As a freelance writer, you have so very many different options available to you for making money. Think about all of the many things that you see each day that have words printed on them, and you will begin to see that a vast world of possibilities is available to you in terms of job assignments. More than just writing article after article and ghostwriting books and ebooks, freelance writers also have the ability to take on assignments that have a fun and extra creative element to them when they write greeting cards for cash. Here is what you need to know to make money writing greeting cards:
The Process. Many greeting card companies accept freelance submissions. It seems as though every company has their own requirements. For instance, some may require you to make your submissions via mail on postcard-size index cards. Others may require you to email your submissions. Most have a minimum number of submissions you can submit at a time, so you generally cannot just email off a single submission. Instead, you may have to submit ten or even twenty-five or more at a time. After you submit your suggested greetings to the company, you will have to wait a specified period of time to get a response. Most companies will respond even if your submissions are not accepted, so either you will receive a decline response, a statement showing the amount of the check you will receive shortly, or the check itself.
Dates. Greeting card companies, generally speaking, have a need for year-round greetings such as those on birthday, anniversary, and thank you cards. Card companies that specialize in these greetings may accept submissions year-round. They also, however, need seasonal greetings such as for Mother’s and Father’s Day, Halloween, Easter, Christmas, Hanukah, and more. The due dates for these seasonal items may be months ahead of time, so be sure to pay attention to submission dates for such greetings.
The Message. Many greeting card companies focus their products on an certain clientele or customer. Some will offer more emotional and heartfelt cards. Others will offer humorous or even adult-oriented cards that take on a crude edge to them. With this in mind, you should customize your greetings and card messages to suit what the company is looking for. You will have better luck getting your submissions to be accepted when you submit greetings the company actually wants. You should also, however, take time to read some of the cards the company already has to both get ideas for what they are looking for as well as to avoid duplication with what they already have available. For the most success, try to find a creative, fresh approach to the style they are looking for.
Some freelance writers will write nothing but greeting cards for a living, and these writers who have a knack for this style of writing can make a pretty penny. Other freelance writers use greeting card income as a way to supplement other sources of income, and this is a great way for professionals to generate another income stream in a way that is fun and offers a creative outlet.
