Beginner’s Blues How Yo Collect Samples, Testimonials, And References As A Freelancer

Beginner’s Blues: How to Collect Samples, Testimonials, and References as a Freelancer by Brian S. Konradt of BSK Communications and Associates
My samples are self-selling. They gleam behind protective covers in my portfolio and snatch me business. “Wow, I really like this one,” says a new client, studying one of my newsletter samples. “That’s what I want. Can you do something similar for me?”
“I sure can,” I tell the client. “I think we should shoot for four colors, instead of two. And thick texture paper would be better for self-mailing.”
The client agrees. He also agrees to pay me $850 for the 4-page newsletter, half now and the rest when I complete the job.
“Your samples are your most persuasive tools to seal the deal,” advises Mary Anne Shultz, a NY-based freelance writer who specializes in ad copy.
“At least seven out of my ten clients had asked to see some sort of samples before hiring me for the job,” says freelance writer Joan Berk. “Clients want to know what you are capable of doing for them.”
“Even if your new client does not ask to see samples, you must have samples,” says Louie Markowitz, a freelance writer specializing in corporate newsletters. “I show every new client at least one of my samples — a sample that is similar to what they have in mind. This helps me get constructive feedback and insight into what the client wants.”
This is easy for the established freelancer to say, who has collected professional samples over the years and knows that samples sell themselves to clients.
But what about the beginning freelancer who has nothing?
According to freelance writer, Scot Card: “Don’t panic. Many freelancers start at the bottom. It’s where I started. And probably so will you.”
As a beginning freelance writer embarking on a part-time or full-time freelancing career, you’ll need to do a lot of “grunt” work in your field of specialty. Depending on your approach or what you choose, you’ll be doing assignments and working on projects for little or no money, but the payoff will reward you in the long run.
Writing a brochure for a local non-profit organization or writing a press release for your church’s summer events will come in handy the day you need to show your first client what you’ve been up to. But it doesn’t just begin with freelancing to local non-profit organizations or churches. You can tap into many other outlets to collect samples while improving your experience, skills and knowledge before you begin freelancing part-time or full-time.
Your first step to get started is obvious: Take inventory of everything you have written.
Everyone has done some writing in the past: writing term and thesis papers; writing articles for your college newspaper; providing copy for a flier or brochure for an organization; helping your friends write their resumes, or your own. The list goes on.
Of course, a client won’t hire you after he glosses over your high school term paper (with the bright red A at the top) or a short poem you scribbled in a birthday card. But all of your past writings can serve as a benchmark as to where you stand now. You may even possess samples hiding in your closet or lost somewhere in the massive directories of your hard drive, waiting to be reworked and re-edited for a fresh facelift.
Take inventory of all of your writing samples and evaluate them as if you are the client. What grabs your attention? What makes you squint away. Do your samples have anything in common with your specialty? Can you rewrite any of your samples for improvement? If so, redo them and use them to begin your portfolio. If not, listen closely…
Here are some ways, endorsed by established freelancers in the field, that can help you collect samples of your writing, including testimonials and references; but by no means do you have to follow them. Be creative and seek out other alternatives.