This post is a lot like my This Job Not That Job posts. Only difference is that the offender — and ironically, the victim — is none other than the freelance writer.
How many times have we seen it? How many times have I blogged about it? (Hint: several times. Several. Times.) How many times have I wrung my hands watching freelancers commit the same sins yet again? Too many to count, my friend.
The scenario, as played out online recently:
ABC Company is looking for a contract writer who is comfortable with science and technology topics. Please go to these URLs to see the topics we cover and to see if you would be comfortable covering these areas. Please DM for more details.
Pop quiz: Which response should you choose?
- “I do it all! Here’s my website link. Please contact me at your earliest convenience.”
- “I can’t send you a direct message. How do we move forward?”
- “I have sent you an email and would like to discuss your needs further at your convenience.”
If you picked #3, congratulations. You’ve shown the company that you can follow simple directions, do your own research, and take the initiative to locate an email address and take the conversation offline.
Oh, but sadly, in our example, which was a real example, not one writer chose #3. They did indeed select #1 and #2. And gosh darn, I bet they’re upset that the hiring manager, a person who may get 30 appropriate responses, didn’t take the time to go to their websites (for more than one writer left a URL trail) and “check” them out.
Why this approach sucks:
It shows the client just how lazy the writer is.
That’s right — lazy. For if the writers in question had clicked on the links that the hiring manager had provided, they would have been twice rewarded — first, with examples of exactly what the client wants and second, with the direct contact information for the client.
[bctt tweet=”A large part of winning a #freelancewriting gig is showing initiative. And following simple directions.” username=”LoriWidmer”]
Time and again, I am shocked by how many writers do neither of these things.
It’s not a new phenomenon, either. Back in the day when I had to hire a freelancer, I asked for specific criteria — resume, samples, a brief summary of why they think the job is the right fit for them. Of the ten or so people who applied, one writer included what I’d asked for. One. She got the job, and she rocked it.
Those of you freelancers who are pros at finding clients know how to do this. Those of you who are new to it all — this little cheat sheet will give you a foot forward when responding to a job listing or a client inquiry.
Study the wording carefully.
This is particularly useful when trying to determine if the job posting or client project is something worthy of your time. Let’s look at an example:
Acme Rocket Corporation is looking for an experienced freelance writer who has a strong background in rocket science. We are needing support for writing projects such as white papers, blog posts, consumer-facing newsletter content, and general press release and sales content. Examples of the types of projects the writer will be working on can be found HERE and HERE (hyperlinks). Please send a CV and your fee schedule along with three samples of related writing to Judy Jetson, marketing director.
Now ask yourself this:
- Do I have a background in rocket science? Is it strong? (If so, go to the next sentence in the posting. If not, stop. You don’t qualify.)
- Have I written anything they’re asking for? Ideally, at least three things from the list should be something you’ve handled. (And none of that “I can write about anything!” bullshit.)
- Are the project samples something that interest me or are within my current skill set? (If so, continue. If not, stop. You don’t qualify or don’t want the gig.)
- Have I located the email address for Judy Jetson? (If it isn’t visible in the URLs provided, look in the About Us section, the Contact Us section, and the News and Announcements section.)
Apply per the instructions.
If Judy Jetson wants three samples, give her three samples. Not six. Not one. If you have more, tell her there are more available upon request. Don’t inundate the woman with links and attachments. If she wants to know what you charge, don’t say, “Negotiable.” Tell her how much you charge per word, per hour, per project, whatever. You’re not losing an opportunity if you’re charging more than she has budget for. You’re weeding each other out, and that’s okay. In fact, it saves you both some time. If she likes what you’ve done, she may have some wiggle room to negotiate. Also, she asked for a CV. If you don’t have one, get one. She wants to see your background. She wants to be sure you can handle the job once you get it. Make sure to highlight those skills that Judy is most interested in. Move them to the front of your CV, if you can.
Check in once. Then let it go.
Know this: You are one of many freelance writers applying for the same gig. Judy may never see your email, or she may have found her writer in the first five minutes of that gig being posted. It happens. I cannot tell you how many times I didn’t get a gig that fit me exactly. When you apply to online job postings, you are handicapped by the fact that others want that gig, too. It’s why I push for writers to find their own clients through smart, targeted networking and marketing. But hey, I get it. Sometimes that perfect gig lands in front of you. You’d be crazy not to try. Just don’t drive yourself — and poor Judy Jetson here — crazy with constantly pestering about the status of said gig.
Final note: No online whining about it.
Too many times, writers think it’s incredibly good for their careers to take to the job poster’s thread and bitch about how they shouldn’t require experience in blah blah because as writers, they are infinitely qualified to write about anything. It’s not true, and it’s an insult to the person doing the hiring. They know what they need. They want to hand it off and not worry about training someone, babysitting, or teaching them industry terminology that anyone writing in the field regularly would already know. Any writer thinking they can waltz into a gig without experience or background is arrogant at best.
Writers, what examples of writers behaving badly have you seen?
What’s your best advice for winning over the client?
6 responses to “Finding Freelance Work: How NOT to Do It”
Lori, I wonder if this is a sign of the times, that whole idea that anybody can be an expert on anything today, anybody can publish a book, anybody can be a video expert, etc.
In other words, I’m not sure these people aren’t listening. Or are lazy.
I think they’re arrogant and don’t give AF about the requirements–and are simply promoting themselves with the expectation that nobody follows the rules today, so maybe the hiring person won’t, either.
I say this because I often put out requests for sources on Help a Reporter Out. Often, I get great leads. (Not all the time.)
But more frequently recently, I’m getting idiots who have absolutely no expertise related to my topic who respond with pablum.
I’m so tired of it I’ve started being ruthless. I’ve created a simple one-sentence template response: “Please don’t respond to a topic on which you’re not an expert and have no relevant information. It’s a waste of my time.”
It’s not that people aren’t reading the requirements, in my opinion. It’s that too many of gatekeepers (hiring managers, editors with too much on their plate) are accepting this nonsense.
I’m not sure the cause. But nobody listens anymore and just promotes themselves with abandon. Oy!
Gabriella, I think you’ve hit on exactly the issue. The arrogance. I know I’ve seen writers attack job posters for having the audacity to post exactly the experience they require. The level of bitching is shocking — as if bitching to a potential client is going to make the client see the error of their ways and hire them.
It’s interesting what you say about “ex-spurts” responding despite having no info on the topic. Is this really where we are today? Anyone thinks they can talk about anything? I guess in a world where shit is made up on the spot, that’s the expectation they lead with.
Fortunately, you and I have editors who actually care about facts being real.
Lori, yes, it’s happening a ton. I’ve learned to read very closely the responses and then push back. I’ll ask for an expert on, say, how you’ve used TikTok in your real estate business. Then agents will respond giving me general info about it. I was noticing none actually came out and said they used it. So I started replying with, “You’ve provided interesting information, but you don’t actually say you’ve used TikTok. Do you use TikTok?”
And I got a bunch of nos!
I even called one guy and said, “Hey, I see this in your response, but you don’t say you do this (whatever it was).” The guy said, “I never responded to that. Thanks for calling.” And hung up.
What? A PR person? A guy who didn’t want to admit he tried to pull a fast one?
The problem is that somebody is accepting this stuff as trusted insights! Yes, it’s where we are today.
Egad! That’s just nuts. Why? Why do they waste our time like that? You’re right — this is exactly where we are these days. I blame writers who pushed mashup articles, content mills, and Fiverr pieces. When you present the bottom of the barrel as pure journalistic talent, you dumb down the entire culture.
I see it all the time on Twitter and LinkedIn. An editor or potential client posts that they’re looking for a freelancer for X, Y, or Z, asking them to DM or email them, and dozens (or more) freelancers reply to the thread with “I’m available!” or “I’m interested – can you share more details?”
I think arrogance and laziness are both at play. It often feels like some people are seizing a chance to brag or share their website. The first few usually set the tone, with subsequent responders trying to one up the competition—unaware that by ignoring very simple instructions they’ve probably already eliminated themselves as potential candidates.
It can be a bit like watching a train wreck at times, can’t it, Paula? I hadn’t considered that some people might be bragging, but that’s definitely possible. The “look at what I can do!” stuff, like the one writer who literally typed, “I can write anything!”
No writer can do everything, so that writer is trying to start the client relationship with a lie. There’s a winning formula! LOL