Comments on: 5 Ways to Step Away from the Freelance Job Boards and Create Your Own Freelance Writing Opportunities

By: Freelance Writing: Ten Steps, Tons of Resources — Aliventures

Freelance Writing: Ten Steps, Tons of Resources — Aliventures — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 11:12:18 +0000

[...] 5 Ways to Step Away from the Freelance Job Boards and Create Your Own Freelance Writing Opportunitie… – great advice from Deb NG on Freelance Writing Jobs. Basically does what it says in the post title! [...]

By: 50 Blog Posts About Setting Rates, Finding Clients and Going for Freelance Writing Gold : Freelance Writing Jobs | The #1 Online Writing Community for Freelancers

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:12:16 +0000

[...] 5 Ways to Step Away from the Job Boards and Create Your Own Freelance Writing Opportunities at Freelance Writing Jobs [...]

By: jayanti

jayanti — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:55:19 +0000

Hi Deb,
Great adice and some of your avice I want to impliment in my work. As a frelance it is always one man army. you have to take care of yourself. Yes, cold call is very nice advice even Michy told me once. I need good start as a frelance writer in this new Year.

Thank You.
Good Day!
Reagrds
Jayanti

By: Cindy

Cindy — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:29:38 +0000

I’ve been feeling discouraged the last couple days because my “big wonderful gig” seems to be falling apart. I have other gigs, but I had set a lot of hopes on this one for some reason. I’m browsing back through these old posts and getting plenty of ideas and inspiration.

I have often seen websites that I think need revamped/edited, but I haven’t considered contacting them myself. I thought so many things were unacceptable and uncouth, but you’re proving me wrong. I’m going to step out…

By: 60 Tips for Getting Started in Your Freelance Writing Career : Freelance Writing Jobs

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:13:54 +0000

[...] job boards: Many of the best opportunities aren’t on your favorite freelance writing boards. Create your own opportunities and you’ll find you’re earning the big [...]

By: Web Content Sites vs. Private Clients : Freelance Writing Jobs

Web Content Sites vs. Private Clients : Freelance Writing Jobs — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:03:10 +0000

[...] of web content sites. Private clients aren’t as easy to land. Though many do advertise on the job boards, they’re more selective with their hiring process and competition is tougher. Still, there [...]

By: Jennifer Brown Banks

Jennifer Brown Banks — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:37:22 +0000

…Some very interesting and useful ideas. Thanks for the new avenues to explore.

By: Deb

Deb — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:10:04 +0000

Thanks for all the feedback. It’s refreshing to see how many writers step out on their own to look for work. I think networking both online and off is what has worked best for me. Conferences especially.

By: Jennifer L

Jennifer L — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 02:17:33 +0000

For me, No. 4 has worked the best. I sometimes grumble that it seems like it matters more who you know than what you can do, but well… I’ve landed my last three assignments from new clients because I knew someone or had met someone affiliated with the employer.

By: Phil

Phil — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:35:33 +0000

No. 2 works surprisingly well, even in the Internet age. I’ve probably developed more business by picking up the phone than by any other means — even though many marketing/sales books will tell you that it’s not a very effective strategy.

By: Genesis Davies

Genesis Davies — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:44:29 +0000

I have been using the cold emailing concept for months now with some very good results. One such email landed me an ongoing job doing web content for an SEO company that resells my work to their clients. It is literally five or six assignments a week, so that was definitely worth it!

As for cold calling . . . I really, really hate the phone and don’t even call friends and family, so I’m not sure I can manage that one just yet, though I know many clients appreciate a human being contacting them.

By: Jeanne

Jeanne — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:07:51 +0000

Loved this post, Deb!

Author Louise Hay tells a very funny story relating to a writer and a restaurant menu. The writer was using powerful affirmations such as “I make money writing” and “People ask me for my writing.” She was at a cafe writing in her journal and waiting for her meal when the restaurant owner approached her and asked if she was a writer. She said yes. He then offered to swap with her – if she would “write” his menu up on the blackboard, she could eat for free! He apparently liked her handwriting – what he could see – in her journal. So she got ‘paid’ for her ‘writing’, not necessarily what she intended, but a start.

I actually got a lucrative project when someone sent me an unsolicited email. I was employed at a major publisher at the time. The email was trying to sell me services, but it was poorly done. I sent a kind note back to the sender, pointing out a few things I thought would be more effective. He thanked me profusely and when I left that job to go freelance a few months later, he was my first client! Not a traditional way to get work, but it worked for me.

Happy 4th of July to my American friends!

By: m

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:21:13 +0000

These are the most effective ways of finding freelance gigs. For me, I take note of small businesses in my neighborhood, check out their website to see what needs improving and cold call to speak with the store owner. This is something I’ve just started, but I have noticed there are so many websites and menus (like you pointed out) that need our help!

I check through online ads, but most of them are way too low-paying. I probably only apply to one a day, if that.

By: Alex Crabtree

Alex Crabtree — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:39:15 +0000

This is cool because it plays right into my fear of finding a niche. I keep being told I should find one niche and look for work there (I do have one actually, but I just don’t like to tell anyone).

Working the job boards alone always sets me up for a festival of fear, because I end up focusing on my alleged niche. I get bored quickly and start ripping open Reese Cups of depression instead of writing and looking elsewhere. And you’re right about Twitter, although it has rewarded me with one client in particular that is courting me for a lucrative position in her business (okay, maybe not lucrative in a real world sense, but in my fantasy driven reality it is), it just doesn’t seem the right place to network for an abundance of writing jobs.

By: Jenny B

Jenny B — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:20:03 +0000

Deb,

Thank you for your suggestions. I had thought about doing one or two of these but I certainly hadn’t thought about all of them. I appreciate your willingness to share your ideas.

By: Web Media Daily – Friday July 3, 2009 | Reinventing Yourself...

Web Media Daily – Friday July 3, 2009 | Reinventing Yourself... — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:27:10 +0000

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