As a author, you’re possible already utilizing social media to advertise your printed work—or try to be! And because you’re already a wordsmith, cobbling collectively intelligent and fascinating tweets, Fb posts, and descriptions for Pinterest and Instagram comes pretty simply to you.
Understanding this, have you ever thought-about placing your writing abilities to work by providing social media companies?
Companies in every single place are leaping into the world of social media, however tons of them simply don’t have the time or know-how. Whereas they could not at all times promote their want for a social media supervisor or content material creator on LinkedIn or Craigslist, you possibly can simply establish 5 companies in your metropolis which can be doing a poor job with social media. (In fact, you’re not restricted to native purchasers in relation to social media, however they’re a fantastic first choice.)
Begin together with your current purchasers, those who already know your work as a author. Merely shoot them a message letting them know that you’re now providing social media companies and ask whether or not they know anybody who wants this sort of assist—or in the event that they want it themselves. In case your purchasers are prepared to contact their networks, craft an e mail to make it straightforward for them. Add an incentive by providing a free hour of labor in trade for every referral.
To land new purchasers, attain out to a few of your favourite native eating places, retailers or bars. Similar to you would possibly pitch an editor by main with a praise on their current work, you are able to do the identical if you contact a enterprise you already take pleasure in.
I’ve been in a position to land just a few new purchasers by gently declaring a simple technique to enhance their social media, like claiming their Fb self-importance URL, beefing up their Fb About web page, or including milestones to their historical past. Together with ideas like these in your pitch exhibits that you understand your stuff and provides worth for the enterprise—you’re serving to them out earlier than they’ve even employed you.
Discovering ongoing work together with your new purchasers
Signing a brand new social media shopper opens the door to the potential of taking on extra writing-based duties. Possibly you would launch or contribute to their weblog, or write and distribute their month-to-month publication. Maybe they want some canned response emails, press releases or up to date web site copy.
Whenever you start new relationships with companies that always want content material advertising and marketing, you set your self up for regular gigs that don’t require pitching an editor or scouring a job board. And that’s a pleasant place to be.
Strategy pricing for this work in the identical approach you do your writing companies. You might need to provide an hourly charge to begin out, however finally I’d advocate transferring to a month-to-month retainer bundle. That is mainly your hourly charge multiplied by the variety of hours you anticipate spending on work for the shopper.
Webpage FX has an in depth charge sheet for his or her social media companies to provide you an thought of what you would possibly need to cost. In fact, you would possibly need to begin out with a decrease charge to land that first social media shopper, however you’ll be capable to increase it as you achieve expertise and shopper testimonials. The Write Life founder Alexis Grant additionally gives sources that can assist you construct your social media enterprise.
Understand that you’ll common not less than one hour per day (generally three to 4 hours), each day, creating content material and responding to buyer messages, so make sure you add some cushion to your charge. Social media by no means sleeps, and additional duties often creep in, so reevaluate the challenge scope periodically.