This week’s post is short, but I hope it gets you thinking differently about finding writing opportunities. Here goes…

Reasons for not doing well as a freelance writer range from basic lack of talent to just plain fear of being on your own. But there is one reason that is unacceptable: a down economy.

If you think a poor economy is standing in your way of building a lucrative freelance writing business, think again. Here’s why:

Layoffs and hiring freezes force companies to use more contractors. And here’s something you may not know: while a personnel budget may no longer have enough money in it to invest in a well-paid staff writer, a marketing or communications budget may have plenty of money in it to hire a HIGHLY paid freelance writer.

Did you get that?

Different departments in the same company have budgets independent of each other. Therefore, while you may not be able to get a job with a certain company because of a hiring freeze or layoff, you may well be able to get a great freelance contract with that same company.

Here’s some more food for thought: a large percentage of people who have lost their jobs and cannot find new ones are investing in themselves by starting a business. Guess who needs a writer to help spread the word about the company?

So if you’re struggling to make a living as a freelance writer, don’t blame the economy. Rethink your approach and start making contact!

Guest posting has fast become a popular marketing tactic. It’s great for authors, bloggers and ezine publishers who want to attract buyers, followers and subscribers. But it can be beneficial for just about any writer if you can connect with the right audience.

Writing a great guest post takes time, so strive to get the biggest benefit by developing a strategy that squeezes every bit of exposure out of your effort.

Use these three tactics to reap huge benefits from every post: Read the rest of this entry

It is rare that a potential client interviews only ONE freelance writer for a project. If you apply for jobs posted on Internet sites, you know those contenders could number in the hundreds. And, even if you’ve been personally referred by someone to a person or company, that does not guarantee you’ll get the assignment. It is in the client’s best interest to interview, compare—and justify—his or her choice.

I don’t know a single writer who wins every project he or she applies for, but I do know this: a client’s decision is influenced by more than your resume. In fact, you will usually have three opportunities to present yourself and your talent/skill in its best light: “pre”, “during” and “post” conversation.

Here’s a look at the actions you can take at these three critical times to tip the scales in your favor to win a writing project:

“Pre” Conversation

Before you even connect with prospects, give them a good reason to want to work with you. You do that by having a professional presence online. Yes, I keep harping on the importance of having your own website and I’ll continue to do so because it’s just that important. In the “old” days we used brochures to present our services in a professional light; now, websites are our brochures.

Prospective clients will want to know that this is your business, not your hobby. Your website does not have to be elaborate, but it must be professional and clearly state client benefits of working with you. Prospects WILL check out your website and it will tell them a lot about you. What they learn from your website will give you an advantage, keep you in the running, or send your name to the trash bin–and you have control over which one it will be. Pay careful attention to the tone and content of your site. If you can’t even sell yourself with your writing, how the heck are you going to represent them?

 “During” Conversation

If you catch a prospect’s attention with your website, the next step is the interview. Sometimes a client will send out a prepared email interview. If so, don’t just answer the questions; add something extra that identifies a benefit—something special that you bring to the partnership. Perhaps you specialize in their industry, or won an award for advertising copy, or maybe it’s as simple as reviewing THEIR website and making a complimentary or constructive (not critical) comment. Prospects will be impressed with your effort to learn about them.

Whenever possible, encourage an actual phone conversation. Be prepared with a few questions of your own. At this stage, the two of you are still figuring out if you are a good fit for the project and the partnership. And, if during the conversation, you have a recommendation to make about the scope of the project or process, say something! Clients don’t always have a clear project scope and if you can help them find clarity, your value goes up. Always identify a “next step” before the conversation ends. It’s the professional thing to do.

Remember: THEY are the expert at what they do and YOU are the expert at what you do. When you highlight differentiators about yourself and/or your work process, you make it easier for the person to give you preference over your competition.

 “Post” Conversation

Always send a short follow-up email no later than the following day after your initial conversation. You can make it a quick recap of the conversation, an “afterthought” recommendation or confirmation of your next step. The goal is to keep it short but also let the prospect know you were paying attention and look forward to continuing the conversation.

For added credibility, include a testimonials document, a helpful checklist or report/article you’ve written related to the topic or field. For example, if the project is to write website copy, send a “10 things you should know before you hire a website copywriter” checklist. Just make sure the checklist is one you’ve written, not one written by a competitor.

Final thoughts:

You win projects by showing more than capability. You win them by adding value. If your “pre”, “during” and “post” conversation attempts don’t win you the job, don’t give up on the prospect. Place the contact on your “stay in touch with” list and send that person high-value information every couple of months with a note that you’d like to be considered for future projects as they arise. Your expertise and value can only increase with time, and a “no” today followed by staying in contact could lead to a “yes” tomorrow.

Many writers don’t have websites. Although I think every writer needs one, I get it. It takes time and some skills that you might not possess to create one. While you’re working up the nerve (and/or cash) to create an online presence with your own website, blogs are a great way to showcase your talent AND attract client work.

Here is a quick three-step plan to use a blog to win writing assignments:  Read the rest of this entry

What’s your New Year’s resolution? Lose weight? Stop smoking? Be more benevolent to others or understanding of your family’s annoying quirks?

It’s easy to make a resolution. What’s difficult is keeping it.

The only way to see a difference between this day and this day next year is to not only make a resolution but to answer the question, “how will I keep it?” How are you going to transform your resolution from a wish to a reality?

I’ll leave you to figure out if you will achieve your personal goals. But I want to encourage you to seriously make a writing resolution and put a plan in place to achieve it. Do you want to make more money? How about finding new clients? Perhaps you want to work for a company instead of on your own. Would you like to become a published author? Maybe you want to add a complementary service to offer clients you already have. Whatever your writing resolution is, here’s a quick five-step process to improve on the results: Read the rest of this entry