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