The Key to Making a High Income as a Content Marketing Writer
I recently got an email from a reader (I love mail from readers!) that asked how I found enough clients to make the level of income that I am currently earning. I was very impressed with the writer’s very specific niche and how he had been aggressively marketing himself to the right clients. But even though he was doing so many things right, he said he still found that it was hard to find clients. The writer then told me that he gets some repeat business, but that even though his clients are thrilled with his work that they usually do not have any additional projects for him.
I immediately realized that this one sentence was the reason that the writer was having a hard time finding freelance writing gigs. The biggest key to earning a good income as a content marketing writer is to work with long-term clients and rarely take “one-off projects.” In fact, I think that statement applies to all freelance writers. I have been working with most of my clients for over a year and honestly feel that is the main difference in earning 40 percent more in 2013 than I did in 2012.
It is a cold, hard fact that the first assignment that you do with a client takes a lot longer than subsequent pieces. You are trying to learn the style of the brand, develop a relationship with editor, and learn more about the topics. And you are most likely starting from scratch as far as sources and contacts in the industry or brand. So if you only do single projects then you will most likely earn a lower hourly rate than you would if it was your fifth project for the client, because the first project will take longer. Then, after the project is over, you will have to spend non-billable time looking for new clients. Or even worse, you may have downtime between projects where are you not earning any income.
By seeking out new clients that will regularly send you work, you should have more billable hours each week and find yourself making more dollars for each of those hours. On Wednesday, I will give specific strategies for how to find the long-term clients which are essential to earning the income that you deserve as a content marketing writer. And of course, once you have a client with regular work, you must make sure that they thrilled with your work so that they keep you busy.
How has keeping regular clients benefited your content marketing writing business?
Great info Jennifer. I agree with your comment that quality writing will keep clients coming back to you. The trick is finding the kind of entities that need content in volume. However, doing one-off projects is a good way for new content writers to get y their feet wet. Really looking forward to your Wednesdsy post.
[…] I realized that one of the reasons that I had not earned as much as I could have was that I had too many one off projects and didn’t have any anchor clients. My hourly rate is much lower for first time clients and I also spend unbillable marketing and ramp […]