Where Do Freelance Copywriters Find Work?

“So, where do you find work?”

I get asked this question a lot, usually by non-freelance friends who are still getting their heads around what I do, much less the ins and outs of actually making money.

And then I start reeling off all the different social media groups I’m in, networking, directories, membership sites etc and looks of panic sweep their faces. They can’t imagine how anyone can do all that and still have time to do actual work.

And that’s the thing. For freelancers, the real “hard work” is finding the work. Actually doing the work is much easier.

And you and I know that all this networking and social media and marketing is just part and parcel of it. And once you accept and embrace that, you get caught up in it and it’s easy to find your groove.

My point is that I find it essential to be across many different channels and networks in order to generate a solid freelance income.

While it can be a bit complicated staying on top of all these avenues of potential opportunities, it also gives me that wonderful aspect of freelance life - flexibility. I get to work on projects I enjoy, with interesting clients, decent money, and the ability to pay my subcontractors good rates. All that is important to me.

And currently, I’m reaping the rewards. This November is my biggest month ever, in terms of projects and income.

My current freelance contract work:

2 government copywriting contracts

I’m very excited to have these government contracts as it’s one of my target markets. Both are writing online content - articles and web pages - and both pay well.

The first is for a state department and I got it through an agency that I worked with years ago. Back then, it was called King Content and I worked primarily with the Singapore office ghostwriting travel articles and infographics for Changi Airport.

Then King Content closed and I literally hadn’t heard from them in about 3 years. Until an invitation to pitch popped into my inbox. An Australian agency, Daresay, has taken over the platform Communique, and presumably its database of writers.

The second is a federal agency and they contacted me out of the blue, inviting me to pitch. I was surprised as government agencies usually find suppliers through a panel.

If you’re not in government circles, a panel is basically a list of suppliers (in this case creative agencies and writers, designers, editors etc) which government agencies are obliged to consult whenever they want to outsource work. Which is a lot. It’s a sweet deal if you’re on the panel; they’re inundated with well-paid projects; it sucks if you’re not and are hopping around the periphery waiting for applications to re-open (like me).

Anyway, I digress. I was thrilled to be invited to pitch on this project and I promptly did up a fancy and comprehensive proposal in Qwilr. The client liked it and that was that. Yay.

2. Tech manufacturing company in NSW

They advertised on the freelance media and digital job board, Rachel’s List. I’ve been a paid member of Rachel’s List since it started.

If you’ve wondered about paid memberships, they’re a lot more than just access to jobs. But it is good to remember that landing just one job can cover your annual fees. I’m also a paid member of the Clever Copywriting School (TCCS) and the Digital Masterchefs (both Kate Toon groups).

In the case of TCCS, I’ve had lots of work through informal listings in the members’ Facebook group, and some subcontract work for other members. I’ve also subcontracted other freelancers for bigger projects of my own.

But again, paid memberships can (should) be about more than jobs. Blog posts, masterclasses, video tutorials, Q&As, free and subsidised resources, surveys, events, blogging opportunities and more. Plus a supportive community of professional freelancers and small business owners just like you. Some of the people I’ve met in TCCS feel like they’ll be friends for life.

3. A car rental company in Sydney

I got this client via a referral from a TCCS member.

Informal networks are one of the best ways of finding freelance work. Because we’re all in the same community, there’s a fair amount of transparency and trust, which goes a long way. Rather than feeling competitive, there’s a sense of supportiveness and being in the same boat.

In my view, paid memberships are often worth the money. But I think it’s important to vet them first. Hopefully, you’ll find your people.

4. A business coaching client in Sydney

This client runs her own business and I’ve worked throughout the year on her SEO research, website content, online course and other marketing materials. She was referred to me through another freelancer.

Again, the freelancer networks stretch far and wide. It can be seriously worth your time to put the effort into developing and growing them. That means being active on social media and in groups, posting helpful content, answering questions, commenting on other people’s posts and celebrating milestones.

Other ways to build your networks include blogging, growing a newsletter list, podcasting, publishing articles, getting speaking gigs, attending events, running your own social group, offering an online course, and more.

It’s a long game, granted but it all goes to establishing your credibility, trust, expertise and generally, that you’re a decent person who’s also good at what you do. Keep at it and those networks will grow.

5. Friends who run their own freelance businesses

Jobs #6 and 7 are friends that I’ve worked with on and off for the last 3 years. Both are in very different fields and live on opposite sides of the world.

As the freelancing world grows bigger - there are currently an estimated 2.4m self-employed Australians - people increasingly need marketing services. It’s all very well to run your own business you also need to have a website, social media presence, SEO and keywords, maybe some marketing materials, business cards and so on.

While software like Canva or Squarespace are awesome for small businesses, you quickly realise that all this marketing stuff takes time. A lot of time. And it’s often a much better investment to just hire someone to do it for you.

Plus (and I flatter myself here) I’m pretty darn supportive when it comes to helping other people grow their businesses. I always go the extra mile, partly because I get so excited about their projects too. Granted it doesn’t make the most business sense but then I didn’t get into this game to become a millionaire.

6. A local Canberra business

I always feel extremely chuffed when people say they found me on Google. Whatever I’m doing is working! SEO is such a complex beast that even when I do client keyword research, I spend twice as long as I should, checking and rechecking the stats to ensure I’ve tracked down every last possible keyword. Again, it doesn’t make very good business sense but I feel compelled to do it.

But then it’s all worth it when a client site pops out in the top ranking for a chosen keyword, or even a very competitive one. Oh, the joy.

I know it won’t last forever with new websites popping up every day and people being more savvy about SEO. So, honestly, if you haven’t invested in keyword research for your website, DO IT NOW. Seriously.

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Now, I also want to mention some other avenues of potential work that I’m investing in. I have a good feeling they’re going to pay off and hopefully sooner rather than later.

7. Professional freelance platforms

I mentioned one of them before - Communique - but I’m also on a couple of others, Fabulate and Commtract.

Fabulate is a platform for freelancers who have professional insurance through the MEAA (Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance). It’s a good way to create a platform; all the members are already insured and vetted for business viability.

It’s evidently a mark of credibility with clients too as there’s no shortage of big brand work. I also like that the platform is still relatively small and they don’t offer every content project to every writer.

I’ve pitched for jobs but haven’t landed one yet. I haven’t gotten my head around their pitching process which, to me, seems a bit ‘one size fits all’ when each project can be quite different. I’ll persist though. I’m hopeful that victory is not too far off.

Commtract runs in a similar vein. Though they have a lot more freelancers on their books so jobs can get booked out fast, in a matter of hours and way before the specified deadline. Again, I haven’t managed to pitch successfully for them but I’ll keep trying.

8. LinkedIn

LinkedIn has enormous potential for jobs and contract work these days. Since I updated my CV a few months ago through the very talented ITCV Writers, I’ve had a regular stream of recruiters waving contract content jobs at me.

I spend a fair bit of time on LinkedIn in a working week and am always connecting with like-minded souls and people in my local area, industry and potential work space. I find it an easy, low maintenance and no-fluff way to network.

One of my past clients, who pops with work up now and again, is a local Canberra creative agency who I followed and then contacted on LinkedIn. The founder responded positively to my coffee invitation and we went from there. It was a great experience and I think LinkedIn has loads more where that came from.

9. Business events

Last week, I attended the Big Meet, a suppliers’ trade show at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra. I follow their LinkedIn group and was offered an exhibit stall months ago. Government and the development sector are two of my target clients so I thought it would be a good opportunity.

I’d never exhibited at a trade show before and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Information for freelance creatives exhibiting at events are a bit thin on the ground (watch this space for a future post). But I put together some posters and case studies, and gathered my business cards and a generous bowl of M&Ms.

And you know what, I was absolutely fine. I was the only content designer and copywriter there. And the M&Ms were a hit.

Plus, I’ve gotten an inquiry for ongoing content work from one of the other exhibitors. It only takes one good lead to make an event like this well worth my time.

10. Digital marketplace

You’ve heard me complain about government panels. Well, perhaps others have issues with the current system too as the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) in Canberra has developed the Digital Marketplace, a bigger and more open panel for businesses and suppliers in a range of services.

I won’t sugar coat it; the application process is laborious and worthy of a government activity. You need job descriptions, financial statements, referees, case studies, insurance records and more. If you’re a one-woman band, it will take time to collect all that. And then the DTA check your application and sign off on it. Woohoo, you’re in.

The Digital Marketplace has jobs, contracts and projects from government agencies across Australia. It’s early days for me but I’m keen to see how it pans out.

And there you have it, the where and how I’ve found contract work this November and December. It’s a bumper time for me both in projects and income. I’m loving it but you can see that it’s a hard and steady slog to get here, and I have to stay on top of my networks, keep making new connections and pitching for potential opportunities.

What about you? Is it full steam ahead for the end of the year? Where’s your work coming from?