Responding to Freelance Writing Jobs on Craigslist to Get the Job

What to Do & What NOT to Do When Applying for Freelance Writing Jobs

I recently landed three new clients in one day. Hence, I was slammed - too much work to meet all the deadlines without help. So, I immediately placed an ad on Craigslist for SEO writers (SEO writing is my new thing).

Over the next 24 hours, I received roughly 75 responses, and they're still pouring in, fully a week after I placed the ad. That's a lot of competition. I outsourced work to three writers from that ad - and have outsourced more work since then. Two of the three I worked with I plan to outsource more work to when I need help.

My point? Once an employer uses you, they will most likely use you again and again and again. Following are some things that, as an "employer," turned me off, and others that made freelancers stand out (and made me want to call them).

Remember, I've been a recruiter for over a decade, so the following tips come with a healthy dose of experience behind them.

1. Don't Ask for More Information - yet. Why? Because it means more work for the person who's looking for help - at precisely the time they don't have the time to do more work.

When I got responses like, "Can you send more info?" or "I've never done this type of work before, but ..." or, "I'm interested in learning more ..." I immediately clicked through to the next responder.

My answer to all of these questions is an emphatic "No." As in:

No I don't have time to send you more info - because I'm on deadline; and

"No I can't work with you if you've never done this type of work before because I can't train you - because I'm on a deadline;" and

"No, I don't have time to teach you right now, although I'm thrilled you may be interested in learning more - because I'm on deadline."

I thought the ad I wrote was pretty detailed. It gave enough information for someone with the kind of experience I was looking for to be able to assess the job - without more detailed info UNTIL they were hired for the job.

TIP: If you read an ad and can do what it asks, then don't request more info up front - because the important info (deadline, rate, type of writing, etc.) should be in the ad. Wait until you've been hired and then ask questions.