I’m sharing with you a step-by-step guide
If you’re a freelance writer, pitching clients is not just a skill; it’s essential for growing your business. It makes you stand out, showcases your writing skills, and helps you get decent clients.
Coming up with the right pitch is essential in a market where many freelancers are competing for the same jobs. It would help if you learned how to pitch to get freelance writing jobs or grow your writing business.
Pitching is essential to getting freelance clients, no matter how experienced you are as a writer or how new you are to a freelance writing business.
In this article, my step-by-step guide will help you make a compelling pitch and give you important tips on freelance writing services, and writing content for your clients.
Moreover, this blog post will show you how to communicate with your clients in a way that gets results, which will help you stand out and grow your freelance business.
1. Research Your Target Client: Know Who You’re Pitching To
This is the first and most important thing you must do before pitching. When you make a customized, personal pitch, it shows you know about the client’s business. This makes your proposal much more robust. Using this method will help you get paid writing jobs that pay well.
Key Areas to Focus Your Research On:
- Company Background: Learn about the client’s goals, beliefs, and audience. This will help you ensure that your pitch fits their wants and goals.
- Content Gaps and Needs: Look at the information they already have, like blog posts and social media, to find proper places for your services.
- Industry Trends: Keep up with news and trends in your field, and use these in your pitch to show that you’re interested and looking ahead.
For example, you’re pitching a fitness brand. You could point out that their blog is missing some material, like articles on nutrition trends like intermittent fasting. Make it clear how your professional writing services can help them and give their readers something of value.
Related Article: Mastering the Art of Freelance Writing: 10 Essential Tips for Success—In this article, I outlined how research plays a crucial role in improving your overall freelance writing strategy and success rate.
2. Personalize Your Pitch: Avoid Generic Proposals
Personalization is the most important thing to remember when trying to get clients as a content writer. People will only be interested in something other than a general pitch. Clients can tell if you send the same pitch to more than one person. To make an impression, make sure that each proposal fits the wants of the client in question.
How to Make Your Pitch Unique:
- Refer to Specific Content: Talk about a recent story, product, or campaign that interested you and how it relates to your pitch.
- Use the Client’s Name: Do not use welcomes like “Dear Sir/Madam.” When you call a client by name, you instantly connect with them.
- Highlight Relevant Experience: Tell them in a few words how your skills match their needs and how you can help them solve their problems.
Example of a Pitch: “Hi [Name of Client], I really liked your most recent blog post about traveling in an eco-friendly way. As a freelance writer who focuses on green living, I saw that you haven’t talked about ethical wildlife tourism yet, which is something I’ve written a lot about. I’d love to help you add more information to this area.”
Related Article: How to Start a Freelance Writing Career with No Experience and Stand Out in a Competitive Market—Personalized pitches can make all the difference, even if you’re starting. This guide shows how to stand out even without a lengthy portfolio.
3. Start with a Strong, Engaging Opening
One of the best freelance writing tips is to grab their attention immediately. The first sentence of your letter needs to quickly grab the client’s attention. If you want to solve a problem, talk about your skills, or address it, the first line should make them want to read more.
Examples of Engaging Openings:
- Identify a Problem: “I noticed that your website content isn’t optimized for SEO, and I can help improve your rankings by creating keyword-focused articles.”
- Offer a Solution: “Your blog lacks regular updates, and I can help with consistent, high-quality posts to engage your readers.”
- Showcase Expertise: “With five years of experience in health and wellness writing, I specialize in creating content that educates and converts.”
You can make it easier to close the deal by directly addressing the client’s wants. This makes you look like the answer to their content problems.
4. Keep the Pitch Short and Focused
Be brief when pitching clients. Clients are busy and don’t have time to read a long text. Keep your pitch to three or four lines and stick to the essential points. Make it clear why you should be chosen.
Essential Components of a Strong Pitch:
- What Kind of Person Are You? Briefly describe yourself and your field.
- What You Offer: Make precise what services you offer and how they meet the client’s wants.
- Why You’re Qualified: Mention any relevant work experience or clients you’ve had in the same industry.
- Call to Action: At the end, explicitly request something, like a meeting or more time to discuss the idea.
“Hello [Name of Client],” I’m [Your Name], and I’m a freelance writer who has worked in [your niche] before. I saw that your website could use more material on [topic] that is optimized for search engines. I’ve helped businesses like yours get 30% more organic traffic through targeted pieces. When can we meet to discuss how I can do the same for you?”
5. Showcase Your Portfolio and Testimonials
Your portfolio shows how skilled you are. Links to relevant writing examples and testimonials from past clients will help you look more trustworthy.
How to Showcase Your Work:
- Portfolio Website: Clients can see your work neatly and professionally by linking to your website.
- Writing Samples: Please send a few of the most critical samples to the client’s needs by email or link.
- Testimonials: If you have testimonials, put one or two in your pitch to help people trust you.
Example: “The blog posts I’ve written for clients in the health and wellness business can be found in this link to my portfolio. I’ve also included a testimonial from a recent client whose engagement went up by 20% after they used my content approach.”
Related Article: How to Build a Freelance Writing Portfolio Without Clients—A well-organized portfolio can make your pitch more compelling. This guide offers valuable tips if you need to build a portfolio from scratch.
6. Follow Up Professionally
You shouldn’t give up if you don’t hear back right away. When the client is busy, following up professionally can help you get a response.
Tips for Following Up:
- Wait 5-7 Days: Let the client think about your pitch before you follow up.
- Be Respectful: Be polite and professional in your tone.
- Restate Your Offer: Remind the client about your proposal briefly and give a quick follow-up.
Example: “Hi [Name of Client], Just wanted to follow up on the email I sent before about writing jobs for other people. Let’s talk about how I can help make the information on your blog better. Please let me know if you have time for a quick chat!”
7. Be Prepared for Negotiations and Rejections
There will not be a project from every pitch, and that’s fine. Be ready to negotiate and act appropriately when you are turned down.
How to Negotiate:
- Stay Flexible: If the client says they are worried about the cost, offer tiered pricing or suggest they start with a minor job.
- Know Your Worth: Feel good about your prices and the value you offer. It would help if you kept your goals high.
Related Article: How to Price Your Freelance Writing Services: A Comprehensive Guide—Knowing how to price your work can help you during negotiations. Check out this article for tips on setting rates that reflect your skills and experience.
The Bottom Line
Mastering the art of pitching clients as a freelance writer is a skill that will directly impact the success of your business. You can get more gigs if you do a lot of study on the clients you want, make your pitch more personal, and show off your portfolio. Remember to follow up professionally and always be ready to bargain confidently.
If you follow my guidelines stated above and take the correct method accordingly, I do believe, you’ll soon be able to pitch like a pro and get long-term clients to a large extent.
For additional insights on growing your freelance business, check out these related articles:
How to Start a Freelance Writing Career with No Experience and Stand Out in a Competitive Market
How to Build a Freelance Writing Portfolio Without Clients
Mastering the Art of Freelance Writing: 10 Essential Tips for Success
How to Price Your Freelance Writing Services: A Comprehensive Guide
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