July 19, 2006

Visibility, Credibility, Possibility - All From One Small Website By Lisa Tiffin
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A few years ago when I finally made the leap into freelance writing, I couldn't imagine my need for a website. For one thing, in the early stages I didn't actually have any samples or much content to put on a website. For another, I wasn't sure I could afford the investment. But likely one of my greatest fears was that I knew, if I had a website, people might actually visit it!

Everything changed last January when, looking to increase my monthly income, I took a class through WritersWeekly, Cash in on Newsletter Writing and Publishing: How to Land Corporate Newsletter Clients . By the first lesson I knew that to tap into this market I needed a way to showcase my writing. You guessed it; I realized it was time to create that website!

Since I have been writing for a few years now, I had the content ready to go, and I kept the cost down by teaming up with a pair of local college students who were looking for a way to increase their portfolios and gain experience. The site we created allows me to highlight my background and experience, draw attention to my capabilities and samples of my work, and post news about published articles, speaking engagements and upcoming projects. Needless to say, I am quite pleased with the result and, as friends and family members began giving me positive feedback, I gained the confidence to provide the web address to other professionals.

Remarkably, I have already landed new clients through my website. In less than a month of the site going live, I have agreed to write the content for another website, and I have made a valuable connection with a local business-to-business magazine. After visiting my site, the editor offered me the opportunity to write feature articles. I have contracted to write an article in the September 2006 issue and have an invitation to pitch for other issues.

With everything I've learned about websites and marketing during its creation, I know that each connection I make will offer me more exposure and drive more traffic to my website, which translates into writing assignments on my calendar and money in my pocket. Setting aside my insecurities and investing in a website may just be the single best thing I have done for my business.

Lisa Tiffin is a freelance writer from upstate New York whose articles have appeared in TWINS, Grit, Homeschooling Today, The Polishing Stone and others. In addition to articles, she writes juvenile fiction, literature study guides and a variety of business copy. To check out her website, visit http://www.lisatiffin.com.