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Should you’re a author who has thought-about working with an company then you definitely’ll have an interest on this first-person case research. Working with companies isn’t for everybody however for some it may be the monetary and profession breakthrough you’re in search of as a freelancer.
It was Might 2014, and I used to be panicking.
I used to be laid off from my job at a New York media startup three months earlier than, and was squirreling away no matter severance cash I had left.
To complicate issues, I moved to Orlando after getting married, abandoning the largest media market within the nation for a metropolis the place media jobs have been scant.
So, I did what any job seeker would do and scoured the job boards.
I got here throughout the Orlando Public Relations Society’s job board and noticed a contract place working for a neighborhood advertising and marketing company on a hospital’s web site redesign.
That three-month venture launched my freelance profession and have become a part of a method I’ve used the final three years to repeatedly enhance my revenue whereas rising a sustainable freelance content-marketing enterprise.
Why working with an company will help your freelance profession
Most freelancers shrink back from working with companies for 2 causes: the positions are often in-house and the pay might be decrease than working immediately with a shopper.
These are legitimate issues, however with the rise of content material advertising and marketing there are extra alternatives for distant work than ever.
My first company venture, which concerned creating content material for a big hospital’s web site, required 4 in-person conferences over three months. I did most of my do business from home.
That first place led to extra initiatives with the company, producing ghostwritten weblog posts, press releases and content material for e-mail campaigns. Ultimately the company put me on retainer—and I nonetheless work for that workforce right this moment.
Freelancing is a hustle.
Getting shoppers—and maintaining them—is vital to constructing a enterprise. However that is usually probably the most troublesome half for freelancers. Advertising takes time, however companies reduce down the lead time for freelancers to get new shoppers as a result of they’ve already achieved the exhausting work of constructing the connection. Additionally they handle the entire course of, so that you don’t have to fret about all the executive work and conferences which can be a part of a direct shopper engagement.
Through the years, all my company work has been distant. I’ve labored with an company in California that hires freelancers to supply longform B2B content material, a New York-based content material advertising and marketing company that works with Fortune 500 firms and a Boston content material advertising and marketing company that does the identical factor.
I’ve additionally labored with the in-house content material studios of some New York media firms, one other sort of company that’s emerged because the content material advertising and marketing trade has grown. Many of those shoppers pay $1 a phrase. Some pay much less, however all have given me a gentle stream of labor, which largely has helped me keep away from the monetary ups and downs which can be typical with freelancing.
Find out how to get began working with an company
The perfect factor about working with an company is that when you’re good, the work retains coming. However how do you get work within the first place? Observe the following tips.
Begin native
Attain out to native advertising and marketing and PR companies. Entrepreneurs are expert strategists—not expert writers, so many companies want folks with journalism abilities to put in writing for his or her shoppers. Think about buying a Guide of Lists out of your native enterprise journal, a complete listing of the highest native firms that additionally has contact information for his or her key executives. Or, scour on-line sources to seek out info for companies in your space.
Ship a Letter of Introduction
After you’ve recognized firms, ship the advertising and marketing supervisor or director a letter of introduction (LOI) highlighting your writing expertise and topic experience. Make the letter concise and tailor it to their enterprise. Chances are you’ll get work immediately or it could take months. Both approach, an LOI can put you on a advertising and marketing supervisor’s radar and set up an preliminary relationship.
Keep linked
Should you dwell in a smaller city, social media is one of the simplest ways to develop your attain. Keep lively on LinkedIn and Twitter (X), as a result of that is the place potential shoppers dwell. Have interaction in dialog, like their posts and share fascinating content material. Final 12 months, I landed work after staying in contact with a former colleague on LinkedIn who now labored for an in-house content material studio. She wouldn’t have recognized I used to be now freelancing had I not up to date my profile.
Be a part of organizations
Be a part of the native chapter of a advertising and marketing or public relations group. Attend chapter occasions or volunteer. Doing this can allow you to join with folks within the trade you’d seemingly by no means meet. Should you’re an skilled freelancer, be a part of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA). ASJA is beginning to embrace content material advertising and marketing and holds digital occasions and an enormous convention yearly the place you possibly can join with shoppers.
Begin a weblog
Begin a weblog targeted on a subject you’re obsessed with. I attended a webinar with Skyword, a content material advertising and marketing company that works with large shoppers, and their neighborhood supervisor mentioned they usually take a look at a author’s weblog when choosing freelancers for campaigns. A weblog can present potential shoppers your writing type and data a couple of subject—and it doesn’t price you a cent to launch one with a platform like Medium.
Working for companies has helped me create a sustainable freelance enterprise.
I really like doing content material advertising and marketing, however there’s no approach I’d have written for manufacturers like Hewlett-Packard or Marriott with out an company.
Freelancing might be feast or famine, however companies will help you navigate these extremes so that you by no means starve for work.
Should you’re questioning what alternatives exist for freelance writers in 2024 (trace: there are a lot!) then ensure that to register for the free webinar referred to as Find out how to Efficiently Break Into Journalism in 2024! You’ll study in regards to the several types of journalism and what chances are you’ll greatest be suited to, and the highest abilities profitable journalists want and what it will probably result in.
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