The Word Factory

Happy New Year

2011-01-17T14:58:00.001+05:30

Ok.. so the last blog entry here in this blog is dated 1st October 2010. Wow! That is some gap between the posts!

To begin with, here's wishing the all of you a very happy new year. May this New Year bring in your lives all the love and luck that you wish for.

Now moving on to as to where i had disappeared for so long.. To begin with, the year 2010 ended on a very sweet note for me.. We were blessed with a beautiful daughter on the 26th of October. :) As expected, things post that have been pretty hectic. Well no, hectic is surely one understatement! With a baby at home, the requirement to be around it is 24x7. Taking a break from work was a conscious decision for me.

So now after 3 months and after finally getting into some sort of a routine and help at home I am attempting to get back to my assignments and work all over again. The process would be slow but yes, steady and regular. I now expect myself to get back to my routine with my blog too and update it regularly with blog entries.

So let us now get back to our writing passion and wish that this new year has some awesome and interesting writing assignments in line for us to talk about and discuss here!

Personal Name vs Business Name

2010-10-01T11:45:00.001+05:30

I have been thinking on this topic for a while now. I freelance under my personal name and have a website too for it. But I have personally come across many people who freelance under a business name. So which choice seems apt? I think it is more of a personal decision and depends on what you perceive your business to be.

Let us take it up one by one. I chose to work under my personal name because since I was starting out as a fresher I wanted to concentrate more on acquiring clients rather than entangling myself in the intricacies involved in branding a start up. Also, to be frank, I wanted to initially test the waters and see as to if I can establish myself successfully in this field. Apart from this, I feel there are several other factors too which can make the choice of using your personal name as your brand name a better option.

To start with, it allows you to convey a sense of personal involvement to your client. In a way it provides to the client a belief that the work delivered by you will bear your personal stamp and signify your true capabilities. But all this does not take away the disadvantages that are associated with using your personal name. To some clients, the use of your personal name as your business name might make it sound too casual and non professional. Also, it might get a bit difficult for you if you wish to sell the USP of your business by using your personal name. Pronouncing your name and remembering the same for future references too might be an issue for some clients living in other countries.

So does that make a business name a better option? Well, I see some disadvantages here too. Not only is the job of branding your business expensive but at the same time it needs to capture the true essence of your business too. The process of registering your business name to is a bit lengthy and involves a lot of paper work. What is also important is the fact that with a business name once in place it would get difficult for you to re invent or start something new under the same brand name. This is because the existing business name might not capture the true feel of the new business that you want to start.

So what should one do? I say go with your heart! If you are starting out afresh it is a sensible thought to start with your personal name. Once you see your business grooming according to your expectations you can then switch over to acquire a more professional sounding business name.

SEO Articles That Can Earn Their Worth

2010-09-25T13:48:00.001+05:30

Many a times have I got assignments which have required me to write SEO optimized articles. The clients have sent the keywords that they wish me to work around and incorporate in the article. The basic aim of these SEO articles is to allow the client to get a favorable rank for a particular keyword on major search engines. This in turn would help them get more traffic to their website who seek information regarding that particular keyword.

So how does one approach with the task of writing for these SEO articles and most importantly make them successful towards delivering the desired result. Each one of us might be having their own approach here. I would like to share as to how I go about when presented with this task.

1. Research
I enter the primary keyword provided to me by the client in Google and see the kind of results that come my way. I read the top listings from the results and try to get an idea on what kind of content is generally posted. This also allows me to analyze what is NOT present already and therefore gives me some points to work on. Further, it also allows me to analyze the kind of content people like to read on that particular keyword.

2. Secondary Keywords
Even if the client may have provided me with 1 primary keyword I try to look around for some secondary keywords too. These secondary keywords provide the article with certainty and reliability that search engines generally look for when indexing an article. This strategy would also help rope in more visitors to your article as all readers might not use just the primary keyword for their searches. If there are sufficient related words in your article then the reading audience would increase.

3. Positioning Keywords
When starting to write the content, it is very important to know as to where you should insert the primary keywords so as to get the maximum SEO value from them. Ideally, your primary keywords should certainly figure in
• The title
• The Meta Tag
• The first 2 lines of the first paragraph
• In all the heading and sub headings
• Evenly dispersed throughout the content
• In the anchor text for the links made in the article

It is always a good idea to provide your client with something extra. Not only will it make him realise your expertise on that particular area but at the same time maximize your chances of getting more work from him in the future.

Contract For Freelancers – A Necessary Evil?

2010-09-18T12:09:00.005+05:30

There is nothing like the independence that comes with the job of working as a freelancer. You not only have control over the kind of work you do and your work schedule but at the same time are not answerable to anyone except your client. This does make this field of freelancing very attractive and fetch able. But then working as a freelancer does involve its own share of risks and issues.

The biggest being the scare of your clients not paying up for the work that you did for them. The other issue may involve the client deciding to change the deliverable initially agreed upon during the course of the project. So is there a particular umbrella of protection that a freelancer can make use of in such a situation? Well yes, there is the option of using a contract.

There are many of us who are usually not that comfortable with the option of putting forward a contract to their clients. The sense that the freelancer does not trust the prospective client tends to loom at large. But then there are situations which are best presented under the protective shade of a contract. This brings us to the next question; when does a contract become necessary?

The situations here would generally depend on a case to case basis but generally there are a few situations which can be generalized here.

To begin with, writing a single 400 word article does not need to come with a contract but yes, writing 200 of such articles for a single project would suffice the needs of having a contract.

The second case would be involving projects which are associated with large sums of payments. Having a contractual binding here would make the client liable to pay for the services that you would be in turn delivering.

Most of us depend a lot on the trust factor and might not go in for a contract with an individual whom we might trust. But it is a good idea to be fair in your dealings with your clients and come up with a contract irrespective of your trust factor with the client. Not only does it convey your professionalism but at the same time takes it in writing that both you as well as your client are serious regarding the project.

A long term project which might include yearly renewals too is best suited under the gambit of a contract.
A pro bono project or a project done as a favor for a relative or a friend too does not necessarily need a contractual agreement.

Ok, so with the necessity of a contract being clear we now come to the point as to how to come up with a contract. You need not be a lawyer to draft a contract. All that you need is to be clear as to what terms and conditions you wish to put for the particular project. A good contract must ensure that:

It is stated in simple and easy to understand language;

The content must not be ambiguous;

The relevant facts regarding the project should be included in it.

So what are the points that generally all contracts must include?

Deliverables/ Services Offered: The contract should clearly state what is expected from this project and what all will be delivered by the freelancer towards the same.

Time Frame/Schedule: The time frame expected towards completion of the project too must be clearly stated in the contract.

Payment Terms: This ideally includes the total agreed payment for the project as well as the payment cycle decided upon. If there are any chances wherein a renewal of the pricing terms in the middle of the project might be sought either by the client or the freelancer then that too needs to be mentioned here. Any advance payments, charges for delayed payment etc should be clearly stated.

Termination Clause : This should include that under what conditions can the project be terminated mid way and as to what will be the compensation plan in light of such a termination.

Arbitration and Jurisdiction: This clause is all about providing information that in case of a dispute “how” and “where” will the case be taken up.

American English vs British English: Which Is Your Pick?

2010-08-11T11:36:00.005+05:30

Recently I got a mail from a friend who wanted some information regarding the British style of writing. He was in the process of drafting an article for a UK based magazine and had to stick to their style of writing. Though I consider myself as no expert here but whatever information and knowledge I had on it I shared it with him. This made me realise that why not share the same information here too. I am sure that there are many people out there with the same issue at hand. It becomes all the more important when we have to decide which one of these to use for drafting content of our websites.

When trying to differentiate the British English from the American English, there are a few aspects where they differ. Let us start with the spellings.

Most of us are aware that there are certain words which the American and the British spell differently.
British English ; American English
centre ; center
theatre ; theater
colour ; color
catalogue ; catalog
programme ; program
neighbour ; neighbor

The next point differentiating them would be the vocabulary. There are some words and terms that are either used only in British or American English.
British English ; American English
lift ; elevator
boot ; trunk
autumn ; fall
litter ; garbage
crossroad ; crossing
trousers ; pants

Then we have plurals. There are a number of nouns that don’t have a plural form in British English while they do have a plural form in American English.
British English ; American English
types of accommodation ; accommodation
types of food ; foods
a lot of fruit ; many foods
strands of hair ; hairs

The next big difference which creeps is the way that the British use their grammar. It includes how they use their “present perfects” and “adverbs” in their sentence formations.

So which version of these two languages should one use on their website?

If you wish your website to cater to a local population then the best way ahead would be to use the English language variant used there. This will make the readers there to accept your style of writing much easily.
This means that if you have a US based website then you should use American English and likewise for a UK based website the best pick would be British English.

But what do you do if you wish your website to be viewed as a website catering to the international clientele?

The solution for this would depend on your main target audience. If your prospective clients are primarily from Europe then the website content should be written in British English. On the other hand if you wish to target the American and Asian community, then the preferred pick would be American English.

Whatever be your pick regarding the variant of the English language the golden rule to follow is to stick to any one form of the language and stick to it while drafting the content of the entire website.

Lists And A Little Bit More....

2010-08-07T20:20:00.000+05:30

Aloha! It is again the time of the year for self review of my work, and to seek control over my TO DO list which I fear has now garnered more items than what I was hoping to see there!

After quite some deliberation I have decided to add my pricing in INR too on my website. I had till now mentioned my content writing prices only in USD. This was because 90% of the assignments which came my way were from clients abroad. I would respond to any price queries sent by Indians wanting to know about the same in INR via emails. But lately these kind of enquires became a little too many therefore frankly speaking, in order to lessen my burden I am putting up my price list in INR too.

Also up for some fresh lease of life is the portfolio section on my website. This work has been lurking on the list for quite some time now. I need to add some of my latest work there and sort out some of the older websites that are there in the list.

This reminds me that I also need to update the blog too with my new projects. My my, I really need to take control on this list now. The only question is WHEN??????

Ok, so let me do a small bit and write something about my latest project. This one is different. Yes, I know I say the same for all my projects!! But what to do, this too is different and that too in two perspectives. 1. I am doing it for a friend and 2. It is a website dedicated for pets, something which again is new for me.

The website is still in its building stages and so is its final name. It is supposed to be a one stop solution to take care of all your needs regarding your pets. It includes information on their diet, their style trends, their health and other aspects. It also prospects to have a section on their day care support near to your place, a DIY section for projects that you can do for your pets as well as other small nuggets of information related to your pets. Something new for sure but yes, interesting too! One thing would have surely helped, It would have been easier had I been a pet lover! :)

Business Cards - Ayes or Noes?

2010-07-06T16:29:00.001+05:30

For quite some time now I have been contemplating on the idea of having business cards designed for myself. The point which has kept me off till now is to decide whether I want it or I need it.

As a freelancer web content writer a big chunk of my business came online via referrals. This in a way negated any need of having a business card for my line of work. Therefore it was the “want” which was the over powering emotion here. The justification of the “need” came with some careful analysis.

I realized that a business card is the perfect brand identity that my freelance work could need. It would sum up my work and details on a small piece of paper what I would otherwise have to spend 2 minutes describing. In a world where business is driven by contacts, my business card would be the perfect leave-behind-imprint for my freelancing work.

In my line of work I have seen that good work can come from unexpected avenues too. So you never know that the person standing ahead of you in a queue on the coffee shop might be on the lookout for a writer himself. A business card given to him then and there might just land you your next project!

Since most of my work come as referrals from my old clients I feel that it is a good idea if I would go ahead and leave some business card with my clients who can then on inquiry from others regarding my work pass on my card to them. A pretty neat way of getting referrals huh!

Ok. So the business cards are final then. The next task would be to look around for designs and ideas for the same. Seems like a long way ahead here.. !!

Make Currency Fluctuations Work Your Way

2010-05-27T17:34:00.002+05:30

It has been really long since I sat down and wrote a blog post. Well it was a combination of laziness and the absence of any good issue which really motivated me to write and entry. Well today, I got rid of the former and had a good latter which made me sit down and write. Group effort I say!

It makes me wonder as to how many new roles have I started to play since I went out working as a freelance writer. It has made me my own personal organizer, a creative thinker and at the same time a financial analyst. The first two can be related but what about the third? Well, this is where the fluctuating economic conditions come into play! No, I have not started writing articles on the global financial economy but I am gravely affected by the fluctuating currency denominations when it comes to asking for payments for my projects.

When I started out I did not bother much about it and was OK with the rate I got after the currency conversion rates. But lately with experience (and maybe the greed to get some more!) this has become a very important point for me when I quote rates for my projects. There are two currency related factors that I need to keep in mind before I go ahead and quote my price; the current currency conversion rate and, since I use PayPal for my payments therefore the fee that PayPal deducts for the payments.

Apart from INR, the other currency that I regularly deal with is the US Dollar. When the economy was hitting rock bottom it was booming times for me. Instead of the regular INR 38-43 against a Dollar, I got incredible conversion rates which went up to INR 50-51, good times I say! But since this does not happen all that frequently there comes the need to safeguard my interest. I recommend the following:

1. If you are starting out as a freelancer, you can afford to bear some of the fluctuations. After all this might result in a lower final amount that you quote to the client and make it work in your favor.

2. The other thing that I have constantly done is to leave my money in my PayPal account when the rates are too low. I have often experienced that these currency fluctuations are quite temporary and your patience might prevent you from bearing a loss. So if you can afford to leave your funds as it is for some time then this might work!

3. If you are using the services of payment gateways like PayPal then it is suggested that you go ahead and check with all the kind of accounts that they offer. You need to select the one which best fits your need as all of them have different rates which they charge.

4. The fourth and the most effective way to beat the currency punches is to go ahead and increase your rates. You need to convince your clients that the final quoted rate allows you to cushion your loss as well as justifies the efforts needed in the project too.

But what to do if you are getting into a long term contract?
I suggest that if you are getting into a contract with your client then you can go ahead and suggest adding a clause to it that the price will be reviewed after say a period of 5 months and based on the currency conversion rate at that point consequent changed would be made to the price. This will not only cushion your cause but at the same time put you forward as a good professional too.

Currency can surely be tricky but it is very important that you manage your finances well and charge an amount which is not only justifiable but at the same time allows you to make a decent profit too.

A Realistic Blueprint For Fresher's To Help Build Their Portfolio

2010-03-16T13:27:00.000+05:30

Just like in any other field of work, fresher’s starting out as freelancers too have to face their share of difficulty trying to convince clients of their capability and competence. The most important fact that works against them here is the absence of any prior experience in the field which could strengthen their credentials. So what does one do? This is a realistic situation as everyone who is someone today was at some point of time a pure fresher himself. So what did he do differently that made him sit where he is today? The answer is in the approach.

Any individual who is really serious about excelling in his field will be careful enough to scan his target market and chalk out his game plan before he would think of getting clients. It is usually seen that fresher’s are more than eager to start working and for the same they get ready to work for rock bottom prices. This is surely not the right way ahead. By this I do not mean that an individual should start quoting sky high and illogical price quotes but yes, the figure quotes should amply justify the hard work that you would be putting in towards the project. There are some simple steps that you can do here towards building your portfolio:

Blogs– An excellent way to start building your portfolio would be to straightaway go ahead and launch your own blog. Your personal blog will not only provide you the perfect chance to showcase your work but at the same time allow you to get live feedback from readers in the form of comments which could further help you refine your skills.

Working For Non-Profits – Though writing for free is never advised but this is surely one area where writing for free would not hurt. The reason is that if the nonprofit is a big name then it could be the perfect image building chance that you could want. A good PR move it could work as a perfect reference for you and lend a big help towards your credibility and image. On the other hand, writing for free for a normal webmaster whom no one would have heard of just to gain experience would be of no good.

Article Marketing – The main purpose of availing the services of article websites on the internet is to try and get some marketing value out of your articles. These articles could act as samples which you can send to prospective clients. But there is a catch here too. It is usually seen that many freelance writers write and submit articles to large, non specific and general article directories. Instead, I have always felt that it a good idea to write and submit your articles to niche article sites or to blogs which cater to your specific domain and specialty area. The reason for this is that these specific and niche websites and blogs carry more credibility and come with a built-in audience than the general non specific article directories do. They provide you a chance to link to prospective clients easily thereby allowing you easy and quick access to future assignments.

Websites For Freelancers – When staring out as a freelancer one can also make use of several websites which allow you look for freelance projects posted on their forums and allow you to try and bid for the same. Some of these websites are good starting places for beginning writers while others will help you build a network or even outsource some of your work. But freelancers need to beware as most of these websites need you to become their member for a fee in order to access their entire gamut of projects. Also it is seen that on most of these websites it is very difficult to get paid decent amounts for your work as most of the clients here are on the lookout for freelancers who can deliver the work at rock bottom prices. But yes, with patience and careful segregation it is possible to land up with some good options here.

How Genuine Is That New Prospective Lead?

2010-03-11T14:02:00.003+05:30

For all freelancers, any kind of incoming client lead is good. But not always do these leads transcribe into actual clients. In my case, I have had so many leads lose their shine when they turn out to be in quest of one single aim- free advice. I have had this happening quite often especially when I started out as a freelancer. It is not that I am against providing advice but you shouldn't’t add all that value for free — whether for a client who wants more than they’re willing to pay, or one who isn’t really serious about the project in the first place.

There have been times when I was contacted by prospects expecting me to do all their marketing panning as well as suggestions towards structuring the content of their websites for free. Scheduled meetings to ‘discuss’ the projects have often turned into the same.

So how does one differentiate as to if this new lead you are in touch with is another of these free advice seeker or is a genuine prospective client?

Imagine a situation wherein you get in touch with a new prospect and start talking with him regarding the project. The client seems genuine and you share with him some good conversations and laughs. Conversations with that client leave you on a high and you simply feel the rush to start to work for him. But when you start discussing the actual modalities of the project including the budget and the deadline, the client seems to be at his indecisive best. My advice here, BACK OFF!

In 95% of the situations I have seen that such clients do not end up giving any work and all they seek is an estimate for the project and like in the previous case, free advice!

So this leaves us with the same question. How does a freelancer decide if the client is really just another pretender? The following rules that I always abide by work for me:

Enquire about the project budget: If the prospective lead is serious about the project and are actually on the lookout for a specialist then they’ll have a budget. On the other hand, the pretenders will either completely try to skirt this topic or else will start tossing out unrealistically low figures.

Ask for the project deadline: An inconclusive and sketchy answer here simply spells trouble. If they don’t value a project enough to schedule it, then don’t expect to get paid for it too!

Ask for mutual contracts to be signed: There is nothing more that pretenders get scared from than legal bindings on paper.

Insist for an advance payment: Prospective clients meaning business would understand your need of saving your interest with an initial payment and very often agree for the same. Pretenders on the other hand would stop their communication right there!

As a freelancer you really need to start understanding that there is truly nothing called as "free lunches". The lunch meeting that you might have to go for right now with a lead just might not be the expected free lunch offered by him but one of the tricks up his sleeves to try and play around with your experience. BEWARE!

An Inspired Entry

2010-03-01T11:53:00.003+05:30

It is very rare that you will find me inserting actual scripts from a blog that I would have read. But this is one instance when I just could not hold myself from doing it. The blog was written in such an inspiring way that i thought of sharing it with everyone here.

The blog was about how freelancers should price their work. The article says: " A person’s willingness to pay for something is directly related to the value they see in it. And like it or not, that value may be as fluffy as “a better life”. Or it may be something quite straight-forward that you just don’t realise. Either way, if you don’t charge correctly for that value, you lose." Rightly said!

The article goes on to say that " frequently freelancers and young agencies in the web industry lose business because they over-value their work. Be honest, how often have you cursed the other guys that won the job on price? The cowboys. The jokers that couldn’t mark up a holding page. Idiots. Their own site doesn’t even validate! But all that happened was that you tried to sell your expertise to someone that just didn’t value it. And can you blame them? Maybe their site needs to describe their business and provide contact details, but doesn’t need the latest, greatest HTML 5 tricks? They don’t give a damn about “perfect” markup and neither do their customers. So why would they pay for it? Would you pay €20 for a pint if the barman told you he’s serving it in his favourite glass, made by a famous, naked, dancing, glass-blowing tribe from Brazil?"

What stands out here is the fact that the freelancer needs to understand the requirement of the client. It is OK to try and sell your services to him but this should not overshadow the basic requirement that the client seeks. Accordingly, this should form the basis as to how you would charge the client. Charge him for what he wants and not for all that, that you can offer! PERIOD.

Rightly stated in the article is "nine times out of ten, your clients value only your availability, flexibility and malleability, not your sweet Javascript skills. Price downwards accordingly."

The entire article is available here.

A Taste Of Fashion Writing

2010-02-20T10:58:00.003+05:30

Sometimes there are some projects which come your way which you think you would not be able to handle. I have had one similar experience lately. I got in touch with a gentlemen via one of the social networking websites that I frequent on when I he enquired if I was up for another assignment. I requested him to send me details for the assignment and that I would get in touch with him after I go through the same.

The gentleman was kind enough to send me an elaborate description of what he exactly wanted. In his words... "We are creating a portal for branded fashion in India.This is fashion which middle and upper middle class can afford, and is a step below the designer fashion which only ultra rich and Page3 personalities wear. We want to target the fashion which common youngster can wear to college or office." They wanted content for articles in content of the same. It was not a one time assignment and it required a regular relay of articles on the desired requirement. This had me thinking for a moment. The hesitation was not because of the time commitment but mostly because fashion was one domain where i was completely naive. I was not sure if I could do justice to the articles and if I had it in me to bring out the desired elements that would have the fashion conscious readers hooked and interested. It had me thinking hard. I spoke to the people involved in the project and this made me a little more comfortable as I liked the people I would be working with.

I was required to submit a sample article initially following the guidelines provided to me by the client. This was going to be the acid test for me. I decided that if this article met my satisfaction and if I liked the process I would seriously give this assignment a thought. And as it turned out that i really liked the whole process of digging into this new territory. The people in the team were eager to help out and provided me with candid feedback regarding the sample. This further cemented my decision and now I am on with this team writing for them good about 4 articles per week.

Clients brief: The language has to be simple, something that the young kids could connect you and enjoy reading it. The content should be informative and at the same time not boring. Short punchy lines would be apt.

Find below one of the articles that was submitted by me to towards this assignment:

In this movie besides his super smooth dance moves, grabbing attention is Shahid’s chic yet casual attire. It is worth noticing that taking his relaxed look to a new level are his uber cool pair of Aviator sunglasses. There is no denying the fact that Aviator’s have always been in fashion and worn by generations alike. What works in the favor of Aviator sunglasses are that not only do they help shield your eyes, but they do it stylishly! They are very versatile and can be worn just about anywhere as they are extremely comfortable..... These sunglasses are ideal for everyday eyewear both for men and women. In the case of women they can so easily toughen up a feminine frock and for men they go ahead and provide a touch of street style chic to the normal pair of jeans and a jacket.

With large rectangular frames and metal rims, these glasses are available in several different colour tints for people to choose from and to team them with their dresses.

When shopping for sunglasses it is important that you try on several pairs so that you end up with the one which you feel most comfortable wearing. There are some tips which can help you zero down on that perfect pair which would suit your face the best....

Payment Options Beyond PayPal

2010-02-15T16:19:00.004+05:30

For any service provider it is very important that they have in place the right kind of payment machinery to facilitate easy and safe payment towards their services. As a freelance writer I had till now made use of the services of PayPal to receive payment for my overseas assignments. But due to the recent developments at PayPal as a result of which they temporarily suspended their India operations I was left looking for option. It was then that I realised that there might be some others like me who too would be looking for alternative options to receive their payments from abroad. Listed below are some of the major options that you can consider:

1. By cheque: Your client can mail you the cheque for the required amount. Once you get the cheque you can deposit the same in your bank and get the amount credited in your account. The biggest pitfall for this mode of payment is the time duration. The time taken by the cheque to get cleared by your bank is usually very long and if you are in need of funds immediately then surely this method would not work well for you.

2. Wire Transfer: If waiting for your cheque to get credited is not what you would ideally want then the next best option here would be to opt for a wire transfer. You would be required to share your bank information(including your bank account number) with your client who can then make the payment. This method also entitles a fee in order to get the money through.

3. Credit card: If you have in place a merchant account then you can go ahead and ask your clients to pay with a credit card too. Not only is this convenient in today's time but also appeals to most clients. 2Checkout.com is one such website which allows you to open a merchant account and move ahead smoothly.

4. XOOM: This online payment option allows you to send and receive funds from any country to any country in the world. Albeit coming with a small fee to send money this online payment option has recently caught the liking of many. All that you need to do here is to to create an account with xoom and then send your details to your payer. He will then use your details and send across the money either using his credit card or directly from his bank account. The money then reaches the bank partner in your country from where you can have access to the same.

5. Moneybookers: Another good option to have access to your online payments. Working on the lines of PayPal, moneybookers requires you to open an account with it and send/ receive funds. The major drawback here is that owing to legal restrictions the services of this website are not extended to the United States Of America.

6. Western Union: This is another very popular means to have access to your funds from abroad. You can send and receive money from any part of the world using Western Union. The major drawback here is that you need to personally go and collect funds from the Western Union agent near you.

7. Payooner: A relatively new concept, Payooner provides you with a debit card through which you can send money abroad or receive money on it.

These were some of the major options which I had listed out when I was weighing my options. Though I am yet to finalize on one of them but at least I am a little less anxious now knowing that there ARE options available.

Would love to hear from you all too if I have missed out on some other options and as to what is your preferred mode of receiving payments.

Research On A SuperBowl Advertisement. Super Cool!

2010-01-23T12:35:00.005+05:30

Work with iTrip is going on well. Am already done writing 5 blog posts for them and each of them were unique in a different way. Like I always say that what I like the best about my job is that I get to learn and know so many new things. Something on the same lines happened with iTrip too. I was to write a blog entry for them wherein their competitor (lets say company X) would be putting forward their advertisement during the Super Bowl!

My task here was to research on this very advertisement that company X plans to launch, bring in the advantages of advertising during the Superbowl and then link company X with iTrip! Interesting I say!

What I loved doing the most here was to research on the super bowl advertisements. With a sports crazy dad and husband here with me I had to know what super bowl was all about but never realised the potential that it could hold. Anyways, this assignment was a true blessing in disguise coz I could now understand the financial implications behind having the chance to air your promotions during that valuable time space of the super bowl.

Clients Brief: write me a blog on the super bowl advertisement that company X is doing during the super bowl. And how both them and iTrip is riding the same wave. Research on the up coming ad and tie iTrip into the blog in a positive way.

Neat I say!

With my job pretty much chalked out I knew what all I needed to focus on. I wanted to introduce iTrip in the article in a very subtle way so that it does not overpower the article. The article had to be based on company X but what i wanted the content to do was to make the reader leave the article with a clear recognition of iTrip.

Here is what parts of the final approved article looked like:

Drawing millions of viewers from around the world, the Super Bowl has produced some of the most memorable and effective commercials in the history of television. Interestingly, such is the craze of these super bowl commercials that a large chunk of its viewers tune in to watch Super Bowl just to catch these commercials. Producing an ad for Game Day is a huge strategic marketing task for any big company that can manage to afford the price tag associated with it......

......Hoping to reap similar benefit is the Austin based vacation rental company X. This company is making its first foray into Super Bowl advertising during CBS telecast of the February 7 game and aims towards successfully engaging people by means of their commercial to want them to see more. By means of this commercial, X wishes to capture the essence and need of proper accommodation while on a vacation and ..... Vacation Rental Companies like X and iTrip wish to serve the generation of ....What makes these vacation rentals all the more popular and interesting and finds a mention in this X commercial too, is the fact that this facility of vacation rentals can be availed at a cost which is far less than what you would end up paying for a hotel accommodation.

So when you go ahead and opt for vacation rentals offered by companies like iTrip and X, not only do you end up enjoying your holiday but at the same time you end up saving your money too! An exposure into the world of Super Bowl commercials will prove out to be good for vacation rental companies like X and iTrip. It will help them to take care of the low consumer awareness towards vacation rentals and will provide potential travelers with an additional accommodation option to consider when they plan their next vacation. ...

New Projects, New Waters To be Tested.. Bring Them On!

2010-01-15T14:04:00.005+05:30

Personally this new year has begun with a mixed bag of goodies. I may have had to take it slow owing to some bad eating episodes which landed me with strange sounding medical issues but then what is important is making the most of what you have. I too made the most of this rest time which does show now on my reduced typing speed! ;) Too much of everything is bad they say huh... yeah yeah ok!

Anyways, speaking on the work front, things have started to look interesting here.. I was in talks with a few individuals regarding writing assignments and from the bunch a few of them do look to be turning positive. I have been asked by a travel website- itrip to write a couple of blog posts for their blog each week. A travel and a vacation rental website, the blog posts here have to be centered around a few specific keywords.

Client: itrip

Client Brief: A good write up centered around the provided keywords. A check on the keyword density is required and the language needs to be attractive yet persuasive to enable customers and readers to give the services of itrip a try.

After analyzing the content of the clients website and reading the previous blog posts as well as the range of services offered by itrip I made a brief for myself wherein I realized that ideally the content for the blog posts should:

1. Have a good description of the destination from a tourist's point of view.
2. The rental services offered by itrip should be mentioned clearly.
3. And lastly a connection between the above two should be created as to how itrip could help make a vacation to this place all the more better.

Following this I sent my first article last night to the client and got his approval too.

A couple of sections from this write up is pasted below for you guys to have a look.

There are some beach destinations which provide guests with serene scenic beauty and then there are some which appeal to party hoppers and crowd seekers. But if you are one of those who seek a bigger bite then welcome aboard! Forming a third different category are those beach destinations which choose to deliver a bit more.. a bit more of natural beauty coupled with a bit more of entertainment options. Welcome to fun unlimited. Welcome to the Panama City Beach.

A favorite vacation destination throughout the year, Panama City Beach offers around 27 miles of uninterrupted, charming and beautiful starchy white beaches shimmering against the emerald blue of the water.......... be your age or source of fun and entertainment Panama City Beach is bound to have something to suit your needs. It offers championship golf, great casual and fine dining, lifestyle shopping excursions, water sport options, amusement parks, electrifying nightlife and the good old-fashion entertainment under the sun......

We believe that a good and a comfortable place to stay form’s a very integral part of having a good relaxed vacation. Ideally your accommodation should allow you to experience your holiday destination and to feel a part of it without bringing you too close to the crowd. The Panama City Beach vacation rentals offered by itrip qualify to be your perfect home-away-from-home! .....

What works best in this assignment is that the number of articles expected to be delivered by me each month is not only easily manageable but at the same time would not affect my other regular assignments too...

Am in talks with another similar assignment... details when i manage to nail that too!! fingers crossed for sure! :)

The Anatomy Of Medical/Scientific Articles

2010-01-08T15:27:00.003+05:30

Dear readers,

Before I begin, here's wishing the all of you a very happy, healthy and a prosperous new year! The year 2009 provided me the chance to try out different genres of projects. Some of them were technical and completely new to me. One similar category was that of medical writing, or simply said, article pertaining to diseases or medicine. There are some points which are required to be kept in mind when writing the content for these medical articles.

1. Since these are medical articles therefore it is very important to get the facts correct and verified. If the internet is used to carry out research then it is extremely important to validate the website that you are using to source the data/information for your article. There are several reputed medical websites that you can use for your research. These include www.webmd.com; www.healthline.com and www.nlm.nih.gov.

2. There is very little scope of playing around with the content here as most of these articles have a strict vocabulary that they need to adhere too.

3. It is generally preferred that these kind of articles have with them the list of references that were used/ consulted while drafting its content. This would make it easy for the readers to go back and consult the original paper if they seek any further clarifications.

4. There are strict principles to be followed when one goes ahead and writes the references. There is a fixed pattern to be followed while doing so. Ideally the reference should include; the authors name, the title of the work, a sub title if any, the publisher and the date when it was published. An example here world be Tierney, John (2006) Criminology: Theory and Context. 2nd Ed. Harlow:
Pearson/Longman. It is very important to remain consistent with the pattern that you follow.

5. Most of these medical articles include in them several definitions. It is very important not to alter the terms and language of these definitions and to try and use them as they are. It would be just like trying to formulate Newtons Law Of Motion in your own words! Pure catastrophe.

Keep these tips in mind and writing medical essays will no longer be a dreaded nightmare. Believe me.. I am the perfect case of been there seen all!! :)

I Wish For A Stocking Big Enough..

2009-12-24T20:07:00.004+05:30

Dear Santa,

As I write this blog post Google tells me that you have already crossed over most of the eastern hemisphere and are now over Korea so I better hurry up with this!
My wish list aint all that complicated and I am sure you can manage it :)

1. Please get me some good client referrals the next year. I have been lucky enough to have some extremely good and valuable clients this year and a couple of new additions to the list surely will not hurt me!

2. I would love to work more with clients who believed in me and my talent and gave me the freedom to work on the assignment my way. Trust me I will not let you down here!

2. It would be great it you could just about add a couple of extra hours every day. Would love to spend it learning a new hobby.

3. Could you also sneak in some good leads of writers whom i would love to follow?!

4. Santa, I could so do with a separate room for my work so if you could magically make my 2 BHK apartment into a 3 BHK one then it would be awesome!

5. I would love to add to my collection of books so a one year free gift subscription of The Landmark would be the icing on the cake.

6. I am seriously not a sucker for electronics but if you are so insistent then a Kindle would be fine! ;)

That's about it. Did i not tell you that I will not be too demanding?! Also as a parting gift could you try removing chocolates and cakes from the unhealthy list and moving it to the healthy list ehh?!

Ohh that reminds me, do you need some new content on your website Santa?? ;) Feel free to contact me.. For you I can surely come up with a good negotiation price!! What say Santa??!! I am waiting!!

The Year Of The Ox Gets Ready To Give Way To The Year Of The Tiger!

2009-12-17T14:56:00.001+05:30

The year 2009 is almost gone. Yes, once more the time comes when we sit and wonder as to how soon the year went by. So while we do the thinking I thought of listing together what all was special at my end for the year 2009!

1. The year bought with it a good and a promising flow of projects for me to work on. Also, I got my 1st regular content writing client whose monthly pay checks are now responsible for the ‘almost visible’ savings in my account! Thank you Henrik! :)

2. My portfolio too was a witness to steady progress when it moved from its word format to a pdf format in 2008 to its latest online version in 2009. Yes, Niha Redhu got live in 2009!

3. 2009 also saw me getting introduced to the ‘all the while sitting there’ world of social networking. An account on Twitter followed and with it came a whole bunch of good connections and amazing friends. My account on LinkedIn created ages ago was also taken out of the cobwebs and dusted. Finally I had in place the means to get connected to the ‘right’ people.

4. The year was also dedicated to the memory of the ‘big fat Indian get together’ which had me and my husband jet hopping at regular intervals to the various longitudes and latitudes of the country.

5. We also finally managed the long awaited trip to Goa! Yeah well let’s not stray longer here as I might just give into the temptation of buying tickets again for the New Years In ago! Highly tempting I say!

6. Oh and yes, I finally have a designated space as my ‘office’ in my house. Though I share the space with the treadmill, the ironing board, the husband’s utterly precious, ‘highly loaded’ desktop as well as the shoe rack I STILL did manage to find some space for myself in that very room! Highly efficient I say! :)

7. I also finally managed to get rid of my pricing inhibitions and could start quoting rates for my writing services confidently! You might not believe but when I started freelancing, any new project always made nervous as to how much should I quote for the assignment and if I could actually deliver on the needed requirements! Surely practice makes a man perfect and in my case confident!

8. On my personal front, the year was a mixed bag. With the occasional bouts of illnesses we did have our fair share of visits to the clinics as well. Not disappointing us this time too was our frequent food expeditions and with the decent help of a fair amount of diegene tablets we did manage to dig out some fairly good eating joints in Bangalore! A complete foodie couple is what we are!

9. We also managed to take time out and do our share of travelling this year which included a trip to Goa( from here both of us came back looking like a native West Indies couple), a trip to Humpi( with limited electricity, no telephones and ATM’s it was a complete backpackers holiday) and our lip smacking French cuisine journey along with the shopping spree in Pondicherry(the wood fired Pizza’s and the melting garlic naans were absolute killers!).

Dear happy God ji, I look towards the next year with hope and lots of expectations. Hope that it has in store for me more exciting projects, more exciting (would surely not mind exotic too) vacations and the chance to meet a whole new bunch of friends and people. Ohh and yes, the occasional reassuring jingle from my bank account too would be appreciated!

Making The Most Of The Free Time

2009-12-17T12:08:00.003+05:30

It is that time of the year again when festivities are in the air. As expected there is also a pitfall in the number of assignments up for grabs as probable clients in the US and Europe have virtually shut down their shops for the holidays. This left me with some good time on my hands to utilize on tasks which i felt had been kept neglected since long. To start with my website, i was since long wanting to update my portfolio as well as certain sections on the website. There was also the months old deliberation going in my head regarding putting up my prices on the website or not. Finally I did decide to do that. Results and effects on that change are highly awaited though! :)The work on the website was not all that much but yes the time was always a factor. Finally I got that sorted out and have the additions made to the website.

My reader too is about to burst to the seems with the huge number of unread blog entries that it is managing. I will be truthful when i say that in the recent months my reading time had reduced considerably owing to the number of assignments I was handling. So I am back with a vengeance to get back on my reading. I am also in the process of rearranging my list on the reader by removing some blogs and adding some new names to it.

I would also like to devote some time to my blog while I am free and try and pen down some good posts at regular intervals. I guess this is something that all of us should do when there is not enough work on our hands. I know so many individuals who utilize their free time writing down and creating a stock of blogs which they then go ahead and post later on at regular intervals. Smart move I say!

The other thing which i need to work on are my social networking networks. Connecting to new connections and getting back in touch with the old ones will help me get some conversations on! :)

But then i also advocate the fact that one surely needs some time to get out and spend some time doing things to fresh up and get back the energy. So it might be a day out with friends, or a night out at the club anything which you enjoy doing is something which you should try.

For me it will be adding some new books to my library, adding some new plants to my 'minuscule' garden up here on the first floor and of course catching up with old friends and the latest gossips doing the rounds now a days! Believe me it helps perk you help.. yes males and females both! :D

What about you? What do you do to spend your free time?

Portfolio Updated!

2009-12-13T17:17:00.003+05:30

It was long due for me to get my portfolio on my website updated. Finally got it done last week. Have added to it my latest assignments which include web content generation for websites as well as content for a brochure.

The other changes in there is the content for the 'About Me' section. There is so much to Niha than what I thought I had in there previously! So thought of adding some more content to it.. naah no self promotion for sure!! You get me as I am.. straight from the heart! :)

The Writing Price List Finally Goes Public!

2009-12-13T16:54:00.003+05:30

I had been long contemplating and debating on the fact that should I or shouldn't go ahead and replace the standard and safe 'request a quote' web page on my website with my writing rates. The variable in consideration were plenty and so were the advices which came my way. I decided to take a fair perspective. So with a paper and pen I sat down and made 2 columns on the paper and started listing out the advantages and disadvantages which I could think of regarding posting my writing prices on my website.

Both the columns seemed to have equal number of points! But then deep inside i knew that it was the right time to bring out my writing rates. There was just one problem which was nagging me regarding it and that was the point that by posting my writing prices I would be reducing my chances of potential client interactions as they would now not be contacting me if they feel that my writing services prices are beyond their reach. But it did not take me long to realise that if these viewers did like my work and seeked quality work on their projects then they would by all means approach me!

The other factor that stood out was that now I would be able to concentrate my time only on a handful of clients who would be now knowing what price to expect for their project so that we could go ahead and straight away concentrate on the project. Believe me, when you work as a freelancer, the most time consuming task can be the one when you have to reply to queries regarding the prices charged and the ones which start a price negotiating cycle.

My profession of freelance web writing has many writers who provide content for as low as $1 per page. So by putting up my writing price list I wish to finally and once and for all declare it that no I am NOT one of them. I love my profession and I ensure that my work reflects the same passion and dedication. My writing price list is justified by the quality of my work that I deliver. So if you get what you want for your project I too have the right to charge logically for the same right?

After all, what I am bringing in is transparency and ease so that clients seeking a web content writer will know what to expect! You can check out the content writing rates at my website and let me know what you think!

Busy Was The Buzz Word This Week!

2009-12-04T14:41:00.006+05:30

This week has been a hectic one for sure.. For starters my regular wok too came not in cart loads but in truck fulls and then along came two new projects too. The first project was content writing for a consulting website.

Client: Castle Consultants

The client wanted content on specific guidelines to be used for their financial consulting section. Since the client was expecting some good contracts in a couple of days there fore the requirement of having the content and putting the same on the website as soon as possible was a necessity. Having said that, the complexity aggravated with the fact that the topics I had to write on were completely new to me! The client did provide me with a foot hold to start on but I knew that i had to get my basics clear before i attempted writing.

Clients brief: The content should be crisp, targeting to a niche of customers, should bring out genuineness and credibility as well as sound professional.

I had expected before hand that the assignment was going to be a bit tough and yes it surely was. Tough as in the fact that i needed to understand the topics, understand the requirement and deliver on the same in a span of 2 days. The client was patient enough to go through my drafts and suggest modifications. 2 rounds of modifications followed before the final content was settled for. Now when I look back at this particular assignment I can analyze that what took me the most time here was to get in the right customer targeting. I was blocking my usage to a couple of words only which when I rectified saw things falling in place.

Since I cannot post the entire content here I will copy a part of the content that the assignment for you have an idea...

Government Liaising & Product Launch
Castle Consultants aspires to make your business dealing with various government agencies completely hassle free. We at Castle Consultants understand the difficulties that businesses encounter with government agencies for getting various approvals. We have the desired skills to understand government requirements, procedures, and paper work involved towards setting up new businesses and running them.

Our team of government liaison experts are very well equipped to provide you with government and business liaison services to your utmost satisfaction. The government liaison services at Castle Consulting are ideally crafted allowing us to take care of all the modalities and tasks involved while you can freely work towards meeting your strategic business goals and ensuring growth of your company.
Adding another feather to its cap is the sound marketing management skills that you can avail from Castle consultants. Coupled with adequate and in depth marketing research the business strategy development offered by Castle consultants ensures that your business product is placed in the right market framework and it gets the perfect launch that it deserves. First hand market experience along with the essence of sophisticated market planning gives our experienced and qualifies marketing consultants the extra edge that they need in order to make your product launch a winning one!

The other assignment that i wrapped up was for an image consultancy firm called Indihues.

Situated in Mumbai, India, this company also provides personal styling services and as a part of the same they are going to organize a workshop on "Power Dressing" for employees of various big corporate houses. The requirement here was a bit unique. The client has the entire literature ready but wanted help to convert it into a script. A script that the presenter would present in front of the crowd in the workshop.

Client Brief: The script should be conversational. The language should not be heavy email type but rather the funky sms lingo type. There should be enough punches to make the entire script funny and therefore be able to keep the audience hooked. The principle of connect and disconnect using live situational example too should be incorporated.

Since it would be presented by a young presenter therefore the tone of the script had to be young and fresh. The task involved me having to go through various fashion blogs and websites dedicated to styling of men and have in hand some funky instances and quotes which i could use. The best way that i thought was to approach the project was to imagine myself speaking the entire thing in front of the crowd. This bought sentences into my head. Since I was new to scripting the client also suggested a wonderful idea that i take each topic as a scene and then work on it. Working on in part by part really helped.

Find below a part of the script that I have sent to the client for his feedback.

If you wish to adorn you shirt with a cuff link then first you need to have crisp white French cuffed shirt to qualify! Remember, cuff links just don’t work on any other shirt.

When it comes to handkerchiefs (or pocket squares) your best bet would be one in dark blue or gray. But when in doubt, swear by the white!

A watch too is a perfect accessory. But formal watches can only be leather band watches. PERIOD. Silver or steel-band timepieces just do not work for formal occasions.

Moving to ties, i am reminded of a joke which says that “Yesterday I got my tie stuck in the fax machine. Next thing I knew, I was in Los Angeles."! So you see a tie CAN take you places!

A garish tie will stand out like a bad haircut. A solid black, silver or blue tie in muted tones would be your safest bet. You can tie your tie in three basic ways; the four in hand knot, the half Windsor knot as well as the Windsor knot.

I feel that if you are wearing a tie you should also go for a tie clip. It keeps your tie in place when you’re standing and out of your soup when you’re eating!

Would love to hear from you on this!

Stress Busters Any One?

2009-11-29T13:34:00.002+05:30

Most of us take on to freelancing with the thought that finally one would be able to regulate and control their work schedule and work at their own will. But it is seen that even this free at will work regime crumbles under the toll of stress if not managed properly. I too suffered from the same issue a few months after I started working as a freelance content writer. But then slowly i also realised means and ways to control it. It is important to find that 'perfect' stress buster that works the best for you. Not because it will help you increase your productivity at work but also because it will keep you happy and spirited. In my case I have found the following work best for me to help control/combat stress.

1. I limit the work which I take. For any freelancer the chance to work on multiple projects seems to be the best that could be possible but one does not realise the amount of stress it gets with it. when you have with you much more work than what you could easily handle then you are bound to feel the pressure of delivering on time. I have also realised that when I am working on several projects at one go it kind of decreases my work output and the results too could have been better. I have therefore made it a point to work only on a few projects at one go and deliver my best towards them.

2. I now make a schedule and most importantly STICK to it. It is important to have a rough time plan for everyday when one starts work. What is more important is that one stops work when the time is up. This will ensure that you get some quality time for yourself.

3. I find taking small breaks thought my work schedule very helpful. I make use of these breaks to read a book, cook a quick snack or listen to some music. I refrain from using this time doing something sitting at my work place. What is important for these breaks is that that you move away from your work place and feel fresh.

4. I also get stressed when i see myself moving behind deadlines. In my case the major culprit here are the distractions in the form twitter, face book and emails. To control this I have now slotted fixed time slots in my schedule when i go and attend to them and therefore do not spend my time checking for mails and notification randomly.

These tips work for me but might not for you. what is important is that you identify those for yourself and then stick to it. You yourself will be amazed by the positive results that you see for yourself in your routine.

A First: MBA Essays

2009-11-15T13:52:00.002+05:30

Lately I have been occupied helping a friend with his essays for his MBA applications. With the list of institutes amounting to 4 there are good about 12 odd essays to tackle. Till now I had not worked on this kind of project because of 2 main reasons. Firstly, none came my way and secondly I was too scared to try looking for them! :) yeah.. i don't know why but the thought that the person's career depended on these essays was enough to scare me off! But when this my friend approached me for help I could not say no and therefore took it as a shot to scare the thought off.

Working with these essays there were some main things which stood out:
1. The word limit! This can turn out to be the most excruciating part of the entire exercise as it is very difficult to round up such elaborate topics within the said word limit.
2. The aim of grabbing the attention of the reader right from the first sentence. I thought of the fact that the aim here is to grab the attention of the reader in the midst of thousands of odd applications and for the same it was required that it have a good start. Also an impactful ending which can leave the reader curious will increase the probability of your application being selected.
3. Not making the essay sound drab and mechanical. It is very important to make it feel personal and something which is right from the heart.
4. Refraining from using too many big words. It is best to make use of simple words and short sentences in your essays. An overdose of too many big words will make it sound very artificial.
5. Never exaggerate and spin tales in your essays. You have to remember that your interview will very much be based on your essays so it is important to stick to true facts.
6. Keep in mind to keep all your essays in the same flow and ensure that you do not end up disputing your own thoughts in your essays. They should all have a common theme revolving around them.

Since the essays have not been submitted I cannot show them here. So it is going to be some wait till I can put them here. It will be a great opportunity to showcase that rare "before" and "after" moment! :)

The Link For The Not-For Profit Dance Foundation

2009-11-06T15:27:00.001+05:30

My last content writing assignment, the not for profit dance foundation is up and live. I was emailed the link last night. Thought I will put it on the blog for all to view and share their comments!

The academy is called Guiding Star Dance Foundation and the link for the same is www.gsdfonline.org.

A couple of changes( nothing major though) has been suggested by me to the client regarding the arrangement of the text on certain web pages. Apart from these web pages there will be the addition of 1 new page. It will have a membership form for willing guests to fill and become a member of this foundation.

Freelancing Is All About Decisions

2009-10-30T15:48:00.004+05:30

Freelancing is all about making choices. Right from deciding your work routine to selecting clients and working on payment options, there are a lot of facets that you need to work upon and decide. My journey as a freelance content writer made me come face to face with my share of decisions too. I fumbled upon many initially but with time I surely got more wiser and understood the demands of the business. Based on my personal experience I would like to share some decisive moments that I came across.

1. When starting out initially as a freelancer your basic aim has to be to build on an impressive portfolio. For the same there is no harm if you would do some projects for free. This would help you provide the right kind of work exposure and at the same time allow you to settle down in your line of work. One should never assume that assignments done for free would be less creative. Use every opportunity that comes your way to help refine your talent.

2. When you come across a new project the best way to get off the predicament of accepting it or refusing it can be dealt by asking yourself as to what the project can help you with. Will it help you widen your already existing skill set or help you foray into new territories.

3. It is always a good choice to be the master of one area rather than being average at many!

4. You need to draw a line as to what is the amount of work that you can handle easily and deliver the best doing the same. It is very common for us to get drawn towards taking up more work than we can actually handle. In such a case we are not only unable to devote good time on all the projects but at the same time risk deteriorating our health too. Therefore LIMIT is the key!

5. If possible it is always a good idea to get into a contract with your client. Not only will this safeguard your interest as well as the clients but at the same time it will allow you to stop worrying about the payments and thereby you can concentrate more on your work.

6. It is always a good idea to maintain a gaod rapport with your clients. A small note once in a while will not only allow you to stay in touch with them but at the same time make your client appreciate your relationship.

7. It is extremely mandatory to stick to your work ethics! If you feel that this particular project is not suiting your work area but the client is persistent that you take it there is no point buckling under pressure. A polite denial along with valid reasons will help you sail through.

8. There is no written rule as to what is the best payment option between an upfront payment or partial payment. Though an upfront initial payment is always a good idea but the choice needs to be biased on a " client basis" and the relationship that you share with him.

You can now select the ones which apply relevantly to your sphere of work and do feel free to share your tips too!

Relevance Of Blogs- Why And How!

2009-10-11T18:49:00.005+05:30

A friend of mine venturing into freelance writing recently asked me if it was the advisable for her to start writing a blog right at the start of her career in this field. Apparently she had been advised that it is better to establish oneself in this field first and then start with a blog. I do not believe the same. I rather suggested to start writing a blog as soon as possible and use this platform to promote her work and talent. yes, why not? The kind of reach that a blog can provide your business is enormous. The visibility that a blog gets to your business allows you to harness it to your advantage.

The process of setting up a blog is extremely simple. All you need is to join any of the free blogging websites( blogger and Wordpress are the most common ones), select a domain name for yourself, find yourself a hosting space if the blogging website does not provide you with one( blogger does) and follow the simple registration procedure. Once you have an account go about personalizing your blog by adding to it themes and backgrounds that you wish too. The choices towards personalizing your blog are endless! There can be so many reasons that I can list which makes blogging a MUST for an individual who might be working in any field.

1. Visibility: A blog gives you and your business the web presence that you need in order to be seen by the right people.
2. Publicity: A blog allows you to connect with other like minded people on the internet and gives your business the scope of expanding further. Use your blog to your advantage to advertise your talent and as an effective means of networking.
3. Showcase: By means of a blog you can showcase your expertise in your field and at the same time use it as a mean to put forward your portfolio. You could link your blog to your website or add a page of your portfolio to your blog.
4. Portfolio: If you are a beginner and have no portfolio to show then use your blog as your portfolio. In case of a writer use it to write good articles which falls in your area of expertise and then go ahead and forward the link of your blog to prospective clients.

A blog is reflective of your work and is an effective way of marking your presence on the internet. Try and make your blog as expressive towards your services as possible. Use of images, crisp titles and interesting, relevant content are the secrets of a successful blog. Do not write a blog just because everyone else is doing so. Realise the importance that is attached to it and consider it as a part of your business.

One More Project For The Files

2009-10-03T17:58:00.007+05:30

My content generation project for the non profit dance foundation is done. The foundation is named as Guiding Star Dance Foundation. The project was challenging in a way that non profit oganizations demand a little shift in tone while drafting their content and try and make it a little more persuasive and genuine. As discussed earlier, the client had provided me the freedom to structure their website by deciding on the tabs that should be there on the website. The only condition was that all the desired components should be incorporated in the content. The aim of the foundation - to promote Indian dance forms in US- should clearly come across as should the fact that the foundation is a 501(c)(3) oganization.

I looked on the Internet for several other websites working in the same functional area and got an idea as to what all should be there on the website. Also, it gave me a couple of ideas to structure the content on the website. Based on the same as well as the inputs that I got from the client i chalked the skeleton and sent it to the client for his approval.

Once I got the approval from the client on the same I started with my work of structuring content for it. I decided to keep it to the point and concise but since it was aimed towards getting in sponsors therefore it HAD to have some marketing punch too. Not too much but of course! I structured the website to have a Company page, About Us Page, Education page( it further would have 2 parts- mentors as well as schedules and archives) Foundation Page( it would be divided into board of directors, sponsors as well as mailing list tabs), Donate as well as Contact us web pages.

I decided to draft the 'Company' page first as being the landing page it would need to be impressive and take the most time too. Related on similar lines were the 'Foundation' tab as well as the 'About Us' tab. Effort was therefore put in towards trying to bring in a clear distinction as to what content goes in where. Since the client already has a dance academy website(www.guidingstaronline.com) which was drafted by me only, therefore the cleint has asked to pick some content from it and use it towards the 'Education' tab.

Though the task took me 4 days to complete it but the end result was up to my satisfaction. Am yet to hear from the cleint for his final word so there is still the last YES awaited to consider the project DONE! :)

As always, the link of the website will be duly posted once it is live for all you guys to have a look at the final drafted product.

How Much Information Is Too Much Information?

2009-10-02T20:07:00.005+05:30

When talking to a client most of us face the dilemma of how much information should be shared with a client when he approaches you with a project? I have always advocated the fact that one should be responsive to all the client queries and try and make him comfortable enough so that he gives you the project. For the same I would go ahead and share my opinion, my views towards his project and what would be the best approach forward. In most cases the client would appreciate my vision and honesty and that would allow me to put his doubts at rest. But then in certain situations I would wonder if that was the right move.

What if the client decides to use my suggestions by taking on board a cheaper writer and asking him to implement all that I had recommended! This could be sure possibility. So what should be the right way ahead?

I say, when a client approaches you try and provide him with a basic skeleton of your ideas leaving behind your actual plans. Leave small teasers for him regarding your vision which would make him interested to take you on board so that you could implement the same.

Providing him with complete samples could be the worst thing that you could do as he could use the same your sample without informing you! In such a situation when a sample is desired from your end it would be a good call to inform the client that you would be submitting just a small paragraph of content and not the actual article. By doing so not only can the prospective client get a look at your creativity and at the same time the length of the sample would not be enough for him to use as such. Never overstretch your offering. Make the client inquisitive for more. This will make him come back to you!

A New Day A New Project!

2009-09-26T17:00:00.004+05:30

Assignment: Website and marketing collateral for a not-for-profit dance foundation.

I had mentioned in my last post that work on a website for a non profit dance academy was due to start, and yes it is on! This assignment would allow me to work towards drafting the entire content for the website as well as working on their marketing material too. The dance academy wishes to go the non profit way and wishes to collect money from shows and use the same money towards sponsoring children to enroll themselves in dance schools. An absolutely noble thought!

What is particularly great about this project is that the client has given me a free hand to even structure the skeleton of the website! This made me suggest tabs we could use, the content which should be put and structuring the same. Since the website is for a non profit use therefore it will not be investing all that much on the designing part. The ‘attraction grabber’ therefore has to be the content.

Structure:
To work on the structure of the website I browsed the internet for other websites on similar lines. Taking an idea from them on as to what are the important elements which it should have and how to structure the same. Once done I set down and made a structure which suited the clients need. I decided to keep it simple and yet effective. I liked the concept of having a main tab with sub tabs attached to it. By doing this not only will the content have flow and at the same time I will be able to add all the content that should come without creating mess in one single tab.

Client’s brief: The content has to be based on the fact that we are promoting and creating awareness towards Indian dance forms in the US. The content should be to the point and try and include bullet points wherever possible.

As mentioned, the project was bifurcated in two parts; the website as well as the marketing collateral. The marketing stuff is taken care off as the client has provided with a sample of what he actually wants and will be working on the same line. It would be including an introductory letter, a couple of application; the sponsorship levels available as well as info on the upcoming shows. Here too marketing collateral= Punch lines!! Something which my assignment with www.savingsmela.com has taught me good enough! Since I could manage that I expect this to be a breezer.

Once done with the marketing requirement I will start structuring the content for the approved website skeleton. I have made some rough notes on what I would be putting there. Need to talk to the client on these and see if it works for him too. The website has yet to be registered and will surely upload here the final product.

A new theme, some new energy.. I love my work!!

The World Of Presentations!

2009-09-18T16:02:00.003+05:30

I mentioned in my last post that I was working on making a presentation for www.savingsmela.com and boy what a process did it turn out to be! I was used to making presentations for my personal use but never for a company. And believe me there was a huge difference in it! Now once I am done with it I can look back and visualize myself as to how I managed to nail it and mind you with good and encouraging feedback! :)

The first draft that I sent was good but yes for a in house presentation. This I can say now after I compare it with the final product that I delivered. Even though I did try to make it creative but the punch was missing. Same was the feedback. I was back on a clean board! Went through a couple of sample presentations and saw where I was lacking. I discovered that it was the beginning. I had to make that IMPACTFUL. Something out of the ordinary. For the same I created an idea board wherein i jotted down words which came in my mind when I thought of the brand. Using them I made 3-4 small yet catchy slides as an introduction. And believe me it worked! Things simply fell into place! All I did was to combine these slides with the ones that I had sent previously and voila I had my presentation ready!

And the result was something that made me excited too!! It is all about words. And in presentations the lesser the better. Create impact. Use words as a double edge sword. Something that will make your reader to hook on and go to the next stage. Believe me it is possible! Keep this as your motto when you have to make a presentation. Highlighting key points on the slides too adds to its visual appeal. It is also a great idea to incorporate box diagrams instead of filling all your slides with plain text.

Also, it is very important to keep in mind the fact that the ending of the presentation too is as important as the beginning. You have to make your readers leave excited and with a thought in their mind. It is a good idea to end your presentation with a thought provoking slide or may be with a summary of your presentation in a fun filled way. Anything will work as long as your audience is hooked!

I so wish that I could share the final presentation with you guys here but we have the issue of copyrighting!

Work Has Been Good...

2009-09-12T21:38:00.002+05:30

I know it has been time since I blogged about my work and projects. Things have been pretty hectic here. With my regular work I have been tied up with new assignments and projects. The most significant being getting into a contract with www.savingsmela.com. A deals directory I have been roped in to take care of their marketing needs and delivering content on the same. Am on a contract with these guys for an year now.

By saying a deal's directory what is inferred is that it is a one stop platform to showcase all the store as well as well online deals available. Kinda cool concept for sure!

Am done with a couple of business letters for them and am on working on their marketing presentations right now.This assignment has bought with it a couple of firsts for me. Business writing was not something which I had tried before. I am more of a copy writing guy. So drafting business letters and business proposals liberally doused in marketing punches took me to a new area. I did manage to sail through good with the letters but the business proposal came back wonderfully rejected! :) will have to work hard on it now. Works well for me... I get to explore new facets of writing.

Client's brief: Marketing punch, Creativity. Marketing punch, Creativity! That sums it up!!

Being a start up the first impression surely has to be impactful. Have started work on the presentation and have sent the first few slides for feedback. I have always felt that the difference between a normal presentation and a powerful presentation are the simple one liner messages which can make the readers to think. I like creating impact with words. That is my style. I like to inject a couple of these one liner slides in between the regular content. By this way I am able to control the attention of the reader.

Will await feedback and then proceed forward. Since the content here is copyrighted I will not be able to post it but yes will surely update you on the journey.

Meanwhile there is a website for a non profit dance academy in the US for which i will start working from next week probably. So it is hands full right now!

Cheers!!

How To Price Your Work

2009-09-05T20:52:00.002+05:30

The most common issue with most freelancers is the process of deciding the price for a project. All of us wish to get compensated adequately for our efforts towards a project. The right strategy forward should be an ideal combination of adequate compensation to the freelancer as well a happy client.

My way forward is simple. I base my projected calculations for all projects keeping in mind the amount of work desired by me and the time it would take for me to complete the same. If the project includes comprehensive research then that too is taken into account. I consider it to be a good trick to divide the entire project into smaller projects. Once done with that you can move on and see the time that you would take to complete all of these smaller projects.

Combine the hours of all the small projects together and multiply it with your hourly price rate and voila you have a price ready to be quoted to the client! :) If you foresee that you would be needing to stay in regular touch with the client on the telephone during the due course of the project then you could include the expected charges for the same in the total estimated cost for the project.

It is also a great idea to regard the future prospects that you could be involved in with the client. If you foresee good and regular work from the client you can always go ahead and reduce the price you would have otherwise quoted.

What I have mentioned here is my way of arriving at a solution. All of us have our own ways, what is important is that we, the freelancers, are paid for our hard work at the end of the day.

Learn To Say NO

2009-08-29T14:22:00.002+05:30

Even though how much ever we might wish for not all clients fall in the same category. And when I say that i mean the good category! There are plenty of chances that you might land up with clients who might leave no stones unturned in making their project a real trouble to get over with. The issues could be plenty.

Your endless corrections might not be approved, they might still be looking out for answers towards what they are actually seeking out from you or worst that they decide endless times during the due course of the project to introduce changes.

Whatever be the reason the fact is that you are now tied up with a tough nut to crack. Solution? Get out of it!

Fortunately, as a freelancer you have the choice of weeding out projects and rejecting them if you start feeling uncomfortable in the initial stages itself. Believe me, that is the wisest thing to do. Understand this that if you end up taking that project you will be most probably hurling yourself towards a project which will not be making you happy for a long time. So it is better to refuse early on.
However if you have still somehow managed to put yourself in the midst of trouble and now wish to find a way out then the most workable solution is to politely convey your sentiments to the client. Agreed that in our line of work client referrals are very prized but then the refusal can be done in a very polite and courteous way too.
It would be a great idea if you could provide the client with alternatives like say names of other freelancers who might be interested in doing the project. By doing this you will not leave your client feeling that you deserted him midway.

So how do you just know that the project you are doing is just not good enough to be pursued further? The following points may be of help.

1. You realise that you have way passed the initial deadline that you had set towards completion of the project.
2. The main theme of the project has changed ever since you started working on it.
3. You are spending way too much time on the project than what you had decided to spend on it.
4. The client still seems confused and uncertain regarding the path on which the project is moving.
5. It is becoming very difficult to maintain regular contact with the client as he does not seem to be easily accessible.

If its a Yes for most of these points then it is better that you stamp the golden word NO and move on!

Freelancing: Is It Really For You?

2009-08-25T19:50:00.005+05:30

The idea of freelancing brings in images of working from home, at will schedules, relaxed work conditions and a complete stress free environment. These conditions are sure to make the job look very attractive and alluring. But what is necessary is that you give freelancing a good thought before considering it as your profession. Need a checklist? Well here it is!

1. Be prepared to multitask! Working from home might make you feel that it would be a tension free job but believe you me when you work from home it is anything but that! You would be expected to take care of your household chores along with your job.

2. With most freelancers it is seen that an absence of steady income is the biggest grouse. This become all the more important when you have a family to support. The initial periods can be pretty choppy as a freelancer and you need to be prepared for it.

3. When you freelance you are a brand in itself. You have no secretaries and juniors to help them manage those for you now. When you freelance you are a one man army! You need to take care of all your advertising needs to make your name visible in the freelancing market. This can prove to be a little too much when you already have chores to handle, deadlines to meet and emails to take care of.

4. Making a schedule is not difficult, what is tough is sticking to it! As a freelancer there are times when you might just find this all very overwhelming. In the absence of a 9 to 5 schedule which you had back in office this might be a bit complicated! The inability to manage your time constructively can prove out to be very frustrating for most freelancers.

If you are game for the mentioned pointers then simply hop on! The world of freelancing is eager to greet you!

Take Your Freelancing Career From Good to Great

2009-08-19T17:48:00.003+05:30

Being a freelance writer is a career option that anyone with a flair of writing can get into. You could make it your part time jig or you could opt for it as a full time career. It is in the latter case that you really need to put things into perspective. If freelance writing is your full time job option then you need to treat it as one.

Most of us in the line of business fail to generate this sense of seriousness and therefore find themselves fighting deadlines and working overtime. This should not be what you should be facing ideally. As a freelance you do have the liberty of working at your own will but one needs to be clever enough to make the most of the time.

I too faced similar situations when I started up as a freelance content writer. As I was working from home I had to handle my work responsibilities as well as the responsibilities back home. and believe you me this was not easy. The mantra which worked was ROUTINE.

You might be working from home but you need to follow a routine, something that you follow in the office. Till the time you do not infuse a generous amount of professionalism to your freelancing it will not succeed. Try and set a time schedule for yourself. Waking up at a fixed time, getting dressed, eating your breakfast and sitting down for work at an appointed time. This will tune your body and allow it to get into a routine.
Prioritize your time. You could designate a time slot during the day for checking mails and replying back, similarly a time slot for rest.
Since you are working from home you should also be prepared for unforeseen activities which you might have to cater too. Getting some repairs done, picking up or dropping guests or maybe having to pay a visit to the bank or post office. what is important is not to get irritated by these small changes. A bad mood could lead to a completely unproductive day at work!
Be regular on your blogs and websites too. You need to update your portfolio regularly as this is what your clients will look at when they visit your website. Any casualness here can result in clients turning back.
It is a good idea to have some personalized stationary printed for yourself. business cards, letterheads can add the needed touch of professionalism to your freelancing.
In freelancing it all boils down to networking. Make ample use of forums and blogs to interact with fellow writers. this would help you increase your base.
There could be no better advertisers and marketing options than your old clients. Once you are done with the project for your client does not mean that you do not remain in touch with them. It is always a good idea to maintain a regular follow up with them.
If you are in your initial stages of starting as a freelance writer and you are being offered to do some notable work for free then it would be a good idea to take it on. Building up a portfolio is what you should be concentrating on initially and for that you need to regularly keep on adding work. This does not imply that you take up any free project that comes your way. If you feel strongly towards a project and sense that it could help you to showcase your creativity then only opt for it.

These pointers might sound to be very basic and simple but they can do wonders to help you establish your self in your choice of field.

I am LIVE!

2009-08-14T18:24:00.005+05:30

I have finally managed it. After months of deliberations and work my website is up and live!!! yes.. I am now officially stamped at www.niharedhu.com ! It surely feels great to have a website. My identity, my profile and my portfolio all at the click of a mouse.. Convenience guys convenience!

I have kept the content short and simple. This was not an easy task! I mean I am used to writing volumes for others but when it comes to writing for self there is so much i wanted to put in that it was difficult to be selective. Using my personal experience i deliberately kept the content short and precise.

Would love to hear from everyone as to what they think of the same.. Since it is my baby so I don't see any short comings in it so I would value your suggestions!

Would not have been able to do so without the help of Megha... My words and her design made this a reality! :)

Make Your Work Area Work For You

2009-08-13T21:32:00.003+05:30

Working from as a freelancers allows me to work from home. A boon for someone like me who constantly worries about the house, the maid and home cooked food. I can now afford to to take care of all these; have a clean well home and have the luxury of cooking warm healthy meals too and at the same time work too! It does sound very appealing but believe me, it took more than some solid effort to make things work.

Working from home is good BUT getting into a routine is tough. when you are at home you are expected to multi task and yes you NEED to do it. But it is always good to have a routine. A routine will allow you to assign a time limit to all your activities and therefore not leave you hassled at the end of the day with a TO DO list still left to complete.

Working from home does not mean that you can work from the dining table. For a small time assignment that is feasible but if working full time at home then you need to have a work space of your own. If an extra room is beyond your reach at your home then a small well ventilated corner with ample light will do the needful. It is also advised that your work area should be screened from noise. A pair of sound proof headphones can do wonders to help you keep away from the noise.

It is always a good idea to keep your work area clean and organized. Removing unwanted papers and items can free the are and give you an area of space, something which can help you get that Eureka moment that you have been waiting for the entire day! Having a pen and paper handy to jot down those sudden idea's is a good idea!

Since working from home gives you the liberty to work you at your convenience( you can afford to go to an afternoon brunch and then work on till early morning!) you can go about fixing a time frame to handle your emails and then move on with your work and family priorities. The Internet too is a storehouse of several software tools which can help you managing your work tasks. Uploading files, HTML codes as well checking emails is not all that tough with these software's.

Useful Tools For Twitter

2009-08-10T21:37:00.003+05:30

Twitter, the social networking site has now reached exceptional heights of popularity. Keeping up with same I came across this blog entry which lists out 15 useful Twitter Tools to extract the maximum from Twitter.... I myself am a regular tweeter and am infact using some of these listed tools.. Could relate to this information so thought of sharing it with you too! :)

Enjoy!!

Article: 15 Useful Twitter Tools.

Pick Me!

2009-07-28T19:02:00.003+05:30

Yes, this is what all of us wish for when applying for an assignment. There have been instances when I had been so sure that I would definitely land up with a project but somehow at the end that never happened. Someone else was picked up instead of me. this bought me to realise that what is it in my, my skills that sets me apart from the others in my field. Once I could get to know these points I could then work towards making them work in my favor. trying to find out this is not at all difficult. All that is required is that you carry out a careful assessment of certain points and be the judge yourself.

In order to know your plus points ask yourself some hard questions; questions relating to as to why should clients pick you for their projects. Are you dependable, are you available, are you flexible with your approach, do you adhere to time lines, are you a pro at something, do you have good client testimonials to back your work, do you work cheap? These are some questions which can lead you towards the answer and the discovery of what is unique in your writing talent.

The next step? Hardcore Marketing!

Yes, in freelancing what is visible sells! once you know your positives which set you apart from the herd you need to go out and make your clients know that too! Send emails to prospective clients highlighting your plus points; discuss about these on your blog; emphasise on these points when you talk with clients; showcase client testimonials on your website. having said all this what remains the number one rule to follow is to DEMONSTRATE your skill to the client! With action speaking louder than words you need to prove it to your client that you HAVE the skill in you..

It is all about discovering and sticking to it... Every client likes to work with people who are not only good at their profession but at the same time are worth their salt too!

Twitter and You

2009-07-25T18:27:00.006+05:30

The buzz doing the rounds amongst everyone in any kind of field is 'networking'. There is nothing new with it as networking was always around but was something that was done in closed rooms and by exchanging visiting cards. With the Internet booming and opening new avenues the term networking has suddenly taken a whole new perspective. there are now present several forums where you can meet like minded people and interact with them at your convenience. Further these networking websites also allow you to separate your personal as well as professional interests by having both social as well as professional networking websites. A regular search on networking websites is bound to provide you with results which could leave you amazed. The latest entrant here is Twitter. The kind of buzz that twitter has generated amongst netizens is fantastic. So what is all the chirping all about?!

Twitter is a communication media which allows you to interact with other Twitterian's in short 140 character messages. This free to use tool allows you to interact with other people in the form of messages called tweets and you can find people who are either of your field or someone you wish to know more about.

So what is the connection between Twitter and Freelancing? Well, why freelancing, it could be any profession for that matter! Twitter allows you several advantages which you can harness and use to help you grow and spread your business needs.. How? Well, you got to read on!

Twitter allows you read the tweets/updates of other people which is referred to as following in the Twitter terminology as well as allows other to follow you too thereby providing you with followers. This is what you can use to your benefit.

1. Find your old clients using the search option and start following you.
2. Find contacts who can be prospective clients and follow them too.
3. It is always a good idea to market yourself. Tweet about your talent and thereby get the visibility.
4. Twitter comes with various job search options where in people DO tweet about their needs. Regularly check these search options and scout for openings of your like.
5. Make the most of the 'bio data' section on your twitter profile and convey the best about your profession. It is a god idea to use the major keywords relating to your profession here so that you appear on a search when done by someone looking for a person with your expertise.
6. Customise your twitter homepage in tune with your personality.
7. It is never a good idea to spam your followers. NO. NEVER.

Make the most of this 140 character tool and harness its potential for your benefit.

Let People Honor Your Talent

2009-07-23T18:48:00.005+05:30

Freelancing can be tough. With the market full of people selling their writing skills it can prove out to be a challenge for anyone wanting to establish themselves full time in this field. The scope available for freelancing is huge but so are the number of people who wish to try and attempt their skills at it. If you wish to make creative freelancing as your full time profession then you need to be all the more cautious because the work available in the market is shared between full time and part time freelancers.

So how can you make your mark? What sets you apart from the others? What can you do so that you can put forward a better impression to your clients than others? How can you convince your clients that you are the best that they can get for their project? It is not tough. I wish to take up my case on the same..

1. Work on your Identity and increase your visibility. It is always a good idea to have a website for yourself. Not only does this make you look professional but at the same goes a long way in projecting your seriousness in this profession. You need not shell out big bucks to get this done. There are available several templates online which can get this done for you for practically free. A simple website with honest, well written content is what your website should portray! You should also make your presence felt through various professional networking websites on the internet.

If you still just have a resume to provide it is a good idea to have it as a PDF file. An impression here goes a long way. If you really wish to spread the word around you could go about and splurge a little and get yourself some visiting cards made.

2. It is a very good habit to be easily accessible to your clients. Provide them with your contact details where you can be contacted easily. Though you can mention them the timings when you can be contacted so that your life does not feel intruded. Try and be quick when responding back to emails as clients like to be in touch with quick and responsive professionals.

3. I also think that it is a good idea to try and make a personal connect with your client and try and interact with him as a friend. By this it is not meant that you drop your professional guard. There is a thin line separating professional behavior and getting personal. Clients will like when you try and go the extra yard and talk about their project as their own with genuine inputs. believe me, IT WORKS!

4. Put together an elaborate portfolio of all your work along with the feedback from your previous clients to showcase to all your potential future connects. This will help the client to bridge the trust bridge and help him in developing confidence in your work and talent. If you have your website make sure that you integrate these items in it and highlight them prominently.

5. Watch your price negotiation timing. Do not start negotiating on the price at the first go. Doing so will project an image that it is only money that you are after. Project an image that you are doing this work of freelance writing for the sheer love of writing. Put forward a price looking at what the project is all about and once quoted stand by it. If you lower your price too often it will do no good to your serious professional image of a web content writer.

What ever be your strategy, the bottom line remains that you have to make your client believe that you have what he wants. You have to justify your talent as well your price and at the same time bring on an image that there is no one better than you available. Believe me, with a few tips this is completely achievable!

Brand Marketing

2009-07-20T21:38:00.004+05:30

This interesting article was doing the rounds on twitter. It goes on to illustrate what made Michael Jackson the brand that he was. A must read for all who wish to market themselves/their skills in the respective sphere's of work.. Very simple and too the point. Do read it and try to implement it as and when you can..

How Michael Jackson Became a Brand Icon : http://ow.ly/ha9e From The Harvard Business Review

A Thoughtful Read

2009-07-19T15:58:00.002+05:30

While surfing some blogs today I came across this simple yet good article. What I loved the most about this article apart from the message that it wished to convey was the simple language used in it. I truly feel that simple language can prove out to be more impactful than heavy words laden sentences. This piece conveys my thoughts!

The article is about tips and advices to make your writing powerful. Yeah I know.. you must be feeling that been there seen that but what is the harm if you get to read it all again and refresh your writing principles too!! :) Enjoy!!

Article: 7 Simple Ways to Dramatically Improve Everything You Write

The Fun of Freelancing

2009-07-17T17:44:00.002+05:30

It has been almost 3 years now since I quit a regular job and took up freelancing. As expected I was a bit hesitant in the beginning as to where it would lead me but then as I settled into freelancing I really took a liking for it. For me getting to work as a creative writer was the best outlet that I could get to do something that I truly loved.

Believe me, it makes a lot of difference when you get to work on something which you are truly attached too. You do not need any kind of motivation to drag you day after day and love the challenges that comes along. Freelancing as a content web writer did this for me. I have loved every day ever since I got into it. ( OK I have Monday blues here too :) )

Freelancing has bought with it a whole big bag full of advantages for me:

1. It allowed me to work on something which was my passion.
2. It introduced me to variety in writing through all kinds of projects that came along.
3. It made em grow socially by introducing to me a whole bunch of new people who not only bought me new work but also fellow writers whose writing master pieces left me in complete awe.
4. Freelancing bought with it flexibility. I could finally work on my terms and at last had NO boss over me!
5. It made me more responsible as now I was wholly and solely responsible for the work that I delivered to my clients.
6. Most importantly it is making me learn on how to negotiate! I would say that I am still learning this trade and have lots to learn here..
7. And of course, it brings in some real quick bucks! :) Believe me, you can really do some good cash counting here in this field once you have some good experience and a varied portfolio to back you.

A pen and paper (or a screen and a keyboard) having so much advantages??? Now that makes freelance web writing worth a try... What say??!

Virtues of my trade

2009-07-15T19:16:00.009+05:30

As a freelance creative writer I get to do writing assignments for clients who stay in different corners of the world. I do not get to meet most of them personally and it is my communication with them and most importantly my work which I deliver which projects my image to them. This makes it very important for me as a writer to be able to reach out to my clients. In this profession it works well to establish a good relationship with your client as they are the best advertisers that I can get for my work.

This makes professionalism an extremely integral part for my field of work. And let me tell you it is not at all difficult to inculcate professionalism in your field. Its actually very simple.

1. Deadlines and time lines form the back bone of my profession as a creative writer. An immaculate record with deadlines would speak a lot of good for me and would help me in routing in new prospective clients too. A dependable image is what is conveyed by it.

2. Maintaining a regular and a timely communication pattern with your client too plays a very important role in conveying your professional attitude. You have to understand that the project on which you are working is your clients and he has the full right to get involved with his project.

3. Be respectful and courteous in your communication as this will help your client to relax and instill in him confidence towards you.

4. Be completely honest in your approach and always put in your best in all your projects. If you are time bound and really do not have the time to take on a new project then it is always a good thought to convey it clearly to your client. Also, if due to any reason you are unable to deliver the deliverable to your client on time then be honest and do not come up with lame excuses. Your honesty towards your work will provide you with reliability.

These tips have worked for me and I am sure that anyone wanting to excel in any field too can use them to make the most of the situation. So all the best guys! :)

A new project came and delivered..

2009-07-14T18:20:00.007+05:30

Client: Urbanimatic Designs
Requirement: Content for home page.

Got hold of a new project on twitter and it was a quicky! :) The client needed content for the home page of his website. His website is all about website templates, twitter backgrounds and YouTube backgrounds.

His creative brief: I need the content to be personal because most of my followers asked me a lot of time where they can donate me a buck or two for the information and resources i share on twitter so i decided to create this websites and instead of donations they will be able to buy cool twitter background.

The client had also provided enough information for me to start work.
I got the understanding that the client wished the home page to be his forum to talk one to one with his friends and therefore his requirement of a personal language was completely justified. With no heavy words and a simple conversational language I formulated the content and delivered what the client needed.

Clear, prompt and easy availability of the client made the project easy.

The website might not be running as of now but should be up in a day or two... Till then the quest for new projects goes on!

PS: The work on the IT project is also going on with couple of reviews and edits. Have been paid the first installment and all's well! :)

My Tips, My Experience

2009-07-09T17:37:00.003+05:30

I may not have had enough time yet as a freelance content writer but there are certain things that I have discovered and rather drilled in my head to keep in mind. Practical tips which have come my way from my very own experience. Tips which might not sound all that important but believe me when you are working in this field of creative writing and that too as a freelancer they can help you wade through real smooth!

1. You have to learn to say NO too! I can imagine that as a freelancer you might be at times wanting to grab any project which comes your way but believe you me, you have to say no at times too. Doing projects for free or on terms which are totally dictated by your client will not get you any good. You have to understand this. It might be difficult to turn down a project but you have to make the client understand your terms and conditions too!

2. This brings me to my next tip. Before you start freelancing as a content writer devote some time and chart down your price list and your terms and conditions. I understand that when yous tart off you cannot charge high but this does not stop you from charging a decent befitting amount too. You have to make the client realise that you have the talent hence he has approached you for his work.

3. Never under price. Never put your talent on the line just to grab a project by succumbing to the pressure of the client asking you to lower your price. If you feel that you are charging the right justified amount then stick to it. You would portray a strong stable personality this way.

4. Never compromise on the quality of work. As a freelance content writer it is your work which is your identity. By delivering low quality work you are harming your reputation. One of the most common reason for producing low quality work is lack of time owing to too many projects. Therefore limit the amount of work that you take on at a particular time.

5. Do not shy from networking. For a freelancer it is the word of mouth which brings in business. For this you need to network effectively. To start networking ensure that you have your portfolio ready. If possible have your website created too. You can now become a member of the various networking communities on the Internet and simply sell your talent.

6. Communicate. Keep in touch with all your good clients as they are the one's who can be your best advertisers to future customers.

I take an advance payment of 50%- YES I DO

2009-07-07T12:22:00.005+05:30

I need to settle this once and for all. I have gone tired explaining it out as to why I need to have an advance before I start working on my projects. The clients have responded back plain rude, confused or in some instances considering that I do not have the required competence YET to put forward this demand. Now that is a sure OUCH. Just for my personal satisfaction I wish to openly state that Yes, I demand an advance if you wish to utilize my content writing services. This statement is not something which I go on to make just from the back of my head. I have reasons and rationales to back the same. reasons which justify that my services are worth an advance. Seriously, I guess I should attach this blog post with every correspondence that I have with my future clients! :)

I charge an advance because I have no intentions of falling prey to clients who to start off have a bag full of principles with them but later on decide to polish off with my work without paying a dime for it. By this I by no means wish to categorize all clients as bad. In fact, over a period of time I have had the opportunity to get to know some of the best human beings with whom I worked on individual projects. But then the entire picture is not as rosy. This rule by me is also because of some clients who for some strange reason decide to halt the project mid way. If you wish me to do the project pro bono kindly ASK. I might just do it for free! It is in my interest that I desire an advance. This allows me to safeguard my work, effort and time that I have devoted towards the project which the client very coolly decides to abandon with.
An advance payment allows me to judge as to if the client is really serious about the project or just wishes to test waters as he might have previously done and succeeded in several other occasions. Sorry, I accept it that I am gullible and can fall into your trap if I do not have limits set for me in order to safe guard my own interest.
My line of work of creative writing works on trust. There are not many legal contracts and written agreements found here. With a thin line dividing profit and loss I wish to safe guard my income and profit by having a backing of an advance payment. Heck I am not the only one demanding an advance for my services, every respectable professional in what so ever field they work in have since years demanded the same towards providing their services. So am I. Accept it and please respect it.

Niha Time!!

2009-07-05T14:53:00.002+05:30

I suddenly realized that my blog had become more ohh ok ALL about my work and stuff and it was hugely missing the "I" factor! I mean it is fair that I blabber once in a while about my life too!! After all its my blog here people, so I get to decide what comes up here! :)

Today being a Sunday meant it was lots of leisure and rest and less or rather no work to do. Waking up late, having Subway sandwiches from breakfast and gulping down jars of cold coffee is completely in sync with Sunday! After all it is just the weekends that I get to enjoy when there is no work to do, no schedules to think about, no deadlines looming on my head....

Me and P went and booked a treadmill for our home!! Yayzzz so that means that we will really be sweating out all the big bucks that we spent on it today... yeah man, i mean that kinda money could have attest covered the air fares to an incredible resort far far far away.... oh ok i mean not allllll that far but yes decent far for sure! :) but then with finding time being an issue with P there was no way we were going to compromise with his health... so we are now proud owners of a brand new treadmill.. not exactly owners as the machine will actually be delivered tomorrow! ;) Till then we got to figure a place to keep it as our house as it is stuffed from corner to corner. It will be the study room / guest room/ PC room/ shoe room which now also have to work as the exercise room.. real I know too much burden on this one small space of walls but then that is what a standard two bedroom house has to offer!!

Ohhh great!! I have a realllll gooey, candyfloss romantic movie slated to start now on HBO!!! yeah I know.. but what to do I like these mushy flicks!! Typical me....

LinkedIn Part II

2009-07-03T20:56:00.004+05:30

While surfing the internet I came across this article by Guy Kawasaki as to how to use LinkedIn to help you with your search for jobs. Since it was in line with what I had discussed in my last blog post I thought it would be apt to post it here.

Do read it and see if it can help you too.. after all, it is all about spreading the word! :)

Make LinkedIn Work For You!

2009-07-02T18:57:00.003+05:30

I have personally seen that lately I have been using the Internet more for networking than for socializing. I remember times when for me sitting on the Internet meant checking mails, chatting on yahoo and of course downloading music.. strangely all of that has stopped now! I now have 4-5 email id's that checking all of them is something that I rarely do... Since my email accounts are configured on outlook therefore chatting on Gmail is something I no longer do ( yahoo messenger is seriously passe now!) and for downloading music, I have my husband! :) So yes, it is all about networking now! For that i have accounts on Facebook, twitter and LinkedIn.

I wished to keep my facebook account private as I believe that at times you wish to have your private sphere which has you and some of your real close friends to talk too and not something which the world has to watch and enjoy.. my thoughts.. need not be your's too!! :)

Of all these networking sites by far it is LinkedIn which comes across to be the most professional looking. From my experience so far and what I have learnt from people already there I thought of listing out some strict DONT's that you should keep in mind when you open your account on LinkedIn.

Understand the whole concept behind LinkedIn that this platform is your professional identity. Keeping this in mind be very sure what kind of information you put up there of yourself. Keep in mind that your current employers or even your prospective clients are going to read it. Keeping this in mind communicate forward a clean, professional image.
Be very honest when you write your summary. Refrain from bragging about yourself and at any cost do not lie facts.
I would advise you to refrain using LinkedIn the way you use twitter. Use the status message window in LinkedIn to showcase your professional updates rather than cracking a joke!
Do not sent invites to people with the sole aim of increasing the number of connections. To optimally use LinkedIn connect with like minded people who are from your field or interest. The same applies to joining various groups on LinkedIn.
PLEASE refrain from haggling others to provide you with a recommendation! It is a natural process.. If you do good work the other person will automatically feel compelled to write it up for you.
If you wish to use the Q and A section of LinkedIn be very sure what you wish to ask. Dont use it to simply post a question which would later on look silly and undesired.
I would advise you not to add many family contacts here on LinkedIn. There is facebook, orkut, twitter and several other networking platforms for you to connect with them. Limit LinkedIn for your professional contacts.

An Interesting read

2009-06-29T19:50:00.003+05:30

Came across this interesting article targetted towards freelancers and as to how to charge/ justify your charges to clients. I already abide by almost all of them but yes, it was a refresher to read it all again and remind myself that what I have as a talent of creative writing is something I should be proud of and cherish. I feel like attaching this blog post to all the clients who like "re negotiating" the price front.

Be proud of what you do and always work towards bettering it, that is the way forward!

Enjoy this interesting blog post.

Keep scribbling! :)

Ohh yes, the client too replied back... will be reviewing the documents on partnerex.com shortly. Has now asked me to work on a sumary for the business enabeler for www.partnerex.com. Lots of work here people!!

ok, we move on...

2009-06-26T18:54:00.003+05:30

I hear back from the client. Changes suggested. Will work on them sir!!

I prefer to write articles which have topics like features/ advantages/ benefits etc. in bullets. This not only makes reading easy but also aids in navigation throughout the article. The other benefit of incorporating points and bullets in a write up is that you can now highlight keywords and phrases and this way you will be able to convey your point more easily and efficiently.

Will work on the suggestions conveyed to me and then will post the final write up here.

In the meanwhile talks have been initiated with another prospective client for a writeup for his website. He wanted a sample article along with my quote which has been duly sent by me. The status quo see's us as always stuck on the quote! :)

Well I have tried my best to justify myself for that price as well as for an initial advance payment so let us see how long does it take( that is if we do) for us to move to the next stage of discussions. I demand an advance because I do not wish to be played smart once again.. ohh ok.. it looks like I now have another topic to write about wherein one of the client acted smart... In this profession of mine, people of different mindframes do I meet! :) I am louuuvinng it!

Draft for 2nd weblink- PartnerEx

2009-06-25T22:56:00.003+05:30

Sent the second draft towards www.PartnerEx.com

This one was for their product benefit web page. the client wished to include the benefits of the product here along with the expected clientele for this product.
I think I can still work towards making the demarcation between these two aspects more clear in the write up. Lets see what the client has to say.
The Write up that I sent....

PartnerEx wishes to redefine the ease and convenience associated with conventional team management tools by bringing in incredible customization options and allowing you more room space to play around in.
PartnerEx is a secure and easy management application which is completely apt for both internal and external teams who wish to indulge in information sharing and collaboration. Clients using PartnerEx can be incredibly benefitted towards their need to improve customer satisfaction and to bring about product improvement features.
Dynamic, user friendly, free of maintenance and incredibly customizable. Welcome to PartnerEx.

Product Features:

Ready to use – Immediate setup, NO installation, NO maintenance

Easy to configure, Easy to use

Easy to Manage Multiple Offices, Multiple Clients, Multiple Projects, and Multiple Teams

Customizable Dashboard and Reports

Document Sharing and Management

Incorporate Embed Dynamic Feedback on your website

Electronic Approvals and Sign Offs for regulatory compliance

Issue/Task assignment and tracking

Virtual Team management and a LOT More!
PartnerEx makes your business work your way. Whatever be your business need, PartnerEx has a solution. The right, befitting solution completely molded to suit YOUR need!

Independent Consultants and Consulting Firms – Consultants can make use of the incredibly customizable features of PartnerEx to manage their clients, projects, billing hours and track their assignments. Partner Ex can further aid them in effective help desk support, overseas manufacturing and fulfillment, joint ventures and any other business issues that might involve teamwork.

Individuals- Track your personal needs including your bills, your taxes as well as your shopped items. Customize PartnerEx to be your personal office and allow it to track your personal needs efficiently the way you want it to be.

Small and Mid-size business - PartnerEx can be conveniently used to take care of your business needs wherein it can aid you take care of your team collaboration needs, Project/task tracking as well as effective feedback management. The complete one stop team management solution is what PartnerEx can provide to your business need.

Will be back with the feedback and my further work..

Are you ready to freelance? Good read....

2009-06-24T19:38:00.005+05:30

Came across this interesting article on the twitter... It does address the web designers but then any one wanting to freelance anywhere can make it apply to their field too.. though basic, these tips do go about making a big difference.. When freelancing it is all about spreading the word around!

The Article is : Are you ready to freelance? http://tr.im/pzYe

Feedbacks and rounds of edits

2009-06-23T18:25:00.004+05:30

Heard from the client regarding the draft that i mailed him he said "this draft looks good.
can you also add a paragraph to each feature you see in the product."

Will work on the changes now and send the same to the client. Quick feedback from the client surely helps maintain the crescendo of work! Will post the final approved version of the draft here on the blog.

Am loving the challenge to work on this project as this area of writing in IT is completely new to me. A good client too plays a very important role in a project as he has the capacity to introduce in the workspace a sense of comfort and freedom. Glad to be associated with this project for PartnerEx.com!

The Project is ON!

2009-06-22T22:13:00.001+05:30

Client: www.PartnerEx.com

I started working on PartnerEx.com today evening and have sent the client the first draft for the Product description page. From the brief that I had from the client it was clear that PartnerEx wishes to emphasise on its customer friendly features; on its virtual workspace strengths; its user friendliness and its aim to cater to all kinds of business needs.The draft that I submitted to the client after going through the creative brief, the branding brief as well as the company brochure is pasted below:

PartnerEx, your customization friendly virtual Teamwork Management tool is designed to make the entire process of team management not only simpler but also in sync to your business needs. With PartnerEx, users can now easilycollaborate with each other on project information, track project data and communications, and enable a set of files to be shared between members of a group along with project management and feedback management tools . By using PartnerEx, team members have access to a shared workspace to collaborate, manage and synchronize client and project data. PartnerEx supports‘virtual office’ which keeps members engaged and connected regardless of geographic location or time zone.

Our specialized tools help you manage your user base with multiple access levels, multiple teams and multiple project. We provide on-demand tracking and reporting tools that are SOX-compliant and audit compliant, and we provide archival of project documentation.

Striving towards simplifying the challenge of coordinating multiple clients, multiple teams and multiple projects, PartnerEx truly stands by its goal of “One or ton, get it done”!

PartnerEx showcases a bounty of useful features which can make PartnerEx your primary tool of choice for internal and external collaboration. What makes PartnerEx fit into your business need is its excellentcustomizable features which makes it easy and straightforward for you to use and incorporate PartnerEx into your business.

Using PartnerEx is easy!
PartnerEx is not only extremely suitable for all kind of business needs but is also very easy to use and customize. You have the option of making PartnerEx work the way YOU wish it to work! Here, you invite team members and set the role for each team member. You (and not us) define the role and the access rights that you wish based on your specific business needs. Roles can be updated dynamically and at real time whenever your needs change. Simplicity and functionality govern PartnerEx. You just need to use it in order to experience the full potential of PartnerEx. So join in and start exploring!

Will post the feedback that I receive from the client on the same and my subsequent changes towards acheieving the desired look.

Welcome back work

2009-06-21T12:52:00.003+05:30

With parents leaving back today got back to my work.. lots to think about! Will be starting work on a client website from tomorrow... the website is that for a project management tool. Need to get myself familiarized with the website first so that I can describe it out in complete clarity. The concept is exciting for sure! A website which allows you to keep track of all your projects virtually and provides you the chance to seek real time reviews and feed backs from the client! I hope I end up a little knowledgeable on IT once done with this project... A sure bonus for my line of work... :)

Will be posting my drafts here along with the comments that I receive from the client for the same.. Till then let us enjoy the Sunday! :)

Lets roll some ink now!

2009-06-17T16:28:00.004+05:30

The new project is ON!! Yayy.. I got a final go ahead from their end today and will be starting on it from Monday once my parents return.. Ohh that reminds me... My folks are here visiting us!! Their first after my marriage so that makes it all the more special :)

Ohh now back to work, This project is bringing with it a lot of "Firsts" for me;
1. The segment that I will be working on is something which I have never tread before.
2. For the first time I will be taking the money for the project in installments. The client is one of a start up and he wishes to pay me as and when he has enough Liquidity. Am I comfortable? Well frankly, no, but then I feel that one bad experience should not stop me from trusting others. And also no matter how this deal finishes at the end all that I need right now is enough of writing avenues to work upon. This is because only writing more and more will get me any closer to being the best at it! Yeah, high aspirations I have from myself! :)

The company has discussed is an IT company and is offering a project management tool.
The client's brief for me on this project is simple: Keep it simple yet convincing.

The website desired by them is supposed to contain 4 web pages:
Home Page; Product's / Services offered; Features/ targeted segments and; Contact Us.

Since I had already sent a draft for the Home page to the client initially as a sample run therefore I have the basic skeleton ready to work upon.

Jotting down of random ideas and going through the websites of their potential competitors will be used by me to get a complete understanding of this particular segment being desired to target by the client and the kind of exposure that I should target for the same.

Will be here again with a step by step discussion of each step towards working on this website as and when I progress.. Till then lets keep the creative juices flowing people!

Anchooo!

2009-06-13T20:30:00.004+05:30

Hi there.. I have been away from the computer for a couple of days now.. naahh it aint the laziness creeping in but its just that the flu germlins decided to dig in their tents in me and so i am playing a good host to them! Yeah its the flu.. so the tissues are out... the steamer is out and so is bland and tasteless food.. I guess it is my stomach's way of letting me know that i now need to mind my eating habits!

Anyways.. heard from the IT guys... the presentation looks to be out of the list and now it is just the website that they desire from me... they plan to send me a detailed work plan for the same.. fingers crossed!

I hope to fight these germlins over the weekend and will be back victorious hopefully by Monday with my brain over flowing with blog updates!! Till then it is happy scribbling... Anchoooooooooo

Handwritten fonts

2009-06-09T20:47:00.003+05:30

Came across this link which lists some amazing hand written font styles at cousin's facebook profile so though of pasting it here too... I too have down loaded some of them for my use on my website which by the way is still under progress owing to the whole amount of work I am handling. The daily lot from Henrik, the travel articles, submitting quotations, networking on LinkedIn, answering to client mails as well as personell mails and in between all this there is a house to manage!! Multi tasking at its highest point is what I am handling at this point of time! Hail women power!

PS: The IT client discussed in the last post has entered the " will get back to you soon" phase as of now.. lets see if the 'get back' stage happens and if does then how soon! ;)

A New Project on the Anvil... Is It?

2009-06-08T18:48:00.000+05:30

Talks are on with a new client I got in touch with on LinkedIn. They are a start up venture in IT. They already have some content up for their website but it really needs some major tweaking and refining in order to make it work. I believe that a well written website not only helps in putting forward a good impression to the reader but also aids it in its branding. A mock draft was desired by them from me in order to access my line of thoughts on their project. They got back to me with a positive feedback on the same and have desired me to provide them with my charges for my services as well as a detailed plan as to how I will work on their project. The client has also expressed their desire to seek my services to prepare a power point presentation for them. My cost estimate provided to them is inclusive of that too.

I am hopeful that things progress forward towards completion and does not end up as one of those projects which just could not happen because we could not agree on a price. I just despise the thought of haggling with clients when they want me ' re consider' the price quoted by me. I quote a price after thinking and taking into consideration all aspects which would be involved from my end when I would work on the project and when asked to re consider no new thought is going to pop up in my head prompting me to reduce the price! Why does it never happen that a client says that you need to re consider your price and quote something higher????

I always demand 50% of the total payment as initial payment as the industry where I work runs on trust which I am sorry to say has had a battering with certain clients who either did not cough up the entire amount due at the end or very conveniently decided to abort the project mid way! Well it was my hard work in both cases which had to suffer a bruised ego.. It taught me lessons.. lessons that put your interest always first.

I consider it fair... I do your work as and when you want, you take care of my conditions as and when I want.. After all this industry is symbiotic and needs both the parties.. It just depends as to who acts as a host and who as the parasite!

PS: I will update here as and when I hear from the client regarding any developments on this project front.. the price front that is...I hope it is not again a case of unfinished business :)

Who's vision is it anyway?

2009-06-06T11:12:00.000+05:30

When I started writing a couple of years back it did not take me long to realize that when you take up an assignment to write for a client, you are his channel, his medium to aid him put his vision into words. I understood that the work assigned to me involved me to think from my client's point of view and rather not plonk on my vision! My work is to use MY talent to put the CLIENT'S thoughts in the best presentable form that I can manage to.

Over a period of time I have discovered that this task involves me to take care of several parameters so that I can hit the nail right on the head.

When ever I get a project I request the client to send me a creative brief which is nothing more but a brief snapshot of his ideas regarding that particular project.
Once I have the brief with me I follow it up with thorough research on the product including its features, its properties and the special points that need any emphasis on.
This is then followed by identifying the market segment to which the product is focused towards. This market segment could pertain to either a class of individuals or even towards a geographical segment.
It could also be a good idea to check out the websites of the competitors that your client's product may be having.
When done with my research the next step would be to arrange the info in acordance to he creative brief that I had discussed with the client.
Lastly, the next step that I would suggest and something which I do is to have an in depth discussion with the client and discuss with him your research and your vision and then try and get into sync with what the client has to say on the same.

Once you are done with all this the paper(or rather let us say the word document ;) ) is your battlefield and the words your weapons!! :)

Believe me, when you sit down to write with a clear vision in your head the task of writing will be a complete pleasure!!

Understand Search Engine Optimization(SEO)

2009-06-04T20:59:00.000+05:30

It is very much possible that almost all of us who are in the process of content writing have very often been confronted by the term SEO. So what exactly is SEO? I seriously believe that SEO is the ladder climbing on which your website can figure on search result pages of various search engines and reach the target audiences to whom you wish your work to reach. It is a process which will allow your web pages to crawl up fast and successfully on the search engines and thereby get maximum hits. Believe me, it is not at all a complicated process and is a conjunction of several rules which have to be kept in mind when you write the content for your website.

The holy grail of SEO are the KEYWORDS! Yes, the keywords which can best justify the content in your work can help you make or break the visibility potential of your website. This calls for some very serious research to scout for all relevant SEO words. Google too has a very simple but surely reliable keyword search option which can help you narrow down the most effective keywords pertaining to your content.

RELEVANT ORIGINAL CONTENT should not be neglected at all as this is what will make your content readable and make the readers come back again looking for more quality. As a good content writer it is the content that I would publish would stand as a testimony to my talent. Search engines also look at the genuineness of your content to check if you are a serious writer. Also, content which is simply copied and pasted from any other website will seldom make search engines favor your website.

Building LINKS is also a reliable way to get many more readers to discover your content. With plenty of options available in the present times in the form of social networking websites, professional websites and other interaction platforms this task of linking has become very easy. i too have gone ahead and linked my blog as well as my website to my social networking sites as well as my professional web links too!

Building META TAGS is also an option which is exploited by content writers in order to make their work feature higher on websites. Meta tags are description of your content written in its HTML code which is not visible on your website but is something which search engines like Google recognize and read and thereby enable your website to crawl up.

Surely it is your talent towards writing which will make it or break it for you but then if taken the aid of these simple SEO rules you are one step more closer towards improving the chances of your website being seen by a much larger audience.

Start right now!

2009-06-03T16:05:00.000+05:30

If you feel that you have it in you to pursue writing as a career or for that matter any other talent then the buzz word is START! Most of us hesitate to take the first plunge and wait for the right time. Believe you me the right time is NOW! It is just the first step which will be the most unsure. You have just got to believe in yourself and your talent. ohh yes and in networking! there is no better way to get hold of potential clients than by carrying out adequate networking. If you are just starting out then grab hold of all the articles and literary works that you have done so far just for yourself and make a portfolio for yourself. it need not be something artistic or flowery but something which define YOU. You have to identify your strong points and present the same in the portfolio or else the employer will be left confused as to what your strong points are all about.

The internet is full of networking sites which will come to your aid. There is no better and a faster mean of communication than that done by word of mouth! No wonder women are considered to be quick in networking! ;)

Once your profile is made start finding people of your interest and your field and add them to your network. Respect towards the other's profession is of utter importance. A small thank you note when accepted into someone's network can do wonders to your image.

It is seriously not that difficult to start a career in content writing on your own. All you need is to get uo and START NOW!

Tips for a good write up

2009-06-02T15:36:00.000+05:30

There are many of us who think that they have the flair of writing good stuff but are confused as to how to refine and better this talent. Believe you me this is a very easy task and all that you need is to keep in mind are a few things which I have discovered working as a creative writer:

1. Write from your heart! the more you think about the content the more superficial it gets!
2. Simple writing with short sentences score much higher than a piece full of complicated words. After all your motive is to grab the attention of the readers and not to leave them searching for dictionaries.
3. The most important point that I follow blindly is to maintain a flow in your writing. the thought process should ideally follow one after the other. this makes the write up engaging and something which your reader will easily understand.
4. It is very important to understand what the client desires. you have to always remember that when working on a project it is the creative vision of your client that you are putting in words. As a content writer it is your job to understand the brief of the client and then polish it with your creativity.
5. MIND YOUR GRAMMAR!
6. Many of us keep on thinking and getting ideas while they write while others need to think about the skeleton of the topic and then proceed. The best idea for you in the latter scenario would be to jot down a few points on the topic and then start elaborating on them as you write.

There may be several other thoughts that you may be following to come up with that incredible piece of write up. Would love to hear about them from all you guys!

The Process Has Been Initiated!

2009-05-31T19:46:00.000+05:30

I have started writing the content for my own website. I will be registering it as www.niharedhu.com. But the dilemma that I am facing right now is that should i take the services of a professional web designer or try and do it myself using the pre made templates. I wish it to be chic and professional looking. I plan to give it a try myself first and the decide if it matches my expectations. I have opened an account on Wix.com and am having a look at their templates. the only issue there is that it is providing the services of only 2 fonts which is just not enough. I am planning to make a slide show of my portfolio as well as my testimonials which I will the subsequently put up there. I hope to see the final result to be good and with the cliched "wow" factor.... guess with clients using it to much I have incorporated this word in my vocab!!

Hi!

2009-05-29T12:03:00.000+05:30

Hello world! I am Niha Redhu and I am content writer. I had been contemplating about it since long to start a blog wherein I would talk about my work and my experiences while doing the same. Finally I have taken the plunge and will now be writing here as and when I start new assignments and projects. I am also in the process of making the blue print of my own website which will work as my portfolio to all the work that t I have done till now. I will be updating all the progress on it here now! See you all regularly now!! till then happy writing!