VidBullet Review: How Does It Compare To Other Video Software? Automated video creation software enables you to create short videos for your organization, which can be used to quickly capture your visitors’ attention as well as increase awareness of your brand via your website, social media platform, and more. In fact, short videos have been found […] The post VidBullet Review: How Does It Compare To Other Video Software? [2019] appeared first on Hustle Life. from Hustle Life https://hustlelife.net/vidbullet-review/ Via https://hustlelife1.tumblr.com/post/180647385763
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Imagine you’re sitting in a lounge chair on the beach, staring out over the glittering sea, the ocean breeze ruffling your hair, listening to the slow, steady rhythm of the waves. It’s peaceful. Perfect for thinking. And so you do, scribbling down your thoughts with one hand and drinking a martini with the other. You’re a freelance writer. You get paid to write for websites, magazines, corporate clients — all different types of gigs. And it’s work you can do from anywhere. One week, you’re on the beach. The next, perhaps you’re in the mountains. The week after that, you’re visiting family. Sounds like a dream, right? Like it can’t possibly be real? But it is. In this post, I’m going to teach you how to become a freelance writer. I’m also going to talk about what’s changed with freelance writing and what it really takes to build a career in today’s world, both as a full-time writer or just doing it on the side. Because the career is real. The freedom is real. In fact, you might even say it’s easier than ever before. Here’s why: The $412.88 Billion Opportunity for WritersThat’s not a typo. ? Have you noticed how just about every business has a website, blog, and Facebook page? Maybe you’ve also noticed how the stuff most of them publish kinda sucks? Boring content, unprofessional spelling and grammatical mistakes, etc. Well, that’s why successful businesses are hiring freelance writers in droves. In 2016, companies spent 195.58 billion on content marketing, and the research firm Technavio predicts spending will more than double to 412.88 billion by 2021. It’s the new normal, but here’s what’s crazy: While businesses are well-aware of the importance of content marketing, writers are still stuck in the Stone Age of wanting to get published in magazines and newspapers. Yes, you can still make a living that way, but with an increasing number of publishers not paying writers at all, the competition for paying gigs is getting stiffer and stiffer. With content marketing, on the other hand, there’s actually a shortage of writers. You can make a lot more money with way fewer headaches. Here’s how to get started: How to Become a Freelance Writer#1. Develop Your Content Creation SkillsYour skill at creating exceptional content will have more of an impact on how much money you make than anything else. Here’s why: The companies paying the highest rates are the ones who understand the importance of quality content. They are happy to pay the best writers, because they believe (correctly) that it will help them dominate their competitors. For a handy visual reminder of the ROI of content marketing, check out the image below (click to see a larger view):
So how do you level up your skill at creating exceptional content? The good news is, we have dozens of posts about that very topic here at Smart Blogger. Start with this one about how to write a good blog post and work your way through. In particular, here are some of the most important content skills for you to develop:
And while those are a good start, there’s one particular skill that’s so important it deserves its own point: #2. Up Your SEO GameCompanies and agencies are more than happy to pay a little extra for someone who understands the basics of SEO. The more intimate your understanding of keywords, user intent, and competitive analysis, the more likely your post is to rank well in the search engines. Therefore, your writing becomes more valuable. Because put yourself in their shoes: wouldn’t you rather pay more for someone with a proven ability to rank? I certainly would, and so it makes sense to become that person.
Tip: here’s an extremely thorough SEO guide and resource list from my buddy Brian Dean.
The strongest portfolio you can have is a collection of posts ranking on page 1 of Google. Sarah Peterson, for example, now makes over $1,000 per post, because she has a proven track record of ranking well. Granted, it takes time to build that kind of portfolio. Let’s walk through the process, starting with what you do when you’re a total beginner. #3. Build a Portfolio of Sample PostsYou’d think it would be really hard to become a freelance writer without an extensive portfolio, right? After all, it’s proof for clients that you know what you’re doing. But here’s the thing: There are different levels of proof, starting with… Level 1: A Portfolio That Proves You Know How to Write a Decent PostYou’d be surprised how many so-called “freelance writers” don’t understand how to write a proper blog post. I’d say it’s more than 80%, which sounds horrible, but it’s also a huge advantage if you do know how to write a good post. Let’s say you’ve been working on your content skills (the first step above *cough*), and you’re getting comfortable writing different types of blog posts. Well, write a few sample posts to show off your skills. If you have your own website, put them there. If not, it’s quick and easy to publish them on other blogging platforms like Medium. ![]() The best part is, you can do this in a matter of a week or two. Two or three posts is enough, and you don’t need anyone’s approval to publish them. If you don’t have a portfolio yet, it’s absolutely where you should start. Level 2: A Portfolio That Proves You Know What You’re Talking aboutNext, you want to build your credibility as a subject matter expert. And I’m not just talking about demonstrating your expertise. This phase is also about showing you can get published on top publications. Think about it… if you see someone writing on one of the top sites in your space, don’t you immediately assume they are an expert? Well, that’s the kind of credibility you need. It’s also far easier to do than you might assume. Because most big sites have stopped paying for content, they’re always looking for good writers. In our guest blogging program, we’ve helped hundreds of new writers get published on sites like Forbes, Huffington Post, Scary Mommy, Lifehack, and dozens of others. I won’t say it’s easy, because it’s not, but it’s far easier than most people think. Here’s a guest post by Laura Tong published at Huffington Post: ![]() I’m generalizing here, but for the most part, it’s about the pitch. If the editor likes your idea, and you follow up with a well-written piece, you can get published almost anywhere. And that immediately helps make you a hot commodity as a freelance writer. Level 3: A Portfolio Showing Documented Results for ClientsFinally, you want to prove you can get results for clients. One way is to track shares and search engine rankings for the posts you write, like we discussed above for Sarah Peterson, but an even better way is to create case studies. Here’s an example from Ross Hudgens of Siege Media: ![]() He shows screenshots of increasing client traffic by 250,000 visits per month for three different clients. Nothing is more compelling than that. Granted, it’s super hard to do, but that’s what makes it so valuable. Your long-term goal should be to develop that kind of proof for yourself. It might take you years, and that’s fine, because when you get there, it can literally make you one of the highest paid writers and consultants in the world. #4. Get Your First Paying ClientSo, we’ve talked a lot about the skill and credibility aspects of becoming a freelance writer. What about getting clients? That’s the hard part, right? In the beginning, yes. Eventually, top freelance writers end up getting more work than they can handle, mostly by referral, but getting those first few paying clients can be a real slog. Here are some insider tips for getting started:
Before we move on, there’s one thing you SHOULDN’T do… Compete against bottom dollar freelancers on sites like Upwork. Yes, there’s always work available on sites like those, but generally speaking, it’s clueless, frustrating clients who will nickel and dime you over everything and never refer you other work. It’s better than nothing, I suppose, but I believe you’re far better off pursuing some of the options I mentioned above. Not only will you get paid more, but you’ll be treated better too, and it will be much easier to grow your client base. #5. Scale until You No Longer Want toIn the beginning, you’ll probably be thrilled just to get a client paying you to write a few articles on the side, but I think it’s useful to step back and think about how freelance writing fits into an overall career. Here’s the career path for most freelance writers: Phase 1: A Nice Side IncomeMost people start writing just a few articles on the side, and I think that’s smart. You can learn the craft, build your connections, and make a few bucks on the side. Most likely, about $20-$25 per hour. Is it going to make you rich? No, but it’s certainly not a bad side gig. A lot of part-timers clear $500-$1,000 per month from their writing. Eventually, if you’re good, you’ll also start getting more work than you can handle in your spare time, and that’s when you can ponder moving on to the next phase. Phase 2: A Full-Time Job or BusinessWhen should you consider quitting your day job? The easiest answer: whenever you feel confident your freelance writing could replace your salary. You can either…
Both options have big upsides. You can have a long, solid career as a content marketer working companies who truly appreciate it, and building an agency could potentially make you a millionaire. At some point though, I’ve found that even the most successful writers usually end up moving on to… Phase 3: Starting Your Own SiteIn the past, you’ve probably thought of starting your own site as the first step, not the last, and it’s true — there’s nothing stopping you from starting your site right now. But think about it for a moment… Would you rather start your own site right now, spend a couple of years learning everything from scratch, and then slowly but surely begin to make money from it, or could it actually be a better option to go to work for someone else for a while, get paid while you learn, and then start your own site with several years of experience under your belt? Over the years, I’ve noticed an increasing percentage of our students choosing the second option, and I think it makes sense. Yes, you can absolutely start your own site right now, and yes, you can be successful — we are the market leaders in helping people do exactly that — but it’s a tough road. You have to persistently put in the effort for years before it begins to pay off. If you become a freelance writer and start working for other businesses, on the other hand, the payoff is fast. Probably a month or two to learn the basics and then another month or two to get your first client. While it might take you longer overall to build your own publishing powerhouse, it’s easier to stay persistent when money is coming in each and every time you publish an article. The bottom line: You Can Make Good Money As a WriterIt’s tragic how many writers think go into another career because they believe no one can make a living from it. It’s just not true. Yes, it’s tough to make a living as an author. Yes, it’s difficult to scrape by writing for magazines and newspapers. Yes, there are plenty of would-be poets and novelists living under bridges. But those are only a few types of writing. If you want to make money as a writer, go where the money is. That’s what I did. I started out writing for other sites, took a full-time job at Copyblogger, and then branched off on my own — exactly the career path I described above. The results? About $5.3 million so far. In this case study, I described exactly how I did it. Oh, and did I mention I did it all from a wheelchair without being able to move from the neck down? Yeah… So please, don’t tell me you can’t make money as a freelance writer. You absolutely can. You just have to be smart about it.
About the Author: Jon Morrow is the CEO of Smart Blogger. Check out his new blog Unstoppable and read the launch post that went viral: 7 Life Lessons from a Guy Who Can’t Move Anything but His Face.
The post How to Become a Freelance Writer and Get Paid $200 – $1K per Post appeared first on Smart Blogger. from https://smartblogger.com/how-to-become-a-freelance-writer/ How Does Wealthy Affiliate Work? 7 Things You Need To Know Starting an online business can be a bit daunting in the beginning. Usually, this results in hours and hours of searching online for help and information. While searching for information regarding my own online business, one website that keeps constantly kept appearing, again and […] The post How Does Wealthy Affiliate Work? 7 Things You Need To Know appeared first on Hustle Life. from Hustle Life https://hustlelife.net/how-does-wealthy-affiliate-work/ Via https://hustlelife1.tumblr.com/post/180600610158 Clickfunnels had already generated nearly 1 million sales funnels for their customers. For being such a young company, the success of Clickfunnels is growing at unprecedented speeds. Online sales and marketing is a rapidly growing industry and developing a proper sales funnel are key, but it hasn’t always been easy or fast. Clickfunnels simplifies the […] The post Who Owns Clickfunnels? appeared first on Hustle Life. from Hustle Life https://hustlelife.net/who-owns-clickfunnels/ Via https://hustlelife1.tumblr.com/post/180506531578 Did you know that around 28% of online business owners have adopted the drop shipping model? That’s because it’s way easier than the traditional model which forces you to control your own inventory. Drop shipping also eliminates the need of getting a warehouse, so that means less operating cost. Interested in trying out drop shipping? […] The post Want a SaleHoo Free Trial? Here Are Some Things You Need to Know Beforehand appeared first on Hustle Life. from Hustle Life https://hustlelife.net/salehoo-free-trial/ Via https://hustlelife1.tumblr.com/post/180351617133 How Much Money Can You Make with Wealthy Affiliate in 2019? With more than 800,000 members, Wealthy Affiliate (WA) remains to be the largest Internet Marketing Community in the world. Its affiliates continuously boast of how WA has helped them earn thousands of dollars right from the comforts of their homes. So, how much can […] The post How Much Money Can You Make with Wealthy Affiliate in 2019? appeared first on Hustle Life. from Hustle Life https://hustlelife.net/how-much-money-can-you-make-with-wealthy-affiliate/ Via https://hustlelife1.tumblr.com/post/180349054898 Clickfunnels Actionetics Review: A Look Inside 2019 Are you sick of logging in to two or more different platforms just to successfully send emails to your online visitors? Have been experiencing an inflow of visitors to your website, but you only have a few of them coming through as faithful customers. You may need is […] The post What Is Clickfunnel’s Actionetics? An In-Depth Review Of It’s Features appeared first on Hustle Life. from Hustle Life https://hustlelife.net/clickfunnels-actionetics-review/ Via https://hustlelife1.tumblr.com/post/180349054758 When setting up an online store, you will find that the supply management method and cost are just as important as finding trustworthy suppliers and quality products. The recipe seems simple at first – combine some high-profit products with reliable suppliers and low costs, and voilà! But as you dig deeper, you realize the impact […] The post What is Salehoo’s Pricing? How Much Does It Cost to Join? appeared first on Hustle Life. from Hustle Life https://hustlelife.net/salehoo-pricing/ Via https://hustlelife1.tumblr.com/post/180349054398 There are some bloggers who seem to have a natural gift when it comes to writing. Some bloggers seem to be naturally gifted writers. They manage to get their ideas across clearly and economically, which means that readers can easily follow what they write. Readers devour their clear, economical prose. Not only is there a lot of respect for what they have to say, but also the way that they say it. People respect what they say — and love how they say it. Whenever they publish a new post on their blog, it always gets dozens of comments and hundreds of shares. Every new blog post attracts dozens of comments and hundreds of shares. It would be great to be as successful as they are, but you don’t know what you need to do to make your writing better. You’d love to emulate their success, but you don’t know how. The good news is that there are some editing tips that can easily learn which will improve everything you write from now on. Fortunately for you, a few simple editing tips can transform your writing forever.
Download a free PDF cheat sheet with seven questions that make it easy to edit your writing like a pro. Click here .
The Unfair Advantage Popular Writers Try to HideYou know your writing heroes? Would you be shocked to learn that their writing is no better than yours? Sure, the end product is better, but the first draft is just as clumsy, flabby, and downright difficult to read as any of your own writing efforts. What popular bloggers know that many people don’t know (or don’t want to believe) is that a post isn’t finished simply because they’ve said everything they want to say. In many ways that’s just the beginning. Think of your draft as a rough diamond. Value is hidden inside it and you need an expert gem cutter to reveal its beauty and clarity. Which is why many top bloggers hire a professional editor to transform their rough diamonds into gleaming jewels. That’s right — someone else is helping them. Somewhat unfair, right? No wonder their writing seems so much better than yours. And even those bloggers who don’t use an editor have simply learned how to edit their own posts like a pro. Fortunately, editing isn’t rocket science. If you have someone to show you how. So let’s break down the rules that’ll help you transform your unremarkable draft into a perfectly polished post. 7 Editing Tips That Will Totally Transform Your Next PostTip #1. Don’t Pad Your Prose with Empty Filler Words
(Or: Avoid Using Grammar Expletives)
Grammar expletives are literary constructions that begin with the words it, here, or there followed by a form of the verb to be. (Expletive comes from the Latin explere, meaning to fill. Think smelly literary landfill). Common constructions include it is, it was, it won’t, it takes, here is, there is, there will be. The problem? When it, here, and there refer to nouns later in the sentence or — worse — to something unnamed, they weaken your writing by shifting emphasis away from the true drivers of your sentences. And they usually require other support words such as who, that, and when, which further dilute your writing. Let’s look at an example:
The there are expletive places the sentence’s focus on some nebulous thing called there instead of the true focus of the sentence — some bloggers. And the writer must then use another unnecessary word — who — that’s three unnecessary words in one unfocused sentence. Train yourself to spot instances of there, here, and it followed by a to be verb (such as is, are, was, and were) and adjust your sentences to lead with the meat and potatoes of those sentences instead. (Tip: Use your word processor’s find functionality and search for there, here, and it and determine if you’ve used an expletive). Other before-and-after examples:
Caveat: If you previously described an object using there, here, and it, you’re not guilty of an expletive infraction. For example:
Tip #2. Don’t Weaken the Action with Wimpy Words
(Or: Avoid Weak Verbs; Use Visceral and Action Verbs Instead)
Not only does to be conspire with it, there, and here to create nasty grammar expletives, but it’s also responsible for its own class of sentence impairing constructions. Certain uses of to be in its various forms weaken the words that follow. The solution is to replace these lightweights with more powerful alternatives. Let’s see some before-and-after examples:
Other verbs besides to be verbs can lack strength as well. Use visceral verbs or verbs that express some action. Let’s edit:
Tip #3. Don’t Cripple Your Descriptions with Feeble Phrases
(Or: Avoid Weak Adjectives)
Weak adjectives sap the strength from your writing just as nefariously as weak verbs. Use the best adjectives possible when describing nouns and pronouns. And be mindful that certain words, like really and very, usually precede weak adjectives. Take a look:
Even if you don’t have a telltale really or very preceding an adjective, you can often give your writing more impact by using stronger alternatives:
Even worse than using weak adjectives is using weak adjectives to tell your readers what something isn’t as opposed to telling them what something is:
![]() Tip #4. Trim Flabby Words and Phrases
(Or: Avoid Verbose Colloquialisms)
Today’s readers have limited time and patience for flabby writing. Their cursors hover over the back button, so say what you mean as concisely as possible before your readers vanish:
Tip #5. Don’t Pussyfoot Around Your Verbs and Adjectives
(Or: Avoid Nominalization)
Nominalization occurs when a writer uses a weak noun equivalent when a stronger verb or adjective replacement is available. Like expletives, nominals usually introduce other unnecessary words when used. Count the number of words in the before-and-after examples below, and you will witness how badly nominals weaken your writing:
Tip #6. Throw Out the Rulebook on Punctuation
(Or: Use the Occasional Comma for Clarity)
The rules around punctuation can be complicated, even for the humble comma. But do you truly need to know the difference between a serial comma, an Oxford comma, and a Harvard comma to write a great blog post? Of course not. (And it’s a trick question — they’re all the same.) So my philosophy on commas is simple: Use commas sparingly if you prefer, but if excluding a comma MAKES YOUR READER STOP READING, add another bleepin’ comma — regardless of what any comma police may say. Let’s look at an example:
By not including a comma between editing and and, I read this sentence and asked myself, “I can ignore editing and people reading my post? Really?” Of course, readers work out the intended meaning a moment later, but by that time, they’ve already stalled. So, regardless of what comma rule I may break by adding a comma to this sentence, as long as my readers don’t get confused and stop reading, I don’t care — and neither should you. Let’s look at another example that needs a comma for clarity:
By not including a comma between success and you, I read this sentence and asked myself, “Is success something you can pull out of a golden pen?” Regardless of your stance on commas, you ultimately want your readers to keep reading. You want them to continue down your slippery slope of powerful content and transitional phrases all the way to your call to action — without getting jarred from their trance to contemplate commas with their inner editors or a Google search. ![]() Tip #7. Be As Manipulative As Possible
(Or: Use Noun Modifiers Whenever You Can)
You won’t use this technique often, but at least be mindful of it. When we use two nouns together with the first noun modifying the second, we are using noun modifiers. I like them because they hack the flab from our writing by shortening our sentences. Let’s review some examples:
These sentences have prepositions between the noun sets. Whenever you spot this construction, try to implement this noun-modifying technique.
Download a free PDF cheat sheet with seven questions that make it easy to edit your writing like a pro. Click here .
What’s Your Excuse Now?These editing tips are not magical, mystical, or complicated. In fact, you could consider them downright boring, plain, and inconsequential. But applying smart editing rules is what separates your heroes from the masses, catapults them to success, and makes readers say, “I don’t know what it is about their writing, but it’s absolutely fantastic.” Look at it this way: You’ve expended a ton of effort on SEO, content marketing, networking, and social media promotion, all in the hopes that more people will notice your blog. So when they arrive, shouldn’t your next post blow their socks off too? And how about your last post and the one before that? (Yes, you can apply these rules to your old posts too!) Or are you one of those writers who think they write well enough already? Well, you might be surprised by just how many of these crimes against clarity you’re committing. Open one of your posts right now and see how many of these editing tips you can apply. Read each word of your post. Is the word an expletive? Is it a weak verb? A weak adjective? Does it represent nominalization or flab or break any of the other rules mentioned in this post? Run each word of your post through this a checklist of editing tips. You will find something to improve. And your writing will be 100% more powerful as a result. Because the search for perfection never ends. And your writing is never too good. Sure, proofreading and editing take time. And yes, you’re already busy enough. But your writing heroes edit, and they land the guest posts, book deals, and exposure you only wish you could. So, take a break from #amwriting and start #amediting right now. Your success will thank you. And so will I.
About the Author: Shane Arthur is a former copyeditor for Jon Morrow’s kick-butt Guest Blogging Certification Program (affiliate link) that teaches writers just like you how to get their work featured on the world’s biggest blogs and online magazines.
The post 7 Editing Tips That’ll Make You a Better Writer (with Examples!) appeared first on Smart Blogger. from https://smartblogger.com/editing-tips/ What is Wealthy Affiliate’s Black Friday Deal in 2018? I’m aware many of you reading this have either struck out with affiliate marketing and looking for another way to put your talents to work, or you’re new to the affiliate marketing space and you’re wondering if it’s for you. To address the former, I can […] The post Wealthy Affiliate Black Friday Deal 2018 (Why It’s The Best Time To Buy) appeared first on Hustle Life. from Hustle Life https://hustlelife.net/wealthy-affiliate-black-friday/ Via https://hustlelife1.tumblr.com/post/180081657383 |
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