As you know, I am a big believer in setting goals. Goals can help you reach new heights, and eventually become a success no matter what dream you are chasing. As a freelance writer, it is safe to say that many of your goals should be based around your income. At the end of every year I take a close look at my income, and of course, I compare it to the goals that I set.
Fortunately, I met and exceeded all of my income goals this year. This means one of two things: I either had a great year or I did not set my sights high enough. I think it is a little bit of both. Even though my 2008 income goals were much higher than they were in 2007, looking back I may have been able to push myself even further. That being said, I am ecstatic that I exceeded my goals.
If you did not reach your income goals this year don’t get down on yourself. Every so often I come up short on some of my goals, and this holds true with every freelance writer. Instead of beating yourself up you should assess why you missed your goals, and then use this information when setting new ones. Remember, you want to push yourself to reach new heights but don’t go overboard by setting goals that you have no chance of achieving.
Now is the time to look over your income stats from 2008 so you can begin to set goals for the new year. Although this year has not yet come to an end, you need plenty of time to review the past 12 months and to prepare for the challenges that are awaiting you in 2009.Â
As a freelance writer you know how important it is to market your services at all times. By understanding how companies find freelance writers you should be able to properly position yourself for marketing success. As you can imagine, not every company searches for freelancers the same way. That being said there are a few ways you should be aware of:
1. Online ads. Some companies will place an online ad searching for freelance writers. Sites such as freelancewriting.com, Craigslist, and ProBlogger feature many of these ads, and in turn attract freelance writers who are searching for work. Through my experience you can find clients through online ads, but many of the bigger companies do not work this way.
2. Referrals. Some of my biggest clients have found me through other clients. For instance, a few months back a travel industry client passed my name along to several of their clients. In turn, I picked up a few projects that I was not expecting. For more information on gaining clients through referrals check out my post “Increase your Workload, Ask Clients to pass your name around.â€
3. Search online. Believe it or not, many of my clients found me through the search engines. This is one of the quickest ways for a company to begin their search for a freelance writer. Although I have several sites that bring in new clients, this blog is the frontrunner thanks to its reach and above average search engine rankings.
Of course, this is not the end all. Every company has its own way of finding freelancers, whether they are searching for writers, web designers, etc. By being aware of how companies search for freelance writers you should be able to better position yourself when searching for gigs and marketing your services.Â
Most freelance writers struggle to find new clients; this is not a secret. That being said, there are many effective ways to increase your workload. If you have a good marketing plan in place, and you have been achieving the desired results, you are moving in the right direction. But remember, there is always room for improvement. And for most freelance writers there is always room for more quality clients. One of the best ways to secure more work without having to market too much is to ask current clients to pass your name around. If they like you and what you offer they will be more than happy to do so.
How can I do this without coming across as pushy? This question is what holds so many people back. Believe it or not, this is easier than you may think. You could send your clients a simple email reading:
To client:
I wanted to send you a brief note to express how much I enjoy working with you. I am in the process of expanding my business, and was hoping you could forward my name to any contacts you have who may be interested in my writing services. If you get the chance any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
While this is only the barebones it should give you a good idea of what you can say. All you have to do is fill in the blanks and add a few personalized details. Â
Through my experience it is easiest to find new clients through current contacts. Not only does this make it easier to secure a job but you can also be rest assured, for the most part, that the new client is trustworthy. I have found that most quality clients associate with other companies and individuals of the same caliber.
By asking current clients to pass your name along to others you will find your freelance writing business expanding quicker than you ever thought possible. And remember, the more clients you have the more people there are who can spread your name around. Â
