Writers Unbound

Online Portfolio

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You may or may not have a website/blog; regardless, an online portfolio offers your (potential) clients a quick, easy way to view your relevant biographical points, experience, and writing samples. There are several websites that offer a free way to put your portfolio on the web: The Whole Nine and Carbonmade will get you started.

Business Cards

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If you do a little shopping around, you can find some great deals on very professional business cards. You don’t have to get a carload; start with 500. Put your relevant contact information, your website address, and what you do, specifically. Don’t just put “freelance writer” or “professional writer”. Make it targeted to the clients you want to gain: “food and beverage copywriting” or “educational consulting and writing.” The design, with business cards as with websites, is usually more professional and more effective when simple and sans bright and/or cutesy colors or logos.

Follow Up

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Follow up costs nothing more than the five minutes it takes to write the email or make the phone call. When you’ve finished a project, an article, or a review, send a follow-up email within a week (assuming you haven’t received revision requests from the client). Make it brief, professional, but friendly: “Client X, I enjoyed working on Project Y with you. Please let me know if there are any changes needed, and keep me in mind for your future projects. A flyer/brochure/ezine would be a great companion for the project I’ve just completed for you. Regards, Me.”

Offer Help

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Offering help also costs nothing more than the little bit of time you will contribute. Giving a little bit can mean a lot to people. When you notice a missing paragraph in a client’s website, write it up and email it. It took you ten minutes, maybe. That client will remember that you spotted the need and filled it. When they need a writer for website content or a company newsletter, guess who will be at the top of the list?

Medium-traffic Website Ads

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Website ads can be very, very expensive, which is why many freelance writers just don’t go there. But quit checking prices on the Technorati Top 100 and start a little smaller. You can reach a good amount of people by perusing those medium-traffic sites, finding the ones that attract the clients you want to have, and purchasing advertising. Some of those sites may not offer ad spots; don’t let that stop you. Send an email and ask, or make an offer you think is fair. Be sure to track which websites end up sending you clients and which don’t return much of a response.

Make it a good day.

Image Credit: Print100 business cards by juhansonin.