Note from Jennifer: I am overwhelmed by the support from my blog readers for my new book. Because of you, I was the #1 New Release in the Small Business category yesterday. Huge thank you to everyone who bought the book, emailed me or posted about it on their social media. I can’t thank you enough. And as a reminder, all this week, the Kindle version is discounted to $5 as part of the 5^th Birthday celebration of my blog. A softcover version is also available since I know a lot of writers prefer physical books. 

It was May 2013 when I published my first blog post. And I thought I knew a crap ton about building a successful content marketing business. I had spent most of my time at the ASJA conference in NYC the previous weekend answering questions about content marketing writing and giving other writers advice on how to figure out how to break into it. So I decided to start a blog to help other writers and maybe improve the SEO of the my own website.

But in hindsight, I really knew very little about content marketing at the time. A lot has happened in my own career in those five years: I broke six figures, lost anchor clients, added new niches, wrote content clients loved, wrote content clients hated, decided I was a fraud (multiple times), and had my best year ever last year. I have learned a crap ton about content marketing in the last five years – from talking with you, making mistakes and occasionally (very occasionally) getting something right on the first try.

So as part of my blog’s birthday celebration (yes, there will be posts with the number 5 all week), I wanted to share with you today the five most important things I have learned (or had reinforced) over the past five years.

1. There is plenty of high paying content marketing work available. I know many writers who made more than six figures last year and a crap ton of writers (my proofreader told me that I repeated crap ton, but I am leaving it in here because it is my current favorite word) who are having their best year ever so far in 2018. There is absolutely no shortage or work because every business in every industry needs content. You just must find the businesses that need writers with your strengths, skills and expertise.
2. Your website and LinkedIn SEO matters – big time. My website has probably brought at least $150,000 or work to me (and to other writers I refer overflow work) because content marketing clients often search online for writers. In addition to getting hired because I am easily found online, I have had many clients say that they hired me because of my search ranking because if I was able to improve my own ranking then they felt confident that I could do the same with their content.
3. Other writers are colleagues not competitors. I would not be anywhere near as successful as I am without many other writers taking the time to offer me advice, tell me that I need to price a project higher, and referring work to me. I really believe that we are all in this together and that by helping each other we really help the freelancing writing industry as whole. If you aren’t networking with other writers, then you are missing one of the best parts of freelancing.
4. No matter how successful you are, you will hit a dry spell. I hit a big one two years ago and a hit one lasting a few weeks earlier this year. I can name at least six other six-figure writers who have had periods of little to no work. It happens. And it’s going to happen to you. When it does, reach out to your writer friends and be very honest about the situation. You will very likely have referrals heading your way very quickly. And when another writer shares a dry spell with you, reach into your contacts and help them out. Because it will likely be your turn before too long.
5. If a client doesn’t like your writing, you most likely got the tone wrong. I have found that if a piece of content that I wrote has a high number of revisions or the client simply isn’t happy, it is because I did not nail the brand voice. It’s not personal. It doesn’t mean I suck. It just means that I need to rework the piece to get the tone write. But sometimes my writing style just isn’t a fit for a specific client’s brand voice. And that’s perfectly okay. While I can write in many different tones, I have learned that the clients that I am the best fit with usually have a brand voice very close to my natural writing style.

I originally had this as number 5, but I thought that might come across as cheating. I also have the best blog readers in the world! You are the most supportive and friendly bunch! It has been so much fun to talk to so many of you on the phone and meet you out in the wild (also known as writer conferences).

What are the most important lessons you have learned about content marketing writing in the past five years?