Newspapers: A Source of Freelance Writing Jobs Leads

Did you know that your daily newspaper can be a good source of leads for freelance writing jobs? I’m not necessarily talking about the job ads, either, in case you are wondering.

If you are looking for work from local clients, the newspaper is a good way to find out what’s happening with businesses and organizations in your community. Check out the business section to find out which companies are introducing new products or hiring more staff. A business that is launching a new product may be interested in your pitch to update their marketing materials or web site to showcase the new addition to their line. The company newsletter may need to be redrafted – or the company may be interested in starting one for staff or loyal customers.

A business that is on a hiring drive may need the assistance of a writer to draft updated job descriptions or ads for new workers. The employee manual may need a facelift, or the “Careers” page on the company web site may need to be updated.

The newspaper may also profile new businesses in your area. Carefully studying the profile will give you some valuable information. You will find out exactly what the company does and who the owner’s target market is. The most important piece of information you will find in a newspaper profile is the owner’s name and contact information.

You may want to mention that you saw the profile in the newspaper and include a clip of the page when you make your pitch. The fact that you took the time to do so will get the recipient’s attention and make them more receptive to the services you can offer to the company.

Have you ever used the newspaper as a source of leads for your freelance writing business?

Ask, Ask, Ask Your Way to More Freelance Writing Work

If you want to turn a one-time gig into a source of repeat business, a good strategy is to remember the “Three Asks,” as I like to think of them. The first one is just good customer service, and the other two have to do with marketing. Here’s the rundown:

Ask if the Client Needs Anything Else

When you hand in your work to the client, ask them to let you know whether they need anything else. This could be interpreted to mean revisions or edits, or the client could interpret it to mean another project that complements the first one. It’s just good business to make sure that your clients are happy with the work that you have done for them and this practice increases your odds of being given future assignments.

Ask for More Work

Clients aren’t mind readers. Unless you let the client know that you would be interested in working with them again, they may not automatically think of you for future projects. Assuming you would be interested, contact the client after you have delivered the project. Tell them that you enjoyed working with the on “Project X” and that you hope that they will contact you with their future writing (editing, blogging, copywriting, etc.) needs.

Ask for Referrals

Assuming that the project went well and the client is happy, you can ask them to refer you to other people who may need similar services. If you don’t mention it, the client may assume that you have a full plate and that you aren’t taking on anyone new right now. While that may be the case today, the situation can change quickly and my take on it is that I’m always happy to talk to a potential client. The details can be worked out once the potential client turns into an actual one.

Do you use any of the “Three Asks” in your freelance writing career?

Don’t Ignore the Hidden Job Market for Freelancers

I read recently that only about 20 percent of jobs are ever advertised. We post some of them here at FWJ regularly. That means that a whopping 80 percent of all opportunities are never advertised. Most people looking for freelance writing work concentrate their efforts on the portion of the market that is readily accessible.

Why Answer Job Ads?

The short answer to why people who are looking for work look to job ads is that like the low-hanging fruit, these kinds of opportunities are accessible and relatively easy to get. The client indicates they are looking to hire someone and what the project involves. Some of them even list the price they are willing to pay for the project.

You read through the ad and if it sounds like something you are interested in doing and you are qualified for, you answer the ad. Very simple. The only problem is that there may be hundreds of other people who have the same idea and the competition for advertised freelance writing work is very stiff.

Does that mean that I’m saying that you should give up on answering ads? Heck, no. I got hired by Deb by answering an ad, and I’ve been hired by several clients by using this method. I am suggesting that you also consider tapping into the larger market of opportunities that exists.

I’ll post some more suggestions in future posts, but you can start by doing the following:

• Tell friends, family members, coworkers, your kid’s teacher, etc., about what you do
• Ask your current clients for referrals
• Make a list of potential clients and contact them to make a pitch for your services

Do these strategies work? Yes, they do. It may take some time, but if you are consistent about your efforts, they will pay off. I was recently contacted by someone I had originally approached two years ago about the possibility of working on an assignment.

Where do you focus most of your freelance job search efforts?