Becoming actively involved is one of the best ways of promoting a business. Just as brick and mortar business owners build strong business networks through their involvement in local Chambers of Commerce, churches, schools, service clubs, and volunteer organizations, online freelancers can use their online activities to promote their businesses.
- Remember, every time you write a sentence online, it may be read by a prospective client. As a freelance writer, the first thing you need to do before you start promoting your freelance business is to make sure that your mechanics—i.e. grammar, spelling, and punctuation—are up to par. Although I could use this space to list a pile of resources, SitePoint Forums has an excellent grammar resources thread.
- Put together a good portfolio that spotlights your skills. Developing your own website or blog serves as an example of your skills, especially for those who don't have a strong portfolio of sold work.
- Become an active member of a few social bookmarking sites or online forum to promote your business. Fill out your profiles as completely as you can and interact with those you follow and those who follow you. I use Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, StumbleUpon, and of course, my favorite site—SitePoint Forums.
- Becoming active in online projects is a discreet way to promote your skills and online presence. Join online projects such as Wikipedia, the Gutenburg Project, or About Us where you can use your skills to make a contribution to your workplace, the World Wide Web.
- When you see a product, service, or blog post you like, be quick to either review it or make a detailed comment. If you use a product or service, send a testimonial for it. If you have reviewed it, include your review and/or the link to it. Make sure that your review or testimonial includes the information that you are a freelance writer.
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