by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

What are fans and followers? How do you get more of them? What's the proper etiquette when it comes to fans and followers? Those are all questions I get asked often and also see the need for in daily observations related to the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Are you doing things correctly when it comes to fans and followers?

What is the difference between a fan and follower? Marie Anne St Jean can answer that and more regarding the proper terminology and procedures. Her article "Fans, Followers, Favorites, Subscribers on the Yahoo! Contributor Network" lays it out in plain English.

How do I get fans and followers? Is there a right or wrong way to go about it? Why aren't people paying attention to my work? This is a very common question in web writing, including from Yahoo! Contributor Network writers. My article "How to Get Fans and Followers on Yahoo! Contributor Network (YCN)" will teach you how to gain a good following without spamming people.

Am I really doing this right? Now that you know what you should do, how about what you shouldn't? "Web Writing Tips: Fan & Follower No-Nos" tells you like it is. If you're doing anything mentioned there, it's time to change your game plan. Gaining and keeping fans and followers can be tricky. But proper research and techniques can help save you from being labeled a spammer or a nobody.

Lyn is the founder of Write W.A.V.E. Media, parent company to LifeSuccessfully.com and several others. She enjoys publishing freelance writers and supports advocacy through journalism. She's also a freelance web journalist, Community Guide at Yahoo! Contributor Network, and a Y! Shine Parenting Guru. The homeschool ‘Momtrepreneur’ teaches with nature, books, and play. Pet and human homelessness, green living, positive parenting, and education choice (including homeschool) are her passions. She has been published all over the web with major media companies, as well as smaller businesses and organizations. Contact Lyn for guidance in the world of freelance writing.

Lyn on Twitter: @LynLomasi

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Ever come across a news or information article only to discover that the facts are all wrong? Don't let that be your article. If you represent something as a fact, be certain you have confirmed the information with more than one source.

Do your research and do it well. Check, double check, and then check again.

Letting misinformation slide even once can damage your web writing reputation. More importantly, misinformation can be potentially dangerous to your readers.

Before you submit that article you just wrote, be sure you have done your research.

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

What do you want out of your writing? Are you writing for the money? The audience? Do you write to help others? Is it simply because you like it? Whatever you write, always know what it is you want to get from it.

Knowing what you want will help you get to your goal faster. It will also help you make important decisions along the way. Never write a word without knowing its intended purpose as well as where you want to be with writing, in general.

What you want should be apparent in your actions, as well as your words.

Do you know what you want?

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Tired of writing about the same topic all the time? Your readers may be tired of looking at it as well. While it's great to specialize in something, you should also throw in other topics now and then too.

You can specialize in more than one topic without losing credibility with your readers. In fact, you may find they are glad to see random topics mixed in with what they are used to seeing you write.

If you want to succeed in freelance writing, variance can be a very good thing. Clients love writers who specialize. But they also like to see some versatility. This way, if they have a topic that shies away from your usual routine, they know they can at least consider you for the project. However, if you only write on one topic, how will they know if you are able to handle anything else.

Are you showing enough variance in your work?

Lyn is the founder of Write W.A.V.E. Media, parent company to LifeSuccessfully.com and several others. She enjoys publishing freelance writers and supports advocacy through journalism. She's also a freelance web journalist, Community Guide at Yahoo! Contributor Network, and a Y! Shine Parenting Guru. The homeschool ‘Momtrepreneur’ teaches with nature, books, and play. Pet and human homelessness, green living, positive parenting, and education choice (including homeschool) are her passions. She has been published all over the web with major media companies, as well as smaller businesses and organizations. Contact Lyn for guidance in the world of freelance writing.

Lyn on Twitter: @LynLomasi

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Which wolves are you feeding as you make your way through the crazy world of freelancing? According to a Native American legend, there are two different types inside each person's heart.

"A native American grandfather was talking to his grandson about how he felt. He said 'I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart. One wolf is the vengeful, angry, violent one. The other wolf is the loving, compassionate one.' The grandson asked him, 'Which wolf will win the fight in your heart?' The grandfather answered: 'The one I feed.'"

Whichever wolf you decide to feed is the one that will emerge in interactions with your audience, as well as your clients. Freelance writing often involves dealing with both negativity and positivity from fans and business contacts.

Don't starve the wrong wolf.

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Think freelance writing always means solitude? Think again. Any good freelance writer is not afraid to network with peers and even learn from them and collaborate with them.

Sometimes it takes a second pair of eyes on a draft to perfect it. There also may be a project too large for only one person. If you want to gain the work, you need to be in contact with fellow writers who can help.

Collective efforts toward a common goal can bring great rewards to a group of freelancers. I belong to several groups and freelance communities dedicated to writing. One can never learn too much or help too much.

Are you lost swimming in the sea of opportunities, not knowing which one is right for you? Perhaps you are just getting started and want to avoid common mistakes. When freelance bring their collective efforts together, be it a group of two or a group of thousands, it can have a lasting effect on their career.

When I first started in freelancing, I had no clue what I was doing. Through the collective efforts of my writing peers, I gained valuable knowledge that helped me succeed very quickly, Never underestimate the power of trading advice and sharing projects.

More from Lyn:

Freelance Writer Tips - A is for Activity

Freelance Writer Tips - B is for Blogging

Benefits of a Writing Buddy

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

When fellow freelance writers ask me what they can do to get their work out there, I can't recommend blogging enough. Sure, there are other great techniques I recommend as well. But blogging is high on the list.

Why blogging?

Blogging flexes your creative muscles in between work for clients. It can be used as stress relief, too. But even more importantly, it keeps your work flowing.

When readers and potential clients see your name going up frequently, it shows that you are dedicated to your work. Blogging gains readership that may follow your other work. It also puts your writing in front of more people, which can lead to great client work. If you have a website related to your freelance writing (which every writer should), it can keep your site's rankings up.

Have you blogged today?

More from Lyn:

10 Things Every Web Writer Should Know

The Newbie's Guide to Success at the Yahoo! Contributor Network

Why Online Article Writers Need a Website

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

The most important thing a freelance writer can do is stay active. Frequent activity keeps readers interested, as well as shows clients that you are serious about what you do.

If you publish rarely, how is anyone supposed to consider you an expert? Even if your motive is not to gain extra clients, there is still the factor of being loyal to your readers.

Why would they want to visit your site or read your articles if you have little to no activity? There is not a set amount that will work for every freelancer because we all have different needs and goals. But try to remain as active as possible for the best results in your career.

More from Lyn:

Private Clients, Contributor Communities, or Yourself? What's Best for Online Article Writers?

Freelance Writing Tips: Your Client is Not Obligated to Please You

Angie Mohr, Expert Writer and Accountant Offers Great Advice to Non-Fiction Freelancers

posted by Lyn Lomasi

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Usage License: User (as in anyone using the photos) agrees to include the author's name (Lyn Lomasi) as the copyright holder directly with the photos where posted. These photos can be used for both commercial and non-commercial purposes, but cannot be used in a collection of photos for sale. For instance, the display of a photo with an article would be appropriate use, provided the photo is credited to Lyn Lomasi. However, posting the photos themselves for sale is not. Any use other than that mentioned above is prohibited without express permission and violators will be held accountable as applicable by law.

When getting started in writing, it can be very useful to consult the pros. But perhaps you haven't met any yet and are just looking for some quick hints before networking with other writers. Maybe you just want  some extra hints or a reminders to keep you going. I recently asked a group of my writing peers to share the best writing advice or tips they ever received. What are some of the best tips you've heard?

Continue reading this article by Lyn Lomasi>>>