freelance writing and problogging presentation- type a parent advanced 2013 barr/caron
DESCRIPTION
Sarah Caron and Leticia Barr presented a session on freelance writing and problogging at the Type A Parent Conference Advanced in Philadelphia in 2013. This session was designed to provide experience bloggers with helpful tips on how to find professional blogging opportunities, writing good pitches, approaching editors, and finding freelance gigs.TRANSCRIPT
Freelance Writing and Problogging
Leticia Barr and Sarah W. Caron
Introductions
Leticia Barr TechSavvyMama.com @TechSavvyMama
Sarah W. Caron SarahCaron.com @SarahWCaron
Problogging: Start with your own blog
• Don’t forget about your own blog • Your blog is a marketing avenue for your
work § Make sure the content and look demonstrates
what you can do § Invest time and money in your own site to polish
it for professional gigs
• Keep an eye out on job boards like
ProBlogger
Problogging: Finding opportunities
• Network! o Think about who you know in the PR world o Make sure others in the space know your
skills
• Keep an eye out on job boards like ProBlogger
Problogging: Sponsored opps?
• Another avenue of problogging • Demonstrates your ability to blend your
blog with a sponsor's messag
Problogging: Finding sponsored opps
• Sites like Social Spark • Networks such as:
o Clever Girls Collective o BlogFrog o The Motherhood o Collective Bias o Mom Central o Mom it Forward
Freelance Writing: Know who you're pitching
Understand who we are as a site, who our audience is (or ask if you’re not sure), and the voice and approach we feature on the site.
~Michael Kress, Parents.com
Freelance Writing: How to write a good pitch
• Don't be dry • Show your personality • Know how to tailor your experience to
opportunities • Don't send a general pitch!
Freelance Writing: Approaching editors
A straightforward, straight-to-the point email, explaining the idea in some detail and why I should be interested in it, how you will approach the topic and how you will source the piece, and your own credentials and the expertise and/or experience you bring to the story.
~Michael Kress, Parents.com
Freelance Writing: Polish your writing samples
• Join a writing group
• Develop a personal tribe • Edit. Edit. Edit. And then edit more.
Freelance Writing: Why editors will take a chance on you
The story idea is most important. Make sure it’s not already on the site—a cardinal sin in pitching, of course—and that it fits the personality and goals of the site as you understand them from reading the site. Experience as a professional writer (especially in the parenting realm) and/or as an expert in the field helps but is not essential.
~Michael Kress, Parents.com
Freelance Writing: Finding freelance gigs
• MediaBistro • ProBlogger.net • Ed2010 • JournalismJobs • Craigslist (exercise caution!)
Freelance Writing: How to get repeat assignments
No great magic here: Be a professional, by which I mean, do your assignments well—keep the articles crisp, readable, on point, accurate and well sourced, and at the length we request—hand them in on time, and be able to handle feedback and do needed revisions or answer questions without a problem.
~Michael Kress, Parents.com
Freelance Writing: Managing your business
• Personal editorial calendar o Tools: paper calendar, online calendar,
printable templates available online • Tracking your business
o Spreadsheets can help track pitches, and assignments, invoices, and income
o Tools: Google Spreadsheets, Excel, QuickBooks, FreshBooks, paper and pen
Freelance Writing: Managing your business
• Long term contracts vs. one off assignments o Pros and cons of both
• Worthwhile investments o Invest in yourself to maintain connections o Prioritizing tools to invest in and what to skip
Freelance Writing: Social networking for writers
• Importance of being active on social networks
• Deciding which networks to spend your
time on • Using social networking to get gigs
o Yes, it happens!
Next steps: Make an action plan
• Sign up for blog networks and sites to locate freelance gigs
• Know how to tailor your experience to
opportunities • Diversify your writing • Hone your niche
Daily Reminders: Tips for success
• Edit! • Network, network, network • Take a chance! Don't be afraid to apply for
opportunities you feel are a good fit
Questions?
Contact us:
o Leticia: [email protected] @TechSavvyMama
o Sarah: [email protected] @SarahWCaron