5-step plan for getting paid to write

You can do this … [The Writer’ s Life]( March 29, 2024 "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail" – Benjamin Franklin Here we go, {NAME} … If you've yet to launch your writing business … or you're not thrilled with the one you have and want a "do-over" … Today, I'm going to give you a simple 5-step plan to get you moving. It's the same one we'll walk through as part of our [Launch Your Writer's Life in a Day](. (Important note: Enrollment ends today … If you haven't registered, go here now to grab your spot and get 90 days of support AFTER the event!) We'll be covering more business-building strategies during your training … but these first five steps are the starting point. As you'll see, it's nothing complicated. There's no "secret sauce." And you don't have to invest a lot of money to get started. You just need two things: - The ability to make some key decisions. - The ability to follow through on those decisions. Yes, that means there is work involved … But you're launching a writing business that could be your source of income for as long as you want it to be … So, it's worth the effort, right? Let's dive in … Step 1: Establish Your Proof of Concept The path to your writer's life is paved with numerous milestones all along the way. And a big one early on is your first monetary goal for your writing. This is not your financial goal for the year, or even the month … it's just a check with a number on it that will give you confidence and motivation to move forward. We call it your "proof of concept" because it proves to you that the copywriting opportunity is real and is a viable career path for you. Maybe it's $300 for a blog post you've written … Or receiving TWO $500 payments from the same client, solidifying your confidence that you're good at what you do. Or maybe it's a $1,500 retainer that allows you to obtain predictable income from your writing. There's no right answer — What number comes to mind? Don't second guess it — just write it down … And then move on to the next step, so you can create a plan to achieve it … and grow it … in the coming months. Remember, it's all about decisions and follow-through … Step 2: Determine the Service You'll Provide Now that you have your proof of concept — it's time to determine the BEST SKILL you can learn quickly to satisfy the goal. Notice I didn't not say services … we just need one skill to get that first paycheck. If your proof of concept is a simple $300 … $500 … even $1,000 … you'll be able to achieve it with a simple email series … blog posts … or an e-newsletter. Can you achieve it with other projects? Absolutely … If you already have acquired an in-demand writing skill … or you've purchased a training from AWAI that teaches you something other than the ones I listed above … by all means, go forward with it. Again, the goal here is decision and speed. But if you're just starting out and need help deciding on a skill, those are three projects you can learn to write — and get good at writing — fast. So, pick a project, get what you need to learn it, and move on to the next step … Step 3: Determine the Market You Will Serve Now that you've determined the writing skill you'll offer, it's time to think about who you want to write for … and what you want to write about. In other words — what market do you want to serve? The good news is — it can be about virtually anything, because there's not an industry, product, market, or "niche" in the world where copywriting doesn't come into play. But this step can be challenging for new writers — because with so many choices, it's easy to get stuck wondering which is the best niche for you. If you're signing up for [Launch Your Writer's Life in a Day](, we'll make sure you feel confident in your decision. That one session will be an important and liberating experience. But either way, remember, your niche is never "written in stone." We're just making a quick decision to achieve your proof of concept, so you can gain the confidence you need to keep going. You can always change down the road, 100% confident that any skills you'll have learned can easily be applied to any niche you ultimately decide on. Now that you have your (first!) niche, we can move on to something a lot of new writers should do, but don't … Step 4: Create Your Identity Statement You wouldn't open a small business in your hometown without putting up a sign that lets potential customers know what you're offering … And the same goes for your freelance writing business. Your identity statement is like your sign … It clearly and simply explains what you write, who you write for, and the value you bring. But it's as much for you as it is for the businesses and clients who will be looking to hire you … Because once you commit and self-identify as the professional you strive to be (even if you're just starting out) … You're far more likely to achieve your goal than had you not! It also gives you the confidence and clarity to move on to our final step … Step 5: Choose Your Plan for Landing Clients Of all the worries new writers have, landing that "first client" tops the list. So, the faster we get it done, the better … Because once you do it the first time, the mystique is gone, and you simply replicate the action again and again. Now there are literally dozens of ways to get clients ([we cover 26 ways here]() … It's built into every training we teach here AWAI … AND we have a job board (WritersWanted.com) with thousands of job listings that comes free with almost every program we offer too. But the client-getting strategy that will work best for YOU is the one that you'll do. 😉 My personal recommendation? LinkedIn … Over the past couple of years, it has become the #1 way for new writers to get clients. We have a [proven system for using LinkedIn]( in our catalog thanks to business-building expert Ilise Benun, and it's the method she'll be teaching [during our event next week](. But whether you use LinkedIn or one of the other 25 methods you'll find above, you want a plan you can use again and again to attract your ideal clients. Again, there's no "right answer" … so pick one to get started and see it through. And that's it! Like I said, no secret sauce … Just decision-making and action. Now there's more that comes after, sure … And during [Launch Your Writer's Life in a Day](, we're also going to cover onboarding clients, so that you handle projects like a pro … and give you an action plan you can follow for the next three months. But even if you decide not to do the training … You now have a framework for moving forward with your writing business. The keys to success are now decisiveness and action. If you get stuck at any stage, reach out. We're here, always ready to help! I hope you have a wonderful weekend … And if you'd like us to help you with the above plan, I hope you'll [sign up for the training](. To your success (always), Rebecca Matter President AWAI How to Get Free Stuff as a Writer Imagine scoring free vacations … dinners out … gym equipment … house repairs … relaxing spa getaways … Barefoot Writers have a hidden avenue to land incredible bonuses — at zero cost … On top of enjoying total career freedom. Discover how it's done with our special report, 130 Amazing Perks and Freebies for Barefoot Writers (and How to Get Them!) — yours free with an $11 subscription to Barefoot Writer Magazine. [Details Here]( TODAY! Get all this for $1 … The Professional Writers' Alliance (PWA) takes the stress out of running your writing business. With ready-to-use business forms, templates, and checklists … VIP job board access … networking opportunities … and a mountain of tips, tactics, and "been there, done that" advice from working freelance writers … You'll minimize the "unbillable" hours you spend working on your business and maximize your time writing — and getting paid. [Claim Your $1 Access Here]( What's Hot at AWAI … 🤑 [LAST CHANCE: Launch your Writer's Life in a day with this!]( 🤯 [Writer confidence from three little letters.]( 🤩 [From stress to peace: Schoolteacher-turned-copywriter finds happiness in third career.]( New retainer … [Social media post about client signing six-month retainer] Congrats, Michele! A six-month retainer is huuuge news! Have your own story to share? Email us at mysuccess@awai.com, or [post it over in the Facebook group](, so we can celebrate your win too! Featured Jobs You can find these jobs and thousands more on [WritersWanted.com](: --------------------------------------------------------------- Direct Mail Copy Writer (Health Insurance experience) – Emil Panzarino Contractor, Remote As a Copywriter you will be responsible for creating persuasive and engaging copy for direct mail campaigns targeting various demographics within various industries, but largely within the health insurance market. --------------------------------------------------------------- Military Content Writer – Naval Aviation (enlisted) – Kaplan Part-time, Remote Create content in employer provided web portal which provides in-depth coverage of material on Navy Wide Advancement Exam bibliography. --------------------------------------------------------------- Marketing Content Writer – SWBC Full-time, San Antonio, TX In this role, bring your industry marketing copywriting skills, writing both long and short content while advertising SWBC's wins, including brochures, videos, blogging, market content and trends and social media copy. --------------------------------------------------------------- Trouble viewing this email? 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