Comments on: Free Advice Friday: The Real Secret to Getting Freelance Work

By: lwidmer

lwidmer — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 15:52:36 +0000

In reply to Joy Drohan. That's why you rock, Joy. Right there. :)

By: Joy Drohan

Joy Drohan — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 16:08:03 +0000

In reply to Carol. I'm definitely not sending bulk LOIs. I carefully research & target each one.

By: lwidmer

lwidmer — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 16:20:49 +0000

In reply to Carol.

Hi Carol,

Sorry – your comment ended up in the Spam folder. Luckily, I saw it!

Yes and no to your response. Yes, if they’re getting results, it’s working for them. But no, it may not be working in the best way for them.

You’re absolutely correct that there’s no one right way to do anything — something I preach here quite a lot. I just think that anyone bulk mailing isn’t really concentrating on the clients they’re wanting to attract, but on the act of getting work. Just that subtle shift is enough to make a huge impact.

By: lwidmer

lwidmer — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 18:10:41 +0000

In reply to Paula Hendrickson.

You’re right, Paula — there is a danger in that! I’ve made that mistake. Yes, the wording is similar, but yet personalized. I like to approach each LOI differently, so I mix it up sometimes, trying different formats. But you’re right — if you do ANY copy/paste at all, there’s the chance of forgetting to change that name!

By: Paula Hendrickson

Paula Hendrickson — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 17:59:24 +0000

I’ve never bulk mailed LOIs or used a form I can customize for each LOI. But I do know the basic format I want to follow.

There’s a danger in using the same form, too, if you happen forget to add in each new contact’s name or company name. (And if you don’t add those names, you’re not sending an LOI, you’re sending a form letter.)

By: Carol

Carol — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 17:36:51 +0000

While I personally prefer the more targeted approach, if people are sending bulk LOIs and getting the results they want, more power to them. There’s no one right way to do anything. Options are great!

By: lwidmer

lwidmer — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 13:57:02 +0000

In reply to Joy Drohan.

Joy, I’m glad you came out of the shadows on this one. You are absolutely the perfect example of how well this method can work!

Joy and I have been corresponding for about a year and a half now, and she shares her monthly assessment with me. The way her business has grown has been amazing to watch, and Joy is on point with her marketing.

Could mean I’ll bug her for a guest post…. 😉

By: Joy Drohan

Joy Drohan — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 13:35:43 +0000

Hi Lori,
My marketing strategy is exactly what you describe here in the bulleted steps, and yes, it has definitely worked for me. There are few things in my work life more satisfying than signing a contract with a new client whom I’ve never met and probably never will, but who decided to work with me solely on the basis of my cold email, a perusal of my website, and my followup.