MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR WRITERS

Lately, I can't seem to keep up with all the new books and software for writers. Every month, I get two or three books in the mail, and recommendations for several more. At the rate I'm going, I could probably review two books a month for the next year without requesting another title. So this month, I'm going to take a look at two recent books that may help you boost your writing income. Michael Sedge, whose book on Global Marketing I reviewed last year, has written another great book on using traditional -- and not so traditional -- marketing techniques to boost your writing income. Kendall Hanson's Writing for Trade Magazines offers a different approach to boosting your income.

Using some of the Sedge's previous title, The Writer's and Photographer's Guide to Global Markets, I've begun to consider international markets for my articles. So far, I've sold reprints to a South African magazine, a travel article to a British publication (and this could be sent out to newspapers and other publications, too!), and several articles to a new Canadian magazine. And I'm just getting started.

So I was eager to receive Sedge's new book, and I wasn't disappointed. This is definitely not your ordinary book on marketing your articles. Sedge recommends marketing yourself up as a business, not a freelance writer, to look more professional when you approach corporate markets.

His entire approach hinges on the concept that freelance writers offer more than just writing services. Sedge has branched out to include writing, editing and photography services, and show you how you can do the same to increase your income and keep a steady flow of work coming in. The key, he says, is to think of yourself as a product. Products are designed to fill certain needs, and when you identify that need, you must then package and market your "product" appropriately.

Sedge writes: "For me the ‘fill the need' concept is so important that I recently added the following catch phrase to my company stationery: ‘Our job is to make your job easier.'" This includes hunting for photos to go with your story if the editor requests them, and doing one free rewrite if it's needed. Think of it as customer service.

If you'd like to learn more about Sedge's ideas and techniques, read his articles on Global Marketing at Writer Online.