Potential Cold Email Problems – and the One Solution

More so today than ever before, freelance writers are in position to obtain new business through cold emailing. However, this is anything but a simple marketing strategy. In fact, it takes a lot of time and determination to make a success of this technique. Here are three potential cold email problems you are sure to face at some point in time. 1. No replies. Put

Cold Calling Fears – What is holding you back?

While most freelance writers despise cold calling, this is something I have grown to love over the years. In fact, I get a rush out of making cold calls from time to time. This may not be something I do every day, but here and there is fits nicely into my marketing plan. Recently, when working with a few members of my freelance writing course,

What to Take to a Face-to-Face Meeting

Yesterday, I spent the day out of my office meeting with potential clients. While it took up several hours, in the end it was well worth it as I closed a couple of deals. During my time in the car, driving from one appointment to the next, I began to think about what I really needed by my side and what I could have left

Freelance Writers: How to Make Time for Marketing

As a freelance writer, most of your time will be spent writing. That being said, you need to save time throughout the day for other tasks such as sales and marketing. Even though you may have enough work right now to keep busy, you never know when things are going to slow down. For this reason, marketing your services should be an ongoing task. But

The Truth About The Back of Your Book

It’s a mistake authors make all the time. They labor away on their manuscript, editing and re-editing; they even hire someone else to help them. And when they’re done, they tentatively put it up for sale. Without thinking about the one thing that can make or break a book: the sales copy. Your content will determine if they read the book all the way through

Face to Face Marketing Tips for Freelance Writers

Like many freelance writers, I do not enjoy talking about myself. That being said, there is a fine line between bragging on yourself and doing an effective job in the sales and marketing department. Are you comfortable with “face to face marketing?” In short, this is the act of marketing your services to potential clients in person. No matter the setting – from conferences to

What sets you Apart from other Writers?

As you continue to market your services, you will receive many of the same questions from potential clients. You are sure to hear the following from time to time: What sets you apart from other writers? Why should I hire you instead of another freelancer? These are legitimate questions – and you need to have legitimate answers. If you are unprepared for the above questions,

How to Compile a Cold Call List

Cold calling is a numbers game. In other words, if you make enough calls you are eventually going to find somebody who is interested. This leads to one very common issue: compiling a cold call list that is big enough to keep you busy, day after day. Here are three tips that I have successfully employed: 1. Local phone book. Although phone books are pretty

3 Questions to ask yourself Before Pitching a Small Business

Over the years, I have found that many small businesses are in need of freelance contractors. This holds true with many types of professionals including writers, designers, and internet marketers among others. Before you pitch your services to a small business, regardless of your method (cold calling, in person, etc.) you should ask yourself these three questions. 1. Do I know enough about the industry

The Importance of Connecting with Other Freelance Writers

Are you the type of freelance writer who avoids others at all costs? Do you work, day after day, from the comfort of your home office without any client and/or colleague interaction? This is very common in the world of freelance writing. That being said, it does not make it right. Over the years, I have found that connecting with other freelance writers, even if

Are you making these Cold Calling Mistakes?

A few weeks back, I showed everybody how to become more comfortable with cold calling. I strongly believe this to be an efficient and effective way to land new clients while introducing yourself to businesses on a more personal level. Cold calling is not for everybody. If you decide to give it a try, make sure you are doing everything right from the start. Here

Three Ways to Become More Comfortable with Cold Calling

At times, you may feel like your online marketing campaign is letting you down. Maybe you aren’t getting any inquiries through your website. Maybe you are sending out one email after the next, just to get shot down time and time again. Since this is a possibility, it is important to consider other methods of marketing your freelance writing services – such as cold calling.

Freelance Marketing — Moving Beyond Job Boards

This article is a part of a five post series for Demand Media Studios writers and others interested in leaving content mills and other low paying freelance writing jobs behind.  In our last post we talked about marketing your freelance writing services and how you should focus on basic market research, specialty target markets, and creating a marketing plan instead of aimlessly trying new ways

Freelance Marketing – Market Research and Planning

This week we’re running a five-post series for writers looking to leave content mills like Demand Media Studios behind them. Yesterday we took a look at three types of freelance writing jobs you can pursue, starting today. If you’re considering a change to grow your business, you should start there and narrow down your specialty area. Once you have a freelance writing specialty in mind,

How to Turn One Client into Two

There is only one thing better than landing a new client – landing two new clients. Over the years, I have found several ways to turn one client into additional work in a relatively short period of time. While these tips are not full-proof and may not work for you every time with every client, they are worth a try. 1. Ask for a referral.

Does Your Networking Come Across as Stalking?

Some freelancers are natural networkers. They have no problem introducing themselves to clients and colleagues, and they know how to build real relationships that benefit both parties. Other freelancers don’t have the same social skills. In general, that’s okay. I’d like to think we’re a fairly welcoming bunch overall. But every now and then someone takes networking or marketing too far, and they come across

Networking Events – Three Questions for Potential Clients

As a freelance writer at networking events, it is easy to sit back and let potential clients ask all the questions. While there is nothing wrong with listening and answering questions, you should feel comfortable opening up and asking some questions of your own. Not only does this show more interest on your part, but it gives you a better idea of whether or not

Freelance Writing Marketing: An Up and Down Affair

To reach all your freelance writing goals, it is essential to market your services on a regular basis. From query letters to cold calls to cold emails and everything in between, the more time you spend on marketing the better off you are going to be. Year after year, I have found that my marketing success is an up and down affair. By this, I

Which Samples Should I Send?

Often times, a client will not want to work with you until you prove your experience. As you know, the best way of doing so is to show off some of your past work. Of course, this leads to one very important question: which samples should I send? Here are three tips to keep in mind as you sift through your portfolio, searching for the

What to do the First Time you meet a Prospective Client

Are you planning on attending a get-together where you will have the chance to meet face to face with prospective clients? This can be a bit intimidating, especially if you have never gone through this process before. Many freelance writers share your concerns. After all, meeting with prospective clients in person can be full of stress. Fortunately, there are three things you can do to

Direct Mail Marketing: Dead or Alive?

There are many methods of marketing your freelance writing services. From managing a freelance writing blog to attending networking events, your options run deep. In the past, direct mail marketing was all the rage. Freelancers, as well as professionals in many other industries, found this to be an effective means of drumming up new business. The question remains: is direct mail marketing dead or alive?

Indie Publishing Teams: Who to Include

We’ve talked about the fact that indie publishing is a business. And you know that if you’re serious about selling a top notch book you can’t go it alone. That’s where your indie publishing team comes into play. As a true indie publisher (rather than just a small publishing company with in-house staff), you’ll most likely work with independent contractors. There are benefits to this:

Three Questions to Expect at Networking Events

The main goal of attending networking events is to meet as many people as possible. During this time, you are sure to ask your fair share of questions. At the same time, there will be quite a few inquiries directed your way. Time after time, I am asked the same questions at these events. At first, I was not prepared for these questions and often

When Should You Start Your Book Marketing Plan?

When you publish your own book with the intention of selling it, you should always have a marketing plan. One of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen indie authors make is assuming they don’t need one. They just wing it or rely on a low price or a single distribution outlet to cover all of their marketing. Let’s assume you have more hope than that. For

How to Setup and Present your Fee Schedule

It is one thing to market your talent to potential clients. It is another thing entirely to present your fee schedule and agree on a price and other project details. When setting up your fee schedule for the first time, you need to do so with “marketing” in mind. What good is this info if you don’t have anybody to send it to? There is

Networking Promises: Watch what you Say

As you network with others, no matter if in person or in another manner, you may be tempted to make promises. While there is nothing wrong with this, you must be extremely careful of what you say. If you promise something and don’t come through, there is a good chance that the relationship will end sooner rather than later. In the past, I made this

How to Ask for the Job in Person

There is nothing better than meeting a potential client in person. Not only does this give you the chance to show who you are and what you have to offer, but you are also able to better assess the client’s needs. The first few times I met with potential clients face to face I was scared. From not knowing what to say to the worry

Network through Connections with Editors

Over the past five years I have worked with 100+ editors. Some work for large national publications, and others “wear many hats” for smaller operations. While every relationship is unique, one thing always remains the same: these are great connections to have. Time and time again I land new gigs based on a referral given by an editor in my network. Sometimes they pass contact

Three Networking Mistakes I will never make again

By attending networking events you can quickly grow your career. You will not land a new gig from every event, but the opportunity to do so is right in front of you. Every year, I attend anywhere from 5 to 10 local networking get-togethers. Some are better than others, but I learn something no matter the outcome. Unfortunately, I have made my fair share of

Why Your Books Are Your Best Marketing Tool

Writers of all kinds often say that they love writing but hate marketing. But that’s frequently because they confuse marketing and hard selling — “Buy! Buy! Buy!” In reality, the hard sale is only one small part of marketing and whether you realize it or not you probably market your books every single day. When you set up your author website you were marketing. Every