A number of years ago, I had connected briefly with a client prospect at a trade show who showed interest in working with me. Let me rephrase that: I connected repeatedly with that client prospect, first at the trade show, then close to two dozen times over the years via email and in person. After four years…
Tag: Marketing
The Marketing-Is-Not-Hard Marketing Guide
There I was, staring at the computer screen, growling. Once again, someone on social media was talking about how incredibly hard marketing is. Know what’s hard? Cement. Rocks. Building a rocket launcher using straws and kindergarten paste. Heads hitting desks when people say uninformed things like “marketing is hard.” Marketing is not hard. Please, can…
When to Give Up on a Freelance Writing Prospect
A good while back, I was doing my usual marketing — send the LOI, follow up, try to get a conversation going …. you know the drill. One contact in particular stood out in a weird way. He’s a guy who’s moved his way up the food chain at his company from assistant to director….
The Introvert’s Guide to Building a Freelance Writing Business
Don’t you love all the great advice you find on blogs and in articles? If you do all the reading and really absorb what’s being said, you’ll have a great blueprint for achieving a successful freelance writing business. The steps go something like this: Study your market, including prospective clients Write a killer letter of…
4 Marketing Mistakes Freelancers Make
I was reading through a few blog post articles yesterday when I came across great marketing advice. It was sensible, and it was advice I’d given here a number of times. Yet I wasn’t buying it from this particular blogger. That’s because I’d been the target of one of this blogger’s marketing campaigns. And I…
Your Freelance Writing Sweet Spot: How to Find It, How to Nurture It
I can’t tell you the last time I actively marketed. That’s a confession coming from me, the one who hammers “market constantly” into your brain. Aren’t I the one who convinces you to send those LOIs every day, follow up every week, and repeat the cycle often? And here I am, saying I’ve not practiced…
Marketing Monday (on a Tuesday): No More Weasels
What I’m listening to: Get Out by Frightened Rabbit Okay, okay. So it’s Tuesday and I’m giving you a Marketing Monday post. Sue me. We had a long weekend (started on Thursday), and it meant a lot of driving, most of it done by me. When I got back last night, there was no way…
Writers Worth: Fear of Taking it Seriously
I need to stay off writers’ forums. A recent conversation that started seriously enough turned ridiculous far too quickly. The guy asked a serious question: How do you know if freelance is your choice? Facing a full-time offer, he was having second thoughts about taking that offer. While right there he’s pretty much answered his…
Building the Come-to-Me Freelance Model
What I’m reading: The Lewis Man by Peter May What I’m listening to: LOVE by Kendrick Lamar (feat. Zacari) Today I’m off to meet with a new client at his office. Normally, I don’t travel to see clients, but he wanted me to meet his team. You can’t pass that up. So I’m choking back…
Marketing Monday: Your (Non)Formula for Success
Late start for me today — my apologies. The weekend was just too glorious to stay inside writing. When it comes to marketing, we writers tend to think if we build it, they will come (they being the clients). That’s not necessarily true. While it works when your marketing approach meshes with their needs, it…