How to Increase Adsense Revenue

If you own a blog or a site, you would want to earn money from it. Google Adsense is the most common revenue system available at your disposal. Here are things you need to consider and be aware of if you are looking to make a decent amount for all your efforts.

Work Your Content to Your Advantage
Keyword stuffing is something Google frowns upon and if you are prone to that kind of content creation there is little wonder in why your Adsense revenue is on the red. The best way to work your content to your advantage is to write like you would normally write. Then, do your keyword research on the content you have written. After that try to tweak your content such that you can fit in the keyword into your content without letting it  become an intrusion.

Place Your Adsense Ads to Your Advantage
Adsense help page shows you various ways you can place your ads to your advantage. One thing I have had success with is including ads within my blog posts. This way, the ads showing are relevant to the the content and the probability of them getting clicked which translates to Adsense Revenue is high.

Gain Traffic to Your Advantage
Do no try the link for link services or pay exorbitant amounts of money for traffic. These do not work and you will end up with a high frustration level than you are already. The keywords in your content would help you get traffic and you can promote your links and ideas via social networking platforms where real readers will click to read more about what you are offering. Less is more. If you start flooding these sites with your links, you will get banned.


Revise Your Adsense Ads to Your Advantage
Once you have you traffic and can see the results, you will need to revise and utilise what is working. For that, you need to be constantly checking where your entry points are and also the exit points. Moreover, you need to identify topics that are getting readers and topics that are getting readers out of your site as well. If you notice that certain ads are not contributing to your site readers you need to consider blocking them as well.

Try these and see if they work out. If you need more help,o drop me a line and I will respond at the earliest.

5 Ways to Stop Dreaming and Start Writing

We all have the tendency to put off something that we feel we need to do "now." It is strange that we feel so compelled by an idea, so great that we keep thinking about how great the idea is and do not do anything about it. I call this dreaming and dreaming itself is not going to out the words onto the papers (read blog, if you wish). So, let's look at 5 ways you can actually stop dreaming and start writing.

1) Focus on the Main Thing First

Sometimes, the very that holds us back is the thought. We think about an idea and start fantasising about it so much that we get into really intricate details. You could start thinking about what pictures you could use to really put your idea across. You could be thinking about where you can piblicize your work. You may even start jeopordizing your work by starting to think if it is at all worth it.

The main point here is that you have forgotten the main thing! Your Writing. You need to write. What you want to do with your writing and how you can enhance it, apart from all other "very important" thing are not as important as putting your ideas and thoughts into writing, first!

2) Fine Tune That Main Thing

Once you have written something, you need to fine tune it before you start adding the bells and whistles. You need to check the basics such as grammar, punctuation, spelling and the little details that could make your writing error free. What you want to call your work, such as coming up with title and subtitle or even the synopsis, can wait.

3) Do not Re-invent

If something you want to say has already been said, accept it! You need not re-invent the wheel unless you have something more compelling to say or you can say it in a more understanding or creative way. A little bit of research could help with this.

4) Tell Others What You are Doing

When you let people know what you are working on, you will tend to follow it through than when you keep the thoughts to yourself. This is proven to be true most of time, in my case. Actually what telling others will do is that it helps you to say your intention. That intention when spoken will become a reality as you have now made someone else a part of it.

5) Get Contacts

You may be working on a writing that requires professional input. Well, you will not know all the people in the world. However, there are people whom you know who could possibly put you across to the right contact.

In summary, a career in writing is only possible for those who are willing to take their dream  and make the most of it. To make your dream a rality, what actions have you taken? Feel free to comment.

Instant Success from Freelance Writing - Dream On

I don't want to sound negative but it is highly unlikely that you will attain overnight success by freelance writing. Freelancing is a slow and steady course. The harder and smarter you work your freelancing career, the better off you will be in the long run. I have spoken to a few of my freinds who aspire to be freelancer writers and when I ask them why, the instant success factor is always one of the first five reason they give for their aspiration. Well, being optimistic is one thing and facing the reality is quite another.

How do attain success in Freelance writing?

- Build your portfolio
No matter which freelance career you choose to be in (photography, writing, training etc) you need to build credible portfolio. This will showcase your best works. These works will market your freelacing ability to your prospective clients who will then decide how best you skills suit them.

- Build Relationship
Once you get the clients, you have to ensure that your build postive working relationship with them. Repeat work is essential for freelance success. You must source for new clients continuosly. However, retaining the clients you have worked with should be the priority as the length of time you have worked with a client will matter a lot to the earning potential of your freelancing career. When your client works with you for more than a project and likes your work, you will be in better position to re-negotiate your rates as well as ask for more work including work that you may be interested in but is not your niche. This helps you to buil up bundling services that will increase your earning potential manifold.

- Get References
Your relationship with your clients must be able to help you source for more work from them as well as those people they know. Asking for references should be on your priority list as well. Do not be intimidated or shy of asking your client for references. If your work is good and your client is satisfied there will be no issues getting references.

-Build a Team
As more and more work comes in, you will find it hard to keep track as well as satisfy all of them. As such, you will have to think of expasion. The final work must go through you. However, the ground work can be delegated or outsourced. This will help you accomplish more in lesser time increasing your earning potential manifold as well.

In summary, do not live in the illusion that you will be flying high by opting for a freelancing career. If you fail to treat this as your business, your freelancing career will be finished even before you start. Have postivie attitude and reach for your goals slowly and steadily. All the best and may you have all the success.

Is my Freelance Rate too high? - Know and Set Your Freelance Rates Right

Setting your freelance rates


Somehow I feel that every new freelancer faces the problem of setting their rates right. When I first started out, I had the same issue with setting my freelance writing rate as well. Therefore, I am speaking from experience. I am not saying that I have it figured it out by now. However, I roughly know what to charge for what and for which client now.

To some, it can be an extremely daunting task to figure out what to charge. You may feel that you will get short changed if you charge too low or you may lose assignments or even clients if you charge too high. Well, the chances are there for exploitation as well as loss of assignments and clients.

However, you are as good as your rate and you rate is as good as how you perceive your talent and specialisation to be. You have to make your own gauge and sell your skills accordingly. Here are some ways you can start deciding on what rate could be effective for you.



Start researching

The best way to do it is to ask around. There are various freelance writers’ forums where you can catch freelance writer’s discussing about their rates. When you join in or browse around, you will come across some users who seem to have “made it.” Take a look at their profile or their blogs (surely they will have it in their about me pages or their signatures) and check if they have any rates table.

You can also join freelance portals where many freelancers bid for various posted projects. This is a good way of finding what is the supply and what is the demand. If you are looking to build your portfolio and establish contacts, this is a good place to begin. From here, if you are comfortable, you can start small and then make your progress as your reviews and confidence grows. Freelance.com, GOFreelance, Elance and oDesk are platforms you can create an account at to start.

I started with Freelance.com and have written 300-500 word articles for mere $1. However, as the clients came back to me for more work, I knew that my style of writing and the quality of wok was appreciated. Thereby, I did not have any problem with increasing my rate with serious clients.

Now, how do I identify serious clients? You indicate that your rates are higher and they still stay with you because you provide quality service. Those are the serious clients. Anyone who runs when you say the rate is up is looking for cheap labour.



Understand your own needs

Each freelancer has his own needs, goals and milestones. You have to decide what are yours and work your rates accordingly. I believe you are in freelance business because of the lucrative market available and the possibility of having income in the short and long run. Therefore, you have to decide how much you are comfortable earning every month and set your rates accordingly. In order to do this, you have to decide how much work you are willing to accept with content research, writing, proofreading, editing, re-writing etc all included. With this, you can work backwards and find a comfortable rate.

Suppose you want to earn $1000 per month and you are willing to accept 10 assignments from each of your 5 clients for the current month. That would be 50 assignments for $1000. That would bring you a rate of $20/assignment. This is a rough gauge as you will also have to adjust according to the word count, amount of research, type of writing etc.



Build Relationships

Starting small should only be a priority if you are good at building relationships. Understand the client’s requirements first before embarking on the project. Understand the client’s needs as well as the client. There are various types of clients and you can read all about them here.

Be a Professional

You have to give quality service in terms on-time delivery of the assignments free of grammar, spelling and structure errors. Make your invoice look professional. Have a logo, a disclaimer and terms or service clearly stated. Follow up professionally. Ask questions about the assignments and provide valuable feedback. Behave professionally and your worth will shine through.



Summary

It is a popular notion that once you start small you will remain small. Not really. Why? This is because, you need to set foot in the freelance writer’s industry and if your rates are high even before you prove your worth you will not be given a chance. However, take care that you do not remain small for a long time.

The Writer's Block Solution

Writer's block can strike anyone. While those who have never faced it wonder how anyone can be affected so much that there is block of idea flow, those who have experienced it cringe that it should never happen to them ever again. The feelings are strange. One moment you are all set and ready to start writing and then you feel that you just cannot write or nothing you write seem to be satisfying!

The result of this, most of the time, are anger, frustration, unwanted stress. The after effects of these would be an unhealthy mind till the writer's block is removed. The causes of writer's block could be anything. So long as you know how to deal with the situation when you are faced with one could be much beneficial to you than anything. I have written an article based on this. It is entitled "How to deal with Writer's Block"

A quick runthrough of what you can do are as follows. For elaboration, read the full article form the link above.

1. Keep a Word Journal
2. Draw Inspiration from Within
3. Engage in Research
4. Review Past Works
5. Entertain Yourself
6. Take a Nap

Writer's block need not be a tiring or frustrating event. In fact, a writer's block could be a blessing in disguise. Try the recommendations and share what you find. I would love to hear from you :)

The Biggest Mistake a Freelance Writer MUST avoid

There are many ways you can come across as an unprofessional writer to your potential long term client. What can this do to your freelance writing career? It could end your writing career there and then. I may be exaggerating here. However, it is true that some of the mistakes freelance writers make can be completely avoided if only some form of proofreading and editing was done after writing. You would have if you are serious about your work.

So, what is that one biggest mistake that a freelance writer makes that can make the freelance writer look unprofessional and lax about his work?


SPELLING MISTAKES!

This is actually quite commonsensical. You wouldn’t think otherwise as you would have been told time and again from your various English Teachers that to watch your spelling. You have been spelling words since you can remember. Now that you have made the choice of freelance writing as your hobby or your career, you have to give that advice a listening ear.

You may not have had the luxury of a spell checker in the past. Now that you do have that luxury, there is no reason for you to come up with a written piece that is full of spelling errors!

Therefore, ensure that you avoid this biggest mistake in your freelance writing career. Some client may not mind your mistake. If you happen to find them, it is good for you. Most clients who are serious about their reputation will come after you if you hand in work that consists spelling errors. Mistakes do happen and if you have done your share of proofreading and editing, you are still okay. However, if you have not taken precaution from your side, this is going to be a habit that you will find very hard to break. And that is going to cost you a lot in the long run.

Freelance Clients - The Light Handed Lovable Type

Freelance Writing Success Mantra : "Know your clients to know what they want and give them exactly what they want!"

The Light Handed – Lovable Type
How to find one

Light handed clients forms between 50-70% of the client base I have handled so far. And they are very easy to come by in a very lucrative article writing niche rather than any other form of writing. These clients have very simple requirements. Read the description and you will see that only a skeletal requirement will be given. Also, these clients tend to give a lot of freedom to write on the topic in whichever angle you choose as long as you turn in quality work.

Their pay could vary. Some of the light handed clients pay the minimum as they feel their expectation is kept at minimum itself. Some of them pay really well and even provide ongoing work as long as you are interested and turn in quality work. I have experienced that such clients tend to provide increments without asking as well.

How to deal with one

Dealing with light handed client is quite simple. Look at the pay and look at the requirement and do your best keeping these two factors in mind and you will do well. Keep your communication to the minimum as they would prefer it that way unless otherwise stated. If you keep emailing them they will reconsider hiring you for long time. They prefer the hand-off method. The light handed client is okay as long as they do not spot any major mistakes in your work.

How to write for one

Read the client requirements carefully and ask if you are not sure about anything like you would for any other assignment from any other client. Keep your spelling and grammar intact. Some of these clients are not very fussy about sentence structures. They are happy as long as your work passes the basic requirement of readability.

Understand their requirement and work on them with as little mistake as possible and you are safe. This does not mean sub-standard work. Please do not read or understand them in that way. Light handed clients do not sit on the neck of the freelancer and demand every detail about the hours they put into the work or demand reports every day. Their demands are as simple as what is described to you when they hand you their work.

Is it good or bad?

Working for a light handed client could be good or bad depending on your agenda. If you are a freelancer who is looking for a client who gives you a free hand in doing the job, light handed client is your man. If you are looking for a client whom you want to build a long lasting working relationship with, light handed client is your choice.

However, the hands off approach by the client could mean that there is very little opportunity for you to learn about them or their business. You are very unlikely to find out how your work is being used. You will not be able to grow as a freelance writer working under such a client. There might exceptions though.

Freelance clients - The Heavy Handed Perfectionist Type

Freelance Writing Success Mantra : "Know your clients to know what they want and give them exactly what they want!"


The heavy handed –Perfectionist Type

How to find one

If you are given a contract or you landed the job based on the bidding system from a freelance portal, you can make out this type of client. The contract or the job description from a heavy handed client will come with every tiny bit of details addressed from spelling to grammar and from daily reporting to the presentation of the final report.

If you are not able to make out from the freelance contract or the project description, you will find out after you turn in your first assignment.

How to deal with one

You have to be extremely cautious when dealing with such a client as they tend to be very detail oriented and will go through your work with microscope before they release your payment. Also, be prepared for changes in your writing as the heavy handed client wants the final product to be as perfect as possible.

If the pay is good, your work must be good as well and there is no harm in the client being heavy handed. However, if the client is paying $1/500 words, this type of approach is not tolerable for most freelance writers.

How to write for one

Be very careful if you want repeat projects. Watch your spelling, grammar and sentence structure. Be especially mindful about the deadline. Never even think about handing in the project past the deadline. If you are asked for progress reports at specific milestones or time, be sure to hand it in.

Is it good or bad?

Working as a freelance writer for a heavy-handed client is an experience in itself. If you are paid reasonably well for such an approach you will definitely start learning some of the characteristics of a super freelance writer! You will be more conscientious about the way you write and be more disciplined in meeting your deadlines, if not anything else. Overall, your writing will improve.

The downside is that if the pay is not good enough for to tolerate this type, you may feel overwhelmed and apprehensive. Most importantly you would never want to work for this client ever again.