I Need Your Help
So I finally did it. I wrote a book. And the second draft is almost done. Yeah, I can’t believe it either.
With four years of blog posts in the archives, I know it’s hard to find stuff on my blog. And it’s not in a step-by-step format since I write about whatever is top of my mind at the time. So I turned my blog posts into a book that will be published in the April/May timeframe. I am really excited at being able to help more writers make a high income while building a business that works for their strengths and their life. And I am planning on donating the profits to the ASJA Writer’s Emergency Assistance Fund to help writer’s going through a crisis.
But, I have a problem. It’s keeping me up at night. Causing me not to get any work done because it’s all I can think about. And I’m driving my writer friends (especially Stephanie and Liz) nuts with my obsession with coming up with a title. (Special shoutout to Pamela who spent our entire lunch yesterday looking up words on Google with me.)
So I am turning to you for help before my friends stop speaking to me. Since you—writers looking to build or grow a freelance content marketing business—are my target audience, I thought you might be able to help me fine tune my ideas. If I end up going with your suggestion, then you’ll get an acknowledgement in my book, a free copy of the book, my undying gratitude, and a glass of wine (or whatever drink you prefer) if I ever meet you in person.
I have five different variations I am tossing around. But each one is missing a word or not quite right or something. Nothing as made me jump around in my kitchen and shout “WHOOO HOOO.” It also needs to be a word or phrase that I would actually say. A fantastic suggestion included Kick Ass, which I love, but isn’t really a fit for my personality. Although I have been trying to sneak my new favorite word crap-ton (as in “crap-ton of money) into the title, but have decided that I don’t want my brand to be the “crap-ton” brand.
Feel free to give any ideas or suggestions or anything. Even if it’s not exactly right, it’s very possible it might inspire the right word to magically pop into my brain. I love the second part of the title (huge thanks to Liz for brainstorming with me on the phone and coming up with the perfect phrases) so I’m probably not changing that.
The other thing to keep in mind is that I might write more books for other audience, such as a generic one for freelancers and people moving from Full-Time to Freelance. So I would LOVE to have an awesome word or phrase that brands myself and the books. Something catchy, different and authentic to me. Whatever I decide is going to be associated with me forever and I really want something that I love.
Variation 1
The Freelance Content Marketing Writer Roadmap [Or Other Word]: Find Great Clients, Make Lots of Money and Build a Business You Love
I like this, but don’t love it. I’ve also tossed around Blueprint (another shoutout to Liz). But none are unique or branded to me.
Variation 2
The Six-Figure Freelance Content Marketing Writer: Find Great Clients, Make Lots of Money and Build a Business You Love
This is another one that I like, but don’t love. There are already other six figure books (most notably the fabulous book Six-Figure Freelancing by Kelly James that I used to get started as a freelancer) and I would love something more original. My super smart writer friend Gwen suggests using a money word at the beginning since people want to earn more money and I talk honestly about money. But I can’t find the right word.
Variation 3
The [Insert Adjective] Freelance Content Marketing Writer: Find Great Clients, Make Lots of Money and Build a Business You Love
This is probably my favorite format, if I could only find the right word. My current favorite is Super Successful. I want something that describes the place in your career where you are making a lot of money, enjoying your job and having balance in your life. Words that are in the right space, but not the right word include authentic, happy, thriving, prosperous, stubborn, determined. I also like the meaning behind ‘whole-hearted’ because I think that you have to put your whole self into your business for it to work.
Variation 4
You Can Be a Super Successful Freelance Content Marketing Writer: Find Great Clients, Make Lots of Money and Build a Business You Love
My friend Susan suggested this title on Freelance Success (a wonderful paid online group with fantastic job leads and a super supportive community). She pointed out that my blog and style is personal and conversational. So this title speaks directly to the person. I like this a lot, but am not sure it’s enough of a brand. But I do like ‘super successful’ and it is totally something I would say.
Variation 5
The Insider’s Guide to Being a Super Successful Freelance Content Marketing Writer: Find Great Clients, Make Lots of Money and Build a Business You Love
This would work especially if I could come up with a unique word for Insider’s. Many readers tell me that they love my honesty and transparency, but that isn’t catchy enough. But hopefully that gives you an idea where I am headed.
Any ideas or random thoughts or spitballing is totally appreciated. I would love to be able to go back to my regularly scheduled live and stop stressing over the right word.
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How about “Content Marketing Confidential”?
Ooops Kristin, your response wasn’t showing when I posted mine. But the fact that two of us came up with ‘CM Confidential’ suggests maybe it’s got legs, no?
Your book is almost ready to go live–SO EXCITING, Jennifer! I know it will be a boon to so many writers looking to take their content marketing business to the next level. Here are a few ideas:
“Flourish in Freelance Content Marketing : Find Great Clients, Make Lots of Money and Build a Business You Love”
“Figure out Freelance Content Marketing : Find Great Clients, Make Lots of Money and Build a Business You Love”
“Content Marketing Confidential: Find Great Clients, Make Lots of Money, and Build a Business You Love”
“Crack the Code on Freelance Content Marketing: Find Great Clients, Make Lots of Money and Build a Business You Love”
Maybe something will spark an idea… 🙂
Jennifer,
One helping hand deserves another!
The Savvy Freelance Content Marketing Writer : Find Great Clients, Make Lots of Money and Build a Business You Love
or
The Successful Freelance Content Marketing Writer: Find High-paying Clients and Build a Business You Love
Be a Super Successful Freelance Content Marketing Writer : Find Great Clients, Make Money and Build a Business You Love
Or YOU CAN BE SUPER SUCCESSFUL series.
The brand could be for future books BE SUPER SUCCESSFUL series.
I personally don’t like “lots of” phrase.
I think we get caught up with the motions of writing and never see success, at least what we hope and believe what success looks like.
Need something to shake up the senses, such as are we really doing everything we could or are we just procrastinating. (I think that is me at times.)
“Quit Pretending: Be a Successful Freelance Writer Today!”
or
“How to Become a Successful Freelance Writer Today”
or
“Answers to All Your Burning Questions of Being a Successful Freelance Writer”
or
“You Know You Can Write, Find Out What Is Keeping You From a Successful Freelance Writing Career”
or
“What is Holding You Back From Being a Successful Freelance Writer”
Hope this helps.
You’ve gotten some great suggestions!
Here’s my little, tiny one: the word “thriving” as the adjective.
LOVE you subtitle & am so happy you’ll have this ready by ASJA.
I also like “Thriving” as an adjective! 🙂
Congratulations! (How amazing you are for donating the proceeds to such a worthy cause!)
My suggestion is: “How to Build a 6-figure Content Marketing Writing Business: A Guide for Freelance Writers” or something similar. I hope you find a tiltle you love!
Congrats, Jennifer!
I like variations 3-5. The word that came to mind as an alternative adjective was something like “The Happy Freelance… Writer.” I think that word, or the word “Fulfilled” or “Rich” (because of its double meaning) or something like that sums up having “great clients, lots of money, and a business you love.”
Hope that helps! 🙂
For many would-be freelancers, it’s the fear of going on their own that makes them hesitate. But the dream is always there, if only they could proceed with confidence. Here are a couple of ideas to help them break through that barrier:
Your Expert Guide to Super Successful Freelancing: Find Great Clients, Make Lots of Money and Build a Business You Love
Become a Confident, Successful Freelance Writer: Attract Your Ideal Clients, Secure a High Income, and Live the Life You’ve Always Dreamed About
Hi Jennifer,
Congrats and best wishes.
How about:
Become a Pro Content Marketing Writer : Find Great Clients, Make Tons of Money and Build a Business You Love
Delete ‘freelance’ and replace ‘lots of money’ with ‘tons of money’.
All the best,
Rohi
Thanks for the shout-out Jennifer – you’ve gotten some great ideas! Looking forward to hearing where you land.
Congrats, Jennifer. With all you do for us, we are really looking forward to reading the book!
Let me throw another hat into the book title ring:
The Contented Content Writer: Find Great Clients, Make Lots of Money and Build a Business You Love
Hi there,
Marketing and content and tittles should be short succinct and successful. My recommendation to you, taking a few words from your first version is;
Content Writer’s Roadmap – Freelancers guide to great marketing content for clients that return dollars to your pocket.
Or “returning dollars to your pocket” {for the last few words}
What do you think? Kind regards – Julie White
+(+61) 409005898 Australia 0409 005 898