Boosting Your Freelance Writing Career (when there’s an economic meltdown happening)

I don’t need to tell you what it looks like out there.

Over 16 million people unemployed. Businesses closed until further notice. But you knew that already.

In fact, you may have lost a client or two because of the current pandemic. But guess what? You can gain new clients right now, too.

Yes. You can.

[bctt tweet=”There are plenty of #freelancewriting opportunities available in this economy. No, really.” username=”LoriWidmer”]

Let’s look at the obvious:

There are still plenty of businesses that are open for business.

Don’t believe me? Do this: go to your state’s website. Look for “essential businesses.” Scan the list.

There you go. There’s your new crop of potential clients.

Call it a recession depression, or rotten luck that won’t go away — whatever you do, don’t make the mistake of thinking this situation is the reason you’re not getting new clients. It’s the reason some current clients may be walking it back. New clients? They still need to make money. In fact, my state has a portal for these companies through which they can hire people.

So they can make money.

Making money means they need to find customers.

Finding customers means appealing to them. Through visuals and writing.

There you go. Again.

Before you approach these clients, reread my post from last week on how to do so with some compassion.

But Lori! I’m a garden supply/fashion/(fill in your own specialty) writer! How am I going to transfer my skills to a completely new set of clients?

By not specializing.

Hear me out. You write about fashion, but fabric and textile production — and frankly, buying any kind of clothing beyond t-shirts and sweatpants — is on the nonessential list.

Let’s choose that first one — garden supply. Obviously, plenty of consumer-facing nurseries are closed at the moment. But some are mail order. And some, like my local nursery, will take phone orders and deliver. In fact, the pile of mulch currently in my driveway is a delivery from a closed business.

And there are other facets of garden supply that are indeed still working. Large-scale crop production. In fact, remember the word “production” — it’s the key to where the work is. And the clients.

But what about you fashion writers? Or retail writers? What are you going to do?

You’re going to go general. Well, almost.

What you did with your previous clients might include:

• Ghostwritten articles
• Sales letters
• Website content
• Marketing materials

What you can do for nearly any other industry will include:

• Ghostwritten articles
• Sales letters
• Website content
• Marketing materials

The skills transfer.

One caveat, however.

If you’re a fashion writer, you can find those industries that are still open and show them that your skills can work in their industry (just don’t give away too many free samples in your pitch, okay?). The point is, you, fashion writer, could well write about general merchandise. Or hospital garment supply. Or security services. If you can show that you can sell their products, they’re going to consider you. Look at your skills first. Then look at your interests, mini areas of concentration, and reach out to those types of clients.

Another idea — everyone you have a connection with right now could be struggling. And people want to read about that. Go to your clients (the ones you can reach) and interview them. Articles on how your specialty industry is impacted (and what they can do to ease the pain a bit) are needed. They’re still reading industry magazines, so reach another client base through those articles.

One more thing:

Know your industry. Well.

I write about insurance. I’m fortunate — that industry is going strong right now. However, I’m also reading predictions that this economy could have long-term effects on insurance going forward. So my goal right now is to reach out to other industries that serve insurance (finance, IT, cybersecurity, workers compensation management firms, etc.) and nurture some new clients from those areas.

You too should be reading the predictions about your specialty area. Know what’s coming, plan for a worst-case scenario, and market with a different future in mind.

Writers, how are you marketing right now? Are you changing your area of concentration at all? 
Can you list three areas you could transition your skills to right now if you needed to?