What I’m listening to: I Found a Boy by Adele
Wow, six days in already. Just think: while other writers are littering the forums with complaints about the lack of work, you’re actually using the time to build a stronger client foundation.
Who’s the better freelance writer, I ask you?
You. That’s who.
Today, you’re going to show those other writers — the ones who rely solely on passive job searches — just how your email can make you a more desirable commodity to clients.
December 6: Create a Client Email Blast
What can a writer like you possibly have to offer your busy, successful corporate clients that they don’t already know?
Plenty.
Here’s a short list of things you can include in a brief (under 400 words) email blast:
- 6 Grammar Sins in Your Corporate Communications
- How Your Emails are Killing Your Sales
- 4 Things to Include in Your Next Website Revision
- How White Papers Can Improve Your Image
You get the idea. Show them what you know, and do it in a way that helps them improve their own messaging.
But Lori, you say. I’m giving it away for free!
But savvy freelancer, I say. You must give in order to receive.
See, you may be telling someone how to do it, but they may not have the time, energy, or even the skill to make the changes. So what have you done by sending them these little snippets that they’ll never act on themselves?
You’ve planted the seed.
More than that, you’ve shown them that you have the answers. Hell, you’ve just laid out the answers. You’ve given them something that solves a problem, and you’ve proven without even saying it that you’re the one who can solve that problem should they not be able to on their own.
A Word About Permission
So you have an email to send. So you can just send it, right?
Wrong.
You must have the permission of your audience before sending anything to them. Otherwise, it’s spam. And besides the potential to lose customers, you stand a good chance of pissing people off.
So you have to set up an opt-in system. Hey, December is a slow month — so spend some time learning how to do it right. Here’s a good primer on opt-in list building from CopyBlogger, and another from HubSpot.
Don’t let your lack of a list stop you from creating an email blast. You can announce your new “email series” on social media and get some sign-ups that way, or create a freebie to give away in exchange for a sign-up.