I'm aware that this subject is most likely addressed elsewhere on this forum, but after searching for a fair while I was unable to find anything; I will understand if this post is answered with the appropriate link and a diatribe on proper use of this site. Anyway, I am thinking of going freelance, moonlighting only, and one thing that's proving difficult to find is a comprehensive explanation of what exactly I should do. A little background first: I work in marketing and about 40% of my time is spent copywriting, from page copy to articles, I do a little bit of everything; I have done one piece of freelance work for a former employer but have no idea how to go about getting anymore. I understand that I need to network, self-promote and all the rest of it but what of the actual specifics? Should I send out mass emails to "prospects", phone people up or rely on having a search visible portfolio? How do I identify these prospects? Are there tools or digital solutions that no start-out freelancer should be without? These are the questions that I think go unanswered by the majority of the articles I have read on this subject: what are the best practices in freelance copywriting that are fundamental? To be more succinct: - How to I identify and then approach clients? I understand that I should pick a niche etc but how should I actually go about this, is there an etiquette? - What are the platforms / tools I should be looking at: portfolio sites, email marketing programmes, image sourcing sites? - What are the conventions in this industry that I need to be aware of? Talk as you would to a small child or a Golden Retriever. Thanks very much, S