SiteAdding Value
If you want to be the writer editors come to again and again with assignments, you need to add value. By that, I mean you need to be or give something extra that makes your editors’ jobs easier. What makes you different from — and better than — other writers? That’s your added value. Here are some examples.
You have the basics down. You turn in articles on time or early, and they’re within the word count, well-researched, and well written. This all sounds pretty basic, but it’s scary how many writers don’t do the very things that define people as freelance writers. Turn in articles on-target and on time and you’ll already be adding more value than most. (Have trouble with deadlines? Read my post How to Be On Time — And What to Do if You Can’t.)
You have access to the best experts. This comes from building a specialty (or several specialties): You have a Rolodex full of expert sources you can turn to for useful information and good quotes. If your editors can rely on you to rustle up the foremost experts on a particular topic, that’s — guess what? — added value.
You’re fast. I’m a fast writer, so I write rush articles for a major health magazine at $2.25+/word. When a writer botches an article or flakes out, this editor knows who to call to save the day. (That’s right — me!) Being able to turn around a well-written and well-researched article pronto is added value for my editor.
You have access to “real people” sources. I know a writer who is always writing articles that involve “real people”; for example, she may profile three women with a particular health problem, or make over the diets of three “diet disasters.” Finding real people with the right characteristics who are willing to bare their souls in print — especially under a tight deadline — is no easy task. This writer I know has an e-mail list with hundreds of people on it, which she shoots an e-mail to whenever she needs a real person source. This is probably the reason editors come to her with this type of assignment. Other ways to become a pro at finding real people is to build networks in social media like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
You think graphically. (No, not that kind of graphic!) You can add value to your offerings by thinking of the whole article package instead of just the text. For example, you might offer a “charticle” or other interesting article format, suggest graphics to go with your article, offer sidebars of information that doesn’t fit anywhere else in the article, or submit high-quality photos. I once came up with an illustration idea for a trade article I was working on, and the editor used it. (It was cool seeing my idea rendered by an artist!)
How do you add value to your editors? Please post in the Comments below! [lf]
6 Responses to “Adding Value”
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Jennifer Roland
Said this on March 9th, 2009 at 7:32pm:Great post. It really highlights the importance of specialization as an important selling point. The more you write on a topic, the more insight you have, the more experts you know, and the faster you can write a good article.
Writers, make sure you pick a niche you like! You can shift to new specialties, but it will take time to build your expertise to the same level.
Marcia Layton Turner
Said this on March 10th, 2009 at 12:30am:Great post, Diana! You always make such great observations.
One other way I try and add value is by offering to request/gather images for editors. This is more relevant when I’m working on a profile, for example, but it takes me an extra 30 seconds to request photos and you’d be amazed at how many editors truly appreciate my taking that responsibility off their hands.
Claire Richmond
Said this on March 10th, 2009 at 10:42am:Re access to the best experts, findaTVexpert.com is packed to the rafters with them and it’s a free service for members of the media looking for experts to comment on a subject or be part of a show - ie TV, Radio, Print, etc.
findaTVexpert isn’t an agent and doesn’t get involved with fees, contracts, negotiations, etc. If the expert has what you want you call them (or their agent if they have one). It’s as simple as that - and it’s working. Members of the media are registering and experts are being booked for screentests, TV, Radio & Print interviews, etc.
Having spent 15 years making and developing TV programmes in the UK, I felt this was a service the experts needed and the industry wanted.
Melanie Brooks
Said this on March 10th, 2009 at 1:09pm:As an editor I always appreciate it when my writers make sure to send me contact information for getting photos. This way I can give my photographer a name and number of someone to call to set up a shoot. It’s easier than having us guess who the appropriate person would be.
It’s also great when a writer send along a side bar. Sometimes we use it and sometimes we don’t, but when we’re in a pinch space wise it’s nice to have something on hand we can use that is of value.
Nadine Goff
Said this on March 10th, 2009 at 9:57pm:Some of the editors I work with ask me to submit my stories with heads, decks, and subheads. Even though they usually change them (sometimes substantially), the editors tell me my suggestions give them a jumping off point and help them speed up their own thinking about these items. I also write many of the preliminary drafts of the photo captions that accompany my stories.
Meg
Said this on March 11th, 2009 at 10:49am:Re: Nadine-
Could explain what you mean by submitting stories with “heads, decks, and subheads”? I am a new writer and am not familiar with those terms. Thank you for your help! I have worked as an assistant for years and used to get frustrated when my boss would substantially change my drafts, until someone explained that even if they do, I’ve helped them greatly simply by giving them a jump start, rather than starting from scratch.