This is the 2nd post in the series: Writing Jobs in Your Hometown
Someone you know knows someone who needs a writer. Your challenge lies in making that connection without destroying every relationship in your life with a hard sell.
Create a Sound Bite
You should have a concise statement that sums up your writing career for people. If you just tell people you are a freelance writer, that is too broad a classification and they will not know what writing jobs you seek. Consider that all of these may be freelance writers:
- A reporter in Afghanistan
- A ghostwriter working on a celebrity’s autobiography
- A copywriter working on direct mail campaigns
You will find friends and family best able to promote your services when you describe them clearly. Taking the time to craft a short statement of your writing focus will benefit all areas of your business networking. Once you have a good sound bite, practice it until you feel comfortable saying it to anyone.
Business Cards
Carry business cards and hand them out to everyone. Give extras – you don’t want people to feel like they have to keep your card in their wallet, you want them to hand it out (or drop it strategically) wherever they can. Even if someone cannot imagine why they would need your services, press the card upon them. Here’s my card – pass it on. Someday they will be talking to someone who needs the kind of help you can provide.
Avoid listing everything you can write. It smacks of desperation and will confuse your listener or potential client. Instead, make it clear that you have industry knowledge and connections. Let people know that if they have any writing or internet marketing questions they should contact you first and you will help them find the right person for the job. That way if someone has a writing job not on your list you will still get the right of first refusal.
Friends and Family Do Not Always Make the Best Customers
The key to making networking work for you is not trying to sell to your friends and family. First, they may not be the best customers anyway. They may not believe you in your professional abilities or they may expect lower rates, and when the business relationship deteriorates your personal life will suffer. Second, if you dismiss the goal of selling your friends and family, you can avoid the hard sell and leave them with a favorable impression and desire to help you succeed.
Speak your sound bite, present your cards, and then let your friends and family help you connect with the writing jobs you know are out there.
Previous post in series => 7 Reasons The Client Next Door is Worth Two in Timbuktu
Next post in series => Writing Markets: Get Your Foot in the Door with Local Businesses
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