The Tried-and-True Powerhouse of Writing Careers
This writing opportunity has the trifecta of what you want in a paid gig: reliable pay, freedom, and ease.
This is exciting! You’re about to learn the ins and outs of one of the top – if not, the top paid writing opportunity (at least in my opinion).
I love it for so many reasons. This one wins on all points. It’s simple to learn, clients are plentiful, the pay is terrific, you get loads of freedom and control over when and where you write, and best of all…
It’s just plain fun.
At least, for anyone who likes to sit down and write a letter to a friend. Which I do. Which pretty much all aspiring paid writers like to do.
Enjoy learning the ins and outs from my friend Rebecca Matter, President of American Writers & Artists Institute.
—Mindy
The Long-Lasting, Reliable ‘Road Tank’ of All Writing Opportunities
By Rebecca Matter
One of the most important factors when it comes to setting up your writing career is longevity.
Because even though it’s exciting to think about those initial benefits to the writer’s life (like no commute, no boss, no time card, and so on)…
Nobody wants to make the leap to life as a paid writer if there’s any risk of fizzling out early.
To be sure, there are enough different writing opportunities with enough widespread demand for persuasive writing to keep any committed writer busy over the long haul.
But if you’re looking for something that’s reliable from the get-go, that keeps paying you for years or even decades…
Then you’re going to love what I have in store for you today. Much like the Ford Crown Victoria was the reliable face of American law enforcement and the taxi industry for decades…
This writing opportunity is now the face of nearly all business-to-consumer relationships.
Now, consider that the Victoria is still often cited as one of the sturdiest cars around, a “road tank” of sorts, able to withstand all kinds of punishment and still keep rolling.
The equivalent in the writing world is email newsletter writing… able to weather ups and downs in the economy but equipped to keep rolling — and keep paying — month after month, year after year, for the long term.
In fact, this is such a predictable income opportunity that I recommend that all Barefoot Writers consider adding it to their list of services… or specializing in it exclusively. Here’s why…
Schedule Regular Paychecks as a Freelance Writer
First, understand that an e-newsletter is simply a formatted email that provides valuable content to its subscribers. You probably receive several of them in your own inbox every single day. (And many come to you right here through Substack!)
These publications provide readers with up-to-date information, entertainment, and content to help them stay connected to a business or service provider.
Specializing in them makes it easy to schedule your paychecks months in advance and helps you avoid a “feast or famine” cycle — giving you a clear idea of your workload and income for the entire year.
Let’s picture how this works…
Imagine a veterinarian with a small practice in Naperville, Illinois. The veterinarian has a small but loyal base of customers who rave about her services. To help strengthen this relationship even more, she decides to publish a weekly e-newsletter. In each issue she writes articles about the latest news related to animal health.
She might alert dog owners of a new sickness spreading through the community… remind them to start giving flea treatments when the warmer weather sets in… or just share her thoughts on the new dog park that opened up down the street.
As a trusted veterinary professional, she wants to keep her patients’ owners informed and connected to the practice. In turn, readers will see her as a trusted authority who is going above and beyond to help care for their animals.
Plus, readers will love the useful content and share it with their friends who are also pet owners — it’s a natural way to build referrals in the community.
Now, here’s the kicker…
Our friend the veterinarian is a doctor… NOT a writer. She’s busy and doesn’t have time to write this content every single week.
That’s where YOU come in!
As her e-newsletter writer, you can write important, entertaining, and informative weekly content in her voice. You’ll help the veterinarian share her ideas, thoughts, and announcements so her clients can stay connected to her, which strengthens their loyalty.
And you’re thrilled because you now have a weekly project that will go on… and on… and on. As long as you keep providing great service, there’s no reason this relationship couldn’t last for months or years.
It’s not just veterinarians who need email newsletters. Many other professional service providers and B2B companies need them too: Accountants, local bankers, attorneys, medical professionals, insurance agents, florists, hairstylists, local sports leagues, lawn care providers, real estate agents…
The list is a long one.
You have the chance to select a particular industry where you can feel personally connected to and passionate about the subject matter. You’ll be writing about topics that interest you, and you’ll be making a very real difference for your client’s business.
Renowned as Some of the Longest-Running Projects
We just talked about the reliable income this type of writing provides…
Because you’ll never have to worry again about filling your next month’s calendar with paying projects. Instead, you’ll know (well in advance) how many e-newsletters you’ll need to write for your monthly pay.
Most e-newsletter clients will want to stay on a very consistent schedule. This often means monthly or weekly content. Best of all, you keep going with this relationship until either you or the client says “stop.”
Which means you could be writing these projects for a long time… (My friend Michael Katz is the most successful e-newsletter writer I know. And he’s been writing for the same three clients for more than 15 years!)
But, consider that since your schedule is going to be so consistent, you’ll also be able to predict your workload far in advance.
With e-newsletters, you’ll have solid deadlines for submission on a regular schedule. Once the work is sent in, it’s done. No frantic phone calls from the client asking for last-minute edits. No loose ends to tie up on Friday afternoon when you’re ready to enjoy the weekend.
As my friend puts it… there are “no emergencies with e-newsletters.” You just move forward at a steady speed.
Over time, you’ll get to know your chosen industry so well that clients will start to refer you to their colleagues. Before long, you’ll have new clients knocking at your door. This lets you pick and choose exactly who you want to work with for the long term.
And with each e-newsletter, you’ll get paid for the results rather than the effort. This means you can charge a flat fee for each issue. So, it doesn’t matter if one newsletter takes you the entire day or just a few hours. You’ll get paid the same fee.
That’s good news. Because with each issue, you’ll become more and more familiar with your client’s world. The writing will become faster, and you’ll end up making more money per hour.
Just 3 Clients Can Take You to 6 Figures
To give you an idea of the income potential, consider this:
Every e-newsletter is around 1,200 to 1,500 words in length. The fee for this work ranges from $800 to $1,500 per issue.
This type of writing is not salesy or high-pressure. You don’t need to fill it with hype or stress about beating the latest control. Instead, you’ll be writing fun educational stories and “how-to” articles, and sharing simple advice.
That said, it’s perfectly reasonable to assume you can get at least one (if not more) done in a single day.
Plus, you’ll need only a handful of clients to break through the six-figure income barrier.
Let’s think back to our veterinarian in Naperville. She wants you to write weekly content for her clients and is willing to pay a very conservative $800 per issue.
Over the course of one month, you’ll make $3,200 just from this single client.
Add on two other veterinarians from other parts of the country, and you’ve already reached an income of $115,200 per year!
It’s a very manageable workload. Each week, you’ll write three e-newsletters, all about the same veterinary industry. And remember, each e-newsletter is only 1,200 to 1,500 words in length.
Many companies will request one e-newsletter per week or per month. But some will want to connect with their customers more often… perhaps two or three times per week… or even daily!
You can see how this adds up quickly.
You: The Sought-After, Whispered-About Writer
Remember, e-newsletter clients are professionals looking for reliable writers who can help them reach their customers. They understand the value of building and maintaining relationships.
Strong relationships help build trust and familiarity — two things that result in more sales and referrals for their businesses.
E-newsletter clients love sending out content because it lets them foster natural interaction with their customers. Plus, it positions them as a trusted authority in the industry.
But most of them can’t keep up with this writing on a regular schedule and do their other jobs without YOU — their e-newsletter writer.
That’s why so many e-newsletter clients will hold on to their writers for months or even years. Once you’ve impressed a few clients, you’ll be a hot ticket item in your industry.
Your schedule will be packed with projects with a clear schedule laid out for delivery. Your income will be planned out well in advance, and you’ll know how to manage your time so you can get everything done — and still have time for your friends, family, hobbies, and passions.
Quite frankly, e-newsletter writing is one of the easiest and most reliable ways to make a predictable income as a writer.
Flatter Your Way to a First Client
Getting started as an e-newsletter writer is easy.
In fact, many writers will learn everything they need to know through The AWAI Method for Becoming a Skilled, In-Demand Copywriter™, considered the gold standard for copywriting training.
After you know the basic structure, the next important step is to choose your industry. It doesn’t matter who you decide to write for — veterinarians, attorneys, health care providers, or chiropractors — just choose one.
Just know it’s helpful to have a definite focus for your attention, because then you can do a deep dive into their world. Learn the special way they talk about subjects, and use the correct lingo.
That will show the client and their readers that you know what they care about most.
Also, here’s another perk: Professional service providers tend to know other people in their profession, whether it’s in the same city or across the country. They talk to each other.
So, if you impress one client, chances are he or she will rave about your services when they go to meetings and conventions, or talk in groups online. This can lead to great referrals.
Speaking of those meet-ups, choosing a particular niche also lets you focus on which materials to study. You can personally attend those conferences, subscribe to industry publications, and read articles online to learn everything you can about that industry.
The more you learn, the better and more targeted your writing will become when connecting to that particular audience.
After you’ve chosen your niche, you’ll need to put all this knowledge to good use. Write up a few sample e-newsletters to show prospective clients. It really is that easy.
If you’re looking for even more direction with e-newsletter writing, check out Creating Email Newsletters for Professional Service Firms.
It’s a program written by the top e-newsletter writer I mentioned earlier, Michael Katz. Inside, he walks you through how to build relationships, nurture leads, and bring in more sales.
Instead of doing one-off projects with clients, your clients will become trusted friends with whom you can work for years at a time.
And when it comes to the actual writing, the projects will be fun and easy. You’ll write as if you’re speaking to a friend over coffee — creating rewarding content in an industry you choose to write about.