What’s the key to creating a contract writing web site that get’s observed?
You recognize…a super consumer lands in your author web site. And also you’ve received all the suitable stuff there to get that individual to name, electronic mail, or join to speak about freelance work.
As a contract author, a terrific web site can:
- Generate freelance writing leads
- Develop your community
- Exhibit your portfolio
- Allow you to stand out as the author in your area of interest
…whilst you sleep.
Likelihood is fairly good you already know web site helps professional freelance writers stand out.
However what does your author web site appear to be?
Possibly you retain placing it off or keep away from giving it an improve since you’re not a graphic designer, net developer or tech genius.
Sound acquainted?
If you happen to aren’t certain the place to start out or the right way to enhance your on-line presence, you’re in luck.
Listed below are 5 necessities to get your freelance writing web site up and working to face out, transfer up, and earn extra
1. Determine your freelance writing area of interest
Whenever you resolve to throw up a author web site, one of many largest errors new freelancers make is attempting to serve each sort of consumer in each business.
FYI…It doesn’t work very nicely. Why? As a result of folks usually don’t seek for generic options to particular issues.
Prospects are going to seek for a contract author with particular expertise of their area of interest or business like this:
- [Niche] freelance author
- finance freelance author
- healthcare freelance author
- health freelance author
- engineering freelance author
- know-how freelance author
- start-up freelance author
- SaaS freelance author
If you happen to’re able to construct your author web site (otherwise you received began with the generic strategy), now is an effective time to outline your area of interest or niches (concentrate on only a couple).
When you establish your area of interest, it makes constructing your author web site and advertising and marketing your self as a contract author so much simpler.
Right here’s an instance: Freelance author Mandy Ellis stands out to potential shoppers by area of interest AND location (however she will be able to nonetheless write for shoppers outdoors Austin and in several niches).
Tip: Outline your freelance writing niches and superb shoppers. And check out different top-ranking freelancer websites in your area of interest to get concepts.
Upon getting some concepts in place in your write web site, then what?
2. Select a site identify + internet hosting in your freelance web site
As a way to get a contract writing web site up and working, you first must have a area identify and internet hosting.
Area identify
It’s what you name your author web site.
If YourName.com is on the market, I’d advocate going with that. You will discover out if it’s accessible right here, or test along with your internet hosting firm (extra on that in a only a bit).
If YourName.com isn’t accessible, there’s a lot of different naming conventions you need to use to decide on your area identify, like this:
Tip: Keep in mind, there are already thousands and thousands of internet sites on-line, so the area identify you need in your author web site won’t be accessible. Preserve attempting till you discover one that you simply like.
Hosting
It’s the service supplier with all of the software program and tech instruments wanted in your author web site to be seen on the Web.
And there’s a lot of them to select from like Bluehost or GreenGeeks.
Tip: Not all internet hosting corporations are created equal.
Attempt discovering a internet hosting supplier with…
- All of the instruments it’s essential to construct a terrific author web site (templates, weblog, touchdown pages, search engine marketing, plug-ins, drag-and-drop enhancing, portfolio options, and many others)
- Glorious customer support
With the area identify and net host in place, now you can transfer on.
3. Construct your freelance web site with WordPress
What software program do you have to use to construct your author web site?
There are a number of completely different CMS (content material administration techniques) you need to use to construct and design your author web site, like:
My software program suggestion to construct your author web site…WordPress.
There’s a few essential causes WordPress will get my stamp of approval for constructing your freelance author web site:
- It’s very simple to make use of, particularly for newbies.
- All types of templates, plug-ins, tutorials and paperwork can be found to assist construct your author web site with WordPress.
- If you happen to need assistance with the technical half of establishing your write web site, WordPress is essentially the most widely-used software program for net design. So that you received’t have an issue discovering an reasonably priced designer or tech-savvy individual that will help you.
- Running a blog. Each WordPress theme (extra on this in only a sec) has a built-in weblog function able to roll that you need to use to create reader-friendly content material. Running a blog might be an effective way to get visitors to your web site and appeal to potential freelance writing shoppers in your area of interest.
What’s a WordPress theme?
It’s principally a template you need to use to create your author web site. And there’s hundreds of them.
Listed below are a few themes and plugins that work nicely to simply arrange your freelance web site:
Tip: It doesn’t must take days, weeks, or years to create your author web site. You possibly can construct a useful author web site in just some hours. So put aside a block of time sooner or later and get it achieved. Then maintain it up to date.
4. Create content material in your freelance web site
You’ve received your area identify, internet hosting, and fundamental design components discovered. Now it’s time to create content material in your author web site.
That is the place a whole lot of freelance writers get caught.
Right here’s the factor. Your author web site doesn’t must be good. It’s going to vary. A fundamental author web site is healthier than no web site.
Imperfect motion is at all times higher than no motion.
What ought to your author web site embrace?
Begin along with your homepage. Write the content material, embrace an expert photograph of your self, and publish it. Keep in mind, you possibly can add extra pages later.
Frequent pages in your freelance web site could embrace:
Residence
That is the place you make first impressions, outline your area of interest, ship your elevator speech, and get prospects keen on working with you.
Take a look at the house web page for freelance B2B and SaaS copywriter Michal Eisikowitz
About
It’s not simply all enterprise or a resume-style checklist of your work expertise…Boring!
Purchasers wish to know you’re an actual individual with likes, pursuits, hobbies, and different accomplishments. Your About web page is a good place to get prospects to know, like and belief you.
Exhibit your persona in your About web page like freelancer Kayla Hollatz (take a look at these enjoyable information!).
Portfolio
Exhibit your finest work. Prospects at all times ask for examples, proper?
Make it simple for them to see what you’ve achieved. (Don’t neglect to replace your portfolio if you full a brand new challenge.)
Right here’s how freelance author Amy Hardison White arrange her portfolio web page.
Companies
What sort of writing providers do you provide?
Your area of interest + the kind of writing providers you provide (weblog posts, case research, white paper writing, Fb advertisements, and many others.) is one other method to stand out.
Right here’s how freelance author Kristi Hines does it.
Weblog
Operating a distinct segment weblog in your author web site like freelancer Jamie Johnson might be an effective way to construct authority in your area of interest and appeal to potential freelance shoppers. She even wrote about it: How you can Get Freelance Writing Leads From Your Private Weblog
Contact
Your contact information could embrace your electronic mail deal with, telephone quantity, contact kind, social media channels, and many others.
Make it simple for potential freelance shoppers to contact you want Laura MacPherson.
Testimonials
Present don’t inform. Together with testimonials in your author web site helps construct belief and authority when prospects take a look at your web site.
Right here’s how freelancer Gary Schenkel does it.
Different pages to think about
You may additionally wish to embrace a listing of shoppers you’ve labored with, continuously requested questions, or gross sales pages to buy books or programs.
5. Leverage on-line advertising and marketing to drive visitors to your author web site
You’ve received your freelance author web site arrange. Now what?
Strong advertising and marketing methods will assist you land extra freelance shoppers and get further visitors to your web site.
Listed below are some advertising and marketing methods to get extra shoppers to your author web site:
- Share hyperlinks to your web site on social media. Begin with LinkedIn. It’s the place you’re probably to search out freelance writing shoppers. Share a hyperlink to your web site, latest weblog publish, or testimonial revealed in your web site. Utilizing different social media networks like Twitter, Fb, and even Instagram, will help drive visitors to your web site.
- Optimize your web site for search engine marketing (search engine marketing). Correct search engine marketing for a author web site can’t be overstated. When you’ve got your search engine marketing setup correctly, then your web site goes to get listed and ranked sooner and better. This can be a nice method to get observed organically in search outcomes and an ongoing method to market your author web site.
- Construct an e-mail checklist: One other nice method to market your author web site is to construct an electronic mail checklist. With a listing of subscribers, you possibly can promote your freelance writing providers, share helpful data, present worth, and keep linked to show prospects into shoppers.
Construct a author web site to draw extra freelance shoppers
Constructing a contract writing web site to draw shoppers doesn’t must be a troublesome job. When you’ve got the suitable instruments and data, you possibly can actually get it achieved in a day for little or no cash.
It’s a essential a part of advertising and marketing your self as a contract author to get discovered on-line, join with prospects, and make a residing writing.