Do you like conventional freelance journalism however battle to earn a residing? Model journalism is perhaps an ideal match for you.
By writing content material for corporations, you possibly can put your nice storytelling abilities to work in a rising, profitable market.
Manufacturers have the budgets and the motivation to pay good writers what they’re value.
However how do you discover model journalism gigs? And when you do, what’s the key to carving out a distinct segment, touchdown repeat enterprise, and making more cash as a freelancer?
There’s just a few key substances to success in model journalism. And as soon as you understand the fundamental recipe, you’ll have the ability to create your individual mix of abilities and advertising methods to land model journalism gigs, transfer up and earn extra.
Need to know the way it’s executed? We not too long ago caught up with two specialists in model journalism to indicate you ways:
Meet the model journalism specialists
In a current Freelance Writers Den podcast, we talked with two profitable model journalists about the right way to land work and develop your online business.
- John Egan is a contract content material advertising author and model journalist primarily based in Austin. He has virtually 30 years of expertise in journalism, model journalism, content material advertising, running a blog, communications and public relations
- David Spark is a veteran tech journalist and the founding father of Spark Media Options, a model journalism agency. He has labored on content material advertising campaigns for plenty of Fortune 1000 corporations
Need to learn to use your journalism abilities to earn nice charges? Learn how to get began with model journalism on this Q&A.
Q: How do you outline model journalism?
Egan: Should you flip the phrases, it’s journalism for a model. Some folks object to throwing these phrases collectively, however I don’t have an issue with it. Simply because I work in home at a model doesn’t imply I threw all my journalism coaching away. I’m nonetheless telling tales.
Q: What led you to get entangled with model journalism?
Spark: I’ve been doing conventional journalism for some time, however now I just about am one hundred percent into model journalism. The primary motive is that it’s far, way more profitable. No ifs, ands or buts about it.
Q: What varieties of writing do you do?
Egan: I not solely produce the content material, but in addition provide you with concepts and promote the content material by way of social media.
I write weblog posts, and I analysis and design infographics. I’ve additionally executed case research, white papers, and media relations.
Q: What do corporations worth in model journalism?
Spark: Professionalism. Man, I’ve been the interviewee of so many shoddily produced movies and podcasts. The ultimate product needs to be one thing folks need to share.
I need folks to look good within the content material I create and be glad about it. We get repeat enterprise as a result of the consumer appreciates the professionalism and the way it makes them look good within the business.
Q: Is there a distinction between common journalism versus writing for an organization?
Egan: Not rather a lot. You need to be factual. It goes again to telling a narrative that’s attention-grabbing, that’s informative, that folks discover worth in.
Q: The place can you discover model journalism gigs?
Spark: They’re not mendacity on the market. You can not simply promote your self as a author that may create content material. It’s a must to make a case for why yours can be higher than what the one that is already working there can do.
It takes numerous frigging work. That’s the half everybody doesn’t need to hear. However figuring that out and promoting that idea is a troublesome, powerful factor.
The one motive we get work is as a result of corporations see our particular type and wish it. My large recommendation is, work out what your type is, model it, and personal a selected business.
Q: Do you lookup these jobs by trying to find “model journalism,” or one thing else?
Egan: Often, you’ll see the phrases “content material marketer” or “blogger.” Model journalist just isn’t a time period that I see as a lot.
Q: Can you might have a couple of area of interest?
David: It doesn’t harm. However in a discipline comparable to B2B tech, you possibly can’t be every part. The area is big. We have now very particular areas in B2B tech that we’re educated about.
Q: What charges are you able to get as a model journalist?
Egan: On the corporations the place I’ve used outdoors freelancers, our fee was 50 cents a phrase. Others work on a flat charge construction. Ask for what you assume you’re value and also you’ll get a particular sure or no. Typically it takes negotiation.
Q: How do you scale up and get extra work?
Spark: That is the large benefit all of us have in model journalism-the work we do turns into the promotion for the following gig. Fairly than promoting an even bigger idea like a case research, you say, “I did this. It generated X leads. Would you want that? Okay. Right here’s the value.”
Don’t promote on what it prices so that you can make a case research. Promote on what number of leads they’re going to generate. Work out what that’s value to them, and that’s what you cost.
Q: How do corporations measure the return on funding in model journalism?
Egan: We measure how a lot site visitors we’re getting, what individuals are studying, and the way they’re behaving on that web page. Many occasions content material gained’t end in rapid gross sales. However they could consider us the following time as a result of they learn an article on our web site.
Q: What’s your finest recommendation for writers who need to work in model journalism?
Spark: It’s all about discovering the area of interest and having connections.
Perceive what the corporate is making an attempt to tug off. Ask them, “What are you making an attempt to do?” That’s how I get my enterprise. It’s about discussing their particular wants and making an attempt to handle them.
Q: Which manufacturers are doing an incredible job within the business in the present day?
Egan: I’d take note of Coca-Cola. What they produce is absolutely cool, they usually had been one of many early adopters of this new wave of content material advertising and model journalism.
Firms like John Deere have been doing this for the reason that late 1800s. It’s simply we’ve slapped a brand new title on it, and it’s extra prevalent now.
The Web has modified numerous issues. It has enabled increasingly corporations to inform their tales in a price efficient approach.
Put your journalism abilities to work
Should you’re an old-school journalist or a freelancer who is aware of the ropes in terms of reporting, interviewing, and storytelling, you possibly can put these abilities to work to land gigs in model journalism. Firms want your assist and are prepared to pay professional charges.
Should you’re questioning what alternatives exist for freelance writers in 2024 (trace: there are a lot!) then make certain to register for the free webinar developing on September 26, 2024 referred to as Easy methods to Efficiently Break Into Journalism in 2024! You’ll be taught concerning the several types of journalism and what chances are you’ll finest be fitted to, and the highest abilities profitable journalists want and what it may result in.
Maria Veres is a contract author primarily based within the Oklahoma Metropolis space.