How LinkedIn has helped me reach thus far as a freelance medico-marketing professional and medical writer

So, continuing after Part 1, a couple of months later, a healthcare communications agency approached me through Linkedin to write a manuscript for publication. This was on behalf of a pharma company. It went well with the end-client and I soon got a second one from the agency. However, the entire process from getting the project to the end-client approving and closing it would take at least a month and the agency would only then give me the next project- of course, if they had one. This meant the volume would be just one per month. Too low, and I needed more to get away from manuscript editing.

Simultaneously, I received a project for writing another manuscript through an acquaintance. This too was for a pharma company. Again it went very well with the client but the agency was not primarily into medical writing and I knew the work would be sporadic.?

To approach clients directly and pitch for projects required at least a portfolio, which I did not have at that point in time because I had only written a couple of manuscripts. Obviously, though I had worked in this space for 10 yrs and had done a lot of work, it was all as an employee and not as a freelancer. Meanwhile, I was still on the wrong track relying on google to look for agencies offering freelance work and again reaching a dead end with the free tests et al. I then subscribed to job alerts for freelance medical writing jobs and started applying to them. I would receive calls but the payment they offered was even less than peanuts, and I continued declining.?

Shortly thereafter, I was approached by a very well-known healthcare communications company from India with global operations, for a full-time mid-senior level position and allowing a permanent work-from-home arrangement. The job profile seemed good and I proceeded. I cleared the first round of interview, after which I was told I would have to complete some assignments before an interview with the AVP. Surprisingly, the salary negotiations were already done at this stage but the HR guy told me not to disclose this to the AVP if the interview happens!! It sounded fishy for sure. I did tell HR that I am surprised that with the experience I have, you still think a written test is required,?that too for a mid-senior level position? Anyway, since it was a well-known name I believed I wouldn't be cheated. Among the 5 assignments was one where I had to prepare a medico-marketing strategy for a new product launch in the anti-diabetics category. I spent 5 full days working on it. Apparently, they liked it (or so I was told), and the interview with the AVP was scheduled. At the end of the interview, he told me that HR would get back to me with an offer. 5 days later, no response. I called back only to be bluntly told, 'we are not hiring for this position!!!' I was shocked. They had got an entire launch plan made by me for free. I later did write to the AVP telling him they should be ashamed of themselves and whether he had ample free time to interview candidates if they are not hiring. Of course, there was no response. If I disclosed their name on social media, their reputation could be seriously damaged. Later I read on the Ambitionbox portal that others had faced the same fate. I had one more similar experience with yet another big name in digital technology and was now diversifying to enter into the healthcare communications space. Once burnt, twice shy they say- here, I was burnt so many times. Moving on, I realized that it was likely they had approached me looking at my profile on LinkedIn. That's when I decided to explore the LinkedIn medium.

I started searching for prospective clients on Linkedin, connecting with them, sending my CV, and informing them about the services that I offer. I also started writing articles on my profile page sharing?my knowledge and experience in the medico-marketing and medical writing space. Of course, the response rate from prospective clients is extremely low and requires a lot of hard work and persistence. At times it also got frustrating and I felt like giving up. My first breakthrough came months later when I bagged a 3-month contract with a healthcare communications agency. This was for a medico-marketing strategy project for a portfolio of a pharma MNC. During the period of the contract, I was not allowed to work with other clients. I was ok with it because medico-marketing strategy is my passion and also because it would be a welcome break from manuscript editing. During those 3 months, I also got an opportunity to work on some other types of projects with them. The medico-marketing strategy I created was much appreciated by the senior management of the pharma company. Once my contract ended, I restarted my LinkedIn approach. I now also had a portfolio. (For new freelancers, always ensure that your portfolio should never disclose the client's name, the product name, and especially the end-deliverable because maintaining client confidentiality is paramount and there cannot be any compromise on that. You need to black out such information). Now with a portfolio in place, I was more confident. I also started reading more about the various features of LinkedIn that might be useful. Yet, I can say that I haven't explored or mastered everything about LinkedIn yet. There is possibly a lot more to learn. Nevertheless, slowly, I have been able to build up a decent client base, getting a variety of projects and also a couple of clients from outside India. In fact, I now?have?some clients who have reached out to me directly by finding me on LinkedIn due to my articles. From starting freelancing 2 years ago with no idea how to go about it, what to do, or how to get clients, I am satisfied with where I have reached today. Like I had mentioned in part 1, the quality of work has to be A1 grade to retain the clients. I was always confident about the quality of my work, which was in fact the basis of exploring the freelance option. I have managed to retain all my clients, except one, whom I myself refused to work?with anymore as his communication was very disrespectful- short of abuse if I may say so. And to think he is in the business of communications?:D

The future looks more promising now. And it is all thanks to LinkedIn!! Persistence is the key here and quality is the recipe for success. Do subscribe to my weekly newsletter for more articles on medico-marketing and medical writing.

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