By Amy Dunn Moscoso
Are you losing out on local freelance clients because they don’t have the budget for freelancers or because other writers work for less?
You don’t have to limit yourself to local clients. Start thinking globally.
You can build a rocking list of international freelance clients – and secure work for 2015 – with a few simple steps.
Generate leads with global trade shows
Want to break into a new industry? Beef up your client roster? Targeting global trade shows can help you land awesome clients.
My past experience as an agency trade show publicist taught me that companies have:
- robust trade show marketing budgets
- urgent need for written marketing materials and press kits
- time-starved employees who can’t write and work
Recently, I generated red hot leads by pitching global trade shows. I found a Siemens site listing energy tradeshows, selected three and pitched blog articles, brochures, LinkedIn profiles, and media kits to:
- show managers (the person who knows everyone)
- sponsors (with juicy budgets)
- exhibitors (who want to get the best return on their investment)
How I’m getting gigs for 2015: Tradeshows often run a fall and spring version. I offered to handle both. Two leads have emailed their fall and spring requirements, and one even asked if I’m able to write up an industry awards submission in February.
Act as a Local Contact
Does your city, region, or country dominate an industry?
Here’s your chance to activate your PR knowledge. Pitch yourself to international companies attending events, meetings, or conferences as a local contact who writes appropriate:
- press kits
- social media campaigns
- marketing materials
I recently landed a CEO speaker package with a CEO in France, who is presenting in Toronto. I also provided cultural dos and don’ts and Canadian references to help him connect with the audience.
How I’m driving work for 2015: I pitched myself as a Canadian Special Projects Writer. This company has work for year end in March and needs to communicate “in Canadian.”
Position Yourself as a Cultural Consultant
Are overseas companies setting up offices in your town? Here’s your chance to grab work before the local competition descends. Send an LOI that pitches:
- city guides
- a package on business etiquette
- a family resources kit
I’ve landed this kind of work through an agency. During the research, I interviewed local business and government experts which resulting in landing these contacts as clients.
Lining up work for 2015: My family is moving to China, so I’m researching how to settle small children and import Ziggy, our mini-poodle, sans quarantine. I pitched an ongoing ex-pat life blog to five Fortune 500 companies in my new city that recruit North Americans. So far, I have one hot lead.
Secure your 2015 Income
Put an end to the freelancer feast-and-famine cycle and fill in your fall and spring schedule by going global. You may find that once you’ve added international clients to your portfolio, local contacts start banging down your door, too.
How do you target far-flung companies? Share your top tips in the comments below.
Amy Dunn Moscoso is a Canadian B2B writer who works with IT, SaaS, and small business-focused companies, publications, and entrepreneurs around the world. Drop by her blog to talk content marketing.
