Note from Jennifer: Since I believe that social media is a huge part of being a succesful freelance content marketing writer, our guest post today shares several ways to use social media to grow your business. Mary Beth Klatt wrote a great guest post about strategies she uses with Facebook and LinkedIn. 

Tomorrow is the last day to take advantage of Ed Gandia’s trial offer of his Get Better Clients Academy for $9 for a 15-day pass. I have had a number of freelancers of all experience levels share that they signed up this week and felt it was well worth the money. 

By Mary Beth Klatt

If you’re looking for writing opportunities, try LinkedIn. Story ideas? Facebook is your friend.

At least that’s been my experience. I frequently write about real estate with a specialty in historic preservation and architecture.

Finding Clients on LinkedIn

Last spring when I was looking for new writing work, I requested to connect with editors with a real estate background in the Chicago area on LinkedIn. I used those three words in my search. I included a message in my request to connect: “I’ve got a background in real estate.”

I heard from one editor right away.

“Thanks for reaching out!” the editor wrote. “If you’re interested in writing for XYZ publication we are always looking for qualified writers! Send me a few clips/links and your resume to michelle@xyz.com and hopefully we can work together.”

Michelle introduced me to her colleague who handles her organization’s magazine, which publishes six times a year. I quickly got a 1,000-word assignment for a $1 word. The best part? I got all my source information with phone numbers, email addresses. All I needed to do was write a story with that information, fact check by emailing my sources parts of the story where they were quoted. The editing was light and I got a check within a month, before the story was published. I’ve since written another story for this same publication. I look forward to working with this client again in 2018.

Imagine making that kind of connection on Facebook. I’ve tried commenting in various writing groups. However,  it’s a challenge to get noticed with so many writers are lurking and looking for work. When a good opportunity gets posted, it’s only a matter of hours before the comments get turned off because the editor is overwhelmed by responses.

You’re better off building relationships on LinkedIn. Start by sending out requests to connect to editors in your specialty. Personalize your request by noting how many connections you share in common or compliment your connection on a recent LinkedIn post or blog piece.

Using Facebook for Story Ideas

What do I find Facebook useful for is story ideas. People love to talk about their houses! I got a story idea for a recent Chicago Tribune article from a Facebook post. A woman who found a box of artifacts in the kitchen wall of her 1914 Victorian posted vintage photos she found in that box. I was intrigued and her post became the basis for a story on unusual things people find in old house walls. This woman on Facebook was more than pleased to chat with me on the phone about her house, which is on the market.

I also found sources for another Chicago Tribune article on renters who seek out vintage apartments in a Mid Century Modern Facebook group. I joined the group and within hours I had more than a dozen people I could interview for my story.

Here’s my strategy for making Facebook useful:

• Join groups in your specialty. I’ve found a local Mid Century Modern group and its national counterpart helpful. Try to pick groups with an active, large membership. Participate in conversations so people get to know you and trust you. Who knows? They may approach you with story ideas.
• Follow people in your specialty. Realtors are my friend, I’ve found. They’re a great source of information since they’re out in the field, selling homes. They’re often posting closings, photos of interesting exteriors and interiors.
• Save photos and stories that might be fodder for future stories. Do it as soon as you see the story; otherwise, it will be hard to find it later. Click on the ellipsis in the upper right-hand corner of the post. Then click “Save Post.”

That’s it. Use LinkedIn connections to prospect for clients and Facebook for sources and story ideas. Happy hunting!

How have you used social media to build and grow your business? Share your tips with other freelancers.