| I make contact with about 50 companies a week to | | | | an established relationship with a firm. But who writes |
| advertise my Freelance Writing Services. Many times, | | | | internal publications - newsletters, articles, |
| a company knows when and if they need a writer. But | | | | communications, training materials? Who writes annual |
| for every one of them, there is a business or individual | | | | reports, regulatory communications, or other |
| who doesn't know how a freelance writer can help | | | | documents? If you're a corporate PR Manager, |
| them. Let's look at the various businesses and | | | | Communications Manager, HR Director, or Marketing |
| individuals who have used my services - from this | | | | Manager, think about the time you and your staff |
| short list, perhaps you can decide if you need to hire a | | | | spend on writing publications and communications. |
| freelance writer or not. | | | | There's a possibility you could outsource the writing to |
| Public Relations, Marketing, and Graphic Design firms | | | | a freelancer and utilize your staff for the front line |
| sometimes use the services of freelance writers. | | | | items on your list. Maybe management has been |
| Many of these firms have their own writing or creative | | | | asking you for publications like these and they've |
| staffs and sometimes they do not. If they do, a writer | | | | always fallen to the bottom of your list due to a lack |
| may receive a polite "no thank you". Sometimes the | | | | of resources. A freelance writer could definitely help |
| current workload is more than the in-house staff can | | | | you move these projects. |
| handle - in this case, a firm may want to hire a writer. | | | | Entrepreneurs and individuals, especially in the age of |
| Most of us freelancers can write brochure copy, web | | | | Web 2.0, are becoming another segment of business |
| copy, advertising copy, and direct mail copy. Many of | | | | for freelance writers. The digital documents field is |
| us can also write white papers, case studies, annual | | | | becoming quite lucrative - places like have enabled us |
| reports, press releases - the list goes on. If you're a | | | | to write and sell all kinds of publications, from how to |
| small shop, you can appreciate the fact that the | | | | game online, to investments, parenting, crafts, and |
| workload can become too large. If you're struggling to | | | | hobbies. Maybe you have a great idea for a useful |
| keep up the front end, consider hiring a writer to work | | | | publication but can't quite get it down on paper. There's |
| on your communications and creative pieces. | | | | no shame in admitting that you're not the best writer in |
| Small Businesses sometimes need a freelance writer | | | | the world - if we were all great writers, a few of us |
| or desktop marketer - and they don't know it. Many | | | | would be out of a job. If you find a freelance writer |
| freelance writers also design basic marketing materials, | | | | who has written e-books, white papers, or even print |
| such as postcards, fliers, brochures, and newsletters. In | | | | books (fiction and non-fiction), he or she can help you |
| cases like these, a small business with a small | | | | organize your thoughts, help you with the structure, and |
| marketing budget may get more "bang" for the buck if | | | | write the material. The area of intellectual property falls |
| they hire a freelance writer/marketer. Not only does it | | | | into play here for both writers and consumers, so be |
| cost less, you'll be engaging another small | | | | sure to have an agreement on the copyright of ideas |
| businessperson. For small business owners who aren't | | | | and end products. |
| quite sure of the need for a writer/marketer, here are | | | | There are many reasons to hire a freelance writer |
| a few things to consider. Do you pay a large sum of | | | | and I've touched on just a few of them here. How do |
| money to keep a marketing firm on retainer? If so, | | | | you go about finding a writer? They may be coming to |
| consider switching to a writer/marketer who may | | | | you, like I attempt to on a daily basis. Many of us have |
| charge by the project. Do you have local visibility? If | | | | online presence and advertising through online ads like |
| not, think about what you could do with a few | | | | Google Adwords, so a search for "copywriters" or |
| well-written and catchy postcards, fliers, or brochures. | | | | "freelance writers" can turn up good matches. |
| Do you want to increase sales? Who doesn't, right? A | | | | Clearinghouse websites that match buyers with |
| writer/marketer can design a direct mail campaign for | | | | service providers, such as and Elance.com, are also |
| you - you can offer a discount, a coupon, whatever, to | | | | good places to start. Be aware that prices are driven |
| get prospects in the door and turn them into | | | | down on the web because of the number of people |
| customers. Once you have your customers, think | | | | looking for the work. Be sure that the writer has the |
| about sending out a monthly newsletter - your writer | | | | credentials, ability, and maturity to handle your job |
| marketer can write the content and design the | | | | before you hire them. And remember that the lowest |
| publication for you. If you have a small marketing | | | | bidder may not always be the most qualified service |
| budget or have never really thought about how to | | | | provider. |
| effectively market your business, consider contacting a | | | | If you're not sure about your need for a freelance |
| freelance writer/marketer. | | | | writer, contact one anyway. It may not be the right |
| Large companies sometimes use freelance writers, as | | | | time for you, but it's never too early to forge a |
| well. Of course, these companies may have in-house | | | | relationship with another businessperson who offers a |
| marketing and communications departments, or have | | | | unique talent that not everyone possesses. |