Five Ways To Get On My Subbing List
Posted on 14 July 2008 by Sharon
As freelance writers, we often have times when there’s so much work that we have to sub some out to other writers. I work with a small team of writers and get a lot of requests from people wanting to know how they can work with me and get paid to write. Unfortunately, most of the emails I get go straight into the trash folder because they don’t help me to know why I should add you to my writing team. Here are some ways to improve your chances of getting on that list. I’m sorry, but if you send me a message in text-speak I won’t get in touch with you. Your message to me is your first chance to make a good impression. Use whole sentences, spell correctly and show me that you can write. If you can do that, then I’ll be willing to consider you. Telling me that you want to get paid to write is not enough. I need to know what you can do for me. When you write to me, include a link to your site or examples of your writing. If you don’t, how will I know if you’re a good fit for my writing team? (Note: Please don’t include whole articles in the comments or contact form.)
Treat your contact with me like a first interview and make it easy for me to know who you are. Don’t put your first name in lowercase letters. For all I know that could be an alias. Include your full name and where I can find you, so I can Google you and make sure you’re legit.
1. Write Like A Writer
2. Include Links To Your Work
3. Include Your Full Name
4. Don’t Assume I’m Desperate
I may have work to sub out, but every writer who works with me affects my reputation with my clients. That means it’s not enough to send in your name and assume that I will be happy to have you. If you can’t give me proof of your credentials and evidence that you can write, then don’t bother. I’m not so desperate that I’ll sub out to you.
5. Do Your Research
Take the time to browse my site and find my name. It’s on the About page where you can’t miss it. Don’t address me as Dear Sir/Madam or forget the salutation altogether. It’s just rude and will get our potential relationship off to a bad start.
The upshot of all this is that you need to communicate like a professional. I am always happy to talk to other writers and provide advice, but if you are looking for work, then behave like it. Communicate professionally and you stand a good chance of getting to the next stage - and maybe making the list for some writing work.
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Tags | freelance writing, outsourcing, subbing
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July 14th, 2008 at 8:59 am
Nice rundown, Sharon!
It’s amazing how significantly ALL communications can be improved simply be following these points. They also hold true for any professional contact writers need to make in the industry. Just because you’re a fellow writer doesn’t mean you earn less respect than a publisher or editor.
In fact, as a one who is in the trenches with your fellow writers we should respect each other all the more, and treat each other as we would wish to be treated in return.
Rebecca Laffar-Smith’s last blog post..Plurk Your Way To Action!
July 14th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Terrific tips, Sharon!
Hope Wilbanks’s last blog post..Write In Bursts
July 14th, 2008 at 10:56 am
And here I thought this advice was common sense. I wonder how many people who email you saying “hi can i guest post on ur blogg!!!” actually make a living from writing. It has to make you wonder.
But the bottom line is your advice is very good, and every newbie and professional writer should keep it in mind.
Alex the Freelance Twib’s last blog post..Why you have to blog about what you love
July 14th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Hi Sharon,
These are important tips for professional writers to follow all around!
Kimberly’s last blog post..Setting Rates You Can Live With
July 14th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
There are literally thousands of writing opportunities listed on the internet every single day, but I am still convinced that there are one hundred times more people looking for freelance writing gigs than there are available.
It sucks that a truly great candidate can be wasted at the whim of an employer’s ambition. I agree with your selection process, but I personally believe that a great writer doesn’t need to be a great writer 24 hours of the day. Especially on the internet for a blog, readers are looking for more than just words, they are looking for a personality behind the words. Familiarity is the best conversion tool.
July 14th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Great advice, Sharon. I have had some really interesting applications come in for my little writing team and the content in that first e-mail definitely counts for whether I will ever consider working with that individual.
July 14th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Thanks for reading, everyone. Rebecca, I agree that we should treat our fellow writers with respect.
Alex, I thought it was common sense too, but I have had 10 emails in the past week from people who missed rule no 1.
KG, in this case, it’s not about writers for my blog, but for my clients. People who do the work have to be able to meet those standards. I’m not expecting them to be on 24/7 but if they want to write with me, I have to see some proof.
I knew you would understand, Dana, as we are often travelling the same rocky road
July 14th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I take certain things for granted - all of the points you’ve made seem like common sense. But I have to remember that I was a newbie once and not everything was as obvious than as it is now! Good post.
Katherine’s last blog post..Notes from the Office - Make Money Online Gets a Facelift
July 14th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
I agree with KG on one point: Great writers don’t need to be great writers 24 hours a day. But they should be great writers during those times they are writing for clients and when presenting themselves professionally. Rejecting someone for writing poorly or in an unprofessional manner when seeking work as a writer is hardly acting “on a whim.”
You make your own argument against your point: With more writers than available gigs, those “great candidates” better go out of their way to make a solid, professional presentation of themselves because there’s likely to be, in the stack of applicants, other writers who are also great talents and whose queries show it to be true.
Matt Tuley, Laptop for Hire’s last blog post..Is that graph necessary?
July 14th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Another thing is how someone handles a first chance with me. The way the first 1-2 assignments go are a big indication of whether or not I’ll sub to them again.
Dana’s last blog post..Writers: Be Your Own Publicist
July 15th, 2008 at 4:02 am
Heh heh, that list is also what goes through my mind when I consider hiring a writer to do some articles for me.
I’m not sure what it is about writing that makes people think it’ll be easy to get work without showing their best. As with any job, you have to be professional!
Lindsay’s last blog post..How to Choose a Profitable Niche You’ll Love Blogging About
July 15th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Some things seem obvious when you’re experienced, Katherine, but I’ve realised that not everyone knows them.
@Matt, thanks for that well thought out response
@Dana: that is the second major milestone because it sets the tone for your relationship with that writer
@ Lindsay: Professionalism counts, whatever your career.
July 15th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Good post Sharon and something that all of us need to remind ourselves of when asking someone to put some work our way.
I do see a lot of “tell me what ur paying” on the writing forums.
sue
sue’s last blog post..Your Clients and You
July 15th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I absolutely agree with your points and do understand that your theme is “straight talk,” but your goal is also to teach others how “to get paid to write online.” Choosing the right tone for your communique is an art form too. Newbies or not, most folks respond better when they’re not being berated for their mistakes. You might have done this post more justice if it didn’t sound like you’d come fresh from reading a poorly written job inquiry e-mail and now had an ax to grind. You don’t want to turn off potential regular readers, your blog’s lifeblood.
Sorry to criticize the first time I comment on your blog (!). I actually like your blog very much. Keep it up!
July 15th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Believe me, Cheri, if it had been just one, I wouldn’t have bothered. However, getting a slew of them suggests that there’s an issue to be addressed. Normally, I post in warm and fuzzy mode, but there is the occasional rant, too.
July 18th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Sharon — I know this wasn’t meant as a humorous post, but I still had to chuckle. I’ve received quite a few “I can write 4 u” emails too. I often wonder what people are thinking — or if they’re thinking at all. Maybe it’s as you say, they think we’re really that desperate that we’ll outsource to anyone? Even so, it still seems a little silly to me.
Amy Derby’s last blog post..Dear Potential Client: Your Copy Sucks!
July 19th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Yes, it does, Amy. The good news is that as a result of this post, I have had approaches from a few writers who know how to present themselves.
September 15th, 2008 at 6:46 am
You have excellent analysis. thanks for writting
September 17th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I am new to this entire blogging experience, and would love to learn how and where to make extra cash in my midnight hours while my 4 kids are sleeping. I do not have a web site for previous writing, but am a grant writer for a non profit housing agency, and I also do all of their press releases and promotional material. Could you help me, because the sea of blogiing web sites is making me nauseous. Thanks
September 18th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Heather, I’ll email you and we can talk about this some more.