It would be nice if every new freelance writer had a magnetic personality that attracted work to them or could buy a work-attraction magic wand, however the real world of writing doesn’t work that way.
Professional writers need to seek out jobs by marketing their skills to businesses. Small to medium-sized businesses do not have the budget to hire a full-time writer on staff; therefore they contract out writing jobs when needed. To connect with these companies, a freelance content writer needs to discover creative ways to market themselves.
Social Media
While there are numerous ways to market yourself, social media is one of the best. Social media sites include Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram which are a few of the sites that involve interaction among members through information sharing. There are new social media sites popping up regularly, and for marketing purposes, you need to find the sites that attract your potential clients. Like any other marketing plan, your social media marketing strategy should offer solutions to problems.
Website
A website is an online resume that advertises your skills and experience. A website demonstrates your content writing skills as well as promotes your niches, samples of your work and fees for services.
YouTube
YouTube is one of the least used marketing opportunities. Videos are listed in a differently than written content on search engines, and frequently jump to the top of search queries. If nothing else, it gives you a diverse method to present yourself.
Free Articles
Writing articles for free article sites gives you a body of work to reference on the Internet. A potential customer can look up your name, and see existing published work. You can connect all of your articles to your Google+ profile for cohesiveness.
Email Signature
Listing your job title in your email signature may be simple, but it puts your skill-set in front of every person who receives an email from you.
Business Cards
Giving out business cards is old school; however it is an often-forgotten strategy in the world of the Internet. It is very inexpensive to buy 500 printed business cards with your name, job title and contact information, and hand them out to local businesses, pin them on library bulletin boards and include them with your mail. Customers pick up business cards at the oddest places including the grocery store, college campuses and your daughter’s nursery school.
Networking
Networking the old-fashioned way by attending local chamber of commerce meetings, charity events and business holiday parties is another way to find customers. Face-to-face meetings convey your personality and trustworthiness better than any other way of meeting potential clients. Every person you meet is a potential client or knows someone who can give you future business.
