Re: Resources for Marketing for Technical Writing Opportunities?

Subject: Re: Resources for Marketing for Technical Writing Opportunities?
From: Anthony Davey <ant -at- ant-davey -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 2003 09:00:44 +0000


Sara-Sue,

Being in a similar boat, the 'other' ways I have tried to find work are three:

Hit the Yellow Pages. Go to PR Agencies (then maybe design and creative later) and talk to the senior director who does the hiring and firing. Ask if they use freelance talent and then explain that you are calling because you are a technical specialist, able to turn jargon into plain English/really interesting copy. I have found that, unless they are technical specialists, agencies are more than happy to know about the existence of a copywriter that is experienced at understanding and handling technical details that their usual team of 'creatives' don't have a clue about.
Include some of the big advertising agencies in your search; find out who the creative directors are on the big accounts, such as the big computer companies, the engineering companies, etc, that trade on their brand names. Annecdotal evidence from my sister suggests that these guys haven't a clue about the technical detail either.

Part Two: Find business directories and target the local companies with a turnover of between, say, $2m and $20m, then just hit the phone and speak to whoever handles marketing. These may be the expanding companies, those who are considering doing some marketing, or upgrading a brochure, or similar. These guys can be interested in a freelance, without the overheads of a full-blown agency with nice offices. This is a numbers game, but with free local calls (oh the joys of North America) this will only cost you time.

These guys will want to see something as colatteral, the cheapest being a do-it-yourself Web site, but a good brochure can be produced reasonably cheaply, if you do the design and copywriting yourself.

Part Three: This is networking, but NOT with other writers. Find other freelancers: a photographer, graphic designer and Web techie. Not only can they help you produce your marketing materials at cost, or less, but they can provide your clients with the support services you can't provide, and vice-versa.

Hope this is the kind of stuff you are looking for.
Regards & good fortune,
Ant

sclarke -at- nucleus -dot- com wrote:

I'm just wondring whether anyone on the list can point me to some useful
resources for marketing for technical writing opportunities? I'm
interested in either print-based, web-based or both.

I'm looking for information beyond the usual "networking with other tech
writers" and " tips on effective resume writing" or internet job boards
type information. Does anyone have any info on what sorts of approaches
are most effective? Cold calling? Targeted marketing to employers in your
area of interest? Sending brochures? etc. etc. What works? What doesn't?
That sort of thing.

Information based on personal experience is also most welcome.

Thanks
Sara-Sue






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