Re: We are Contractors: Resistance is futile

[Barb Philbrick <caslonsvcs -at- IBM -dot- NET>]

>Maybe I'm going at this all wrong. Am I approaching the wrong people? Am I
>using the wrong medium? What I usually do is I find an ad for a technical
>writer in the paper and I email them a note and my cv. I also send my cv to
>companies that I think might need a technical writer.
If you don't make it clear that you're a contractor and not permanent,
this could be the wrong approach. Also, when I did cold calls about 6
years ago, I was surprised at the number of people to whom I had to
explain "contractor" and "freelance." Subsequently, I changed my cover
letter to say that I helped companies with short term technical
writing needs. I think people know more about contracting now, but you
never know.

>How do you other technical writing contractors find your clients? Do you
>send them a brochure? Do you send them a cv only? Do you make cold calls?
I hang out at STC meetings (even when I don't need work).
Participating in STC (newsletter articles, managing the chapter
conference, regular meeting participation, sponsoring our local
information line, and various other volunteer work) has landed me more
clients than anything else.

I did recently send a brochure that resulted in work. I don't have a
resume or CV any more --- just a brochure, samples, and references
from other clients. I get names for mailing from various local
directories (things like Thomas Regional). I haven't done cold calls
in about six years, though my response on mailings at that time went
from 2 to 4 out of a 100 when I called afterward (2 turned into
clients).

Good luck --- sometimes it just takes time, too! Seems like it's feast
or famine around here --- I won't get a call for months, then get
three in one week.

Barb
Barbara Philbrick, Caslon Services Inc.
Technical Writing. caslonsvcs -at- ibm -dot- net
Cleveland, OH

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