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