the like. When you see your real competition, you realise that other bloggers who cover similar topics to you are not the enemy â they are your best chance at a team that will help you both to survive. Mutual respect, trust and promotion between bloggers is a strong bond you should definitely be cultivating. And how do you get their attention? Blog for them.
PS. This is not finished prose. These are just slightly expanded dot points. I won’t be focusing on the GOT aspect, as I can safely presume most people know that side of things. A quick sentence about it and a decent image or YouTube embed would be enough to expand on the GOT point without letting the text get out of hand.
Angela Alcorn says
Hello again Sophie. I realised that my expanded version of the pitch actually went off course from the “Freelance blogging” aspect and into other things. I must have been tired!
I thought I’d share the results with you in case you were interested. Obviously, the result on my own blog is different to how it would have been on yours, but you get the idea. I just wanted to make something of the article before it was too late. đ http://onlinecareerist.com/6-lessons-game-of-thrones-can-teach-you-about-being-a-freelance-blogger/
Kathryn says
Category: Get Started
Headline: If Wishes were Horses Iâd be there by now: Getting Past Writers Block
Opening 30-60 words: Pencil to paper, I sit in agony staring at this blank page dying to be filled with my clearly constipated wisdom. As the old saying goes, if wishes were horses beggars would ride, hits home to me as I sit here wishing I could ride past this terrible case of writers block. So what gives? How do I slow down my mind and speed up my pencil to paper? These tried and true tips will not disappoint. So saddle up my writing aficionados weâve got place to go.
6 points to discuss & 2 descriptive sentences for each:
1. Comfortable Environment- If you know you need total silence and warmth. Working at a busy coffee shop who blasts the air conditioner or is drafty will distract you and will exacerbate any troubles you are having with writers block.
2. Warm up exercise- If you have no idea where to start sometimes it means you need a little dynamic training (moving stretches) for your brain. For example, read an article and write a short little poem to describe what you read.
3. Movement/ Standing- When your head fills with fog and your legs get heavy as a log itâs time to get up and move. Set a phone timer on the hour to remind you to get up and walk away from your station.
4. Outline- When in doubt pull out that writing template your 6th grade English teacher made you use before turning in papers. Fill out the introduction; write your thesis, and your dĂŠnouement.
5. Think less write more- Grammar matters but not on the first go around. When you are writing the first draft obsessing over your sentence structure will get you a paragraph, rather than a paper.
6. Stop worrying- You think your writing is too simple and no one wants to read it because it has been written before. It may have been written before, but that doesnât mean people understood it as well as when they read it from you.
3 sentences who I am/ why choose you: I am as simply delightful and refreshing as my writing. My passion for writing is interwoven in my core and my drive for excellence in producing creative easy to follow content is second to none. I am new to the scene of blogging and this would be the best way to launch my career as a freelance blogger with your mentoring and guidance.
Stay Lovely.
Kathryn
Sophie Lizard says
Thanks, Kathryn! I think this might fit better in the Stay Sane category than Get Started.
Can you tell us how your post will be different to other posts about writer’s block our audience has read before? (Not necessarily talking only about posts here on BAFB; our readers tend to read more than one blog on freelance writing or writing in general.)
Kathryn says
Thank you for the feedback. My post on writers block will be different because I will be writing it from the perspective of both a busy personal trainer and nanny. Often writers block comes once we are given a chance to be in silence and work. How we combat our racing mind is more than mental. It is very much a physical and sensory battle, therefore, my points will be creatively evoking all of our senses. I find this helps calm my clients down when they feel overwhelmed as well as the children I nanny.
Thanks again for this great writing platform.
Best,
Kathryn Connors
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
The pitch is decent, but my mind is actually buzzing about your personal story and how you could market yourself. haha. Kathryn Connors: The Blogger’s Nanny — For when you need a caretaker for your troubled blogging mind.
Angie says
Category: Stay Sane
Picking Up the Poop: How I Came to Terms With Being a Mommy Blogger
I fell into blogging after losing my job in the entertainment industry. I was pregnant in a struggling economy, and my resume was being ignored. I forged relationships with editors at parenting publications, but was unable to branch out. But rather than have a toddler-like meltdown, I found ways to own being a Mommy Blogger and even have some fun.
1. Find a way to incorporate other interests into parenting pitches/posts â Yes, I am a mother, but Iâm also a Registered Yoga Teacher who loves to shop and try new recipes. Since I was having trouble pitching to non-parenting publications, I started writing about how I balance my interests with my role as mom. (Example – I wrote a piece about how practicing yoga with my kids helps us all stay sane.)
2. Make your posts work for you â Since I donât have a lot of time in my day, I decided to pitch ideas for posts that would allow me to learn something new or solve a problem in my own life. (Example â As a contributor to one popular parenting blog, I pitched ideas for round-ups such as âBest Playgrounds in the Cityâ and âDrop-in Classes for Kids.â The information I found was extremely useful for my family.)
3. Look at the comments â Being a parent can be just as scary and lonely as it is rewarding. Reading comments from other moms who Iâve helped with my posts makes it all worthwhile. It helps to know that you arenât the only one having a tough time potty training or getting your kids to eat vegetables.
4. Blogging as therapy â Writing has been a great way to express myself and get things off my chest when my partner was too tired or annoyed to listen.
5. Youâll never run out of material â From your very first pregnancy cravings until the day you drop them off at college, there are always challenges and triumphs that come along with being a mom. Blogging about the journey can be a great way to document all of the memories.
6. Thereâs nothing wrong with being a mommy blogger â Iâve met so many interesting people and forged great friendships through this work, which is (almost) worth more than the money Iâve made!
Why should I write this post?
I am a freelance writer and yoga teacher with 2 small children. After years of struggling with my blogging identity, Iâve fully embraced my role as a Mommy Blogger and am in the process of developing my own blog for moms who are looking for natural, healthy lifestyle options for their children.
Cherese Cobb says
I’m not a mother, but I really like this idea. I love how you were make your posts work for you too. It just goes to show that you can be an expert and still write about hundreds of different things.
Sophie Lizard says
Like it! The point about expanding your markets is really important to me. I’m always telling people, “But you know, you can take Niche Topic X and pitch posts almost anywhere by using Topic X as your angle instead of your actual topic.” Then there’s usually some facepalming. đ
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Well, there’d certainly be an audience for this. There are a lot of parents and parents-to-be in the BAFB community.
Jesse LaJeunesse says
Category: Get Hired
Headline: How to create blog clients out of nothing
Alt Headline: How to convince a business that they need a blog
Alt Headline 2: The best blogging market that doesn’t exist (yet)
Intro:
Some businesses don’t have blogs.
Not just business that run out of caves on Mars, either. Real businesses. With running water, and clients, and big fat marketing budgets. As a professional blogger you might be tempted to write these stone-age businesses off. After all, you’re a blogger. They don’t need your services, right?
Not so fast.
Note: The stats for how blogs benefit businesses were covered in a recent BAFB article: Behold! Proof That Freelance Blogging is a Valid [And Lucrative] Career Choice. This article is something of a corollary to that one, and would certainly link to it as a reference for the numbers.
Points:
1: A discussion of the benefits: Some writers don’t like to pitch blogs to businesses that don’t already have them, but it has a lot of advantages: You can develop a relationship with a business from the ground up, there’s less competition with other freelancers, and you can position yourself as a content strategist, which can be very lucrative.
How To Do It
2: Free Stuff: It gives them something to give away. Giving free chocolate bars or pens to customers costs money every time, but blogging is a one-time expense that can be given away forever.
3: Social media strategy: Many businesses have a social media presence, but it doesn’t do them any good because they have no content to share or regularly updated presence outside of social media. Blogging can fix those problems.
4: Brand Identity: Every company wants to have a unique identity and a unique voice. A blog is a great way to communicate to their customer base and have a voice.
5: Community Building: They can create a community for their customers that they can control: It can be hard to stop a disgruntled ex-employee from saying something negative on Twitter where customers can see it. It is easier on a blog that they moderate.
Dealing With Pitfalls
6: The article would end with a discussion of potential risks and how to avoid them. A few examples are how to make sure you don’t get sucked into having to set up their blog for them, and how to ensure they have realistic expectations about workload and payment.
Why Me: I am a writer struggling inside that wide gap that separates âpart time getting paid a littleâ freelancing and âgung ho full time professionalâ freelancing. Quite a lot of the posts on BAFB are aimed right at people like me, and they really resonate. That puts me in a great position to write posts that resonate with other readers of the blog.
Sophie Lizard says
Cool — I’ve worked with some businesses that didn’t have blogs when I arrived, and it doesn’t always mean they’re cave dwellers. Some were venture funded startups that hadn’t had time to build a blog yet, so they had plenty of money *and* they were already planning to hire when I contacted them. Perfect targets!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Jesse!
There are SEVERAL things about this pitch I really like:
1. You’re covering a topic that is CLEARLY about freelance blogging.
2. Said topic hasn’t been covered here before (at least not in-depth).
3. You mention a previous BAFB article — this is always a great way to make an Editor think “This person reads our publication and knows what we’re about!”
4. As much as I like the positive points in the post, I was relieved to see point #6… ‘Cause I have SO been there and done that and I wouldn’t want any of our dear readers to have to go through that nonsense.
Great stuff. đ
Katherine Swarts says
Quick question on contest deadlines: There’s so much difference in time zones among this blog’s followers, I wonder whether if I send something on MY Thursday afternoon, it’ll already be “too late” on the other end. Would you mind specifying the exact time zone and local hour you have in mind?
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Sure thing!
I’m in Los Angeles and since I’m the one who closes the contest, we’re going by my timezone. In other words…
Pitchfest will close at 12:00am PDT on 3/20/15!
(Bolded that so that scrollers who were wondering the same thing would take notice! đ )
Thanks for asking, Katherine!
Katherine Swarts says
Glad to hear it!
Katherine Swarts says
CATEGORY: Get Started
HEADLINE: When You Feel You “Aren’t Getting Anywhere”: 3 Unconventional Scales for Measuring Your Progress
OPENING LINES: When you heard about the burgeoning freelance-blogs market, you leaped in with high hopes, already counting the income pouring in from your favorite type of writing.
A couple of months later, jobs are few, pay thin, and you’re wondering, why keep this up when you’re getting nowhere?
Well, you may be making more progress than you think….
KEY POINT #1: Contrary to what many “how-to” books and established freelancers seem to believe, a quick surge in income and clients isn’t the inevitable result of deciding to become a freelance blogger. If you’re lucky enough to be a natural entrepreneur or an expert on a high-demand blog topic, it may work out that way; but many of us need to grow in other areas first.
KEY POINT #2: Unconventional Progress Scale #1: Self-Discipline. Looking at yourself honestly, can you say that your marketing is becoming more focused, and that your time management is increasingly focused on effectiveness rather than busyness?
KEY POINT #3: Unconventional Progress Scale #2: Attitude. Are you enjoying your work more, and are you believing in it less through the eyes of a dreamer and more through the mind of a passionate realist?
KEY POINT #4: Unconventional Progress Scale #3: Outside Encouragement. This doesn’t mean relying on the input of your friends-and-family circle–which is almost guaranteed to be contaminated with “writing is a hobby and freelancing never makes any money” attitudes–but being active in a network of fellow bloggers who know a good post when they see one AND who really understand that a hard start doesn’t mean inevitable failure.
KEY POINT #5: Take encouragement from the areas where you are making progress; see it as evidence that what you are learning WILL grow you a successful blogging business; and persist!
WHY ME?: I am an experienced blog and article writer whose credits include numerous pieces on professional writing and on coping with tough emotional challenges; a page of samples is on my website at http://www.houstonfreelancewriter.com/home/home/hire-me/hire-me/writings/articles/. At least as important in regard to this topic, I have a special passion for encouraging people struggling with “want to give up” syndrome.
Alicia Rades says
Neat topic!
Sophie Lizard says
LOVE this, Katherine. đ We all go through at least one “want to give up” phase, and this is excellent advice.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Katherine!
You’ve entered every — or nearly every — Pitchfest thus far, but I think you’ve finally got something great! I really LOVE this idea and I think it would be perfect for our readers.
Great pitch!
Aisha Sulaiman says
Hello Everyone,
Nice to be here for yet another brain racking Pitchfest. I can’t thank Sophie enough for putting in effort to go through so many pitches publicly. I do not envy you đ
Here’s my Pitch
Intro
I bet as a freelance blogger you are highly creative and most definitely armed with more than one skill.
As the freelance blogger working with a client, you should learn to ask questions and make suggestions to clients on how to improve their business, while at it, enlighten them on the extra skill set that you have and make them an offer as part of the project.
So in addition to writing blog posts, and based on your own skill set, you can offer the following services as well.
Headlines
Pre-Service
These should be considered during the project evaluation process, even before you take up the project.
1. Content marketing
This will cover different ways you can help your client market the blog post you have created for them. Such as forum posting, using Web 2.0 sites,
2. Editorial calendar planning
This will cover a plan as to when each blog post should be written and why.
3. Content marketing strategy
This will cover marketing channels you should recommend for clients, such as the use of autoresponders, email newsletters, blog networks, Skyscraper technique e.t.c.
Point of Service
4. Proofreading and editing
Sometimes Clients might have had a certain amount of posts written on their blogs. This will cover how to assess the blog for errors or structure that will prompt client to edit and proofread the entire blog
5. Graphic design
This will cover the different types of graphic design needs of businesses and how adding it to your list of services will help you earn more.
Post Service
6. Website design
This will cover simple tweaks you can use to revamp your clientsâ website to make it look better, load faster and so on.
7. Social media marketing
This will cover basic tools you can recommend to clients to make their content marketing via social media more effective.
Why me? I am a freelance writer and blogger for businesses. I have over time come to realise that clients want much more than just a writer. I have mixed set of skills and usually offer to help clients with any relevant Combo-pack, this has added more credibility and trust to my work.
Good luck to everyone!
Aisha Sulaiman says
P.S. I am Pitching for the Level up Category
Catherine says
Aisha, your ideas are powerful and unique. I hope that you will get a chance to post the complete article, I will be there to read it!
I wish you the best!
Catherine
Aisha Sulaiman says
Thank you Catherine đ
Aisha Sulaiman says
I think I got so excited I forgot to paste the headline as well.
Headline: 7 Combo-Pack Services You Can Offer Clients For Better Pay
Alicia Rades says
Awesome topic. I’m not seeing a headline in your pitch, but I can definitely see this being useful to all of us.
Sabita says
I really look forward to reading the whole post Aisha. Alongside writing, I offer design services; therefore, it can really help me go forward with my plans.
Aisha Sulaiman says
I will work on getting it published even if I don’t win. I already feel like a winner because the Pitchfest brings out ones creativity
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
This is a good pitch, Aisha! And I already know you can write thanks to your previous post for us (“5 Ways To Showcase Your Testimonials and Wow New Clients”); however, this topic just sounds WAY too similar to the post Bree wrote for us: http://beafreelanceblogger.com/blog-post-parts-paid/
samuel butner says
blog better.title:6 steps to launching a successful blog.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
I like that you chose a category and thought up a title, but you’re going to need to add more than that for this to be an actual pitch.
Cherese Cobb says
Category: Blog Better
Headline: Follow the Yellow Brick Road to Your Blogging Dreams
Imagine that you open your eyes only to realize that fallen asleep in a field of poppies. You’re completely surrounded by flying monkeys: fear, procrastination, confusion, and delusion (the four deadly-sin of blogging).
It’s time to follow the yellow brick road. Enter the emerald city of blog. Click those ruby heels and feel at home.
Character 1: Dorthy
Are you swept up in a tornado of knowledge? It’s time to click those ruby slippers and send out pitches because you’ll never really know everything.
Character 2: The Scarecrow
Do you sometimes feel like your head is stuffed with straw because you can’t find sources? Don’t worry. Read this for 5 awesome source finding strategies.
Character 2: The Tinman
Do you ever feel that you posts are stale because they lack heart? Read on for tips and tricks that will help you write from your ticker and win over audiences.
Character 4: The Cowardly Lion
You’re the King of the Forest, but you’re too afraid to socialize. Iâll provide you with tip that help you social from behind your screen.
Character 5: Glenda/The Good Witch of the North
Youâre overly optimistic in your posts. Everything is glitter and bubbles with no-real feedback.
Iâll teach you how to use humor and be more realistic. Plus, youâll learn to give full-fledged feedback.
Character 6: Elphaba/The Wicked Witch of the West
Youâre naughty not nice. You use sarcasm and all caps to get a point across. A Debbie Downer, itâs time to learn how to defy gravity. Iâll teach you how to handle rude comments without being wicked. Plus, Iâll teach you when to use yelling and sarcasm.
Who am I? Instead of eating brains, Cherese Cobb uses hers to write. She has spellbound audiences on The Krazy Coupon Lady, Take Lessons, etc. . This word-witch wrote a book called Man in the Mirror: A Study on how Self-portraits Reflect Self-esteem. She also won 3rd place in the Polish International Haiku Contest.
Why me? I pitched this post last October, and since then, it’s had time to marinate. After all, I’ve learned a lot since then. Plus, I have a degree in psychology, which is research based, and drawing.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Welcome back, Cherese! I liked this last October and I still like it now. đ
You know that you were invited to send us your first draft, right…? http://beafreelanceblogger.com/blog-pitch-contest/#comment-75827
I’ve been waiting for you to show up in my inbox for five months now! đ
Cherese Cobb says
Thanks, Lauren đ I some how missed the invite! Now I’m feeling like the scarecrow. LOL
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
I guess that makes me the Wizard? lol.
Daniel Rose says
Category: Getting Started
How to Jump Off Cliffs (AKA Getting Started With Freelance Blogging)
Jumping off cliffs, even if it’s into the sea, isn’t something that comes naturally, and can transform even the bravest person into a trembling wreck. Does that sound familiar? If you’re just getting started with freelance blogging, there’s a good chance you feel the same. How do you make that leap, whether it’s off a cliff or into a blog?
Research â When you’re throwing yourself off scary heights into the ocean, it’s vital that you know every last detail about where you’re planning to jump. With freelance blogging you have to know just as much, from selecting your area of expertise to identifying your target audience.
Safety First â Safety should be the number one priority for all would-be cliff jumpers and bloggers. Make sure you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into to prevent any unnecessary problems
Start Small â You don’t start with a triple somersault from 100ft; your first jump might be only a couple of feet. You can do the same online, starting with the smallest tweet and working your way up.
Stick With People Who Know What They’re Doing â I was blessed with friends who had been jumping for years, and were happy to share their knowledge. Find the people who have lots of experience with freelance blogging, and listen to what they have to say.
Take the Leap â At the end of the day, you’ve just got to take a deep breath and jump. Once you’ve done the groundwork, you’ve got to take that same deep breath and hit the ‘Submit’ button.
I grew up in the middle of nowhere in rural Wales, where I spent around fifteen years throwing myself off cliffs. I’ve written fiction for even longer, and recently started freelance blogging. As cliff-jumping and freelance blogging are the two scariest things I’ve ever done, I can bring out the common thread and highlight the fear, adrenaline and exhilaration of both in the post.
Sophie Lizard says
Like it. đ Thanks, Daniel!
Cherese Cobb says
I love your introduction. This sounds like one interesting read.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Not bad, Daniel. đ
Dejan Gavrilovic says
Hi, I would like to pitch a theme for Pitchfest as follows:
Post Category: Get Started or Get Hired (or both)
Post Headline: How To Turn Your Curriculum Into Your Blog Portfolio
Opening Lines
Youâre really committed and confident about starting freelance blogging career, plus have some talent and creativity for it? Than itâs time to build your Blog Portfolio so you can pitch potential clients. How to build it efficiently and find an interesting topics providing insightful angle combined with personal presentation? By converting your Curriculum Vitae into your Blog Portfolio and by using your previous experiences as an inspiration.
Six Points About Post
Being really committed about career kick-off means that youâve already unearthed the Internet with research, have bunch of bookmark folders for I-donât-know-how-many Ctrl-Ds, youâve got your Sophieâs smile-mail reply to your yes-mail answer, you learn about creative writing forms, you read a lot, write something every day, in a word â youâre ready to be deployed.
As a beginner now you need a Blog Portfolio, preferably online, so you can pitch potential clients or consumers in order to create awareness and generate demand for your work. But how do you find an inspiration, a bank of interesting topics or ideas, for providing the portfolio content? One potential direction among many can be to convert your Curriculum Vitae into various blog posts.
You can always write in prose about your work experience. Add context and background enrich it with observations or witty comments, provide your own insights. You can offer hindsight â that is the distinction of this approach â with valuable messages based on lessons learned, making it more likely for reader to connect with your story. Above all youâre writing based on real life events that already took place and those plots tend to provide an outstanding inspiration.
You choose the angle for such storytelling. You know them all, you know them best, and you were there. So you can most definitely choose on the most interesting one(s).
If your career doesnât render C.V. that can provide content, donât worry, try to find something or someone in your life that can be worth writing about. Something you saw or youâve been through. Point is to efficiently create quality Blog Portfolio good enough to get you gig, not to write an autobiography (although if this pitch survives Sophieâs & Laurenâs cut, and you somehow end up in writing an autobiography inspired by it, resulting in K-BOOM of hits or gigs â we really need to talk).
Three Points About Me That Makes Me Right Person For This Post
I am integrated marketing professional with 25 years of career spent in major advertising agencies and corporate businesses. I am the right person to write this post because I understand the value of awareness and demand generation created by appealing content. More so, because I am doing exactly what Iâm writing you about — it started as part of my application process for position of part-time blogger at one Swiss blog, now is in form of my C.V. in WordPress, and I’m planning on pitching it to potential clients in order to kick my own freelance blogger career in following weeks.
Thank you in advance for your time & effort, and it’s great to be here.
Kind regards, Dejan.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Well, I certainly enjoyed your enthusiasm, Dejan! However, your pitch rambled on quite a bit… I had to re-read it a couple times before I really “got” what you were trying to say.
Using past jobs and life experiences as inspiration for blog posts (or possibly finding your blog niche!) is a great idea. I actually recommend this idea to the writers I mentor. đ
In the future though, I would recommend writing your pitch more for us (the Editors!) than for the fellow comment-posters. I get that you’re a marketer and they’re the larger audience (and ultimately final audience if you were to be published!), but you need to connect with and sell us on your idea first. đ
Cami Dutton says
Category: Better Blogging
Suggested Headline: Valuable Lessons Rocket Science Can Teach Us About Freelance Blogging
Opener: What do launching a spacecraft and freelance blogging have in common? Ample preparation goes into missions manned or unmanned. Reflecting on my career supporting the space program I realized there are many lessons learned while preparing a complex shuttle mission. These can be applied to become a better freelance blogger. Building your reputation means getting it right the first time.
Points for article
* Impressions are important
Companies associated with the space industry have a long history of winning contracts. As Freelancers gaining new clients and creating solid business relies on good impressions and a being someone people can count on.
* Details matter
Whether it is ensuring everything is in place for the next launch or preparing a new assignment technical details do matter. This applies to pitches, blog posts and articles.
* Avoid Deadline Crunch
Being organized and using good project management skills can help avoid that dreaded deadline crunch. It also makes a good impression for those you will be working with.
* Proper preparation
Successful missions and assignments rely on proper preparation and research. Donât sacrifice good preparation to get an assignment done quicker. Skipping over things can lead to a project that is poorly executed.
* Be adaptable and innovative
Adapting to changes and being innovative are necessary skills. It doesnât matter whether itâs a new mission or freelance assignment flexibility is a great asset.
Why am I right for Be a Freelance Blogger
Iâm an aerospace engineer with a project management degree, freelance blogger and writer. Writing is something I done for a while including fiction, professional documents for work and report for grad school. Recently I started freelance blogging.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Cami! I hope I can say what I need to say without sounding like a total butthead, but here goes:
I’m concerned your style might be a little too “dry” for BAFB. We like our posts to have a lot of flavor (a little humor… something to really connect with the readers on a human level, not just as businesspersons). But, in a contest like this, it’s easy to get nervous and freeze up and not let your personality show through!
That said, I loved your topic’s theme (since it was based on your nifty background!) and your points were pretty solid. It was a decent pitch!
Sophie Lizard says
As a former astrophysicist, I think this sounds like a fantastic post! But as an editor, I agree with Lauren — looser language would help your pitch feel more at home.
Renayle Fink says
Category: Blog Better
5 Ways Wal-Mart Helps Your Blog Reach the Top
You spend hours creating a blog post, but once you hit publish, nada. No comments, shares, or likes. Itâs not that you wrote a bad post; it just didnât grab the reader. How can you write posts like that? You gotta think like Wal-Mart. Here are five ways the super store can help your blog become awesome.
1: Wal-Mart is known for its low prices, which helps the customer save money. You can help your readers save time by giving them tips on solving their problem.
2: People either love or hate Wal-Mart for itâs practices, but people keep coming back. Have a blog post that brings out many opinions.
3: Just like the store, your presence needs to be known. Market yourself.
4: Wal-Mart has good relationships with their suppliers, and you should connect with fellow bloggers to help each other by guest blogging.
5: Wal-Mart has software to track customer behavior, so you need to look at Google and see what people are looking for, then write about that.
Who am I: I am a freelance copywriter who has written for print and online publications. I graduated with a BA in Journalism, and spent 10 years working in retail, so I know all these points are crucial not only in a store but in writing as well. I currently blog tips to help people get through their writing problems.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Renayle! I love the idea of comparing retail work with freelance blogging. Especially since a lot of us have a retail, or food services, background! (Myself included).
Sadly, I’m not seeing anything here that I haven’t already seen several times before. It feels very “basic” (though that could be because your points were so short).
I’d love for you to continue to work on this and re-pitch it to us (or someone else) in the future with a more unique spin on the topic — or at least something more in-depth. đ
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Bonus: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fg0GOXztU2s/TLfJmcXyFPI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/R0POtMh28go/s1600/deltaco.jpg <-- Picture of me 8 months before I opened LittleZotz Writing (my multiple award-winning blog!). đ
Renayle Fink says
I had Del Taco this past June and it was sooo good!!! đ
And thank you for the feedback! I didn’t get too specific because I was trying to keep each point to a couple of sentences. I’ll probably rework it to make it stand out. I’m so glad I sent out my first pitch! Thank you and Sophie for this Pitchfest!
Igor Katusic says
Pitching a blog post in âLevel Upâ category.
Headline: 5 Steps to Move beyond Hired Brain and Tailor Abundant Financial Future
The Lead: Until now, you worked for the money. Now you’ll learn how to make your money work for you. This is something you’ve been missing all along. It’s the reason why you struggle so much while being broke for the most of the time.
Five Golden Life Changing Points explained in 1000 words:
– Reset your money blueprint â you’ve been taught wrong. You’ll now learn how to reset and learn it right.
– Gain essential level of confidence â to reach what we’ll set up for you a bit later. You are confident, but not confident enough. Balance on your bank account proves it, doesn’t it?
– Develop a business mind â just because you are blogger, it doesn’t mean you cannot be Trump. See how to achieve that transformation.
– Create a mental road map â after developing a precise business plan based on a proven strategy we’ll armed you with. In addition you’ll be given a task to complete, and then we’ll set you up with a goal and kick you out of the house.
– Buy me a lunch â 5 years from now we’ll meet again and have a decent meal. You consent to this the moment you decide to read the program that will blast you sky high. This point hides a critical element of your future success.
Three points about me and why my post should be the chosen one:
+Blogging about blogging about blogging is not my style. Instead I provide brutally effective solutions; piece after piece. In addition I do have a proven track record of successful and life-changing projects.
+I’m a professional content developer and copywriter with a special interest in human cognitive behavior. I’m here because I enjoy a good challenge.
+Q-content, a top ranking content development and copywriting agency, operating across several project management platforms is my baby.
I have never used âI’mâ and “I” so many times đ Thank you for your time and let the best gal win đ
Igor K.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hmm. Okay… I think I get what you’re trying to say?
We’re definitely for the idea of leaving the employee mindset behind and taking strides to think like an entrepreneur when starting out as a freelance blogger. And we’ve published posts about that before. Most recently, this one: http://beafreelanceblogger.com/employee-mindset-freelance-success/
I think that you’ve got a lot of enthusiasm, and a lot of information to share, but you kind of lost me around the point you told me to buy you lunch. đ
It left me a bit cold, to be honest.
HOWEVER, your bio caught my interest! Both your copywriting skills AND your studies into human cognitive behavior would be great launching off points for a unique post. Especially the human cognitive behavior! What about knowing human cognitive behavior has made you a better blogger — or, better yet, what about it has helped you connect better, as a blogger, to your freelancing clients? THAT would make for a great read.
I’d love to see what you could come up with along that vein. Maybe try again during our next Pitchfest in June?
Igor Katusic says
Hi Lauren! Hey everybody!
Well, to be honest, I knew it will be a long shot to pitch something like this. Being a content developer (content marketing as a primary field) and a sales writer it can sometimes be a tricky business to switch to a blogging mode and present idea in a “blogger’s way”.
But, with no disrespect towards the author, that post you’ve linked to doesn’t really teach you how to break free. It simply lists things everybody know. You know that you have to be a problem solver and better organized, bla, bla,… but it doesn’t explain how to become the problem solver. It does not answer your question entirely, does it? And that’s what I do – I answer questions every day. I teach exactly how to become a ruthless killer (to use a phrase), or to stop binge eating, or to gain confidence, or to develop a business plan and hundreds of other problems you might have.
About that lunch thingy. I know it confuses you. Tell you what Lauren, I’ll do that piece anyway and post it on my site. It will be a bit longer or maybe in a form of a book that you’ll be able to download without leaving your email or mobile or credit card đ .
Once you go over it it will make every bit of a sense to you. And you will call me and consent to buy me that lunch. If you don’t agree or if you fail to call me in 5 years that means that we both failed. I failed because I somehow missed to force the change, and you failed because you lost perseverance and decisiveness.
Thank you for the invitation for the June contest. I will definitely pitch the exact piece you are asking for.
Long ass response, isn’t it Lauren đ
Thanks all. I’m reading every word that has been written here so far. And I’m learning. Keep it coming people. Peace!
Ardelia says
Hi Sophie and Lauren!
Here’s my pitch:
Category: Stay Sane
Headline: How to Take a Break Even When Your Work Doesn’t
Opening lines:
*Glances at clock.*
Great. Itâs only 7am. That gives me about an hour until The Family is up. I can get loads of work done. I love Saturdays.
*Work work work work work*
Whew. That was an intense work session. I got loads done.
*Glances at calendar*
What!? Itâs Sunday?! Where did Saturday go?
Point 1 – Schedule your break
Actually pencil your break in on your calendar. Know exactly when it starts and exactly when it stops. Planning your break and putting it in your schedule gives you something to look forward to, and it can help motivate you to finish projects.
Point 2 – Figure out what tasks you want to do before you stop working.
If you prioritize your tasks and get them done before your break, youâre more likely to actually enjoy your time off instead of constantly worrying about finishing important projects.
Point 3 – Plan your break
Yes, actually plan it. Sit down and figure out what you want to do with your time away from work. Iâve found that if I didnât have a âFun To Doâ list during my break, Iâd actually start working again.
Point 4 – Plan your after-break projects
Knowing what your first task is when you return to your work saves you the time and energy it takes to go through all your projects and prioritize them. It can also reduce your stress level because youâre not trying to use your break time to figure out your next project.
Point 5 – Make the appropriate arrangements
If youâre planning on being away from your work for a few days (or longer), finish up any outstanding projects you have. Itâs also a good idea to let your clients know that youâre taking a few days off.
Point 6 – Actually adhere to your schedule
This is the hardest part for most bloggers, but taking some time away from work is important to maintaining your sanity and your real-world relationships. Set a reminder in your phone. Have a friend call you at the exact moment your break starts and tell you to stop working. Train your dog to pull you out of your chair. Do whatever it takes to step away from the computer screen.
Why me: Iâm a freelance writer and blogger who spends most of her time nurturing her fledgling writing business and a rambunctious toddler. Iâm also a reformed workaholic who has recently discovered the positive personal and professional effects that come with spending time away from work. Iâd like to share my realization that bloggers, too, can have vacation days.
Thanks for hosting Pitchfest! Have an awesome day/evening!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
I love your writing style, Ardelia! That intro is pretty much just what we look for here. đ
Karol K says
For “Stay Sane”
Headline: “I Hate My Life … Foreign Freelancer’s Struggles Writing in English (Plus How to Make Your Life Easier)”
Alternative: “How to Build a Freelance Blogging Career Even if English Isn’t Your First Language”
Intro: —-
Mondays … So I’m sitting here doing yet another round of proofreading, yet another Google Translate run, yet another look-up via thefreedictionary.com … ugh … I’m starting to go a bit crazy.
Is it “all of a sudden” or “all of the sudden?” Heck, for me both sound kind of the same, but what do I know … and how did I ever get myself into this freelance blogging thing anyway?!
—–
Points: —-
1. The imposter syndrome and how to beat it
Something a lot of people struggle with. Here’s how to don’t worry about not being good enough.
2. Write in English right away
Believe it or not. Writing in your native language and then trying to translate things is a tempting thing. Hugely unproductive though. Here’s why.
2. (The kicker) throw in words in your native language
Flow is more important than grammar. Don’t allow yourself to get hanged up on missing a sĹowo.
3. Use Google the smart way
Warning, this is some non-obvious stuff. Particularly, about using the phrase search in Google (inside “”) to find how frequently certain expressions are used. This prevents you from saying something that makes sense in your language, yet has no sense at all in English.
4. Use text to speech when done writing
Being able to listen to what you’ve written is a huge helper. You can tune out the inner grammar filter in your brain and just focus on the flow instead.
5. Use the right tools
A set of helper tools that can speed up your work considerably.
—-
Why me?
I’ve been struggling with this sort of thing for a long time. I’m from Poland. Polish is my native language, and writing in English isn’t as simple as it might seem to a native. I also know that there’s a lot of people all over the world who would like to start their careers in freelance blogging but are afraid of this one main obstacle. The system I use today makes my work considerably faster, and better (at least I hope so).
Katherine Swarts says
Ask any publisher: “writing in English isn’t as simple as it might seem to a native” even when the writer IS a native speaker! I could take a dollar for every time I’ve heard someone complain about manuscript submitters whose spelling and grammar would shame a third grader and who have inflated egos to boot, and become one of those mythological 4-hour-a-week freelancers who spend their days indulging their taste for gourmet cocoa.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
You know we dig your style, Karol; but I think this time your pitch is a little too similar to this post from 9 months ago: http://beafreelanceblogger.com/esl-bloggers/
Sophie Lizard says
I agree with Lauren, BUT I’m interested in the tools — a pitch that goes into detail about free or cheap tools that help ESL bloggers would be awesome! đ
Karol K says
Okay guys, thanks for the feedback. đ
Tracy Spangler says
Freelance Blogging for Pain Relief
This post would go in the Staying Sane category.
Itâs challenging to work while unwell. It can be incredibly difficult to keep freelance blogging if you have a disorder, disease, disability or mental illness. I will share how I kept freelance blogging in spite of physical pain and depression, along with helpful articles and examples.
Three years ago I was diagnosed with a rare cranial nerve disorder. I has an invasive brain surgery I learned later was done incorrectly, and in fact even the diagnosis was incorrect. I am disabled, in extreme pain constantly and suffer from depression and panic attacks. Hereâs how I keep freelance blogging through the pain. You can too!
Primary Points
1. Mihaly CsĂkszentmihĂĄlyi, is the psychologist and philosopher who fathered positive psychology and is credited with creating the theory of flow. In his Ted talk given in February 2004, he noted that when people are engaged in a creative practice they are less likely to notice pain or anxious thoughts. There are more details I would like to share based upon his studies and writing.
2. My failed brain surgery led to increased pain and depression. Freelance blogging was the only activity I could do that would temporarily distract me from the pain. This is worthy of sharing, as we all will deal with physical or emotional pain or sickness at some point in our lives.
3. How to motivate yourself to work each day when the idea of staying in bed sounds a lot better.
4. Every day is a battle. How to be victorious. Ways to quiet the voice in your head that says there are plenty of freelance bloggers in the world, and your writing is not needed. Positive affirmations and mantras to say when depression, doubt and anxiety cripple your creativity.
5. Write every day. Even if itâs for a content mill, or a journal only you will read.
6. Take advantage of the wealth of free online courses that will teach you how to be a better freelance blogger (and a better paid one). Donât give up!
My name is Tracy Spangler. Iâve managed a rocking used bookstore, edited my townâs weekly alternative newspaper while writing traditional and uncensored personal ads for many readers and have worked a series of odd jobs, including chicken farming. I decided to work from home when my disability began limiting my physical movements.
Iâve been a mystery shopper for a decade, which led to becoming a work-at-home mystery shop report editor for three years. I have a new-ish blog and plans to create my first ârealâ (i.e. not a free WordPress) blog by the beginning of April, along with an e-commerce store for the medicinal herbal and oil products I create. Most importantly, I will create a portfolio where clients can see samples of my work. Unfortunately Iâve not broken out of content mill writing yet, but Iâm sure I will soon! Iâve enjoyed being a freelance blogger for some amazing clients, and Iâve also received enough fake scam checks to be a rich woman if only they were real! Thank you for this opportunity, and best of luck to my fellow freelance bloggers!
Mandy Gardner says
Working – in any industry – while depressed and anxious is a horrible battle. I’m sorry to hear that you have suffered so much, but glad that you’re finding purpose and happiness in your work! <3
Tracy Spangler says
Thank you for your kind words Mandy! After surviving the botched brain surgery two and a half years ago, I am grateful to be alive, and able to work from home so I have more time with my daughters. It’s challenging to hurt all the time and maintain optimism and enthusiasm, but it helps that I adore my kids, love to write and that despite the pain, there are still many things I want to learn, explore and share with my family and readers!
Thanks again!
Tracy Spangler
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Thanks for sharing with us, Tracy! You’re certainly one tough cookie!
The topics you’re covering are very near to my heart (for reasons I’m not brave enough to share openly), but I’m afraid that your potential article may be too similar to two other posts we’ve run:
“Not Writerâs Block: How to Cope If You Physically Canât Write” – http://beafreelanceblogger.com/writing-disability/ (about writing while in physical pain)
“How To Squelch Your Freelance Blogging Anxiety Before It Squashes You” – http://beafreelanceblogger.com/freelance-blogging-anxiety/ (about writing while in the death grip of anxiety)
You should definitely share your story somewhere though! If not here, then at another blog, or on your own blog!
Sophie Lizard says
I’m interested in the point behind this post — the idea that when you’re suffering, freelance blogging could be the ANSWER to pain and depression, rather than something you try to do DESPITE the pain.
I don’t feel your current pitch emphasises it enough. But if you come back to us in the next Pitchfest (June) with a fresh pitch that stays focused on that premise, I’ll definitely be interested! đ
Tracy Spangler says
Sophie and Lauren,
Thank you so much for your kind words and feedback! I respect both of you immensely, and I greatly appreciate your feedback and suggestions. I will definitely try again in June, with the focus on pain and depression relief through freelance blogging, as you suggested, Sophie. Lauren-I can see how my pitch was too similar to the other two, and that my points were rather disjointed. I’m sorry to hear you’ve struggled with similar issues. I understand not sharing some parts of your life- there are certain topics that I doubt I’ll ever be able to write about. I hope you’re able to find some relief and healing.
Again, thank you so much for taking the time to read my pitch, as well as all the others! Best wishes to all who participated- I’ve enjoyed reading all of your entries!
Tracy Spangler
Addevi says
Hi there.
I am submitting a pitch for a guest post in the âstay saneâ category, with the headline: Tips for newbie freelance bloggers to stay sane in an overwhelming field.
Sometimes it feels like you are running in thick mud, you work hard and harder and get no where. Freelance blogging, for many people, is not usually their first choice but it becomes apparent to them that this may be a viable way out of the daily 9-5 grind; because of this many people may suddenly find themselves pursuing a new career path of which they know nothing. It can all get frustrating so here are a few tips to keep your sanity levels in check while chasing your new career goals.
1) Write it down
Write down the efforts which you make everyday to reach your goals, as well as the emotions you feel at the end of each day; a diary of sorts. This can serve as motivation, or it can help you to realise that you are not doing nearly enough for the results youâre expecting.
2) Track previous paid and unpaid work
Many freelance bloggers and writers get a start by submitting guest posts. However, keeping a record of all your paid or unpaid work will serve as a reminder that you are indeed making progress. It can help to ease your mind because when a potential client asks what you have written then you have everything in one, organised place.
3) Read but do not dwell
While absorbing as much information about freelance blogging/writing is important, you also have to make sure that you get down to business and actually write.
4) All work and no play makes Jim a dull boy
Burn-out can be a real possibility if you have a full-time, job, a family AND you are pursuing a career in freelance blogging. Fun times are not just .. well, for fun, but they become a necessity, for sanityâs sake!
5) Be a little selfish and claim your time!
With so many distractions and responsibilities, sometimes you need to just say âno!â and take some time for yourselves to work on your goals in quiet.
I am someone with a mid-twenties crisis, and I completely understand the struggle of juggling family obligations (I am unmarried and childless but single people can also have family commitments), a full-time job, and desperately trying to break into a new career as a freelance blogger and writer. Therefore, I think I am rather suited to write an article about staying sane because I know first-hand how overwhelming it can be, and I am experiencing that right now.
Thanks!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” đ Can you believe there’s actually a Wiki entry for that saying? hahaha. I had no idea! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_work_and_no_play_makes_Jack_a_dull_boy
Also: “I am unmarried and childless but single people can also have family commitments.” Tell me about it! So many people don’t get that.
Anyway… About your pitch!
It was pretty good, but I would have liked to see something that explained (at least briefly) why it’s important for freelance bloggers to follow this advice. For instance: If freelance bloggers don’t take breaks, their brains will turn to mush, their writing quality will go down, and then they won’t make as much money.
Basically, it needs to be tailored just a TINY bit more toward our niche — otherwise it’s just a great “general” post for any blogging site. đ
Addevi Persaud says
Yikes! Sorry about that mistake. Well, Jim can be dull too! heh đ
Thanks for the feedback, I can see now that maybe it is indeed a bit too general and needs tweaking. I sorta had to rush it because I only had limited internet access at that time.
I really like the concept of a pitchfest. I didn’t win a prize but at the very least I got to practice writing a pitch and have it reviewed by you guys, so I really can’t lose here. đ Congrats to the winners!
Soumya Gupta says
Hi Sophie and Lauren,
Here’s my first pitch for BAFB, and certainly the first-ever comment. Anxious for feedback(s). đ
Category: Level Up
[HEADLINE]
4 Powerful Content Types to Branding Your Way to Authority (And How to Totally Nail It)
[INTRO]
Neat portfolio, sugary testimonials [link], your words crowned insanely engaging.
And youâre not your nicheâs expert. Not yet.
With great deal of freelance bloggers hunting for whatnot-gigs, clients never shy away from bringing them to terms. Worse, they demand yet another writing sample, despite the sweat framing your stellar clippings.
Frustrating, isnât it?
Instead of getting ahead in the business, you find yourself starting afresh convincing clients. Every. Single. Time.
Even your best marketing strategy struggles.
âIs there something Iâm missing out on?â you ask.
*The Advice Most Freelance Bloggers Overlook That Could Dramatically Increase Their Credibility and Income
[BRAND STORY]
What Nikeâs immersive Brand Experience teaches about Showcasing Expertise
*Advocating Portfolio equivalent to Branding [quotations + screenshots], and the Must-Have Content Types in Every Writerâs Portfolio
[FORMAT]
Content Type #1 : (Logical) List Pots
*Why List Posts
*What A List Post is NOT About
*Steps to Creating Effective List Posts
*10 Minute Action Plan for the BAFBer
[Rest Content Types will follow close-to-similar format with possible links and/or examples.]
Coming to Why Me?
Educating novice writers about the importance of content, I developed an inclination towards Content Strategy. Besides practicing it, I read a lot on my subject religiously. Simply put, I know what goes in to make a content stand out.
I believe this post will be the best fit for BAFB community because it provides in-depth analysis of content types that will transform freelance bloggers to “Authority” in their niche, and Sophie couldnât emphasize it more. đ
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Hey, Soumya! I would have liked to see the other three content types you would have been covering.
Your pitch seemed a bit scattered — like you were trying to fit in too many topics into one post.
To be honest, I think you could have sold me on a piece on List Posts alone. Your outline for that seemed like it held some promise if you had elaborated on your points. After all, list posts are a very popular style of blogging (that pays quite well!) and we’ve yet to feature any articles on them.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
PS: Congratulations on your first pitch & comment here on BAFB! đ I hope to see more from you in the future.
Vanessa says
**Note, my post is not inspired by Dejanâs. My pitch was inspired by my own mission to build a portfolio that was super.
Getting Started
Something Old, New, Borrowed &⌠Used?
5 Steps to Building your First Portfolio from Scratch⌠Almost
Have you checked those Craigslist âbloggers neededâ ads lately? How about those super cool blogger boards looking for content writers? Maybe you were perusing your favorite blog and wandered upon their guest post link and took a gander. It is at this point you get excited. You love to write, you do it well as a hobby and really have a way of dazzling with your word play and impressing with your metaphors.
Now you realize you can get paid for doing something you love; writing is no longer just the cream in your coffee but the icing on the cake, and the cake. Even better, you get to eat the cake while sipping delectably expensive fair trade coffee you have had your eye on for quite some time. You envision yourself laid back watching the dollars pile up from all those clients on their knees, just begging to hire the modern day Emily Dickenson or Ernest Hemmingway.
But wait⌠what is this portfolio thing and why do you even need one?
High profile websites and companies want to hire professionals and your portfolio is the first step in the interview process. If you are new to the freelance blogging game and donât have a portfolio, building an awesome one is simple if you using my method.
So you are familiar with the good luck wedding tradition âSomething old, something new, something borrowed and something blueâ. I adapted that old wives tale to building a portfolio for newbie bloggers (including me) who are trying to emerge into the blogging world and make more than less-than-a-penny per word, yuck.
Step One: Something Old
If you are a writer, chances are you have lots of little treasures tucked away in the confines of your desktop folders or well-loved notebooks. Even past scholarly work can be tweaked a little to be article worthy. Here is the part where I tell you how.
Step Two: Something New
Think about the type of clients you want to attract and come up with at least 5 articles you can write that would appeal to these types of clients. Find a nonprofit that sits close to your heart, offer them a few articles for free. This is the part where I tell you why.
Step Three: Something Borrowed
No, I am not talking about stealing someone elseâs work (gasp, did you really think I would suggest such a thing?) I mean finding a popular blogger and sending them a pitch. Troll their blog and find a topic that they could use more articles on and offer to contribute for free. This is this part where I explain the logic behind this.
Step Four: Something Used
Have you ever been published before, anywhere? No matter how big or small or insignificant it may seem you will want to include it in your portfolio. You can add links to original articles and make notes if you need to revise. This is where I give you a few more tips.
Step Five: Be You
This is the most important step, and probably the easiest. I canât stress enough how important it is to build a portfolio that highlights your passions. Be creative and donât be afraid to challenge yourself to learn new things and explore different ideas. This is the part where I give you more motivation and encouragement.
Now You Have Your Material… So Whatâs Next?
There are many ways to make your portfolio easily accessible to potential clients. If you donât have a website, you can create a free one using (resource here) or use (resource here) or use another free resource (listed here).
As for me, I am an up and coming freelance blogger and creative marketer who is passionate about writing and a natural, organic and sustainable living fanatic. My dream job is to stay at home with my daughter and eat luxurious chocolate while sipping fair trade coffee after I become a famous freelance professional. I have been published as a hobby writer and my passion is to learn about the world so that I can teach others.
Cheers!
Vanessa
Krithika Rangarajan says
I enjoyed your image of eating ‘delectable chocolate’ – although in my case, it would be ‘licking delectable peanut butter’ đ – while sipping deliciously decadent and expensive coffee – woohoo!
Vanessa says
Yes, everyone has there own I call it ‘not-so-guilty-pleasure’ đ You should try White Chocolate Wonderful or Dark Chocolate Dreams Peanut Butter by Peanut Butter & Co. Its just Wow!
Glad you enjoyed the imagery Krithika đ
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Well, your intro certainly made me hungry. ~_~ *stomach growls loudly*
It took you a while to get to your point/main theme, but, once you did, I really enjoyed it. I’m a sucker for a good theme (that works well with the topic at hand) and I’ve always dug wedding stuff (even though I never got to have one of my own).
We have several posts already on here about creating great portfolios; however, if you could make this different enough (the theme helps!), I think you could be onto something.
Vanessa says
Hi Lauren!
Thanks for your feedback. As I was scrolling through the comments email my stomach was dropping, so I was happy to know that you enjoyed my pitch and my first wasn’t an utter failure Yay!
I do tend to take a bit to get to my point. There is a method to my madness. I like to build anticipation and reel in the reader so that they are really engrossed in my message, I feel that is how they get the most benefit. Plus I really like to make more than just a mental connection, I like to illicit physical responses (in your case, hunger for others smiles) from my writing using imagery.
So, being the ‘troll’ I am, I scrolled through the first 6 pages of BAFB blogs and didn’t come across any about portfolios, so I Google searched and found ‘What Your Freelance Blogging Portfolio Says About You’ published in 2013. Great article and I see where it makes some similar points to my idea.
My point is to elaborate on how someone who has nothing can build a portfolio, expounding on the ideas of where to find inspiration, how to adapt old work, and how to put it all together to target a specific niche(s) of interest. So I think I really could make this much different and add dome great insight for readers, especially those who are just starting out as I am.
The goal is to have someone read my article than spring into action. I want to make it seem so easy that readers begin searching their old content and building their portfolio on the spot.
Thanks for the advice and the time, it really means a lot to have support from such great writers and veteran bloggers!
Vanessa says
My typo ‘dome great insight’ reading it out loud sounds like a contradiction, funny stuff. I meant ‘some great insight’ which I am sure you gathered.
Tracy Spangler says
I apologize- I realized my bio was much too long. Here’s the max 3 sentence about me:
My name is Tracy Spangler. I’m a professional editor, freelance blogger, maker and mom. I’m also disabled and have had severe nerve damage for three years. Freelance blogging through the constant pain has been a journey I’d like to share.
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Thanks, Tracy. đ
Angela Morgan Allen says
GETTING STARTED
Get Your Blog On Newbies!
Six âJust Do Itâ Tips for Newbies by a Newbie Who âJust Did It!â
Have you ever felt like giving your writing dream up? I mean like just throwing your hands up in the air, in total exasperation with this freelance writing biz? Well I have and did, up until I made myself “Just Do It!” recently, resulting in employment!
What did I do? Well I’m so glad you asked, because that’s exactly what I want to talk to you aboutÍž so grab some coffee, pull up a chair, and let me share.
If you’re anything like me, procrastination is your bedfellow, and writer’s block you’re right hand manÍž not to mention your sidekick, good ole’ fear of rejection who never fails to show up at the darndest times. Now this is coming from the âQueen of Procrastinationâ herselfÍž here’s how it went down.
Approximately two weeks ago I decided to just do something, Anything, to get this âfreelance ball rollin!â Even if that something was very small. In this post, I’m gonna’ show all you Newbies, just how I got that freelance ball rolling, by sharing with you the six steps I used to do so.
Step One: PRIORITIZE- In other words, âGet with it!â Put a stop to the procrastination bit. Tell yourself, âI’m a writer, I have talent, I can do this.â Make a list of freelancing priorities, set them in order, then get down to business. Shut the door on your three special friends I mentioned above, and get started.
Step Two: ORGANIZE-Take stock of all your freelancing materials and organize accordingly. Make a need and want list of supplies.
Step Three: ECONOMIZE-Be frugal and practical. You haven’t made it yet, remember you’re still a starving artist.
Step Four: RATIONALIZE-Take baby steps. Don’t compare yourself with others, they got where they are because they just did it.
Step Five: SOCIALIZE-Update and link all your social networks, get involved, spread the word, relate, self-promote.
Step Six: MONETIZE-Research and implement self-marketing, promoting, linking, syncing, joining, participating, and getting your name out there.
Who I am, and why I am the right candidate for this blog article:
My name is Angela D. Morgan Allen. I am a recently totally and permanently disabled, divorced, and disillusioned amateur photographer, writer, and digital artist, who day-dreams about working from my laptop on tropical islands and such.
Sarah Best says
Just logged onto my emails and I’m sold on this as a pitch! I’d love to read more!
Angela Morgan Allen says
Thank you so much Sarah, tbat means alot!
Angela D Allen says
Hi Sarah, would you mind giving your opinion on my revised pitch? Thank you so much!
GETTING STARTED
Get Your Blog On!
Six âJust Do Itâ Tips for Freelance Bloggers
Have you ever felt like giving your writing dream up? I mean like just throwing your hands up in the air, in total exasperation with this freelance writing biz? Well I have and did, up until I made myself âJust Do It!â recently, resulting in employment!
What did I do? Well Iâm so glad you asked, because thatâs exactly what I want to talk to you aboutÍž so
grab some coffee, pull up a chair, and let me share.
If youâre anything like me, procrastination is your bedfellow, and writerâs block youâre right hand manÍž not to mention your sidekick, good oleâ fear of rejection who never fails to show up at the darndest times. Now this is coming from the âQueen of Procrastinationâ herselfÍž hereâs how it went down.
Approximately two weeks ago I decided to just do something, Anything, to get this âfreelance ball rollin!â Even if that something was very small. In this post, Iâm gonnaâ show all you freelance bloggers just how I got that freelance ball rolling, by sharing with you the six steps I used to do so.
Step One: PRIORITIZE- In other words, âGet with it!â Put a stop to the procrastination bit. Tell yourself, âIâm a writer, I have talent, I can do this.â Make a list of freelancing priorities, set them in order, then get down to business. Shut the door on your three special friends mentioned above, and get started.
I finally updated a page on Facebook to display and share my Digital Art-Dynamic Digital Art by Angela http://www.facebook.com/page/DynamicDigitalArtbyAngela.
Old school I know, but when youâre the proverbial starving artist, what else âya gonna do right? You have start somewhere.
Step Two: ORGANIZE-Make a need and want list of supplies.Take stock of all your freelancing materials and organize accordingly.
Step Three: ECONOMIZE-Be frugal and practical. You havenât made it yet, remember youâre still a starving artist.
Step Four: RATIONALIZE-Take baby steps. Donât compare yourself with others who are more successful. They got where they are because they just did it.
Step Five: SOCIALIZE-Communicate, create, follow-up, build relationships.
I created a blog about disabilities-Enabling the Disabled to promote awareness, info, and resources http:/uniquelydisabled1129.overblog.com. I did this because I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis twelve years ago, and now walk with a cane, walker, or use a wheelchair, and I want to inform, help, and advocate for the disabled community.
Step Six: MONETIZE-Research and implement self-marketing, promoting, linking, syncing, joining, participating, and getting your name out there.
I updated and linked all my social media sites together, Google, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and OverBlog. I am a member of nineteen disability groups, a writing group, and poetry group on Facebook who like, comment on and share for me, as well as having friends and family that do the same.
Through this basic networking I landed a writing job to create a Mission Statement for a friend whoâs getting ready to open a rescue and animal shelter soon for $50.00 plus my first official writing clip outside of my blog.
(Excerpt) Puppy Loveâs Mission Statement =$50.
âThe mission of our animal rescue and adoption center, âPuppy Love,â is lo rescue, care for, provide shelter, food, and veterinary care, as well as lots and lots of the Puppy Love these animals so desperately need and deserve. It is our desire to find loving homes for these animals, and to raise public awareness to inhumane crimes committed against our furry friends. We intend to make a difference in our communityâs animal cruelty issues, one paw at a time!â
It ainât no bowl of cherries sometimes, it takes lots of willpower, time, effort, creativity, and determination, but it can be done when you Get Your Blog On and Just Do It!
Who I am, and why I am the right candidate for this blog article:
Angela D. Morgan Allen is a recently disabled, divorced, and disillusioned mother of three now grown sons. She is also an amateur photographer, writer, and digital artist, who day-dreams about working from her laptop on tropical islands and such.
Angela is currently pursuing a BA in Communications with a concentration in Professional Writing online at Southern New Hampshire University. She believes she is the best candidate to write this blog post because sheâs been there and done that!
Sarah Best says
Hi Angela,
I think your updated pitch is great! I can definitely ‘see’ you coming through but being a relatively new blogger myself I don’t feel that I have the experience to comment on your pitch!
I think, like you it’s about getting feedback from the likes of Sophie, Lauren and fellow writers, as that takes guts in itself. And I totally agree with you that you just have to do it, you have to put your work out there.
I’d be really keen to read more so I am on way to your Digital Art page now.
Sarah đ
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
The freelancing aspect is coming through really strong on this pitch, Angela; but I would have loved to see a little more about how this advice would apply to freelance blogging.
That said, I love your style and I think that you could tweak this post/pitch pretty easily. Or, if you’d rather, send it into a “general freelance” publication and get it published there. đ If Sarah wants to read more, then I’m sure other people would too!
Angela Morgan Allen says
Thanks so much for your ack Lauren. I’ really helpful, considering I’ve never been brave nough to sumit a pitch anywhere before this.
I will revise accordingly, and resubmit here later.
I’ve been lurking in the shadows of BAFB for some time now, but I finally decided to just do it!
Thank you ladies for your help and wonderful tips!
Angela Morgan Allen says
OOOPS! I didn’t mean to submit twice. Sorry guys!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
No worries. đ Scrapped the extra!
Krithika Rangarajan says
Category: Get Started
Headline: Stop the Self-Sabotage: 5 Inane Excuses New Freelance Bloggers Must Cremate TODAY
Introduction:
Are you afraid?
If you earn a living, or wish to earn a living, as a freelance blogger, you must be.
Novice freelance bloggers are especially vulnerable to the insidious whispers of their fears. Consequently, they either quit too soon or settle for less.
You deserve better.
Itâs time to lay the following five inane excuses to rest:
(Throughout the post, I shall use more personal stories to highlight the silliness of each excuse! )
a. âI donât have timeâ: If you have time to complain, you have time to write. I will talk about prioritizing our creative time and taking advantage of those tiny pockets of free time that all of us have.
b. âI donât have expertise or experienceâ: You donât need expertise or experience to start off as a freelance blogger; you just need to be confident, committed, creative and compassionate (and a wee crazy đ ). Every writer has a starting point â but you research, you learn what you like and you evolve.
c. âI donât have technical acumenâ: I am a technophobe who quakes at the thought of website technicalities (A bad experience with Go Daddy didnât help!) But there is no dearth of information OR options at our disposal today, so this is an inane reason NOT to have a website.
d. âI donât have any influenceâ or âI am not popularâ: Sophie Lizard didnât become Sophie Lizard by worrying about her âinfluence’. She became popular by tirelessly working and networking. Do the work and you will find your tribe!
e. âI donât have ideasâ: Look around â there are ideas everywhere. Get online, scan articles about similar topics, study competitors. (Here, I also want to include a link to Sophieâs article about how she comes up with ideas. )
Who am I? I am a Chicago-based writer who started freelancing in 2014 for my social media acquaintances. I canât get paid right now due to visa restrictions, but I look forward to becoming a full-time, paid freelance blogger. I am the best person to pen this blog post because I am a newbie blogger who struggles with each one of these excuses every day.
Vanessa says
Ahh yes… so familiar đ I would enjoy reading your entire post.
Krithika Rangarajan says
Glad you liked the pitch, Vanessa #HUGS
Kitto
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Looking good, Krithika. I like the idea of busting freelance blogger’s excuses. đ Even I have my fair share!!
However, I was getting more of a “general” this-post-is-for-bloggers vibe off of this pitch, rather than it being directed toward freelance bloggers specifically.
I’d love to see some more details about how each of these skills — how busting those excuses — would not only make our readers better bloggers, but also earn them more money as freelancers.
Krithika Rangarajan says
Thank you for the feedback, Lauren! #HUGS
I haven’t started earning money YET, so while I do have ideas about how busting each of these excuses will lead to a more profitable career, I would need to spend some time researching and elaborating on my ideas! đ
Off the top of my head:
a. “I don’t have time”: When you stop complaining and start writing in the pockets of time that are available, you start pitching more, publishing more and putting your work out there for feedback. I would believe that the more you pitch, the probability of acquiring quality clients increases, which will, in turn, increase the chances of making more money.
b. “I don’t have expertise or experience”: When you overpower this excuse, you find the courage and willpower to work harder, research and SHOW your commitment towards learning more about any topic. Your dedication will impress your client, who might even come back to you for more work because of your proven passion and persistence. As you write more, you gain experience, expertise, and start building an enviable repertoire of work!
c. “I don’t have technical acumen”: Once you get over your paralyzing fear of technology (note to SELF đ ), you will have a platform to promote your work. You can use affliate links, ads or sell products and services (once you have acquired adequate experience in any area of freelance blogging) to make more money. But if you have no website, you will not have a HUB or a home that showcases your talent. Ergo, no money!
d. “I don’t have influence”: Social media has made it very easy to connect with likeminded professionals. The more you share the content of others, engage in conversations and form mutually-beneficial and mutually-satisfying relationships, your chances of finding high-paying clients increases, which will only add more dollars into your bank account. But harping about not being influential is only going to keep you stuck in a rut, while your bank account runs on fumes!
e. “I don’t have ideas”:Once you let go of this imprisoning excuse, you will liberate your mind – especially your creative side of the brain – to hop on its own adventures. And the more ideas you have, the more you can pitch, the more work you will receive and the more money you can make! Read more books, articles, magazines, scour the sites of companies you are interested to write for, scour their competitors (like Sophie mentioned in her ah-mazing blog post about coming up with more ideas!), keep an idea book, let your mind wander while you exercise and engage in other errands –
My mind could only come up with this much before my first cuppa coffee đ hehe
Thank you so much for conducting this Pitchfest. I waited until the last day to post mine because each of these excuses bombarded my head, heart and soul, preventing me from putting my ideas out there.
I am very grateful towards all your readers – and you and Sophie – for encouraging me to drop our cloaks of fear and be brave! <3
See you again in the next Pitchfest – hopefully, I would have made some money by then đ
Lotsa love
Kitto
Igor Katusic says
look me up, I’ll lead you to it Krithika
Krithika Rangarajan says
Ooh – thanks!! #HUGS
Gargi says
Hi Sophie,
Iâd like to pitch a post for the Blogging Better category.
Exploiting the day job for fun and profit
I am a huge proponent of the day job. There are many reasons we donât like it â it saps our energy, takes away detracts from our precious writing/blogging time, and leaves us bereft of ideas at the end of a long workday.
But if we flip all the above, we can find that, viewed through the lens of optimism, the day job gives us more than we can bargain for
A day job can give us:
1. Ideas for posts
At work we come across people and their stories, problems, issues and even innovative ways to resolve them. Writers need to track these and use them as fodder for posts.
2. Time to write
Yes I know what youâre thinking â itâs because of the day job that I donât have time to write. But thatâs not true, thatâs what breaks are designed for. Make the most of your lunch and tea breaks. The question to ask yourself is where will my 500 words today come from?
Here I will expand upon what to write in each break, how much to aim for, and how to keep the fire going
3. Opportunities to research and learn
Google is your friend. You can research your ideas while working.
Also, almost every company provides opportunities to learn something new â whether itâs in the technology or domain youâre working in, or even soft skills. Absorb what you learn so that you can write it up and share your knowledge.
4. Opportunities to showcase your work
Most companies have blogs or in-house newsletters. Offer your services to these departments to get a foot in the door.
5. A chance to network
Thereâs one thing a day job gives you that nothing else can â access to colleagues and professionals. Free access to experts willing to share their expertise is rare and much sought-after.
With just a little bit of planning, we can make the most of our day job and still have a thriving alternate career.
Gargi says
To add to my pitch:
Why Iâm the person to write this post â I am a manager at a software company, a writer and a mother. I love my day job, and have managed to forge a sufficiently rewarding writing career alongside. Working bloggers especially will benefit from the knowledge and experience that I will share in the post.
Krithika Rangarajan says
I enjoy your ‘twist in the corporate tale’ – thanks for a unique perspective! <3
Gargi says
Thanks so much, Krithika!
Sophie Lizard says
Well pitched, Gargi, thank you! đ
Gargi says
Thank you, Sophie!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!!!
Huge thanks to everyone who entered this time! And, Lurkers, I hope you enter our next Pitchfest in June! đ
If we haven’t replied to you yet — don’t panic! We will reply to each and every one of you! And we’ve been reading your comments as they’ve come in.
Keep an eye here in the comments! We’ll be announcing the winner within the next few days.
Good luck, Everyone! GREAT PITCHES!!
Vanessa says
Thanks so much, I really enjoyed this and it was revitalizing to write for fun and not just school or work. Like sweet lemonade on a breezy spring day, I am officially refreshed đ
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Glad you enjoyed it, Vanessa! đ Thanks again for participating.
Cindy Brown says
I missed it this time (literally fell asleep on my computer last night after trying to beat the deadline at 11:20 p.m.), but boy, do I have a good pitch for next time! Good luck to all participants. It’s a wonderful opportunity. Sophie (and team), you run a great site with great people around you. You are such an asset in the blogging world!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Haha. Oh dear. Poor you!
Well, Cindy, I’m looking forward to reading your pitch during the next Pitchfest in June! Or you can send it to me the usual way behind-the-scenes (we take pitches for unpaid guest posts year ’round!).
Mandy Gardner says
Sophie and Lauren – great contest, it’s been fun! Thanks for putting in the time and effort đ
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Thanks for participating, Mandy! đ
Leslie Jordan Clary says
Good luck everyone! I opened my email late and missed this deadline. Dang!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Sorry we missed you, Leslie! There’s going to be another Pitchfest in June. Keep an eye out!! đ
Catherine says
Sophie and Lauren- I want to thank you for this contest. It was great, I have learnt a lot from other contestants. Keep up the good work!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
You’re welcome, Catherine. đ Be sure to join us again next time!
Andrew Langerman says
Hello – Will the winners be posted here in the comments section, or notified by email. Thanks.
Sophie Lizard says
I’m just about to post them here, Andrew. đ
Sophie Lizard says
THE WINNERS ARE:
1st prize:
Mandy Gardner on receiving international payments â read her winning pitch at http://beafreelanceblogger.com/100-dollar-blog-post/#comment-115672
2nd prize:
Alicia Rades on writer websites â read her pitch at http://beafreelanceblogger.com/100-dollar-blog-post/#comment-115859
JOINT 3rd prize:
Katherine Swarts on measuring progress â read her pitch at http://beafreelanceblogger.com/100-dollar-blog-post/#comment-115924
Jesse LaJeunesse on businesses that need a blog — read his pitch at http://beafreelanceblogger.com/100-dollar-blog-post/#comment-115914
Other people whose pitches we feel are ready to draft:
(If your nameâs on this list, we encourage you to either pitch your idea to one of the sites in The Ultimate List of Better-Paid Blogging Gigs, or write a full draft and submit it to lauren@beafreelanceblogger.com for publication as a traditional, unpaid guest post on Be a Freelance Blogger.)
Andrew Langerman
Angie
Charles
Cherese Cobb
Sarah Best
Ardelia
Cami Dutton
People we hope will bring their idea back to the NEXT Pitchfest in June 2015:
(If your nameâs on this list, we love the concept of your pitch but weâd like to see you polish it a bit more before we invite you to submit a draft.)
Karol K
Tracy Spangler
Angela Morgan Allen
Kitto
Congratulations and well done to everyone who entered. đ
Renayle Fink says
Congrats to all the winners! I can’t wait to see your posts on BAFB soon. đ
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Congratulations, Everyone!
Angela D Allen says
Thank you and congrats to all the winners! I just finished polishing mine and was going to submit, lol. I hope you all don’t mind if I do for feedback. TY!
GETTING STARTED
Get Your Blog On!
Six âJust Do Itâ Tips for Freelance Bloggers
Have you ever felt like giving your writing dream up? I mean like just throwing your hands up in the air, in total exasperation with this freelance writing biz? Well I have and did, up until I made myself “Just Do It!” recently, resulting in employment!
What did I do? Well I’m so glad you asked, because that’s exactly what I want to talk to you aboutÍž so
grab some coffee, pull up a chair, and let me share.
If you’re anything like me, procrastination is your bedfellow, and writer’s block you’re right hand manÍž not to mention your sidekick, good ole’ fear of rejection who never fails to show up at the darndest times. Now this is coming from the âQueen of Procrastinationâ herselfÍž here’s how it went down.
Approximately two weeks ago I decided to just do something, Anything, to get this âfreelance ball rollin!â Even if that something was very small. In this post, I’m gonna’ show all you Newbies, just how I got that freelance ball rolling, by sharing with you the six steps I used to do so.
Step One: PRIORITIZE- In other words, âGet with it!â Put a stop to the procrastination bit. Tell yourself, âI’m a writer, Ihave talent, I can do this.â Make a list of freelancing priorities, set them in order, then get down to business. Shut the door on your three special friends mentioned above, and get started.
I finally updated a page on Facebook to display and share my Digital Art-Dynamic Digital Art by Angela http://www.facebook.com/page/DynamicDigitalArtbyAngela.
Old school I know, but when you’re the proverbial starving artist, what else ‘ya gonna do right? You have start somewhere.
Step Two: ORGANIZE-Make a need and want list of supplies.Take stock of all your freelancing materials and organize accordingly.
Step Three: ECONOMIZE-Be frugal and practical. You haven’t made it yet, remember you’re still a starving artist.
Step Four: RATIONALIZE-Take baby steps. Don’t compare yourself with others who are more successful. They got where they are because they just did it.
Step Five: SOCIALIZE-Communicate, create, follow-up, build relationsips.
I created a blog about disabilities-Enabling the Disabled to promote awareness, info, and resources http:/uniquelydisabled1129.overblog.com. I did this because I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis twelve years ago, and now walk with a cane, walker, or use a wheelchair, and I want to inform, help, and advocate for the disabled community.
Step Six: MONETIZE-Research and implement self-marketing, promoting, linking, syncing, joining, participating, and getting your name out there.
I updated and linked all my social media sites together, Google, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and OverBlog. I am a member of nineteen disability groups, a writing group, and poetry group on Facebook who like, comment on and share for me, as well as having friends and family that do the same.
Through this basic networking I landed a writing job to create a Mission Statement for a friend who’s getting ready to open a rescue and animal shelter soon for $50.00 plus my first official writing clip outside of my blog.
(Excerpt) Puppy Love’s Mission Statement =$50.
âThe mission of our animal rescue and adoption center, “Puppy Love,” is lo rescue, care for, provide shelter, food, and veterinary care, as well as lots and lots of the Puppy Love these animals so desperately need and deserve. It is our desire to find loving homes for these animals, and to raise public awareness to inhumane crimes committed against our furry friends. We intend to make a difference in our community’s animal cruelty issues, one paw at a time!â
It ain’t no bowl of cherries sometimes, it takes lots of willpower, time, effort, creativity, and determination, but it can be done when you Get Your Blog On and Just Do It!
Who I am, and why I am the right candidate for this blog article:
Angela D. Morgan Allen is a recently disabled, divorced, and disillusioned mother of three now grown sons. She is also an amateur photographer, writer, and digital artist, who day-dreams about working from her laptop on tropical islands and such. Angela is currently pursuing a BA in Communications with a concentration in Professional Writing online at Southern New Hampshire University. She believes she is the best candidate to write this blog post because she’s been there and done that.
Alicia Rades says
Wow! I can’t believe I won another PitchFest. I’ll get you my full draft soon, Lauren. đ
Alicia Rades says
Congrats to everyone else!
Sabita says
Many congrats Alicia. đ
Laura Nistor says
Congratulations! This really inspired me to pitch on the next contest, too!
Tracy Spangler says
Congratulations Mandy, Alicia, Katherine and Jesse! Thanks to Sophie and Lauren for reading all the entries and providing excellent feedback and advice! I look forward to reading every entry, and wish all the freelance bloggers who participating all the best!
Tracy Spangler
Jesse LaJeunesse says
Woo! Thanks guys! I knew this would be worthwhile because you always give such great feedback. But this is even better! Time to get to work.
Sarah Best says
Wow! Thank you so much đ
I am really grateful for the opportunity to post on the site. I’d better finish my draft!
Katherine Swarts says
I’m very pleased!
Ardelia says
Congrats Mandy, Alicia, and Katherine! đ I look forward to reading your full posts!
Sophie and Lauren – thanks for hosting Pitchfest. It was great to see everyone’s ideas. It was also really cool to be able to participate. I believe I will take your suggestion about pitching my idea. đ
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Manager says
Best of luck, Ardelia! If you get your post published somewhere else, let us know! Or, if you can’t find the right publication for it, feel free to send it my way. đ
Andrew Langerman says
Grats to winners and ciao for now
Igor Katusic says
Congratulations to winners. I do look forward to see fully developed posts. And I would like other to do theirs also. Leave me links people. I read everything because in every piece you will find something new. You just need to look for it.
Good night all. Good game!
Vanessa says
Awesome job all đ đ
Cherese Cobb says
Congrats to all of the winners. I’ll look forward to reading your posts! đ
Angela D Allen says
Congrats everyone, good jobs!!!!!!!!
Amy Dunn Moscoso says
Congratulations Mandy, Alicia, and Katherine!
I desperately need info on international payments and can’t wait to read this.
Amy
Anton Roder says
Thanks guys for hosting this and congratulations to all the winners.
Krithika Rangarajan says
WOOHOO – congratulations to all the winners! #HUGSS
Thank you, Sophie and Lauren, for not only hosting this ah-mazing Pitchfest, but also offering constructive feedback that will only strengthen each of our contributions in the future <3
Much love
Kitto
Sabita says
Many congrats to the winners. đ
Mandy Gardner says
Thanks so much Sophie and Lauren! I’m so glad you like my idea and can’t wait to write it up!
Sarah Best says
Congratulations everyone!
Art says
Suggested category – Level Up
Headline – So you’re a freelance blogger. Now what?
Opening –
You’ve taken the plunge, and the water is just fine. Better than fine, in fact. Your new life as a freelance blogger is everything you hoped it would be…except you still can’t shake the feeling that there’s something missing.
1. You’ve made a great start. You’ve taken on a couple of jobs and been paid.
2. You want more – how do you go about driving repeat business?
3. Building relationships with clients (and pitching to prestigious publications)
4. How to deal with the inevitable dry spells/rejections/failures
5. Setting yourself apart from junior writers and becoming a mid-level/professional writer
6. Knowing when you’ve really “made it”
I’m a freelance copywriter who’s been in the business of writing for five years. I’ve also mentored junior copywriters and clawed my way some of the way up the ladder. I’ve finally gotten over feeling like I’m not good enough, and I believe I can help others do the same!
Art says
Oh wow, can’t believe I managed to miss that I was a week late for the deadline. Taxi for one!
Sophie Lizard says
Oops. Never mind – next Pitchfest will be in June!
Or if you don’t want to wait that long, you can submit your pitch to lauren@beafreelanceblogger.com any time and we’ll definitely consider it for a traditional unpaid guest post. đ