30Jul 2013 by Philippa Willitts

Podcast Episode 48: How to prevent your freelance business from wasting money

Podcast
It's not unusual for a freelance writing business to go through a dry patch. Finding work is difficult, regular clients go quiet, and you are left short of cash. In this podcast episode, we talk about [tweetherder]how to avoid wasting money when you are a self-employed writer[/tweetherder], and look at ways to save some cash. Show Notes Google Drive Open Office Open University OpenLearn Alison.com YouTube Suite101 WikiHow Quora Credit Unions MoneySavingExpert TopCashback Google Calendar Checker Plus for Google Calendar (Chrome Extension) Facebook Events on Google Calendar (Chrome Extension) Send to Calendar (Chrome Extension) Save your local library The Handbook of Non-Sexist Writing by Casey Miller and Kate Swift (UK) / (USA) Philippa's work bookshelf There are several ways to make sure that you don't miss out on A Little…
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16Jul 2013 by Philippa Willitts

Podcast Episode 47: Should Freelance Writers Have Their Own Blog?

Podcast
There is a lot of conflicting advice around about whether or not freelance writers should have their own blog. If they do, what should they blog about? Is it simply a way to show off your writing skills or can it have any further benefits? And should you write every day, every week, or just whenever you feel like it? In this podcast episode I look at these issues, and more, along with some practical advice on how to go about blogging in order to have the most success. Show Notes 10 reasons every freelance writer should have a blog - Michelle Rafter Episode 7: Freelance writing - to specialise or not to specialise? Do freelancers have to blog to get clients? - Carol Tice 5 ways writers kill their credibility online There…
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09Jul 2013 by Philippa Willitts

Podcast Episode 46: How to deal with criticism and negative feedback

Podcast
It happens to the best of us at some stage: a piece of work we send to a client is met with criticism. Whether it is your fault or the result of a misunderstanding, or whether we strongly believe the editor or client is wrong, this is a tricky situation to negotiate. In this podcast episode, Lorrie and I go through different scenarios that can arise, with tips and advice on how to deal with them to maintain your good reputation while not alienating your clients or editors. We also look at clients who are bullies, admitting your mistakes, whether the job title "freelance writer" has a limited shelf life and languages made up of whistles. Show Notes Episode 19: How to proofread your own work Episode 41: The importance of professional…
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02Jul 2013 by Philippa Willitts

Podcast Episode 45: the Gmail hacks you really should have installed by now

Podcast
Many freelancers use Gmail, whether using a custom email addressed based on their URL through forwarding or Google Apps, or directly with a @gmail.com or @googlemail.com email address. One of the reasons for its popularity is how many tools and hacks there are available to streamline your workflow, increase your productivity and manage the ever-increasing numbers of incoming messages. In this episode, Lorrie has found some great Gmail hacks and goes through her favourite examples. I can personally account for most of them, as I would be far less efficient without them! Show Notes   Text Fixer: http://www.textfixer.com/   Rapportive: http://www.rapportive.com   Boomerang: http://www.boomeranggmail.com/   Gmelius: http://gmelius.com/   Boomerang for Android:   http://androidcommunity.com/boomerang-for-gmail-launches-for-android-20130626/   There are several ways to make sure that you don't miss out on A Little Bird Told Me.  …
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26Jun 2013 by Philippa Willitts

Podcast Episode 44: Writing for different audiences – experts vs beginners

Podcast
Writers must always keep the reader in mind when they are composing a piece of work, and one factor that should always inform how and what you write is the level of expertise that your audience will have. In this podcast episode, Lorrie and I talk about different issues to factor in when writing for beginners, lay people, novices or experts, including a detailed look at the language, structure and formatting to use. Show Notes Mayfield Handbook of Technical and Scientific Writing Creative people say NO! 30 easy ways to organize your work space IKEA Hackers Lonely Goatherd lyrics 12 Old Words that Survived by Getting Fossilized in Idioms There are several ways to make sure that you don't miss out on A Little Bird Told Me. Subscribe via RSS…
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18Jun 2013 by Philippa Willitts

Podcast Episode 43: Keyword research for SEO writing

Uncategorized
It will often be expected of you, as a freelance copywriter, to be able to not only carry out keyword research but also to know how to use it in SEO copywriting. In this episode I talk about the basics of undergoing keyword research, and also provides information about writing for SEO in a way that does not alienate site visitors.     This episode also contains a first - a custom-made video especially for A Little Bird Told Me listeners. Find out how to carry out keyword research using the free Google AdWords Keyword Tool at http://www.socialmediawriter.co.uk/keywordvideo   [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2kul0SntJc[/youtube]   Show Notes Urban Muse Writer: Listen up! 5 podcasts for freelance writers Catherine Deveney: Equal. Not.  Episode 4: Hot Topic: Writing and Editing for free - is it ever OK? There…
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11Jun 2013 by Philippa Willitts

Podcast Episode 42: Project creep: how to cope with clients who want to stretch your good will.

Podcast
In this episode, Lorrie and I discuss what to do when a client project starts to grow and grow but annoyingly your pay cheque doesn't. We talk about different situations where this can occur and how to extricate yourself from it, as it can develop into a really tricky situation. We also look at whether prevention is better than a cure, how to cope with clients who want to socialise with you, and where to find 37 free ebooks about journalistic writing. Show Notes Let me google that for you Episode 24: The Art of Getting Paid Writers: How not to suck at marketing 37 free e-books on journalism There are several ways to make sure that you don't miss out on A Little Bird Told Me. Subscribe via RSS Subscribe…
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04Jun 2013 by Philippa Willitts

Podcast Episode 41: The Importance of Professional Courtesy

Podcast
We all grew up being told that manners cost nothing, and it's never more true than when you are running your own freelance writing business. Treating your clients and fellow freelancers with courtesy is a must, and it is not unreasonable to expect the same in return. In this solo episode Lorrie talks about the importance of professional courtesy for freelancers and gives some handy hints and tips about achieving it, even in trying situations! Show Notes How to format an e-book. http://freelanceswitch.com/freelance-writing/format-an-ebook-for-kindle/ The sad smell of desperation: http://lorriehartshorn.com/episode-nine-of-a-little-bird-told-me-the-sad-smell-of-desperation/ Turning one-off clients into repeat business: http://www.philippawrites.co.uk/podcast-episode-39-how-to-turn-one-off-clients-into-repeat-business/ 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…
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28May 2013 by Philippa Willitts

Podcast Episode 40: What to do when you run out of ideas, AKA what Pippa Middleton’s bum can teach us about finding writing inspiration

Podcast
Every writer, at some stage or another, gets hit by a sudden lack of ideas. It's depressing and can even be frightening, but there are ways to jolt your mind back into thinking creatively again. In this podcast episode, Lorrie and I discuss several tips and tricks you can use to reboot your creative mind and shake writers' block off for good. Show Notes Quora Google Alerts The guy who got a job by targeting PPC ads to vanity searches The guy who lost his entire Google, Apple, Amazon and Twitter presence in 15 minutes after his password was hacked Limit Login Attempts free Wordpress Plugin Featuring the hat stuck in the tree story: 47 Hilariously Underwhelming Local News Headlines Safestyle Windows Secret Door Mapcrunch There are several ways to make sure…
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21May 2013 by Philippa Willitts

Podcast Episode 39: How to turn one-off clients into repeat business

Podcast
Keeping and nurturing existing clients is a more reliable and less time-consuming way to conduct your freelance writing business, when compared to doing lots of one-off pieces of work for all and sundry. You don't need to spend as much time marketing yourself, and you can build on existing good relationships rather than constantly starting new ones. In this podcast, I talk about the 13 top tips to turn one-off clients into repeat business and there is, of course, the Little Bird Recommendation of the Week too. Show Notes Episode 8: Essential Software and Online Apps for Freelance Writers Twitter Law 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…
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