If you’re like most freelance writers, you probably prefer penning pieces to marketing your creative services. But, the harsh reality is, in order for you to sustain your business and stay in the black, you must sell what you create.
Still, few would argue that scouring job boards weekly, bidding for gigs, and pitching editors and potential clients can be time consuming. And “time is money.”
For this reason, your goal in 2013, should be to add more Anchor Clients to your roster.
What Exactly are Anchor Clients?
Anchor clients are businesses or individuals with whom you have an ongoing relationship and a steady flow of projects and income. This would be in contrast to those for whom you perform an occasional task, or one time, with no repeat work.
Anchor Clients benefit your business in three major ways:
1. They help to break the “feast or famine cycle” of sporadic income. Having them allows you to plan better, by knowing realistically what to expect, (and from whom), on a monthly basis. This can provide for a better quality of life and less related stress.
2. They help you to work “smarter, not harder”. The more Anchor Clients, the less time typically devoted to drumming up new business to pay the bills and stay afloat.
Think of it. With the time you save, you could learn a new skill, provide an additional service, or even read more books to hone your craft and become more competitive.
3. Anchor Clients are excellent referral sources. Who better to spread the word about your business than an existing satisfied customer?
Though these types of clients come in as many shapes and forms as freelance writing itself, here are a few common ones I’ve garnered over the years. And with a little creativity, you can too.
Client type:
Businesses with blogs that need updated content
Strategy:
Blogs are the new black. Over the last few years, I have crafted posts for companies (seeking greater visibility and a broader customer base), ranging from $50.00 to $100.00 per blog post. The vast majority of these listings were found by strategically researching top-tier blogging sites such as Bloggingpro.com and Problogger.net.
Once you make the final cut, payments and assignments are usually reliable and consistent. Expect these positions to last anywhere from six months to two years.
Client type:
Craigslist Posters
Strategy:
Not only does Craigslist provide an abundance of creative projects in virtually every major city; it’s easy to navigate and weed out the ones that are not worth your time fairly quickly. But don’t stop there. Below every posted position, in the area that lists the compensation, there is also a section that allows for additional opportunities. It reads: “It’s okay to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests.”
Use this “in” to introduce your business and to make important connections that could potentially lead to lucrative work.
Client type:
Aspiring writers or College students who need assistance with writing assignments
Strategy:
List your services at a placement site like Thumbtack.com. Based in California, Thumbtack’s mission is to: ”help small, local businesses find new clients.” Signing up is free, and is available in all 50 states. Since I joined, I have gotten numerous leads on everything from individuals seeking ghost writing services, to college students needing help with creative writing assignments, to editing positions. Leads are both emailed and sent via text messages on the average of two to three times a month.
Thoughts?
Image: Freedigitalphotos.net
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