| Beginner's Blues: How to Collect Samples, | | | | worked for free. Leave this information out. Go for it |
| Testimonials, and References as a Freelancer by Brian | | | | and good luck!"Brian Konradt (copy writer/DTP |
| S. Konradt of BSK Communications and AssociatesMy | | | | publisher): "Years ago I had joined a national writers' |
| samples are self-selling. They gleam behind protective | | | | group. I started a newsletter for the organization, out |
| covers in my portfolio and snatch me business. | | | | of my own expenses, and charged each member $3 |
| "Wow, I really like this one," says a new client, | | | | for a copy. I also wrote a press release to publicize |
| studying one of my newsletter samples. "That's what | | | | the newsletter. My press release was published in |
| I want. Can you do something similar for me?""I sure | | | | three trade magazines. I never made a profit -- in |
| can," I tell the client. "I think we should shoot for four | | | | fact, I lost money on this endeavor. But I used the |
| colors, instead of two. And thick texture paper would | | | | newsletter and the published press releases as |
| be better for self-mailing."The client agrees. He also | | | | samples. Members also mailed me testimonials about |
| agrees to pay me $850 for the 4-page newsletter, | | | | how much they loved the newsletter and how |
| half now and the rest when I complete the job."Your | | | | professional it looked. This was my very first |
| samples are your most persuasive tools to seal the | | | | professional sample that I stuck in my portfolio, and |
| deal," advises Mary Anne Shultz, a NY-based | | | | possibly, I believe, persuaded my first client to invest |
| freelance writer who specializes in ad copy."At least | | | | in my services. You can do something similar."Michelle |
| seven out of my ten clients had asked to see some | | | | O'Reilly (copy writer): "Network. Meet people. You |
| sort of samples before hiring me for the job," says | | | | got that? My first client came as a result of my being |
| freelance writer Joan Berk. "Clients want to know | | | | in the right place at the right time with a stack of my |
| what you are capable of doing for them.""Even if | | | | bright white business cards tucked away in the fist |
| your new client does not ask to see samples, you | | | | of my hand. I had attended a marketing seminar that |
| must have samples," says Louie Markowitz, a | | | | was held by a local business chapter. The seminar |
| freelance writer specializing in corporate newsletters. | | | | had attracted a large gathering of business |
| "I show every new client at least one of my samples | | | | professionals, entrepreneurs, and other freelancers. |
| -- a sample that is similar to what they have in mind. | | | | There was time afterwards for networking -- and |
| This helps me get constructive feedback and insight | | | | that's what I did. I handed out my business cards to |
| into what the client wants."This is easy for the | | | | anyone who sounded as if they'd be interested in my |
| established freelancer to say, who has collected | | | | writing services. And somebody was interested! A |
| professional samples over the years and knows that | | | | few days later I received a call from a young |
| samples sell themselves to clients.But what about the | | | | entrepreneur who was looking for a way to promote |
| beginning freelancer who has nothing?According to | | | | a new product. Was I interested in writing a brochure |
| freelance writer, Scot Card: "Don't panic. Many | | | | for him? I told him let's get started, I'm ready, with |
| freelancers start at the bottom. It's where I started. | | | | not even an idea of what I was going to charge him. |
| And probably so will you."As a beginning freelance | | | | I only got paid a fraction of the amount I demand |
| writer embarking on a part-time or full-time | | | | now, but it helped me launch my career. Whenever |
| freelancing career, you'll need to do a lot of "grunt" | | | | there's a social gathering in your area, make sure you |
| work in your field of specialty. Depending on your | | | | attend and network. Put your face in front of the |
| approach or what you choose, you'll be doing | | | | crowd. Let everyone know you exist and you have |
| assignments and working on projects for little or no | | | | these great skills as a writer. Network. Remember it. |
| money, but the payoff will reward you in the long | | | | It's a great way to get clients and referrals."Andi |
| run.Writing a brochure for a local non-profit | | | | Lipschein (technical writer): "If you want to get |
| organization or writing a press release for your | | | | yourself samples, attend a workshop. It's how I got |
| church's summer events will come in handy the day | | | | my first professional sample: a technical manual, |
| you need to show your first client what you've been | | | | critiqued and corrected by the instructor, on how to |
| up to. But it doesn't just begin with freelancing to | | | | operate a piece of equipment. My advice is attend as |
| local non-profit organizations or churches. You can tap | | | | many workshops as you can in your area of |
| into many other outlets to collect samples while | | | | specialty. They offer tremendous benefits: you |
| improving your experience, skills and knowledge | | | | increase your knowledge on the subject, you get |
| before you begin freelancing part-time or | | | | trained by a professional, you get hands-on |
| full-time.Your first step to get started is obvious: | | | | experience, and you walk away with professional, |
| Take inventory of everything you have | | | | critiqued samples for your portfolio. Many local |
| written.Everyone has done some writing in the past: | | | | community colleges and high schools offer writing |
| writing term and thesis papers; writing articles for | | | | workshops as part of their Continuing Education |
| your college newspaper; providing copy for a flier or | | | | series. The information and samples you obtain will |
| brochure for an organization; helping your friends | | | | last a lifetime."Rita Clayborne (PR writer): "I interned |
| write their resumes, or your own. The list goes on.Of | | | | my way to success...My experience and skills came |
| course, a client won't hire you after he glosses over | | | | from interning for five different public relations firms |
| your high school term paper (with the bright red A at | | | | in New York for two years. I got a lot of hands-on |
| the top) or a short poem you scribbled in a birthday | | | | experience -- and a lot of headaches, but I learned |
| card. But all of your past writings can serve as a | | | | how to work with deadlines and how to deal with |
| benchmark as to where you stand now. You may | | | | clients. I also got tremendous insight into the field, |
| even possess samples hiding in your closet or lost | | | | such as pricing my services competitively, how to tap |
| somewhere in the massive directories of your hard | | | | into my market, and how to make a business |
| drive, waiting to be reworked and re-edited for a | | | | succeed. This had a positive impact on the success |
| fresh facelift.Take inventory of all of your writing | | | | of my PR business today. You can intern part-time (a |
| samples and evaluate them as if you are the client. | | | | couple of days out of the week), or full-time (five |
| What grabs your attention? What makes you squint | | | | days out of the week). I got paid for my work as an |
| away. Do your samples have anything in common | | | | intern, but don't always expect to get paid. Call up |
| with your specialty? Can you rewrite any of your | | | | some PR firms in your area and speak with the |
| samples for improvement? If so, redo them and use | | | | person in charge. Ask if they offer an internship |
| them to begin your portfolio. If not, listen | | | | program; if not, ask if they'd be willing to accept you |
| closely...Here are some ways, endorsed by | | | | as an intern. You can locate PR firms in the Yellow |
| established freelancers in the field, that can help you | | | | Pages. Alternatively, you can contact the |
| collect samples of your writing, including testimonials | | | | Cooperative Education department of your local |
| and references; but by no means do you have to | | | | college and ask the director to help you in your |
| follow them. Be creative and seek out other | | | | search. As an intern, you will collect many professional |
| alternatives.Joseph Martenello (technical writer): "I | | | | samples, references and contacts!"John Palmeri |
| worked as a part-time stringer for my local | | | | (graphic designer): "When the company I worked for |
| newspaper for a year. How'd I get the job? I | | | | was planning to do a newsletter to celebrate its 30 |
| responded to an ad in the newspaper, even though I | | | | years of service, I jumped at the opportunity. I was |
| barely had any writing experience. Next thing I know, | | | | only a stock clerk there, but I was attending college |
| I was covering town meetings and local events, | | | | for my bachelor's degree in Communications Arts, |
| boring stuff. I didn't get paid much -- not enough that | | | | and I had some skills as a layout artist. My boss |
| I could live off -- but this lead to a higher paying | | | | agreed to let me produce the newsletter, and boy, |
| position writing short features for a while and | | | | did I get excited. I didn't get paid for doing it -- |
| freelancing for neighboring newspapers for dirt pay...I | | | | although there was a bigger Christmas bonus for me |
| was able to collect my published articles and put | | | | -- but it helped me produce my first sample with my |
| them into a portfolio. Even now, six years later, I'm | | | | name on it. At that time I wasn't planning to |
| able to state in my sales letter that I worked as a | | | | freelance -- but that changed down the road when I |
| newspaper reporter. That title has a lot of clout with | | | | wanted to make more money doing what I love |
| clients. My clients expect short, tight copy -- the type | | | | most: producing newsletters. To this day, I still |
| of copy evidenced by my published newspaper | | | | produce newsletters for the same company I had |
| clips."Judith Corbishley (PR consultant/writer): "I | | | | worked for five years ago. The difference now is I |
| started my so called 'freelancing' by catering my | | | | get paid top dollar to produce it, and I'm my own |
| writing services to local organizations. You wouldn't | | | | boss."NOW WHAT? Once you have samples, you'll |
| believe the demand for freelance writing in | | | | need to prepare a portfolio, plus a brochure or sales |
| organizations! And the reason why is that many | | | | letter or web site selling your services. Your |
| [organizations] will not pay you, at least the | | | | promotional material should contain testimonials for |
| non-profit ones won't. I basically immersed myself in | | | | hard-hitting power. As a beginner, don't spend a lot |
| everything I could get my hands on. I wrote press | | | | of money advertising your services. The time will |
| releases, developed brochures, published fliers, you | | | | eventually come when you'll turn "pro" and you'll |
| name it. Gradually, my specialty -- from having to | | | | spend at least 25% of your earnings on promotion. |
| handle many writing tasks -- emerged. I fell in love | | | | For now, decide to place a small classified ad in your |
| with PR, and now do it full-time, supporting myself | | | | local newspaper, tack up fliers on the bulletin boards |
| with my writing. And it all started by contacting the | | | | at your local supermarkets and libraries, or advertise |
| director of a local non-profit computer education | | | | your services on free job boards on the Internet. |
| organization. You can do the same. Check your | | | | See what types of responses you get. Be persistent |
| community newspaper or local bulletin board for | | | | in your search for clients. Most of all: Don't give up! |
| volunteer help. Then call up the director or contact | | | | The professional is the amateur who had never quit |
| person. Ask if they need somebody for writing. Most | | | | in the first place.When you get your first client, let |
| likely the answer will be yes! You'll be able to do the | | | | the client do most of the talking. You will find that |
| writing at home under a flexible deadline. When the | | | | many clients will not even ask to see your samples -- |
| time comes to produce your promotional material, | | | | so don't even bring it up. Many clients will accept you |
| you can list the organization as one of your clients. | | | | as a writer -- on your word alone -- and will work |
| You are under no obligation to state that you've | | | | with you.Work hard and good luck! |