The Last Advice You’ll Ever Need
July 31, 2008 by Jodee
Filed under Freelance Writing
by Terreece Clarke
Always hustle.
It’s a simple rule that isn’t easy to follow. It applies to all stages and areas of a writer’s career and is key to their success.
The Gig Hustle
In the beginning, writers usually do one of two things – they either start off with fire, running after every gig they can get, or they dip a toe or two into the pool and test the waters. Regardless of the approach, new writers must always hustle to get new gigs, experience and clips. Successful writers go beyond the virtual world, keeping their eyes and ears open in their everyday lives. Local publications, businesses and organizations are all sources for work, contacts and gigs.
The same holds true for established writers. If you’ve been in the writing world long enough, you know a gig can end at any time, for any reason. Not only can steady clients fall by the wayside, new, dream opportunities can crop up without warning. Often the only way to find out about these opportunities is to keep a watchful eye.
For example, take your local parenting magazine. Parenting articles may not be your niche, however they may need a web designer or sales letters and brochures for their clients. Say your niche is in the automotive field, that same magazine may accept a pitch on an automotive care article.
The Branding Hustle
What’s your platform, brand or niche? What’s your product focus? Brand hustling coincides with the gig hustle. While looking for gigs, writers also need to look for branding opportunities. Build your web presence. Find blogs, web sites and leaders in your field. Keep abreast of the latest happenings, post comments when appropriate (and when you have something relevant or constructive to add) and follow interesting figures on social networking sites like Twitter and Digg. A writer must also build a web site, keep it updated and include the latest news and happenings in their career.
The Networking Hustle
“I didn’t know you were a writer! What do you write?” If people don’t know what you do, you are doing a poor job of marketing yourself. Registering yourself with your local business associations, placing business cards on community boards, sending brochures or sales letters to organizations and even tabling at appropriate events are all grassroots strategies to get your name and services out there. The same holds true online.
In essence, to always hustle is to always look for ways to improve. Revisit your web site and business card information periodically. What does your marketing material say about you? What are other writers doing?
Check your gigs. Which are supporting your platform or niche? If you’re lucky enough to have steady clients, ask yourself what can you do to produce better product. How can you exceed their expectations?
Look for ways to streamline the business of writing. What’s the most productive way to look for gigs? How can you minimize the intake process for clients? Is your billing software working for you? Are you utilizing your editorial calendar? Are you meeting your quarterly financial goals?
Everyday is a hustle. Evaluate yourself, your business, your writing and your opportunities. It’s the only way to obtain and maintain success.
Would also suggest Jodee’s earlier “be a duck” post. One has to hustle, but propspects tend to avoid hustlers and are more attracted to those who don’t seem to need the work.
I am in the process of establishing my online freelance writing business, and I keep hearing people say, “find your niche,” but I don’t know where to begin. I have a lot of interests and experience, but I don’t know what niche to fall into. Do you choose your niche intentionally or does your niche find you (through jobs/referrals)? Thanks in advance.
BTW–I have been checking out the FWJ site and I love it. Very useful posts. This is my first comment I’ve left.
Angie, I think your best bet is to let your niche find you. Once you get started you’ll find yourself excelling in certain areas and gravitating that way.
I’ve found The Freelance Nation to be a great place to find work. http://www.thefreelancenation.com/
Good luck
Thanks, Joe. That’s kind of what I figured.
Great post! This is what I have found – everyday is a hustle of finding work, coming up with new ideas, working, networking, finding new ways to develop my craft, and updating my cover letter/resume, business website, blogs, links, etc.
Its hard work, but it is so worth it.
Phil: I have found that putting yourself out there, not hard selling like a vacuum cleaner salesman, but getting out there and networking, looking for new opportunities so you don’t become complacent and always striving to get better at what you do gives you a leg to stand on when it comes separating yourself from the pack. I like to think of a coach yelling “Hustle, hustle, hustle” on those days when you feel prone to sit back and rest on your achievements. Work harder, work smarter, make a difference. I went back and found Jodee’s duck post and think my post compliments hers. The duck is working hard underneath it all. Same thing – just because a writer is hustling doesn’t mean they have to look desperate. Any thoughts?
Angie Finding a niche usually takes a little time. I started off interested in one area and have since moved to another focus. Start thinking about areas in which you have not only have experience and interest, but a unique angle or voice that you can bring to the subject. If you don’t mind me asking – what are your top 2 areas?
DaniThanks! I’m glad you liked the post. The hard work is so worth it, there are days where I just can’t believe I get to do what I love and get paid for it!
Marketing yourself through self-promotion over the internet is perhaps the single biggest factor in being a successful online freelance writer (right after having great writing skills, of course!). I agree that being active in groups and associations is a great way to get your name out, likewise with being active in other people’s blogs and forums as well.
Being hungry for writing gigs keeps you fresh and updated with trends in the quick changing online market, and keeps your style and technique sharp as you continue on your freelance writing career.
#3, I’m like you. Some days I’m shocked that people pay me to do this. I can’t help but wonder why everyone isn’t doing it.
As for finding a niche, I started out (and still do) write about just about anything and everything, but I have found that I get more finance and travel gigs than others (because I am a “go to” person in these areas for a couple of clients, who tell other clients, who give me more jobs and clips which make it easier to market myself in these areas).
The gig hustle is not my problem. It’s the procrastination hustle. I plan to set up some goals and objectives for August (and they WILL include killing procrastination in my life).
Excellent advice. I spend a little time every day looking for prospects and networking. Even if it doesn’t turn up work, I’m always learning something new. It’s never a wasted effort.
Phil, right now I’m doing a lot of SEO web content for a web design co., and my other projects vary greatly.
Getting into freelancing, I wanted to write articles for magazines or creative pieces for literary mags and journals. I love playing with the language and creating beautiful words (obviously). But it seems that other revenues (web content, business writing) are the way to make some immediate cash.
Joey I’m with you 100%.
Kathryn Ooooh, the dreaded procrastination hustle. That’s a whole other article that I’ll get to later *wink, wink.* Procrastination is my mortal foe, we fight on a daily basis and the battles won are about even :0) I let p have the little battles – clearing out my email box, and I kick it’s butt on the big things – articles w/due dates, billing, etc. I think most freelancers struggle with that…
Andrea Thanks!
Angie A lot of freelancers have their preferred gigs, like mag writing, but get the bread and butter from more corporate work. It’s an okay thing when you’re trying to pay the bills, but make sure you don’t get caught spending the majority of your time doing SEO if you rather write for mags. Start trying to transition yourself out – send out more queries and begin to build a steady stream of mag work. Once you feel comfortable enough with where the mag writing is going start to transition yourself out of SEO. It might help to set weekly query goals. Hope that helps!
#3, I liked the unique focus of this post. “Hustle,” though–and perhaps only to me–seems a term that implies to hurry. I feel that many different writers do things at their own pace, which is fine. I believe you’re probably speaking more to people who lack motivation/direction and/or who tend to procrastinate, but for freelancers who have a full-time job and who aren’t as gung-ho about leaving that job for all-day freelancing, I think it’s fine to amass clips and experience gradually and over a long period of time and not to be constantly obsessed about expanding their businesses. Honestly, while the post was very good, I felt a little bit stressed while reading it. I’m a pretty low-key person, and the “always keep going” tone of this post exhausted me. But again, that is just one person’s opinion.
Hey #4!
Thanks for the compliment & the thoughts! I think the word “hustle” can mean different things to different people. For some it means to stay focused, for others it may mean to be always on the go, etc. The beauty of the written word and this post is that writers can interpret what it means for them.