High-Income Business Writing Podcast
Ed Gandia
Ed Gandia, co-author of the bestselling book, The Wealthy Freelancer, reveals how to propel your writing business to the six-figure level (or the part-time equivalent). In this nuts-and-bolts, no-nonsense podcast, you'll discover how to get better clients, earn more in less time, and bring more freedom and joy into your writing business. Ed will walk you through the practical, “doable” systems and strategies he has developed in his own writing business — the same systems he has taught his private coaching clients. He'll also show you what’s working for other business writers by bringing you real case studies from the field. And he'll share all this information in an honest and transparent way, with no hype or fluff. Topics covered include: getting better and higher-paying clients; banishing the feast-or-famine cycle; doing more of the work that excites you; how to raise your fees and rates; boosting your productivity; making your business recession-proof; discovering and leveraging your strengths; finding your niche; pricing content writing projects; pricing copywriting projects; writing white papers; writing case studies; writing web copy; writing articles; and much more.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 1, 2015 • 32min
#067: Am I a Credible Source of Freelancing Advice?
Fully 90% of my income these days comes from teaching, training and coaching freelancers to earn more in less time, doing work they love for better clients.
But what does that say about me, when so little of my income comes from working directly with freelance writing clients?
It's a great question. And in this week's episode, I address the issue head on.
Dec 18, 2014 • 45min
#066: Pam Grout on a Series of Experiments That Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality
It's hard NOT to be somewhat spiritual when you're self-employed.
That's because so much of what we do as a freelancers is based on faith — faith that things will work out ... that another good client will come along ... that you're doing the right thing by raising your fees...
In fact, I've learned to understand that thoughts DO become things. (Of course, you also have to take steady and deliberate action. That's the part many people conveniently forget about. ;-)
But is this there science behind this idea? Can we really manifest a new client on command? Can we turn things around by "creating" them in our minds first and asking for them?
The answer is "Yes!"
And in this episode, international bestselling author Pam Grout explains why that's the case ... and how you can prove it to yourself, even if you're a skeptic.
Dec 4, 2014 • 45min
#065: Carol Tice on 5 Profitable Article-Writing Opportunities
Article writing is one of the most fun and lucrative ways to make a living as a freelance writer.
The variety of work is significant. For instance, ytou can write blog posts for a client. Or you can focus on the growing trend of brand journalism. Or maybe specialize in writing placed articles.
In this episode, veteran freelance writer and founder of , Carol Tice, details five ways to earn a great income writing articles for clients.
She describes each opportunity in detail. She explains who's hiring writers in each category. And she discusses the earning potential for these projects.
Nov 20, 2014 • 50min
#064: Kathy Cabrera on Scripting and Producing 'Explainer Videos' for Clients
This week we're going to talk about yet another little-known opportunity for writers and copywriters—scripting and producing what are typically called "explainer videos" for clients. Explainer videos are nothing more than 1- to 2-minute simple and engaging explanations of what a product does and how it solves a key problem. They're not "demo" videos. Rather they're high-level presentations, usually involving some sort of computer animation or live action. And they've become incredibly popular! To discuss this opportunity in great detail, I've brought in Kathy Cabrera from Red Clip Video. As you'll hear, Kathy has a unique background that has enabled her to build a growing business around explainer videos. She'll explain what this type of work is all about. What it involves. The different opportunities for writers. And what you can charge, depending on what you choose to offer your clients.
Nov 6, 2014 • 58min
#063: Ghostwriting Business Books — A Realistic Six-Figure Opportunity for Strong Writers
It's not every day that I come across an idea in the freelancing world that gets me super excited. But when I recently sat down with freelance ghostwriter Derek Lewis, I found myself taking a ton of notes ... and thinking of ways I could shift my writing business to do what HE does!Derek is a very successful business-book ghostwriter. He's also the author of the new book The Business Book Bible: Everything You Need to Know to Write a Good Business Book. And in this interview, he gives us a detailed and very exciting look into the world of book ghostwriting. What it isWhat it involvesThe best target markets for this workWhat you can chargeHow to find clientsAnd who's best suited for this type of writingThis is a realistic six-figure opportunity for strong writers who enjoy longer-format projects and working closely with a client for an extended period of time. And as you'll see, the rewards go way beyond the financial.
Oct 23, 2014 • 47min
#062: Michelle Hiskey on Helping College Applicants Write Their Essays
Michelle Hiskey doesn't have a traditional freelance writing business. For one, she has a full-time job. So she works her freelance work on the side. Also, her clients are NOT the traditional businesses and nonprofits many of us work with. Instead, they're high school students who need help writing their college application essay. In this interview, Michelle explains what this type of writing is all about. What's involved. What she charges. How she approaches the work. And what type of writer this specialty is well suited for. She also talks about how she's giving back to her community in a creative and meaningful way. This is an inspiring and fascinating discussion — perfect if you're exploring different ideas or business models.
Oct 9, 2014 • 52min
#061 Steve Roller on How to Successfully Run Your Freelance Business While Traveling the World
One of the biggest reasons freelancers love being on their own is the flexibility it affords.When you're your own boss, you set the schedule. You pick whom you work with and what projects you take on.And, ideally, you pick where you work.Unfortunately, most of us don't take full advantage of our business portability. Some people have young kids. Others have aging parents to take care of. Or a medical condition that limits travel.Recently, after talking with my colleague Steve Roller from , I realized that (for me, at least), it's mostly an issue of both commitment AND fear.I haven't made this a priority. And I'm a bit fearful of the unknown.There's a third reason that stops many solos...The belief that you have to go to an exotic location — and that you have to do it for an extended period of time.If you're even remotely interested in travel, I urge you to listen to this episode. Steve talks about his motivation for getting out of his daily environment and seeing more of the world. He explains how he's able to make it work. And he offers many useful tips and tricks for successful "vagabonding."
Sep 25, 2014 • 32min
#060: A Clever Way to Land a Ton of Work from Trade Shows (Without Leaving Your House)
If you enjoy learning new and clever strategies for landing more work from better clients, you definitely need to check out this episode. Freelance writer Amy Dunn Moscoso has been using a unique and very effective strategy for landing work from trade shows. Not just a project or two. In many cases, we're talking about a TON of work. Enough to keep her busy for months. The best part? She doesn't even have to attend the show! In this episode, Amy explains what this strategy is all about, why it works so well, and how she's implemented it so effectively. Get ready to take some notes!
Sep 11, 2014 • 1h 3min
#059 Cliff Ravenscraft on How Podcasting Can Help You Land Great Clients and Make You the Obvious Choice in Your Field
Think podcasting is for celebrities, authors and speakers?Think again!Podcasting is rapidly becoming one of the most effective and popular mediums for self-employed pros to attract high-quality leads, build trust and create rock-solid client loyalty.I know that sounds like hype. I didn't believe it myself — until about 18 months ago, when I reluctantly started my own show and saw the immediate impact it had in my own business.In this interview, you'll hear from my friend and colleague Cliff Ravenscraft, the "Podcast Answerman." Cliff eats, breathes and lives podcasting. He's probably helped more people start and grow a podcast than anyone else. And he explains why every service professional—including freelancers in all disciplines—should start their own show.If you're very selective about the shows you upload to your phone or mobile device, I can assure you that this one is a MUST-LISTEN!
Aug 28, 2014 • 57min
#058 Bob Bly: A Candid Talk With a Legendary Copywriter
I recently had the opportunity to interview legendary copywriter Bob Bly.We talked for almost an hour. What a fascinating guy!Among other things, I asked him:What his typical day looks likeWhere his income comes fromHis thoughts on social mediaHow to get lead-gen copywriting work in B2BHow to get your income to the $200,000 level and beyond I even threw him a surprising question towards the end. And he replied with an equally surprising answer.
