Writing for the Web

It’s easy to become discouraged when applying for writing jobs.  Keep in mind that your freelance writing career isn’t going to take off over night!  When applying for jobs, keep the following tips in mind. 

• Follow Any Instructions Exactly:  Not following the job posting’s directions in a huge red flag for a prospective employer.  If the add specifies no attachments, DO NOT send your resume as an attachment!!!  Following the posting’s instructions in the first step in showing a client that you pay attention and can follow guidelines.
• Make Sure You are Qualified for the Job:  Do not waste time applying for jobs that you are not qualified for.  It is acceptable to apply for a job that you do not have exact experience in.  It is not acceptable to apply for a job that you have no experience and qualifications for.  If you do see ads for writing jobs that you are not familiar with, such as writing press releases or white pages, take the time to research and learn what these types of writing consist of.
• Do Not Ask for Further Info in the Initial Contact Email:  A client is unlikely to respond to a request for more info in the first round of responsed because he or she will have plenty of applications to sort through without taking the time to respond to your request for information.  Your goal for that first email is simply to call attention to yourself and to make the client interested enough to respond.  Once a dialog has started, you can ask questions and get additional information.

TIPS:

1. Try to match the tone of the job posting.
2. Use your response to show the client how you are qualified for the job.
3. Respond to the ad as soon as possible.
4. Be aware that you probably will not hear a response unless the client is interested.

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