Comments on: Where Do You Get Your Best Freelance Writing Gigs? http://allfreelancewriting.com/2008/04/21/freelancing/making-money/where-do-you-get-your-best-freelance-writing-gigs/ Your Freelance Writing Resource Tue, 22 May 2012 12:09:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Joseph Ratliff http://allfreelancewriting.com/2008/04/21/freelancing/making-money/where-do-you-get-your-best-freelance-writing-gigs/comment-page-1/#comment-2464 Joseph Ratliff Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:22:54 +0000 http://allfreelancewriting.com/2008/04/21/discussions/where-do-you-get-your-best-freelance-writing-gigs/#comment-2464 The minute I specialized in online writing I immediately saw an increase in writing fees and work. Plus... Attend seminars...when people see you face to face, it starts a better business relationship than over the phone or through email. Joseph Ratliff The minute I specialized in online writing I immediately saw an increase in writing fees and work. Plus…

Attend seminars…when people see you face to face, it starts a better business relationship than over the phone or through email.

Joseph Ratliff

]]> By: Jennifer Mattern http://allfreelancewriting.com/2008/04/21/freelancing/making-money/where-do-you-get-your-best-freelance-writing-gigs/comment-page-1/#comment-2454 Jennifer Mattern Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:33:39 +0000 http://allfreelancewriting.com/2008/04/21/discussions/where-do-you-get-your-best-freelance-writing-gigs/#comment-2454 I don't just say referrals from current customers though... I say "network." That includes networking with potential clients, as well as with other writers. Writers refer work to each other all the time when they can't fit a gig into their schedule, they don't specialize in the material requested, etc. That's where you start. You post on your blog, in forums, comments on others' blogs, in private networking groups, etc. demonstrating that you really know what you're talking about in your area of expertise. You make it known that you write on the subject matter. If people like what you have to say, and they like how you present it, they refer work to you or they remember you when they're looking to hire someone in your area. I didn't start out with a portfolio when I began writing for the Web. I launched a website. I wrote for myself first. Was there much money in it then? No. But it got me a gig with a network. That connected me to a lot of writers, and to people in my industry. They connected me to gigs paying upwards of $.25 / word right from the start of really pursuing clients online. If I believed for a second when I was new that I had to take crap gigs just <i>because</i> I was new, I'd still likely be taking them today. I'm not a huge fan of writing for free, but there are some cases where I'd do it. For example, posting to a reputable niche site can be good for marketing yourself (Work.com comes to mind - I was hired to write some articles there previously, and have contributed one or two for free since then). When it comes to doing free work for clients, I generally suggest doing it for a non-profit organization. Not only can you "feel good" about the work, but they tend to carry more credibility than writing for a random webmaster no one knows. I don't think there's anything wrong with that if you need to build some credibility or portfolio pieces. But in this day and age, anyone can write for themselves to showcase their expertise in a subject. There's just no good reason to take crap gigs just to take them anymore. Writers who do that and then ask where the good gigs are only demonstrate that they didn't take it seriously enough to do the market research before jumping into freelance writing... I think that's what ruffles my feathers a bit. I don’t just say referrals from current customers though… I say “network.” That includes networking with potential clients, as well as with other writers. Writers refer work to each other all the time when they can’t fit a gig into their schedule, they don’t specialize in the material requested, etc. That’s where you start. You post on your blog, in forums, comments on others’ blogs, in private networking groups, etc. demonstrating that you really know what you’re talking about in your area of expertise. You make it known that you write on the subject matter. If people like what you have to say, and they like how you present it, they refer work to you or they remember you when they’re looking to hire someone in your area.

I didn’t start out with a portfolio when I began writing for the Web. I launched a website. I wrote for myself first. Was there much money in it then? No. But it got me a gig with a network. That connected me to a lot of writers, and to people in my industry. They connected me to gigs paying upwards of $.25 / word right from the start of really pursuing clients online. If I believed for a second when I was new that I had to take crap gigs just because I was new, I’d still likely be taking them today.

I’m not a huge fan of writing for free, but there are some cases where I’d do it. For example, posting to a reputable niche site can be good for marketing yourself (Work.com comes to mind – I was hired to write some articles there previously, and have contributed one or two for free since then). When it comes to doing free work for clients, I generally suggest doing it for a non-profit organization. Not only can you “feel good” about the work, but they tend to carry more credibility than writing for a random webmaster no one knows. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that if you need to build some credibility or portfolio pieces. But in this day and age, anyone can write for themselves to showcase their expertise in a subject. There’s just no good reason to take crap gigs just to take them anymore. Writers who do that and then ask where the good gigs are only demonstrate that they didn’t take it seriously enough to do the market research before jumping into freelance writing… I think that’s what ruffles my feathers a bit.

]]> By: silvermine http://allfreelancewriting.com/2008/04/21/freelancing/making-money/where-do-you-get-your-best-freelance-writing-gigs/comment-page-1/#comment-2453 silvermine Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:07:41 +0000 http://allfreelancewriting.com/2008/04/21/discussions/where-do-you-get-your-best-freelance-writing-gigs/#comment-2453 Well, if these people were getting refferrals from current customers, they probably wouldn't be asking. I'd guess that either they have not great customers, who don't have any friends to refer, or these people are just starting out and need a place to start. I'd say those two require different answers. So -- how do you start out? When you don't have a portfolio or a list of past clients to show off, how do you get started without having to do free or very cheap gigs for peanuts just to start going? Well, if these people were getting refferrals from current customers, they probably wouldn’t be asking. I’d guess that either they have not great customers, who don’t have any friends to refer, or these people are just starting out and need a place to start. I’d say those two require different answers.

So — how do you start out? When you don’t have a portfolio or a list of past clients to show off, how do you get started without having to do free or very cheap gigs for peanuts just to start going?

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