Thursday, June 30, 2005

Interview with a Successful, Full-time Freelancer

Today's post is an interview with NANCY HENDRICKSON, author of "Secrets of a Successful Freelancer" conducted by Brian Konradt

NOTE: The next post will be Thursday, July 7th, as Monday is a U.S. holiday (Independence Day).

Since becoming a freelancer, NANCY HENDRICKSON has published more than one thousand features, shorts and newsletter columns in national and regional magazines and on the Web. Nancy is a full-time freelancer, living in San Diego. She specializes in computer, genealogy and history writing.

[ BK ]: What kind of job/s (or career) did you do before you became a full-time writer? Did any of these jobs contribute to your success as a freelance writer?

NANCY HENDRICKSON: I've worked at a variety of jobs, including supervising in a tree nursery, driving a school bus, working in retail and medical insurance. However, for the last several years before I went full-time as a freelancer, I transcribed medical reports. The jobs, themselves, didn't contribute directly to my freelance success, however they helped me realize what a diversity of interests I have--and how much I'd enjoy writing about many, many topics. Also, because I was self-employed during my medical-job related years, it taught me to discipline myself, to set a work structure and work goals--it also helped me develop a solid business background, which is invaluable as a freelancer.

[ BK ]: Many aspiring writers dream about freelancing full-time. You're living this dream. What are some myths and truths about freelancing full-time? Is it as glorious and rewarding as it may seem?

NANCY HENDRICKSON: Yes, absolutely! I get up in the morning and (unless I have an early interview scheduled), I walk to one of my neighborhood coffee houses for an unhurried morning brew. I then work solidly til about noon, and then take a couple of hours off for lunch, then work til later in the afternoon. Recently, I packed up my laptop (with wireless modem) and drove from San Diego to Port Townsend, Washington--up on the Olympic Peninsula, working all the way.

The greatest thing about being a freelancer, for me, is to set my own schedule and to be free to travel anywhere, as long as I can get an Internet connection. These days, even if I'm in an area where my wireless modem doesn't work, I can always find an Internet cafe and work there, or a local library. Then downside, of course, is that you are always hustling to get assignments. However even that has gotten better, because editors now call me with jobs. I wouldn't trade this life for anything!

[ BK ]: Your e-book advises writers to become a niche writer -- specializing in an area. Why is this so beneficial in today's economy? How has specializing helped you?

NANCY HENDRICKSON: As I wrote in the book, you can write about many, many topics (which I do), however I market myself as a specialist because editors want to know that you're really savvy in their area. For example, I've been writing for a computer magazine and they don't care one bit that I'm also a genealogy specialist--they just want to make sure I know how to research, interview analysts and write good tech stories.

As the world expands, I've found publications actually becoming more narrowly focused. Most of us have fairly specialized interests, and we want a magazine that focuses on that. As a reader, for example, I want to read about PDAs (personal digital assistants) which run on the Palm OS. I'm not so interested in Pocket PCs. My obvious reading choice is the magazine which really focuses on the Palm OS devices. Of course, I have to confess, as a writer, that I still buy the Pocket PC magazines, just to keep up on the industry.


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[ BK ]: How do you market yourself to garner assignments? For the beginning freelance writer, what marketing would work best to land first and repeat work?

NANCY HENDRICKSON: I think a beginner has the best chance by finding a market that covers a subject they know inside and out. Then, when querying, play up their expertise. Although they can certainly find experts to interview (and editors love this), it makes the editor more comfortable knowing the writer has that solid background in their field. As far as getting future assignments--I *never* turn in an assignment without including a list of query topics. The best time to get that additional work is when you turn in a completed assignment. It works a huge percentage of the time.

[ BK ]: As you made the transition from a part-time writer to a full-time freelance writer, what fears did you have? Did you think about failure or worrying where your next paycheck would come from? How did you overcome your fears?

NANCY HENDRICKSON: You know, this was an area that didn't bother me. I had been working as a part-time freelancer for quite awhile, so I had a good sense of how much income I could generate.

I also devised a spreadsheet (which I didn't mention in the book, and need to put in as an additional suggestion). The spreadsheet listed all of my clients at the time. In another cell, I wrote the approximate amount of money I would get from a single assignment. I then did this for each client. Next, I guessed at how many jobs I could do for each client in a year. Then, I let the spreadsheet calculate what my year's income would be. If it wasn't enough, I went back to see who I needed to write more for, or how many new clients I needed to add.

[ BK ]: In your e-book you advise writers to join Internet mailing list/s as a way to connect with prospects. Can you explain how this works, and how this can lead to getting work?

NANCY HENDRICKSON: I actually wrote an article for The Writer about this topic.

Joining mailing lists (in your subject field) can help in a few ways:

1. You can find wonderful sources to quote or interview.

2. You can position yourself as an expert in the field--and believe it or not, editors do cruise through mailing lists in their genre.

3. You can use them to begin establishing your reputation. For instance, what if someone on the mailing list published a short newsletter - - offer to give them a free short article for it. Not only will that help build your clips, if you're just starting, it will start getting your name out in the field.

[ BK ]: Besides writing for magazines, do you do any other types of writing to supplement your income?

NANCY HENDRICKSON: I sell my Secrets of a Successful Freelancer book, I just finished an Internet genealogy book for a traditional publisher, and it will be out in the spring. I also sell some great e-books on the topic of writing e-books through a site at http://www.thehowtopublisher.com

Additionally, I have a local corporate client who hires me to write their newsletter, Web content, ads, etc. This is a new area for me and I really love it. I love the business side of writing, so spreading out to these other fields is a natural for me.

[ BK ]: You have your own web site that provides prospective clients with information about yourself, your skills, and samples of your work. How has your web site helped your writing business? Do you recommend writers have their own web sites as well?

NANCY HENDRICKSON: My site has definitely helped me get new clients. When I query an editor who doesn't know my work, it's just so easy to refer them to my site--they can see which publications I've written for, and my writing style.

If you want to be a successful freelancer, I think you really have to have a Web site. And, one that is easy to navigate and not filled with annoying graphics. Editors just want to get in, see who you are and get out. I also *strongly* recommend that you get your own domain name and pay for a hosting company. It looks so much more professional.

[ BK ]: With more than 1,500 shorts and feature articles to your portfolio, you're a very prolific writer. How do you keep yourself going from day to day and avoid laziness and boredom over the long term?

NANCY HENDRICKSON: Good question. I write about a variety of subjects, so that keeps my brain occupied and interested. Even when I write for the same market, there are many, many topics to research, and I like that very much. For example, in my work for my current computer clients, I may write a hands-on review of 10 software programs and then the next week do a roundup, and the next week a piece on how to get the most from a specific program.

Another thing that keeps me busy and interested is my www.thehowtopublisher.com work. I like creating the business, writing the newsletter for it, and finding fun ways to market it. I'm never bored with my work.

About:
Nancy’s ebook, “Secrets of a Successful Freelancer,” is a detailed blueprint which will help any serious writer jump-start their freelance writing career. Her ebook sells for $16.95 and is sold at WritingCareer.com, an online ebook store, located at http://www.writingcareer.com/nhb001.shtml

Brian Konradt is a freelance writer and graphic designer based in South Carolina.
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Looking for freelance writing work, but don't know where to start or have the time to actively seek assignments? Coming in July: List of 1,000 Paying Markets to begin your search! **********************************************************************************
Sample Listing: Home/Lifestyle Magazine. Seeks articles on interior design, shopping, entertaining, recipes, art and more. Pays $100-$500/article. The majority of our leads are little-known, industry-specific publications/firms that many freelancers don't target because they rarely advertise. We will only sell a limited number per year and the list will be updated/added to annually. Backed by a 100% money-back guarantee!****************************************************************************

Monday, June 13, 2005

When & When Not to Join Forces w/a Competing Biz

This post has been moved to InkwellEditorial.com. See the 4/15/2010 post on the site.

Thursday, June 09, 2005

Reader Question: Career Change/Telecommuting Work

A reader wrote in with the following question, which made a good topic for today’s blog entry.

I'm pursuing a change in career focus ... Can you point me in the right direction? I have worked in corporate and educational marketing communications or more than 17 years. My strongest skill set -- and what I most enjoy -- is publications management (print periodicals as well as marketing collateral). I have specialized in curriculum support materials and programs for K-12 students. I'd like to identify a full-time opportunity but am unable to relocate outside of Michigan. Do you have suggestions for refining my search to include Michigan-only jobs or identifying jobs where the employer is agreeable to the work being performed via distance? Mimi, Michigan
Mimi:

Your question is two-fold: first, location; then, type of job (publications management). As you are unable to relocate outside of Michigan, you have two options: 1) narrow your search to your area; or 2) broaden your search beyond the specific type of job you seek (publications management).
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  • Tips for Narrowing Your Search: Go to the major job boards like Monster, CareerBuilder and Yahoo!, narrowing your search to your area. Also, check local newspapers. With the advent of the Internet, job listings in local newspapers are a sorely overlooked source of leads, in my opinion. Finally, do some digging on the types of companies who publish in-house materials, and send them your cover letter/resume.
  • I read somewhere that up to 85% of job openings are never advertised. So, there are a lot of opportunities that never make it to the public forum. Contact ad agencies, nonprofit organizations, marketing and PR firms – all of these publish materials of some kind – get your credentials in their hands, even if they aren’t openly hiring.
  • Broadening Your Search/Looking for Telecommuting Work: As you have specialized experience, for telecommuting purposes, I’d target companies who publish these types of materials – ie, educational firms. There are literally thousands of these types of firms.
  • Put together an aggressive email/mail campaign. Many of them will not respond, but in my experience, most companies keep qualified applicants on file for up to a year. You may get a call 8 months from now out of the blue, announcing, “We received your credentials back in December and have an upcoming assignment that we think you’d be perfect for …”
  • Be sure that you have a complete home office setup so that you can comfortably work from home. Many times, when companies contact you for off-site work, it is because they are on deadline and need someone who can get started right away. So, there will be no time to go out and get the equipment you need. Really, all you need is a fax machine, a fast Internet connection and MS Word. Having the ability to open .pdf files and sometimes using a spreadsheet program, ie, Excel, will also come in handy.
  • All in all, editorial is a very static industry. It’s hard to switch gears (eg, go from marketing and communications to publications management), because most employers want someone with a specific skill set. So, if they are hiring a publications manager, they want someone who has been a publications manager before.
  • To get around this, do a very specific cover letter, stating how your skills are directly transferable. Also, be willing to accept a bit of a pay cut in order to get your foot in the door.
Good luck!

Monday, June 06, 2005

Effective, Freelance Marketing Tools

I'm often asked how I acquired new clients when I was freelancing. I used several methods. Following are three marketing tools that, in my opinion, every freelancer should utilize on a regular basis.

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with any of the companies listed below -- I'm just a happy customer.

1. Postcards: I use Vistaprint.com to order these. The reason is they are inexpensive; they have templates for almost every profession (you can also design your own postcard from scratch); and they offer some of the best prices around. They also deliver promptly and the quality of the work can't be beat. The more you order, the more you save.

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Postcards are a cheap, effective marketing tool. If you are a regular reader of this blog, then you know I advocate using methods you can afford to repeat. As most clients have to see your message 7 to 28 times before they will call, postcard marketing is an easy and effective way to reach out to new clients and stay in touch with existing ones.

2. E-mail Marketing: ConstantContact.com. For as little as $15 month, you can send as many email campaigns as you want. Here again, there are pre-designed templates that make your message look professional (or you can have a template designed for your company for a one-time fee of a few hundred dollars).

Going away on vacation? No problem. You can set up your campaign to be delivered any date or time you want -- a day, week, or month from now.

For my money, the most useful tool this company has is the ability to compile a subscriber list. All you have to do is copy/paste a bit of HTML code where you want your sign-up box to go, and voila! -- visitors to your site can sign up quickly and easily. Compiling a subscriber list allows you to stay in "constant contact" with clients, which leads to more sales over time. You can send a monthly newsletter, special deals and discounts, timely articles -- the possibilities are endless.

Tip: Staying in touch with clients keeps your business top of mind. But, don't oversell to your list. What I mean is, always keep your customer's interests top of mind. Instead of a sales pitch, send an informative newsletter, a timely article, a thank you when it's NOT the holiday season. Your efforts will pay off handsomely over time.

3. Article Distribution: There are a myriad of sites on the web where you can submit your articles free for distribution. One I utilize often is IdeaMarketers.com.

All of the info I post here in this blog is also posted to IdeaMarketers.com. This way, other newsletter writers can pick up the content and use it in their newsletter. Instead of content only being seen by readers of this blog, the content may appear on 20, 30, or 40 or more sites at one time. This amounts to tens and hundreds of thousands of readers. Over time -- millions. I can't tell you how much publicity this has brought my sites over the last few years.

Also, writing articles brands you as an expert. This adds to your professional credibility in client's eyes, allowing you to charge more.

These tools have helped me to grow two businesses in the last 7 years. Utilize them consistently and your freelance business will grow -- slowly, but nicely and steadily.
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What's your opinion, experience, comment, feedback? Click on "comments" to leave a reply, or the envelope graphic to email this article to a friend. You DO NOT need to be a subscriber to reply; you can also post anonymously. ****************************************************************************
Looking for freelance writing work, but don't know where to start or have the time to actively seek assignments? Coming in July: List of 1,000 Paying Markets to begin your search!
**********************************************************************************
Sample Listing: Home/Lifestyle Magazine. Seeks articles on interior design, shopping, entertaining, recipes, art and more. Pays $100-$500/article. The majority of our leads are little-known, industry-specific publications/firms that many freelancers don't target because they rarely advertise. We will only sell a limited number per year and the list will be updated/added to annually. Backed by a 100% money-back guarantee!****************************************************************************
May be reprinted with inclusion of the following in full: © 2005 InkwellEditorial.com: THE job and information portal for and about the creative and editorial industries. Visit our informative, up-to-date blog at http://inkwelleditorial.blogspot.com/ for first-hand information on how to start, grow and/or maintain a successful freelance career.

Thursday, June 02, 2005

The Schizophrenic Freelancer: Take Your Best Ideas & Make Them Work for You

I often wonder how many freelancers out there are running two or three businesses. You know, juggling a full-time job while trying to get your freelance business off the ground – the equivalent of running two businesses. This is what I term the schizophrenic freelancer.

If this sounds like you, here are three things you can do immediately which will allow you to take your best ideas and make them work for you.

1. Focus: Many freelancers exist in a haphazard state. What I mean is, they take projects as they come along, knock them out, and then sit back and wait for the next one. This is allowing someone else to control your time/schedule – which is exactly the opposite of what you’re trying to accomplish by becoming a freelancer.

Stop the madness! The first thing you should do if freelancing full-time is your eventual goal is to figure out exactly how you want your life to operate.

Eg, I want to work four days a week. My workday will be 9 hours (8-6 with a one hour break for lunch). My income goal is $4,000/month. To accomplish this I need 8 projects a month averaging $500/each. Ideally, this would be 3 copywriting jobs, 2 editing jobs, 1 word processing job and 2 sold articles. I will schedule 1 full day per week to marketing for these types of jobs. My budget for marketing is $200/month. And on and on and on.

When you work from specifics, you can hone in on your best ideas immediately. You will also know going in how you need to price your product/service, what jobs you can’t afford to take, how much time you have to devote to each project, where to allocate your marketing dollars, etc.

Every day that you get up, if you have your focused goal sheet in front of you, every minute of your day will be spent on tasks that get you closer to your real goal – freelancing full-time – and make a darn good living at it, too!


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2. Develop a Deadline: While it’s great to write things down, it won’t mean a darn thing if you don’t put a timeline on it. Otherwise, your goal will be a “someday aspiration.”

As human beings, we have inbuilt mechanisms that protect us from whatever we perceive as failure. After all, who wants to fail? By not putting a timeline on our dreams – whatever they may be – we allow ourselves the comfy zone of not failing. Because, what happens if we don’t meet the deadline – we’ll feel like failures.

Don’t allow fear of success (which is exactly what this is) to rule you. You may not meet your deadline, but give yourself credit for the progress you will have made and keep plugging away. Set a new deadline. Be careful though that this doesn’t become another stalling tactic.

Do everything within your power to meet and beat your deadlines. After all, you do it for clients. Don’t you deserve the same respect and attention?

3. Don’t Waste Time: To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, “If you love life, don’t waste time, for that is what life is made of.”

Checking email, surfing the net, chatting with friends – all of these are major time killers. Get in the habit of prioritizing your time on a daily basis.

I keep a to-do list by my desk. I usually make it at the end of one week for the upcoming week. I tweak it as needed, but always try to complete all tasks on it during that week. Not only does this keep you on track daily, but when you look back over it in 2, 3 or 4 months, you will be able to track the progress you’ve made toward your goal.

Now, get cracking!****************************************************************************
What's your opinion, experience, comment, feedback? Click on "comments" to leave a reply, or the envelope graphic to email this article to a friend. You DO NOT need to be a subscriber to reply; you can also post anonymously. ****************************************************************************
Looking for freelance writing work, but don't know where to start or have the time to actively seek assignments? Coming in July: List of 1,000 Paying Markets to begin your search!
**********************************************************************************
Sample Listing: Home/Lifestyle Magazine. Seeks articles on interior design, shopping, entertaining, recipes, art and more. Pays $100-$500/article. The majority of our leads are little-known, industry-specific publications/firms that many freelancers don't target because they rarely advertise. We will only sell a limited number per year and the list will be updated/added to annually. Backed by a 100% money-back guarantee!****************************************************************************
May be reprinted with inclusion of the following in full: © 2005 InkwellEditorial.com: THE job and information portal for and about the creative and editorial industries. Visit our informative, up-to-date blog at http://inkwelleditorial.blogspot.com/ for first-hand information on how to start, grow and/or maintain a successful freelance career.