Constant Content is a content marketplace where we connect freelance writers with businesses who need quality, written content.
Signing up as a freelance writer on Constant Content is only your first step. Once you have completed your profile and added information about your writing talents, how do you go from being a newcomer to a top-selling writer?
Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can improve your chances of making money on Constant Content.
Ready? Here goes…
How to Be Successful Writing for Constant Content
Understand Constant Content Buyers
One of the best ways to improve your chances of sales on Constant Content is to pay attention to the buyers who purchase from Constant Content.
You will need to put on your investigator’s cap if you want to gain an understanding of Constant Content buyers.
One excellent way to determine who you should be writing articles for is to investigate who follows Constant Content on social media. Pay attention to who comments and likes their posts on Facebook, which companies are following them on LinkedIn, and who is interacting with them on Twitter.
The more you understand about who interacts with Constant Content online, the better idea you’ll get of target customers.
Track Sales via the Writing Ideas Tab
Constant Content offers insights on recent catalog sales via a helpful ‘writing ideas’ tab. While you don’t want to copy ideas from the recent sales section, you can gain a keen understanding of the types of topics that are currently selling.
Notice plenty of wedding-related content selling? This is a good time to increase your articles on all things bridal as the category could likely use some fresh content.
This same theory applies to all categories; watch what is selling and add new content to those categories to ensure your name is one of the first buyers see when they click on a specific category. When buyers continually see your name at the beginning of a category page, they’ll know you’re a writer who adds fresh content on a frequent basis.
Constant Content buyers can be anyone from an e-commerce store owner to a digital marketing agency to a globally-recognized brand.
Monitor marketing trends within specific industries on social media to discover hot topics. Scan Twitter for hashtags like #ecommerce or #digitalmarketing.
Notice who the thought leaders are, and which accounts/topics are being retweeted. You’ll quickly gain an understanding of the topics those industries are interested in.
Use your new-found knowledge to create articles for sale on those topics. If industry thought leaders are talking about a particular topic, there’s a good chance buyers on Constant Content will be interested in those same topics.
Related Reading: A Freelancer’s Guide to Social Media Networking
Job Board Analysis
Investigating writing jobs on job boards like Indeed and Glassdoor is another excellent way to fuel your creativity on Constant Content.
Search for job listings for writers, freelance writers, content writers or content marketing. Take notes on the industries that are hiring. Compile a list of industries that are actively looking for writing talent and use this information to determine the topics you write about.
Notice lots of energy companies hiring writers? Add new blog posts for sale on topics related to energy that will attract customers to your target audience.
See plenty of digital marketing agencies hunting for writing staff? Increase your inventory of brand marketing/content marketing/inbound marketing articles for sale.
Chances are good if multiple players within an industry are searching for writing staff, others within their sector might be using the services of Constant Content to fill their need for fresh content.
Be Helpful to Constant Content Personnel
One excellent way to increase your sales on Constant Content is to be helpful to their staff Pay attention when Constant Content staff post requests in the ‘My Projects’ section and apply to the writing gigs they post.
When Constant Content account representatives know they can count on you to provide quality articles with a fast turnaround time, they’re likely to think of you when new projects come along. If you can become one of their go-to writers, you’ll be amazed at how much your annual sales can increase on Constant Content.
Increasing your Constant Content article sales isn’t just a numbers game. Developing a detailed strategy for sales optimization will help you make the most of your time on Constant Content. Incorporate these five tips into your writing strategy and you’ll be impressed at just how profitable it can be to write for Constant Content.
Tips for Landing Your First Client on Constant Content
One of the biggest challenges for any aspiring freelance writer is landing that first client. If you haven’t secured a paid writing gig yet, Constant Content is an excellent place to start.
Landing your first client requires a combination of writing skills, networking and taking the initiative. Here are a few tips to score your first freelance writing gig.
Lay the Groundwork
One of the first things to do is update your profile. Many clients read author profiles to find suitable writers to work with, so make sure you include any qualifications and experience to highlight your expertise.
Next, keep your eye on the dashboard. Here, you can explore the best-selling categories and see the most recent content sales. This will give you a good idea of what clients are currently looking for.
Finally, in the “Requested Content” section, browse all the public requests. In the drop-down menu, be sure to check out the “Casting Calls” section to see a list of projects you can apply for.
Every client request is an opportunity for you to touch base with content buyers, submit relevant content, and land your first freelance writing gig. But before you start applying for everything in sight, a little preparation is in order.
Research Potential Clients
The most successful writers are selective in their bids for work. Choosing projects that suit your style and expertise will give you a clear advantage in the bidding process.
If the brief mentions the client’s business, visit their website and read their latest blog and social media content. Get a feel for what their business is all about. This will give you an idea of their writing style and preferred formats.
Proposal Writing Tips
Writing a strong proposal can set you apart from other writers. First, take the time to read the brief carefully to understand what the client is looking for specifically. It will help you communicate more effectively and show that you pay attention to the details. In your submission, include details about their company to show that you’ve already done your homework on their business.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions; it shows you care about the project and want to produce content that matches the client’s goals. This will save you time in the long-run. If the client sees you as an effective problem solver who can tailor your writing to a specific brief, they’re more likely to hire you now and in the future.
Building relationships is key to landing clients. Address the client by their name, if you have it. Show your personality in your message, highlight your strengths and skills as a writer, and any experience you have. For example, you could mention how you always meet deadlines, or only use credible sources.
If you want to shave some time off the communication process, create a template that you can tailor to every future client and job.
Finally, if you contact potential clients quickly after they’ve posted a request, you’ll increase your chances of getting the job. To make sure you receive notifications of client requests immediately, go to “Edit My Account,” scroll down to “Email Settings,” and set the emails you’d like to receive to “Instant.”
Anticipate and Answer Questions
Unfortunately, you won’t always get a clear brief from clients. To capitalize on this vagueness, suggest a few ways that you could approach the project. This way, you’re coming up with ideas so the client doesn’t have to.
If you have any samples of previous work, attach them to the message so the client doesn’t have to ask you to provide them. You’re saving the client time, and showing your initiative. If you don’t have any samples, create some now so you’re ready in the future.
Follow Up and Close the Deal
Sometimes, clients are just too busy to get back to you; it doesn’t mean you’ve been unsuccessful. To show your interest and help clients remember you, send a follow-up message without sounding pushy. For example:
Hi (Client Name),
Last week I sent you a proposal for (the project) and just wanted to follow up to see if you’re interested. When you’re available, please get in touch if you’d like to discuss the project in more detail or have any further questions.
(Your Name)
After sending the initial proposal, wait about a week before following up. If you still don’t hear anything, at least you know you’ve done your best. Don’t get discouraged; it happens to the best of writers.
Writer’s Review of Writing Articles For Constant Content’s Catalog
This post comes to us from Kevin Campbell, a writer who joined Constant Content this year and has really figured out how to effectively build a catalog of content for sale.
I believe that any success, no matter how big or small, that I’ve had with selling articles on Constant Content can be attributed to building and maintaining a well-stocked back catalog of content. I always try to keep in mind that an article written today probably won’t sell today or even tomorrow. Eventually, however, it will likely sell. With that in mind, I use the idea that if you write consistently now you’ll sell consistently later on as a motivator. If there’s one great motivator to freelance writers everywhere it’s the promise of a consistent income, as theoretical at this point as it may be.
I try to write at least five articles a day, Monday through Friday. In my mind, the only acceptable excuse for not meeting my goal is “I’m making money somewhere else today.” That or I’ve died. Death would also be an acceptable excuse.
At the start of my day, I always open up my Constant Content work desk to find out what types of pieces have been selling in the last few hours. While I don’t necessarily use the most recently sold articles as a guide to plan the next few pieces I’ll immediately write, I do use the information to try and identify trends. If I notice that articles about Apple’s iPad are continually showing up in the “Recently Sold” tab, I know that it’ll be a decent idea to write iPad articles at some point.
I keep a text file on my desktop at all times that I use to store ideas for potential articles. If I ever have an idea that I know I can get at least 300 words out of, it goes into the text file. That text file always keeps me writing, even on days when I’m not feeling particularly inspired. It allows me to have that glimmer of inspiration now and bank it for a rainy day when I’ll really need it.
When picking out ideas to eventually write about, I try to settle on a broad topic that I can then break down into many tiny pieces, so to speak. Instead of just writing a general information piece about Apple’s iPad, for example, I would try to cover the device from every conceivable angle. The benefits of this are twofold. In my mind, it enables me to cover each angle of the topic with as much space as I’ll need to get the job done as thoroughly as possible. Secondly, I can research many different articles in one sitting, thus saving me a great deal of time in the long run.
When selling from the catalog, I think it’s important not to sell yourself too short. Always make sure that your articles are priced fairly and that they can compensate you for your time. I’ve had some great success with using the “Best Offer” feature, for example, but I rarely accept anything less than what I’ve stated for full rights. I give the most amount of leeway to buyers for usage rights, but for full rights I don’t list a price on the site unless I already think it is more than fair.
I read two statistics when I started with Constant Content that helped me to remain motivated. The first was that three out of every four articles that you write will eventually sell. The second was that each article you place into your catalog averages out to be worth about $20 when everything is said and done. In my own personal experience, both of those statistics are turning out to be absolutely true. In the case of the theoretical value of each article, it has actually turned out to be a little higher than $20.
Kevin Campbell
Final Thoughts
Landing your first freelance writing client can take a little time and effort. Just remember to be respectful, show some initiative, and demonstrate your best qualities to potential clients. In the end, it will pay off.
Before you submit any work, be sure to check our extended guidelines to give yourself the best chance of success. And for inspiration, browse the Constant Content author forums; you’ll find plenty of other writers who have been in your position and will support you on your journey.