Savvy-Writer.com
Tell us about Savvy-Writer.com.
My website, Savvy-Writer.com, is my writer website. I am a freelance content writer and author. I also handle social media management for companies. I will be stepping into the role of speaker, either at the end of the year or in the beginning of the year.
When did you start your blog?
January 2009
How many hours a week do you spend on your site?
I spend about 5-10 hours per week on my blog. This includes ‘tweaking’ web pages and developing blog posts.
Average monthly profit?
$1,000.00+ (varies from month-to-month)
Average monthly visitors?
5,600
How did/do you grow your visitors?
I grew my visitors slowly. Why? Because when I first started Savvy-Writer in 2009, I was still a newbie to online marketing (I was hired as blogger. See below) and WordPress.
The original purpose of Savvy-Writer was to educate freelance writers like myself; however, once I began receiving freelance writing opportunities, I decided to *switch* the focus to clients. Yeah. This was a huge learning experience, and I basically had to start all over again. Had I known then what I know now, I would have started Savvy-Writer with a focus on my target clients. Live and learn.
I use guest blogging and social media to grow my blog too. I also dabble with PPC ads on LinkedIn.
How long did it take to have your 1st $1000. month?
Not long because in 2008 I was hired as a blogger for a travel company. This position was the catalyst to my freelance writing career. I was living in Arizona at the time and had to earn a living. I loved to write so I answered a CareerBuilder ad for a blogger and marketing person. I was selected as the blogger and the rest is history.
How do you monetize your blog?
I have affiliate links for the books I wrote and/or co-writer, but they are not the main source of my income. They could be my main source of income, but I’ve been busy with projects and other commitments and haven’t been promoting my books as much. I know this is a cardinal sin for an author/writer, but it is what it is, right now. It won’t be like this forever.
Also, recently I joined our local chamber of commerce (recommend). In fact, we’re doing a barter exchange: my membership fee is paid in exchange for assistance with their social media. This is yet another way for bloggers and/or freelancers to market their services, make connections, and meet potential clients. I attended a breakfast from the chamber and had the chance to network. Fun!
*Most of my freelance clients find me via a Google search.
Share one thing you would do differently,
If I had to do it all over again, I would have waited to start my website. A freelancer needs a website/blog, but it’s best to know the following:
-Who is your *real* target audience?
-Who is your ideal client?
-How do you want your website to look?
-What is your two and/or five year plan?
-Should you keep your day job and build your business on the side?
-Do you time to write?
-Does the thought of maintaining a website/blog make you anxious?
I would also listen to myself and tune out some of the so-called experts. It’s fine to read blogs and magazine articles from those who’ve come before you, but they usually don’t tell you the *whole* story. You see the finished product. You don’t hear about their crumbling marriages, debt, birth of their children, death of their parents, stress, etc.
You may not realize this, but some of the biggest bloggers did not start their blog alone. Oh no they didn’t! They had one or two partners help them. They shared the debt and work. They also had another source of income; their significant other worked.
Please do not be too hard on yourself if you’re not making $1,000.00 a month from your blog. It’s not the end of the world.
Really think about starting a blog before you buy your URL. A blog will take a lot of time of your time. When I first started mine, I posted three blogs per week. That’s a lot of developing and writing. Do some soul searching and figure out if starting a blog is right for you. If it’s not, that’s okay.
Posted 2013