Comments on: The Question You Need To Keep Asking To Make Your Freelancing Business Grow http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/07/the-question-you-need-to-keep-asking-to-make-your-freelancing-business-grow/ Freelance Writing Jobs for All Writers Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:14:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jodee http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/07/the-question-you-need-to-keep-asking-to-make-your-freelancing-business-grow/comment-page-1/#comment-31530 Jodee Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:07:48 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=982#comment-31530 @ Amy: I carry a bunch of pens in my purse now because I tend to lose them a lot. Now, anytime someone needs a pen, I produce one and when they comment about the fact that I'm prepared, I tell them that I'm a writer and go on from there to tell them a bit about what I do. That's one way to open things up and it doesn't look like I've been sitting around scheming about how to bring it up in conversation without looking too obvious. ;) @ Amy: I carry a bunch of pens in my purse now because I tend to lose them a lot. Now, anytime someone needs a pen, I produce one and when they comment about the fact that I’m prepared, I tell them that I’m a writer and go on from there to tell them a bit about what I do. That’s one way to open things up and it doesn’t look like I’ve been sitting around scheming about how to bring it up in conversation without looking too obvious. ;)

]]> By: Amy http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/07/the-question-you-need-to-keep-asking-to-make-your-freelancing-business-grow/comment-page-1/#comment-31505 Amy Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:40:48 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=982#comment-31505 Jodee -- You could be right about that. LOL Wombat -- Congrats. That's awesome! I think I have Slow Learner Syndrome (SLS) ;-) too. In the beginning I felt like I'd come off as a pompous jerk interjecting what I do into conversations with friends, neighbors, etc. Then I figured out how to do it by letting it come up naturally, and I got a few decent clients out of it. From there, I've been a bit more big-mouthed about it. Now it's like a game to try to figure out how to bring up what I do in conversation with just about anyone, whether I know them or not -- folks I talk to on the train, the new cafe owner, anyone. :-) Jodee — You could be right about that. LOL

Wombat — Congrats. That’s awesome! I think I have Slow Learner Syndrome (SLS) ;-) too. In the beginning I felt like I’d come off as a pompous jerk interjecting what I do into conversations with friends, neighbors, etc. Then I figured out how to do it by letting it come up naturally, and I got a few decent clients out of it. From there, I’ve been a bit more big-mouthed about it. Now it’s like a game to try to figure out how to bring up what I do in conversation with just about anyone, whether I know them or not — folks I talk to on the train, the new cafe owner, anyone. :-)

]]> By: wombat http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/07/the-question-you-need-to-keep-asking-to-make-your-freelancing-business-grow/comment-page-1/#comment-31495 wombat Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:31:22 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=982#comment-31495 I used to think this was kind of silly advice. What were the odds that anyone I knew, outside of a work situation, could possibly be useful for getting work? It just seemed so unlikely. OK, yeah, I got my first writing gig because a friend recommended me... But that was a friend who was in the newspaper business. That's totally different! Well, I just got my best paying assignment ever because my next door neighbor knows a magazine editor. This really happened because of a conversation over my back fence. I may be a slow learner but... I am definitely having a lot more business cards printed up! I used to think this was kind of silly advice. What were the odds that anyone I knew, outside of a work situation, could possibly be useful for getting work? It just seemed so unlikely. OK, yeah, I got my first writing gig because a friend recommended me… But that was a friend who was in the newspaper business. That’s totally different!

Well, I just got my best paying assignment ever because my next door neighbor knows a magazine editor. This really happened because of a conversation over my back fence.

I may be a slow learner but… I am definitely having a lot more business cards printed up!

]]> By: Jaq http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/07/the-question-you-need-to-keep-asking-to-make-your-freelancing-business-grow/comment-page-1/#comment-31429 Jaq Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:33:54 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=982#comment-31429 Thanks for the tip, Jodee! I'm slowly trying to network my way up the ladder! Thanks for the tip, Jodee! I’m slowly trying to network my way up the ladder!

]]> By: Jodee http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/07/the-question-you-need-to-keep-asking-to-make-your-freelancing-business-grow/comment-page-1/#comment-31428 Jodee Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:10:36 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=982#comment-31428 @ Amy Derby: I'm not sure that would be considered a plus, LOL! @ Amy Derby: I’m not sure that would be considered a plus, LOL!

]]> By: Amy Derby http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/07/the-question-you-need-to-keep-asking-to-make-your-freelancing-business-grow/comment-page-1/#comment-31427 Amy Derby Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:05:54 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=982#comment-31427 *snatches dilly bar and runs, giggling* Perhaps you and I should also add "insomniac, compulsive email checker" to our pitches. LOL *snatches dilly bar and runs, giggling*

Perhaps you and I should also add “insomniac, compulsive email checker” to our pitches. LOL

]]> By: Jodee http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/07/the-question-you-need-to-keep-asking-to-make-your-freelancing-business-grow/comment-page-1/#comment-31426 Jodee Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:54:44 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=982#comment-31426 @ Amy Derby: You're absolutely right; you do need to tell people what kind of writing you do or what your niche is. I owe you a Dilly bar! :D @ Amy Derby: You’re absolutely right; you do need to tell people what kind of writing you do or what your niche is. I owe you a Dilly bar! :D

]]> By: Jenny B http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/07/the-question-you-need-to-keep-asking-to-make-your-freelancing-business-grow/comment-page-1/#comment-31423 Jenny B Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:35:39 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=982#comment-31423 Thank you Jodee, for these great suggestions and reminders. Thank you Jodee, for these great suggestions and reminders.

]]> By: Amy Derby http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/07/the-question-you-need-to-keep-asking-to-make-your-freelancing-business-grow/comment-page-1/#comment-31420 Amy Derby Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:28:24 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/?p=982#comment-31420 Loved reading this, Jodee. To take what you say a bit further, I think it also works well to mention what you do, what your background is, etc, with fellow freelancers. For example, I know your legal assistant background and you know mine, which has translated into out exchanging job leads a few times. I also know Phil from this blog does PR work and journalism and have thrown his name to various clients of mine -- because I'm no PR writing journalist. ;-) I've also met James and Harry via this blog and have recommended their blog design services to countless folks after using them myself. I've also hired and subcontracted to a few others I've met through this blog and other blogs. Whenever someone tells me details, I always store that info away for any future opportunities. However, the details are crucial. Hundreds of people say "I'm a freelance writer" or "I'm a blogger" -- that doesn't really tell me much, and I'll confess that those aren't folks who stick in my mind like the folks who have a niche or specific background do. Loved reading this, Jodee. To take what you say a bit further, I think it also works well to mention what you do, what your background is, etc, with fellow freelancers. For example, I know your legal assistant background and you know mine, which has translated into out exchanging job leads a few times. I also know Phil from this blog does PR work and journalism and have thrown his name to various clients of mine — because I’m no PR writing journalist. ;-) I’ve also met James and Harry via this blog and have recommended their blog design services to countless folks after using them myself. I’ve also hired and subcontracted to a few others I’ve met through this blog and other blogs.

Whenever someone tells me details, I always store that info away for any future opportunities. However, the details are crucial. Hundreds of people say “I’m a freelance writer” or “I’m a blogger” — that doesn’t really tell me much, and I’ll confess that those aren’t folks who stick in my mind like the folks who have a niche or specific background do.

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