If you’re looking for fast business growth, the easiest and most popular way to go about it is to get a lucrative contract with a big firm or corporation. The benefit of working with a reputable agency is that you have access to a wide array of clients, and you can potentially grow your business as quickly as their clients’ businesses grow.
But if you want to get real results without the fancy perks, you can opt for a more unique route and start pitching freelance copywriters to small businesses looking for help with marketing and promotional material.
On the other side of the coin, a lot of big firms and corporations don’t just hand out lucrative contracts willy-nilly. They have stringent requirments that must be met in order to earn their business. In other words, there’s more than one way to get a real copywriting client.
So how exactly can you go about getting your first real copy writing client? Let’s take a look.
Be Selective
You can’t just stroll into someones’ office and demand that they give you a freelancing job. Like most things in life, you need to put in the effort and make the right connections in order to get where you want to be. This means networking and being selective about the clients you approach.
It’s a good idea to attend some of the local marketing and copywriting groups in your area. These organizations usually get together and host seminars and workshops on various topics like SEO, content marketing, and email marketing.
You should join these communities and meet with other aspiring freelance writers and content marketers. You can get some idea of what types of clients are out there, what they’re looking for, and how you can fit into their plans. Doing this can put you ahead of the competition and land you your first contract before you know it.
Joining a content marketing group is a great way to get started. You can find several in your area by searching for ‘marketing + content marketing group’ in your local area.
Craft An Impressive Proposal
Now that you have some local connections and are operating on a smaller scale, it’s time to put your network to good use. Craft an impressive proposal and begin pitching your services to potential clients.
The goal here is not to ‘close the deal’ and have the client hire you on the spot. That’s not how most of these things go. Your objective is to get the client’s attention and land them in a position where they have to consider your proposal. That means crafting a solid business case and an impressive proposal.
Your proposal should match the client’s needs and objectives – what exactly do they need, and what are you offering to solve their problem? – and contain the right sales pitch.
You’ll want to start by explaining what you can bring to the table. Do some research and find out what the client needs. Maybe you can help with keyword analysis, or you can take on a comprehensive SEO project for them. Or perhaps you can develop a special offer that’ll entice them to contract with you.
Whatever it is, you need to be able to back up your proposal with a sound business plan.
Put Yourself In The Right Place
The old adage ‘location, location, location’ is very true when it comes to real estate. Meaning that you can’t just set up shop in any old spot and expect to succeed. You need to put yourself in a prime location where you can attract a lot of business. And what better place than the internet?
You can practice SEO and gain some initial clients, but without a decent amount of organic traffic, you’ll never grow your business significantly. The key to success is to build a steady organic stream of traffic that you can monetize.
To put it simply, the more you know about SEO, the more you’ll be able to serve your clients. A solid understanding of SEO and its various strategies will put you ahead of the competition and make you more attractive to potential clients. Put yourself in the right place by constantly educating yourself on the subject and continue reading relevant books and blogs to keep ahead of the curve.
If you want to land your first real copywriting client, it’s time to stop dreaming and start doing. You must first take the time to network and build your local connections. Next, craft an impressive proposal and begin pitching your services to potential clients.