As unbelievable as it is, I got an increase from around $10 to $100 from an online pub. I wrote for them in the past, and the editor got back in touch this year and was keen to have me back.
While I loved writing for this pub, I no longer wanted to work for ten bucks. Carol encouraged me to tell them “I’m getting $100 for work like that now.”
I did, and completely expected them to say I’m out of their range – but just last week, the editor said she’s keen to move forward. She promised to send the contract over next week and offered to pay 50% up-front! —Kasun Pathirage
A guest post I did for an education blog has led to me being invited to serve as their Library/Children & Teen Lit columnist. A regular paid gig.
It’s not quite at the level of earning where I want to be, but it’s the next stepping stone (100% higher than my last paid gig) — and this one’s in my new niche.
I’ll call that a win! —Kimberly Rues, kimberlyrues.com
I got my first gig using the Get Your First Freelance Writing Jobs bootcamp in the Den. I started through a LinkedIn connection, then moved to email correspondence when he requested samples.
I’m hoping for more work from him in the future because the pay for this article is the highest paid piece I’ve done yet. I’ve done freelance work in the past, but never had the guts to ask for better rates until this bootcamp. Thanks! —Kevin Katzenberg, kevinkatzenberg.com
I recently joined the Freelance Writers Den, and I’m so glad I did. I’ve already learned more in a week than I have in 6 months of trying to hack freelancing alone. Thank you for your hard work and your authenticity. —Job Merkel
I took the LinkedIn Marketing bootcamp. Thank you so much for it – I feel like I’ve already learned so much about how to use LinkedIn effectively.
Before I took this course, I rarely got any inbound leads on LinkedIn. But after I updated my profile and started networking more actively, I was amazed to get 3 leads in one week. Now, I’m regularly getting 2-3 leads per week – and many of them are turning into clients! Thank you again for offering this course – it’s really making a difference for me.
Joining the Den was the single best step I took for my freelance writing career. —Tara Malone, taramalonewriter.com
Thanks so much for what you guys have to offer in the Den. I’ve already learned so much, and every time I log on for a bootcamp I come away much more motivated to keep going and keep writing. Thanks again. Big time! —Jakob Sauppe, jakobsauppe.com
I took the LinkedIn Marketing bootcamp, and just wanted to say that investment changed my life. I am making a steady income, enough to live on in a developing country. I just wanted you to know you make a difference! Thank you so much for all the time and effort you put into helping people! —Heather Cavalier
I just want to thank you so, so much for all of the resources you’ve compiled in the Den and written for everyone over the years. I’ve held writing in front of me like an amorphous dream for such a long time, basically from fear of failure/self-doubt. I think your platform is giving me wings to actually make a living at this, and I still can’t believe I’m actually doing it. Thank you for your gift of community and words. —Mary Bast
I’ve been so inspired by the LinkedIn training. The information about LinkedIn Pulse has been percolating in my brain.
I realized that my new, highly specialized chiropractor is pretty social media savvy. Since the office was quiet today during my treatment time, I plucked up the courage, took a deep breath and pitched him a LinkedIn Pulse project. To my delight, he was intrigued – he’d never heard of Pulse, but he immediately saw the value of it and was happy to have me help promote him. Hooray! —Angela Holmes-Abrams
One of the local companies I pitched using a referral request called me! The CEO and board member want to meet with me to discuss revamping their website. Using the techniques and referral request suggestions Carol provided in the bootcamp helped me land my first freelance writing client! I’m so excited to start this brand new chapter of my career! —Alexis Taylor, tayloredmedicalwriting.com
Just this week, my first ideal client in my health & fitness niche —a female business owner of her own gym—signed a contract with me to be her social media marketing manager!
Three months later, work with this client has been going really well. She’s given me consistent, positive feedback and we’re currently settling on a monthly retainer to continue working together long-term.
Even better—she referred me to one of her colleagues who just signed a contract with me, too! So now I have two ideal clients.
I wouldn’t have been able to land these two clients without the Den resources. The Forums have been very helpful for asking questions and getting feedback from other writers, but really it’s the bootcamps that have made the most difference, especially ‘Earn More as a Content Strategist.’ That bootcamp taught me so much about social media marketing, which was how I managed to land these gigs without direct prior marketing experience.
I’ve encountered a lot of resources/memberships/etc. over my first year in business that promise to be useful and help you get clients. The Freelance Writer’s Den is the only one that—so far—has actually delivered. —Aurora Smith, auroramsmithwriter.com/
Thanks to the LinkedIn Marketing bootcamp, I tweaked my LinkedIn URL and got more profile views in one week than in the past year!
And I’ve only completed Module 2 of the bootcamp so far! —Noel Gama
Self-studying the LinkedIn bootcamp, I gained 12 new connections in the first week and 15 new connections in the second week. Following the methods described for finding and communicating with new connections has led to significant improvement in the quality of my contacts. I have already gotten two referrals – I am optimistic that this is a system that works! —Michele Hujber
My first three months as a freelancer, I made $400 a month. I just did my taxes, and I made well over $100,000 freelancing! Considering that last January and February I only made $1,500-2,000 a month, I’m pretty amazed — and I owe a LOT of it to what I learned from the Den! —Kat Tretina
I got several wins in one. I found an opportunity to guest post at double the money I’d ever made for a blog post. They loved my stuff and offered me a monthly gig! Thanks to the Den, I had enough sense not to sign their horrid contract and told them the noncompete and insurance requirements wouldn’t work. They rewrote their contract because of my input! Before the Den, I would have just signed my soul away for that price increase, and I wouldn’t have said a word. I love the Den! —Holly Hughes-Barnes, Nashville | hollyhughesbarnes.com
I’ve just scored my highest-paying client to date — and it looks like it’s going to turn into recurring work. It’s a custom publication in the agricultural industry, and they pay much better than any magazine I’ve written for in the past — $1,000-$1,200 for 800-900 words. For perspective, I just did a 3000-word piece for $900 and got $475 for 1,300 words. Big thanks to the Den for giving me the confidence to go after bigger clients. You helped me hone my letter of introduction to get a foot in the door, and it’s literally paying off! —Laura Barrera, freelance agriculture writer | laurarosebarrera.com
After just a few weeks in the Den, I went to a networking event and got my very first REAL client – one who was willing to pay a professional rate. I’ve since used the Den’s resources to build an SEO-friendly website that’s brought in more work opportunities than I know what to do with! My cannabis writing took off, and now I have three regular clients, plus two more that give me project work. If you’re a freelance writer, and you want to take your business to the next level, join The Freelance Writers Den. It’s one of the best investments you can make. —Daryl Watson, The Cannabis Copywriter | the cannabiscopywriter.com
A thank you to @TiceWrites: The Den was my 1st real breadcrumb on trail to earning a living #writing online. Now earning up to $600/post. —Pam Neely
“I love the Freelance Writer’s Den and tell other writers that it is the most cost-effective resource. I’ve really benefited from the query and LOI reviews in the Den, and have used what I’ve learned to pitch top-tier magazines. I even landed gigs from two editors featured on Den podcasts – at AAA Journey & Redbook – after listening to the calls and then following up with the pitches Denizens helped me hone.” —Kristi Valentini
With over 300 hours of recorded trainings, 24/7 help forums, live events, and more, the Freelance Writers Den is the best value in education and support for writers looking to build a thriving freelance career.
