Advanced Freelancing

As freelance writers, most of us have dreamed of seeing our picture on a book jacket. But the process of finding a publisher and securing a literary agent may seem intimidating. How do you pitch your book idea to an agent? What is involved in the submission process? What’s the difference between traditional and digital publishing? It’s time to take the ‘aspiring’ out of ‘aspiring author’ with today’s guest, who answers your questions about the publishing world.

Megan Close Zavala is a literary agent at Keller Media and the creator of Turn the Page Book Coaching and Editorial. She began her career in the film industry, working in the business and legal affairs department for companies like E! Entertainment, Comcast Media Group, and NBCUniversal. After a layoff and a year in India, Megan went on a mission to land a job in publishing that would allow her to read for a living, and she became an editorial assistant at Keller Media.

Megan was quickly promoted to literary agent, and she has been working with authors in that capacity since January of 2015. Since then, she has worked with New York Times best-selling authors and spoken at writers’ conferences across the country. Megan came to realize that many writers needed additional assistance beyond what she could offer as an agent, and Turn the Page was born to provide editorial and book coaching services to authors at various stages in the writing process. Today she takes the mystery out of publishing, explaining the role of a literary agent, how to submit a proposal or manuscript, and how to establish a working relationship with a trustworthy agent. Listen in to get Megan’s best advice for aspiring authors!

Key Takeaways

The pros and cons of traditional vs. self-publishing

• Traditional route provides support to help sell/improve book
• Self-publishing allows you to maintain total control
• Be an informed consumer when choosing self-publisher (companies make promises re: book promotion that they don’t keep)
• Responsibility for marketing falls on you when you opt for self-publishing

How to establish a relationship with a literary agent

• Approach agents who work with your genre
• Follow submission guidelines on publisher website
• Understand where your book falls in marketplace and what makes it unique

The role of a literary agent

• Works with author to get proposal/manuscript in order
• Research and choose editors to pitch
• Submit materials to interested editors
• Negotiate best deal possible
• Assist with marketing

How to choose the right publisher

• Review titles on publisher website for similar genres, experience
• Examine similar books for agent credit
• Employ literary agent directories (writing reference section of local bookstore)
• Make use of websites like PublishersMarketplace

Megan’s tips for choosing an agent

• Agents work on commission; don’t agree to pay a ‘reading fee’
• Select someone you feel comfortable with
• Advocate for yourself rather than accepting the first offer

Megan’s book coaching service

• ‘Personal trainer’ for writers
• Works with authors at various stages in the process
• Work together to identify problem areas, strategies to fix
• Copyediting and proofreading services available

Common challenges of aspiring authors

• Not willing to spend money to invest in process
• Attached to work, difficulty letting go of character/subplot

The benefits of working with a book coach

• Help see book in a new way
• Act as accountability partner

Megan’s best advice for would-be authors

• Dedicate a specific time each day to get something on paper (even if it’s five minutes)
• Establish self-imposed deadlines and keep your commitment

Resources

PublishersMarketplace

Connect with Megan Close Zavala

Turn the Page Website

Turn the Page on Facebook

Turn the Page on Twitter

Turn the Page on Pinterest

Megan on Twitter

Keller Media

‘The waters of the internet are infested with sharks!’

By virtue of having a website, online solopreneurs are vulnerable to lawsuits and scammers. Many of us stick our heads in the sand and hope it will never happen to us, but there are a number of protections we can put in place to minimize the risk. Today’s guest is prepared to arm you with the information you need to navigate those shark-infested waters and understand the fundamental legal aspects of online business ownership.

Internet business lawyer Lin Eleoff is the founder of Cover Your Assets Online, a service that teaches solopreneurs to cover their ‘assets’ without having to spend an arm and a leg on legal fees. She offers a DIY Legal Toolkit that allows online entrepreneurs to prepare key documents themselves, as well as done-for-you services and consulting.

Lin never wanted to be one of those ‘billable hours’ attorneys in the corner office; she was looking for a new way to practice law. She saw a huge need in the area of internet law for entrepreneurs, so she became an entrepreneur herself and created an online coaching venture to empower business owners with crucial legal information. Today she shares the common mistakes made by online solopreneurs, the legal documents you can prepare on your own, and her best legal advice for online business owners. Listen and learn why scammers target small business owners and how to protect yourself from a lawsuit!

Key Takeaways

The legal fundamentals of online business ownership

• Being sued is stressful, even if you win
• Having a website automatically makes you vulnerable
• Must protect yourself from liability and minimize risk

The common legal mistakes made by online business owners

• Lack three key documents – privacy policy, terms, and conditions, disclaimer
• Use of unauthorized images

Legal documents you can prepare yourself

• Privacy policy, terms, and conditions, disclaimer
• Copyright registration
• Legwork for contracts and trademark prep (have lawyer finalize)

How much it might cost to put legal protections in place

• Lin’s DIY Toolkit – $597
• Attorney’s hourly fee between $400-$600
• Much more expensive to secure lawyer for lawsuit

Why scammers target small business owners

• Looking for people who are exposed, less informed
• Online solopreneurs less likely to have lawyer

Lin’s best legal advice for online business owners

• Establish an LLC or S corp.
• Separate your personal and business assets

How to approach legal aspects of online business ownership

• Depends on personal preference
• If comfortable, can do much yourself
• Procure attorney for complex issues
• Educate yourself to work with lawyer

Resources

DIY Legal Toolkit

Connect with Lin Eleoff

Website

Perhaps you dread going to the office every day because you simply aren’t inspired by what you do. Or maybe your heart isn’t in the traditional 9 to 5 anymore because of little ones at home that you are missing. Either way, today’s guest has been in your shoes, and she knows how to launch a business as a virtual assistant that will afford you the opportunity to be the parent you want to be and develop a career that you love.

Abbey Ashley was looking for work-from-home opportunities after the birth of her first child. A friend recommended that she look into becoming a VA, so she did some research and determined that it would be a good fit. She leveraged her background in marketing to help small business owners with various administrative projects, and within four months she had to bring in subcontractors to help with the overload of work!

In March 2016, Abbey founded The Virtual Savvy to help other women launch and grow their own virtual assistant businesses. She is on a mission to empower women to enjoy the freedom and flexibility afforded by a work-from-home VA career. Today she discusses the most in-demand services a virtual assistant can offer as well as proven strategies for landing clients. Turn passion into profit and launch your VA career today!

Key Takeaways

The role of a VA

• Help entrepreneurs/small business owners online
• General tasks include marketing, admin and social media

Abbey’s guidance for ‘repackaging’ traditional job skills

• Start with what you already know (list skills you might offer)
• Pick one or two things you are interested in learning as you go

The most in-demand VA services in the current market

• Social media (content creation and scheduling)
• Blog posts
• Web programs (back end)
• Landing page creation
• Email marketing

How to land your first client as a new VA

• Look to people you already know
• Accept one-off/short-term projects

Why it’s better for VAs to offer general services in the beginning

• Small wins build confidence
• Practice period helps you determine your niche, ideal client
• Opportunity to develop processes, learn contracts and invoicing
• Potential to get paid to learn new skills, do research

Abbey’s best strategies for landing new clients

• Leverage online sources (i.e.: Facebook, LinkedIn, Upwork)
• Join 20-30 entrepreneurial Facebook groups
• Use search terms such as VA, hire/help

How to make your proposal stand out

• Develop a value-first mindset
• Invest the time to customize your proposal

Abbey’s number one tip for new VAs

• Spend less time on things that aren’t going to directly land clients
• 80% of your time should be spent on marketing

Resources

Canva

MailChimp

ConvertKit

Constant Contact

WordPress

Squarespace

Upwork

Connect with Abbey Ashley

Website

Free Checklist

Facebook

Facebook Group

Pinterest

Twitter

Traditional leadership training is difficult to implement because it’s tough to access that seven-step conflict resolution process in the middle of a team meltdown! Today’s guest is a leadership coach with a different approach. She is on a mission to develop leaders who view management as a collaborative process, who share their vision and then walk alongside their team members on the way to realizing big picture goals.

Judy Lair started out on the ‘other side of the couch.’ As a client, she recognized that her counselor was employing the strategic thinking skills that she considered a personal strength. She applied to graduate school and earned her Master’s from Ashland Theological Seminary in 2002. For the past 15 years, Judy has operated a successful private practice, Counselorplace Christian Counseling, in Worthington, Ohio.

In June 2016, Judy expanded her business to include leadership coaching. She leverages her accreditations as both a Certified Business Coach and Certified Life Coach to help clients become insightful, inspiring leaders and effective problem-solvers. She offers 1:1 personal leadership coaching as well as Masterclass Leadership Development group coaching workshops. Judy is the author of four books, and today she shares advice about writing as well as business ownership. Listen to understand why Judy chose private practice, how she determined her ideal clients, and how her business grew to include leadership coaching.

Key Takeaways

How Judy made the decision to start her own business

• Avoid 60/40 or 70/30 split
• Background as paralegal, office manager

Judy’s strategies for landing the first few clients

• Networking
• Written material
• Seminars

How to approach networking

• Don’t view as ‘sales’
• Share your investment in what you love
• Showcase how you can be of service

How Judy determined her ideal clients

• Strength as strategic thinker
• Ability to understand thought process, barriers
• Counseling niche in anxiety disorder
• Coaching niche in examining how leaders think, sharing expanded view

How Judy got into coaching

• Counseling clients in leadership positions discussed work in sessions
• Asked Judy to branch out, talk to their teams

The difference in marketing strategy for counseling vs. coaching

• Counseling clients know they have a problem
• Must identify pain points of potential coaching clients and communicate benefits based on where they’re at now

Judy’s ground-breaking approach to leadership development

• Traditional framework teaches skills (i.e.: conflict resolution) that are difficult to access when needed
• Judy seeks to develop innovative thinking and apply organically

The secret to team management

• View as collaborative process
• See team members as people rather than skill sets
• Align team members’ individual goals with vision for group

Judy’s writing advice

• Give yourself a daily word count, time parameters (e.g.: 2,000 words in two hours/day)
• Push past limiting beliefs
• Do not hit backspace or delete

Resources

Judy’s Amazon Author Page

Free Viewpoint Leadership mp3s

Free Phone Consultation

Connect with Judy Lair

Website

LinkedIn

Twitter

Facebook

If you’re just getting your feet wet with the whole online business thing, it is likely that you have been working as a generalist, taking on a wide variety of projects for a wide variety of clients. Perhaps you are starting to figure out which projects you really love – and which ones you hate with the fire of a thousand suns. If that’s the case, it may be time to niche down and build your expertise in the areas you truly enjoy, and make more money while you’re at it!

Alexandra Ramirez got her start on the platform fiverr, making just five bucks per gig! She moved up via Kimra Luna’s Freedom Hackers, meeting entrepreneurs in need of a VA in the Facebook group. After a few months performing a wide range of tasks, Alexandra discovered her love of sales funnels, email marketing, and course creation. She changed her title to reflect this role as a specialist, and Divine Business Management was born. Now Alexandra specializes in helping entrepreneurs automate their marketing through sales funnels to attract ideal clients and generate passive income.

Alexandra is here to explain the specifics of a sales funnel as well as the benefits of email marketing. Listen and learn how she transitioned from generalist to expert – and boosted her income in the process!

Key Takeaways

How to use Facebook groups to land clients

• Don’t use the language of desperation
• Offer value by explaining the specific service(s) you can provide

How Alexandra transitioned from a generalist to an expert

• Changed title from VA to ‘sales funnel creator’
• Positioned self as specialist

The advantages of email marketing

• Unlikely to be shut down (unlike social media accounts)
• Can be personalized to nurture potential clients
• Better chance of opening email vs. seeing post on social

The vocabulary of a sales funnel creator

• Lead magnet – a freebie (e.g.: eBook, checklist, video) that potential clients access by providing email address
• Landing page – the web page where potential clients submit an email address to opt-in and receive a freebie
• Tripwire – an affordable product (under $50) that is advertised to potential clients on the ‘thank you’ page; may expand on or complement the content offered in the freebie
• Nurtured email sequence – the first five to seven emails a potential client receives right away after opting in, provides free content before promoting core offer toward the end of the series (i.e.: one-on-one services, course)

The nuts and bolts of a VA’s role in online course creation

• Collaborate with client to define strategy and timeline
• Support by holding client accountable

Alexandra’s key tips for entrepreneurs who are just getting started

• Create an emotional connection to land clients
• Niche down to define your ideal client
• Leverage attraction marketing by making yourself an expert

Resources

Freedom Hackers on Facebook

Freedom Hackers Mastermind Group

Connect with Alexandra Ramirez

Divine Business Management

Free Sales Funnel Workshop

As online business owners, we are all searching for the freedom and flexibility this kind of work affords. But some of us choose this option of a ‘portable business’ not just because we want to, but because we have to. Today’s guest, Rae Walaska, is a military wife and stay-at-home mom who developed an incredibly unique niche that leverages her love of event planning – and allows her to work from just about anywhere her husband might be deployed.

Rae is the owner of Murder n’ Mayhem, a company offering murder mystery parties and kids’ adventure hunts. It began in Port Orchard, Washington, where Rae worked in partnership with a local restaurant to host monthly murder mystery dinners. The business then grew to include home parties, corporate events, and even a Murder Mystery Weekend Festival on the waterfront. With each move, Rae builds a local network, and now the company hosts events all over the country, including a mystery scavenger hunt inside Las Vegas’ Excalibur Hotel.

Rae is also the co-founder of She Sells Studios, a joint venture that seeks to build a community of female entrepreneurs. She Sells is on a mission to empower and inspire, providing resources that allow other women to benefit from the lessons Rae and her partner, Jenny, have learned as solopreneurs. Today she empowers us, sharing how she developed such a unique business model, how she builds a network in each new city, and how she leverages goal-setting to facilitate growth.  

Key Takeaways

What inspired Rae to choose such a unique niche business

• Experience working hospitality in college
• Event planning was something she enjoyed
• Provided the flexibility and portability she needed as military wife/mother

How Rae partners with vendors

• Pitch in person to restaurants, bed and breakfasts, etc.
• Explain benefits (exposure, new customers)
• Build package that will cover fees for both
• Partner to market the event

How Rae’s business grew organically

• Attendees asked her to host personal events (i.e.: anniversary party)
• Businesses hired for team-building workshops

The greatest challenge of setting up shop again after a move

• Building a new network

Why Rae began a new venture with She Sells Studios

• Craved the opportunity to collaborate
• Desire to leave a legacy and give back

The aim of She Sells Studios

• Empower entrepreneurs
• Provide resources/referrals (e.g.: tips, information, services)

The obstacles Rae has faced as a military spouse and solopreneur

• Difficulty building a tribe
• Juggling the roles of mother and business owner

Connect with Rae Walaska

Murder n’ Mayhem

Email [email protected]

Twitter

Facebook

Pinterest

She Sells Studios

She Sells Blog

She Sells Facebook Group

As online business owners, we realize the value in having a website that’s easy to navigate and filled with content that provides value to our potential clients. But how do you know which blog posts are the most popular, or when people are leaving your page? Today’s guest unlocks the mystery of Google Analytics, explaining how to use the information it provides to upgrade your marketing strategy!

Katie Williamsen is the founder of Katie Williamsen Web and Social Media Consulting, LLC. She is on a mission to empower female entrepreneurs, making sure their online tools are working and converting better than ever before. She spent eight years working traditional jobs in the non-profit world and education before being diagnosed with narcolepsy. Katie needed a flexible schedule, and she had always dreamed of being an entrepreneur, so she launched her business in early 2016.

Katie has a master’s degree in interactive media, and she is prepared to share her expertise as a web strategist with you! Listen in as she explains how a novice can use Google Analytics to adjust her marketing strategy and her best advice for boosting your conversion numbers.

Key Takeaways

How Katie’s business grew and evolved

• Identified ideal client (service-based female business owners)
• Recognized market needs that aligned with skill set

The value of Google Analytics

• Provides info re: how people navigate your site and when they leave

How a novice can use Google Analytics

• Ensure it’s working, installed correctly (compare numbers with Squarespace or WordPress)
• Enable demographic information to learn about the people on your site
• Find out which websites are referring the most traffic to your site
• Uncover the social media platforms generating the most referral traffic
• Take a day and explore – you can’t break it!

How to adjust your marketing strategy based on Google Analytics

• Create content upgrades
• Leverage popular content with blog post updates and correlated posts

Katie’s tips for designing content upgrades

• Choose something that complements your blog post (e.g.: video series, checklist)
• Make it easily digestible

How to upsell your current clients with Google Analytics

• Offer Google Analytics audit, content upgrade suggestions
• Client can add you to account as viewer
• Google Analytics Academy offers certification

Katie’s best advice for boosting conversion numbers

• Simple, organized navigation with fewer than seven items
• Clear description of who you are and what you do
• Photo of yourself
• Call to action

Katie’s keys to success

• Respond to feedback, analytics
• Be flexible and adapt to the market
• Shift quickly when something isn’t working

Resources

Amy Porterfield

Google Analytics Academy

Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson

Connect with Katie Williamsen

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Pinterest

The Catch 22 of business growth stems from the fact that you need exposure to make it happen, yet it’s tough to afford a PR professional until your business has grown to a certain level. Is there a way to do it yourself? What is the best approach for pitching yourself to local or even national media outlets?

Christina Nicholson spent ten years as a news anchor and reporter, and in that time she received an overwhelming number of pitches from publicists looking to earn exposure for their clients – who were approaching it the wrong way. She transitioned to the field of media relations in 2015, hoping that a traditional work schedule would be more family-friendly, but she quickly grew weary of the pressure to be in the office late and answer email at all hours.

Christina created her own public relations firm in 2015. Media Maven seeks to help small business owners gain exposure via media relations, video production, writing, and blogging. She employs the lessons she learned in broadcasting to land her clients coverage on The Rachel Ray Show as well as local TV in a variety of top ten markets, and in print and digital publications including Newborn Magazine and countless websites and blogs. Today she shares her strategies for selecting clients and developing customized PR packages. Listen to understand the right way to pitch yourself to the media and establish your expertise in a particular market!

Key Takeaways

How Christina landed her first few clients

• ‘Beggars can’t be choosers’
• Utilized job boards like Upwork
• Said ‘yes’ to everything
• Worked for less and over delivered

The PR services Christina offers her clients

• Customized packages to achieve specific goals
• Media relations, video production, blogging and social media

How Christina selects her clients

• Works with any business owner she can help with a great story/content
• Likes the restaurant, health niches
• Less inclined to take clients in fields she doesn’t enjoy (i.e.: finance)

Christina’s process for developing a client package

• Establish client goals and develop customized plan
• Determine how the client’s product/service can solve problems
• Tie client expertise into newsworthy local/national story

When small business owners should outsource their PR

• Money to invest (minimum of $2,000/month retainer, six-month contract)
• No time to do on their own

The importance of patience and realistic expectations

• Traction takes time
• National outlets receive thousands of pitches
• Keep pitching from different angles
• Local/small opportunities can lead to national coverage

Resources

Master Your PR Online Course

Connect with Christina Nicholson

Media Maven Website

Lifestyle Blog

Facebook

YouTube Channel

LinkedIn

$5 for a 500-word article!? How’s a freelancer supposed to eat?

If you’ve ever sifted through the writing opportunities on platforms like Craigslist, Upwork or Indeed, you know it’s a painstaking process – rife with listings that just don’t cut it when it comes to compensation. Today’s guest offers an alternative that will save you a significant amount of time and provide support as you hone your skills.

Amanda Scheibner is a success coach with Contena, a valuable service that delivers quality job opportunities to freelance writers. She has a background in education, having taught English composition and worked in a university writing center. As a Contena coach, she is prepared to push you in terms of organization and examples, helping you refine your pitch and fine-tune your writing. Amanda enjoys traveling, watching baseball, and relaxing with her pups. And she’s always looking for a good book recommendation! Today she explains how the Contena platform functions to provide quality leads to its freelance members, how the site sorts opportunities based on your preferences, and how Contena is different from the other job boards out there!

Key Takeaways

Who can take advantage of Contena as a platform

• Anyone interested in writing – even if they haven’t written in a long time
• Stay-at-home parents in search of flexibility
• Retired people seeking additional income
• Freelance writers with experience looking to find better jobs, resources

Why Contena was created

• Writers spending more time searching for leads than writing
• Provides a space where all high-quality writing jobs live

How Contena is different from other platforms

• The platform does the searching for quality jobs
• Freelancers set up alerts based on their skill set/interests
• Contena saves the freelancer time looking for leads

How Contena communicates potential leads to freelancers

• Delivered via email or text message
• Tailored to fit the freelancer’s specified preferences

The Contena team’s parameters for posting a job opportunity

• Must be well-paid, quality position
• All opportunities are remote
• Variety of full-time, part-time and contract work

The value Contena provides for freelancers

• Only forwards jobs aligned to your preferences
• Opportunities provide appropriate compensation
• Offers specific information regarding client expectations

What makes a great pitch

• Tailored intro explaining why you’re a great fit
• Two or three relevant writing samples
• Testimonials to bolster your credibility
• Call-to-action (i.e.: question or trial period offer)

The subscription plans Contena offers

• Gold Plan – portfolio and pitch review plus feedback on three writing samples
• Platinum Plan – unlimited, dedicated coaching
• Both offer access to Contena Academy

The most popular niches on the platform

• Lifestyle (travel, parenting, beauty, fitness/sports)
• Education

Qualities necessary for a freelancer to have success with Contena

• Flexibility
• Willingness to research

Amanda’s best advice for aspiring freelance writers

• Don’t put it off, especially if you’re stuck in a job you don’t love
• Jump in the deep end, knowing there is support available
• Don’t get discouraged – you’re not alone!

Resources

Laura’s Contena Tips

Connect with Amanda Scheibner

Contena

Email: [email protected]

Let’s say you have wisdom to share and a tribe that follows your work. How do you turn that into a thriving business? Today’s guest found a way to monetize her blog and ultimately walk away from her job in higher education to grow an online business and to spend more time with her family.

Amber Temerity is a work-from-home mom with two toddlers who has been blogging for nearly 20 years. In November of 2014, she hit a wall. Her job at a local college kept her away from her young children twelve hours a day and some weekends. Daycare was expensive, and Amber knew that her life needed to change. She launched the frugal living blog, Thrifty Guardian, and within five months she was earning enough to make the online business her full-time gig.

In July of 2016, Amber launched a second website, Embracing Temerity, which utilizes her skills as an efficiency strategist and social media marketing consultant to help business owners develop systems and generate revenue. Today she shares her best tips for budgeting, managing your time, and alleviating ‘mom guilt.’ Listen and learn how to ‘embrace temerity’ and monetize your online business!

Key Takeaways

How Amber monetized her blog

• Affiliate marketing
• eCourse: Life on a Budget
• One-on-one coaching
• Masterminds

Amber’s top budgeting tips

• Respect your time over money
• Track every debt and source of income
• Map out a plan to move from where you are now to financial freedom

Amber’s time management advice for parents

• Don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t get everything done in a day
• Ask, “What’s going to make me a better person tomorrow?”
• Focus on short-term goals by planning what you need to get done this week

Why Amber made the decision to send her kids to daycare twice a week

• Realized she had been ‘delusional’ with regard to how much she could accomplish with kids at home
• No family support nearby
• Daycare provides social outlet for children
• Amber can knock out content and plan social media those two days
• She can offer kids her full attention when they’re home with her

Amber’s guidance for parents considering a side hustle

• Keep the WHY in front of you with a vision board or post-it note
• When you doubt yourself, look back at the WHY
• Maintain focus by relishing in what you could accomplish in six months

The ideal design of a webinar

• Educational platform rather than a sales pitch
• Demonstrates instructor’s trustworthiness and expertise
• Provides a foundation of knowledge to build on
• Students walk away with value, wanting to learn more

Connect with Amber Temerity

Thrifty Guardian

Embracing Temerity