Comments on: Networking in Your Community: Finding the Freelance Writing Jobs in Your Area

By: How to Step Away From the Freelance Job Boards Discover Treasure in Your Own Backyard | PoeWar

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:12:07 +0000

[...] Networking in Your Community: Finding the Freelance Writing Jobs in Your Area [...]

By: How to Step Away From the Freelance Job Boards Discover Treasure in Your Own Backyard : Writer's Resources

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 16:52:43 +0000

[...] Networking in Your Community: Finding the Freelance Writing Jobs in Your Area [...]

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 19:07:05 +0000

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).

By: Nelumbo

Nelumbo — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 16:20:46 +0000

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!

By: Got work? « Author Insight

Got work? « Author Insight — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 15:14:10 +0000

[...] to visit a couple of my favorite blogs. There’s a good post at Freelance Writing Gigs on networking to find jobs that I thought was worth a look [...]

By: Mariella

Mariella — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 15:07:15 +0000

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.

By: Mariella

Mariella — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 15:03:50 +0000

Will this comment go through?

By: James Chartrand - JCM Enterprises

James Chartrand - JCM Enterprises — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 13:56:48 +0000

@ Marijke – Hey, coolness! It’s damned rare to find Quebecers on the ‘net. Lower Laurentians, here. You?

By: Marijke

Marijke — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 13:36:17 +0000

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.

By: Yuwanda Black

Yuwanda Black — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 04:54:30 +0000

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

By: James Chartrand - JCM Enterprises

James Chartrand - JCM Enterprises — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 02:39:52 +0000

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.

By: Addicted To Writing

Addicted To Writing — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 00:36:28 +0000

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!

By: Phil

Phil — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 22:08:47 +0000

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.