It's one of the most common questions that freelance writers get asked: how do you market yourself?
Many freelancers wish there were an easy, hassle-free answer to that question, but there isn't. Marketing takes time and effort and often a little ingenuity.
But veteran freelance writer Thursday Bram released an ebook earlier this week that offers simple steps that freelancers can take to market and grow their business. Yes, it's still work, but Thursday breaks it down so that marketing seems less daunting and more doable.
As she mentions in the introduction of Marketing Your Freelance Writing in 31 Days, not all of the strategies will work for all writers, but I think it's safe to say that most freelancers (from the newbie to the veteran and anyone in between) will find something useful.
Nowadays many small businesses are obsessed with internet marketing, but Thursday includes a mix of online tips like SEO and blogging and more traditional methods like conferences and cold calling. She also includes an exhaustive list of special interest social networking sites, a checklist for improving your website, and detailed information on pay ranges according to the type of work (large circulation magazine, small circulation magazine, ghost writing, etc.).
The clean, simple design and horizontal layout make the ebook very easy to read on a computer screen. Although the ebook was inspired by a month-long marketing series on Thursday's blog, it includes more in-depth information than the blog series, making it the kind of reference that writers can refer back months or perhaps years later. In fact, you'll probably need more than a month to implement many of these strategies, but Marketing Your Freelance Writing in 31 Days is a great kick in the pants to amp your marketing efforts.