Semi-Passive income: Bukisa

Have you heard about Bukisa? It’s the new content site that everyone is talking about these days. I just signed up today, so I don’t know a whole lot yet, but I’ll tell you what I do know.

Bukisa is a lot like e-How, in that you submit content and then get a share of the ad revenue. Unlike e-How, it seems that Bukisa shares their payment structure with you.

Bukisa allows you to invite others to join, and when they do, you earn money on top of what you already are making. (You can sign up under me here.)

Unlike e-How, Bukisa requires a $50 payout, which is a bit high. e-How only requires $10 before you reach payout. However, people who have joined Bukisa have shown promising results, so it probably won’t take long to reach payout.

Some people, like Dana, are doing experiments where they add articles for a month and then log their results on their blogs. I think I will do the same. I will probably not log my final results until early January, but look for it around that time. I’m looking forward to trying it and seeing everyone else’s results. If you want, come back and share your results with us.

Anyway, if you’re looking for a new source of semi-passive income, give Bukisa a try. Add me as a friend if you want to – My username is Holli. I’ll see you there!

Freelancing as a parent

Well, as you can see, I haven’t posted to this blog lately. Pregnancy really took a lot out of me. Two weeks ago I had my beautiful baby boy, and motherhood takes a lot out of me as well.

But I am looking to balance my life and start blogging again as well as ease back into working. I am slated to take six to eight weeks off of my freelance writing, which will be a good amount of time to learn how to manage taking care of a baby as well as do all the other things I need and want to do (like shower, eat, sleep…you know, the basics.)

In eight weeks, I’ll be a pro at caring for my boy (I hope!) and will be able to manage my writing load again. I will also be able to say that I’m a work at home parent.

But until then, I’ve decided to work on my own writing. I mostly want to experiment with passive income and learn some ways to increase my earnings each month. Writer Gig shares her residual income results each month, and she definitely inspires me to increase my earnings. She earned over $600 this past month in residual income. I would be more than thrilled to be earning that much.

My goal is to be earning $100 a month in passive income by the time I am done with maternity leave. Can it happen? I don’t know, but I’m going to give it my best shot. I signed up for eHow a couple of months ago and haven’t done much with it. I think I’ll get going on that and see how it goes. I’m also going to look into writing an ebook, promoting my blogs better, and getting involved in affiliate programs.

I’ll update here with more information as I get it.

What would you like to see on this blog?

Hi! I just wanted to let any readers know that I am alive, and I will be back to posting regularly. Right now I am working to try and get a website set up (finally), and it’s taking more time than I thought it would. I think that having a business website is important, but it sure isn’t easy!

Anyway, I’ve had several people contact me in the past while, asking questions about getting started as a freelance writer. I have several post ideas that I’d like to write in the next while that I hope will help those of you just starting out. Here are just some posts I’ll be writing in the near future:

• Finding writing jobs – a series of posts that shares several methods for finding the jobs
• Finding your niche
• PLR – a series covering the basics of what it is, how to do it, and the pros and cons of it
• Updating your resume
• Creating a business plan

Those are just a few of the articles I’m planning to share here in the near future. Is there anything else you’d like to see here? I truly want this blog to be useful to you, the reader. So if there’s something you’d like me to cover, speak up! I am absolutely not an expert, but I am happy to share what I know.

Where to Start as a Freelance Writer

I talked to a friend today who wants to get me in contact with a woman who dreams of becoming a freelance writer but doesn’t know how to make it a reality. I can so relate to this woman, because that was me nine months ago.

When you’re on the outside of the freelance writing world looking in, it seems quite daunting and elite. I didn’t know how to break in or even know if I had the ability to do it. I had the sad thought that I’d probably die without ever realizing my writing dream.

But here I am, a *nearly* full-time freelance writer. And if I can do it, then you can do it, too. Here are my three main tips for getting there:

1. Get some writing samples and clips – immediately! This is probably the most important tip I can think of. Just about every job requests that you send samples. If you don’t have any, you can’t apply.
2. Learn from other writers who are successful. There are so many people out there who are willing to help you and can provide advice and tips. WAHM.com has a writing forum that I sometimes frequent. The people there are so nice and helpful. There are plenty of other forums and writing blogs, so start looking!
3. Start applying for the jobs. I’ll do a separate post on this next time. There are so many ways to find writing jobs that it really warrants its own topic.

So how do you get writing samples if you don’t yet have any writing gigs? These days, it’s fairly easy.

• You can simply write something. Fire up a word document and write an article on a topic you know about. Voila! You have a writing sample.
• You can create a blog. This is what I did. I chose a topic I was interested and wrote quality articles there as often as I could. I’ve used these blog posts as samples many times. If you plan on applying for blogging jobs, creating your own blog is a must.
• You can write for content companies. Associated Content, Helium, eHow, etc. are ways that you can write some articles and get published (and potentially make a little money as well.) I’ve heard that Helium doesn’t pay very well, and that Associated Content is paying less than they used to. I decided to try out eHow the other day, so I’ll let you know how that is.

How to Get Started as a Freelance Blogger

I love being a freelance writer. I have always loved writing, and I’m happy I can make a living at it. I’ve discovered, however, that my real passion lies with blogging. Not only do I get the benefit of instantly seeing my words on the Internet, but I also get to use a more intimate, conversational tone than with other writing. Not to mention that I love interacting with blog readers and other bloggers. There is nothing like it.

There are downsides to blogging, don’t get me wrong! Blogging jobs can often come with a daily posting requirement, which can get tiring after a while. Also, a recent article in the NY Times compares the blogging industry with sweat shops. So it’s not always rainbows and roses. But so far, I’ve found that the benefits of blogging outweigh the drawbacks.

As of yet, I haven’t made the transition to earning the bulk of my income from blogging, but it’s something I’m working toward. If you find yourself in the same situation, wanting to make the transition to full-time freelance blogger, welcome! Here are some of the suggestions I have for making it a reality.

1. Create your own blog. If you don’t already have a blog, start one immediately. Potential employers will want to know what kind of blogging experience you have. You can showcase your blogging skills on your own blog. You can use free platforms like Blogger or WordPress, or take it a step further and blog on your own domain. Choose a blog topic you are passionate about!
2. Learn from the experts. There are many blogs out there on how to be successful at blogging, and you will find that some of them are well worth the time investment. Take some time and browse the following useful blogs: Problogger, Daily Blog Tips, Men with Pens, Network Blogging Tips
3. Network with other bloggers. Take time to read other blogs in your niche, making comments on their blogs where appropriate. Bloggers are usually a friendly bunch, and I’ve found that most of them are more than willing to support and friendship other bloggers. Networking is a good idea not only because it may help you professionally, but also, you get to “meet” many wonderful people who can become your friends.
4. Apply for blogging jobs. Once you have established your own blog, you can start applying for blogging jobs. It is best to apply only to jobs with a blog topic you are interested in (and preferably have experience in). Otherwise, you’ll burn yourself out writing about things you don’t really care about. Here are some of the job boards that list blogging jobs:

• Freelance Writing Jobs
• About Freelance Writing
• Problogger Job Board
• CopyBlogger Job Board
• Ghostblogging
• Blogger Jobs.BIZ
• Freelance Blogging Jobs

I can’t promise that breaking into full-time freelance blogging is easy, because it isn’t. It takes time and effort, just like anything else worthwhile. But if you truly want to become a full-time blogger, it can be done!

*Photo courtesy of Andrew

Doubling my income in a month

The month of March was pretty crazy around here. I worked hard at increasing my writing income, but like all things, it didn’t exactly go as planned. As I said before, my goal was to double my income in one month. Looking back on that goal, it was quite foolish! But that was the goal, so let’s see how I did.

One plan was to ask existing clients for more work, which I did. It worked quite well, for the most part. I greatly increased my writing income with some clients. However, I have one client who has so far supplied most of my monthly writing income. This client didn’t give me any projects at all this month, which means I had a huge deficit to overcome!

Another plan was to apply for more writing jobs. This is the area in which I missed the mark the most. I didn’t significantly increase my job applications, and as a result, got no new clients this way. I will work on this in April.

I did, however, advertise my writing services on craigslist. I received several e-mail inquiries, and one potential client from this. We’ll see how that plays out. I will be trying it again, though.

I looked into PLR income, but so far haven’t made that a reality yet. I’m not sure how lucrative it will be anyway, but I am going to give it a try and I’ll let you know how that goes.

So, did I double my income in one month? That’s the big question, isn’t it? Well, from the methods listed above, no. I actually greatly decreased in income because of the big client I mentioned. However, I did do something unexpected that I hadn’t counted on: I sold a blog.

I didn’t sell it for a ton of money (see Daily Blog Tips for that kind of thing), but I did sell it for a reasonable amount, considering that it doesn’t even have its own domain name. And because I made this sale, I can say that yes, I DID double my income in the month of March.

I have no more blogs to sell (or at least I think I don’t – I’d like to in the future though!), so it will be a bit trickier in the month of April to maintain my income goal. But I think I can do it.

Upgrading my writing business

I started my freelance writing career five months ago in October 2007. I had kind of a lucky, random start that came when I wasn’t really looking for it. I am proud of the fact that my income has been slowly increasing, though slower than I had hoped.

Despite the fact that my income is not what I’d like it to be, I got a bit complacent in my business. I applied to fewer writing gigs, and eased up on writing for current clients. Most of that was health related, but it didn’t bode well for my business.

In the last couple of months, a financial crisis of sorts caused me to reevaluate my business plan. My husband is a PhD student, so his income for the next couple of years is limited with no potential to increase. It’s really my income that has the possibility to keep us in the black every month.

For several reasons, it took almost two months to get a paycheck from my biggest client. Suddenly, we were out of money and in panic mode. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling, and I understood a lot better why you should never put all your eggs into one client’s basket. Because of this experience, I have decided to kick my business (and my butt) into high gear.

What is my plan? Well, the monetary goal is to double my income by the end of March. Lofty goal? Yes. Achievable? I think so, but it requires a lot of work and dedication on my part. Here are some of the avenues I plan to pursue in order to reach my goal. If you have any other ideas, feel free to share them with me!

1. Ask existing clients for more work. My health over the past few months hasn’t been so great, so I haven’t worked as much as I could have. I plan to ask my clients for more work if they have it.
2. Secure new clients (especially higher paying clients). This involves searching websites and trying out bidding sites. Here are a few of the places I plan to search for jobs:

   Freelance Writing Gigs
   About Freelance Writing
   Sitepoint
   Digital Points Forum
   LinkedIn
   GetaFreelancer
   RentaCoder
   Scriptlance
3. Investigate PLR income. I know this method is somewhat controversial, with some writers heavily condemning it. I don’t personally have any objections to it, and mainly view PLR as a stepping stone to get to where I want to be.
4. Advertise my writing services. Any suggestions where? I’ve heard that craigslist, sitepoint, and digital points forum are options. Anyone know of better places?

That’s my tentative plan for now. I’m getting a bit frustrated with my current income, but I know that with hard work, I can change things and make it better. If you have any ideas or suggestions, I would love to hear them! I’ll be posting my progress this month to let you know how it goes.

Self-Confidence and Freelance Writing

Who has confidence in himself will gain the confidence of others.
-Leib Lazarow

Do you have confidence in yourself as a writer? I’ll admit that sometimes I struggle with feelings of inadequacy at times. I don’t yet have a ton of experience or clips, but I know people who have been freelance writing for years.

Most of the time this doesn’t bother me, but sometimes I lose my confidence and start feeling like an impostor. And then the voice in my head tries to derail me- “I don’t have as much experience as everyone else…What if I can’t meet a deadline?…I shouldn’t apply for this job; what do I have to offer them?” The voice has tons of ammunition to make me feel inadequate.

But one freelance writing secret that I have learned is that you must have faith and confidence in yourself and your writing skills. Because nobody else is going to promote you and your services. YOU have to do it. And without confidence in yourself, it’s hard to effectively promote yourself.

I’ve seen many writers lately who lack the confidence to charge the kinds of fees they are really worth. They accept low-paying jobs because they feel that’s the best they can do. This makes me sad. And honestly? Sometimes that writer is me. I don’t always have the confidence to apply for the higher-paying writing gigs, and that’s something I want to change in 2008.

So what do you do about the feelings of inadequacy, especially if you’re like me and are just starting out? I think the most important thing is to realize that EVERYONE lacks confidence at times. When you realize that you’re not alone in feeling this way, it’s much easier to push those feelings aside. Here are some of my techniques for overcoming my fears:

• Push through fear. A venture like starting your own freelance writing business will put you outside your comfort zone. It’s okay to feel scared, but as Susan Jeffers would say: Feel the fear and do it anyway! Don’t let feelings of fear or inadequacy hold you back.

• Create a blog. If you don’t yet have a blog, start one! Choose a niche you enjoy writing about and start your own blog. This has several benefits – it gives you writing samples you can use, you get regular practice writing, it gets your name out there, and it builds your confidence.

• Remember that you and your writing style are unique. No one else can write exactly the way you write, so you definitely have something special to offer potential clients.

• Keep trying. Rejection is a normal part of a freelancer’s life (unfortunately!), so don’t take rejection personally and keep querying and applying.

• Know that you can do it. When you signed on as a freelance writer, you probably didn’t bargain for the feelings of self-doubt and fear. I didn’t. But every time I ignore those feelings and trust myself, something good happens. It may take time, but you will be successful if you believe in yourself.

These are some of the things I do when I start to doubt myself. As a writer, how do you cope with your own fears and self-doubts?

Setting goals for your business

“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.” -Stephen A. Brennan

Do you have freelance writing goals for 2008? Goals can help you focus on what is important. If you know your priorities for your writing business, you can better decide how to use your time, and you’ll eventually see the results you’re aiming for.

Goals should be measurable, actionable, and achievable. Writing them down and reviewing them regularly is also important. If you haven’t yet chosen goals for yourself, now is the time to go for it!

My freelance writing business goals for this year:

Organize – I’m going to set work hours (and stick to them!), avoid procrastination, and get my personal life in order (laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc.) so that these things don’t interfere with working from home. Getting organized is easier said than done, but I’m planning to do it.

Market myself - I haven’t done much marketing yet (okay, none besides starting this blog), but in 2008, that will change. I plan to:

• Build a business website and move this blog to my own domain
• Create business cards and other promotional materials so I can market locally
• Submit to article directories and network more with other writers and bloggers
• Advertise online

Educate myself - I’m going to research some of the writing classes out there and take a course in order to improve my writing skills.

Double my income – I started my writing business in October of 2007, so my income has a lot of room to grow! Some of the ways I plan to increase my writing income:

• Passive income – I plan to look into ebooks and PLR for starters.
• Find new clients – As I said, I plan to market myself locally as well as focus on applying for quality writing jobs online.
• Submit to print media – I’m sure the print market isn’t easy to break into, but these writing gigs can pay very well.

Celebrity bloggers

Did you know that celebrities have blogs too? I’m not talking about bloggers who achieved celebrity status – I mean people who achieved celebrity status through acting, music, or some other means and THEN started blogging.

Celebrity Cowboy lists 66 celebrities that blog. My favorites so far:

Wil Wheaton – I remember way back when Wil Wheaton guest-starred on Family Ties, and now he’s a writer and a blogger. Who knew?

David Byrne – Interesting, and he sure is prolific.

Jamie Lee Curtis – I’ve always liked her, and her blog doesn’t disappoint.

Check them out. As a word of caution, some of the blogs are strictly marketing tools. But there are gems among them.Celebrity or not, some of these blogs are good.