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When Life Throws You a Curve (or Two)

Living with Adult Scoliosis June has become synonymous with Pride Month. But did you know it’s also National Scoliosis Awareness Month? ...

Why AI Keeps Me Up at Night

Like most freelance writers, I feel some trepidation about how generative AI will affect my business. I’d be foolish to think the technology will...

Rites of Passage for Freelancers

My friend’s 3-year-old granddaughter recently endured the painful (and wholly accidental) misfortune of getting her tiny hand caught in a car...

The One Thing Your Freelance Writer Needs to...

Have you ever hired a freelance writer and been disappointed by the work they produced? Have you felt frustrated, exasperated, or even angry that...

5 Tips for Making the World More Tolerable

I am so over it — And by “it,” I mean the malicious messiness of the world in which we live. Insensitivity Violence Intolerance...

6 Gifts to Fuel Freelance Business Success

After you’ve given your friends and family gifts during this hustling, bustling holiday season, remember to give the solopreneur business...

A Thanksgiving-Inspired Four Random Thoughts

‘Tis the season to count our blessings and reflect on all we have to be thankful for in our lives. I also believe Thanksgiving embodies a...

Getting It Done Vs. Embracing the Purpose

My Dog, Our Walks, And The Difference the Right Mindset Makes I walk my dog nearly every day of the year—unless the weather prevents it. We adopted...

11 Tips to Get A+ Work from Freelance Writers

A Guide to Getting Optimal Results When Outsourcing Your Blog Content Are you amping up your online marketing efforts as the pandemic continues to...

Cheers to 2021 Being a Better Year

And just like that, the year we all couldn’t wait to end has passed. 2020 was indeed tough—for many people, it was far more so than for others....

9 Writing Tips to Master during COVID-19

If your company cannot carry out business as usual during the COVID-19 crisis, you’re likely watching every penny spent. Marketing is one of...

10 Years a Freelance Writer

In January 2010, I walked out of my office at the Windstream Communications’ Brownstown PA building for the last time. The other approximately 15...

Is Your To-Do List Killing You?

I’m a bit of a to-do list junkie. However, those lists can derail rather than boost productivity if you don’t create and manage them...

Influencer Marketing: Bigger May Not Be Bette

Although “go big or go home” may be a sound strategy for some business activities, it may not move the needle as an influencer marketing...

The Bare Minimum for Maximal Impact

While visiting my friend Tammy in Phoenix for a few days, I was fortunate to also connect in-person with radio personality and master podcast...

To Emoji or Not Emoji: Using Emojis in Busine...

“Smiley face,” “heart,” “kissy face,” “wink, wink,” “okay gesture,” “sad...

54 Years of Successes, Failures, and Recollec...

54 years ago on January 26, my 5-pound 12-ounce self entered this world. My life hasn’t been one of those remarkable ones that you read about in...

Social Media: It Is What We Make It

As a new presidential election nears, the environment on social media is already becoming extraordinarily contentious. Here we go again. Over the...

Tips for Avoiding Brand Damage

It only takes a few wrong words in a few split seconds to turn a well-respected brand into one abhorred by the masses. That’s the power—and...

4 Reasons to Have Multiple Freelance Content ...

Outsourcing your blog writing and copywriting to a freelance content writer can save you a lot of time, energy, frustration. Also, it can prevent you...

The First Step To Emotional Intelligence

I’ve been mulling over two blog posts I had read last week. It’s OK to Be on Your Way by Rachel Strella 13 Signs of High Emotional Intelligence...

The Endangered Em Dash – And How You Ca...

I know it’s not nice to pick favorites, but I have. The em dash ( — ) is by far my all-time favorite piece of punctuation. It’s versatile, adds...

3 Ways Small Businesses Struggle With Data

Small businesses are usually strapped for resources, money and time. However, having good data can be both a lifeline and a competitive advantage....

The Blueprint for Internet Marketing Lead Gen...

Why do online efforts to generate leads and convert them into customers too often fall flat? Lead generation campaigns fail to function as...

Quick Tip to Prevent Losing Content (and Your...

Microsoft Word – Good, But Not Perfect Microsoft Word documents are the go-to for many writers because most clients prefer to receive content in a...

Three Key Personal Branding Takeaways From Ta...

I’m not a star-struck groupie, but occasionally someone with celebrity status wows me. At this moment, it’s Taylor Swift. Not so much because...

Three Simple Tips to Help You Manage Freelanc...

In an ideal world, all clients would have their act together. But the real world isn’t ideal most of the time. Some clients don’t know what...

Four Must-Haves Solopreneurs Need But Don’t...

When you start out as a solopreneur, you know you need the usual business essentials to operate professionally: computer, phone, printer, Internet,...

Is Fear Putting The Freeze On Your Small Busi...

One of the biggest hurdles to accomplishing anything is gaining the confidence to get started. That’s certainly true for launching your own...

4 Tips To Help Solopreneurs And Freelancers S...

Another tax season wrapped up for Dawn Mentzer Freelance Writing, LLC. [Sighs with relief.] Over my past seven years as a self-employed freelancer,...

5 Ways To Screw Up Working With A Freelance W...

Nothing can put a damper on your marketing and corporate communications mojo more than not having a consistent and clear brand voice. We all know...

Freelancers And Small Business Owners: Being ...

You’re an experienced and talented [insert professional specialty here]. That’s a fabulous selling point, but it may not be enough to attract...

What if? “La La Land”-inspired Food For T...

If you wander back in time through my posts on Twitter or Facebook, you’ll find evidence I fell in love with the movie “La La Land.” I’m...

The Satisfaction Of Creating Doesn’t Pay Th...

Some people would have you believe if you want a profitable business in a creative field, something’s not morally right with you. Sadly, in certain...

My New Year’s Resolution: Take More.

I don’t usually make New Year’s resolutions, but this year I figured, “Why not?” Focusing on making ourselves better and doing our work more...

Six Ways Running A Small Business Is Like Rai...

I started my freelance writing business in 2010. My family and I adopted an adolescent pit bull mix from a rescue organization in late 2015. ...

Are You Squandering Your Time And Energy?

I can’t recall any event in my 52 years of existence that has distracted people more than this current presidential election. Friends, family,...

Forget More Cowbell; Your Blog Content Should...

Thanks to the flawless comic delivery of Christopher Walken and Will Ferrell on Saturday Night Live, “More cowbell,” has become one of the most...

Where Has The “Friend” In “Facebook Fri...

Social media has been an ugly place lately. Spewing of vicious insults. Pointing of fingers. Drawing microscopic attention to every flaw and...

Crappy Day? Consider These 18 Ideas To Make I...

These past several weeks have been tough. My freshman daughter took a hit to her self-confidence after making it to call backs for the high school...

Get Over It: Why You Shouldn’t Feel Guilty ...

It’s an ethical dilemma for some clients. Is it right to claim authorship for a piece of writing that you’ve hired someone else to write? ...

What To Do When You’re Not In The “Wr...

It’s not easy to admit, but I confess that I’ve been in a bit of a mental and motivational slump where my blog is concerned. Oh, I’ve been...

Three Sure-Fire Cost-Cutting Moves For Solopr...

Ever since I started my own solo business, something a SCORE mentor said during a startup workshop six years ago has stuck with me: “Money is the...

Is Your Blog Violating Other Websites’ Term...

With plenty written about the perils of accidentally infringing on the copyright of images we find online, most of us are well aware we should never...

Four Common Email Shortcuts and Sidesteps Tha...

When you have a crazy-busy schedule and not nearly enough hours in the day, it makes sense to look for ways to save time. As you’re squeezing in...

9 Questions To Answer Before Asking a Freelan...

“How much would you charge for writing content for my website?” It’s a well-meaning but far too general question if you’re interested...

The Difference Between Writing, Editing, And ...

Writing. Editing. Proofreading. No. They. Are. Not. The. Same. Someone who is good (or even exceptional) at one doesn’t mean...

7 Signs It’s Time To Kick A Client To The C

Not all business is good business. I learned that early on when I first started my freelance writing business in 2010. And it’s a piece of advice I...

23 Reasons Why You Might Be Scaring People Aw...

Building a targeted following on Twitter (the genuine work-hard-to-build-engagement way, not the buy-followers-from-a-shady-character way) doesn’t...

Three Vital Points To Keep In Mind When Creat...

As I prepare to be a part of a marketing panel discussion in a few days, I’ve been thinking about content creation from a different perspective. If...

It’s A Leap Year! How Will You Get A Ju...

You have an extra day coming your way soon: February 29. As you know, leap years only happen about every four years, so doesn’t it make sense...

The Nitty Gritty Of Non-Disclosure Agreements...

I’ve been asked to sign—and have asked others to sign—non-disclosure agreements in the course of doing business with others. But are they...

Four Tips To Help You Stop Running Your Small...

As we start and grow our businesses, many of us adopt practices and take on administrative baggage that might hold us back from working toward our...

Couldn’t We All Use A Little More Of This O...

You might have thought I was referring to money, but that’s not it. While most of us welcome the free flow of cash into our small businesses,...

A Good Product Or Service At A Good Price Isn...

When you’re a small business owner, your product or services and price will only take you so far. If your customers don’t feel appreciated,...

Ways To Make Every Day A Take Charge Tuesday

It feels great when you know you’ve got control of your day, doesn’t it? As a small business owner, steering the ship versus getting constantly...

Avoid This Fatal Small Business Mistake

Small Business Saturday (Nov. 28) is around the corner. It’s a time for celebrating the benefits of having small businesses in the local community...

One Blogging Shortcut To Slash The Time You S...

Don Purdum of Unveil The Web recently wrote a blog post about how to write a blog post in 15 minutes or less using the Dragon Dictation app for IOS....

The Scary Side of Self-Employment

Halloween isn’t exactly my favorite time of year. Scary movies, scary costumes, scary thoughts of my kid not looking before running across the...

You Owe This To Your Clients

When you’re a solopreneur, it’s all on you—managing all the administrative aspects of your business and serving your clients. That means you...

Good Karma For Your Small Business

I’ve written about the topic of strategic volunteerism on several occasions, most recently for national media personality, investment expert, and...

LinkedIn Message Emoticons: Strengthening Con...

A few days ago, I noticed that while writing a LinkedIn message to a new connection, something was different. I now have the option of adding...

Is It A Good Idea To Be “Friends” With Yo...

“Blurry.” I can’t think of a better way to describe the line between “business” and “personal” on social media, can you? No matter what...

Lighten Up! Business Humor To Cure What Ails

After a take-no-prisoners week of working our @$$es off, I believe a little humor is in order. We’ve earned it, right? And according to the Mayo...

Why Writing Is So Intimidating—And How To M...

I know business professionals who would sooner have a tooth pulled without anesthetic than write a blog post. Writing intimidates them. It...

I Took A 9-Day Break From Social Media—And ...

At about this time during last summer, I believed it was ultra-important for my personal brand to stay current and engaged online even while I was...

Why You Shouldn’t Feel Guilty About Guilty ...

Guilty pleasures. Those harmless, little indulgences we enjoy, but feel like we shouldn’t because others would think us silly (or insane). I have...

How Much Should You Pay For Content Writing?

As tough as it is for freelance writers to set their rates, it’s equally as difficult for clients to know whether they’re getting quoted a fair...

Two LinkedIn Messages That Might Mess Up Your...

Within the past week, I received two LinkedIn messages that irritated me. Why? They didn’t respect my time. Both senders required me to take time...

Not Drinking Enough Water? Six Ways To Make I...

We’ve all got ‘em. Those important self-care things that make a difference in our work performance and our attitude. I’ve written about...

Five Reasons To Stop Complaining Right Now

Nobody said running a solopreneur business (or any business) would be easy. There will be times when you’ll feel defeated. There will be other...

Your Personal Brand: One Thing You Can Do To ...

At the 2015 CMT Music Awards, Carrie Underwood made history. Winning three awards, she reached a total count of thirteen in her career thus far....

Good Businesses Have Bad Moments. Cut Them A ...

No Business Is Absolutely Perfect. As much as any small business wants to deliver a perfect customer experience during each and every interaction, it...

The Right Way To Earn Small Business Bragging...

Leadership expert Steve Gutzler wrote a post that made me pause to think about the qualities of being self-employed that I tend to emphasize when...

Does [Client] Size Matter?

The bigger the client, the better? That’s the mindset of some professional services solopreneurs and freelancers I’ve met. And what’s not to...

Four Ways To Instantly Boost Your Self-Confid

As a solopreneur, I’ve experienced moments when I’ve felt like I can take on any challenge—and moments when I’ve felt like I can’t do...

To Follow Or Not On Twitter?

Social Media Serendipity Talk about fabulous timing. I had a blog post in draft form centered on one reason not to unfollow people (more on that...

You Don’t Have Time For That

Your time is precious. I know. You’ve heard that before, but do you believe it? Think about it this way: After you’ve...

Four Cs To Stop Pushback On Your Pricing

Competing on price alone is a losing proposition for small business owners who provide professional services. It sets you up for burnout because you...

Ways To Overcome Your Fear Of Public Speaking

Public speaking has never been in my comfort zone. My heart starts to race a little even during those short and sweet roundtable sort of elevator...

Can Mistaken Identity And Party Crashing Work...

I love when random circumstances transform into something unexpectedly delightful. Like this story for example: Joey DiJulio was minding his own...

7 Business-Savvy Irish Sayings

St. Patrick’s Day. What’s not to love about shamrocks, leprechauns, and having a justifiable reason to add a pinch of Jameson’s and a dollop of...

3 Facts About Self-Employment Your Friends An...

When a national corporation bought the regional telecommunications company where I worked for 17 years, my position was among the nearly 60 percent...

4 Sure-Fire Ways To Push Your Social Media Fo...

Jeff Bullas recently wrote a blog post suggesting twenty things you should share on social media to strengthen the connection between your brand and...

What You—And Only You—Can Take Responsibi...

I just wrote a guest post about accountability for the TDS Business blog that broached the subject from the standpoint of how to be accountable for...

Survey Shows Email Remains Biggest Time Suck ...

In its fourth annual survey of freelancers during Time Management Month (a.k.a. February), OfficeTime.net asked more than 1,200 freelancers, small...

Why You Might Not Get A 1099-MISC From Your C...

You’re probably (hopefully!) aware that if your business is a sole proprietorship or LLC and a client has paid you more than $600 in non-employee...

Why I Love Junk Mail And Why You Should, Too

Does this conversation sound familiar… “Anything good in the mail today?” “Nah, nothing but bills and junk.” But...

One Easy Way To Save Yourself And Your Client...

While most clients have their accounting act together, some don’t—and that can create problems for you as an independent contractor when it’s...

Why Your Desk Should Be A “No Food Zone”

Believe me, I’m not getting all self-righteous here. I’ve eaten at my desk on countless occasions. That’s precisely why I feel qualified to...

Two Ways To Scale Your Solopreneur Business

As 2015 creeps upon us (O.K. Who am I kidding? It’s not creeping, it’s coming at us like a rushing bull at the rodeo!), I’ve been putting...

Asked To Tackle A Project That Uncharted Terr...

Even professionals in creative fields can sometimes feel the grind of working on the same types of projects over and over again. So, atypical (even...

How To Avoid Administrative Angst & Proc...

They appear innocent enough. Those seemingly non-urgent pain in the @*# tasks you figure you’ll get to sometime. Maybe on a slow day or some other...

Over The Top On Social Media? Here’s Ho...

I’ll bet you’ve seen it in your news feeds. The opposite ends of the spectrum in the tone and content of social media posts by your friends and...

Got Thanks? Time To Give It!

With the holiday season more hectic than other times of the year, finding time for reflection on what you have to be thankful for can easily take a...

To Renew Or Not To Renew? Pros And Cons Of A ...

Not all solopreneurs I know enjoy networking. I do. But that doesn’t mean I—and folks with that same love of mixing and mingling—shouldn’t be...

Don’t Just Think, Act—Fortune Cookie Frid

As any small business owner or solopreneur knows, planning can save you from a lot of hardships—both financially and emotionally. You need to think...

Falling In Love Again: Tips For Rekindling Yo...

No matter how much passion you have for your business, you’ll experience moments of feeling overwhelmed, under-motivated, frustrated, confused,...

Never Forget A Friend—Fortune Cookie Friday

I hadn’t expected it, but after starting my career as a freelance writer, my circle of friends evolved. Others who went from working for someone...

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