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The Dynamic Duo-
The Beauty of Corporate and Creative Clients
By Jennifer Brown Banks
You’ve probably discovered that e-zine and magazine markets
won’t pay the mortgage, or sustain an ongoing profitable
business. Competition is fierce, publishers don’t always pay
as promised, and the typical rate is ten cents to a dollar
per word, usually paid after publication.
To solve this conundrum of how to balance passion against
financial obligations, for many years I toiled at a 9 to 5
gig, while squeezing writing in as time allowed. Then about
five years ago, I was blessed to be downsized from a public
relations agency. I say, “blessed” because it enabled me
the opportunity to cultivate and grow my work-from-home
business. I discovered the joy of personal freedom.
I believe it was Emerson who once said that “success” is
living life on your own terms.
Since I already wrote regularly for a few magazines, I
merely built upon that base by adding more publishers. But
I also supplemented my income through teaching creative
workshops at colleges, libraries and arts centers in my city.
Much to my surprise, many of my students needed more
direction, and contacted me after our sessions for additional
writing help. Without the expense of marketing or a lot of
mental muscle, they became my creative clients. It was a
marriage made in heaven.
If you’re looking to expand your writing business and your
bank account, here’s why both corporate and creative
clients make sense.
The Pros of Creative or Personal Clients
• Creative, or personal, clients pay on the spot for
services. I typically charge $40 to 100 per consult for one
hour of my time. No more waiting for weeks or months for
checks in the mail.
• Personal clients are more flexible—they typically
don’t have imposing deadlines or many dictates.
• They are great to network with; if they are pleased
with your services they give referrals.
• They tend to be very generous and grateful for
“quality” services. For example, beyond their “tab”, many
of them have bestowed gift cards at bookstores, gift
subscriptions for writers’ publications, herbal teas, and
bonus pay beyond what they owed me. When was the last time
a publisher was so appreciative?
• They provide human interaction, which makes working
from home less solitary.
The Pros of Corporate or Business Clients
• They give a sense of legitimacy to your business.
• Corporate clients look impressive on a business resume.
• They help you to become a disciplined writer because of
deadlines, editorial calendars, and budgets.
• They can expand your online visibility and put your work
before unfamiliar, niche or normally unreachable audiences.
• Their rates are sometimes higher for fewer hours. I once
made $500 for an 800-word column that took two hours to
write. I then sold it to another market two months later
for extra pay.
Ready to expand your horizons?
Here are a few “pick-up” places to add to your current client base:
WWW.CRAIGSLIST.ORG
WWW.JOURNALISMJOBS.COM
WWW.WOODENHORSEPUBLISHING.COM
WWW.WRITERGAZETTE.COM
Once you have a good mixture of both types of work, you’ll
discover why it’s the perfect blend for business success!
BIO
Jennifer Brown Banks
Senior Editor, Mahogany Magazine,
http://www.mahoganymagazine.com
Veteran Freelance Writer and Consultant
http://www.writergazette.com/jenniferbrownbanks.shtml
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