By Henneke Duistermaat
Let’s be frank. Creating your freelance writer website is tough.
It’s far more difficult to write your own copy than to create content for a client.
Today I’m sharing the most common mistakes on freelance websites. Avoid these mistakes and you’ll have a much better chance that your website helps you win customers and make money.
Sound good?
Mistake 1: Too-clever home page headline
Web visitors are always in a hurry. They quickly scan your home page. They decide in a few seconds whether to click back or to stay.
A web visitor doesn’t take the time to understand your clever headline. Keep your headline simple and concise, such as “Freelance Writer in Boston” or “Content Strategist Who Helps Small Businesses Win Customers”.
Mistake 2: About page isn’t engaging
Customers aren’t interested in you; they want to know why they should work with you. Don’t prattle on about yourself. Give web visitors a reason to get in touch with you – and hire you.
Mistake 3: Wishy-washy copy
Finding good-paying clients can be hard. It’s easy to be tempted to cast your net as widely as possible. But the problem with a wide target is that your marketing messages become wishy-washy, watery, and ineffective.
Instead of thinking about your audience, try to describe just one ideal client. Describe her in so much detail that you can visualize her when writing your web copy.
Writing for one person makes your web copy stronger, more engaging, and more persuasive.
Mistake 4: Stale blog
A blog is a great opportunity to show off your content creation skills. But don’t let your blog go moldy. Don’t give potential clients the impression you can’t even keep up with your own blog! Find a schedule that works for you and stick with it.
Mistake 5: Crimes against readability
Sometimes we’re so engrossed with picking exactly the right words and tightening our copy, we don’t notice how bad our copy looks.
Make your copy readable:
- De-clutter your web pages and increase white space.
- Reduce the length of your paragraphs.
- Convert sentences into bullet points.
- Increase the size of your font (the font size here is 16px).
Don’t make your readers strain their eyes. Encourage them to read your copy by promoting good, readable design.
Mistake 6: Sucky design
You don’t need a large budget to create a great-looking design: Pick a WordPress theme you like. Choose your own fonts and colors.
Sign up for Pamela Wilson’s design 101 series to learn more about designing your own site (it’s free!).
Mistake 7: You look unapproachable
Encourage web visitors to contact you. Be approachable:
- Include a good, professional photo of you – smiling.
- Publish an email address, because most people don’t enjoy completing forms.
- Include active social media profiles only.
The truth about your freelance website
People hire you because you are an excellent writer, yes, but also because they know you, like you, and trust you.
Be yourself, and let your passion shine through – your enthusiasm is contagious.
Henneke Duistermaat is a marketer, copywriter, and author of the book How to Write Seductive Web Copy. Sign up for free copywriting and marketing tips at Enchanting Marketing.
Did this give you ideas on how to improve your writer website? If so let us know in the comments!
