Just about any blog that deals with the freelance writing business will have at least one post, if not many, on how to promote your freelance writing business using Internet marketing techniques. Indeed, for many of us who came to freelance writing as a second career, we’ve only ever really understood our business in the context of online and so-called “new media.”
That said, by limiting your freelance writing business to the Internet, you may be ignoring a substantial market. Traditional marketing avenues, while they may not pack the punch that they used to thanks to the Internet, can still be a valuable source of business.
Here are some “old media” marketing avenues you might consider using for your freelance writing business:
The Yellow Pages
I haven’t picked up a phone book to find goods or services in probably close to a decade. I’m most likely to try to find a business via Google or one of the online “yellow pages” sites. That said, there are likely dozens of businesses in your local area that could benefit from your copywriting services that are run by folks who don’t think to log on just to find a business. Whether it’s because they’re older, less technologically savvy, or because it just doesn’t occur to them, they still grab the Yellow Pages.
Now, phone book advertising is expensive. If you’re going to go that route, know ahead of time that you’re looking at an investment of several hundred dollars a year at a minimum. You’ll also want to realize that more rural markets may not have as much luck with this kind of advertising, because there just isn’t a large base of potential customers to make the investment worth it.
Direct Mail
Direct mail marketing is, in the most basic sense, advertising your business by sending something to potential clients through the mail. Direct mail can be extremely effective, but it can also be tricky. Every piece of direct mail you produce has a cost, so you want to be able to focus your marketing dollar toward customers that are likely to respond. Working with a direct mail marketing company is often the best way to go about this kind of campaign.
Networking
Now, I’m not talking about Twitter or Facebook here. I’m talking about good old-fashioned networking. I’m talking about connecting with small business owners that could benefit from your copywriting services. Even in a rural area, there are likely to be a number of networking opportunities. Whether it’s joining the local Chamber of Commerce or whether it’s a different group like the Rotary Club, face-to-face networks can be as productive for your business than online networks.
