It is vital to have a website if you want to sell your writing. There are many writers who have a one- or 2-page website for their individual books, but this is an expense you probably don’t want or need when you start out. Having all your writing, books, links to articles and publications, podcasts, and YouTube interviews on one website, is easier to manage. And of course, you can use one evergreen link (wherever your writing is published) to drive traffic to your own space – your website. The internet will also be the first place someone will turn to when they are looking for the solution your books and writing offer. And if your website is fully SEO’d (Search Engine Optimised), your website will pop up and your writing will be found.
Online content
Online publications are starting to realise that offering content free must change. If they want quality content, they need to pay their freelance writers.
There are many online publications that do still offer their content free, but this tends to be repurposed content and not new pieces.
Writing Opportunities Considerations
All the writing you put out there is marketing. You are using it all to attract people to your ideas, concepts, experience, and knowledge. And if you have a book, writing will give people a taster of what they can expect in your book (or books). Thus, all your writing needs to be carefully considered as marketing.
The first step to marketing is to work out who your ICA (Ideal Customer Avatar) or IR (Ideal Reader) is.
Ask yourself questions to explore:
- Who is your ideal reader?
- Where do they spend their time online?
- What physical publications do they read?
- What problem does your business/book solve?
You can delve a lot deeper, but this gives you a basic idea of where to start. Once you have a clear picture of your ICA or IR, you can find the relevant publications to submit your work.
Traditional Publications
Find the traditional publications that your IR would enjoy or are enjoying reading. Do a search online or in the physical publication for ways you contribute. They will also have guidelines for submitting your writing. And of course, most of them have an online presence too. So there are many opportunities to explore traditional publications.
Online publications
Niche Websites
Online publications don’t pay as much as traditional print, but they will give you an opportunity to link back to your own website, which is invaluable. This is also great for their own SEO, so please don’t forget to make this part of your agreement. Many will pay you as soon as they accept your piece of writing, even if they don’t publish it right away. Others will only pay you once they publish it. This is always a nice surprise if payment pops into your account weeks or months after submission.
Search for relevant publications that fit your niche, online or you can visit Writers’ Market.
Corporate Websites
This is an excellent opportunity to get yourself seen as an expert in your field. And the money is much better than traditional publications. But, it may be a lot more difficult to get into this writing world. These opportunities may rely on the people you know in the industry. If you have worked in this industry, or have expertise in the field, it is worth looking for these writing opportunities.
Email Newsletters
Many organisations send regular email newsletters out to their communities. And these, of course, also need content. It is worth subscribing to newsletters from organisations that fit your niche and your IR to get a feel for what they are sending out. Once you feel confident you can contribute within their expectations, contact the editor by submitting a professional query online to ask for guidelines for submissions.
Use your Blog
Remember that a blog on your website is hugely important!
- A blog shows your expertise in your field
- It gives you credibility, especially if you have been blogging for a while. Start today if you don’t have a blog to build that history (Read ‘How to Start Blogging’)
- Potential employers will search online to see what kind of work you have produced. Use your blog to showcase your writing skills
- Your blog is free marketing. The Worldwide Web is your market! Ensure each blog post has a CTA (Call to Action) to sign up to your email list, buy your book, read an article on another website, watch a YouTube video with you in it, or listen to a podcast where you were a guest.
You can use your writing to make an income. It will take time to build up your writing portfolio, but it is worth pursuing to ensure your skills, expertise, and knowledge reap a reward.
Start to sell your writing as soon as you can.
