Kim Fuller is a contributing writer for Great Escape Publishing. Check out Kim’s advice on how to stand out as a travel writer with this recent newsletter sent from Lori Allen, director of Great Escape Publishing:
“So many of us were raised not to toot our own horns.
Whether it’s due to a reluctance in some cultures to call attention to oneself or an overly cautious tendency to avoid looking like we’re bragging, we often shy away from letting others know what we’ve accomplished.
But as spiritual coach Marianne Williamson once said, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us.”
But as Kim Fuller can tell you, that doesn’t serve freelancers well. Kim is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in Minturn, Colo., just outside of Vail, who has written for Outside Magazine, Yoga Journal, The Denver Post, and 5280 magazine, and her more than 100 published travel and food articles have taken her all over the world, as well as around her native state of Colorado.
“Publications aren’t always going to do it for you,” says Kim, who shares her top three tips for marketing yourself and your stories. “You have to be proactive.”
Her tips are below… and if you feel you’re not yet at a place where you have any successes, why not give “interning” a go, here.”
Lori Allen
Director, Great Escape Publishing
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How To Market Yourself: 3 Ways To Boost Your Freelance Work
By Kim Fuller
You may already have written a lot of great articles, or taken a lot of beautiful photos, but have they been seen yet? There are so many talented and creative people in the world, so it’s important to make yourself stand out from the crowd.
It’s no secret that the Internet provides us all with a powerful platform for showcasing our work, and there are so many outlets churning out content that it’s hard to keep track. So how can you really take advantage of the opportunities within modern media? Here’s how to market you and your work diligently and efficiently.
Create your brand
Freelancers work autonomously, outside the realm of a specific company or publication, so they need to develop a name for themselves. Not only a name, but also a logo, a website, a newsletter, and a following.
I started Kim Fuller Ink. with the support of a fellow freelancer — a friend who was starting her own brand creation and website building business. For a great rate, she crafted my logo, as well as the entire look of what has become my brand as a “Wordsmith & Photojournalist.” My website functions as a portfolio, blog, and contact form, and it’s been the best marketing tool I have had to date.
From the foundation of your brand, you can present your creativity to the world powerfully and with integrity — all from the style and voice that sets you apart from the rest.
Strategize with social media
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and most of the other online social sites and applications are great ways to promote yourself. On some of the platforms, like Facebook, it’s useful to start a page that is designated for your website, blog or brand to distinguish it from your personal page; with others, like Twitter or Instagram, you may want to draw people to your personal page so people and fans can become familiar with the person who posts the thoughts, articles or photos.
Have your website set up so that your social media channels populate on your homepage. This will give your social handles more exposure, leading to more followers, so more of your work will be found in multiple ways on the Internet.
Learn how to use hashtags correctly and effectively, so that you can attract more views to your posts, and entice viewers to click on your posts by giving them something to be curious about. If you’ve just published an informative article about traveling in Europe, write something for social media like: Euro-Trip Tips: Must-know advice for travelers ~ #Europe #Eurotrip #vacation #travel #travelwriter #traveltales #getaways #worldtraveler #Paris #Rome #Munich
Develop a solid network
So many business connections are made via email and over the phone these days, and that’s a good thing, but meeting colleagues, editors, and publishers in person is key when it comes to long-lasting relationships.
Carry business cards, and give them out often. You never know how one connection can lead to that perfect lead that will help you get your next photo published or your story assigned.
Attend conferences and networking events for travel writers, photographers, and media professionals — any time there might be an opportunity to introduce yourself to a fellow freelancer, one of your readers, an editor or potential article source, make the effort to create a lasting impression.
[EDITOR’S NOTE: Whether you want a full-time gig like Kim or you’re just looking for a fun way to see the world, we have just a few seats left in Kyle Wagner’s “internship program,” here. Go there today or wait another six months to read all the success stories that come out of it and know that it could have been you.]
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