You’ll want to hit play now if:
- The idea of “pitching” scares you (reaching out to strangers, bothering them, asking for business, the anticipation of getting a “no”).
- You think there’s an “easier” way to do it—like using freelance job sites like Upwork or Freelancer (surprise: they’re not easier and can hurt your career). If that sounds like you, hit play now!
In this episode, we’re getting you out of your head and looking at pitching from the perspective of the business owner. Get ready to completely reframe how you’re thinking about pitching and see why your ideal clients want your pitches.
TUNE IN: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher
Looking for closed captioning or a transcript? Check out the episode on YouTube!
A Sneak Peek at the Episode
[1:34] As a business owner herself, Nicki explains how needing several people to fill various roles is overwhelming and takes a lot of time. When business owners get to the point where they realize they have an issue that needs to be solved, the feeling is “Oh my gosh, not one more thing.”
If she had gotten an email from someone offering their services and explaining how they could add value, she would have hired them!
[4:26] When you are pitching to clients, you are not begging for work. You are offering a possible solution. Clients want you to pitch them. They want an easy solution to their problems.
[6:27] The great thing as a freelancer is you have the control. You can pitch the clients you want to pitch. And never assume a company doesn’t need a copywriter just because they have great copy. They very well may need additional help.
[8:53] Being on Upwork or Fiverr are like being on The Bachelor. It’s one project to any number of copywriters. You can flip that scenario when you pitch: you’re one copywriter and any number of opportunities.
[12:42] What happens more often than not, when a company realizes they need copywriting help, they reach out to a colleague or a recruiter or their friends. The job listings on Upwork, Indeed, and other sites are only a tiny fraction of the available work. And it may take your pitch for them to realize that hiring a copywriter was an option in the first place!
[13:48] So many folks are worried about annoying a business owner or creative director. You’re not. You’re providing a quality solution to a challenge or need they have.
[16:24] You’re not sending out mass, templated emails. That’s the email that gets annoying. You’re taking the time to write a personalized email and to research it. It’s clear you care about the company and have ideas for how you could benefit them. And because you’re sending one email to one person, it’s not spam.
[19:43] Even during a recession, businesses welcome your pitches. When businesses get hyper-focused on selling, they get hyper-focused on messaging.
[25:23] Pitching doesn’t stop once your project is complete. Not only to ensure you have a regular stream of work, but because you know the clients you’ve worked with. You have even more value to add.
[28:43] Even if you have or want a full-time copywriting job, or are doing copywriting as a side hustle, you can still pitch periodically to get clients in.
Related Links
- Why Business Owners WANT You to Pitch Them Your Copywriting Services
- 5 Ways to Vastly Improve Your Pitches to Would-Be Copywriting Clients
- How NOT to Pitch Potential Copywriting Clients
- The Very Common Assumptions That Will Cut Your Copywriting Business in Half
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About the Build Your Business Podcast
Ready to turn your love of writing into a successful copywriting career?
Join professional copywriters Nicki Krawczyk and Kate Sitarz to get the tips, tools, and training to help you become a copywriter and build a thriving business of your own. Nicki and Kate have 20+ and 10+ years of experience, respectively, writing copy for multi-billion-dollar companies, solopreneurs, and every size business in between.
Whether you want to land an on-staff job, freelance full-time and work from wherever you want, or make extra money with a side hustle, the best place to start learning is right here.
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Ep. 9: Why Freelancing in a Recession is Wildly Effective
Last Updated on September 10, 2023