www.inkthinkerblog.com — by Dawn Colclasure
Want to land more e-assignments, get published in more e-zines and have your name on more virtual newsletters? All of that can be yours — the secret is to know the right way to get there. Here are seven tips to help you improve your freelancing online.
1. Include links. The makings of a good Internet article? Crisp writing, proper organization, and links for readers who want to know more! When you include links in a print article, readers won’t jump online to check them out right away. They’ll probably write it down to save for later. They might even forget about it. Writing for the ‘Net gives you a bonus: including links readers will likely click on right now! They’re already on the Internet reading your article. Chances are, they’ll click on links. Throw in a link or two and you’re on the right path to writing a great e-article!
2. Work magic with e-mail. Not everyone’s up for an e-interview, but when you can use e-mail, do it. It’s the best way to copy quotes verbatim, scan material and save information for later. As long as you keep your e-mail account active and advertisement-free, it’s a great electronic tool to conduct interviews and get information faster.
3. Use message boards. Message boards are all over the Internet. Try using a search engine such as Google to keyword your search and, presto! A plethora of message boards will soon be at your fingertips! There are the general message boards (such as Main Street Mom and Traveltalkonline.com), while some message boards are geared towards the specialized fields. Message boards for translators, writers, and haunted house enthusiasts are just a few.
4. Conduct e-interviews. Use the latest in technology to conduct your next interview! Web cams, podcasts, and mobile devices can help you get that interview fast! Online video interviews are especially convenient if you’re conducting an interview with someone overseas. Best of all, you don’t have to be a tech wizard to figure out how to use them. They’re quick, inexpensive and easy. Check out The Software King and BrotherSoft.com for some nifty techno gear to use on your next assignment!
5. Find information in a flash. For the freelancer with limited resources or transportation, the Internet is the key to a world of resources. Use online newswire services to find experts, information and leads (some sites are iNewsWire and RefDesk), while expert services give you leads on who you can interview! AuthorsandExperts.com is one site. Two other expert goldmines are GuestFinder.com and the Power Reporting site, which offers resources for finding experts and interviewees. Just make sure the site is reputable and that you validate your information elsewhere. Add to this that magazines and newspapers almost always have a website. Use their archives for research and to study their market.
6. Snap your article into shape. Use online tools to help you format, translate and fix up your articles. Most tools for writers are available for free use on the Internet, and they’re just what every e-article needs to look professional and well-organized. An online text formatter will ensure that your article arrives at your editor’s inbox without sentence breaks, and other tools such as HTML Tags/Codes and Format-It!, will come in handy for most assignments.
7. Keep it brief. Most e-zines, sites and newsletters want material under 1,000 words. The thing about Internet journalism is that most people like to read something fast. Readers can be crunched for time, have little patience for two- or three-page articles, or just want news bits they can read in under five minutes. You want every one of those minutes to count for your article. Expect some editors to request short material and give them exactly what they ask for! Keep sentences and paragraphs brief. Use short, active words wherever possible. If something looks like it’ll take too long to read, readers won’t bother.
There’s no secret to getting every e-zine editor to say “yes!” to your pitch, but these seven tips will help you land more assignments and keep your Internet publication credits going strong.
****
Dawn Colclasure has been writing for the Internet for more than 5 years. Check out her work, books, and helpful tools for writers at her website.
Contents Copyright © 2006-2014 Kristen King
Comments on this entry are closed.