Nick Usborne, Author at Courses and Tools for Freelancers

Monday Spark: Stimulate your mind with a stream of fresh ideas.

A lot of freelance businesses are based on a single goal or focus.

For example, a freelancer might set up in business to write web content for companies in the travel industry.

There is nothing wrong with that, so long as you keep coming up with fresh ideas. New ways to market your business, new types of content to offer your clients, different types of clients to approach, new ideas on how to make your website or blog work harder. And so on.

At another level, I know a couple of freelancers who recently came up with a neat idea. Both are freelance writers and copywriters, and both have their own businesses and websites. But they got talking together and had a completely different idea.

Now they have launched a joint website offering a service to companies that want to have a blog, but don’t know how to get started or create compelling posts.

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Are you engaging your readers with questions?

by Nick Usborne

Let’s begin with a well-worn analogy.

Trying to engage your readers online is like going on a first date. If you talk about nothing but yourself, there will be no second date. If you want a second date, you should stop talking about yourself and ask your companion some questions.

We have all read this advice 100 times. We all know it’s good advice.

The thing is, it doesn’t seem to make a lick of difference.

The vast majority of posts, articles, Facebook updates, tweets and Google+ posts are the equivalent of the person who never stops talking about himself.

Look at me! Listen to me! Look at what I found! Listen to my 5 killer ways to achieve something amazing!

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Monday Spark: Get a boost from friends who know what it’s like to be a freelancer.

by Nick Usborne

You know what it’s like to be a freelancer, and so do I.

But many people don’t.

Even within our own homes we can sometimes feel like strangers when it comes to why and how we follow the freelance life.

In fact, when you were starting out, you probably got a few weird looks and comments from family, friends or colleagues.

“Are you sure? Wouldn’t it be safer getting a real job?” (Ha! Like a “real” job is safe these days.)

I don’t know what it is exactly, but there is a clear and definite line that divides people who get and want the freelance life, and those who don’t. And if we are surrounded by too many people who don’t get it, we can begin to feel isolated. And if we feel isolated for too long, we can start having doubts about ourselves.

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Monday Spark: Build your marketing around the very best version of You.

by Nick Usborne

One of my frustrations as a coach is that many of my clients fail to present the very best versions of themselves to their clients.

I know freelancers who have exceptional talent, but create websites for their freelance businesses that make them look ordinary.

I know freelancers who suffer from “imposter syndrome” and constantly worry they aren’t good enough to work for large clients.

I know freelancers who start their business day with a snapshot of their very worst selves in their minds.

This is all about self-confidence and self-esteem.

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101 Topic ideas for your money-making website.

by Nick Usborne

As some of you already know, in addition to my regular work I make a second, passive income with some hobby sites.

My largest hobby site, CoffeeDetective.com, has made me over $250,000 in passive income over the last 7 years. Not bad for a site I work on in the evening and at weekends.

I have also written a program, based on my own experiences, so that other people can do the same.

I have spoken and corresponded with hundreds of people who have taken the program, and many have told me the part of the process they found the hardest was coming up with a topic idea.

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