So here's my dilemma: I don't know how to pitch this. There are probably a few people I can talk to about leads (and I'll likely be doing that after the holidays), but I'm not sure how to approach folks I have no relationship with. I'm aware that to some degree this question is more "How do consult," but I have a definite sense that it's a lot easier to pitch yourself as a JavaScript, Rails or even (gasp) PHP dev than it is as a docs writer: it's hard not to notice, for example, that when HN does its monthly "Who's hiring?" posts, it's rare to see anyone looking for tech writers--even companies building APIs, where the documentation is arguably the user interface.
If you're a tech writer yourself, do you have any experience with this? And if you're not a tech writer, how do you think a pitch like this could work?
One way to do that might be if you could show some sort of survey data showing that X% of hiring managers select tools based on documentation availability/quality. Ideally, you'd come up with a way to project the impact on their conversion rates if they improved their docs in specific ways.
As far as pitching, build out your site and writing samples. I would target companies who currently hire tech writers, they may require some temporary help.
Been a contract tech writer for many years but mostly get work from word of mouth, contacts built up over years, agencies, and responding to vacancies directly.
2. Post educational content in places where your target market hangs out (e.g. here).
Any reason to limit yourself to startups? More mature companies might recognize the need easier.
1. Make sure you’ve picked the right segment to focus on.
2. If you are open to other segments, don’t make your marketing alienate those other segments.