When you’re a author who has thought of working with an company then you definitely’ll have an interest on this first-person case examine. Working with companies isn’t for everybody however for some it may be the monetary and profession breakthrough you’re searching for as a freelancer.
It was Could 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 technique I’ve used the final three years to repeatedly improve my revenue whereas rising a sustainable freelance content-marketing enterprise.
Why working with an company may also help your freelance profession
Most freelancers draw back from working with companies for 2 causes: the positions are often in-house and the pay may be decrease than working instantly 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 work at home.
That first place led to extra tasks 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 at present.
Freelancing is a hustle.
Getting shoppers—and preserving them—is essential to constructing a enterprise. However that is usually probably the most tough half for freelancers. Advertising takes time, however companies minimize down the lead time for freelancers to get new shoppers as a result of they’ve already carried out the arduous work of constructing the connection. In addition 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.
The right way to get began working with an company
The perfect factor about working with an company is that in the event you’re good, the work retains coming. However how do you get work within the first place? Comply with 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 data 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. It’s possible you’ll get work straight away or it could take months. Both manner, an LOI can put you on a advertising and marketing supervisor’s radar and set up an preliminary relationship.
Keep linked
When you dwell in a smaller city, social media is one of the best ways to broaden your attain. Keep energetic on LinkedIn and Twitter (X), as a result of that is the place potential shoppers dwell. Interact in dialog, like their posts and share fascinating content material. Final yr, 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 identified 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 it will allow you to join with folks within the trade you’d doubtless by no means meet. When 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 a giant convention yearly the place you’ll be able to join with shoppers.
Begin a weblog
Begin a weblog centered on a subject you’re keen about. I attended a webinar with Skyword, a content material advertising and marketing company that works with huge shoppers, and their neighborhood supervisor stated they usually have a look at a author’s weblog when choosing freelancers for campaigns. A weblog can present potential shoppers your writing type and information a few matter—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 manner I’d have written for manufacturers like Hewlett-Packard or Marriott with out an company.
Freelancing may be feast or famine, however companies may also help you navigate these extremes so that you by no means starve for work.
