11Jun 2014 by Philippa Willitts

Podcast Episode 74: How to Justify Higher Freelancing Rates

Podcast
Most people would love a pay rise but, when you're a freelancer, you have to negotiate changes in fees with every single client! To make it far more likely that one of your clients or publications will pay you more, you need to ensure that it is absolutely clear why you deserve a raise. What value do you provide to them? What are you doing that benefits their company? Why are you worth keeping, in favour of a cheaper competitor? In this podcast episode, Lorrie and I look at ways to make sure you justify the fees you want to charge. Enjoy! Show Notes Writing for different audiences - experts vs beginners Freelance writing: to specialise or not to specialise Why and how to charge more for your freelance writing The…
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15May 2014 by Philippa Willitts
Podcast Episode 73: Taking a non-linear approach to copy

Podcast Episode 73: Taking a non-linear approach to copy

Podcast
There's nothing worse than staring at a blank Word document and not knowing where to start. Do you find yourself faced with getting 500 words onto the page, incorporating SEO keywords, heading tags and a call to action, yet have no inspiration at all? In her solo episode, Lorrie goes through some non-linear ways to approach copywriting, where you don't necessarily start at the top and finish at the bottom. Show Notes Episode 19: How to proofread your own work There are several ways to make sure that you don't miss out on A Little Bird Told Me. Subscribe via RSS Subscribe via iTunes Find us on Stitcher Smart Radio And finally, 'like' us on Facebook to be the first to hear our news and to talk with us about what you hear on the…
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29Apr 2014 by Philippa Willitts

Podcast Episode 72: Additional Income Streams for Freelance Writers

Podcast
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="320"] Graph With Stacks Of Coins (Photo credit: kenteegardin)[/caption] Freelancing can be a bit scary at times, and the lack of guaranteed income puts many people off even trying. Those who have already embarked on full-time self-employment will also find that their income can go up and down, and time off sick or a trip away can cause it all to grind to a dramatic halt. Because of this, it can be a good idea to have an extra income stream or two, but many writers have no idea what they could do to gain any kind of passive or residual income. Tune in to get some great ideas! Show Notes Amazon affiliates Google AdSense Clickbank E-Junkie Commission Junction Affiliate Window This is what petunias look like,…
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15Apr 2014 by Philippa Willitts

Podcast Episode 71: Content inspiration – 19 top ideas for when you run out of steam

Podcast
Some days you will be bursting with ideas, ready to write about anything and everything. But we also all have those moments when the Word document is empty - and so is our internal bank of inspiration! This solo podcast episode is full of ways to get content inspiration, so have a listen, and enjoy! Show Notes Feedly Topsy Quora Google Trends Google Adwords Keyword Planner Ubersuggest Google Alerts StumbleUpon There are several ways to make sure that you don't miss out on A Little Bird Told Me. Subscribe via RSS Subscribe via iTunes Find us on Stitcher Smart Radio And finally, please 'like' us on Facebook to be the first to hear our news and to talk with us about what you hear on the podcast! Transcript PW: Hello, and welcome to…
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30Mar 2014 by Philippa Willitts

Copy: new cloud storage alternative to Dropbox and Google Drive

Uncategorized
As a freelancer, making sure your work and records are backed up is vital. Losing valuable documents can get you in trouble with everybody from clients and editors to the tax man. I tend to double up my backing up, using both an external hard drive and online cloud services. This may seem like overkill, but you only need one massive hard drive failure to leave you in a real mess. The other great thing about cloud storage is that you can access your files from any computer, so wherever you are, you can find your work. Google Drive is great for volume and reliability, but the user interface leaves a lot to be desired. It is not at all intuitive, and things can be difficult to find. Dropbox is…
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25Mar 2014 by Philippa Willitts

Podcast Episode 70: Google+ for Freelance Writers

Podcast
Despite its reputation as the geeky cousin of Facebook and Twitter, Google+ actually has a lot to offer a freelance writer. It has powerful features, smart personalisation options and an ideal B2B marketplace. In this episode of our freelance writing podcast, Lorrie and I go through how to get started, how to set up Google Authorship for writers, Google+ dos and don'ts, best practice and handy hacks. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="220"] Google Plus - Plus Icon (Photo credit: dolphinsdock)[/caption] Show Notes Top 20 stats to get you active on Google+ Better than Gmail for Android: Boomerang for Android Reviewed The 5-step editing process for a perfect resume There are several ways to make sure that you don't miss out on A Little Bird Told Me. Subscribe via RSS Subscribe via…
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11Mar 2014 by Philippa Willitts

Episode 69: How to hire a decent writer or editor, the dos and don’ts you need to know

Podcast
Lorrie outsources some of her work to other freelance writers, and writers all over the world hire proofreaders and editors to help them to perfect their masterpieces. But how on earth do you go about finding the right person for the job? It can be a big decision, and a big responsibility, so in this episode of the podcast, Lorrie gives you the dos and don'ts you need to know. Show Notes Copywriting contract template Episode 20: Goal Planning - Your Freelance Aims for 2013 Episode 23: How to Decide What to Charge for your Freelance Writing Services Episode 24: The Art of Getting Paid Episode 25: Why and How to Charge More For Your Freelance Writing 7 Sins of Newbie Entrepreneurs. There are several ways to make sure that…
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18Feb 2014 by Philippa Willitts

Podcast Episode 68: Working for free and the myth of ‘exposure’

Podcast
[tweetherder]Writers, stop working for free, and certainly never pay for the privilege![/tweetherder] We see it all the time, and it seems to be getting worse: business owners and media outlets put pressure on writers to work for free. Is there any benefit to this, or is the fabled 'exposure' they promise not worth a thing? In this episode, Lorrie and I look at the facts and share some rather strong opinions on the topic! Show Notes Episode 4: Is writing for free ever ok? The Center for Architecture and Urban Design Los Angeles (CALA) logo design competition 99 designs Absolute Write: $5 for 500 word articles Carol Tice on Freelance Writing Scams Philip Hensher stirs debate among authors after refusing to write for free Paying bills with a drawing of…
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04Feb 2014 by Philippa Willitts

Podcast Episode 67: An interview with Lucy Hay from @Bang2Write about screenwriting, script editing, social media and other Ss besides

Podcast
  [tweetherder]Podcast interview with @Bang2Write #scriptchat #amwriting [/tweetherder]   Lucy Hay is an expert in all things screenwriting. A published writer, script reader and organiser of the London Screenwriting Festival, she also runs the massively successful Bang2Write website. In this podcast episode, I interview Lucy and we cover everything from her work with J.K. Amalou to helping to give women opportunities through London Screenwriting Festival, funding and investment for films, why some films work and some don't, how much to disclose on social media, Twitter hashtags, cyber bullying and teenage pregnancy. During the discussion, I also inadvertently came out as gay. It was so thoroughly underwhelming that it was only on editing it that I even noticed I'd done it. A must-listen for anyone interested in making it in the film and…
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31Jan 2014 by Philippa Willitts

January in Review

news
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="320"] January Cottage (Photo credit: jenniferworthen)[/caption] Wow, January has been a busy month! And, as a freelancer, this is always a good thing. May the rest of 2014 follow the same pattern! I wrote some really popular articles for Feminist Times and Disability Intersections, and it was great to see such positive responses via social media. For Feminist Times I wrote, "Intrusive entitlement: disabled women as public property", about the way that many people feel that they can touch, grab and inappropriately question disabled people about their lives. I also wrote a long-form article for the exciting new online magazine Disability Intersections about food snobbery and how many people judge what others eat, without taking into account the many different personal circumstances and societal oppressions that can…
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