Ever been so busy you can’t find time to market? Welcome to the club. I was talking with a freelance friend and she was thrilled to be working so much, but as she said, “The problem with that is that I have absolutely no time for marketing, which in turn means I’ll be scrambling for work again once all these assignments wrap up. This is an aspect of freelancing I still struggle with, so feel free to blog with some advice for me if you’re so inspired.”
Inspired I am. What do you do? How do you set yourself up now so that the workflow continues? Here are a few tricks I pull out whenever work dwindles –
Call on past clients. Can’t repeat this one enough. These are people who have hired you in the past and liked what you did (we assume). Send them a quick email, leave them a voice message. My standard is “I have some free time coming up in my schedule. Is there anything I can help you with?” Most times you’ll hear no, but you’re staying in touch. When that project does come up, they’re more likely to remember you.
Write a few queries. Magazines and websites are still looking for content. Break out the article proposal routine and get your ideas circulating.
Search the Internet. Most of you know I’ve become disenchanted by our online job offerings. I’m not suggesting you go out and take a two-bit job. I’m suggesting you conduct a Monster or CareerBuilder search for “freelance” work. It may turn up nothing, but the few gigs that do appear are going to be much more lucrative than those found on Craig’s List.
Check Craig’s List. Didn’t see that coming, did you? Look, there are work opportunities there that aren’t junk. You know what a good job looks like. Use a critical eye and scan the local listings. A gem may indeed pop up. Just don’t expect CL to provide you with tons of legitimate work.
Send your card to local ad agencies and print shops. This should be planned during your down time, but you need to have some prepared material to send out. I have a brochure, a letter, and a business card. Also, I have a list of businesses within a 20-mile radius that might need some interim help or that print shop whose customer says, “Know any good writers?”
Call a temp agency. It’s one of my last-resort plans, and it’s bailed me out of some lean times. A good temp agency that’s pre-screened you can help you find quick work when the savings account dwindles. Most jobs are onsite, but you might be able to score a quick telecommuting gig.
Take five minutes at the end of your day and try one or more of these ideas. With more people outsourcing to save money, you may see that impending gap in work disappear.
6 responses to “Victim of Your Own Cycle”
I was going to suggest 15 minutes every day, but even 5 makes a difference. That helps the work even out a bit.
I actually saw an ad on Craig’s List for a staffing agency in Boston looking for writers and editors. I contacted them to get more information, tell them about my pending relocation, and asked them if we should meet once I get up there.
Yea, 15 is preferred, but you and I know most people think that’s an eternity, so I wrote 5 minutes. What eventually happens is that your 5 minutes becomes 30… I’m sneaky that way. ;))
See? CL does have some legit and actual useful stuff. Not much, but it does happen.
i just did an article on this topic for the writer magazine.
Very cool, Sue! Can we see it online? Anything you can add here?
Great stuff, Lori. I’m in a spot where I’ve got plenty of work for the next several months, but am having a hard time finding opportunity to work on my long-term plan for self-sustaining stuff (my blog).
Least, not in the way I want to.
It’s about pacing, I suppose. And, with the economy like it is here in Michigan, the fact that I’m solid for the next year or so with a handful of good clients is a good thing.
I’m bookmarking this for next january when my contracts come close to being up. Great tips, Lori!
Hi Lori,
I just found your blog – very interesting information. Thanks for making it available.
Re Craigs List. I know many writers give it a pass because of the horrible stuff offered there, but if you take the time to look, as you say, there are some gems. Two of my best clients are from there and I just had a very promising phone conversation with a potential client, again from CL.
I spend about 30 minutes a day marketing, at least, no matter how busy I am.