MeganWrites Media
 
Coworking is a growing trend among the self-employed. Many businesses have begun to cater to freelance professionals and independent consultants that require a space to work. 

When you cowork, you rent an office space - sometimes a desk, other times an entire office area - and work independently from others in the space. 

There are a number of pros and cons to coworking. Here are two pros and cons of coworking, as well as some facts on the phenomenon.

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PROs to Coworking:
  • Professional Address
For freelancers in an urban area, one advantage to coworking might include a professional address. 

This allows you to send and receive correspondence from clients or set up meetings. Rather than giving your apartment number, freelance professionals can give their coworking address to clients.
  • Less Distraction
Sometimes, working at home can be distracting. The kids might bother you on the weekends, your significant other might want you to run errands, or the space in general can provide a distraction. 

Using a coworking space is advantageous for those that need to get out of the house away from the distractions to work. Coworking can also offer you a way to schedule your work so you can make the most of your time.
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CONs to Coworking:
  • Cost
Because you are renting space from a coworking company, your funds are diverted from professional development, software updates, etc. 

Freelancers that have just started their business might want to wait to try coworking and work on marketing their business first. Otherwise, whatever money you make starting out cannot be invested in the business. There are plenty of relatively cheap and free spaces new freelancers can work, such as libraries and coffee shops.
  • Less Flexibility
Many freelance professionals enjoy the flexibility and freedom of being in business for themselves. One disadvantage to coworking might include feeling like your schedule is less flexible. 

Some coworking spaces have specific office hours, and for freelancers that like to work odd hours (early in the morning or late into the night), this could prove to be difficult. 

Renting a space you might only be able to use for certain hours might feel like an inconvenience. This is, of course, a personal choice.

Some Facts on Coworking:
  • According to the 2011 Freelance Industry Report (opens as PDF), only about 8% of self-employed freelance professionals cowork. The majority still work from home.
  • American game designer, author and lecturer Bernie DeKoven coined the term "coworking" in 1999. It was Brad Neuberg, however, in 2005 that used it to describe a physical space.
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March is Women's History Month, and we are excited to celebrate our first one as a woman-owned business! Women's history is vital for our understanding of where we have been and where we are going as a society.

In honor of Women's History Month, MeganWrites Media is donating 10% of all funds between January and March to a non-profit that helps women. 

We need YOUR help to select the organization! Please leave a comment on this post, contact us on our Facebook page, or message us through our site Contact page with the organization you think deserves the proceeds!
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At MeganWrites Media, we are proponents of creating quality content. But what does this mean for your business? What are the key components of "quality content?" Let's break it down:
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Quality content...
  • gets noticed.
    When you write quality content, your work stands out. 
If you provide well-written content, others might ask you for your help or pass on your helpful information to others. If you want to get noticed, start with good content.

Quality content...
  • is more than promoting your business.
It's great to have a business blog, but too often, companies get tied up in the marketing aspect of the blog. Let your content speak to clients and help them rather than use the blog solely as a marketing tool.
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Quality content...
  • is like a wrapped present in your readers' hands.
When you give someone quality content, their excitement ought to be palpable, like a child awaiting the chance to unwrap a gift. 

Crafting content of quality should get others excited about what you are providing, whether your specialty is a product, a service, or a combination of the two. Quality content gets your target market asking for more. 

Let MeganWrites Media help you craft content of quality. Ask us today for help or check out our services for more information!
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Successful businesses and non-profits have learned over the years they need partners to ensure success. 

For example, The Mission Continues, a non-profit dedicated to helping veterans, has partners like Home Depot and Target. These partnerships have expanded their reach and helped a number of communities across the nation. This is just one of many examples of how partnerships have helped businesses and non-profits improve.

Businesses and non-profits on every level need partners to be successful. Even freelance businesses benefit greatly from working with one another on projects. Whether long-term or short-term, here are 5 reasons you need partners:

1. Expertise - Partners can bring in a wealth of knowledge that might not exist within your business. 

For example, an accounting firm might partner with a marketing firm to come up with a better strategy in communicating with their target market. The accountants don't specialize in this area, so the marketing firm gives the firm an edge on competitors.
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2. Additional Perspective - Partners might see something you haven't considered because they are outside of your area of business. 

This out-of-the-box approach to partnership can go both ways; maybe you can bring your perspective to their work, too!

3. Greater Reach - Partnerships allow both partners to benefit! Existing customers of each business can learn more about the partner and consider them for their own needs. Partnerships are win-win situations!

4. Improved Relationships - Businesses and non-profits benefit greatly from creating connections with partners. 

It is important to strengthen these relationships not only for networking purposes, but for overall morale. If you have solid connections with partners, your mood will improve and you'll feel more productive and motivated when the chips are down.

5. Community Improvement - Partners in business and non-profits can work together to improve their community. 

Some suggested ways to do this include donating a portion of proceeds on a joint project to a local charity or have a designated volunteer day for employees in both organizations.


Interested in a partnership with MeganWrites Media? Contact us today or check out our services page for what we offer!
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Are you on Twitter? (Really, who isn't these days?) 

We are!

Find MeganWrites Media at @MWritesMedia for all the latest updates on projects and relevant freelance writing, editing and social media management articles we find around the web. 

Trust us - you don't want to miss out!

(Not on Twitter? No problem! You can also find us on Facebook at MeganWrites Media.)
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We are excited to announce MeganWrites Media has partnered with 20 or Less Press, an e-publisher dedicated to publishing quality short fiction stories. 

As a copy editor, MeganWrites Media will help during the editing process of submissions and help select the best content for publication. Working in fiction will be an exciting endeavor we are ready to tackle!

To learn more about 20 or Less Press, check out their About page or their Current Requests for submissions to see if your fiction fits their requirements.
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It's a that dilemma businesses, non-profits and even students face on a regular basis. How do we create content that compels? 

For businesses and non-profits, marketing is essential.  Whole departments and staff use marketing to reach out to customers or touch millions of lives through service efforts. 

For students, essays must compel professors to consider new ideas and maybe, just maybe, give them an A for the assignment.

MeganWrites Media wants to encourage and uplift those that want to compel their audiences. Whether you are a student just looking for a quick paper edit, a business with a big marketing project or a non-profit needing content tweaked, MeganWrites Media can help. 

Many services we offer will help your content thrive in today's competitive marketplace. 

Don't see the services you need? No problem! Ask us and we'll see what we can do to help, or will help you find someone else that can free of charge.
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