We agree Dawn-Renee. Writers need to use both types of marketing, but too many writers rely too much on either one type or the other.

Absolutely. That’s been one of my learnin’s.

Thanks for persevering Anne!

I only have two main inbound marketing channels, my textbook supplements site and LinkedIn, so it’s easy for me to get a clear answer from a client.

To my knowledge I haven’t gotten work yet from this site, and I was once offered a speaking gig through my hiking site, but that fell through. (And that may be the subject of a blog post here on PW someday)

Tom, you’ve hit on a very important point.

Inbound marketing is quite passive. Sure, you have to put stuff on the Internet, but you don’t have to actually reach out to clients and engage them in a conversation about their needs and your skills.

Like you, I began my career before LinkedIn and before most writers had websites. I HAD to reach out to companies.

I’m a moderator inside the Freelance Writers Den. I’ve noticed many of the newer writers in there don’t want to actually contact prospects. Carol Tice, the owner of the Den, harps constantly on the need for writers to make contact with prospective clients rather than sitting back and hoping for a happy e-mail.

I see far too many newer writers who are all over Twitter and Google+ and other social media sites, somehow thinking this is a good way to launch their careers. What they need is a basic website and a complete LinkedIn profile, and they need to be on the phone and in their e-mail programs connecting with people that can hire them for good pay.

I hope my original comment didn’t seem too obnoxious (the dangers of dashing something off in the middle of a busy day).

I agree that a mix is probably the best strategy, especially if you’re new to the game and targeting clients is an uphill battle.

I’m a little sensitive to what appears to be a creeping immobility in the new freelancer universe; I still get emails from new copywriters who are puzzled by their lack of success.

They have a website, they tweet, they do other stuff — but their business is weak and their clients nothing to write home about.

When I ask how many calls they’ve made in the past quarter — who they’ve contacted or how many new clients they’ve specifically targeted — the answer is usually none.

The Internet is fabulous, but I think it lulls some into a sense of complacency; they don’t have to leave the security of their website or their home office, and I think long-term success (at least in some markets) dictates that they do.

Thanks for the opportunity to discuss this.

Most of my business comes ‘inbound’ as it were. I understand the need for measurement but find it close to impossible when people call and really don’t know which site of mine that most moved them…

“Where did you find me?”
“Oh, you know, on the internet.”
“Great. Do you remember which website?”
“Uhhh, no, not really, just on the internet.”
At that point I feel if I poke around more I’ll lose ’em over the question. I really get that many people still have no real clue what a website actually is or that the internet is made up in large part of urls, etc.

Interesting that you’re showing up for people searching for Atlanta. There must be a reason; perhaps you’ve mentioned Atlanta a few times on your website.

It’s very important to choose specific keywords for your writing specialty in LinkedIn and on your writer website. One of my projects for May is going through my LinkedIn profile and slanting it even more toward my specialty.