Home
>
Writing
>
6 Ways to Toot Your Own Writing Horn

6 Ways to Toot Your Own Writing Horn

You know you've got writing talent. Others enjoy your work and you've even sold a few things. You'd like to turn that writing talent into full-time freelancing but you don't enough clients yet. You need to toot your own horn!

The problem is that we writers often aren't very good at telling others how wonderful we are and how well we write. We'd much rather be writing than marketing ourselves, but market we must.

These six actions are relatively painless, and they work:

1. Get a business card that says you're a writer. You can get 250 premium quality, color business cards FREE from VistaPrint. Try some titles like this:

Anne Wayman

Freelance Writer or

John Smith

Technical Writer

or even:

Anne Wayman

Writer/Coach/Ghostwriter

Make sure your phone number, email address and website are also on the card.

2. Use your business card! They do no good sitting in a box on the shelf or tucked away in your wallet.

Make sure you have some every time you leave the house, and don't hesitate to hand them out.

Leave them with your tip at restaurants. Hand out one or two when someone asks you what you do. Give them to the bank teller and when you pay for purchases at a store.

You can also stick them in invoices, when you're paying your bills and even to post on likely bulletin boards around town. If your day job requires the use of a card, hand out both. You simply never know who needs a writer or knows someone who needs a writer.

3. Make sure your email signature either links to your website and/or says you're a writer. It doesn't have to be fancy. In fact it's better if you keep it to three or four lines, but make sure it's on every single email. I've gotten good paying jobs because of my email signature.

4. Get your own website with your own domain name! See Do You Need a Web Site? for more details.

5. Your business account checks should say that you're a writer - usually under your name. Every time you pay a bill, you're also sending out a mini-ad.

6. Speak up! When someone asks you what you do, tell them you're a writer, even if writing isn't yet your main source of income. The more comfortable you are saying "I'm a writer," the more likely you are to stumble into some business, so practice.

Although there is a great deal more you can do to market yourself, these basics will accomplish at least two important things:

* You'll get used to thinking of yourself as a writer, and,

* The world will begin to think of you as a writer

So get out there, and toot your own horn, again and again. It's magic.

Write well and often!

Anne Wayman, Writer, Writing Coach, Ghostwriter
http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com

recurring cleaning service Wilmette ..

In The News:

DoorDash confirms data breach exposing customer names, emails, addresses after social engineering attack. Learn how to protect yourself from scams.

Concerned about Google's AI scanning your Gmail? Learn how to disable Gemini features that access your emails, Drive files and Chat messages for privacy.

Google warns Android users about dangerous fake VPN apps hiding malware that steals passwords, banking details and personal data from phones and tablets.

Apple's digital passport feature lets iPhone users breeze through TSA checkpoints this holiday season using Digital ID technology at 250+ airports.

A new phishing scam targets family photos with fake "Cloud Storage Full" alerts. Criminals steal credit card information through fake sites. Learn protection tips.

South Korean scientists create ultra-thin fabric muscles that turn clothes into robotic assistants, lifting 33 pounds while weighing under half an ounce.

Archer Aviation has acquired Hawthorne Airport for $126M to launch an LA air taxi network ahead of the 2028 Olympics, featuring AI-powered eVTOL operations and next-gen aviation tech.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Fake AI apps disguised as "ChatGPT" and "DALL·E" are flooding app stores with dangerous malware that steals data and monitors users without detection.

Fake buyers demand specific vehicle reports from unknown sites to steal credit card information from car sellers, but warning signs can help identify these scams before paying.

Android users can now manage apps across multiple devices more easily with Google Play Store's updated remote uninstall button in the latest update.

NASA's Perseverance rover discovers shiny metallic rock on Mars that could be a meteorite from an ancient asteroid, containing high levels of iron and nickel.

Holiday scams spike during Black Friday and Cyber Monday as criminals exploit your leaked personal data. Learn how to protect yourself from fake stores and phishing.

Commerce Department proposes TP-Link router ban over Chinese security risks. Learn how this potential prohibition could affect your home network and devices.

Hyundai AutoEver America suffered a data breach affecting 2,000 current and former employees, exposing names, Social Security numbers and driver's license information.

Washington court rules automated license plate reader images are public records, even when stored by vendors like Flock Safety, setting precedent for transparency.

Fake airline texts claiming flight cancellations are targeting travelers with convincing scams. Learn how cybercriminals steal personal data and credit card info.

Discover how iOS 26's new Adaptive Power feature automatically extends iPhone battery life by learning your usage patterns and adjusting performance intelligently.

New TikTok malware campaign tricks users into running PowerShell commands that download Aura Stealer, which steals credentials and authentication tokens.

Gaia Family offers fixed upfront pricing for IVF cycles with unlimited embryo transfers and financial protection, partnering with over 100 U.S. fertility clinics.

The Jetsons Act aims to position Pennsylvania as a leader in advanced air mobility by establishing regulations for hybrid ground-air vehicles.

Fake Geek Squad invoice emails are targeting users with convincing charges and urgent phone numbers to steal personal information and money.

Fox News Digital's artificial intelligence newsletter digs into a robot in Russia that faceplanted, George Clooney's alarm and OpenAI's rivalry with the New York Times.

Major data breach at Conduent exposes personal information of 10+ million people. Government contractor hit by cyberattack affecting Medicaid, child support systems.

Texas startup Janta Power raises $5.5M for innovative vertical solar towers that generate 50% more energy than traditional panels while using just one-third the land.