Golden collection of life hacking for authors work, clients, process

The authors collected life hacking bit by bit over the years. One overheard a lecture on commercial offers, two - on courses, a couple more read in books. But most of life hacking they find themselves through trial and error, each time thinking, "Why did not I know this before?! Why not guessed? "We have collected for you the best life hacking, which will facilitate the work.

Work with text

Study materials before writing the text

Ideal - get the right information at the client. But this is not enough. But there are situations when the client does and gives a minimum of data, because it can not act as an expert on the desired topic.

Where to find information? It depends on the audience, for which you are writing, and on your goals. If you want to study the problems, fears and desires of people - you will be thematic forums.

Life hacking: if there is no necessary order to register and create their own forums.

In this case, make sure that your message sounded natural. For example, if you care to know, what are the problems faced by hunters when buying earplugs or headphones for shooting and what options they prefer most often introduce hunter-novice, complain of difficulties with the choice, and ask Council. If the forum is popular, you will soon get enough information for analysis.

If you need expert commentary, but the client can not give it - or find experts in the required field through social networks or publish a request for PressFeed.ru. Be prepared for the fact that the expert will have to mention in the article - agree in advance to this point with the customer and site editor.

Another great option obtain the necessary data - video blogs. They are especially useful if the representatives of the CA - carried away by people. A striking example - the athletes. Already on the mind of the blogger you will understand immediately if he could give advice on strengthening the abdominal muscles or the selection of exercises for biceps and triceps. Such professionals can shoot dozens of videos all on one subject, such as sports nutrition. From these videos you will get a lot of information from people who have followed their own procedures, and really know what they say.

Do not write the text after learning the material? wash the dishes

It happens like this: author shoveled a huge amount of material, but can not write a single line. In such cases, the distraction is better to do household chores or take a walk. Let the information settle down in my head, and imagination - to join.

An important point: Decide what works best for you.

One author needed a walk in the park, the other - a contrast shower, the third - the mechanical work on the house, the fourth - to switch to another task. Single recommendation not, all individually.

"Plant" before a representative of the target audience. This is a very useful life hacking for those who "writes in the void" can not choose the style and terminology, does not know how to address the reader. Imagine a person, which is designed for your text. Draw it in your mind. Let him be the name. Let it be a small story.

For example, you write an article on legal issues for the business. Here are sitting in front of you Mikhail, 35 years old man in a suit. He has all day to communicate with customers, work issues solved, thrice chastised employees, and now have learned about new Amendments to the law and wants to find out what they are and what they need to know about it is it - Michael Andreyevich. He was very tired during the day. When he reads the next "Operators of personal data should result in personal data processing system in accordance with the Federal Law of July 27, 2006 № 152-FZ, taking into account the amendments, which came into force July 1, 2017, "he sighs and closes tab. The text will remain unread.

Write for a specific representative of the target audience. Tell him what he wants to know. And let his eyes understanding appears.

Do not be afraid to repeat someone else's solutions

We saw a good header, an unusual technique, an interesting metaphor? Take note and try again. We found an article that caused a great response from the audience? Write a similar, but extend the theme or, on the contrary, narrow down. Like a foreign style? Add it to your items. Take all the good that you can see your colleagues, and perfection.

Life hacking: make a working folder where you will store the interesting developments.

Do not try to keep everything in mind: even the most ingenious ideas will certainly be forgotten. Let the part of developments can not be repeated, but if you need inspiration, they are irreplaceable.

Do not edit immediately after writing

Take a break from the text at least a few hours. Copywriter with zamylennym eyes sometimes can not see even the blunders. Before sending the text give lie down and re-read it again. Finished editing? Do not rush to send. Perhaps, when you look at the text of a fresh look, you will find a couple of places that can be improved.

An important point: always lay in the deadlines of work while relaxing on the text. This life hacking will come in handy in case of force majeure, for example, if all of a sudden your computer crashes and repairs will go a whole day.

Browse folder "Spam"

First of all, it's fun. Secondly, in this folder there are letters with good headlines and text. See them and fold into their working folder, which we discussed above, interesting ideas.

Work with a buddy

With a colleague, with whom you can discuss work issues, ask for help. Find a colleague you will be able to kopirayterskih groups "VKontakte" or Facebook.

Good buddy will help you move to a whole new level:

1. He criticize your writing when needed and celebrate all the weaknesses article if you zamylen opinion and take an urgent need to work.
2. You will be able to share with each other interesting developments, services, links. Exchange of experience is significantly accelerate your professional growth.
3. If you set a global goal such as running your own blog or write a book, simply arrange a buddy that will inform him of their successes, for example, every Tuesday. For many people it is a powerful motivation: ashamed to come to a colleague and say that this week it never did.

Remember that in working with Buddy important reciprocity and equal relationship. Be prepared to not only take but give.

Customer

Do not be afraid to expand the range of services

Often faced with a situation where an experienced, strong author refuses to order for the text to Landing or distribution. Explains simply: "I have not tried yet, all of a sudden not work?" Try to read materials on the subject, practice. The longer the list of your services, the more valuable you are as an expert. Of course, if you are not known as the greatest master of selling texts or the god of the epistolary genre.

Do not limit your texts. Look into related areas: SEO-optimization, contextual advertising, SMM, email-marketing. Do not be amiss to learn the basics of layout and design. Now there are dozens of free courses in Russian, as well as excellent books - for self-education will not have to spend a huge sum.

increase a tariff

Especially if you are a long time we did not.

This is a touchy subject. On the one hand, I want to earn more. On the other, many copywriters for years did not raise prices, finding dozens of reasons for this: "I'm not sure what my services are worth so much", "Customers will go from me," "I do not I can explain why I specify the price "," better to earn less, but take a number: if I call a low price, definitely will have a lot of orders, "" For my work will produce too high demands, I can not do it "or even" Such prices only set top authors who are lectures and write books, and I'm not one of them numbers. "

You need to understand two things:

1. Experience confirms that the high price not only discourages good customers - it attracts them. Many people are guided by the principle of "expensive - so qualitatively." A nice bonus: often pay a high price is not the most picky customers "write-to-read text-to-1000-marks-to-ten-key", and the wonderful customers ready to spend an hour to an interview on Skype and talk about their business without excuses "Find something on the Internet, well, or write like competitors. "
2. The less you get, the fewer tries. Some people do not have time not even elementary proofreading, because to earn bread and butter, you need to write as quickly and as much as possible. And someone starts to think: "If I am paid so little, why should I bother?" Low pay kills the desire to do a good job.

If you find it difficult to raise tariffs, do it motivated.

Read a new book, and learn of it something new in your profession or pass courses. Your level will rise - therefore it will be possible to increase and the price of services. At the same time you start to work hard to justify the assigned value and, therefore, will improve. And the best way - when the price increases, together with professionalism.

Increase level

It's not just about the quality of your work - in any case it is necessary to improve constantly. I'm talking about the level of customers. Do not be afraid to apply to the company, if you want to work there. Do not refuse to cooperate with a major client. Many authors have years of marking time in one place, because most of the new customers they seem to be "too serious".

Life hacking: remember that even Trump is not that too serious. But he is now President.

If you are afraid of the customer - imagine how he sits, wearing a T-shirt and pants home, with his family or playing with children. Even if it is not true, even if the children had not - imagine the degree of seriousness and fall sharply.

Not besite customer unnecessary "expert"

Some authors try to prove to an editor or client that they are wrong in the incorrect manner. It might look like: "You do not want the text you are applying for. It would be better ordered Landing. Looks like you do not understand in this area. And I understand, I have five years of experience, 10 of the courses, there are many certificate, I did one of the best specialists in the market. " Thus the author tries to show that it is done under the guise of assistance to the client. And it often becomes an occasion for non-cooperation.

But at the same time, do not rush to do what you are told. If you understand that TK is made inappropriately, talk to the client and try to change the assignment. Of course, criticism should be constructive and correct, with concrete proposals that can be corrected, and why it should be done.

Problems with TK solved in three steps:

1. Learn purpose of the work, check the details, make sure you have correctly understood the client and not to inflate out of molehills. Perhaps, after a short conversation, it turns out that with the TOR's okay - just a misunderstanding.
2. If the job is still need to edit, pick up arguments. Worst case - the forehead to say: "Everything is wrong, I am an expert and I know." It sounds insulting, especially if the client was TK, and did not apply to the contractor. Your tone should be gentle and respectful arguments - carefully chosen. Well, if you can refer to the case studies, examples from the experience of (his or someone else's).
3. Make a concrete proposal. Explain not only why TK need to change, but how to do it. Do not forget to leave the last word for the client: do not put ultimatums, let us understand that the decision is made by the customer. Even if the cooperation fails, it will be a good opinion of you, and this is very important, especially in the online world, where only one scandal can seriously stained reputation as a specialist.

Do not grasp the customer

If the customer sees how much you need cooperation, it can start down the price, reduce the time, to persuade you to increase the amount of work at no additional cost.

Psychologically, we are prepared to lose a customer. Customize yourself: if it does not work on this order - comes another.

Such an attitude will help you to choose the right tone of the conversation and did not agree to obviously bad bargain.

And in general, learn to negotiate. You can start learning from a book by Jim Camp "First, say "no"». If communication with the customer to have a sore subject - should read this.

Get a work account on Facebook

Well and in other social networks, if you wish. Some copywriters manage well to promote your profile even Instagram.

Make a statement. Visit profile groups in social networks, write posts, post a comment. So it will be easier to find new customers.

Exhale before answering

And finally, one more life hacking, which does not prevent the use of very many authors. If you have written something unpleasant, first calm down, then answer. In anger, the answer may be that then you do not want to work. This also applies to edits: sometimes the most innocuous comments are born in the soul of the author of a storm of emotions that can trigger extremely inappropriate response.

Option 1. Close your eyes, take a deep breath and exhale several times, count to 10. Not satisfied? Increase your score.

Option 2. Create a document, type everything, everything that you are thinking about the client, and when to blow off steam, to remove the document.

Addition to life hacking: always remember that the person you are beyond criticism. You can criticize your text, approach to work, the style, but not you personally. A possible approach or wording and correct - it is solved.

Self-organization

For freelance writers often it the question of self-discipline It is the most difficult. In office workers have a strict boss, who will stand over, to control the execution of tasks, customize and fine for delay. But freelancer can always refer to the problems with the Internet, damage to your computer or your grandmother's disease.

That's just often disrupt the timing - it means to harm his reputation. So long, and pass a bum, which is better not to go.

There is a solution: use life hacking to improve self-discipline and productivity.

Perform the ritual of the working day

This advice is especially important for those who do not have a separate office. Hard work, dine and watch movies for the same table: During the preparation of the texts and communicating with customers hand and pulled open the video with seals.

The ritual should be very simple and not burdensome. Place the notebook on the table, drink a cup of coffee with milk, or do anything else that will be associated only with the work.

Life hacking: Consider your type of perception when choosing ritual.

Audialy can listen to every morning the same short audio track, include background music, tunes in productive work.

Kinesthetic - use aroma lamp and toning essential oils (rosemary, basil, thyme, fir). Just do not overdo it: the procedure shall not exceed two hours and begin at all costs and with 15-20 minutes. On the one hand, to achieve the desired mood, sometimes missing a couple of breaths. On the other, the effect must be maintained, that is why is necessary to leave the aroma lamp lighted for at least 10-15 minutes. However, the ritual itself takes just a minute: pour water, add a few drops of oil, light a candle - and you're done.

Visuals often helps a picture or a picture that inspires them. You can put it on the table at the beginning of the working day and to clean up at the end. Other solutions - stickers with reminders, pasted on the monitor's angle, a stack of professional books about texts or dictionaries on the table.

In many cases, it works great "office dress code": choose comfortable clothes in which you could very well go to the office and wear it only when ready to go.

Do not try to do everything at once

Otherwise you will fill up an avalanche of detail "submit article plan", "buy bread", "call mom", "to make changes to the text." You have been asked to do something? Record on the sticker or in a notebook, and work quietly on. Do not let the little things distract you - solve the problem gradually.

This approach has three pluses:

1. You do not have to constantly throw a big problem to solve dozens of smaller ones. Productivity will increase immediately - see for yourself.
2. You do not forget anything. But if not begin to write, you will certainly miss some little thing that may later prove to be extremely important.
3. You unload the head. It is much easier to work with, not trying to keep in mind a dozen tasks at once.

Select a tool with which you are comfortable to work. Some people prefer Evernote and other similar services. Someone writes to stickers and throw them as solutions to problems (in this case, you will be very useful trash can near the desktop). You can record daily tasks in and expunged them as they perform.

An important point: record the result, rather than the initial action. Not "write to the customer," and "get the explanation of TK". Otherwise it will imitation flurry of activity: like a lot of problems, but it's not moving. In addition, you will be guided to the target, rather than only one process.

Use the rule of five minutes

If you find yourself, that you are ready to wash all the dishes, tidy up the house and scroll ribbon in the social network to post three months old, but would not start to work, the life hacking will help you.

Tell yourself: "I shall now put the alarm clock, and it rings in 5 minutes. All this time, I'll just do the work. If then I want to relax, I'll do it. "

Five minutes - that long, so it is psychologically very easy to talk yourself "to make a deal." But, as a rule, this time period is enough to join in the work. In most cases, after 5 minutes, people understand that may well continue to work.

Another great option for those who can not begin to work - "tomato" timer. It is based on Pomodoro technique. Its essence is simple: 25 minutes, you are doing just a job, and then 5 minutes of rest, trying to not even think about business. You can set yourself small deadline: "Over the 25 minutes I have to have time to solve three problems." If still small reward himself promised not want to be distracted!

"Tomato" Timer simplifies the use of this technique: you do not have to constantly keep track of time, the service itself will beep when the end of 25 minutes of work, or five-minute rest. Time intervals can be changed at your discretion.

swallow the frog

This is another life hacking for those who can not even go to work. Do not leave the most unpleasant things for later, and better plan at the beginning of their working day. Psychologically comfortable immediately solve the problem, you do not like, than constantly postponing them, and all day to think only about that sooner or later, they still have to do.

Protect eyesight

Optimal schedule: 25-30 minutes of work, and then at 5 minutes away from the computer, and give your eyes a rest. If you have a feeling of burning sand in the eyes, you should visit an ophthalmologist - he will pick up to you drop.

Well, if you can do a short charging for the eyes at least twice a day. You can start with the most simple exercises: fast blink 30 seconds at a time, looking to close located on distant objects and back, tightly zazhmurivat eyes and then open them as possible wider. From time to time, allow yourself to sit with your eyes closed.

If you forget to do exercises for the eyes, turn it into your daily to-do list.

Do not end the working day, until you have completed this step. Remember that spoil vision, constantly working at the computer, it is very easy, but to return it difficult, sometimes even impossible.

Chart, given the characteristics of their biological clock

This simple tip will help you save a lot of time and work more productive. In those times when you feel sleepy or tired, engaged in routine: respond to customer emails, perform mechanical work. More complex tasks that require care or inspiration, leave at the time, when you feel the rush of productivity.

Observe your well-being from morning to night for a few days to figure out when you work best. You can take notes on the clock: it will be easier to identify a pattern.

Answer in working hours

Except in an emergency. Do not accustom the customer to the fact that you can pull out at least in the output, even at three o'clock.

If you can not grow out of the habit of constantly check messages in the mail, Skype and social networks, as the fear that the client is upset or angry, getting no answer, - indicate the status of your work time. Also, in an interview with each client can communicate at what hours you are connected, and in which you are not worth waiting for a response. So it will be much easier to get rid of the standard installation "freelancer is always at work."

Finish Time

Do not let the work go on forever.

We talked about the ritual of the working day. But the end of the ritual is no less important: if you do all day to think about work, you risk quickly to face the fatigue and emotional burnout.

The ritual of the end of the working day must be simple and enjoyable for you. In good weather you can walk. The bad - stay home, drink a cup of tea, read a good book (not relevant to the job), watch a movie, spend time with family.

If you find it difficult to switch, use psychological life hacking.

Say to yourself, "Today I am not the author. I'm changing my role. "

Form for the roles that you play. For example, to be a writer - means to communicate with the customer, to study the information, write texts. But to be a husband or a wife - is to be careful, pay attention to your loved one, do household chores. Learn how to move from one role to another, and you will have fewer problems at work and at home.