Stepping Stones: Going Global As A Freelance Writer

I just completed my first assignment for a magazine that is linked to a very high-end club–in Hong Kong. Guess what? I got the work through this blog. An editor found me, was able to connect with my website, review my experience, and then contacted me to request my services. This is not the first time that I have been “found” and approached. As a matter of fact, two of my biggest clients connected with me this way.

My “freelance world” keeps expanding, and as our economy wobbles, other countries continue to offer good pay. Plus, there is the prestige that comes with working for international clients. So how do you connect with these global markets?

You make yourself available–and visible. You create opportunities for them to find you. And when they do–you go the extra mile to understand their particular needs; setting aside any preconceptions you may have about their country or their publication. Here are some things to keep in mind in the effort to become a visible freelancer in today’s market:

• Google yourself. And while you are at it, check out Alta Vista, Dogpile, Ask.com and any other search engine you can think of. How’s your ranking? If you aren’t coming up like crazy, it’s time to get moving. Look for opportunities to get your name out there. Whenever possbile, have somone run a link to your website…which brings me to my next point…
• Have a website. This is something you need to do if you are going to be serious about freelancing as a career. And it needs to look professional. Browse around and come up with ideas for yours if you don’t have one. If you do have one, ask other writers to critique it and offer feedback. Make sure people can get in touch with you easily through your website as well.
• Blog. As I said before, the Hong Kong publication found me here–on Freelance-Zone. It raises your visibility.
• Pursue global markets. Search for publications in other countries that match your niche as a writer. Writing for them can be as simple as reaching out and contacting them.
• Keep an eye on your search engine placement. You are only as visible as your ranking. Checking once is not enough–make it a regular habit.
• Learn a bit about how to tag posts. For example, Joe noticed that I have extreme Google clout. He often uses my name to raise our profile on the web. His is more common and can be linked to other people named ”Joe Wallace”.

Going global is a great way to diversify your workload. It is also a wonderful opportunity to meet people from all over the world and learn about their lives. Making yourself available on the web is a key move toward capturing those markets. Get started today by employing some of the steps mentioned here, and feel free to add some tips of your own if you have had success in this arena. There’s plenty of work to go around!