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Article #116: 10 Free Or Cheap Ways To Market Your Writing Business

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Short on cash? Not to worry. You can advertising club. Face-to-face networking
market your freelance writing services is one of the best ways to get the word
with little or no money. These 10 out about your business. Put your
strategies cost nothing, or close to it. business cards in your pocket and always
They'll save you money...and put money in give two or three to each person (one to
your bank account, too! keep and one or two to share).
1. Look in the business section of your 5. After you join an organization,
local paper for the names of people who volunteer and be active. Get noticed by
have been promoted, hired or rewarded by taking a visible role in committees or
their companies. Write a short events.
congratulatory letter (refer to the 6. Call 5 to 10 people you know --
specific achievement to make it friends, relatives, coworkers, folks at
personal), and enclose two or more of church, etc.--and talk to them about what
your business cards (one for the person you are doing as a freelance copywriter.
to keep, the others for him or her to Let them know you are available for work
give to others). By the way, your if they happen to hear of anyone who can
business cards DO include complete use your services. Sometimes we think our
information about what you do, don't "inner circle" knows what we do and can
they? If not, redesign them today! Just a therefore refer us to others. More often,
title, such as "Freelance Writer," is too though, these people have only a limited
vague. List what you can do (newsletters, idea of our capabilities. Change their
brochures, ads, etc.) and add a blurb misperceptions today!
that highlights the main benefit you 7. Start your own newsletter or e-zine.
offer. Make sure at least 75 percent of the copy
2. Scan magazines and newspapers for is information people can use -- not
articles that are of interest to one or marketing hype about you. For example,
more of your current clients or "hot write articles on "Better Business
prospects" (people you've talked to but Writing," "The Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid
have not worked for yet). Clip the When You Write a Business Letter," or
articles and send them to the prospects "Advertising Copy That Sells." Show your
with an attached, handwritten note expertise in most of the newsletter, then
stating something like, "Hi, Alice. highlight the benefits of your writing
Thought you might be interested in this. services. Remember to add a call to
Please keep me in mind for your future action (what you want the reader to do
writing needs! Regards, Henry." This next, such as call you for a free
strategy gives you a reason to remind consultation).
your clients and prospects about you. 8. Contact a bookstore and offer to teach
It's a way to keep your name in their a free seminar about writing. Use a
minds. The use of snail mail and a recently published book as a resource,
handwritten note gives this tactic a and have lots of copies on hand for
personal touch. This is much more participants who are interested in
effective (and less obtrusive) than purchasing the book. You'll benefit from
sending interesting tidbits via e-mail. the free publicity and the store will
3. Create an alliance with graphic benefit from the free promotion of the
designers. Writers sometimes need graphic book.
design work or have the opportunity to 9. Call four ad agencies and ask to speak
refer their clients to artists. And to the creative or copy director. Be
artists frequently need good copy that ready with a 30-second introductory pitch
their clients cannot or do not want to about your services and how you can
supply themselves. Contact local graphic benefit the ad agency. Ask for either a
designers and ask them about their meeting to discuss the agency's needs or
businesses before you talk about yours. permission to send a package with some of
Let them know that you may have an your writing samples.
occasional client who could use their 10. Try to get in the newspaper or on the
services. After the conversation gets radio or local TV. Many media outlets
going, you can mention your services. actively seek guests who have something
Follow up by sending a personal letter interesting to say. Develop a topic idea
and several of your business cards. (One that will showcase your talents as a
for the designer to keep, and the others writer while also making for a good story
for the designer to give to clients who or segment. Contact local reporters,
may need you someday.) radio hosts and TV producers with your
4. Join an organization, such as the idea.
Chamber of Commerce or the local






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