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Q12: BONUS: How many leads do you pursue at one time?

Shari Smothers — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Answer to #12 of 12 Questions I think are important for commercial writers to know. I think these questions are especially important for people newly striking out on their own.

I don’t have a set number yet. The reason this question is a bonus is because I’m forcing myself to do this hard part. I wanted to say that I don’t pursue leads at all. I can’t say it because it’s too early in my freelance career. And, it’s too early because I think it will always be something I’m open to in case I come across a job I really want.

I really just do it according to my workload. If I have time to follow up on leads then I will do as many as five in a day. As long as I can effectively write my letters. And I watch for deadline conflicts to avoid any possible problems.

As soon as I saw the query free information from Jennifer Mattern, I started reading it, because I like the idea of not querying. Then some jobs came in that took all my working time and that was more incentive to put off querying.

As of 2010, I will be pursuing query free work more aggressively. But that doesn’t mean that I will completely dismiss the pursuit of leads. When I have a formula I will post it and update this question with new developments.

Q11: How do you pick the leads to pursue?

Shari Smothers — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Answer to #11 of 12 Questions I think are important for commercial writers to know. I think these questions are especially important for people newly striking out on their own.

This is very hard for a new person on the grid, but it’s a great way to jump in, I think. I look for the leads that give information about the job and contact and tell you what they want concisely. I’d like to get more specific here but I think that would be best served in a full post on the subject. Right now, I’m still learning the things that appeal to me, and how my choices measure up in secured assignments.

I look for full details because I know me. If I have any doubts I may chicken out altogether. It’s important to me to have all the information I need to make a good impression. Sometimes I’m willing to take certain things for granted, things that fall under accepted rules of engagement. And that helps to make more leads acceptable to me.

I try to pick leads that look like they will come to an assignment. However, I don’t bank on it because I do understand that some companies are shopping for writers for future projects. While we tried to keep it to a minimum, that’s how it worked for a past employer of mine.

We used a group of ghostwriters, and would search for them in advance of the project we needed. We always told the writers the truth about the work they could expect and when it would be offered. Basically I treated them the way I would want to be treated.

Q10: How do you pick the sites you trust for leads?

Shari Smothers — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Answer to #10 of 12 Questions I think are important for commercial writers to know. I think these questions are especially important for people newly striking out on their own.

I use sites that are run by people I read regularly. Often, I follow them on Twitter and read and maybe comment on their blogs. They write on the subject of writing. They are sites that regularly list jobs leads along with offering a wealth of information. Theirs are sites that have become writer resource sites.

When writers are obscure, when their focus is difficult to determine, I tend to be leery of leads they post. I may be wrong for that but it’s my gut reaction. And really I have no need right now to re-think that way of reviewing leads sites.

Do you pursue leads to get assignments? How do you determine the sites you trust for their job leads?

Getting Testimonials

Shari Smothers — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:09:58 +0000

Have you ever had a day that makes you wonder why you do the work you do? People hire you to work for them. They give you assignments which you complete effectively. They receive it with no fanfare, only thanks. I work well alone, with no fanfare is nice. I just want to do the work to the best of my ability. When my work is accepted and goes live or into circulation, that is reward enough. And of course being paid well is definitely fulfilling. With that, I’m ready for the next thing. What more do you need, right?

You don’t Need Kudos—Do You?

Yes, you do, but the useful kind. Sometimes you have to ask for what you need. You’re in business to earn money, and one of the best ways to make money is to take advantage of word of mouth. It can get you more clients when people are willing to share their satisfaction. Ask for a statement and permission to use it on your testimonial page. You can accept job leads from satisfied customers. You can accept it when your employers let you know that they forwarded your contact information to a potential customer. But testimonials are something that you can put up on your sites to more visitors know. It’s not fanfare or a pep rally. It’s useful capitalization on something that good work fosters. Often people in business will tell you they appreciate your work. They may send you an email that says it in a short blurb. Ask them if you can use it. If they don’t, invite them to participate by dropping you a note.

Placing your Request for Testimonials

There are many ways that you can get testimonials these days, thanks to the World Wide Web.

Emailing clients is how much business is conducted. When you send your work in, invite your clients to send testimonials regarding their satisfaction. If you feel your clients are amenable, and your business is conducted over the phone mostly, you can still invite them to email you a testimonial.
Your website offers the perfect place to request testimonials. But don’t fade to dark the minute someone lands on your page. You ever visit sites and before you can look around, it goes dark and a box appears for you to sign up for their newsletter? I don’t like them because they don’t give you a chance to look around. You don’t have to be so bullying. Just place the offer prominently in your sidebar. Or, put it on your contact page, or on your services page. Offer it more than one place but not all over the place.
Your blog is optimized for 2-way communication. Take advantage of that. When you receive a useful comment, ask for use as a testimonial.
Twitter is a great place to get short text that gets right to the point. When you invite people to give you testimonials, be sure to let them know they’re welcome to send it to you via Twitter. Even if you don’t follow each other, you can receive direct @messages.

If you’re new to your business, like me, you don’t want to overpower people with pleas for this important aid. Over time and with good work, your clients will add to your testimonial list. Don’t rush it. Do make it a part of your routine to ask.

Time Waits for No One

Shari Smothers — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:58:35 +0000

It’s not always easy to get what you want. You spend a lot of time wishing, wanting and waiting. “I’ll do it as soon as…” It’s a familiar opener if you spend your time putting off your dreams for practical reasons. The dream job you know you can do, that you’ve already done, has to wait because you haven’t the time or the money to get the training. Really, though, is it practical to leave your dreams to fade out, collecting dust in the recesses of your memory? Is it a good plan to wait without deadline, end date, target date, with no action toward getting what you want? I don’t think so.

The Job isn’t Coming

It’s not coming. The longer you wait, the longer you put off working toward your goals, the further away they will get. Suddenly, you will look up and you will no longer have the strength to do the extra things you would need to do to make things the way you want. There may come a day when the offers and opportunities you let get away from you, are no longer on the table. Sometimes, it may well be that the opportunity that was once laid out for you is now saved for the young person, like you once were.

Have a Sense of Urgency

If you want it, get up and get it! Get the training you need to make your own opportunities. Sell your skills and insights and make things happen for you. When you don’t get what you want, it should never be because you didn’t try. The difference between you and anyone who’s made it, is not innate. They made the effort, did the work and got what they wanted—or, what you wanted. Which means, you can have it too. I have to say it: I’m not talking about getting the Nobel Peace Prize for rocket science. I’m talking about getting the training, certifications, opportunities, to complement your work. You’ve done it for years, in an ancillary setup. Now, bring it to the forefront. Get paid to focus on and do the work you love. Make the effort and let nothing more stand in your way, not even you. I promise you’ll be really glad you did.