Getting into freelance writing

[tommy]

Hi all,

Firstly this is not for me this is for dad, he has recently been made redundent and as he is nearing retirement there are not many IT companies who will take on someone at his age so he looking to set up a small business freelance writing eg. proof reading, Promotional Literature, online content etc.

I am just wondering how could he go about getting into this eg, getting his first freelance job without any previous examples (portfolio). I know how I would do it in regards to my field of work but when it comes to writing I have not got a clue.

Any ideas?

Tom

[ParentsforPlay]

Could he perhaps do some freebie work for good causes/friends companies etc to build up a portfolio, would that help

Sarah

[Mike Seddon]

I second the working for good causes especially charities for two good reasons.

1) Why not. It's worthwhile. you add value and you also get to learn your trade
2) Lots of very senior business people also work for charities and it can be a very good network for genuine people.

Also, has he looked at the various government schemes to see if there is one that will help him get started. Basically he needs leads doesn't he. Have you tried putting him in touch with his local business link?

Just some thoughts

Best of luck to him.

[admagic]

Hi all,

Firstly this is not for me this is for dad, he has recently been made redundent and as he is nearing retirement there are not many IT companies who will take on someone at his age so he looking to set up a small business freelance writing eg. proof reading, Promotional Literature, online content etc.

I am just wondering how could he go about getting into this eg, getting his first freelance job without any previous examples (portfolio). I know how I would do it in regards to my field of work but when it comes to writing I have not got a clue.

Any ideas?

Tom

I cant speak for proof reading, but sales copywriting is a lucrative business which there is a sort of "formula" for starting up - however there is also a learning curve too - and to succeed at it he will need to put in
some hard yards first...and some midnight oil...to study what really works.

The process then is straightforward enough - to find people already advertising who are breaking most of the rules who are far more common than you would think - the ones producing overgrown "business card" style ads - that say "this is who we are, this is what we do, please call us" that only ever get a weak response

Targetting those who arre already using print ads, proves they have a budget - even though you may be offering to change the website rather than print ad.

Mailshot the advertisers with a copy of their own ad - showing the ad in the window of an envelope which gets them to open the letter out of curiosity!- use a direct response letter - to explain that you can increase the sales and a couple of keys of good ads in a letter - that then offer your services on a "sales increase" risk free moneyback guarantee to write copy to test in the next ad.

Once off first base

It can be worthwile to specialise in just one area for example - eg accountants who have money - in that case you need to be more sophisticated- eg using a camtasia video of an accountants websites, pointing out the lack of a headline ( a concept they understand from newspapers) and so on - gets you through the door.

There are two or three other strategies for doing this...for example the "free marketing makover" - advertised using a small ad..there are a couple of forms of words that work pretty well from a classified ad - which gets people to download a report - and that starts the proces.

I am about to release a course on exactly how to do this - using video of several of the worlds top copywriters, and related training materials - i intended to include, tested sample letters with that course- just havent got round to that yet.

[notgoingtouni]

Why not get him to set up his own blog and blog daily about this and that. Then approach people once he has enough content to do so?

[spacekadet]

I'm also starting out as a freelance writer and have found the following forums to be very helpful:

absolutewrite
journalism co uk

(Search for them on Google - I can't post URLs.)

Recently we've been discussing "Letters of Introduction"... i.e. writing to potential publishers and clients to introduce yourself and find out if they take freelance submissions. You might have to write for free at first, but at this stage, it's all about building up a portfolio of writing credits.

Also, pick up The Freelance Writer's Handbook by Andrew Crofts. Lots of good info and inspiration for getting started.

The most luck I've had with getting paid work is by "pitching" ideas to editors that they then commission. It's hard work, though. Most of my pitches seem to fall into the void. =)

I'm still new at this so am learning as well. Best of luck to your dad and let us know how it goes! Better yet - get him to sign up on the forums. =) It's good marketing!

[admagic]

I'm also starting out as a freelance writer and have found the following forums to be very helpful:

absolutewrite
journalism co uk

(Search for them on Google - I can't post URLs.)

Recently we've been discussing "Letters of Introduction"... i.e. writing to potential publishers and clients to introduce yourself and find out if they take freelance submissions. You might have to write for free at first, but at this stage, it's all about building up a portfolio of writing credits.

Also, pick up The Freelance Writer's Handbook by Andrew Crofts. Lots of good info and inspiration for getting started.

The most luck I've had with getting paid work is by "pitching" ideas to editors that they then commission. It's hard work, though. Most of my pitches seem to fall into the void. =)

I'm still new at this so am learning as well. Best of luck to your dad and let us know how it goes! Better yet - get him to sign up on the forums. =) It's good marketing!

Monika...

Dont know whether you are aware of it or not,

But ghost writing and article writing work is available on
elance.com - you will need to pitch low until you get an elance reputation.

Works a bit like ebay. except the buyer chooses who they want.

[tommy]

Thanks for all the advice guys I will pass on the info and get him signed up to the forums ASAP.

[spacekadet]

Monika...

Dont know whether you are aware of it or not,

But ghost writing and article writing work is available on
elance.com - you will need to pitch low until you get an elance reputation.

Works a bit like ebay. except the buyer chooses who they want.

Admagic - thanks for the Elance tip! I actually just signed up yesterday, prior to reading this. I've heard mixed reviews on it but I figure it's worth a shot. Have you yourself used it?

Thanks again...

[RedEvo]

Submit articles to the likes of http://www.ezinearticles.com/. These are human edited so he'll get feedback as to whether he's any good.

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