tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59063010907231466022024-03-05T04:55:51.290-08:00Life of a Freelance WriterUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-17124945189236916602014-02-17T06:18:00.000-08:002014-02-17T06:18:01.402-08:00Weekly Goals 2/17/2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Setting weekly goals is important for me and important for all freelancers really. It's about deciding how much you're going to make this week, what you are going to accomplish, etc. I keep the goals realistic and easy to attain -- after all I work at home with two kids.<br />
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It's President's Day, but for me it is just another Monday. I have work today and clients that expect to receive their work -- whether banks and other places are closed today or not.<br />
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What about you guys? Any goals you've set for this week?<br />
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<b>Goals</b><br />
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<ol>
<li>Earn $600 for the week (lately I've fallen short by $25 - $70)</li>
<li>Create a content calendar for my blogs</li>
</ol>
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See...simple. $600 per week seems like such a small amount, but in all reality it's hard to do these days for me. Between the kids, errands, etc. $600 is like my white whale of earnings. I'm hoping this week to do it. Every week I start off strong breaking $300 by Wednesday, and then Thursday and Friday mess it all up.<br />
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Do you have any goals this week? Professional or personal?<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.sevengreyblog.com/" target="_blank">Photo Credit</a></i><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-8611369007462731492014-02-09T07:42:00.002-08:002014-02-09T07:53:33.226-08:0010 Killer Ways to Give Your Blogs Traffic a Boost<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Let's face it; everyone wants to be loved -- and it's no different with blogs. Whether you're blogging for pure pleasure or you're looking to earn some money, you need traffic. A blog without traffic is like an old abandoned building. It wears out, falls apart and is forgotten. There are plenty of post-Panda and post-Penguin tactics that can increase traffic to your blog. Some might take more time and commitment than others, but if you're really interested in boosting your blog's traffic, a few extra minutes a week isn't that bad, right?<br />
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I have been freelance writing for over 10 years now and I have written for quite a few blogs. I've compiled my own list of ways to increase traffic to your blog combining all of the methods and successes I have seen with my clients. Use one of them or use all of them. The more you implement, the greater your chances are you'll increase your blog's traffic.<br />
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<b>1. Be a Predictable Poster</b><br />
No one wants to guess when you will post another blog. Post on a regular basis (such as twice a week, once a week, once a month -- you get the point). When people know to come back for more, they will. If you blog randomly, people might not return. Also, the more you post, the more you can be indexed with the search engines -- and what blog doesn't need that?<br />
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<b>2. Comment </b><br />
Always respond to comments people leave on your blog. It shows that you are a real, responsive person that cares. Second, comment on other blogs linking back to your own blog. I comment on at least five blogs a day. But, I'm genuine. Please don't write fluff comments just for links. Really read what these people are posting and show some respect. I can't tell you how obnoxious it is to spend a great deal of time on an awesome post only to see spammers linking up in your comment section. So, be kind and read a post, write a genuine comment, and enjoy the traffic increasing opportunity the right way.<br />
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<b>3. Add Tags, Labels, Categories</b><br />
In Blogger, for example, you have "Labels". These make it easier for visitors to find posts in a particular category, but also help search engines. It literally takes a second to add a tag, label or category. So don't skip it.<br />
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<b>4. Submit Awesome Posts to Bookmarking Sites</b><br />
Don't submit every post. Sometimes you just have a filler post that isn't really share worthy. But, when you write an in-depth post or something really unique, submit it to bookmarking sites like: <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/" target="_blank">StumbleUpon</a>, <a href="http://www.reddit.com/" target="_blank">Reddit </a>or <a href="http://digg.com/" target="_blank">Digg</a>.<br />
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<b>5. Use Keywords, But Don't Go Crazy</b><br />
Keywords shouldn't be your main focus. Instead you should focus on content first, keywords second. Keywords aren't as important to search engines anymore and honestly I rarely use them myself. Search engines are slowly transitioning to more relevant, natural searches. So if you are going to use keywords, use ones that people are likely to enter into a search bar -- no robotic speak. If you do use keywords, go light on the density, such as 3% max.<br />
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<b>6. Use Guest Blogging</b><br />
I'm going to tread lightly here, because when you throw out the idea of guest blogging, people jump on it and assume it is their save-all for increasing traffic to their blog. Well, it's not. According to a recent post by <a href="http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2324561/Matt-Cutts-Says-Stop-Guest-Blogging-for-SEO-Heres-Everything-You-Need-to-Know" target="_blank">SearchEngineWatch.com</a>, guest blogging isn't a solid SEO tactic and it won't increase your rank. But, it is a good way to help build your credibility, authority and increase your traffic. Don't focus only on guest posting. You should have a quality blog on your own website before you start worrying about what you're posting on other sites.<br />
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<b>7. Be Catchy and Unique</b><br />
The internet is full of been there, done that material. Let's face it; you can only write the same thing so many ways and make it awesome. If you want to increase traffic to your blog, you need to stand out. Even if you are writing something that has been done before, make it your own. Offer valuable insight that only you can bring to the table. For example, I used to be a wedding cake decorator and while the topic of creating a wedding budget was done 1,000 times over, I still added my own industry insight and experience to make it 100% UNIQUE. Do that yourself. Think back on your own experiences with a topic. What inside information do you have to add? There's always something.<br />
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If your information is fresh and interesting to read, it will be shared on social media -- and that increases traffic.<br />
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Which brings me to my next point...<br />
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<b>8. Quit Avoiding Social Media</b><br />
Too many bloggers avoid social media. I don't know why they have a virtual agoraphobic disorder, because social media is the fastest way to increase traffic to your blog. When something is shared on social media it can go viral in a matter of seconds. Literally. It takes just one person to share a link to your latest blog post, another to click, share or like and you're in. I highly suggest at least getting on <a href="http://facebook.com/" target="_blank">Facebook </a>and <a href="http://twitter.com/" target="_blank">Twitter </a>to start.<br />
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<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8066/8166845248_5599c18fa3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8066/8166845248_5599c18fa3.jpg" /></a>Pinterest is also a great way to get traffic. I cannot tell you how much traffic I get from <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest </a>-- it's a lot. Make sure every post you write has a pin-worthy pic. Then pin it. But, please for the love of Pinterest, do not be a pin spammer. I absolutely despise seeing pins that are splattered all over Pinterest multiple times into categories or boards they aren't relevant just so someone can increase their blog's traffic. It's unprofessional and I personally will never click or share those links -- even if they're awesome. This type of behavior will also start forcing Pinterest to change the rules and it might be hard for the rest of us reputable bloggers to pin anything. So please, show some respect while pinning and pin responsibly.<br />
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If you do go with the social media route, sign up for <a href="http://hootsuite.com/">HootSuite.com</a>. You can link up all of your social media pages and profiles -- including Google+, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Then you can share your post across all networks without signing into each one individually. They also have analytics so you can track your progress.<br />
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<b>9. Use Images</b><br />
People like things to look at. A wall of text is well, boring. Use images in your posts and share one of those images on <a href="http://instagram.com/">Instagram.com</a>. Instagram is always updating their feed of images and images can be potentially seen by over 100 milion monthly users. So if you're not using it, that's a big chunk of the population you're not enticing over to your blog.<br />
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You don't have to pay for images either. There are plenty of free images out there. First, you could always take your own. But if you don't have time there are other ways to get free images. I suggest:<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://photopin.com/" target="_blank">PhotoPin</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.flickr.com/" target="_blank">Flickr</a></li>
<li><a href="http://morguefile.com/">MorgueFile.com</a> - My favorite</li>
<li>Google Image Search - Just change to Advanced Search and look for those labeled for reuse</li>
</ul>
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<b>10. Hashtags, Hashtags</b><br />
I will admit, these things are annoying, but they do work. Hashtags in your social media posts help filter and index your posts. But, you need to use trending hashtags to increase the likelihood they'll be seen. I use <a href="http://hashtags.org/">Hashtags.org</a> to see how a particular tag is trending before I use it. Social Media Today has a great post on <a href="http://socialmediatoday.com/kenmueller/1613406/hashtags-proper-use" target="_blank">how to use hashtags</a>.<br />
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You have 10 implementable tips in your hands to increase traffic to your blog. It's up to you if you use them or not. If you want to make a living writing blogs, you'll need all 10 of these because without traffic, you're a broke blogger.<br />
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If you have tips to increase traffic, we would all love for you to share. Please feel free to comment with your own tips. No spam or selling your services please. This is a place for free, real advice.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-45099743719564581412014-01-01T10:18:00.000-08:002014-01-01T10:18:00.354-08:00Super Cute, Free Printable 2014 CalendarsI love printables. If you haven't seen my Pinterest boards, there are printables just about everywhere. They're great! My favorite, however, are the ones offered by iMom.com. Seriously these are so super cute and have plenty of space to fill in everything. Also, one thing I really adore about her stuff is it's not overly branded. She doesn't have her website in big letters so that when I use them on my command center the world doesn't see the advertisement. I really appreciate it.<br />
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Even better, they're <b>FREE</b>.<br />
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If you're looking for a January 2014 free printable calendar, get this one from<a href="http://www.imom.com/" target="_blank"> iMom.com</a>.<br />
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What made me fall in love with iMom was the December calendar and she's using the same design for 2014!<br />
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No I'm not being paid to write this. But for a few years I have been on the hunt for cute, non-branded printables and hers are so stinking adorable. I was excited when the 2014's came out, because I only found this site when looking for my December 2013 calendar.<br />
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Thank you iMom.com for being awesome. Seriously.<br />
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There are also other cute free printables on this site. I'm really digging the entire <a href="http://www.imom.com/tools/" target="_blank">Printables </a>section. There are Screen Time Tickets, which I think I'm going to print for my son -- who is always asking to watch TV or play on the LeapPad. This Christmas I used the Christmas Gift Planner sheet and I will use it again for Christmas 2014!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-63372093858240436292013-12-30T06:23:00.000-08:002013-12-30T06:23:29.652-08:00New Years 2014 Resolutions: I'll Tell You Mine, If You Tell Me Yours<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The time of year has come where we all look at the start of a new year as the perfect opportunity to improve -- and with that comes the New Years Resolutions list. I'm not going to lie, for years I skipped out on the whole list idea, simply because I felt that waiting for the start of a new year to change was well, silly. But, as I get older I find that the start of the year makes it easier to meet a lot of goals -- mostly financial goals -- that I wouldn't be able to start mid-year as well as I can on January 1st.<br />
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<b>Freelance Goals</b><br />
Every freelancer should set professional goals for each year and there's no better time than before January 1st to get your freelance goals down on paper (or a Google Doc if you're like me). This year my freelance goals are probably a little more ambitious than they have been the past few years, but I have faith my youngest child will gain some independence this year so I can actually complete some of these goals.<br />
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My goals for this year include:<br />
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<i>1. Creating a website dedicated to my brand, Shailynn Krow.</i></div>
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<i>2. Publish a short story ebook every other month on Amazon.</i></div>
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<i>3. Earn a consistent $2500 per month.</i></div>
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That's it for freelance goals. While I have A LOT I would love to accomplish in 2014, I'm still going to be realistic about how much my kids will let me do. I would like to publish my actual novel this year, but I don't know if that's in the stars. I think I'm setting a goal of 2015 for my novel so that I can refine it.<br />
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<b>Personal Goals</b><br />
I have more personal goals than professional goals for 2014. These goals aren't outrageous and are all something I can probably pull off if I put a little effort into it. For 2014, some of my resolutions include:<br />
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<i>Being more organized -- no more clutter in this itty bitty house.</i></div>
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<i>Working out twice a week (yes I put in the classic "i'm going to work out more" resolution).</i></div>
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<i>Visit California (where I'm from) at least once this year -- instead of once every three years.</i></div>
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<i>Create photobooks for my kids...It's embarrassing I don't have any.</i></div>
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<i>Finish remodeling this little house.</i></div>
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<i>Build a college, Christmas and emergency savings.</i></div>
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<i>Pay off at least two debts AND my car.</i></div>
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<b>Writing a Goal Down Isn't Enough</b></div>
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You know I'm a big list person. I have to-do lists everyday and I'll list everything I need to do just so I can accomplish a bigger end goal. When you're writing down New Year's Resolutions, it's not about writing down the goal -- it's about working to achieve that goal. Writing it down or telling people you're going to do something for your "resolution" means squat. When you write them down, you need to also sit down and create a strategy so you CAN DO IT. For example, having a decluttered house means I can't wait until one week to do the whole thing, I am creating an organizing schedule that breaks it up week by week into small projects so I can actually get my house as clean as I want. </div>
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<b>Be Accountable for Your Goals!</b></div>
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I'm sharing my goals and resolutions this year so that I'm more accountable. I'll follow-up on this blog and let people know if I did what I said I was going to do. I think if you're accountable, you're more likely to do something. </div>
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What about you all? What are your resolutions or goals for 2014? Share them here, with friends, family and be accountable. I think 2014 should be the year everyone does what they say they're going to do!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-54170009663236076832013-12-14T08:25:00.000-08:002013-12-14T09:05:50.342-08:00Getting Into the Christmas Spirit - Holiday Treats, Presents Under the Tree and Keurig CoffeeChristmas is here and even though December 1st rolls out and everyone has their lights up, trees out and festivities going on, it takes me a few weeks to really get into the Christmas spirit. Usually it takes a combination of setting up the house, baking off the holiday treats and using the right Keurig cups -- yes, you heard me right.<br />
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This year I did all of my holiday baking extra early. Normally I wait until the week before Christmas, so we can enjoy the treats during Christmas, but this year my goal is to do absolutely <b><u>NOTHING </u></b>the week of Christmas. Well, perhaps I'll open a few presents, add on a few pounds, and go to family events, but my services are done for the year as of December 20th.<br />
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For holiday baking this year I tried to keep it "simple" and by simple I mean it got extravagant. Why I do that to myself every year beats me. Next year, I swear, I'm only making popcorn. Any way, I decided to make:<br />
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<ul>
<li>My decorated sugar cookies. At the man's request I made literally 80+ of these.</li>
<li>Chocolate sugar cookies</li>
<li>Red velvet crinkles</li>
<li>Snickerdoodles</li>
<li>Fudge -- both candy cane and good ole chocolate </li>
<li>Chocolate-dipped shortbreads, decorated with crushed candy cane, MnM's and whatever else I could find</li>
<li>Caramel/Chocolate popcorn (recipe below)</li>
<li>Hot chocolate popcorn (recipe below)</li>
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My caramel corn gets better every time I make it and it's addicting. I probably gained five pounds the last few days just eating the "leftovers" -- I say it that way because I purposely made too much just so I could eat it.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">My </span><span style="color: lime;">Caramel </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">Chocolate </span><span style="color: lime;">Popcorn</span><span style="color: #274e13;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">Recipe</span></span></b><br />
1 c. Kernels popped<br />
1 c. Unsalted butter<br />
2 c. Light, packed brown sugar<br />
1 t. Salt<br />
1/2 c. Honey<br />
1 t. Baking soda<br />
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*Holiday chocolate candies of your choice<br />
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Heat the butter, brown sugar, honey and salt over medium heat. Bring to a boil and let it boil for 5 minutes. Don't stir, don't touch just let it boil! Remove from the heat and add your baking soda. Then slowly pour over your popped popcorn and stir it really well (good luck not making a mess here). Place it in a preheated 200 degree Fahrenheit oven and bake. Stir every 15 - 20 minutes to get the gooey stuff from the bottom onto the top. Bake until the caramel gets hard (its different every time. Usually takes anywhere from 1 hour t 2 hours).<br />
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Remove from the oven and pour in your chocolate candies. Stir. Its important you do it right at this point while the caramel is slightly tacky -- so the candies stick a little. Then pour out onto wax paper to cool. If it lasts long enough, store in an airtight container -- usually 1/3 of mine is gone before it ever reaches a container.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Delicious </span><span style="color: lime;">Hot </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">Chocolate </span><span style="color: lime;">Popcorn </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">Recipe</span></span></b><br />
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1 c. Kernels popped<br />
2 Pkgs instant hot cocoa with mini marshmallows<br />
1/2 c. Semi-sweet chocolate chips<br />
Holiday sprinkles<br />
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Pop your popcorn using whatever method you like (I have a popper, because I'm too lazy to watch it on the stove), immediately add the hot chocolate mix and toss to coat. Do this while the popcorn is fresh and hot so the cocoa sticks! Melt the chocolate and drizzle over your popcorn -- add sprinkles to finish. Once the chocolate hardens bag up and enjoy. It's delicious...and addicting.<br />
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<b>Let's talk coffee...</b><br />
<a href="http://fb101.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/image0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://fb101.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/image0032.jpg" /></a>When Christmas time rolls around, I look forward to the Christmas coffee creamers and Keurig k-cups. Is it just me or did there used to be a gingerbread flavor from Coffeemate? This year I can't find any.<br />
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Luckily Coffeemate's Natural Bliss line has a cinnamon cream. I paired that with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GJL455U/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00GJL455U&linkCode=as2&tag=lifofafrewri-20" target="_blank">Starbuck's holiday blend</a> and ahhhhhh Christmas. I love these Natural Bliss ones, because they don't have that nasty artificial taste like the non-dairy creamers. Of course, they cost a fortune.<br />
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It might sound silly -- drinking coffee and baking -- how I get into the holiday spirit, it seems to work every year.<br />
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So, how do you get into the spirit?<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-21298588807225494092013-12-12T07:17:00.004-08:002013-12-12T09:28:42.833-08:00Christmas Shopping 2013: I Thought I Was Done<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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This year the man and I hit the stores and did a power shopping session, picking up gifts we needed for everyone on a single Sunday. In Utah, Sunday's are prime for Christmas shopping, because no one is out. Also, we didn't feel like fighting the crowds -- because we all know how insane those lines can get the closer it gets to <b>December 25th</b>. We finished and were satisfied we were done, until I realized this morning we forgot two people. Darn.<br />
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It was too good to be true! I'm tempted to shop online for these last two gifts, but already the gifts I ordered last month are slowly trickling in now, December 12th. I don't think I want to risk it.<br />
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You can thank Walmart for that. They offer "free shipping" that is supposed to arrive in five business days, but what they don't tell you is that it takes <b>5-10 days</b> for them to assemble your package and ship it. Then it's <b>FIVE MORE DAYS</b> on top of that. I have gifts I ordered November 30th and December 1st and they won't arrive until December 20th!<br />
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This year I got some great deals on gifts though! As a freelancer, you have to be savvy with your money <b>year-round</b> and especially during <span style="color: red;">Christmas </span><span style="color: lime;">shopping</span>. I set a budget per person every year and my goal is to stay under it. We ended up going $30 over on one person, but saved $25 on another, so really we were only $5 over.<br />
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To make the budgeting less militarized, I used a cute printable I found online by iMom.com. It's cute because you can mark if you've wrapped it, mailed it, track your budget, etc. You can download your own copy of this printable <a href="http://www.imom.com/tools/seasonal/christmas/money-saving-christmas-gift-planner/" target="_blank">here </a>at iMom.com.<br />
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<b>Planning Starts January 1st!</b><br />
I use a planner, but I actually start my Christmas budget in January. So January 1, 2014 I will start budgeting for Christmas shopping 2014. I'm on the Dave Ramsey plan -- I'm sure you've heard of it. While I dont use cash for everything (debit card instead) I follow the rest. Christmas is considered a "big expense" so I start putting money aside in January. Usually I try to put aside $30 per month. By the time December comes around I have $360. I have the man put aside $25 to $30 per month too and we combine. If I see a great deal on something throughout the year for Christmas, I pull from that fund and buy.<br />
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For my son I already bought three toys at the start of the year at Target's big toy clearance -- 80% off! Then I saved them. Cyber Monday I got my daughter's kitchen set (or should I say Santa got it) for 40% off. I got the man's gift for 60% off. I love deals.<br />
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<i>How do you plan for Christmas expenditures as a freelancer? </i>Since income can vary month-to-month for us freelancers, I always feel it's safe when you plan throughout the year rather than try to come up with $500 to $600 in one month. I usually try to work extra November and December to save even more. What about you my fellow freelancers?<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-26343768463148420292013-12-11T05:43:00.004-08:002013-12-11T05:43:43.737-08:00What is the Lowest You Would Charge for Your Work?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There is nothing worse than reading a job offer that contains the following question:<br />
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<i>"What is the lowest you're willing to charge for your work?"</i><br />
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While I understand there are writers out there willing to stoop to less than a penny a word, I have over 10 years experience; therefore, I deserve my dues. I research, I'm thorough and I'm a darn good writer. No I'm not tooting my own horn, I'm stating the facts.<br />
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After the release of <a href="http://moz.com/google-algorithm-change" target="_blank">Google Panda, Penguin and Hummingbird</a> the message is clear from Google: quality, quality, quality. So why are there still companies looking for the lowest possible bid to get high-quality?<br />
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Let's face it; you're not going to get high-quality copy from the lowest bidder. Nope, no way. You get what you pay for in copywriting and if you're not willing to pay a writer what the work is worth, you cannot expect something big in return.<br />
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Yes, in a <a href="http://lifeofafreelancewriter.blogspot.com/2013/08/low-paying-writing-jobs-to-take-or-not.html" target="_blank">previous post</a> I stated there are times I'm willing to take on low paying jobs, but these are steady jobs with companies who are paying regularly. I don't take one-time contracts for the lowest possible price. It's all about weighing time and money.<br />
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<b>How I Calculate Job Worth</b><br />
How long will the project take you?<br />
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If you divided the contract price by how many hours, what's the hourly rate?<br />
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This job that was offered to me, for example, was for $3 per 500 word sales copy/landing page. Landing pages aren't like your average article or blog. They require time and a lot of creativity. You have to compel a person to read a single page and buy something, sign up for something, etc. The purpose of a landing page is to sell, sell, sell -- all without being obnoxious.<br />
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So I would easily spend an hour writing 1-500 word sales page. That means I just made $3 per hour. Yeah, right. Say I did 10 per day, I worked 10 hours and only earned $30. That doesn't even cover the bill for my Internet.<br />
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No thanks.<br />
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My minimum, and I mean my absolute minimum, is <b>$10 per hour</b> -- and that's only in a pinch. I really don't allow less than $15, with an ideal goal of $40 per hour. I'm realistic, I have two kids at home so I have a lot of distractions. But, if I can't make over $15 per hour on a project I won't take it. Sorry. Once my kids are in school that number will jump up too.<br />
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Whether you're a freelance writer reading this or an employer, I suggest you consider time and value above all else. <a href="http://www.learnvest.com/2011/02/whats-your-time-worth/" target="_blank">LearnVest </a>has an awesome article about determining what your time is worth and I suggest all freelancers read it -- after all, you can't price your service if you don't decide what you're worth. If you deduce yourself to $3 per hour when you have $10 per hour skills, you're only hurting yourself. To those who only pay people $3 per hour, you get what you shell out for. If you pay poor, you receive poor.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-19644169692443637762013-11-22T09:33:00.001-08:002013-11-22T09:33:48.103-08:00My Favorite FREE Blog Planners<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Having a blog is all about being organized with your time, planning out your posts and keeping up with an endless list of to-do's. Well, that is if you want to make money off your blog. The best way to stay organized is a blog planner.<br />
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Now sure you could make your own, but why take the time out of your day when there are so many FREE awesome blog planners online? I have rounded up my absolute favorite free printable blog planners so you can visit, print and get started with your own blog.<br />
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Part of my 2014 New Year's resolutions will be to blog more frequently. I spent a lot of time on my One Cheap Utah Chick blog, but honestly I no longer have time to keep up with it. This blog, however, is my baby and always has been. So you can bet you'll see a lot more posts in 2014!<br />
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Okay, now for the free printable blog planners.<br />
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This one is by <a href="http://www.imperfecthomemaking.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking</a>. I use this one because it's colorful, but not over the top. It has daily planning pages and even a monthly menu planner (if you're into that). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QHT0pnxRjW7aPQdWcbX-0eK1krpWcGOHPb4r8zuPc_8HMVQVCKOxjIyG9l2j2gGRYlPHPORaq_wak9CrUtpOO0AmsDsgYIt-GH07ocj2qhrG2MoJdBv-fxDvfbPu_Q84n0q4MIBIoIQ/s640/printables1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QHT0pnxRjW7aPQdWcbX-0eK1krpWcGOHPb4r8zuPc_8HMVQVCKOxjIyG9l2j2gGRYlPHPORaq_wak9CrUtpOO0AmsDsgYIt-GH07ocj2qhrG2MoJdBv-fxDvfbPu_Q84n0q4MIBIoIQ/s320/printables1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Download this one <a href="http://www.imperfecthomemaking.com/2012/01/free-printables-to-help-organize-your.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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For 2014 I think I will be making the switch to this playful, well-thought out planner by <a href="http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/" target="_blank">Confessions of a Homeschooler</a>. I absolutely love her design and what I love even more is I can print it out at Kinkos, have it bound and pick it up -- ready to go! It doesn't cost much either to have this done at Kinkos, which is why I toss out the suggestion. Plus, saves you on paper and ink printing a year's worth of blog planning pages at home.</div>
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<a href="http://cdn2.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2014_blogpromo_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="http://cdn2.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2014_blogpromo_thumb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Download this one <a href="http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2013/10/2014-monthly-blog-planner-free.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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If you're looking for a complete blog planner, one that includes expense/income trackers, sponsors, affiliate links and more, then this free blog planner by <a href="http://pdxbloggers.com/" target="_blank">Portland Bloggers</a> is killer!</div>
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Download the complete blog planner <a href="http://pdxbloggers.com/2013/01/freeprintableblogplanner/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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Having a blog planner is only one step in a successful blog though. So I think starting next week I will start creating posts on how to write a killer blog. I write blogs for clients on a daily basis and I help manage their blogs, which is why I rarely have time for my own. But, the first and most important step is having a planner set up and ready to go! So I suggest visiting these sites, printing your blog planner and start thinking about what you want to blog about.</div>
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Until next time....</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-51480236101644765082013-11-22T09:04:00.000-08:002013-11-22T09:04:20.931-08:00New Book in the Works!I am proud to say that I finally have started on another book. The outline is complete and I'm excited about getting started. It's going to be a book all about freelance writing from home as a stay-at-home mom. I have seen and heard too many misconceptions about this lately, which is why I was inspired to get the real truth out about what it's REALLY like to work from home with kids. TV and the Internet make it seem as though working from home with kids is a breeze. You'll make tons, look great and it all works out perfect. WRONG. While you can make plenty and look great, it sure takes a lot more work than driving to an office Monday through Friday. So, I hope with this book I can help you current freelancers or aspiring freelancers understand the truth about working from home.<br />
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No release date as of yet, but I'm hoping it will be done by the first of January. Maybe I'll set it as my New Year's resolution.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-19358206431475930952013-09-09T07:35:00.002-07:002013-09-09T07:35:23.228-07:00How to Get More Freelance Jobs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When you work in a regular job you're stuck with the hours and income. You can't decide one day to earn more -- unless that job has tons of overtime opportunities. As a freelancer you're in <u style="font-weight: bold;">complete</u> control of your income. Of course, that could also be a bad thing. If you want to make more one week (or one month) you need to know how to get more freelance jobs. Getting freelance work isn't easy -- you have tons of competition! But, there are ways you can stand out when you fill your applications and turn them in.<br />
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Keep reading to learn how to get more freelance jobs....<br />
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<b>Sign Up to Get Freelance Jobs</b></h1>
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There are tons of sites that help you get freelance jobs. These include sites like <a href="http://odesk.com/">ODesk.com</a>, <a href="http://elance.com/">Elance.com</a>, and <a href="http://freelanceswitch.com/">FreelanceSwitch.com</a>. Literally there are dozens. You can also browse jobs on sites like CraigsList under their Editing and Writing sections.<br />
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<b>Create a Portfolio That Applies to the Freelance Job You Want</b></h2>
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If you're applying for a job as a blogger on a wedding website, don't flood them with samples of technical writing, IT articles, etc. You need job-relevant samples and experience. Fill up your resume with jobs that apply or correspond with the wedding industry -- such as fashion experience, retail, etc. Each resume you submit and the samples you send in for review should correspond with the industry and type of job you're applying to. By using industry-specific information you'll stand out and possibly land that freelance job.<br />
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<u style="font-weight: bold;">Do not</u> lie on your resume or fluff it with experience you really don't have just to get freelance jobs. while you might get the job, this is unethical. I only promote ethical freelance work. If you're looking for how to get more freelance jobs the unethical way, this blog won't help you.<br />
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<b>Take Time with a Custom Sample</b><br />
Most companies and sites require a custom sample while getting freelance work. They often ask for a custom sample to make sure a) you're a real writer, b) you're not submitting samples from other people, c) you can write quality work on the spot. Even though you're not paid for this sample, take your time and do it right. Proofread the work and make sure all of the client instructions are followed -- a lot of clients use custom samples just to see if you can follow instructions.<br />
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Before you submit it, proofread it for passive voice, grammar errors, etc. You can proof your work for free on sites like <a href="http://paperrater.com/">PaperRater.com</a>, <a href="http://gingersoftware.com/">GingerSoftware.com</a>, <a href="http://grammarly.com/">Grammarly.com</a>, and <a href="http://onlinecorrection.com/">OnlineCorrection.com</a>. I personally use PaperRater.com and Grammarly.com.<br />
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<b>Flaunt Your Skills to Get Freelance Jobs</b><br />
Your skills and writing capabilities matter, but if you don't flaunt them it's unlikely you'll stand out. Make bold statements in your cover letter and gear your writing toward the hiring manager's industry. For example, fashion/trendy blogs want a writer that is casual, engaging and fashion-forward. Use common terms and lingo from that industry. If you're applying to a technical position, use very straight-forward, informative writing. If you're applying as a copywriter, you need to sell yourself. After all, why would they hire a copywriter (a person who often writes sales copies and advertisements) who cannot sell themselves?<br />
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There are a lot of tips out there for howto get more freelance jobs, but these are all ones I use. When I apply to jobs I get hired on 2 out of 5 applications -- which is an excellent ratio. I suggest saving your industry-targeted resumes so that you can reuse them (it's a time-waster to constantly remake resumes). Have an in-depth portfolio and organize your samples by industry/type for quick and easy access. I have mine organized by:<br />
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<li>Blogs</li>
<li>Articles</li>
<li>Guides/How-To/Tutorials</li>
<li>Technical</li>
<li>Landing Pages</li>
<li>Sales Advertisements</li>
<li>Emails</li>
<li>Newsletters</li>
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And then I separate them in those folders by industry, such as Home Improvement, Consumer Products, etc. </div>
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Getting freelance work takes work and skill. You need to look great on an application, but you also need to look great once you're hired. Don't apply for high paying jobs you really don't qualify for. A bad rating could destroy your chances for future freelance jobs.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-53134461780141361642013-09-02T09:28:00.001-07:002013-09-02T09:28:36.280-07:00When You Freelance, Holidays Don't Matter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's Labor Day! While everyone's off at their family gatherings, BBQs, or just sitting at home enjoying the 3rd day of their three-day weekend I'm working. As a freelance writer, holidays really don't mean much anymore. Especially if you have international clients. I have clients who are from all over, and my holidays don't mean squat to them.<br />
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Naturally I refuse to work on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, but I have learned to give up taking other holidays off. It's just part of the freelance writer lifestyle. Actually, it's just part of working at home. When you work at home your hours are certainly yours. I mean, I still choose if I want to work at 8:00am or 11:00pm at night -- well, if the kids let me that is -- but you have to work on days most of your friends, family and significant others are off.<br />
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I really don't mind it though. To me holidays, weekends, etc. just don't carry the same meaning and I'm fine with that. While a lot of freelancers working from home freak out at the thought of working on a holiday, I say whatever! I am still working from home, take breaks when I want, start/stop work when I want and get to spend more hours with my kids than most of my friends do.<br />
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Sure, my days are jumbled, especially since I mix work and home together in a neat little batter. But, once you bake it all up and serve it, it's quite nice. I wouldn't give up my work at home lifestyle what-so-ever. Even if that means I'm working while everyone else is grilling.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-80077934309369323282013-08-30T06:17:00.004-07:002013-08-30T06:17:37.833-07:00Friday: It Doesn't Mean Much When You Work from Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had a friend text me this morning and state she was so happy it was <i>Friday</i>. Hmmm...Friday. What's that again? After working from home for so many years I have realized that Friday no longer holds the same joy in my heart. After all, I still work Saturday and Sunday...and sometimes Monday again.<br />
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However, this weekend I have made a goal to not work <b>as much</b>...so perhaps this Friday really is something to look forward to.<br />
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Today I'm submitting applications to diversify where I write a little more. As a freelance writer you should <b style="text-decoration: underline;">never</b> solely write for one client. Why? Because if they drop you without notice you have no income and no immediate backup. Ideally a full-time freelance writer working at home should have at least two steady clients and at least 10 filler clients the rest of the month. I have two steady and one filler. Guess I need to diversify a tad more.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-42245490203869845462013-08-26T10:00:00.000-07:002013-08-26T10:00:58.401-07:00Working from Home is Work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I work from home, yet people assume since I work from home I don't really work. Boy is that wrong. In fact, I work MORE than if I had a job outside of my home. Why?<br />
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When you work from home you have to balance home stuff (chores, distractions, etc.), children (in my case there are two), and work. Also, clients don't pay you as much when you work at home because they don't have to compensate you for things like travel time, work clothes, gas, etc.<br />
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When I first started out as a freelance writer from home, clients paid me about $0.50 per 500 word article. Do you know how many I had to do just to pay bills? I worked <u style="font-weight: bold;">constantly</u> and rarely had a day off (or minute off it felt like). I averaged $2 to $5 per hour. As a freelance writer working from home you don't meet the minimum wage requirements. Clients don't have to pay you a specific amount nor is there any regulation on what you're paid -- that's why it's called freelance.<br />
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Today I make about $30 to $75 per hour depending on the client, but I had to work and I had to work hard to reach there. No one just handed me $30 per hour -- I earned it. I meet a lot of people who think it's awesome to work from home and assume they'll make a lot of money right out of the gates. Boy are they disappointed when that doesn't happen. You not only need natural writing skills (and i'm not talking getting straight A's in English or writing awesome school reports), but a hard work ethic and a <b>KILLER </b>portfolio. Today I have clients like USA Today to brag about, but it took two years and about 80 to 100 hours per week to earn that reputation.<br />
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If you work from home, plan on working and working a lot. Don't think money just lands in your pocket and also, develop an awesome work ethic. Clients hire me and keep me (which is rare in freelance) because I am an excellent worker.<br />
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<li>I'm never late on assignments -- ever. If by a rare chance I am (which I can count about three times in two years) I offer a discount on the work for being late.</li>
<li>I turn in my work early, always.</li>
<li>I proofread my work.</li>
<li>I add personality and I don't just spew the same old crap everyone else writes.</li>
<li>I offer insight, additional help and services so the clients consider me an asset.</li>
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When you're a freelance writer working at home, you are your reputation. If you have a flaky reputation, people won't hire you. My oDesk, Elance and other online profiles have clients boasting about how I'm on time, turn in excellent work and I have almost perfect ratings (you can't please everyone...that's just reality). </div>
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So, if you want to work from home, develop a work ethic and of course realize you are WORKING, so take it seriously.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-20757061721434941542013-08-23T04:35:00.001-07:002013-08-23T04:40:10.462-07:00Low Paying Writing Jobs - To Take or Not to Take<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have been a freelance writer for some time and one thing I have noticed is there are some clients who understand freelance writing and others just have no clue. A lot of clients (especially online content clients) will hire you at a low rate and tell you that if you love your job, the pay doesn't matter. A lot of work from home opportunities reel people in with this line and it's not only untrue, it's insulting as a freelance writer.<br />
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A low-paying writing job <u>doesn't </u>pay my bills and I am a freelance writer for income -- not hobby, that's what my books are for. Yes, I love my job, but do not tell me to take a job that is low pay because of that fact. You're basically telling me my skills, experiences and abilities don't matter. Gee, thanks.<br />
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When you're looking for writing jobs, you're <i>going to have low-paying offers</i> and sometimes <i>you need to take them</i>. I have taken plenty of low-value writing jobs as fillers between large projects, to pay some extra bills off, etc. But, lower paying writing jobs are tricky. Believe it or not, the clients who offer the lowest pay often are the most unreliable at paying you! This is because they have such a low budget and are tight on cash, which is why they offer the low job. Then, when the work is done they realize they don't have the money to pay you -- so they just skip out.<br />
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If you're looking for writing jobs to work from home, make sure you're getting a quality one. Do so by:<br />
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<li>Seeing their website -- Is it real? Or a crappy marketing blog?</li>
<li>Asking for a deposit of 25 to 50% on the work.</li>
<li>Asking for references.</li>
<li>Doing an internet search. Myself and other freelance writers have blogs and we often update when people don't pay. I call mine "Bad Eggs" but everyone has their own label for these cheapskates. Either way, Google the client and their business and see what is said. If they're a crappy company with poor BBB ratings, I'd avoid them too.</li>
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Some low paying writing jobs have frequent work, meaning you'll get as much as you want. These can be good if you're just starting out as a freelance writer, but they can stifle your skills too. I take a hearty mixture of pay, because there is nothing more stifling than a client who skips the bill. So if it's low pay, but the client is reliable, I'll take it.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-77739634736000994652013-08-22T09:49:00.003-07:002013-08-22T09:49:59.296-07:00Yet Another Work from Home Reality - Starting the Day Off Wrong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today was one of those days that make me dread the fact I work from home. Not because I really hate working at home, but because I hate how at-home issues make me <b>not want to work</b> that day.<br />
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I woke up at 5:00am ready to hit the keyboard and make some money. I have tons of writing work piled up -- and it's not going to go anywhere today that's for sure. I go to my trusty Keurig and pop in a pod, pull out my favorite International Delight Heath Bar coffee creamer and hear the Keurig doing it's usual loud sputter. I go to scoop up my steaming mug and sneak into the bedroom to start work and...wait? No coffee? There was nothing but a few piddly drops at the bottom of my mug! I tried every troubleshooting trick in the book and finally came to the conclusion (sadly might I add) that my precious Keurig was dead. We had a good (almost) two years together, but, why for the love of all things could you not break the day before! You brew one cup at a time and you can't break the day before so I have a warning?!<br />
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I waited for the kiddo to wake up and we went to purchase a new coffee maker. This month freelance writing has been slow -- my fault, not the job -- so I couldn't afford to buy another Keurig. I went with a Mr. Coffee "gourmet" brewer -- there's nothing gourmet to that once you've had a taste of the good stuff (by that I mean Keurig).<br />
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But, my day doesn't end there. My blog was hacked (my couponing blog), so I went to change servers and HostGator rips me off! They send me an invoice for one amount, I use PayPal and suddenly they add $11 out of nowhere! Then when I demand a refund and ask to cancel (I'm not doing business with people who cannot charge what they say they're going to charge) they say they need to verify my credit card. Excuse me? What credit card? I used PayPal! that's the point -- so I don't need a credit card to deal with you.<br />
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So I'm going to say HostGator is a wash for getting my money back. My couponing blog is done and here I am struggling to want to work from home today.<br />
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But...there is a little light at the end of this crappy work at home day!<br />
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I've decided the blog being hacked was a good thing. I didn't want to give up on that blog, but it was more work than it was income. I enjoy writing and teaching people through my writing, not posting deals. So, off I go to really get back into this blog -- the one I always come back to.<br />
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While I doubt I'm going to work from home today, I am going to sit down and get some stuff figured out.<br />
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In the meantime, RIP to my precious Keurig. I sure will miss you!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-62961909354838738042013-08-22T09:13:00.002-07:002013-08-22T09:13:23.374-07:00My 2nd Book is Out! "What I Wish I Knew Before Couponing"Well my second book is out. This follow-up focuses on the mistakes every couponer makes. While some people figure out these mistakes, others don't. So I highlight them here. It's a fun, light read and I hope everyone enjoys it! It's available for $2.99 in the Amazon store.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-61473522024070041402013-08-09T09:08:00.002-07:002013-08-22T08:32:51.772-07:00My Latest Book<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">
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This week only you can get a copy of "<a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EBZHGHU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00EBZHGHU&linkCode=as2&tag=lifofafrewri-20" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EBZHGHU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00EBZHGHU&linkCode=as2&tag=lifofafrewri-20" style="color: #3c2bb6;" target="_blank" title="How to Coupon: One Cheap Utah Chicks Guide to Getting Started">How to Coupon: One Cheap Utah Chick's Guide to Getting Started</a>" for just $0.99. This is an introductory rate that ends 8/16/2013! What will you find inside?</div>
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This quick read offers you insider couponing tips to get started, including where to find coupons, organizing the ones you have, terminology and tips.</div>
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This guide has everything you need to start couponing today. And, you can implement these techniques now -- not a few weeks from now.</div>
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Soon to come, "What I Wish I Knew Before Couponing: Common Couponing Mistakes Every Shopper Needs to Know". Expected to release 8/16/2013! This will go over the common mistakes couponers make and help you avoid them from the get-go.</div>
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Get your copy of "How to Coupon: One Cheap Utah Chick's Guide to Getting Started" today on Amazon <a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EBZHGHU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00EBZHGHU&linkCode=as2&tag=lifofafrewri-20" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EBZHGHU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00EBZHGHU&linkCode=as2&tag=lifofafrewri-20" style="color: #3c2bb6;" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-51807264303057371572013-08-08T06:54:00.002-07:002013-08-08T06:54:34.300-07:00Great Post: 10 Guaranteed Ways to Never Run Out of Blog Post Ideas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Got a blog, but feeling a little idealess? MoneySavingMom.com has a series post going on right now that discusses 10 sure-fire ways to never run out of ideas. These cover the basics from getting enough sleep to writing immediately after an idea pops into your head. It's a good start especially if you're new to blogging.<br />
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(Thanks, <a href="http://moneysavingmom.com/">MoneySavingMom.com</a>)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-89879269468079173722013-08-07T08:47:00.000-07:002013-08-07T08:47:03.765-07:00Sold 7 Copies of My Book "How to Coupon: One Cheap Utah Chick's Guide to Getting Started"<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm excited! I've already sold seven copies of my book, How to Coupon: One Cheap Utah Chick's Guide to Getting Started. I'm hoping I will sell more soon too.</div>
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I'm already working on a follow up book that will cover ALL of the errors coupon to first-time and seasoned couponers. This will be very in-depth and cover a lot of "oopsies" that other couponers have seen. I'm hoping to have this one published by end of next week!</div>
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If you haven't already, buy a copy of my book -- it's only $2.99!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-41707568257650477722013-08-05T04:46:00.000-07:002013-08-05T04:46:08.103-07:00How to Coupon: One Cheap Utah Chicks Guide to Getting Started<div style="text-align: center;">
Yesterday I released an eBook on Amazon for the Kindle and iPhone/iPad. I can't wait to see how it turns out. This how-to guide discusses the basics of couponing and helps individuals get started. I love couponing. As a freelancer, I have to find ways to constantly save money, so I decided couponing was a good start. Then, I realized how difficult couponing could be and after going through all of the leaps, hurdles and mishaps, I decided to write them down and share them with the rest of the world. I'm still working on my novel. I'm thinking I will self-publish it as well through Amazon, Nook and Smashwords.</div>
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Check out the eBook though! It's going to be a hit (I hope). You can get your copy for $2.99 here on the Kindle Store. I think I will release a series of these. This one only covers "beginner" stuff and there are a lot of advanced techniques. You can follow my couponing journey on my other blog, by visiting <a href="http://onecheaputahchick.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-8322874974725773982013-07-02T06:01:00.002-07:002013-07-02T06:01:35.435-07:00Client Skipped the Bill...AgainYou can't win in freelancing. You will be on a role with great paying clients and suddenly yet another one skips the bill. This time it was an Australian client I found on oDesk. They have a wedding site. The client was responsive in the beginning, but after the article disappeared for two weeks. Wrote back saying they loved in, but when I sent a message asking for the payment, they disappeared for another week. Then said they sent the message by accident but would pay for the article that day. No payment. I'm selling the piece elsewhere. That is the main issue with oDesk. You have not guarantee of payment. Elance makes sure clients fund the account before -- no skips. oDesk, however, doesn't care on fixed rate projects if you're paid or not. Unfortunately oDesk has more opportunities and it's likelier to get work there than Elance.<br />
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Life of a freelance writer...for sure.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-62751722844339797812013-06-25T12:26:00.001-07:002013-06-25T12:26:36.071-07:00Path to Being a Head Chef<a href="http://woman.thenest.com/path-being-head-chef-11270.html">Path to Being a Head Chef</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-34518668941658132642013-04-30T07:10:00.004-07:002013-04-30T07:10:45.909-07:00Yes I am Alive!It's been a long and adventurous year and unfortunately this blog was ignored, but never forgotten. Now that things are winding down I'm hoping to pick up where I left off.<br />
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Welcome back me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-38584585113191992282012-04-16T13:24:00.000-07:002012-04-16T13:24:27.557-07:00Delirium by Lauren Oliver | Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/26900000/delirium-delirium-26905222-318-463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/26900000/delirium-delirium-26905222-318-463.jpg" width="219" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So I sat down and started reading <b>"Delirium"</b> by Lauren Oliver a few days ago. Desperate for something to replace "The Hunger Games" I thought I would give it a shot. It definitely had some pros, but also a few cons that left me sort of reading it because I had to more than I actually wanted to.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Story Line</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Girl living in a Dystopian society where love was considered a disease that could destroy the world. At a specific age there was a procedure done to remove the ability to love from these teenager's heads and the main character goes on an epic struggle to find out love is a good thing and escape from this oppressed way of living.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">...typical sorta.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I give Oliver props for having "love" as a disease, but it was quite cliche to me. You knew from the second you read that it was about love the girl would obviously be falling in love. I found myself kind of annoyed through the whole book and kept reading, but the cliches were endless.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">That being said, I give Oliver props for having a book that was extremely well-written. Her descriptions were beautiful, dialogue was engaging and though the plot was so-so, I wasn't disappointed. The next book is "Pandemonium", which I will most likely read.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Scale of 1-10?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Seven</b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5906301090723146602.post-36079005668470414542012-04-15T14:31:00.000-07:002012-04-15T14:31:32.294-07:00Validity: Draft #2 Under Heavy Revision<div style="text-align: center;">More editing was done today. I took chunks from the middle, beginning, end all at random and started reconstructing an entirely new draft. I'm about almost <i>20k words</i> into it and up to Chapter Seven. This will easily be 90,000 words if not longer. It is a trilogy though, so I dont want to drag out the story to the point where someone is like <i>"Whats the point of Book #2?"</i> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It is flowing much better. I don't find myself staring at this thing going "what am I going to do here?" Instead I have a clear picture. It's like a train on the tracks, only this train is a 400mph bullet train that is whizzing through each station.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I plan on having this done by the end of the month and then it will be edited, fluffed where needed and May 1st I plan to send it out to agencies and a few publishers. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vAy9o70iHUw/TAJg3l4XJNI/AAAAAAAABHk/HsCRWdlJIfo/s1600/25140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vAy9o70iHUw/TAJg3l4XJNI/AAAAAAAABHk/HsCRWdlJIfo/s320/25140.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The only hint I can give so far is it is a <b>Dystopian</b>. Before you go all <i>"Oooh Hunger Games"</i> on me, listen here: </div><div style="text-align: center;">Dystopians have been around far much longer than Hunger Games. I'm talking since the days of Orson W. They are essentially sci-fi's, though some people don't realize this much. Fahrenheit 451...yeah that was a Dystopian.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">From my vast knowledge of reading Sci-Fi and Dystopian-based novels, I'm pleased that this one is turning out to be quite unique. Funny thing is I cannot decide on the ending I would prefer to use. Sure I can go cliche, which I'm afraid a publisher would want or I can totally throw it for a loop. That has yet to be decided. I think I will let the story flow the way it flows and the ending I will come to decide when I reach Part III of the book. Until then...it's as just as much of a mystery to me as it is to you.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0