If you’re tired of getting paid $300 for blog posts and know your writing is worth more, it might be time to start fishing in a bigger pond.
The MeltzerSeltzer Team
If you’re tired of getting paid $300 for blog posts and know your writing is worth more, it might be time to start fishing in a bigger pond. I call it The Big Fish Method — a simple, scrappy way to find high-paying freelance writing clients by targeting companies with actual budgets.
The secret? Crunchbase. Yep, the platform most people think is just for investors or startup bros (or that maybe you’ve never even heard of…). But with a little creativity, it can become your go-to tool for landing better gigs — and I’ll show you exactly how to use it.
I call this the Big Fish Method
When I wanted to break out of the coding bootcamp niche (no one wanted to pay me more than $300/blog...), I had to get creative. One of my genius friends, Joanna, suggested I start looking into the companies in my niche that have funding.
So I expanded into the broader tech startup niche and started finding what we affectionately called around our shared coworking office “Big Fish." It might sound intimidating at first, but you can definitely land clients like these. Funded companies can be big corporations or small startups – what they have in common is that they usually have a real marketing budget.
Signs of a Big Fish
If you’re trying to figure out whether a company is worth pitching, here are some signals to look for:
- They’ve received Series B funding in the past year (or five years, but preferably recently)
- Have a valuation of $7 million or more (sometimes as low as $4 million, but usually between $7‐$10 million)
- If you’re doing content/copywriting like me, you’ll want them to have a content team: ideally an SEO lead, editor, or “growth” person with more than one content or copywriting hire.
- If you’re doing some other form of digital marketing, seek some sort of team related to the service you’re offering.
Where to Find This Info: Google and Crunchbase
To find valuations, search: "[company name] + valuation"
For funding info, Crunchbase is your new best friend. I recommend starting a free Crunchbase trial when you’re ready to dive in – it's pricey otherwise, and I’ve never paid for it. But you only have 14 days to use it, so time it right!
During your free trial:
- Write down or copy the most interesting companies based on your search
- Store them in a spreadsheet (like your Ideal Clients Tracker)
- Cancel your trial before it ends so you don’t get charged
⚡️ Pro tip: You can do this ~ once a year. You’ll get thousands of results. Not all will be a match, but many will!
I honestly do it every 2(ish) years. I treat it like “window shopping” and it’s way more fun that way!
Using Crunchbase to Find Funded Clients
Crunchbase can look intimidating, but it’s easier than it seems.
Here’s how I use it to find Big Fish:
- Click “Search Crunchbase” in the top right-hand corner.
- Click “Companies”
- Use the left-hand filters:
- Industry: Choose your niche (e.g., EdTech, HealthTech, FinTech, etc.)
- Financials:
- Date: 2021–2023
- Funding Stages: Seed, Series A-C
- Type: For Profit
- Operating Status: Active
- IPO Status: Public or Private
- Scroll through results and handpick companies that excite you
If you want to export the full list, Crunchbase makes you pay. But I just kept my Ideal Clients Tracker open in another window and typed in each one I liked.
Once you’ve got your list, you can cancel your trial and rest easy. You’ve just stocked your fishing pond with high-potential clients.
What to Do Next
Now that you’ve got your list of funded companies, you can vet your list and:
- Check out their websites
- Look for a content team or SEO lead
- Pitch them with a relevant idea that shows you understand their product and goals
Don’t worry if a lot of companies seem too technical. That’s normal. Skip those. Focus on the ones that align with your niche and writing strengths.
This process usually takes me about 2‐3 hours. But once you’ve got a solid list, you won’t need to repeat it for a while. I made my last list over two years ago and I’m still getting leads from it.
⚡️ Pro Tip: You can actually vet your list while you’re going through your getting clients routine (watch the full routine tutorial in Pop Club). I usually find this to be faster.
But either way works!
FAQ: The Big Fish Method
Q: Do I need to pay for Crunchbase to make this work?
A: Nope. Just use the free trial wisely – build your list, then cancel before the trial ends.
Q: What if I don’t know my niche yet?
A: Start broad. Use Crunchbase to explore industries you're curious about, and see which types of companies feel like a good fit for your skills and interests.
Q: How many companies should I aim to find?
A: Aim for at least 30-50 strong leads. You might have to sift through a few hundred to get there, but it's worth the effort.
Q: How do I reach out once I have a list?
A: Do a little digging to find the content manager or marketing lead. Then send a personalized cold pitch that shows you've done your research and have ideas to help.
Ready to catch your Big Fish? Go start your Crunchbase trial, build that lead list, and pitch with confidence. You've got this.
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