Getting New Clients Is Easier Than You Think
I field a lot of different questions from new and prospective copywriters. But one question that almost everyone asks is “How do I find clients?”
Finding clients is the #1 concern for most new copywriters. And who can blame them? Freelancing can seem daunting for someone used to a guaranteed paycheck – even if the check isn't all that large.
And that fear can be crippling. It keeps many talented people from building a future as a six-figure copywriter. They get started, but then they get scared. And they go back to their nine-to-five jobs … just because the paychecks are a sure thing.
What these people don't understand is that finding clients doesn't have to be overwhelming. And it doesn't have to be hard.
For example, copywriter Shel Horowitz recently told me about an online technique he uses to add $30,000 – $40,000 to his earnings every year. It's amazingly simple, and here's how he does it:
Shel participates in several online forums related to his copywriting specialty: publishing.
When he finds an appropriate question from another forum member, he posts an answer. And he does so in a way that demonstrates his skills and expertise. This opens a dialog with prospects who need Shel's services.
Sometimes Shel lands the person who posted the question as a client. And sometimes it's a different forum member who hires him.
Shel only posts about 100 to 150 times a year, and most of his posts take less than 15 minutes to write. It's quick. It's easy. And he doesn't even have to ask for jobs. Instead, the clients come to him because of his posts.
To use Shel's technique, first, locate an online forum related to your specialty (by using an online search engine).
Next, learn the forum and its habits – read their FAQs (frequently asked questions) and follow the posts for a couple of weeks.
Finally, begin responding to carefully selected questions and posts. Always be helpful, and don't try to fake your way through anything. You don't have to hide the fact that you're a copywriter. Just don't treat your posts as an opportunity to advertise.
You can join and drop forums as you find them useful. Some may bring you quite a bit of business, while others may bring none. Keep in mind that it will take a little time to establish your reputation on each forum.
But maybe going online isn't your thing. That's okay. No matter what your personality or preferences, there's a way to win clients that will fit you to a "T."
For instance, a technique Bob Bly recommends is the "bait piece." A bait piece is a special report that entices prospects to inquire about your services. You can offer a bait piece in a mailing or on your website.
The report doesn't have to be very long – many are less than a dozen pages – but it does have to be written on a topic that's important to your prospects. And it should offer valuable information that the average prospect doesn't already know.
Don't just write something off the top of your head. Take the time to research the subject thoroughly. And don't plagiarize someone else's work and call it your own.
If you save your bait piece on your computer in PDF format, you can easily print it out or send it as an email attachment. PDFs print well, and your prospect can read it no matter what operating system his computer uses.
Create a simple "cover" for your report, and be sure to put a price on it. The report's length and how technical the information is can help you determine the price. Also check the prices of similar bait pieces.
One of the best features of a bait piece is that it not only draws inquiries from prospective clients, it also proves your expertise.
Having as much work as you can handle is a lot easier than you'd think. These are just two of more than two dozen techniques I've identified to build your client list. No matter what your level of experience is, there are ways you can start building your business today.
How to Land Clients in 21 Days with Just Your Computer
How do I land my first client? It’s a question every aspiring freelancer asks eventually. Now, there’s a proven system for landing clients that removes the guesswork. Best of all? No cold calling. Learn More »
“I now have the freedom to work at home, or at any place in the world, as long as I have a laptop and Internet connection. And, not having to battle the brutal Houston traffic each day is a huge plus!”
If yes, you could be in big demand, earning big money, writing just a few hours a day from anywhere in the world you choose to be.
Get Nick Usborne’s step-by-step system for creating money-making information websites.
In just 6 hours and 35 minutes, you can be in business earning $60 – $150 an hour writing simple resumes.
Learn the secrets behind succeeding in this in-demand career.
The work is plentiful … the pay scales are generous and the competition is scarce!
Get the answers to the hundreds of questions and concerns commonly asked in specific, step-by-step details.
Use this eight-step plan to make the leap from aspiring copywriter to professional copywriter this year.
Let your fellow AWAI members show you firsthand the easiest, most powerful way to land your first client … BEFORE you finish the program.
Writing for the web is a huge opportunity for copywriters. Let web expert Nick Usborne show you how to write blockbuster web copy in record time … even if you're a complete internet “rookie”!
It’s an opportunity to make $50,000, $75,000, $100,000 a year or more … working just a few hours a day.
A once complicated profession is now something you can do on a standard computer – even if you have little or no “artistic” ability.
It’s one thing to have a website. But if your website can’t be found by the search engines, it may as well not exist.
The Internet creates new income possibilities every day. The biggest among them: online video marketing.
Get the very techniques top-performing copywriters use to rattle off one groundbreaking control after another.
In his new book, Michael Masterson teaches you his very own formula for powerful persuasion and how to apply it to direct mail sales letters as well as online promotions.
Guest, Leave a Reply
Please Note: Your comments will be visible by everyone.