Take a look at the 13 mistakes that beginning freelance writers make. Examine the solutions to those mistakes, and realize that you don't have to let them slow your budding career down to a crawl

1. 13 Mistakes New Freelance Writers
Make
And how to fix them
A short tutorial by:
Laura Finger
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2. Mistake: #1: You don't think you're
qualified
Don't assume all “real writers” have
English or Journalism degrees
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3. Solution:
Utilize the Internet
Sign up for MOOCs
Community college continuing education
The more diversified your background, the higher
your earning potential
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4. Mistake #2: You think you can't
start without clips
Feel as if you need clips in order to get
clips?
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5. Solution
Offer to write for a local non-profit
Contact your local Chamber of Commerce
Create a mockup of what you would write for a
fictional cilent
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6. Mistake #3: You are giving your work away
for free
Did you fall for the “just do
it for the exposure” line?
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7. Solution
If a site can cough up money
to pay hosting fees, it can afford to pay you.
Never say yes to a client who cries hardship
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8. Mistake #4: Job hunting on popular sites
EVERYBODY and his mother is on Craigslist
and Copyblogger. How are you
going to stand out and get your email read?
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9. Solution
Start seeking out clients
Vette a potential client before
you contact them
Learn how to network
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10. Mistake #5: You submit and accept low
bids
Don't have a clue how to quote a price to a client?
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11. Solution
Swipe other writers' rates
Figure out what you need to survive
Learn what the market can bear
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12. Mistake #6: You Ignore Local Clients
Are you determined to do all of your work online?
Are you nervous about meeting people in person?
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13. Solution
Reach out to local non-profits
Look into shared office space or “hot desking”
Write an op-ed or article for your
local newspaper
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14. Mistake #7: You only market when you're
hungry
Sporadic marketing can leave huge,
gaping holes in your income!
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15. Solution
Budget 30% of each day for marketing
Check in with current and past clients first
Divide and conquer the phone book
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16. Mistake #8: You don't know about the
December-Feburary lull
Every business experiences it (except for
credit card companies).
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17. Solution
Line up projects to run into the New Year
Pitch clients ideas for holiday promotions
months in advance
Use the time for other types of writing
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18. Mistake #9: You are NOT networking
Are you hiding in your home office instead of
Interacting with other human beings?
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19. Solution
Go anyhwere you can find another human being
Trawl LinkedIn ads for leads
Type up a Letter of Introduction (LOI)-
the e-mail version of a “cold call”
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20. Mistake #10: You haven't mastered
deadlines...yet
Feel like deadlines constrain you? Learn
to harness their power
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21. Solution
The more disciplined you are, the
more money you can make
Deadlines make you more efficent
They do not stifle creativity
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22. Mistake #11: You try to recreate a 9-5, 40
hour work week
Those don't work for anybody-
so stop giving yourself grief
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23. Solution
Give yourself permission to have a
personalized work week
Work the days and hours that work
for you and your family
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24. Mistake #12: You thought you'ld be making
a profit by now
New businesses can take years
to turn a profit
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25. Solution
Stop saying “I should have ____ by now.”
Cut yourself some slack
Stop thinking you're a failure
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26. Mistake #13: Thinking obstacles and
setbacks are a sign that you should give up
Hit a speedbump?
It means that you're moving forward.
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27. Solution
Understand that speed bumps and
dead ends happen throughout your career
Learn that in the big picture they really
aren't a big deal
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28. Want to learn more?
Want a FREE e-book copy of
this presentation? Click here.
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