Alexander P.P. Lowe Charts a New Course to a Stable, Successful Freelance Business
When Alexander (Alex) P.P. Lowe’s work suddenly dried up after years of freelance success, he knew he needed to take action. So he learned how to market his freelance business by focusing on how he meets client needs and what works best for freelancers: direct email, LinkedIn, and networking. Alex has charted a new course to a stable, successful freelance business.
Like many freelancers, marketing made Alexander (Alex) P.P. Lowe uncomfortable. So the freelance medical writer made excuses for why he didn’t need to do it.
During his first few years as a freelancer, Alex was getting work mostly through his existing contacts from his previous work as a medical writer for a medical communications agency. A few clients found him on LinkedIn. Alex was so busy with client work that he told himself he didn’t have time for marketing.
Even when the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world and caused many freelancers to lose a lot of work quickly in 2020, Alex continued to thrive. Then in 2023, the late effects of the pandemic on the pharmaceutical industry caused much of his work to suddenly dry up.
How Structure and a Proven Process Helped Alex
Alex knew that he needed new clients—and that he needed marketing to get them. But he was afraid of rejection and didn’t know what to do to get the clients he deserved. “Marketing felt uncomfortable both because there was unseen fear of rejection and lack of practice in doing it,” he says.
Then Alex heard about Finding the Freelance Clients You Deserve, a step-by-step, online course that uses a proven process for freelance marketing. He chose the self-study version (now called Marketing Made Easy).
The course gave Alex a structure, week by week, to build his marketing skills and develop key marketing tools. “Focusing on a different element of marketing each week, and doing a little marketing often, reduced the barriers to getting started,” says Alex.
During the course, Alex learned how to position himself to focus on how he can support the needs of his clients. I call this client-focused marketing, which is professional, not pushy. It works because it shows clients the benefits they get when they work with you.
Learn more about client-focused marketing
How to Get Your Ideal Freelance Clients
Alex’s LinkedIn profile headline is one of his key client-focused marketing messages:
Experienced Freelance Medical Writer | PhD-Qualified | Medcomms, Publications, Medical Education & Medical Affairs | Delivering High-Quality, Engaging, and Informative Content
During the course, Alex chose his target markets—medical communication and pharmaceutical companies—and decided which skills and deliverables to focus on. Then he developed more marketing messages to appeal to these clients, such as:
“I help medical communication and pharmaceutical companies produce high-quality content to communicate the latest developments on the impact and treatment of human disease.”
Benefits of working with Alex include:
- Accurate, engaging and scientifically informative medical communication content
- Efficient and to the client’s specifications
- On deadline and on budget
- Can work independently or as part of a team.
Alex’s freelance medical writing business focuses on medcomms, publications, and med eds. He helps medical communication and pharmaceutical companies produce high-quality content to communicate the latest developments on the impact and treatment of human disease. Alex delivers accurate, engaging and scientifically informative medical communication content efficiently, on deadline, and on budget.
What Works Best for Alex in Getting the Clients He Deserves
Direct email, LinkedIn, and networking are all helping Alex get clients. He’s gotten the most clients through direct email.
Direct email lets you choose the steady, high-paying clients you want to work with and then make yourself irresistible to them. It’s not email marketing—those annoying mass emails that make the same offer to thousands of people. Each direct email is carefully customized to the client and focused on what you can do for that client.
Alex has also gotten freelance opportunities through LinkedIn, especially since he developed a compelling, client-focused profile and started posting his own content. “My colleagues and potential clients are reminded of me every time I post,” he says.
Networking hasn’t been easy for Alex, who considers himself an introvert. But he knows it’s important and joined several professional groups and societies.
Alex is a member of Freelancers in Pubs and Medcomms Workbook. Freelancers in Pubs is a free community helps freelancers who work in industry-sponsored medical publications “find their tribe and flourish professionally.” Medcomms Workbook is a community of 250+ freelancers in the medical communications and medical education industry.
Being part of Freelancers in Pubs has helped Alex do more networking and become comfortable reaching out to potential clients. “I’ve pushed myself little by little out of my comfort zone to the point where commenting on posts on LinkedIn and contacting potential new clients feels like second nature,” he says.
“It might be daunting to get involved in these communities, if, like me, you’re more of an introvert than an extrovert. But it’s worth pushing yourself.”
Learn more about membership communities
Top Benefits of Membership Communities for Freelance Medical Writers and Editors
Also, Alex belongs to the European Medical Writers Association (EMWA) and the International Society for Medical Publication Professionals™ (ISMPP). “I’m more connected and informed about the industry than before I did the course,” he says. “And in-person networking makes me feel like I can get to know clients on a more personal level. Who knows what both will lead to down the line?”
Learn more about direct email, LinkedIn, and networking
Get the Freelance Medical Writing and Editing Clients You Deserve: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Steady, High-Paying Clients
Marketing Helps Alex Turn Struggle to Success
Once Alex faced his marketing fears and developed compelling, client-focused marketing, he began to get new clients.
“Although it wasn’t plain sailing, that marketing course kick-started me and slowly but surely I’ve been charting a new course,” says Alex.
It took time and effort, but Alex now feels much more comfortable in marketing his freelance business now. He does many marketing tasks without thinking about them, including writing LinkedIn posts and networking in-person at events.
Learn More About Alex and Marketing
About Alex
Case study: Charting a Course Away from Struggle and Toward Success
From the Mighty Marketer
Courses
Finding the Freelance Clients You Deserve
Ebook
Blog posts
How to Get Your Ideal Freelance Clients
How to Get Steady, High-Paying Clients with Direct Email
Top Benefits of Membership Communities for Freelance Medical Writers and Editors