Find the Freelance Opportunities That Everyone Else Misses

Want to know the easiest way to snag a freelance gig?

For starters, don’t look in the classified section or on the freelance job boards. If you answer an ad, you have to assume that you’re competing against hundreds of other eager freelancers for the same gig.

Now don’t get me wrong: I have had some success answering ads. But the bulk of my work is a direct result of my quest for those hidden opportunities that no one else knows about. Under normal circumstances, it really is possible to land some great gigs by visiting freelance job boards and answering ads.

But let’s face it: these are anything but normal times. With an unprecedented number of layoffs at newspapers, magazines, and other media outlets, you are now competing against a larger pool of freelancers. And due to dwindling advertising dollars, the editorial hole at many magazines and other publications is getting smaller and smaller. That means there are fewer pages, and fewer pages means there’s less work to go around. So to preserve staff jobs, some publishing companies are simply taking the traditional freelance work back in house and assigning it to staff writers and editors.

So the reality is this: there are more freelancers competing for fewer assignments these days.

To succeed in times like these, you have to think, act, and do things differently than your competition. It seems that the bulk of people tend to flock to freelance job boards, Craigslist, and other sites in search of freelance work. And in my opinion, I think people waste a lot of time looking for work this way.

The environment we’re in is kind of like a grown-up version of the Easter egg hunt. While everyone else is scouring the most obvious places for the golden eggs, you have to be willing to blaze some new trails and look for eggs in the less likely places. If you do this, I guarantee you will end up with more freelance eggs in your basket than your competition.

That said, my strategy may not work for everyone. The key is to find one that works for you. But here are some suggestions that have worked for me:

• Spend less time on the job boards. I don’t like to look for work where everyone else is digging around. My time and effort are much better spent when I venture beyond the well-worn paths. Devote more time to less traditional methods, and you’ll find more work.

• Think smaller. It seems that every writer wants to land an assignment with some of the big-name national publications. But if you want more money in your pocket while you’re trying to get in the big leagues, think smaller. Target smaller, lesser-known publications, trade magazines, and regional outlets for your bread-and-butter income while you pursue your dream publications.

• Pursue what you like. Do you like a certain company? Enjoy using certain products or services? Most companies have marketing and PR departments, and sometimes they hire freelancers to help produce marketing materials, Web content, and other communications. So if you’re a fan of a company’s products or services, try to parlay this into some work assignments. And pay attention to what’s landing in your inbox and regular mailbox. Are there any newsletters or companies that might be looking for a writer? What captures your attention and interest?

• Send more LOIs. I am a firm believer in sending LOIs to publications or clients you’re interest in working for. Compared to queries, I find that they often save a lot of time and effort. In some cases, trades and other publications don’t even accept story pitches—they assign stories to people in their available pool of freelancers. So by sending an LOI, you have a good chance of landing in that pool.

• Play up your strengths. If you have an area of expertise, now is a great time to capitalize on that. Look for publications and clients who could benefit from your background and expertise. Think about your hobbies too—if you’re a quilter, for example, you might be able to find work writing for quilting magazines and Web sites. Or if you buy your quilting supplies from a particular store, perhaps the store needs some marketing help. It never hurts to ask.

• Tap your network. It almost goes without saying, but your personal network is one of your most valuable tools when it comes to finding freelance work. Network like crazy. Stay in touch with people, nurture your relationships, and continue to grow your network. Let people know you’re looking for assignments and projects. And don’t forget to look beyond Facebook, LinkedIn, and some of the other social networking sites. Think about people you interact with in person every day—do they need any communications or marketing help? Make sure they know what you do for a living. The next time they need a writer, you just might be the first person who comes to mind.

• Market yourself. If you’re looking for freelance work, you need a Web presence. So if you don’t have an online profile or Web site, build one. While a Web site won’t necessarily land you assignments, it does give you more credibility when opportunities come along or when you need to highlight your experience in an LOI or query. Starting your own blog also can help you establish a platform and area of expertise that might be attractive to editors and potential clients.

• Create your own opportunities. Have you ever stumbled across a Web site and thought to yourself: “Boy, they could sure use a [fill in the blank]!” Why not take that thought, write to the company, and tell them how you can help them improve their content, product, or services? Or perhaps you see that while a company has a great Web site, it has no blog. So why not offer your services as a blogger? If you see a need, offer to fill it. Tell the company how your services could take their communications and marketing to the next level.

So what are some of your gig-hunting strategies beyond the job boards? What works for you? Drop me a line—I’d love to hear all about it!

Jenny

Photo credit: katrinket (Flickr)