Comments on: Passive/Aggressive: Finding Work as a Freelancer

By: Steph Auteri

Steph Auteri — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:56:19 +0000

Lordy, I’m behind on responding to comments.

In answer to your question, Sal, I admit to taking a more passive approach. And while I have had some success due to the contacts I’ve made online and at past jobs, I still struggle with income because I’m not aggressive enough when it comes to finding new clients. So yes. This is a case of: Do as I say, not as I do. :)

By: Mike Auteri

Mike Auteri — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:04:43 +0000

I’m waaaaay more aggressive. Lately I’ve been contacting past clients that I haven’t heard from in some time. I did this 3 times just today and ended up with a new site to build! I don’t like parting ways with past clients, so if I don’t hear from them for a few months, or even a year, I send out a friendly email letting them know I’m still alive and ready to work for them if they need me. I would say I have at least a 90% success rate with them replying to my friendly email, and a 70% chance of getting new work within the next month or 2. Sometimes you just have to nudge ‘em :-)

By: Sal

Sal — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:18:59 +0000

Steph,

You know, I find myself using more of the passive approaches. I guess that is because I don’t really know how to be aggressive when it comes to looking for freelance work. I never really honed my skills on pitching or cold calling for that matter. It isn’t in my personality to be agressive and since that is what I have to do at my usual 9-5, by the time I get home and start freelancing, I am completely burned out on making any more phone calls or such.

Do you find that you lean more towards the passive approach or do you generally hit both up equally?

By: Loreto Riveiro - Litterate T&L

Loreto Riveiro - Litterate T&L — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:37:53 +0000

You are absolutely right! Thanks for sharing this.

I happen to be starting activity as a freelance translator, and sometimes I do find myself at a loss at where to start when it comes to marketing. My idea, as you suggest, is to start “pounding doors”, let people and companies know I am here, phone and mail contact, etc.

Of course, networking (both on the web and physically) comes into my plans, so I am polishing my elevator speech.