How Much Money Could You Make in 4 Months Freelance Writing? (Answer)

This is a question I get often...

The answer?

A Lot.

Well, it depends.

Depends on what?

What the market needs. In the music industry, it'll probably be much tougher. I've made a TON of progress freelancing, but I work with businesses to do copywriting.

Businesses have money.

Studios and artists do not (usually). I don't know much about what mix engineers do. I've been in a band, composed music and understand what a producer does.

The music industry doesn't make much money in general (only the top % do), so you could expand your horizon out into video production companies, jingles, TV statiosn and others.

This is all hanging on you know a bit about mix engineer. If not, you'll need to spend 1-2 months just becoming better than 95% of the world so you stand out a bit.

To Lay out what you need to do in the next 4 months:

MONTH ONE:

• Set up a website

-Put samples on said site

-Set up your Linkedin as well.

-Start with one list. Target Video production companies and movie studios.

-Research a list of ALL of the ones within 2-3 hours of your house. Use your local library to research, Data.com, Linkedin, associations and more.

-Everyday, reach out to at least 15 of these places on your list. Offer your services. Don't be long-winded. Do a bit of research on each of them so you can complement their work already. EVERYDAY do this.

-Find 2 people each day to reach out to who are doing exactly this: Mix engineering or producing. Mix engineering might be the lowest hanging fruit

-Do some small jobs on Upwork to make some money and gain some experience.

MONTH TWO:

-Continue with Steps 6-8 from Month One.

-Research a list of television stations and also full-service ad agencies (they make commercials). Find all within 2-3 hours of you.

-Everyday, reach out to 5-10 of these places. Now, you should be reaching out to about 20 companies a day. NOTE: You'll be following up with each of these companies every week until you hear NO or after 6 times of no response. Make sure you have the right person you're contacting. You would know better than I who the right person is)

KEY: Don't spend a bunch of time "networking." Yes, reaching out to 2 people each day could lead to some networking, about 30-50% won't answer , some will write you a short answer and a small number will want to meet.
HOW TO REACH OUT TO SOMEONE:

*Hi Target New Buddy,

I saw some of your work with X Company. Really liked your project where BLAH BLAH. I just went full-time to be a mix engineer and would appreciate your advice.

I'm in month one, what steps would you take in my shoes?

Hope we can connect more,

Joe*

MONTH THREE:

-Continue will Steps 1 of Month 2.

-Research list of Television stations. Reach out to 5 of them per day until there's no more. (All of these you will run out, then it's just follow-up and you won't then be doing 20 each day, just make sure you contact them all AT LEAST 3x)

-Hopefully, you've secured some contracts to work.

-To follow-up with companies, send your target prospect relevant information, a cool mix you've heard, ask for their thoughts on a piece, do some research on them and send them something about which they like. Anything to get an answer out of them. Call, email, if you can afford to send a letter/postcard, do that. Tweet them, FB them. Sounds stalkish but they will respect your perseverance.

MONTH FOUR:

-Do Steps 1,3,4 of Month 3.

-Research any other companies you think you could help. Reach out to 2-5 of them everyday.

-Don't give up. This is hard.
I did a hybrid version of this as I'm still growing. Your sales pitches will get better, you will work faster.

This is a TON of work, somedays you won't be able to reach out to the 20 companies. It's fine. Just keep going. It usually takes (I've heard) about a year before you gain some slow traction.

Trust me, I wasn't close to perfect in any of this and I've made some traction. Patience and persistence.