Welcome to the second Monday in March. Sometimes the truth hurts, but it’s better than a lie that can hurt you in many different ways.
Here are a few things I’d like to share from The Editor’s Desk.
Structuring your writing portfolio
As a freelance content writer, potential clients always ask to see samples of my work. I have a website that includes samples of my work here and here, and I also have samples on my LinkedIn page. It’s important to have an online portfolio as it’s more efficient than having to send files to potential clients. However, you might not know how to structure the clips (e.g., work) in your portfolio to get the best results. Here are some suggestions for setting up a great writing portfolio:
- Remember that the goal is to organize and highlight clips in your portfolio so that it makes sense and appeals to prospects in your desired market and niche
- Regularly check your existing clips (remove any that don’t look good) and add new clips to keep your portfolio fresh
- Put your high profile and most impressive clips first
- Separate clips by categories – marketing, journalism, copywriting, etc.
- Focus on the clips that your ideal clients would search for or want to see
- Leave dates off the clips – it does not matter when they were done
- Change the order of clips based on how many times they have been viewed – use page analytics to see the most viewed clips
- Include brand names were applicable
How to find your voice
Many writers have difficulty writing in their own voice. Your writing voice sounds like you when you read it because it mirrors the voice in your head. That’s the voice you hear when thinking about what you will write before you write it. Sometimes that inner voice doesn’t make it to the page. We sometimes think we need to sound a certain way for our readers. Kayleigh Moore wrote a great blog post on how to write in the voice that’s in your head. She recommends:
- Remove the filter
- Add humour to your writing
- Be brave and open to feedback
Here’s a great quote: Anyone can churn out another boring article. But if you can write with a voice that sparkles with charming personality, you’re doing something that truly only YOU can do.
Note: I wrote a blog post about finding your writing style, which is similar.
Organizing your writing life
I consider myself somewhat organized when it comes to my business writing life. I keep track of my projects and have different notebooks for different projects. Ali Luke with Craft Your Content provides advice on ways to organize your writing life and be more creative. Some strategies include:
- Having one notebook for each project (just like I said)
- Keep your writing gear in a bag even if you only write from home (difficult to get out and write these days, but I like the idea)
- Use one app or planner to track To Do items (I use a notebook and calendar to have multiple reminders)
- Set aside blocks of time for different types of writing (I like this idea a lot)
- Keep track of what you’ve submitted and where (this is how you run a business as a writer)
- Have a foolproof way of tracking deadlines (I use a calendar and notebook)
- Use an “end of day” routine to put everything back (I should do this)
Here is some great advice:
- Today, gather your writing materials together. Find a bag or box—anything will do—where you can keep your essentials so that they’re ready for you. Then, spend no more than five minutes clearing a writing space where you have enough room to work.
- During the rest of the week, set aside time to write and to get organized. You might want to schedule your writing for 30 minutes, then spend 5-10 minutes taking a simple next step to get more organized.
Personalizing your B2B content
How often have you received an email or marketing message that felt generic? “Dear Sir”, “To the Marketing Manager,” etc. is a clear indicator that the person sending the email knows nothing about you. People connect with people. People buy from people. If you are in the business of writing B2B content, then you should learn to write to your reader rather than at them. Aaron Cullers at MarketingProfs wrote an article on writing more personalized B2B content, providing the following tips:
- Choose the audience you want to reach
- Relearn the digital context and competition within your buyers’ experiences
- Create personalized content building blocks for every buying stage
- Include messages and assets based on buyer behaviour triggers
- Test, measure, improve, repeat
Dealing with intrusive thoughts
I sometimes get stuck in my own head, as thoughts will get stuck there and bounce around, interfering with everything else I am trying to think about. I often thought that I was the only one who felt this way, but that’s never the case. Many people face the same challenges. Vivian Manning-Schaffel at Shondaland wrote a great article on coping with intrusive thoughts. Her advice includes:
- Don’t push those thoughts away
- Understand that you and the thoughts are not the same
- Don’t overthink your thoughts
- Take care of yourself
Here’s a great quote: Once you fully grasp that your thoughts are inconsequential and are unattached to any intention or outcome, they don’t matter as much. If they don’t matter as much, you stop worrying about them and stop anticipating that they will come back…
Quote on consistency
Here’s a great quote from James Clear on consistency:
Greatness is consistency. Meditating once is common. Meditating daily is rare. Exercising today is simple. Training every week is simply remarkable. Writing one essay rarely matters. Write every day and you’re practically a hero. Unheroic days can make for heroic decades.
What I wrote
Check out this blog post I wrote for Sellerant – How to create marketing personas for your business.
What I read
I just finished reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. I had never seen the movie and had heard great things about it. I don’t usually go for books written in diary or letter format but this was enjoyable, and I was surprised by the shock reveal. I will have to check out the movie to see if it holds up.
What I watched
Upon the recommendation from a friend, I watched The Hunt with Betty Gilpin and Hillary Swank. It’s a commentary on the divide between groups in today’s society. It’s also an enjoyable view with some gruesome deaths and memorable lines.
What I listened to
I listened to the Tim Ferriss podcast episode #501 with Steven Pressfield, who talked about the artist’s journey, the wisdom of little successes, shadow careers, and overcoming resistance. Steven is a great author, who has written a fantastic book called The War of Art – a must read for freelance writers.
Thanks for reading. If you liked what I wrote or think someone else would enjoy it, then please share it. And if you want to reach out, my email is contact@davidgargaro.com.