Is it something in the air? Have our work cycles somehow become synced up? Are all of our regular clients just too damn busy stringing up twinkle lights and hanging stockings to bother with assigning out new work?

Part of it is the conclusion of another fiscal year. Large projects are ending. Annual budgets are drying up. Clients are holding back until 2012… fiddling with their editorial calendars… treading water until they feel safe spending money again.

Another part of it is Holiday Brain. Between all of those projects we just wrapped up, all of those pound cakes and soups we just made for Thanksgiving, and all of that holiday shopping we now have to do, we completely forgot about marketing ourselves. I mean, who has time to hustle when there are catnip candy canes and glittery tree ornaments to be bought!?

Unfortunately, considering how much money we tend to spend during the holiday season (buying a third ceramic Christmas tree was totally worth it), we need new income now more than ever.

So how can you make the holidays work for you?

Give one last end-of-the-year, holiday-themed marketing push:

• throw an industry holiday party, at which all attendees leave with a stocking full of business cards, coupons, and candy cane kisses.
• hold a workshop for writers, teach an e-course, or throw together a teleclass on targeting your pitches toward the (other) holidays.
• speaking of targeted pitches, start brainstorming… for the fourth of July.
• throw a holiday sale on your most popular products and/or services.
• hold a holiday contest… look to relevant companies and collaborators in order to put together a kick-ass list of prizes.
• gift your favorite clients with a holiday discount… or even with a small gift just to show you appreciate them. (Susan Johnston recently shared her own gift ideas here.)
• make like Santa and gift every blog in your particular universe with a guest post. Well. Assuming they want one.
• instead of a cookie swap or Secret Santa extravaganza, organize a product/service swap among those within your professional network. Watch new professional relationships bloom.
• volunteer your time (and promote yourself as an expert) by answering questions on sites like Brazen Careerist or LinkedIn, or responding to reporters’ queries on HARO.
• crash all the other holiday industry parties in your general area.
• go caroling with local freelancers, and end with hot cocoa and career-related brainstorming for the new year back at your place.
• [INSERT ANY OTHER FUN, SILLY, RIDICULOUS, HOLIDAY-RELATED THING YOU CAN THINK OF. GET CREATIVE, YO!]

Whew! Now I really want to go caroling.

ANYway.

I plan on doing a whole slew of these. But for the moment, I’d like to let you know about my own holiday sale, over at Career Coaching for Word Nerds. Most of you already know that I already offer three career coaching packages at various price points, for those who want to commit to either four sessions, 12 sessions, or 24 sessions of coaching.

From now until December 31, I will be offering One Hour to a Word Nerd Action Plan, a single, one-hour session in which we lay out your plans for the coming year, after which you’ll receive a packet containing all of the action steps we discussed, plus a list of relevant resources.

Note: This does not mean you must schedule your session in the midst of this crazy-as-hell holiday season. It just means you have to purchase this package by the 31st, after which it will wink out of existence, much like the twinkle lights all over your neighborhood. (Um. Unless you have the sort of neighbors who leave that shit up through April.)

Interesting in purchasing the gift that will keep on giving? Head on over to my coaching page and scroll to the bottom for this holiday package.

Then get your ass in gear and start marketing, word nerds!

How have you gotten creative with marketing during holidays past?

Related: How To Market the Crap Out of Yourself

I'm in love with my website. Is that conceited?

Earlier this year, I blogged about whether or not an editor would judge you if you didn’t have some sort of online platform. (Short answer: Yes.)

Since then, several clients have asked me for help in overhauling their own professional sites.

Which can be difficult. A website is a very personal thing. There’s no one right way to do it. It’s up to you to surf the web and bookmark examples of websites you like, making notes on what works and what doesn’t, and drawing up wish lists of your must-have features.

It’s also up to you to figure out what message you’re trying to convey (unless, of course, you hire a branding consultant).

What I can do is provide freelancers with a handy checklist of the basics they should include on their professional site.

1. A landing page. This is your storefront, the first thing that web surfers, assigning editors, and hiring managers see. Because of this, you need to convey instantly what you’re all about, letting the viewer know that he or she is in the right place. How do you do this? With your header. With your content. And sometimes even with your color scheme (color and pattern can be a great way to convey personality). If you’re not sure what, exactly, you’re looking to convey, ask yourself:

• Who am I targeting with this website?
• What action am I hoping they’ll take?
• What do I have to offer?
• What emotion am I trying to convey?
• What is my life purpose, and how can I present it in an easy, bite-sized, elevator speech-type way?

2. Your contact info. And please, make it obvious. A web user shouldn’t have to conduct an exhaustive search in order to email you. What if they want to give you money for something?? Don’t make them beg. Place the info in the sidebar and, for good measure, have a separate “contact me” page with a contact form. And for something extra impressive, you can register for a Gmail address that features your personal domain name right here (and sometimes through your hosting service).

3. Social media buttons. I’m going to assume you’re active on Twitter. Or LinkedIn. Or something. Because it’s in your best interest to engage in social media in some way. Right? Right. So make it easy for people to find you on those other sites, too. Place social media buttons in your sidebar, perhaps close to your contact info, and throw that info onto your contact page as well.

4. A bio. Your landing page will give viewers a basic idea of what you’re all about. An “about me” page will go deeper. Include a personal bio. A company mission statement. An origin story. People like to buy from people. Help them get to know you.

5. A mailing list opt-in form. It’s always a good idea to cultivate a mailing list, even if you don’t plan on using it right away. In the future, it can act as a publicity tool. A sales tool. A way to survey your readers. A way to disseminate breaking news. That mailing list is power. (You can sign up for mine over in the right-hand sidebar Mailing list and e-newsletter services like MailChimp, AWeber, and Constant Contact make popping a sign-up form onto your website easy.

6. A list of your services. Let’s return to that question you asked yourself above: What action do you want viewers to take? Do you want clients for your copywriting services? Ghostwriting collaborators? Speaking engagements? No matter how you choose to do it, make sure it’s clear to viewers what they can hire you for.

7. Some sort of portfolio. It’s not enough to tell people what you do. They’re going to want to know if you’re any good. They’re going to want to know if you’re experienced. They’re going to want to know why they should hire you. Portfolios come in all shapes and sizes, but what’s most important is that you showcase your best work, and that you focus on the work that most closely reflects the work you want to be doing more of.

8. An intuitive navigation. As mentioned above, you shouldn’t make people work to give you their money. Make sure you have a clear and simple navigation that immediately makes sense to those surfing your site, and that it repeats on every single page. Viewers should be able to easily get to whatever the hell page they want to, from whatever the hell page they’re on.

9. A blog (optional). This one’s optional, but I’m going to include it on this list because I think it’s a good idea. Why? A blog gives people a reason to (regularly) revisit your site. It establishes you as an expert in whichever topic you choose to blog about. It acts as a standalone portfolio, highlighting your writing ability. It shows editors you can write for the web. And if you’re worried about the time commitment, know that frequency doesn’t matter. Being regular does.

This is a bare bones checklist. What other web-related questions do you have?

Related: Will An Editor Judge You If You Don’t Have an Online Platform?, How To Get Your Guy, and Look Good Doing It

I'm quoted in here, yo.

I create content for online magazines. I blog here at Freelancedom. I spend way too much time on Twitter. I get all my news from whatever I happen to be subscribed to in Google Reader. I spend my days seated in front of this laptop and, when my phone rings, I get confused. Why didn’t they just text or email? I wonder. (God I’m a recluse.)

My husband, meanwhile, works full-time for SocialFlow, a social media startup that optimizes tweets. He has a web development business on the side. He’s always glued to his Droid, and he uses Foursquare even when we’re at the goddamn recycling center.

His best friend says we’re “so Web 2.0.”

Yet I avoid Facebook. I’m not as active on LinkedIn as I should be. And when Google+ launched, I wanted to flee the country (or at least my inbox). Am I missing marketing opportunities?

I’m not one to embrace every social media site out there. I believe in figuring out where your audience hangs out, and participating accordingly. In fact, I wrote a lot about this — and other ways to avoid social media fatigue — here. But active participation on a handful of social media sites can really boost your traffic, your visibility, and your career.

LinkedIn, for example, has increased my visibility even without my active participation. I’ve even landed several lucrative projects through the site. Imagine what I could do if I joined some LinkedIn groups and jumped in on the discussions happening there. Imagine what I could do if I started reaching out to more people, and swapping recommendations, instead of passively accepting a small number of connection requests.

Yes. Imagine.

Unfortunately, I’m too damn lazy. But I do know what can be achieved with even a little bit of effort, and I’ve seen results from these (tiniest of) efforts, which is why — I suppose — Susan Johnston was good enough to interview me for her recent ebook, LinkedIn and Lovin’ It.

Published through Rockable Press — an online publisher offering detailed how-to guides and resources for web professionals — LinkedIn and Lovin’ It places a magnifying glass over one of the most popular — yet still underused — social media networks out there, and shows readers the marketing possibilities they’re missing. In fact, this book is so in depth that it even provides readers with the step-by-step on how to set up their own profiles, going into the nitty-gritty of headline writing, resume creation, photo uploading, and how to include external links.

It goes on to cover:

• the ins and outs of building your online network
• ways of maximizing your LinkedIn presence (and establishing yourself as an expert in your field)
• conducting research
• finding jobs
• and more.

What I love about this book — aside from the fact that it contains concrete steps for boosting your online presence, helpful case studies, and… um… me — is that, despite how much I thought I already knew, this books goes even deeper. I walked away from it feeling inspired to do even more with my account. Because, honestly? Why wouldn’t I take advantage of a smart and easy way to bring in more eyeballs?

LinkedIn and Lovin’ It will become available later this month. In the meantime, you could always consider boning up on another aspect of online media. WordPress design? Facebook marketing? Freelancing? Copywriting? Rockable Press [<----- That's an affiliate link, FYI] has you covered.

Related: How To Avoid Social Media Fatigue in 5 Easy Steps, Will An Editor Judge You If You Don’t Have An Online Platform?, Using Twitter To Achieve World Domination (in Your Field), How To Market Yourself: Strengthening Your Web Presence

In reading through my review copy, I felt that the step-by-step, how-to content was definitely valuable for anyone considering the self-publication route. But what I was most struck by was the section on press kits and press releases, as putting these together is something I feel many freelancers don’t know a lot about. And if you’re trying to promote an information product, a copywriting biz, or any other type of product or service, it can be an important skill to have.

The Press Kit:

• press release
• author bio
• books spec sheet
• author’s photo
• book cover art file
• interview with author

You can use the press kit to contact media in the virtual as well as in the real world. To save costs, and trees, post the elements of your press kit in downloadable form on its own page with your blog site or website. Rather than send out the actual press kit, you can send out letters through email or snail mail with bullet points of your press release and a link to your kit. This has become the standard form of distributing press releases to newspapers and magazines, both online and in print.

The press release is the most important element of your kit. Don’t make it a boring announcement that repeats your synopsis and gives the book’s release date and retail outlets where you can find it. Instead, find a “hook” or a newsworthy angle. There are a number of ways you can make your press release newsworthy.

- Use a quote from the book as a way of commenting on a current event or controversy.

- Tie your book into a seasonal or holiday event.

- Create an event, such as a seminar or speech, in which you are appearing as an expert and sprinkle in your book’s name.

- Don’t forget the old standard “five w’s,” or Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Make sure you answer each of these questions in your press release.

- Always write in an active voice.

- Vary the length of your sentences, but try not to use too many compound sentences, or ones that contain more than 15 words. Remember that someone is probably just going to scan your press release at first to see if they want to use it. If it is too hard to read, that means it will need editing. That’s work no one is going to want to do.

- Quotations are a must in the press release. Reporters like to pull out quotes to use in their articles.

- Write in third person.

…

To read more about press kits and press releases — or about self-publishing in general! — check out McCann’s book!

Related: 12 Ways To Market An Ebook

Yes. She is quietly judging you.

As a writer, do you need to have a website or blog?

It’s a question I’m asked pretty regularly by coaching clients, blog readers, and other freelance writers.

My response? Well, I can’t speak for all editors out there but, during my time fielding intern and blogger applications, and freelance queries, I always did the same thing.

If a website, blog, or Twitter URL did not appear as part of the writer’s email signature, I immediately googled their name so as to find it myself.

And if I didn’t find it?

I immediately questioned the abilities of the writer.

I know. It doesn’t seem fair, does it? But an online presence illustrates a number of things for an editor seeking clues to a writer’s abilities:

1. It illustrates web-savviness. If you have a website or blog, it can show, first of all, that you have at least some experience with blogging platforms or content management systems (CMS). And if you know one platform, you pretty much know them all. This means that — if necessary — you could produce your own content on a publication’s website. Also, depending upon the contents of your site, a well-put-together platform could bespeak a working knowledge of smart SEO (important for web writing), smart linking practices, hed-writing abilities, and a talent for creating multimedia packages. All important as more and more content moves online.

2. It hints at the existence of a built-in audience. If you have a well-read blog, or a high follower count on Twitter, it establishes you as an authority within your niche, which means that you’ll probably bring in more eyeballs. (Book publishers and literary agents also look for already-existing online platforms for the very same reason… that built-in audience could translate to higher visibility and guaranteed book sales.)

3. It illustrates social media marketing-savviness. Speaking of eyeballs, editors love it when you’re active on sites like Facebook or Twitter. It means you’ll probably promote your piece once it’s live, a form of free marketing that can get their publication on the radars of new readers.

4. It shows that you’re able to deliver. When an editor can see multiple clips of yours in one, convenient place, it shows that you have a proven track record of actually delivering copy to other editors on deadline.

5. It illustrates writing ability. If you have a blog, you can bet I’ll scan a few posts in order to get a feel for your writing ability, and for your voice. If I can’t find any examples of your writing online — not a blog post… not a bio on your professional site… not a clip… — I’ll start to wonder if you’ll only end up being a headache to edit. Of course, a cover or query letter will also give me a feel for your writing ability, but I always do a bit of extra research if I think a letter shows promise. You know. Just in case. Almost all editors have been burned or disappointed by writers. It’s smart to be thorough up front.

In short, some sort of web presence will give an editor proof of your varied abilities as a web-savvy writer, which is important in times like these. If I can’t find anything online, I’m unsettled. Because it’s just weird if you’re not online by 2011. It shows that you haven’t adapted to the many ways in which media and publishing are shifting.

Is that really the impression you want to make to a possible new editor?

It doesn’t need to be expensive. It doesn’t need to be technically challenging. And it doesn’t need to swallow up all of your time. There are tons of resources out there that make building an online presence quick, easy, and inexpensive. But it does need to happen.

Related: How To Avoid Social Media Fatigue in 5 Easy Steps, Using Twitter To Achieve World Domination (in Your Field), 7 Portfolio Sites That Make It Easy To Strut Your Stuff, How To Market Yourself: Strengthening Your Web Presence

In fact, my own career has taken on a variety of slash career permutations. I’ve done freelance writing and editing while working full-time in the book publishing industry. I’ve juggled part-time permalance gigs with freelance projects and internships. And now I’m a full-time freelance sex writing, funeral singing career coach to word nerds.

I love having that variety, but doing so many things has made it difficult to build one, cohesive platform.

Which is why I approached Jenny Foss — founder of her own recruiting agency, resume guru, job search consultant, and author of To Whom It May Concern: Or, How To Stop Sucking at Your Job Search – and asked her to give my resume a major overhaul.

After she created a resume for me that made me want to make out with myself, it occurred to me that she might have more insight to share in terms of creating a cohesive marketing platform as a freelancer.

So I put on mascara and interviewed Jenny (also known as @JobJenny) via Skype video chat.

You’re welcome.

What do you see as the biggest obstacle freelancers face when building a one-stop marketing platform?

What I see is that it’s hard to put together something that creates a story that’s not disjointed.You need to ensure that your resume or portfolio looks like a story, makes sense to the reader, and is maybe not a career progression, but at least a method to the madness of the pieces that make up a career. It should appear that there’s a strategy behind the projects you take on, and what you offer.

For those freelancers and entrepreneurs coming from a corporate background, how do you suggest they put together a resume that showcases their freelance/client work, yet also represents their corporate past, in a way that shows that the two are aligned or directly related?

One thing I often recommend is that you put all of your freelance work under one business name, whether it’s an official corporation or an LLC or just something you decided to call yourself. Then you have the opportunity for a more smoothly flowing resume that showcases your freelance work, and that still shows the actual corporate work you’ve done and may continue to do. Because otherwise, what happens to people is that they appear to be all over the map, and most clients or employers get nervous, because they can’t see an intentional path.

What are some other tips you’d throw out there for those putting together a project-based resume?

Of course, make it organized. Showcase the “so what” about each project: What were your major accomplishments? What did you do that others in the same position did not? What will co-workers/colleagues remember you for? Make it action/verb-oriented: I did that and here’s what resulted.

Examples from Steph Auteri’s new Ridiculously Awesome Resume:

• Have earned strong reviews from editors and readers for natural ability to convey personal experiences in a way that engages and entertains a wide online community.
• Concepted, planned and executed a Word Nerd Networking event that attracted 75 writers, bloggers and publishers. The event earned outstanding participant reviews, and spawned plans for an upcoming digital publishing forum.
• Proven ability to write pieces that attract significant audience response and national media attention, including coverage on the Today show, CNN and PC Magazine.

On your site, you’ve advised that — visually — people keep it simple  when it comes to their resumes. How can those in the creative industries get creative with their resumes… without shooting themselves in the foot?

You might want to have a couple of resumes. If you’re planning to post something on an online portfolio or distribute it printed, it’s fine to have something eye-catching… design-oriented… a little ornate. It’s not fine when it might go through a tracking system. Use simple text… a common font… no graphics. Tracking systems don’t like those fancy elements. They don’t translate well. As a result, your resume could get lost in the tracking system as a garbly mess.

In addition to a fantabulous resume, what do recruiters, hiring managers, and clients look for in a strong marketing platform?

If you’re not online and not utilizing some of these tools that are so vital to the creative industry, that sets you back a little bit. Like, “Hi! I’m a web designer and I don’t have my own web portfolio!”

I also look for personality. There’s a difference between flair and weird. You can showcase a little of your personality in your documentation. Don’t use cliche words. I don’t care that you’re a heavy-hitting team player who thinks outside the box. Tell me what you’re really all about. If I can tell you’re using phraseology from a textbook, it doesn’t do it for me.

What is the most surprising… perhaps counterintuitive… thing you’ve learned about the job search process during your time in recruiting?

Jenny's ebook! Wheee!

The most terrible thing that almost everybody does is spend the majority of their time applying blindly to things they find advertised online. It’s a tremendous timesuck and will get you only nominal results. Why? If a job is advertised, there are more people chasing it. What I highly recommend, much to the chagrin of HR people, is to go after those positions, but take the extra step to figure out who the hiring manager is for that job. So much time and frustration can be cut out of the equation if you take that extra step.

Also, you can connect with high-level people if you engage with them instead of just blatantly asking for a job.

Tell me more about why you launched JobJenny.com, and why you wrote an ebook.

I had been a recruiter for a handful of years. When the economy turned, I was getting calls and emails from people every day who were very frustrated and wanted my help with their resumes, and with the job search. I work on commission. I really wanted to help a lot of people, but I had to draw the line somewhere, as I was not being compensated for my advice. I decided to provide a resource that would give the type of information I was repeating over and over again. At first, this was just jobjenny.com, but my ebook — To Whom It May Concern: Or, How To Stop Sucking at Your Job Search – has also just launched. [This is an affiliate link. Because I'd trust Jenny with my entire career, I feel totally comfortable endorsing her book. So yeah. Buy it. She's a genius.]

What has been your proudest accomplishment as a business owner?

When I get the message from clients who say, “I just got that job. I just got the call.” A woman I did a cover letter and resume for about five weeks ago was going after a really cool job with a really cool company. She just told, “I got that job.” She knocked their socks off in the job interview, of course. It wasn’t all me. But it’s really gratifying to me when I learn that people are benefiting from this guidance that I’ve offered. I can’t put a price tag on that.

Related: My 5 Favorite Things In: One Person/Multiple Careers, Passive/Aggressive: Finding Work as a Freelancer, Product Placement: The Resume T-Shirt, How To Market Yourself: Strengthening Your Web Presence, What Can You Do for Me?

A Dramatic Reenactment of the Entrance to Word Nerd Networking

Last week, about 75 people crammed themselves into a small back room at the Galway Hooker for an event I’d planned with the fantabulous Marian Schembari.

Needless to say, I was shocked. It was my very first foray into event planning, and I had assumed we’d be lucky if even five people bought tickets.

But apparently, we had hit upon a real need amongst word nerdy types.

In the end, the event was a success. People raved to me about the great conversations they’d had, and the connections they’d made. They even asked me when the next event was taking place! (To which I began laughing maniacally because I was having a nervous breakdown… you’ll soon see why…)

Still — as I assume happens with most events of this sort — not everything went smoothly.

First of all, the promotional bookmarks I’d spent an extra $100 to rush order didn’t arrive on time. Then, I was almost late for my own event, despite leaving two and a half hours early, because the Lincoln Tunnel was temporarily shut down. I finally arrived at the Port Authority and, while sprinting across town, received a phone call from one of my experts, bereft because she was unable to get into the event. She’d accidentally left her license at home! Then, upon arriving at the venue, I was greeted by utter chaos. We had only half the amount of space we’d initially been promised, because another event taking place in the other half of the room had gone over. Which meant that we didn’t have nearly enough space to set up tables and chairs for the speed networking portion of the evening. And for the coup de grâce, the bar reneged on their initial promise to let us use their sound system, so I had my husband blowing a whistle, and we shouted instructions. It was definitely less than optimal.

It was a learning experience, though, and — as the ever-hilarious Brian Fairbanks pointed out — we succeeded in spite of ourselves.

Have you ever considered hosting your own event? It can be a pretty fabulous marketing tactic, raising your visibility as a leader in your field. Not only that but — if your event has something extra special to offer — you could even charge money for entry, making it another source of viable income for your business.

But perhaps the thought of throwing your own event seems daunting.

I’m with you there. (see the crazymaking batshit chaos above)

But I’ve learned a thing or two whilst winging it:

1. Have a serious brainstorming session. Ask yourself who you’re hoping to serve with your business, and how that could possibly translate to an in-person event. What service could you provide to your target client with an event? How could you use it to showcase both you and your business? Put yourself in your clients’ shoes, and try to find a hole in the marketplace. For example, while companies like mediabistro and ed2010 regularly host publishing-specific happy hours around many major cities, I’ve never been to an event that takes away the terror of mingling and directly connects attendees with industry experts.

2. Find a partner in crime. Planning an event can be hard. Planning an event alone would, presumably, be even harder. Which is why I paired up with Marian. I felt that our target markets overlapped, while the services we offered did not directly compete with each other. After I presented Marian with my Word Nerd Networking idea, it really helped to hash things out her, swap ideas, and split up responsibilities. Not only that but, with our forces combined, we were able to bring in double the amount of people! (That’s because we are super-popular and awesome. Or something.)

3. Find a venue and solidify a date and time. In the end, I was underwhelmed with my choice of venue. But at the time, I chose it for a few reasons: 1. The space (they promised me) was large enough. 2. They had a private room we could use. 3. They assured me that they could provide enough tables and chairs.  4. They also assured me that there was a sound system I could use (sigh). 5. They didn’t charge us anything for the space… not even a drinks minimum! And 6. From my research, I saw that they’d hosted speed networking events in the past. It seems as if I did everything right… but it may have helped if I had also visited an event there in action, or asked for reviews from past event planners.

Eventbrite... how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

4. Immediately begin gathering what you need. Seriously. Don’t procrastinate. The sooner you nail down the important stuff, the sooner you can start promoting your event. In our case, we had to find experts who would commit to participating in our event, and we then had to gather their bios for use in our promotional materials.

5. Set up an event page. We used Eventbrite. Because Evite is so last year. Also, Eventbrite allows you to set up an event page, offer multiple types of tickets, use PayPal or Google Checkout, accept donations, integrate with Facebook and Twitter, and more!

6. Promote the shit out of it. I pimped out the event primarily through Twitter and Facebook, and also mentioned it in my monthly newsletter, and on my blog. I asked our experts to do the same. Happily, our other attendees began tweeting it out as well. In addition to that, I submitted it as a listing on sites like mediabistro and New York Press, I submitted a press release to several newswires, I mentioned it in passing on both LinkedIn and Brazen Careerist, and I had one of our experts submit it to a local listserv. Considering the turnout, I think we did pretty well for ourselves.

7. Imagine the event in your mind, from start to finish. What supplies will you need? Get that shit together in advance. I made sure to print out two copies of the attendance sheet, do up an expert cheat sheet (of which I printed out 50 copies), design and order promotional bookmarks (fat lot of good that did me; I brought my business cards instead), purchase name tags and markers, purchase a jar, extra paper, and pens for the raffle, draw up and print out a list of raffle prizes, do up placards for the experts, and purchase a whistle.

8. Pregame. I never got the chance to do this. Sigh. So sad.

9. Re-read the tips you wrote up for networking despite social anxiety.

Because lord knows, you need it, too.

10. Survive. Due to my late arrival and the chaos I was greeted with, I may have been in shock for the duration of my event. I tried to roll with it, though. And keep a cool head. And be chill. And connect with as many people as possible.

Bonus Tip: Ask for feedback! You can’t please all of the people all of the time, but you can learn from their feedback. Which is why I drew up a survey for event attendees to fill out. Because — as traumatic and exhausting as my first event was — I… well… I think I might do it again!

If you didn’t get a chance to make it to last week’s event, fill in this survey on the types of events you’d be interested in attending!

(And if you’re interesting in co-hosting, by all means… contact me!)

“You need experience and contacts in order to get assignments and jobs, but how do you do that when you are right out of school?”

It’s a good question, especially considering that — when at a loss for how to move forward — many college grads consider just staying in school and pursuing a graduate degree.

I’m of the mind, however, that getting your Masters degree isn’t a necessity. Rather, I think it’s better to dive right in, instead of spending countless hours (and dollars) in a classroom environment.

So how do you prove your credibility when you don’t have a lick of experience?

1. Engage in some continuing education. For cheap. While I never for a second considered going to grad school, I also never stopped learning. And when it comes to continuing education, knowledge isn’t the only thing to gain. You can take a non-credit class (or even an online class) for much cheaper than a for-credit class, and not only hone your skills, but also build your professional network, and perhaps even gain a mentor. I’m also a huge proponent of post-college internships, despite the bad press they’ve been receiving lately. Much more than a bullet point on your resume, you can gain valuable contacts at an internship, valuable experience and — most important of all — clips! Or contact editors and/or industry heavy hitters about the possibility of meeting them for an informational interview. If you make a good impression in the course of milking them for their words of wisdom, they may think of you when the next assignment or job opening pops up.

2. Build up your marketing platform. While you may not have any published clips… yet… you can still establish yourself as an expert in your field by starting up a professional blog, or answering questions on sites like Brazen Careerist and LinkedIn (or both; the more you market yourself, the better!). When you send out query letters, you can then include a link to your blog. This will serve to showcase your writing ability, showcase your knowledge, showcase your web-savvy, and show editors that you have a built-in audience.

3. Start small. When first starting out, I wanted very badly to break into online magazines like Nerve, and print mags like Time Out New York. But upon sending out those first query letters, I received nothing but silence. (sad face) Eventually, however, with clips from New York Press, Playgirl, and SexHerald in hand, and with volunteer experience at $pread, I got my foot in the door at Nerve. From there, I finally got clips from Time Out New York. And so on and so forth, in a snowball effect. If you’re having trouble breaking into the bigger mags, start small, with local publications, or with websites that are working with smaller budgets. They’re more likely to take a chance on untested talent. And once you have those first clips in hand, it will be that much easier to attract the attention of the larger publications.

4. Network like hell. Most of the gigs I have now are thanks to knowing someone who knows someone who needs someone like me. So attend industry events. Connect with both editors and publishing peers on Twitter. Always look to meet and connect with new people. Hiring managers and assigning editors receive an overwhelming amount of applications and pitches from people just like you. How can you stand out? By giving them a face to place alongside your name. It’s so much better to begin a letter with “So great meeting you the other night!” than “Dear EDITOR I HAVE NO CONNECTION TO WHATSOEVER.” Obviously.

5. Prove your awesomeness with a great idea. On to the query letter. Clips aren’t everything. If you can surprise an editor with a really creative and unique idea, they’ll be thrilled. That’s one less thing they’ll have to handle on their end.

6. Prove your awesomeness with your fabulous writing skills. Why do editors look at clips? They want proof that you can deliver. So in a sense, even your query letter is a sort of clip. It can be used to showcase your writing style, your personality, and your ability to conform to the voice of the publication you’re pitching. Which is why I make such a big deal about query letters here at Freelancedom, and why I think you should always work extra-hard on them. As an assistant editor at YourTango, I’m constantly receiving pitches for the LoveMom blog I manage, and e-mails from hopeful intern applicants. If it’s obvious that no effort was made with the cover letter — or if the voice of the letter writer doesn’t mesh with the voice of our site — I immediately move on to the next one, and don’t ever look back.

7. Prove you’re the best person for the job, due to your personal experience. After you’ve grabbed an editor’s attention, they’ll want to know why they should let you have the assignment, rather than handling it in-house. In a situation like this, personal experience can count more than clips. If you’re pitching a story on wine, for example, it can help to tell an editor that you’ve worked in a wine shop or tasting room, or as a sommelier. If you’re pitching a piece on careers or job hunting, being certified as a career coach certainly couldn’t hurt.

8. Prove you’re the best person for the job, due to your connections. For reported pieces, editors will want to know that you have the ability to get choice quotes from the very best sources. Be sure to mention the sources you plan to use when drawing up your query letter.

9. Don’t forget about your transferable skills. This one is an extension of number seven, and I’m reiterating it for those who are applying to jobs, rather than pitching magazines. If you’re switching from book publishing to newspapers, or even changing industries entirely, focus on your transferable skills when updating your resume, rather than your job responsibilities. And don’t rely solely on prior job experience. Remember the skills you’ve picked up from extracurricular activities, volunteer gigs, and the continuing education you’ve pursued.

10. Finally, don’t allow yourself to get discouraged. Some people give up too soon, but there can be a number of reasons for a rejection, or for no response at all. Read this post, and always remember its lessons. Then pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try again.

Did you find this post helpful? (Oh god, I hope so; it took forever to write!) We’ll be discussing this type of stuff — and more — in my forthcoming 5 Weeks To Freelance Awesome e-course. The first day of school is Monday, September 13, so you’d better sign up soon! I’ll be waiting with bells on.

Related: How To Write Your Way Into the Best Darn Jobs Ever

Say what?

Come on. It makes perfect sense. As Forleo pointed out, you can have the most high-quality product in the world but, unless people know about it, your business is sunk.

Many of us dread marketing as a necessary evil. I know I did. I wanted nothing more than to just practice my art. But recently, I found myself in the middle of some great brainstorming sessions, and I also had a blast writing up my marketing plan. And now? I’m eager to finally put that plan into action.

Have you written up a marketing plan yet? Why not!? Even if you’re not launching a fancy-pants career coaching practice or consulting business, your freelance business could still benefit. And it’s not scary at all! I swear!

Here. I’ll walk you through it.

1. Write up a mission statement.

Your mission statement does not have to be a long and involved magnum opus. It should, however, list your business goals — monetary and otherwise — and should also specify the things that set you apart from the competition.

My mission statement is a mere three paragraphs long, but yours could be longer… or shorter. Either way, this part is important. Writing out your mission statement can help you clarify exactly what it is that you’re trying to accomplish. And as you make future business decisions, you can refer back to it and ask yourself: does this bring me closer to my business goals?

2. Specify your target markets.

Chances are, your product or service won’t appeal to everyone. So list the people you’re trying to help, and get specific.

Once you’ve pinned down your target markets, you can start researching the best ways to reach them. Where do they hang out? Which social networking sites are they on? Which blogs are they reading? Do they participate in any online forums, or attend any professional conferences? Knowing all of this will keep you from marketing blind.

3. List your products.

In times like these, it helps to diversify. To give you an example, here are the products I’m offering through my career coaching practice (plus a few I plan on offering in the future): three different one-on-one coaching packages; several consulting packages; group e-courses and teleclasses; an e-book; and perhaps some swag (mostly because I’m dying to own a travel mug that says “word nerd” on it). Get creative. People may actually be more amenable to purchasing your big-ticket items if they’ve already tried — and loved — your lower-priced offerings. Holy shit! they’ll think. I gots to get me some more of that!

4. List your competition.

And then look to see what they’re doing right. And what they’re doing wrong. And what they’re not doing at all. How can you differentiate yourself from the competition? And, in the end, should you even consider them competition? If you can set yourself apart from them, perhaps it will leave room for future collaborations.

5. Finally, list your marketing tactics.

This is the fun part. (Then again, I get excited when I get the chance to make roasted Brussels sprouts and eat them in bed whilst reading a stack of fashion magazines. Still, I think you might actually enjoy yourself here if you allow yourself to tap into your creative side.) Referring back to number two — your target markets and where they’re hanging out — come up with some marketing ideas that go beyond simply direct mail-bombing people, and pricey space advertising. Think about how you like to be marketed to. What makes you decide to shell out the cash?

And then? Write a really long and wacky list. Seriously. Go all out. You may not end up doing everything on your list, but at least you’ll have options. And the more options you have, the more you’ll know about what works and what doesn’t.

Some of the things that made it on to my list?

• coordinate a speed-networking event, and find a fellow coach, writing prof, media company, educational institution, professional organization, or publishing company to co-sponsor it.
• join a planning committee for or host a panel at an industry-specific conference.
• offer a free giveaway at someone else’s event.
• advertise in industry-specific magazines, blogs, websites, or newsletters.
• hold seasonal contests.
• start a monthly newsletter.
• gather testimonials for my website.
• offer a reward for referrals.
• start focusing my magazine pitches on career-related content (instead of… um… sex).
• promote myself as an expert by answering questions on sites like Brazen Careerist or LinkedIn, or responding to reporters’ queries on HARO.
• create a Facebook page.
• start guest posting like a madwoman.
• attend more networking events.
• etc.

And.. you’re done!

Just don’t file your marketing plan away and forget about it, like I did. Start to market yourself long before you’re ready to launch (you can learn a thing or two about creating buzz right here) or, if it’s too late for that, start right now. And once you’re up and running, don’t stop marketing. Don’t become complacent.

Complacency is the kiss of death.

So. What’s the wackiest thing you’ve done to market yourself?

Related: 12 Ways To Market An Ebook, Product Placement: The Resume T-Shirt

Because 2009 was a rough one.

This time last year, it seemed that — no matter how desperately I looked — it was impossible to find paying work.

But then, at the end of 2009, shortly after I had started a new part-time job at YourTango, Ian Kerner contacted me about co-writing an ebook with him for his new Good In Bed web project. Several months later, I was contacted by someone at AOL’s Patch about copy editing. The other month, an editor at The Frisky asked me if I’d be interested in writing a regular sex column for them. And then, the other week, someone at Psych Central e-mailed me, asking if I would be interested in writing for their site, as one of their editors had seen my LoveMom piece on depression, and had been impressed.

I’m not trying to gloat (though sometimes I like to point at my husband and say neener-neener). I’m just sayin’… it’s totally possible to bring in new projects without lifting a finger. How?

Okay. This is a two-part process, so listen carefully. Basically? Work your ass off while simultaneously developing (and maintaining) relationships with others in your field.

What? You didn’t think it would be easy, did you?

Work Your Ass Off:

1. Continue brainstorming new ideas, researching markets, writing up query letters, sending out pitches… and then? Do it all over again. Be relentless.

2. Don’t allow yourself to get discouraged when business is slow. It just means that you have to hustle more. The more you hustle, the more you’ll be rewarded, even if the rewards are not immediate. And those pitches that were rejected, or those proposals that were turned down? It’s nothing personal. Rather, it’s bad timing. Or a not-quite-right fit. Or a too-small budget. Or any number of other things. Be relentless, and the work will start picking up again. Allow yourself to wallow, and the few opportunities that are actually out there will pass you by.

3. When things are slow, you can also stay afloat by getting creative. A year ago, I had to face the fact that blogging, pitching, and copy editing weren’t paying the bills. I asked myself how I could expand my business, using my skills and experience to offer up something completely new. As a result, I ended up on the other side of the publishing fence, editing other people’s work at YourTango. I also entered a career coaching certification program, and eventually launched a career coaching practice focused on the publishing industry. Now, if any one aspect of my career slows down, there are other things I can turn to. It opens me up to more opportunities, and the sense of security I receive from that is priceless.

If You Don’t Schmooze, You Lose:

As a result of all the work I continued to do after the New York Sun folded — in addition to all of the other ways in which I tried to connect with new people, and stay connected with former colleagues — my professional network has expanded exponentially in the past year, and things have slowly but steadily picked up. That gig at YourTango? It didn’t hurt that I had worked with one editor in the past, at another publication, and it also didn’t hurt that I had written two pieces for the site the year before (one of which had performed quite well, landing me appearances on both a radio show, and on CNN). How did Ian Kerner find me? I had interviewed him for an article in Time Out New York several months earlier, so I was on his mind as he began planning his latest web venture. Patch? They found me through LinkedIn, oddly enough. And my fairly new sex column? I was actually in contact with an editor at The Frisky because of a content partnership the site had with YourTango, and when this editor’s colleagues decided they should launch a sex column, she thought of me.

Every day, new and amazing opportunities pop up because of the people I’ve worked with in the past, or met both in person or online.

How can you build similar relationships?

1. Stay connected with former colleagues, editors, clients, sources, etc. Because, as the saying goes, one person may know someone who knows someone else who knows someone who’d like to hire you.

2. Develop new relationships by taking classes, attending industry events, and participating heavily in the social media sphere. And remember: the key in developing these new relationships is good karma. Don’t be transparently looking out for yourself, asking others what they can do for you. Rather, ask yourself what you can do for them. Connect them with people they might like to work with. Ask them to collaborate on a project. Share their amazing content or brilliant products. Interact and get to know them.

3. Be authentic. I hate being sales-y. I’d much rather just be… me. Luckily, it seems to work, both in my writing and in my business relationships. So instead of practicing your elevator speech, just engage. The connections you make this way will be much stronger, and much more real. And also much more mutually beneficial.

And then? Don’t worry! If you follow all of these tips, you’ll eventually pick up momentum. And at that point, the work will just start pouring in, all without you having to lift a finger.

Related: Nothing To Do With Luck, The Road To Freelance Success Is Paved With Good Karma