Marketing a New Freelance Writing Business
There are Many Low-Cost Ways to Market Professional Writing Skills
Apr 15, 2009
Marketing is the single most important aspect there is to building a successful freelance writing career, and one that many new writers don’t take seriously enough. Not owning up to this newfound obligation can be truly disastrous to a new writing business.
Cold Calling
Sure, getting business cards printed is an important step, but this should not be the extent of a new independent professional's marketing efforts. A typical freelance workweek should consist of at least 2 hours of cold calling, and a savvy writer will research and apply several cold calling techniques until he or she finds out what works. Following a cold call up with an email, for example, puts one's business in an accessible place, as one's information is now literally at a new lead's fingertips.
Create and Distribute Business Packets
It is also important that potential clients have a tangible reminder of one's freelance services. Many businesses keep a file for the independent writers they outsource, so it’s a good idea to delegate a few hours a week to mail out one's information. Create a packet that contains a resume, cover letter, business card, writing samples and estimated freelance rates. Jobs may not begin to present themselves for a few months, but work is work no matter when it arrives. Think of this strategy as planting seeds.
Advertise
Advertising is another important facet of marketing a freelance business. Although it may be lucrative to pay for advertising space in business magazines and newsletters, there are also many other expense free strategies. Writers can search the web for freelancing forums and professional writing associations and post his or her services and information there.
There are also numerous free online classified sites where a freelance business owner can post several ads per day.Again, use the trial and error system here. Writers should think of ways to set his or her business ads apart from the competitor's. If a writer is posting multiple ads on a particular site, he or she should make sure each of them highlights a different aspect of his or her skills and experience.
Know the Competition
Exploring the many free and low-cost ways in which to market a new freelance writing business will not only generate leads and create business exposure, but will push a writer to examine what other writers are doing. Researching the competitor is always a good marketing strategy. Visit other writer's websites, review other writing samples and portfolios, and assess the effectiveness of other marketing techniques. After all, one's success as an independent professional depends largely on finding out what works and what doesn't work for other freelancers, and what will and will not work for one's own new business.
