ASK US WEDNESDAY: “How can I land a regular freelance gig?”

by Leo Wiles
01 July 2014

Ask Us Wednesday NEWDoes anyone have any good tips/advice for getting yourself out there in the freelance space? I’ve got lots of work through word of mouth and friends of friends but I find that trying to find reliable freelance work etc. is quite difficult! Cerise

Hi Cerise. We pulled this issue out of your other question on pay rates, posted back in May, as we felt it warranted its own post. And, yes, one of the biggest hurdles facing freelancers who have had a break or just starting out is finding work, let alone regular gigs. Having started over several times, when I changed countries thrice and returned to ‘full-time’ freelancing after children, I’m writing from experience here.

My most successful approach for landing regular work was to call the features / news editor mid morning on a Monday (after the news meeting), with a pitch – and I’d follow up by asking whether they needed my services that week. Doing this, I received desk jockey positions covering maternity leave and holidays, and also landed a huge proportion of my feature writing because I put myself in the right place at the right time. The editor, who’d just left the meeting and was returning to his/her desk to commission the stories they’d just agreed on with the editorial team, had somebody they trusted, had worked with already and who was keen and on the phone right now offering to help – Kaching!

Given that you’re already landing gigs through friends, I would maximize these new opportunities by forging relationships with your new employers – be they a corporate entity or commissioning editor. By building these relationships, you’ll become the first person they think of and thus turn them into repeat clients who give you regular work.

And, each time you land a story, pitch five new ideas when you hand it in – or simply just ask if there’s a column or other feature idea they would like you to work on. During my time as an time-strapped editor I had a core group of A list freelancers I would call, (with my Rachel’s List founder Rachel Smith at the top), until I’d filled the role – so get yourself on that list and always answer your phone promptly on a Monday!

Another way to land work – especially with custom publishers – is to ask the editor which other titles they look after, and then send an email with outlines for that masthead. Or, if the title belongs to a large publishing house, research which other titles you like the look of and let them know that you’ve written for their sister publication and wondering if they would be interested in a story on, X,Y or Z.

Of course, with media people moving around so regularly like last week’s Ask Us Wed blog discussed, it’s crucial to diversify your income streams and not depend too much on any one contact. So set aside time each day or at least each week to pursue new leads. These could be titles you have yet to speak to, and or corporate clients such as local small medium enterprises (SMEs) who could do with a helping hand to write their weekly blog, newsletter, internal or external communications, marketing material etc.

The most crucial thing about chasing work with any longevity is to choose the healthy ones that aren’t about to fold. But if they do, you’ve got an opportunity to follow that editor wherever they go – make sure you drop them a line at the magazine before they leave (or when they arrive at the new one) offering congratulations or condolences and letting them know that when they need fabulous freelancers in the future all they have to do is call and you’ll be there.

Do you have a regular gig? If so what tips would you like to share on how to land the big one that didn’t get away…

4 responses on "ASK US WEDNESDAY: “How can I land a regular freelance gig?”"

  1. Tim Richards says:

    Good tips there. I’d add that if you’re pitching to an editor of a weekly newspaper section, find out when they wrap that section for the week – and pitch the day after, when they’re not snowed under.

  2. Leo Wiles says:

    Great comment Tim,
    Unless it’s a weekend edition as they often take the next two days off.

  3. Hello – you mention calling the editors as the most effective way to pick up work. Do you recommend sending an email with pitch ideas first? In my 18 years as a broadcast journalist in news and with morning television, verbal pitches were most definitely the way to go, but I’m less familiar with pitching for written work in print and online.
    Thank you for all the fantastic work you do with Rachel’s List!
    Kristin

  4. Leo Wiles says:

    Hi Kristin,
    Thanks for the thumbs up, much appreciated.
    As an editor I liked to receive my pitches in writing – there’s no waffle, I can select the time and headspace when I can actually go through them and work out of a story has legs. More importantly I’m not going to be interrupted.

    However, as a freelancer if I don’t have an existing relationship I like to touch base and put out the feelers. Even if it’s a ‘Hi there, my name is, are you still the best person to pitch to? Can I check your email details… thanks and bye’.

    Short, sweet and then when your missive turns up they’re primed or you already know that there’s nothing doing so you can move on to the next commissioning ed.

    Hope that helps,
    Leo

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