Self-Devpt. Nuggets™

There are times when I think some of us freelance writers suffer from a little bit of tunnel vision when it comes to exploring ways to make money using our writing skills. I get this impression most often from reading blog posts and website articles discussing the same income earning avenues/strategies over and over again.

Sometimes we need not just to think outside the box, but to get rid of the silly box completely!

Before I ever came up with a strategy that successfully got clients to pay me to write articles for them, I’d already earned reasonable income in certain unusual ways using my writing skills. One example: as a contract resource person.

Who (or What) Is A Contract Resource Person? (A True Story of How I Became One)

Think of her as one who offers ready-to-use services needed by busy, results-focused persons in specific fields. I’ve functioned as one few times.

Well …maybe I should rephrase that a bit…

Certain clients have hired me to be a contract resource person a few times in the past. But in each instance, I never saw it coming.

In fact I even told one person I did not offer such a service – until he pointed out to me the fact that I had the skills to give him what he wanted. And then he added that he was convinced I could do it satisfactorily!

Here’s how it happened: I had just handed over a new website I built for this environmental services consultant client. During the four week period we worked together, he’d commended me on my typing speed, as well as my ability to quickly grasp new concepts in previously unfamiliar fields like his.

A week afterwards, he visited me at home to request that I help him produce an electronic/digital searchable version of a massive paper-based three volume document used by an oil services client company of his (using my typing and custom MS Excel-VB development skills).

When I started to object, he explained that he’d already assured the company that he had a resource person who could deliver the solution to specification.

I argued that despite what he’d referred to as my quick learning ability, I was not competent to produce such a highly technical document for use at that high profile level. He countered that he would guiide me all the way, and that he was prepared to pay handsomely to secure my full committment (I had another web design project in hand that he was aware of – but which was not due for another forthnight).

At that point, I wisely chose to stop objecting and start negotiating

The plan was to deliver the finished electronic version in 10 working days. Before he left, he wrote me a 100% advance payment cheque in six fugures to the tune of the exact amount I requested, so I could start work the next day.

Talk of a massive vote of confidence!

I made sure that job came out as promised, to the right standard. He was pleased, and I was happy with what I’d earned in 10 days of work. I also came away with knowledge of another way to use my skills that I had never thought of previously. See how we sometimes limit ourselves by the way we think?

Burt Dubin once said to me (in an email conversation) that "customers teach us the business". My experiences convince me he’s right. Like I said above, the opportunities I got came with no direct effort on my part. The client simply studied me based on my promotional materials and our interactions, and concluded I would be useful to him in that area.

Hopefully, now I’ve gotten your attention. It’s time to consider the fact that there are other areas you have not yet looked at, that could hold useful income earning promise for you as a freelance writing professional.

As Freelance Writers, Most People Traditionally Offer Services That Include The Following:

i. Books: You probably offer ghostwriting, editing, proofreading, electronic transfer of manuscripts, cover designs, as well as manuscript formatting etc.

ii. Websites: You may also specialize in writing/editing web content or, even critique evaluations of clients’ websites content.

iii. Articles: You likely also offer writing of articles for online (e-zine, websites, blogs) and offline (magazines, newspapers etc) publications owned by clients.

But You Can Also Deliberately Position Yourself To Get Hired As A Contract Resource Person

How? By announcing the fact that you are! Offer to work with clients or prospects to help them make their events or outings more successful for instance. Maybe she’s planning a learning programme on Achieving Continuous Interpersonal Effectiveness for new entrants (e.g. Graduate Management Trainees) into her corporation.

Let’s assume a domestic emergency occurs close to the planned event day, in a way that makes it difficult for her to prepare adequately.

As her Contract Resource Person, she could call you in at short notice, to prepare (and even deliver) a paper/talk with true stories or anecdotes that spice up the event, get participants more involved and most importantly equip them to do better on their jobs.

That’s just one way of going about it though. If you’re not the outgoing type, and want to stick with your work from home operational mode, ample opportunities exist for you to do that as a Contract Resource Person.

Note that the idea is that your existing clients, and their contacts, as well as prospects may periodically develop a sudden, unexpected and possibly urgent need for a one-off solution they’re not fully equipped or prepared to handle.

And they would welcome someone with a ready solution to that problem. If you hone your skills in the areas you are sure you can deliver, you’ll be able to make the most of opportunities like this when they show up.

To Attract Offers, Position Yourself As Competent And Credible

Presenting yourself as competent and credible applies not just to being a resource person. It’s a useful rule in every area of business…and life in general.

In my case, the clients simply came and offered me the work. Prior to that time, I had never thought of getting work from them in that manner, even though we had previously done (or met to discuss) business.

People tend to take decisions based on trust. When they trust you to be competent and reliable, they are often more willing to depend on you for solutions. And that includes those solutions you do not offer them directly – even when someone else they know does offer them!

The manner in which you position yourself can make people come up with ideas about how you can help them, that YOU have not even thought of. And that’s why it’s important to learn to take things in your stride an entrepreneur. Otherwise you’ll miss great chances to corner unexpected but decent – and legitimate – extra income!

Below, I’ve Outlined A Few Areas In Which You Could Offer Yourself As A Contract Resource Person (Based On My Experiences/Achievements):

1. Speech Writing For Busy Persons: I believe most writers can take their careers and income earning abilities to a whole new level by becoming speakers.

But if you prefer not to speak, consider helping those who do, to prepare their speeches, for a fee. You can quickly and easily write up content for a client’s impending speech. The client could be a business owner who received a request to speak at a social event or function, but is (like many people) unsure of what to say, and probably also terrified of speaking in public.

She would only need to give you details of the topic/theme and access to all the relevant information/materials. And you would come up with a ready-use-speech for the occasion. If she’s scared of speaking in public, and you’re competent in that area, offer to give a coaching session or crash course along with the writing service.

If she successfully gets through the event, you can be sure she won’t forget you in a hurry – paid service or not!

TIP: You could aim to become a go-to person for emergency speech writing services, you know

2. Training Course Modules & Technical Documentation Preparation: This includes technical/training manuals preparation.For instance, a client may have a proprietary training programme she wishes to package formally as a branded learning system.

If you have the relevant skills, this can earn you substantial extra income. And if you do it well, there’s a good chance her network of associates could develop an interest in your services.

In addition, training and business schools may also find this kind of service time/cost-saving in the production of needed documentation for their numerous courses. 

You could also consider offering services that deliver prepared materials for any of the following:

a. factory machines operations and engineering maintenance training documentation/trouble shooting guides.

b. Management Training Courses

c. Computer Education courses e.g. written training or instructional guides for use of off-the-shelf software like MS Office products etc.

Final Words – This Could Be A Complementary Income Earner For You

For most of the above, only after I’d provided the requested service did I consider formally adding them to my portfolio. But I’ve since found that they are not necessarily often in demand.

Those who sometimes need them often have in-house resources who handle such jobs on a routine basis. But when they’re over stretched or not available, external providers (like you and I) are brought it to pick up the slack.

These kinds of solutions are needed by a select few, who happen to be prepared to pay well to get them. That’s why it’s important to position yourself right – and also be prepared. You could choose to see this contract resource service provision (like I do) as a side business that can bring in useful additional revenue every now and then. At least that’s my approach.

If you’d like to get more steady flow of such work however, it would be up to you to find a niche market that needs those kinds of solutions on a regular basis, and make them an attractive offer.

One good example: Seminar, workshop and conference meeting/event planners or organisers. Touch base with them and offer to prepare materials like the above. You never know, some useful recurring work opportunities could result from your efforts.

Good luck!