So – deep breath – this is it!
After blogging for several clients over the past year or so, and reading A LOT of blogs by other copywriters and experienced bloggers, it’s time to dive in and start my own…
And what better time to launch my new blog than with the relaunch of my website?
However, I have to admit to being both excited and scared by the prospect!
On the one hand I’m looking forward to the freedom of being able to choose exactly what I blog about – rather than the topic being ‘dictated’ by a client – and have been jotting down all sorts of ideas for suitable posts.
On the other, I’m all too aware that many new bloggers begin to flounder after the first few months when they run out of steam.
I have no doubt that it won’t always be plain sailing, but I’m determined to make it a success and aim to learn along the way – hopefully improving my technique as I go.
My main objective is to stay afloat and to keep moving forwards. But I’d rather not navigate the choppy waters alone. So please feel free to join me for the ride and do share my new blog with any others who might care to tag along!
Hi Geraldine, good luck with your blog. I have been blogging for just about a year now and still find things out now that confuse and befuddle me but it is very enjoyable and there is a definite sense of achievement to see your own work being warmly received by others.
I have stumbled across your site from links on Facebook as I am currently undertaking a proofreading course with the PTC and often look at qualified individuals to gain top tips on how to progress in this industry, developing myself further at any opportunity. I know that this is an extreme competitive business to want to enter into, especially from a freelance perspective, so do you have any suggestions for someone that is just starting it? I have an English Language Degree as well but for the last 12 years of my career I have been working in a training capacity in finance but would love to follow my passion and succeed in this industry.
Hi Tam,
Many thanks for stopping by and for commenting. I hopped across to your blog (love the name and the dual concept!) and had a nosey around. Enjoyed seeing some places I’ve been to as well as others on my hit list.
As for advice re. making a go of freelance proofreading, I would suggest checking out the SfEP as they have lots of useful resources, advice on rates/best practice and local networking branches. Other than that I would say it’s a case of being persistent and opportunistic, e.g. if you spot a website or a magazine that has lots of typos etc, it’s sometimes worth dropping them a line to offer your services.
In terms of promoting yourself, I guess it largely depends on whether you envisage offering proofreading as an extension to your travel blog or will you opt for separate branding? If the latter, consider LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter etc, plus a small website optimised for local SEO.
The fact that you clearly love language already puts you in good stead, so there’s no reason why you can’t make a go of it. Yes, it is competitive (what isn’t these days?) but there is an ever increasing amount of content being produced, which needs writing and proofreading. And that can only be good news for us freelancers!
Hi Geraldine,
Thanks for the tips. I do follow the SfEP on Facebook and have looked at the membership criteria which, whilst quite complex, I would like to become part of once I have completed my qualification. As for the avenue I envisage going down, at present I am not sure. So many proofreaders have tried to discourage me from progressing, whether that is because of the competitive arena I am looking to enter I don’t know, that it has thrown me slightly. It would make sense to add the service to my travel blog but I do not feel that this alone would provide me with enough income although the travel aspect is definitely something for me to consider on a wider scale (maybe magazines etc).
Branding and Marketing is something I know very little about in terms of starting as a freelancer and therefore I need to research this in greater depth – ultimately I know I have the language skills and ability required for the role but it is whether I have the knowledge to be able to promote myself as the ‘go-to’ person to complete the assignment.
I currently work as a Financial Trainer and therefore my LinkedIn profile relates to this role, although I believe this may change in the future so I foresee the ability to change my professional profile to reflect the new career path I am hoping to follow. I am considering spending sometime with someone to look at my professional brand – to look at my CV, LinkedIn Profile, branding etc to help me stand out from the crowd.
I am excited about what the future holds.
It sounds as though you have given it a lot of thought and are doing all the right things. Don’t let others put you off – there could be a number of reasons why it hasn’t worked out for them. But if you can find a niche and focus on that, which for you would logically be the travel sector, then that would help differentiate you from the pack. There must be loads of travel and tourism websites/publications that would benefit from proofreading (I’ve seen a few howlers over the years!). And, by making contact with the publishers, you might also get a chance to write for them too – guest blogs etc. Definitely worth a try 🙂
Best of luck as you start this new blog – looking forward to reading it!
Thanks Sharon, I’ll try not to disappoint! And thanks again for your help re. plug-ins – JetPack was perfect for my needs 🙂
Congratulations on ‘going live’ as I know this has been a long time in the making 🙂
Thanks Caroline – got there in the end!
Lovely website and good luck with the blog 🙂
Thank you so much Jules! Sorry for not replying sooner, but I didn’t get a notification – it must only be when people use an email address rather than an existing profile. One to watch out for…
Hi Geraldine,
Congrats on your own blog! I enjoyed reading this first post. Like the links you put in — the 404 was cute but on second thought, maybe a bit too cute for e.g. someone coming to your blog directly from your Facebook page at the end of a hard working day…. Might it be an idea to put an ordinary link straight to your home page under ‘website’? Boring, I know, but it would cover all the angles. And keep the fuddy-duddies happyy… Am looking forward seeing what you mean by ‘suitable’ posts. I’m curious to know what the blog is going to be about….
Good luck with it!
cheers
~gini
P.S. The revamped website looks terrific by the way. Very clean, very clear. Well done!
And the prize for the first to comment goes to… Ragini in the Netherlands! Thanks so much for taking the time and trouble to pop across from FB, read my little post and leave a comment – much appreciated 🙂
Also, many thanks for spotting the broken link, which I’ve now fixed (it now leads to my Blogging page, under Services). I thought I had changed all of the internal links following the transfer from the build server to the live one, but clearly missed one. Will now go check to see if there are any more.
Next blog to follow in a few days, so watch this space…