Many writers believe that their days should be spent indoors, cranking out words and sending queries to find their next gig. While you are going to spend a lot of time at home writing, there is nothing wrong with getting out and meeting clients. This is a particularly good idea if you are trying to sell somebody on the idea of hiring you for a project.
In my early days as a freelance writer I felt that in-person meetings were a waste of time. After all, I had to put my writing aside and spend time on something that may never yield a single dollar. But soon enough I realized that this could actually be fun.
There are several aspects of meeting people in person that can be exciting. Above all else, you get the chance to talk about yourself, your writing, and how you can help the other party succeed. Even if you don’t like talking about yourself, like me, it is still fun to show off your work. Remember, you should be proud of your career.
I also find it rewarding to meet new people, even if we don’t begin to work together right away. The bigger your network grows the more jobs you will secure in the future. For example, late last year I met with a local company that was interested in hiring a writer for sales letters, email marketing campaigns, and brochures. While they did not hire me on the spot, I received a phone call from my contact four months later. Not only did they end up hiring me, but they also referred me to another division within their company.
Don’t overlook the value and excitement associated with in-person meetings. I am making this a bigger part of my business. Are you willing to give it a try?
I know, I know. Some of you guys and gals don’t like cold calling. Is this what you thought when you first saw the title of this blog post? Although you may feel that way right now, let me tell you a brief story that could go a long way in changing your mind.
During some downtime last week, I decided to make a group of cold calls to local businesses – five at the most. I knew that I would be lucky to get one person interested, but always hoping for the best I forged ahead.
After two hang-ups, I was beginning to lose hope. But on call number three everything changed for the good. I happened to get somebody on the phone who was just thinking about hiring a copywriter for a variety of projects, ranging from a sales letter to a marketing brochure as well as a couple other things. After a few minutes on the phone, I had a meeting setup with her the next day.
Just as I do at all meetings, I showed some samples, talked about what I have to offer, and gathered more information on what they are looking to accomplish. An hour and a half went by, and things finally began to wrap up. At that time, my main point of contact asked how much I would charge for the entire project. While I don’t want to get into exact numbers, I quoted a “four figure sum†and the client immediately accepted. I received half payment upfront, on the spot, with the rest coming upon completion.
If I would have never made that initial call this client would have easily slipped through the cracks. Of course, a lot of landing this gig had to do with luck as well. I called the right person at the right time.
Even though cold calling can be a pain in the neck, the one time you get lucky and land a job is well worth the time, effort, and stress.
I will be the first one to admit it: I don’t mind biting off more than I can chew. Sounds crazy, right? Before you start thinking I went off the deep end, let me explain.
First and foremost, being busy is like a drug to me. I hate sitting around, doing nothing, when I could be working. No matter if I am writing an article, building a website, or putting together a marketing plan, if I am busy working I usually have a smile on my face.
Just because I enjoy working as much as possible does not mean you are the same. Even if you are like me in this regard, don’t underestimate the importance of regular breaks. You know your body better than anybody else – don’t burn out.
Biting off more than I can chew means I am forced to hunker down and really focus. As you can imagine, this increases my level of performance and allows me to learn at a higher rate of speed.
I know what you are thinking: what if you get in over your head? What if you have a deadline you just can’t meet? Even though I tend to take on a lot of work, I always know where to draw the line.
In my opinion, biting off more than you can chew is one of the best ways to grow your business, learn more as a writer, and of course, increase your income.
When you are up against the clock, it is essential that you stay organized, focus on the task at hand, and complete one job after the next. When all is said and done you can look back and realize that you faced off against a giant responsibility and came out on top.
