Many freelance writers inform me they’ve by no means gotten a nibble off their author websites.
If that is you—or you could have but to place up an internet site—let me highlight among the greatest issues proper now.
See, there are some primary approaches, and a few key phrases, that you just actually need to keep away from in your freelance author web site.
These blunders make you appear, variously:
- Determined
- Pushy
- Snobby
- Self-involved
- Tired of doing consumer work
Listed here are the cringe-worthy strikes to keep away from for author websites
Need to skip all that and put collectively a author website that presents you as a robust candidate for freelance jobs? Preserve studying.
7 phrases to delete out of your author website
Right here’s a group of well-liked phrases I see on author web sites—and so they actually make me cringe each time.
1. I might love to jot down for you
File this underneath “stating the plain.” It sounds such as you’re frantically pushing to get a consumer, any consumer. You wouldn’t have a author website when you weren’t on the lookout for purchasers, proper? We all know you’d looove to jot down for prospects. The query is, how are you making them really feel they’d love to rent you? This phrase doesn’t do it.
2. Let me assist you to
I do know, you’re attempting to look accessible. But it surely simply sounds determined. There’s type of an unstated “please, I urge of you” in right here.
3. I can write something
This most likely looks like an interesting method. However the truth is, few writers can actually write each sort of project. Most good writers specialise in some specific forms of writing—they do content material advertising, or write brochures, or journal articles. Making an attempt to be all issues to all purchasers doesn’t win on author web sites, as most prospects are on the lookout for somebody with expertise with their specific trade, or the kind of writing they need accomplished.
4. I additionally write poetry/novels
You would possibly assume exhibiting your creativity will impress. However when you’re taking pictures for enterprise purchasers, all it means to them is, “Woo-woo artsy one that desires to observe their muse—and who received’t actually care about my deadlines.”
5. I’m a brand new freelance author/simply beginning out/simply graduated from faculty
This isn’t prospects’ enterprise, and never a plus. Comply with the tried-and-true rule of emphasizing your strengths in your website copy, not your weak factors. You’ll be able to write a robust website that helps get you employed, at the same time as a beginner.
6. Do you want a contract author?
No, no, no. You don’t need prospects to rent A freelance author. You’re not placing up a author website since you’d like to coach the general public that hiring freelancers is sweet. Sure? As a substitute, you need them to rent you. Preserve the main focus in your particular benefits, your distinctive promoting proposition (USP).
7. I’ve X and Y superior levels
You’re mentioning these seemingly in hopes of impressing prospects. However in a decade serving to writers, I’ve but to listen to from any who record their M.A., MBA, J.D., Ph.D. or what-all subsequent to their identify on their author web sites—and get good purchasers. It appears to telegraph: “Hello, I’m costly and pretentious, too.” Let’s face it, educational writing fashion is stiff and formal in comparison with most enterprise writing as we speak. So it might fear entrepreneurs that your writing will learn like a enterprise letter from 1960.
These might appear to be little issues: a title said right here, slightly phrase dropped in there. However add them up, and also you’ve acquired author web sites that don’t come off skilled. And that ship purchasers away.
3 massive copy issues to keep away from in your author website
The copy in your author web site must be sharp. Attempt to keep in mind that your author website is a writing audition. You’ll be able to write sharp author web sites with no portfolio and nonetheless get web site copy gigs off it! Your website is a writing pattern in itself.
However most writers fall down on this job. I do know, it’s exhausting to jot down about your self.
Attempt to keep away from these primary gaffes. Seen these manner too many instances:
Ineffective headlines
Most author websites have a homepage headline that claims both, “Welcome to my web site!” or simply: “Hey!” That’s not a headline that magnetizes a purchaser.
Headlines ought to shortly flash to prospects that you just perceive them. So that you’re on the lookout for one thing extra like “Copy That Converts for At the moment’s Time-Pressed Know-how Purchaser.” Make sense?
Homepage copy that’s all about you
You’ve acquired an About Web page for telling your story. The homepage is all in regards to the consumer—their issues, the forms of assist they want. After which, you relate the way you resolve them. Your homepage isn’t a spot to recite your resume, record all of the forms of writing you could possibly do, or any of that boring blather. What converts is tapping into the fears and high pains of your buyer, exhibiting you perceive them…after which, briefly saying why you need to be their alternative.
Quotes from well-known authors
These merely don’t belong on author web sites. Bear in mind, we’re attempting to get you employed right here, not Jane Austen or Mark Twain. Impressing purchasers that you just’re well-read doesn’t result in a rent.
Simply correcting these three primary points can create an enormous improve in how skilled author websites seem—so when you’ve acquired any of the above happening, time to make a couple of tweaks.
How you can cross the three-second rule
Researchers say that new guests to an internet site give it three seconds. This time has shrunk regular over the previous decade. Guests shortly look round, and if what they see doesn’t orient them, they transfer on.
What issues do prospects want to have the ability to see, instantly, with out scrolling down, after they land on a author website?
Listed here are the basics you could present instantly:
- An image of you. Bear in mind, there are loads of scams on the Web, and loads of bizarre, nameless author companies on the market, that develop into primarily based in far-off lands. Present an image and allow them to know you’re an actual individual
- How you can contact you. Don’t disguise it underneath a tab! Or heaven forbid, drive guests to fill out a type. Stick your electronic mail (and ideally, cellphone) within the header, proper the place individuals can see. Really write out your electronic mail tackle—when you simply have a graphic of electronic mail and code it together with your tackle, many individuals received’t have the ability to see it. They’ve set their browser to dam pop-ups, so it received’t load. Don’t make it exhausting for prospects to get in contact!
- What industries you recognize. In my expertise, the highest factor prospects seek for is alongside the traces of, “I would like a author who is aware of about ____ (manufacturing, marina administration, healthcare IT, and so forth.).” However most writers both disguise this info deep of their websites, or by no means point out it in any respect, in hopes of ‘not turning anybody away.’ Information flash: that’s a method that sends most everybody away
- Orienting tagline. A great deal of writers wish to get inventive with their tagline—attempting to indicate that writing ability! However this isn’t the place for that, as a result of taglines are a key place to place key phrases for Google to assist ship you prospects. So select “Atlanta healthcare author” right here, versus “Wordsmith Extraordinaire”
Bonus factors: To maintain extra guests, you could possibly additionally inform individuals the place you’re situated. Some of us nonetheless wish to take an in-person assembly earlier than they rent a freelancer, so when you’re in or close to an excellent mid-sized metropolis, say so.
Additional bonus factors: Get the meta-data of your homepage to make use of key phrases for the kind of author you might be. As a substitute of claiming “Joe Smith” when somebody mouses over the browser tab, it may say, “Finance author Joe Smith.” Google will discover, and also you’ll drive many extra prospects within the door to see your website. In the event you’re not a techy sort, make pals with somebody who can present you methods to make that occur in your specific web site platform (trace: WordPress is the dominant platform, and the one I like to recommend).
How you can make your author website rock
What do you do after you’ve written a draft of your website, eliminating these primary issues and including the vital three-second orientation objects?
Add character. Make it one thing solely you could possibly have written.
Then, get a evaluation from an skilled professional to verify it’s optimized and able to win purchasers over.
Lastly, don’t overlook to maintain updating your website, as you get new clips! Author websites aren’t static paperwork, so don’t let yours get old-fashioned. Google likes websites that maintain altering.
