From INewswire…
One such mother [seeking to work at home], Kristen Michaelis, gave up a government job with decent benefits in order to start working from home as a freelance marketing copywriter. She got the idea when several old colleagues of hers offered her moonlighting work writing brochure copy. Their enthusiastic response to her professional advertising writing spurred her to launch her website, www.kristenmichaelis.com and create a monthly marketing e-newsletter after the arrival of her first child, a son.
“Not only does working at home give me the chance to be close to my son during these formative years, it also gives me the flexibility I need to feel fulfilled in life,? Michaelis said. “As a writer, I set my own schedule. I have time to see to family needs, run errands, do household chores, and even go for a swim in the local creek. Yet I’m earning a substantial income offering expert, targeted marketing and communications writing for ad agencies, graphic design firms, and businesses.?
In her own words (from the website)
When my husband started finding me at the computer in the early morning hours typing away with whirring fingers into my online journal, I knew I had found a key. A key to what, I didn’t know. But I was on the brink of unlocking one of those great mysteries of the universe. I was about to discover what I wanted to do when I “grew up.” To my surprise — but no one else’s — I wanted to write for a living.
Once upon a time I worked for a software and media promotions company marketing free software offers. I wrote copy and did some light design work. Basically, I assisted the Creative Director and Director of Operations with the odds and ends of their jobs. A good, but unsatisfying experience, I left the job in order to teach at my local college.
Fast-forward to today. I write informative, educational marketing copy for businesses while working from a home office. I earn good money in a flexible work environment. Sometimes I even indulge random impulses like the need for an afternoon swim in a local creek. Yet, I always turn out professional, high-quality work on time. It’s a good life. Being “grown up” isn’t so bad after all.
Tom on March 9th, 2006 at 12:19 pm
This is a wonderful way for a mom to help with the the houshold finances. The question I have is how does one find clients? Where should one advertise. There are a lot of writing jobs on craigslist but they usally only pay 25.00-50.00 dollars.
Johanna on March 9th, 2006 at 2:04 pm
A freelance copywriter should never work for less than $50 an hour. That’d really be under-selling their services. Good clients are willing to pay upwards of $100/hr. I personally started out charging $75 as a total newbie. If you act professional and expect people to pay you well, in other words if you believe you’re worth it, people will pay it. Try Amazon.com to find some books on marketing yourself as a copywriter. There are lots of ways to do it, and they all work!