Networking in Your Community: Finding the Freelance Writing Jobs in Your Area
January 4, 2008 by Deb Ng
Filed under Freelance Writing
Yesterday in our discussion about marketing yourself, we talked about cold calling and finding local business alliances in your area. This led to another flurry of questions both via comments and email. Can you really get a job cold calling? What do you do if you can’t get past the receptionist? As a former receptionist, and someone who has been a little successful with cold calling and community networking, maybe I can offer a few tips. I’m hoping you’ll have some of your own to offer as well.
Step 1. Target Local Businesses
What local businesses in your area can benefit from regular freelance writing? I like to target graphic and web design firms because they’re constantly in need of writers. Here are some other great places to try:
- Real Estate Offices: If they don’t have someone on-staff to help with home descriptions, brochures, and flyers, they might be in need of a freelance writer.
- Restaurants: Use writers for menu item descriptions and promotional materials.
- Public Relations: PR firms are always in need of writers to assist with brochures, flyers and press releases.
- Local Newspapers: Sounds obvious, but they hire freelancers.
- Just any place else where the business uses brochures, flyers, advertising or marketing copy and other kinds of writing might accept freelance writers.
Step 2. Send Them a Care Package
I like to start off by sending a package. Included is an introductory letter, a sheet listing my services, a business card, testimonials and some writing clips. I know a couple of writers who include rate sheets, but I don’t only because I feel it makes me look non-negotiable. For a good corporate client, I might adjust my rates a little because they always lead to references and recommendations. If possible, before mailing contact the company and ask who is the person who deals with freelancers and send the package to that person.
Step 3: Make the Call
Make a call to the business, this is when it helps to have a name. Ask for your contact or the person who is in a position to hire freelancers. If the receptions wants to know what it’s in regard to, let her know you sent a package to this person. One of two three things are going to happen.
- The receptionist says they’re not interested. If this is the case say "Thank you for your time and request they keep your information on file."
- The receptionist will take a message. If this happens wait a couple of days for a call back. If one never comes, try again.
- The receptionist will put you through. If this happens, introduce yourself and tell the person on the other end a little about yourself and services. She’ll either say no thank you (see step 1) or show an interest. Proceed accordingly.
Look for Networking Opportunities in Your Neighborhood
Cold calling and informational mailings aren’t the only ways to network in your community. Look in your local newspaper for meetings that interest you. For instance, my local library had a "learn to blog" seminar. While I was too late to sign up, I did talk the librarian in charge about participating in future blogging and writing seminars. For two years I was also president of a local women’s organization. Club members are still sending business my way. Local colleges and high schools have courses and seminars, attend or see if there’s something to teach. Pass your card around to the other preschool moms and put flyers up at the local diner and laundromat. You never know who might need you!
What are some of the ways you network locally?
- Why You Should Consider Cold Calling to Find Work
- 5 Ways to Step Away from the Freelance Job Boards and Create Your Own Freelance Writing Opportunities
- 10 Reasons Face to Face Networking is Important for Landing Freelance Writing Clients
- Pitch to the “Hidden” Places that Hire Freelance Writers
- Best Practices for Finding Work in Your Local Community
I don’t network locally because my rates are too high to be competitive here.
But earlier in my career, one thing that worked was building relationships through networking events, not trying to pass out as many cards as possible in a single evening. Fewer, stronger contacts are better than a “scorch the earth” approach.
I’m focusing on places within my niche. I’m a member of an alternative healing group we meet monthly. During our meetings, there is a chance for members to promote their services. It’s a small group and the networking is amazing. In the past I’ve done that with my main business. I gained customers. This coming month I’ll be promoting my services as a freelance writer.
There are a few businesses that I want to contact now I’ll send them a care package. Thanks for the suggestion!
I don’t network locally because the French to English population is 9 to 1. That makes my English writing services absolutely useless. Until, of course, the French-Canadians realize that Quebec is not its own country and that if they want to do business, they should work in English.
Then I’ll step in, start handing out my business cards and a charming smile, and become magnificently rich.
However, in the meantime (while I am not rich), the networking process you suggested is just as valid internationally as locally. Replace email with phone, replace files with care package, and voilà.
Local Chambers of Commerce! I belong to two in my area and am usually the only freelance writer there.
For a few hundred bucks a year, you have DIRECT access to local businesses leaders in your area.
I’ve written on this several times, and the articles can be found at the links below for those interested in this highly effectively marketing method.
Article, “Why Every Freelance Writer Should Join a Chamber of Commerce” can be found at: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/74723/why_every_freelance_writer_should_join.html
Article, “Freelancers & Small Business Owners: What to Look for in a Chamber of Commerce” can be found at: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/74765/freelancers_small_business_owners_what.html
Good luck to everyone in marketing their freelance writing business this year.
Sincerely,
Yuwanda Black, Publisher
http://www.InkwellEditorial.com
http://www.InkwellEditorial.blogspot.com
http://www.SEO-Article-Writer.com
http://www.SEO-Articles-for-Sale.com
http://www.money-making-videos.blogspot.com
I’m in the same situation as James – I’m in Quebec as well in a suburb that is about 70% French. I don’t focus on the local community but I do make sure everyone I meet in the community knows what I do, just in case something comes up.
That being said, I do a *lot* of cold call emailing and one of my regular clients, who I contacted in London, ON, has a satellite office in my small suburb, just a couple of miles from me. Imagine my shock when I received a phone call with a local phone number.
@ Marijke – Hey, coolness! It’s damned rare to find Quebecers on the ‘net. Lower Laurentians, here. You?
Will this comment go through?
It did! OMG, I want to cry. Thanks, Deb.
Anyhow, in response to the topic, I don’t network locally simply because my rates are higher than the norm here. Also, the market for freelancers here in my place is almost non-existent. I did try offering my services to the Church (for free) but it seems somebody else was already writing for them.
I volunteered to do PR for a non-profit group, and ended up actually getting some paying work out of it for the local newspaper. Not great amount of money, but I feel like I’m spreading the word for a good cause!
If you’re good at persuasive writing (and sometimes mind-numbing research), nonprofits ALWAYS need grant writers. Depending on where you live there will be more or fewer organizations (a suburb of DC is a great place for this).