Is SEO Copywriting the Right Career for You? Who Should NOT Pursue This Opportunity
Late last night, I was sitting at my computer all bleary-eyed from writing – you guessed it – another ebook, when the following email came in. It got me to thinking, an SEO writing career is not for everyone. Following is the email. Then I’ll explain why I feel this way.
FYI, the busy fall season is here. Proof? See 3 SEO copywriting success stories at the end of this post.
Email from a New SEO Writer
Hi Yuwanda,
I wanted to write in to let you know that I got my first client today!! However, it took me three weeks of constant (10 – 15 emails a day and even a handful of cold-calls) to get a nibble that turned into a client. I got really discouraged during that time. You may have already written a post on this, but could you maybe do a refresher on how to stay motivated when things aren’t going as well/quickly as you had hoped? I think it would be helpful to a lot of us.
Thanks again for all your help! It’s really great that you help people start in this industry – so many who make money are more interested in keeping out competition.
My Response
Congrats!
And FYI, 3 weeks is not that long.
I’ll write that post (on staying motivated) later today for SeoWritingJobs.com. If you’re a subscriber, you’ll see it in your inbox.
Post Continued Below . . .
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2nd Email from Same SEO Writer
Thank you!
I’ll tell you, after reading your book about how you got 14 projects in one week, three weeks with absolutely no responses felt really long!
My Response
A- remember, I’ve been a freelance writer for close to 2 decades (since 1993), so I have a lot more marketing savvy than most. Even though I knew nothing about SEO writing and had to practically start from scratch, I have the MIND of a business person. Being mentally prepared to do what it takes to succeed is every bit as important as working the actual steps.
There’s practically no other business under the sun where you can start off in the black like SEO writing. And if you think 3 weeks is long, then wait until you hit some dry spells and don’t get clients for a month or more (it happens to the best of us — even when you’re marketing).
I point this out to say, be patient. Things are not going to always be rosy. There are going to be ups and downs, but if you CONSISTENTLY market, these slow times will be fewer and farther in between. If you can’t handle this type of up and down existence, rethink freelance writing as a career. It may not be for you. Even though you’ve landed your first client, you may panic when projects start NOT to roll in. Again, it happens to the best of us.
I say this over and over and over again, yet all most want to focus on are my successes. BUT, there comes a time when work just seems to dry up, then my inbox gets flooded with “what am I doing wrong” types of emails.NO business is easy — if it was everyone would do it. So just realize, 3 week is NO TIME at all to wait to land your first client.
Years ago in New York, I was an actress. Do you know how long it takes some actors to land a part? Valerie Bertinelli of “One Day at a Time” fame went on 75 auditions before she landed her first part. Morgan Freeman was an actor for close to 25 years before anyone ever knew who he was.
Speaking of perseverance, did you know that it took Thomas Edison over two years to invent the light bulb; he purportedly tried over 6,000 different carbonized plant fibers, looking for a carbon filament for his light bulb that would work.
THIS is business; THIS is what it takes.
Remember this when things seem to fall off — for no apparent reason at all.
In the meantime, enjoy your success — and keep marketing.
When SEO Writing May Not be the Right Career for You
If you can’t take the ups and downs that come with freelancing, then freelance (SEO) writing is not for you.
If you get frustrated because you’re constantly marketing, but you can’t seem to sell ice water to a man dying of thirst in the Sahara desert, then freelance (SEO) writing is not for you.
If you panic and wonder what you’re “doing wrong” when jobs aren’t rolling in, then freelance (SEO) writing is not for you.
If you can’t stick with it, even when things get tough, then freelance (SEO) writing is not for you.
If you fire off frantic emails to “experts” seeking advice when what you’re doing is not working, then freelance (SEO) writing is not for you.
If you can’t find solutions to problems that crop up in your freelance business – without consulting an “expert” — then freelance (SEO) writing is not for you.
The bottom line is, if you can’t at some point take the training wheels off and fly on your own as a business person, then freelance (SEO) writing is not for you.
Because it’s a business. Specifically, it’s your business — and that’s the way you must approach it.
Note: The reason the word “expert” is in quotation marks is because no one knows it all. There will always, always, always be situations that crop up in your freelance business that you’re going to have to figure out how to handle without waiting for someone to hold your hand.
As I wrote in the post Freelance (SEO) Writing: Do You Have What It Takes to Succeed? When NOT to Take the Plunge:
NOBODY can give you the ability to think for yourself, ie, when or when not to offer a discount, when to turn down a project, when to expand your business, when to hire freelancers, when to fire freelancers, how to set deadlines, and/or how to tackle one of a multitude of other decisions a busy SEO writer (or any business owner) has to make for him/herself on a daily basis.
AND THIS IS WHAT BUSINESS IS – any kind of business.
I can give you guidelines to go by that have worked for my business; recount actual client scenarios and how I handled them; and point out industry norms that you may want to follow . . . But, the final decision is always up to you.
How to Stay Motivated When Times Get Tough as a Freelance (SEO) Writer
Market, market and market some more: The best way to beat the freelance writing doldrums is to stay busy.
If it means making contact with 100 prospects per day, then do so. You’ll be too busy drumming up business to focus on the fact that you don’t have any at the moment. And the best part about this is, you’ll most likely land jobs instead of sitting around feeling sorry for yourself.
Get more tips on how to weather dry spells in the post, Freelance Writers: How to Land Jobs When You Have $0 & Your Marketing Tactics Aren’t Working – 5 Areas to Assess. It’s very detailed.
The Busy Fall Season Has Arrived: Get Inspired by These 3 SEO Writing Success Stories
Within the last week and a half, I received the following emails.
SEO Writing Success from Freelancer #1 Rec’d on 9/6: Hi Yuwanda, I wanted to write in to let you know that I got my first client today!! [From the freelancer who sent in the email that inspired this post]
SEO Writing Success from Freelancer #2 Rec’d on 9/6: Hi Yuwanda, Just wanted to say thank you – as a result of the advice in your SEO writing e-book, I got my first order within 12 hours of sending out my first batch of 10 marketing emails.
SEO Writing Success from Freelancer #3 Rec’d on 8/30: This one is from Cold Calling Carol. She continues to rock it – and amaze me! Remember, this was a freelancer who was broke just a few months ago. Now, she’s been to Hawaii (and is broke again), but has a full plate of assignments to fill her bank account up again. You go girrrrlll!
She wrote:
Hi Yuwanda,
Your email was right on the money today! I just got back from my Hawaii trip ( I had a blast) plus an empty wallet to show for it. And to be honest, I took the weekend off to recover from the mini-jet lag. I was just about to start compiling a list for more Seo’s to call. Surprise, surprise. They called me!
Remember, all the calls I made during the summer? Well, they are paying off! [Editor note: This happens a lot – prospects will keep your info on file and contact you months, sometimes years, later. So, keep marketing!]
I was worried about one guy not liking my content, but apparently he does, because he called me yesterday and asked me to quote him a bid on this new site for a new client of his! But, that’s not the icing on the cake. Get this; I just got a call from a stockbroker [profession was changed per writer’s request to protect identity of her client] Anyway, he needs a lot of his pages re-written due to duplicate content.
One of his sites already got wacked due to the Google Panda update [Editor note: I think we’ll be seeing a lot more of this.] And he doesn’t want it to happen again. Anyway, needless to say I am about to quote him for research, and rewriting, and the quote will cover most of my Hawaii trip. But, that’s not all; He said if I do a good job he has over 100 more landing pages he needs done by yesterday.
However, I got a little intimidated because he said he has gone through 5 writers already, some were good, but he hasn’t found The ONE. Oh the pressure is on now! Other than that, he said he will start me off with 10 first to see how I do, and then he will give me the rest once I “show” my work.
Other than that, the SEO firm that gave me the work says he has 22 more sites he needs me to work on once I am done with this one. I say this not to brag, of course you know that. But, I want your readers to be inspired to take action. One day I am broke, one day I am booking a trip to Hawaii, and sad that I spent all my money. Now, I’m quoting jobs at 5 figures. What a writer’s life. You are truly right about ups and downs.
I am excited and nervous at the same time. But, All I have to do is try and prove my worth! I will keep you posted. Hope your readers get encouragement and inspiration. (I still don’t like talking on the phone, but I like beaches, boys, and living life on my own terms, so I do what has to be done to live the life I want).
FYI, see all posts in the Cold Callling Carol, SEO Writing Success Story series.
All Good Things Must Come to an End
I know this has been a long post, but I wanted to give you a kick in the pants – and some inspiring success stories to spur you on.
Now, I’m off to FINALLY (I hope fingers crossed) finish my latest ebook. It’s 15 things you can do to prevent ebook returns. I’m 95% done, but trying to finish so I can hit the beach for a run before it rains. It’s rainy season here in Negril and almost every afternoon you can count on some showers – even though the sun is shining gloriously right now.
Related Posts
3 Things You Can Do TODAY to Make Your Website More Profitable
How I Started Landing High-Paying Freelance Writing Jobs Rather Easily
Til next time,
Yuwanda
P.S.: Learn how to create multiple freelance income streams. Get Living the Freelance Life! How I Live Internationally and Have Earned a Living Completely Online Since 2007 & You Can Too (on InkwellEditorial.com), a free ebook. SeoWritingJobs.com is an InkwellEditorial.com property.
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Yuwanda, thanks for another great post. When I read the part about you being an actor in NY, I laughed aloud. I, too, came to writing via theatre. I was pounding the pavements (and doing some good work) in London for many years. I always think writers don’t know how easy they have things: even if their work gets rejected, it’s not them standing there, physically, alone on a stage under a worklight. And the best part? Writers are free to do their art to their heart’s content. *Selling* the work may be tough, but no one can stop anyone from writing. How unlike the actor, who can’t even work until a bunch of people give her permission.
cheers,
Freya
Freya:
One of the few things I hated about acting was the audition process. As you said, you stand there — literally and figuratively speaking — exposed; waiting for a thumbs up or thumbs down, never knowing if “your” good enough is “their” good enough.
I miss the profession dearly though; if I had financial freedom, I’d pursue acting in a heartbeat. In fact, I think about going back into it all the time — maybe when I “retire” in the next decade or so.
Estelle Getty of “Golden Girls” fame didn’t “make it” until she was in her 50s, so it’s never too late is what I tell myself. Even local and regional theatre would be fine for me. I just miss being around actors and other artists; it’s such a cool world to inhabit. And the fact that I got to do that in my youth in New York City is an experience I’ll forever cherish.
So cheers fellow thespian — I know the sentiments you expressed all too well.
thanks
[...] Update (August 30th): See “SEO Success Story” from Freelancer #3 at end of this [...]
[...] This was the same freelancer featured in this post. In about two months of freelancing, she’s already gotten a client, did the work and received [...]