Five Simple Ways to Help Market Your Writing

February 1, 2005 by John Hewitt

You must always market your services, even when you have all the assignments you need. Marketing during the good times keeps the slow times at bay. Here are a few very simple steps that many writers fail to take.

Purchase Business Cards
Some people believe this is too obvious to mention. However, I am always shocked by how many professional writers don’t have business cards. My advice is to use both sides of the card. The front side should contain the traditional information such as name, occupation and contact information. The back side should contain a mini-resume with a short list of your experience and services.

Create a Portfolio
You should create a promotional kit describing your services. The promotional kit should include a resume, samples of your work and letters of recommendation. Compile these in a nice folder. You might have very large samples (such as books) that don’t lend themselves to putting in a folder. If so, consider creating a samples CD. You will want to leave this with prospective clients or employers. Never give a client the only copy of your work.

Get Letters of Recommendation
As I mentioned, a portfolio should include letters of recommendation when possible. Don’t be afraid to call up former clients or employers to ask for a letter of recommendation. If they seem pressed for time, be willing to write the letter and have them sign it.

Make Business Contacts
While you’re calling all those people looking for recommendations, don’t forget to ask them if they have any business for you or if they know anyone who might be looking for services. Most employment is actually found through friends, acquaintances and old clients and employers. They are a much better source of information than job boards and newspaper classifieds.

Join Writers / Editors Groups
This is another part of networking. Meet other writers and editors. Establish a peer group. Some groups for you to consider are the National Writers Union (NWU), Society for Technical Communication (STC), American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE), The American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE) and the The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

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