Writing For Business Websites

dragon123

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Feb 22, 2012
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Isle of Wight
I am a content writer for businesses be it content for the website, product descriptions, article writing or copywriting. (centres more on writing to persuade). I find many businesses don't have the time or the knowledge to do these tasks so that's where I can help.
I had a few clients from the USA and Europe but those contracts have now finished and am looking for more.
Where is the best place to find clients in the UK for my services? I tried some places like Fiverr but did not really produce results.
 
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intheTRADE

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Apr 14, 2019
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Not my field at all but I am fan of going out and finding work by showing what you can do

You could make a list of target companies you'd like to work with. Write them new page content for a page on their website or a new product description for one of their products highlighting your skills and fire it off to the marketing managers, Directors etc?
 
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dragon123

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Feb 22, 2012
25
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Isle of Wight
You are correct I should have been a bit more specific.
I have experience with content writing relating to travel/accommodation (guest houses etc), Technology and Media (film / TV). Doing thorough research on any project I do enjoy and have written articles on many different subjects.
SEO and keyword research also which are sometimes critical for website content if they want to rank higher in Google etc.
 
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You are correct I should have been a bit more specific.
I have experience with content writing relating to travel/accommodation (guest houses etc), Technology and Media (film / TV). Doing thorough research on any project I do enjoy and have written articles on many different subjects.
SEO and keyword research also which are sometimes critical for website content if they want to rank higher in Google etc.
From my experience working with writers in those industries (travel and tech), rates are fairly low as competition is extremely high.

Best to really niche down as you otherwise compete with another 10 million travel writers.
 
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Fiverr is a mixed bag in my opinion. It started off as a platform to get a low-quality blog post of 500 words for $5. Nowadays, with their Pro offering, it seems to attract also some high-quality freelancers and clients. I can only speak from a buyer perspective, but it's sometimes hard to filter through the wide range of quality/prices.
 
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fisicx

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Sep 12, 2006
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@dragon123 - people don’t want a content writer. What they want is more business. Your job is to demonstrate how your services will increase their profits.

Do you have a website that generates targeted traffic? That could be a useful source of new clients.
 
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JamaC

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Aug 26, 2021
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I would recommend setting up an agency

Don't get me wrong, it may not be for everyone, but I feel in such a crowded market its easier to automate your marketing as an agency rather than marketing yourself as a freelancer.

But saying that, it's still crowded and as others have mentioned will require picking a niche and convincing your customers you can provide real value by increasing their revenue.

Partnering up with web designers, business consultants etc is also a plus
 
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D

Deleted member 352941

I am a content writer for businesses be it content for the website, product descriptions, article writing or copywriting. (centres more on writing to persuade). I find many businesses don't have the time or the knowledge to do these tasks so that's where I can help.
I had a few clients from the USA and Europe but those contracts have now finished and am looking for more.
Where is the best place to find clients in the UK for my services? I tried some places like Fiverr but did not really produce results.
Many years ago as a former member here, I found my clients here. If people like the content and replies and value you add in the forums they might just reach out and hire you!

Meanwhile you have a major competitor in AI.
 
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ethical PR

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  • Apr 20, 2009
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    I am a content writer for businesses be it content for the website, product descriptions, article writing or copywriting. (centres more on writing to persuade). I find many businesses don't have the time or the knowledge to do these tasks so that's where I can help.
    I had a few clients from the USA and Europe but those contracts have now finished and am looking for more.
    Where is the best place to find clients in the UK for my services? I tried some places like Fiverr but did not really produce results.
    If you are a professional content writer why are you marketing yourself on places like Fiverr? Do you have a business and marketing plan for your business. If not this should be your starting point. Have you identified sectors or types of content you specialise in? What makes you better/different than your competitors? Presumably you have a portfolio/references. Use these assets to approach web and marketing companies to pitch for work.
     
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    dragon123

    Free Member
    Feb 22, 2012
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    Isle of Wight
    I had a few regular clients and to be honest, got lazy, so I didn't need to market myself again until recently and thought I would try a few like Fiverr and Upwork which some suggested, but with them, it's just a race to the bottom.
    Yes, I do have sectors I specialise in, but have also done other work for totally unrelated subjects. But if you research well enough and get to know the company you are writing for you can help them reach the audience they want.
    I am currently working on a fresh marketing plan for my business with an updated portfolio (and website) and will be contacting various businesses soon. Thank you for your suggestions.
     
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    D

    Deleted member 352941

    I had a few regular clients and to be honest, got lazy, so I didn't need to market myself again until recently and thought I would try a few like Fiverr and Upwork which some suggested, but with them, it's just a race to the bottom.
    Yes, I do have sectors I specialise in, but have also done other work for totally unrelated subjects. But if you research well enough and get to know the company you are writing for you can help them reach the audience they want.
    I am currently working on a fresh marketing plan for my business with an updated portfolio (and website) and will be contacting various businesses soon. Thank you for your suggestions.
    The most important thing is that you always present yourself as a skilled writer especially when posting here on the forums. Ensure your replies are in accordance with those of a persuasive content writer. It all counts, because you may find this is your best source of new business.
     
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    I am a content writer for businesses be it content for the website, product descriptions, article writing or copywriting. (centres more on writing to persuade). I find many businesses don't have the time or the knowledge to do these tasks so that's where I can help.
    I had a few clients from the USA and Europe but those contracts have now finished and am looking for more.
    Where is the best place to find clients in the UK for my services? I tried some places like Fiverr but did not really produce results.
    I would suggest getting yourself on some local and virtual networking events, regardless of what AI is around, people still value old school customer service. Speak to businesses, show them what you've done and how you can connect/understand their businesses and what they are trying to achieve.
     
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    sofiyah

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    Feb 9, 2023
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    2
    I am a content writer for businesses be it content for the website, product descriptions, article writing or copywriting. (centres more on writing to persuade). I find many businesses don't have the time or the knowledge to do these tasks so that's where I can help.
    I had a few clients from the USA and Europe but those contracts have now finished and am looking for more.
    Where is the best place to find clients in the UK for my services? I tried some places like Fiverr but did not really produce results.
    Hey, I hope you're well. Have you heard of Moblox? I recently discovered Moblox, the CEO is Piers Linney, a former investor on BBC Dragons Den. They have helpful content & community of small business owners. They have lots of business writers, check their website out www.moblox.com
     
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    dragon123

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    Feb 22, 2012
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    Hi Mariaval2019, Yes, I have 3 blogs, all make a little money via advertising and affiliate marketing but have never had the spare time been able to scale them to get more traffic. It is something I will delve into more now that I have the time as I know a few affiliate marketers who make good sums of money via their blogs.
     
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    Mariavel2019

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    May 7, 2019
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    missmv.com
    Hi Mariaval2019, Yes, I have 3 blogs, all make a little money via advertising and affiliate marketing but have never had the spare time been able to scale them to get more traffic. It is something I will delve into more now that I have the time as I know a few affiliate marketers who make good sums of money via their blogs.
    Good to hear that you already own 3 blogs. Accepting sponsored posts can add a good income too as creating and selling printables. Is tough doing everything yourself, so hiring people is the way to scale this kind of business.
     
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    fisicx

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    Sep 12, 2006
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    Good to hear that you already own 3 blogs. Accepting sponsored posts can add a good income too as creating and selling printables. Is tough doing everything yourself, so hiring people is the way to scale this kind of business.
    How much do you make from your sites?
     
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    JEREMY HAWKE

    Business Member
  • Business Listing
    Mar 4, 2008
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    EXETER DEVON
    www.jeremyhawkecourier.co.uk
    Get on the phone to potential customers that you have identified and tell them all about it
    "SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE"
    "PHONE THEM UP"

    It works every time don't make it a sales pitch from a call centre just be yourself and tell them about how you could improve their business
    I was looking for some help with something and after Linkdin contacts and emails it was the bloke in Manchester that phoned me that looks the best option
    Talk to them!
     
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    fisicx

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    JEREMY HAWKE

    Business Member
  • Business Listing
    Mar 4, 2008
    8,577
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    EXETER DEVON
    www.jeremyhawkecourier.co.uk
    Roughly though. Do they earn enough to pay the bills?
    "Pay the bills"? we not on here to "pay the bills"
    We are on to build, drive and travel :):cool:
     
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    dragon123

    Free Member
    Feb 22, 2012
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    Isle of Wight
    Affiliate marketing is all about getting good traffic and using SEO for keywords that are geared towards selling the products as well as having relevant high-quality content.
    It's not easy like some YouTubers would have you believe, it takes time for your website to become established.
    The more authority your site has, the higher the rankings on Google, hence more traffic.
    You can then make money with affiliate links and ads from Adsense or Ezoic for example.
    A simplified explanation, but it's not an overnight thing by any means.
     
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    Mayak

    Free Member
    Sep 10, 2022
    1
    0
    I am a content writer for businesses be it content for the website, product descriptions, article writing or copywriting. (centres more on writing to persuade). I find many businesses don't have the time or the knowledge to do these tasks so that's where I can help.
    I had a few clients from the USA and Europe but those contracts have now finished and am looking for more.
    Where is the best place to find clients in the UK for my services? I tried some places like Fiverr but did not really produce results.
    Hi, I might need your talent :) pls contact [email protected]
     
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    ethical PR

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  • Apr 20, 2009
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    I like the idea of setting up a copywriting agency. But you'd need to have some other skills to attract businesses. Do you have a LinkedIn page? Writing in-depth articles that appeal to business owners would be a good start, and also building your professional connections on LinkedIn.
    As someone who says they do marketing for SMEs why do you feel the OP would need to set up a copywriting agency in order to land gigs as a content writer? I don't agree that writing in-depth articles for business owners is the way to go to land work. Nor is wasting time on Linked In. The OP needs to ensure they have tip top marketing channels that act as a portfolio for their work and that they get out there and talk to marketing and design design agencies who can give then regular well paid freelance work. Then they can invest time and budget to reach marketing people in businesses they have identified as their target market.
     
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    ethical PR

    Free Member
  • Apr 20, 2009
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    Have you thought of starting your own website? Instead of writing content for someone else's; business, you could write for your own niche blog. Besides, you have multiple ways of monetizing a blog, and when you had enough, you can sell it for multiple ££££
    It's incredibly difficult to monetise a blog. What's your advice on how the OP would go about doing this. Can you link to websites for content writers who have successfully done this.
     
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    TBH there are a fair few content creators who need to be replaced by AI
    Most people are not very good at what they do. We all sort of muddle along. We may have some rudimentary skills, but only a select few are masters at what they do. Anybody can hit a drum and make a noise - but I have only ever worked with two really great drummers - the rest were sort of OK.

    Everybody can write. Very few people can write creatively. Of those, only a select few can tell a story. Of the very few that can actually tell a story, only very few can tell that story in such a way that we are pulled through and desire to find out how the story is resolved.

    So now we are in the hands of masters. People who can write creatively and tell a story and can do so in such a way that we WANT to find out what happens next.

    Of that tiny minority, very, very, very few can tell that compellingly creative story in such a way that it sells a product.

    It took a John Caples to write "They laughed when I sat down at the piano. But when I started to play . . ."

    It took a David Ogilvy to write "At 60 miles an hour the loudest noise in this new Rolls-Royce comes from the electric clock."

    Both of these gentlemen wrote books on how to write copy - but most copywriters seem to not have read them. Most do not indulge in any formal or informal education in writing copy. They think they can rely on intuition - and some innate ability to string words together. As a result, they make the same mistakes again and again and again.

    In fact, most copywriters are unaware that they must tell a story, so they just string a collection of superlatives about the product and the company together - a total turn-off!
    But it will never match the tome of true personality
    AI must follow a series of set and programmed routines - and that is the very opposite of creativity. It is just so many rules. And Ogilvy once said "I hate rules!"
     
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    dragon123

    Free Member
    Feb 22, 2012
    25
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    Isle of Wight
    Yes, I agree to an extent about creative writing, it is a skill some have and some don't.
    Copywriting is slightly different in that you do need to captivate the reader and do it early, so they want to continue and find out more.
    When a customer lands on your written page they want to see how you can help, they are not that interested in how good you may be they want the solution or help with something.
    The following is some of what I try and do when copywriting, no there are no set rules, every client is different but I think the following points are essential.

    • Use Short Sentences – Who wants to read through lots of text to try and find what they want?
    • Get To The Point – In the first sentence tell them exactly what they will get from your service or product and how it will benefit THEM.
    • Use Super Specific Headlines – This tells the customer exactly what you are offering.
    • Don’t Use Big Words – It might make you sound great and intelligent but people just want simple-to-understand information that gets to the point.
    • Benefits Over Features – Always list the benefits the product will give them and leave any features as a bonus
    • Address Any Objections – You must get any objections the customer may have and address them to give them peace of mind to proceed.
    • Where Possible Use Social Proof – Customers like to see testimonials from people who have used the product before. Listing positive testimonials encourage sales and put the customer’s minds at ease.
    There are many good books on copywriting which can guide you and give advice that you may not have thought about or implemented.
     
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    fantheflames

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    As someone who says they do marketing for SMEs why do you feel the OP would need to set up a copywriting agency in order to land gigs as a content writer? I don't agree that writing in-depth articles for business owners is the way to go to land work. Nor is wasting time on Linked In. The OP needs to ensure they have tip top marketing channels that act as a portfolio for their work and that they get out there and talk to marketing and design design agencies who can give then regular well paid freelance work. Then they can invest time and budget to reach marketing people in businesses they have identified as their target market.

    Sure, that's also another good idea.

    It looks like he probably does a portfolio, has experience working with businesses, and has a copywriter could make a great website for himself. I find that OP starting a copywriting agency would weigh more in his favour to gain contracts from advertising agencies, specifically.
     
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