Comments on: Freelance Writers: How to Make Your Own “Dumb Luck”

By: Jennifer Mattern

Jennifer Mattern — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:56:00 +0000

Business plans would certainly fall into that major. I know a lot of schools over specialties within their bus. admin. majors. They focus quite a bit on marketing and finance, so those would be two areas to bulk up on electives if you know you wanted to focus on business plans.

By: Corey Freeman

Corey Freeman — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:18:46 +0000

I plan on majoring in business administration. Perhaps I’ll write out business plans for people? I kind of like doing that. Press releases are also fun.

By: Matt Willard

Matt Willard — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:03:20 +0000

All right, I’ll definitely sprinkle in some dedicated networking time throughout my week. And hey, since I’m off on Saturday and refresh the Internet anyway, I might as well use that time on the right kinds of social media :V

By: Jennifer Mattern

Jennifer Mattern — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:21:12 +0000

No, you definitely shouldn’t downplay the importance of networking on any level. I do understand the lack of time issue though. Sometimes you can’t stay in touch with everyone quite as much as you’d like. One way around it is to think of your network as two-tiered — like friends / acquaintances in your personal life. You’ll have some members of your network that you’re in very regular contact with and you’ll have others that you touch base with occasionally (people you know you can turn to for an interview source, exchange a few referrals, etc. but who you might not talk to constantly or about your deeper thoughts on some industry issues).

By: Matt Willard

Matt Willard — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:07:25 +0000

I guess I shouldn’t downplay dedicated networking while focusing on my other strategies…I’ll just need to find time for it. Maybe every other day or so, in addition to any opportunities that arise during the day.

By: Jennifer Mattern

Jennifer Mattern — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:06:49 +0000

You definitely have to work to build relationships with people in your network. Things like blog comments are just a way to either A) initially put yourself in their line of sight or B) casually converse with them.

With the niche issue, you’re in school right now, right? I’m not sure what degree you’re working towards, but no matter what it is it might be the biggest influence on where you can specialize later (to command higher rates). :)

By: Corey Freeman

Corey Freeman — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:40:45 +0000

Networking is definitely important. I’d like to say that about 60% of my clients are people I’ve talked to on a higher level than just a blog comment or two. They are the people that know a little bit about my process and what kind of person I am, so it works out pretty well.

As far as creating new niches is concerned, well, the only thing I know extremely well is writing, haha. Writing for writers…hmm…