As traditional media evolves, the journalists who write for those outlets need to evolve as well, adapting their skills and learning new ones. Freelance writer and Ebyline contributor Tim Sohn has met this challenge head on. He’s working on a certificate in digital marketing through MediaBistro.com and put technology like micro-blogging and live-streaming into practice. Ebyline chatted with Sohn about going digital, joining social media, and more.
What tools have you found most critical for freelancing in the digital age?
As a freelancer, I find the two most useful digital tools I use are social networking platforms Twitter and LinkedIn. I cover technology in the education and news industry spaces. On Twitter, I send out links to all the stories I write, and after I do phone interviews with all my sources, I send them a follow-up e-mail informing them that I post links to all my stories @editortim, if they would like to follow me. I also have asked for potential sources to reach out to me through Twitter. Typically, I thank my sources after doing an interview with an @ mention. I have a good following of influential newspaper companies and edtech companies following me on Twitter now. In addition, I do send out retweets selectively of stories I think would be of interest to my followers.
I am also a big fan of using groups on LinkedIn. I have sent out requests for story sources this way too. LinkedIn has its own group for journalists. The company holds conference calls every so often to train journalists in best practices for using LinkedIn. The next call is Feb 23 at 1 p.m. Eastern time.
I definitely think I have received more responses to my resume and to pitches because I have skills in SEO, editing video, user analytics, etc. However, so far, of those skills, I have only used SEO so far. I have tried pitching video as part of a package. However, I have been denied due to budget cutbacks multiple times.
You mentioned that you’re earning a certificate in digital marketing from MediaBistro.com. What prompted you to hone your skills and were there other resources you’ve used?
When I was job searching, I noticed I rarely saw a writing or editing position that didn’t include the words search engine optimization, analytics, and blogging. Other than the Mediabistro courses I have taken, I learned a lot on the job by trying things at my last full-time job as editor of a start-up weekly newspaper and digital news company. There, I tried things such as livestreaming a town hall meeting by the governor of New Jersey and working with local bloggers to help promote their content through our website.
What do you think are the biggest challenges that freelance journalists face nowadays? Aside from taking classes in digital marketing, are there other strategies you’ve used to overcome these challenges?
For me personally, the biggest challenge is finding freelance editing gigs. I worked on copy desks of newspapers and websites for 10 years. I have been freelancing since about 2006, and the majority of my freelancing gigs have been writing, which ironically I didn’t do much of before then. I find there are many more writing opportunities out there, especially with publications having cut back so much over the last few years. I think the biggest challenge for freelance writers is initial contact with a potential client, and then writing thorough pitch letters that show you know the publication inside and out. Another method I have used to get new clients is networking — stay in touch with folks that you have worked with over the years. Every so often, drop a quick e-mail touching base. That has worked wonders for me. Even though I haven’t done this, I have heard from other freelancer friends that attending local Chamber of Commerce meetings and special events can also lead to some good business opportunities.
What was your most unusual writing assignment?
Several years back, I wrote an article as freelancer about lichen for a local magazine in Milford, Pa. I had an outstanding editor, Ed Wetschler, who encouraged me to write the article as an interview with the organism. The headline was “Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘N Bark.”
Anything you’d like to add?
Diversify, diversify, diversify. Some people make the argument that it’s better to be an expert in one area — that may be the case sometimes. However, I have written on many, many subjects over the years — from medical devices to educational technology to the newspaper business and lichen. That has really worked for me because it opens up whole categories of publications I can pitch to.
Follow Tim Sohn on Twitter @editortim, Tumblr, or connect with him on LinkedIn.
