
Can You Do This For Me?
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I was reading a book by legendary marketer Jeff Walker this week when I came across this quote: “No matter what business or market you’re in, there are tens, or hundreds, or thousands of other people out there screaming just as loudly as you are.”
This got me thinking about pitching clients.
If you want to win more high-paying gigs, you can’t just ask for them. You need to stand out.
Pitching is an art form, and those who take the time to master it reap the rewards.
So, whether you’re sending an article pitch to a magazine editor or are applying for a part-time copywriting gig, making sure yours stands out in a sea of other voices is crucial.
This week’s Letter From My Desk has some tips I use when pitching that can help you win more clients, too.
Hope you enjoy!
Freelance Bites
As usual, there’s a lot happening out there. Keeping yourself competitive can be draining—especially as you try to focus on making creative content. Remember, taking time to restore and refresh your creative brain is just as important as learning new skills.
- Alex Mathers shares 9 ways to keep yourself motivated to create in this 5-minute read (AlexMathers.net).
- A hook is the most important part of any pitch. Without a great one, you’re just wasting time. SmartBlogger has a great guide on writing a killer hook that grabs attention instantly (SmartBlogger).
- AI tools have their place, but John Nosta emphasizes that human creativity is essential to maximizing their potential (Psychology Today).
- SocialMediaToday just published their annual report on social media usage trends. The results surprised me, especially Facebook’s ability to stay relevant (SocialMediaToday).
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Letters From My Desk
I recently read an article by Kate Greathead over on one of my favorite sites, Literary Hub, where she explores why writers are often poor public speakers.
If you’re a wizard with words on the page (or, let’s be honest, the screen), why doesn’t that skill translate to verbal interactions?
Kate believes it boils down to the pressure of standing in front of someone or a room of someones and getting the words in your head out.
“In writing,” she says, “I have time to consider my thoughts, figure out exactly what I want to say, and the best words to say it.”
When you’re speaking, suddenly, you need to come up with the right words in seconds. The pressure can be debilitating.
Worse, it can hold you back from putting yourself out there.
In a similar vein, I’ve watched many writers struggle with pitching new clients. Writing an article or some ad copy is low stakes. You can deliberate for hours over the right way to word it and revise your rough draft numerous times.
There’s a lot more riding on a client pitch.
Your entire income as a freelancer hinges on your ability to sell your talents as an answer to someone else’s problem.
Many writers believe that, since they’ve spent countless hours writing, the art of writing a stellar pitch should come naturally.
I’m here to tell you this mindset is dead wrong.
And I’m also here to show you the techniques I’ve learned to take my pitches from a 20% acceptance rate to more than 65%.
Cody’s Top Picks
This is the part where I share some of the content I’ve been enjoying lately. Hope you enjoy!
- 📖 Read “The Poppy War” by R.F. Kuang. Yes, I’m a little late to the party on this one. I’m currently reading the second book in the series, and it’s been a thrilling ride. The theme of overcoming adversity and battling through your own mental struggles resonates with me on a deep level. If you haven’t read this one yet, I recommend picking it up.
- 📺 Watch
- 🎧 Listen to “From Zero” by Linkin Park. I’ve been a fan of LP since their Hybrid Theory days, and wow has their latest album been a hit of nostalgia. Though no one can replace Chester, Emily’s vocals are fantastic and the instrumentals pack that classic LP punch.
- 🧠 Remember (Quote): Could it be the girls and boys are trying to be heard above your noise? — Johnny Cash
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