¿Qué haces si tu negocio de escritura no está despegando?

Stop offering general "writing services" and get laser-focused on a niche. Specializing makes you stand out. Do you love writing about tech? Healthcare? Sustainability? Pick your lane, then tailor your website and marketing to directly address the pain points of that specific audience.

Why do good writers sometimes struggle to find work? To understand this, consider two important concepts. The first is, selling and marketing yourself is a whole different skillset. Many writers focus on their craft and that takes up most of their time. It's difficult for them to put extra energy into growing a business. The second issue is that, it's also hard to find high-quality clients. Many business owners don't value well-crafted content. They may feel that as long as search engines write their site, the content is good enough. In effect, the businesses may not appreciate what good writers offer. The solution is to learn the basics of marketing. Do something everyday to promote your work. Trust yourself, you'll soon do better!

You may have skills and experience in writing, people management, customer management in a reputed company. However, running a successful business is a different ball game altogether. When you realize that things are not going in the right direction, it is important to assess the underlying reasons. The questions below could help: 1. Have you informed and reached out to your network or even their extended network? 2. Have you reached out to potential clients? Have you followed up consistently? 3. Have you promoted your company, have you invested in marketing? 4. Are you market-ready? Are you providing services that are similar or better than your competitors? 5. Are the market conditions right? Are other companies facing similar challenges?

Evaluate your business model, identify potential areas for improvement, seek feedback from clients, consider diversifying your services or niching down to target a specific audience, invest in marketing and networking efforts, and if necessary, seek mentorship or professional guidance to pivot your strategy.

If your writing business isn't taking off, reassess your strategy, marketing efforts, and services. Seek feedback, expand your skills, network, adjust pricing, and stay persistent. Consider seeking guidance if needed.

Your writing skills are only a part of the picture. You also need to develop your skills in promoting yourself, communicating on social media, working with publishers and clients, and problem-solving. Keep working on your writing abilities, but at the same time, push yourself also to sell yourself as a writer. It is not easy, but success does not come from talent alone.

If you have other skills, market them too. I have attracted clients by doing other work for them. For example, I after coding successful projects, I have done writing work for those clients too. So develop relationships anyhow you can. The thing is, it's hard for business owners to trust new writers. The key to your success is to become that person they feel comfortable with. Use your other skills as a way to get something going.

I really enjoyed the Women in Publishing Summit and was intentional this past year on how to really clear my schedule and invest in the learning opportunities. People forget that writing/communications work does not have to be siloed; networking and learning from professionals in our industry will support our future endeavors in the long run. Don't be afraid to take a step back from the "billable" work to do some intellectual investment.

A writer's journey is not an easy one. You have to trust in your ability to get through. And, keep writing even when you're not getting any work. Staying consistent will help you build your skills. You'll have a bigger portfolio to show. Remember, it's a stage. You'll get through this and move to the next level. The best days are still ahead of you. As long as you keep going, you will have your breakthrough.

Businesses ebb and flow. Don't let a light month keep you from moving forward. It's called cash flow for a reason-- let it flow.

Voici ce que je conseillerais à une personne qui devait vivre cette situation : s'assurer que ses objectifs sont clairs et réalistes. Ensuite, s'assurer d'obtenir des retours de la part de personnes de confiance qui sont du domaine pour identifier les aspects à améliorer, que ce soit le style, le contenu ou la stratégie de diffusion. Continuer à se former peut s'avérer bénéfique question d'explorer différents styles et de tester diverses plateformes de publication pour voir ce qui fonctionne le mieux. Interagir avec la communauté en ligne et partager régulièrement ses écrits peut également aider à construire une audience fidèle et à gagner en confiance.

"Taking off" is relative, but you probably need to make your work more public. Write for "free" for outlets to build your portfolio, and share that content through whatever channels you have. Reach out to people who fit your ideal client profile to build relationships and let them know what you're capable of should they ever need help with it. Begin building a presence on a platform where your ideal clients spend their time. Make sure people who want to work with you know how to reach you - put it in your byline, on your website, on your social profiles, etc. Spend one quarter (3 months) heavily investing here, and you ought to see a notable uptick.