Balancing Writing and Webwork

In the last week, I have been shifting from a mostly writing perspective to a mostly building one. It is the desires of my clients - I am simply going where there is a need.

This brought to mind a question from one of the Emory students a couple weeks ago, when I was up there mingling with them at a mixer. She asked, "Do you think you have stayed busy because you have more than writing to offer clients?"

I had answered yes, because I do think it is my ability to do more than just write that creates this little niche of mine. I could, probably, focus more concretely on writing and turn the tide, but I don't know that I ever would.

One of the reasons I like doing more than writing, is that I like doing more than writing. I know people who don't, and they focus much more solidly on writing gigs. To me, there is a lot you can do if you know what to do with the writing and the end result, because it helps you close the gap. Instead of me handing my content to someone else to develop, I finish it off. In many cases for me, it allows me to offer way more to the client for less.

So while this week is more building than writing, I do know that is only this week so far. For the last 3 months, I have not built as much as I wrote. Yin/Yang. Balance.

How Did I Get Started as a Freelance Seo Writer?

Perhaps the most common question I am asked, especially by college students, is how I got started as a freelance seo writer. This was again the situation in my last couple visits to local Atlanta colleges like Emory and Kennesaw State.

Let me answer that by giving you a short scenario. The writer will be played by me, the cold faced marketing director will be played by a Vietnamese dwarf named Miss Gengy, who has a peg leg, false teeth and a horrible disposition.

Scene: fade-in to an eager young writer, briefcase (new) stuffed to the brim with fake collateral from pretend gigs. See sweat on brow, and fidget in chair as another marketing director sees through the BS, and is perturbed at spending time in this meeting.

Writer: {clearing throat to speak} ...um...

Cold Faced Marketing Director: (Rising to leave) I think we're done here.

Writer clumsily gathers crap pile and stumbles blindly from office, a sadness in his heart but a stern look of determination on his face. Zero in his pocket. Rocky theme begins, and writer opens door, stepping into a world of uncertainty, more stupid than brave, more willing than not...

I make jokes, I laugh and kid, but I seriously went into meetings I was totally unqualified to be in, waving my arms like a monkey to try to get noticed. I was aggressive, and I was unstoppable. That is how I started as a freelance SEO writer - by my unwillingness to be anything else.

Sometimes, it can be that simple.
It was for me.

Thanks, Emory

Had a good time last week speaking at Emory University at a little career mixer.
The Career Services Center out there put it on, and it seemed like a rousing success. I was one of about 20-30 writers, all covering a variety of niches.
We mixed around with a bunch of students, and just talked.
I met a lot of really nice people, all in different stages of needing help, or mixing it up professionally.
I had a good time talking to them, and offering whatever I thought might help.
I told them I had work if they wanted it - I have not yet had someone hit it up. But I have connected with about 8 of the writers/students I met, and am offering a little help, if I can.

So thanks Emory, and Paul and the staff over at the career Services Center. It was a good time, and I will add a few posts in the future based on the questions I was being asked.