On this Writer's Wednesday podcast, I take a trip down memory lane to tell you how I landed my first freelance writing client. Landing that client was a game-changer as it gave me the confidence to go pitch more clients that eventually led me to find success as a full-time freelance writer. 

A question I get asked all the time is if Upwork is a scam. I have debunked that rumor many times: on my blog, on YouTube and even a recent podcast. I know that Upwork does work because it is how I found my first paying writing client!

If you are a new freelance writer, landing a client on Upwork is a great place to gain confidence and further your writing skillset. While they do take a percentage of the earnings, it is wise to keep in mind, that they too are running a business. Upwork can be a great place to create your free profile and start searching for writing jobs in your niche today.

In this podcast episode, I debunk the myth that Upwork is a scam for freelance writers and talk about how you can gain momentum as a new writer by finding your first freelance gig on Upwork. 

Why Some Freelancers Think Upwork is a Scam​

There are two main reasons that the myth that Upwork is a scam exists.

1. Upwork takes a percentage of the money you make. This is a finders fee.
2.  A variety of jobs are posted and some are very low paying.

Upwork is a business and to host, maintain their site and more, they need to charge a finder's fee for those using the platform to find a job. This covers their expenses.

When you encounter a job that is too low paying for the service you offer, remember you do not have to apply to that job! There are plenty of other higher-paying jobs to choose from.

How I Found Writing Momentum with Upwork​

While I don't advocate staying on Upwork long term as a freelance writer, I found my first client on Upwork and it gave me both the confidence and momentum to pursue freelance writing full time. 

Joining the Upwork community is relatively easy. Sign up for an account, fill out your profile, upload samples of your work and fill out work authorizations. From there, you can start applying to jobs and pitching clients. Upwork is a great place to explore what your rate as a freelance should be and learn how to pitch potential writing clients. 

I love that Upwork gave me the momentum to stay on track with my writing career. Winning breeds winning and we all need to start somewhere. 

On this edition of Writing Wednesday, I talk about the reasons why I love freelance writing. If any of these reasons resonate with you but you are not even sure what freelance writing is, be sure to check out episode 44, where I tackle that exact topic: "What is Freelance Writing". 

After I quit my job, I tried almost every online side hustle from flea market flipping to blogging. I learned a lot of lessons along the way, but the best one that stuck was the belief that freelance writing is the best job in the world. You can literally start today and get paid relatively quickly! If you are feeling stuck in your 9 to 5, or are looking for a way to make supplemental your income, freelance writing is the perfect side hustle.

We live in a fast-moving society that prioritizes instant gratification and freelance writing can be that idea that both vindicates your ideas and pays the bills. Here are the reasons I love freelance writing:

1. You can get paid quickly
2.  You can control your destiny
3. You can work remotely - anywhere!
4. You pick your clients, how many hours you work and when you want to work
5. You learn more about yourself and how to run a business

In this episode, I take listeners back to the beginning and share my journey from being an unhappy 9-5 employee to becoming a part-time blogger and then finally now a full-time freelance writer. 

I felt like it was important to share this journey as often when you see people online making money, it appears easy and that success happens overnight. Most people, though, don't make money right out of the gate! For me, it was discovering first that I wanted to help people learn about finances. That developed into writing a blog part-time, but that came with its own set of challenges due to lack of commitment and time. I discovered though that where there is a will there is a way.

After I left my 9 to 5 job to pursue what I thought would be blogging full time, I discovered that actually freelance writing about topics I was interested in and then getting paid for them was actually more of my niche. I have learned so many lessons since then about writing, about growing a business and becoming an entrepreneur. 

All along the way though, I have never lost my firstmost desire to help others learn, apply and then experience success in life. I truly believe everyone has something unique to offer, and if you are stuck in a 9 to 5 job that despite the great pay or benefits, leaves you unfulfilled, then it might be time to explore a new career path in freelance writing. 

I am really excited to share more of my journey with listeners during Monday's with Michael and then dive even more into the details of freelancing on Writing Wednesdays.

In this writing Wednesday episode, I tackle the question I am frequently asked: "What is Freelance Writing?".

I answer that question as well as other frequently asked questions, such as:

• What is the difference between blogging and freelance writing?
• How did I find my writing niche?
• How do I find clients?
• How do I get paid?

Being a 'pen for hire' is a great job for any freelancer as it does not take a lot of money, you can get started quickly and you can make financial gains rather easily. I actually consider it the best job or side hustle for any aspiring online entrepreneurs.

I foresee content reigning king for years to come which means brands will be looking for content! That is the best part of being a freelance writer! You can become an expert writer in whatever niche you are interested in. You can get paid to write about hobbies you are passionate about or topics that interest you.

I get to write about my favorite pastime golf and also about motivation and entrepreneurship - and I get paid to do it! Freelance writing is the perfect opportunity for those that want to control their destiny. If you want more money, you need to just either do two things, raise your prices, get more clients, or both. Writing content is not just a fad! It is the number one way to make money online, all you have to do is just start. 

In this Monday's with Michael episode, I share why my blog failed and in reality why most blogs do!

I don't regret the lessons I learned along the way, though, and it has led me now to become a successful freelance writer.  Blogging has evolved and there is both an art and science to becoming a successful blogger. I learned the following tips of 'what not to do' when starting a blog.

Here are some of the biggest mistakes bloggers make: 

• Don't use your blog as a personal diary
• Don't assume it will be a success overnight
• Don't make your blog about you
• Don't think you will rank organically without knowing SEO
• Don't assume people will find you without any promotion
• Don't push out short form, not good quality content 2x a week 
• Don't assume that you can do everything
• Don't think that you can do this without spending money

Do you have an online course but can't figure out how to sell it? If this sounds like you and you want to hear an incredibly inspiring entrepreneur story, you'll love this interview with Casey Zeman.

In this episode you'll learn:

• How Casey went from broke actor to millionaire entrepreneur
• Why he quit acting to build an online business
• How he made his first $200,000 selling webinars and what prompted him to start Easy Webinar
• Strategies to help you build an online business by selling your skills to people around the world via online courses and coaching

Have you wanted to start an online business but have no idea where to begin? Are you worried about the fear of failure? Are you letting your lack of tech skills get in the way of actually launching your idea to the world?

If this sounds like you, this interview with Jacqueline Kincer will help you speed up success. In this episode, you will learn:

• Jacqueline's amazing comeback story
• How to overcome fears of entrepreneurship
• How to take your business online from offline
• Why you should just start (even if you're not ready)
• How to manage your life & family with your online business

 

Do you want to learn how to leave your 9-5, travel the world, and impact people all over the world with your writing? Plus, learn how to write a book??

If so, I think you will love this inspirational interview with Anthony Moore. He's the only guest I've had twice on the show and really enjoyed learning more about his story. 

Anthony Moore is an author and coach, focusing on personal development and self-improvement. He has an M.A. in Psychology and is the author of What Extraordinary People Know (2019).    His incredible story shows what is possible if you believe in yourself. It also makes it more and more clear that you don't have to sit around in a 9-5 job you hate anymore.    Use Anthony's success to take your life and business to the next level by following your passions! Resources Mentioned in the Show

Check out the resources mentioned in this show:

**Read his outstanding work on Medium

**Learn more about getting started freelance writing

**Launch your freelance writing career in 90 days with “Freelance to 5K“