Do you like conventional freelance journalism however wrestle to earn a dwelling? Model journalism could be an ideal match for you.
By writing content material for corporations, you possibly can put your nice storytelling expertise 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 a couple of 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 expertise and advertising and marketing methods to land model journalism gigs, transfer up and earn extra.
Need to know the way it’s achieved? We just lately caught up with two specialists in model journalism to point out you the way:
Meet the model journalism specialists
In a current Freelance Writers Den podcast, we talked with two profitable model journalists about how one can land work and develop your enterprise.
- John Egan is a contract content material advertising and marketing author and model journalist primarily based in Austin. He has virtually 30 years of expertise in journalism, model journalism, content material advertising and marketing, 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 and marketing campaigns for plenty of Fortune 1000 corporations
Need to discover ways to use your journalism expertise to earn nice charges? Learn how to get began with model journalism on this Q&A.
Q: How do you outline model journalism?
Egan: In the event 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 100% into model journalism. The primary purpose is that it’s far, much more profitable. No ifs, ands or buts about it.
Q: What sorts 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 achieved 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 completely happy 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 trade.
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 fascinating, that’s informative, that individuals discover worth in.
Q: The place can you discover model journalism gigs?
Spark: They’re not mendacity on the market. You can’t simply promote your self as a author that may create content material. You need to make a case for why yours will probably be higher than what the one that is already working there can do.
It takes quite a lot of 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 purpose we get work is as a result of corporations see our particular model and wish it. My large recommendation is, work out what your model is, model it, and personal a selected trade.
Q: Do you search for 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 is just not a time period that I see as a lot.
Q: Can you have got multiple area of interest?
David: It doesn’t harm. However in a subject akin to B2B tech, you possibly can’t be the whole lot. The area is large. Now we have 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 exterior freelancers, our fee was 50 cents a phrase. Others work on a flat price construction. Ask for what you assume you’re value and also you’ll get a particular sure or no. Generally it takes negotiation.
Q: How do you scale up and get extra work?
Spark: That is the massive benefit all of us have in model journalism-the work we do turns into the promotion for the subsequent gig. Somewhat 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 worth.”
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. Determine 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 visitors we’re getting, what persons are studying, and the way they’re behaving on that web page. Many occasions content material received’t end in fast gross sales. However they might consider us the subsequent time as a result of they learn an article on our web site.
Q: What’s your greatest 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 drag 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 deal with them.
Q: Which manufacturers are doing an amazing job within the trade at the moment?
Egan: I’d take note of Coca-Cola. What they produce is actually cool, and so they have been one of many early adopters of this new wave of content material advertising and marketing 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 identify on it, and it’s extra prevalent now.
The Web has modified quite a lot of issues. It has enabled an increasing number of corporations to inform their tales in a value efficient manner.
Put your journalism expertise to work
In the event you’re an old-school journalist or a freelancer who is aware of the ropes on the subject of reporting, interviewing, and storytelling, you possibly can put these expertise to work to land gigs in model journalism. Firms want your assist and are keen to pay professional charges.
In the event you’re questioning what alternatives exist for freelance writers in 2024 (trace: there are a lot!) then be certain to register for the free webinar developing on September 26, 2024 referred to as The way to Efficiently Break Into Journalism in 2024! You’ll study concerning the several types of journalism and what you could greatest be suited to, and the highest expertise profitable journalists want and what it may result in.
Maria Veres is a contract author primarily based within the Oklahoma Metropolis space.
