Don’t Let the Holiday Season Stop You from Looking for Freelance Writing Jobs
by Jodee Redmond
As we get closer to Christmas, it may be tempting to cut back on or abandon our efforts to get freelance writing jobs. It would be a mistake to assume that no one is hiring or that you should shelve your efforts to build your business until the New Year. There are opportunities to be found all year round, and you should plan to keep on applying to job ads and putting out feelers to potential clients at this time of year as well.
People who hire freelance writers still need to get their writing work done. Even if there are fewer ads being posted on the boards at this time of year, there are still clients who are hiring. Answering ads for freelance writing jobs is only one way to get work. You can make up a list of potential clients you want to make a pitch to, or make a point of reconnecting with people you have worked for in the past to see whether they need any writing done.
When you make a point of continuing to apply for freelance writing jobs during the Holiday Season, you will be impressing your potential client with the fact that you are taking the initiative to drum up some work. You look like a dedicated professional, which is just the kind of person they want to work with. It might be easier to get hired at this time of year, since there will less competition from other freelancers, who may not be as diligent as you in looking for work.
Enjoy the Holiday Season, for sure, but do plan to spend some time looking for work as well. The January bills will be in all of our mailboxes soon enough!
Do You Send Out Holiday Cards to Clients? You Should!
The Holiday Season is a great time to reach out to your clients by sending them a holiday card. If you aren’t sure which holiday they celebrate there are a number of generic “Seasons Greetings” cards you can choose from.
Everyone likes to feel appreciated, and clients are no different. When you send them a holiday greeting, whether it’s an actual card that you send by snail mail or an e-mail, you are letting them know that they are important to you. Without them, you don’t have one.
Take the time to thank the people you have worked with this past year for their business and for contributing to your success. Include a sincere wish for their continued success as well.
Freelancers Need Flexibility to Succeed
by Jodee Redmond
When it comes to your freelance career, how flexible are you? We live in uncertain economic times, and I would suggest that the freelancers who are the most adaptable will fare the best.
Like a number of people, I read What Color is Your Parachute a number of years ago. One of the things I took away from reading that book was to stop thinking of myself as only one thing when it came to my work life. I am not simply a content writer or a copy writer, an e-book writer, a blogger, or whatever. I am a person who can [fill in the blank here.]
If You Want More Work – Just Ask!
by Jodee Redmond
One of the keys to having a successful freelance business is providing exemplary customer service to your clients. (Being able to write well and follow instructions is right up there, too.) You also need to start building up a group of clients who will provide you with repeat business, in addition to networking and applying for new opportunities.
Here’s a tip to help turn a one-time client into a repeat one: Ask for more work.
Breaking Up With a Client is Hard to Do
by Jodee Redmond
We’ve been talking about how to find new writing assignments here at Freelance Writing Jobs, and I wanted to take some time to talk about ending a working relationship. There will be times in your career when either a client will decide not to work with you any more or you will decide that it’s time to move on.
Sometimes, the end has nothing to do with your work at all. Your client’s needs may change due to economic factors or for personal reasons. A couple of months ago, one of my long-time clients had to tell me that he needed to end our professional relationship because he had been diagnosed with cancer and he needed to focus his attention on making choices about treatment options and trying to get well. Perfectly understandable in my book, and since we had become good online friends, we still keep in touch.
