Freelancing for card companies is highly competitive. Submitted work must convey a unique, innovative manner of personal expression with regard to particular occasions. They want fresh ideas that people will readily purchase.
It might be difficult for a newbie to obtain work, but not impossible. There are always “occasions” for which sending a card is appropriate – birthdays, holidays, weddings, graduations, get well and so many more. Cards are on sale everywhere. Good taste and great humor sells. Insulting humor, however funny, probably will not sell well, if at all, although it might be read just for the laughs.
Whether you use a directory like Writer’s Market, or trade magazines or research writer’s groups and job market listings on the internet, make certain to read and fully understand all the specific guidelines and other information each company provides. You might have to request guidelines by mail if not posted online or otherwise readily available.
Keep properly categorized files and records of everything you create, submit or sell, and all papers, correspondence, copyright issues, contracts, etc. so you always know where you are in the process or what has transpired. Rejection of submission is always an opportunity to revise, send the batch to another company for review or just realize you need to update your efforts, research the current market trends and go on from there.
On the brighter side, this might be a good time to create your own line of greetings, copyright your work, and sell it yourself to retail markets, via the internet or promote as fundraisers. Churches, schools, and groups everywhere are always using fundraisers.
There is opportunity for those who can create special niche products, and are capable with designs (photographs or artwork) and have a way with words to fit the occasion. If you are truly capable, there are a great many ways you can promote it yourself. If you are just the artist or person who has a way with words, find a family member or friend with that talent you do not have and go work on plans and ideas.
Starting your own business and holding the copyrights could open up other market ideas for you, T-shirts and clothing, buttons, bumper stickers, coffee mugs, writing paper, decals, or designing for others. The opportunities are only limited by your abilities (and legalities). It is not necessary to start this as a full-time major business. If you want to test your abilities in the marketplace, part-time is always an option while you keep your day job to see how it works out for you.
Use resources such as Café Press (you send them the design and wording) and they take care of sales if you can refer customers. There is also Etsy, Ebay, many others and just tons of free advertising sites available to you on the net. Join groups both online and offline, and put on some demonstration of your work. Get and promote a website (or start with a blogspot.com) to bring in customers. Put your web address on your car (do something readable and removable) and do not be afraid to pass out your business cards.
Write and film a humorous infomercial clip and post it on your website, use sound. Team up with other merchandisers such as those who offer gift baskets to include your work where appropriate. If you cannot find a company that wants to participate, offer your own work in a gift basket with other theme items, preferably ones you have done.
Offer personalized greeting cards created from pictures sent to you with many choices of greetings outside and inside, or use the ones sent if requested. Those would also make great holiday cards and birthday greetings from a group. Find out what holidays and occasions or situations that are not well represented (and especially the kind that people cannot just create themselves at a photo kiosk); perhaps you can find your niche there as well.
Once you are publishing, selling, and have created a demand for your work, you might reconsider submitting some of your creations to greeting card companies, especially if you have created a demand for your products and your talent is recognized in the marketplace.
The links below were located via a search of the net to help you begin gathering information and determining whether or not this could be of interest to you. These looked like good places to start, but it is up to you to make the determination if they are worthwhile or not.
In the meantime, start creating your ideas and putting them on paper so you have something to work on and develop.
http://www.recycledpapergreetings.com
http://www.psgreetings.com
http://www.designergreetings.com
www.etsy.com – and an interesting article from Business Week -http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/jun2007/sb20070611_488723.htm
http://www.cafepress.com
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