Freelance
writing is an unstable occupation sometimes. We already have to
struggle with dividing our time between marketing our skills,
writing queries, and seeking out new clientele. Sometimes there's
not enough time; sometimes there's not enough money.
With
the current economy, many freelance writers wonder if it's time
to return to a "steady paycheck." This has always been
my personal "backup plan", but at the same time, it
isn't very logical. The current economy is creating MORE freelancers,
and fewer opportunities for full-time staff positions and W-2
paychecks. Many of my dot-com clients are probably at the unemployment
office or working for "the man" right now. Small businesses
have tightened their budgets, and are trying to do as much in-house
production as possible. So
much for the steady paycheck, right? Not
necessarily. There are hundreds of corporations and government
agencies that award large contracts to agencies and groups every
year. They don't hire freelancers because their project needs
typically require a mixture of graphic design, desktop publishing,
editing, and long-term communication strategies. Corporations
and government entities typically have a budget and a regular
contract with an agency for marketing, PR, and other communications
that MUST get used by the end of the fiscal year, or it will be
allocated to another area. This is great for the vendors that
they hire; last minute projects are thrown in their laps with
bigger-than-anticipated budgets. And usually, they need to outsource
to pick up the pace... So
how does a freelancer gain access to these opportunities? The
key to success in these areas is a little research and a lot of
networking. There are many types of contracts that you, as a freelancer,
can join forces and gain access to. Here are three of the most
lucrative: 1.
Government RFP and RFQ's Government
Requests for Proposals (RFP) and Requests for Quotes (RFQ) are
typically published in the "Public Notices" section
of daily newspapers. Honestly, the descriptions of these services
are usually vague -- if you want to bid on these projects, you'll
need to contact the government entity and ask them for their specifications,
then write up a lengthy proposal incorporating all of these specs.
This can be time-consuming and complicated. You'll also have to
fill out paperwork to be considered for all future posted projects.
How
can you skip these steps and get in on the action? Find your state's
Business Registrar's office and keep track of who is winning these
RFP's. They typically post a "Notice of Award" for every
contract issued on their website. You can also find out information
about Federal Agency contracts awarded by visiting their office
of procurement's website. Keep
track of who is winning communications contracts. When you see
a project awarded, you can pitch your freelance writing services
to the company that won. Congratulate them in your letter, send
samples of your writing or your resume, and express interest in
that specific contract. You can also offer to help pick up other
work while they focus on their new projects. Even if they don't
need you now, be sure to follow up and keep track of their accomplishments
by visiting their website. If the government agency is happy with
their work, they'll most likely be regularly contracted to in
the future. If you can establish a repertoire with a government
contractor, you'll have a client relationship you can rely on.
(At least until the next election, when the government department
heads may change!) 2.
Big Corporations
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