Words on the Page

a freelance writing resource.

Writers Worth: Fear of Reaching Out

Marketing Monday. When it lands amid this Writers Worth Month, it’s going to focus on you overcoming fear in some facet of your marketing.

Today’s Marketing Move:

Lose Your Fear of Reaching Out

For every writer who is actively locating clients, there are probably three times as many who would stick skewers in their arms rather than send a potential client an email introduction. You’re one of those writers if you’ve ever:

  • Used job postings as your main source of client possibilities
  • Stayed far too long with content mills or clients who hire a bunch of writers and pay a really low rate
  • Held on to clients that pay far too little and/or demand far too much
  • Felt pangs of anxiety at the thought of writing a pitch letter to a magazine editor
  • Decided never to stray from the tried-and-true method of having work come to you (but is it, really?)

But Lori! I don’t know how to break out of that or where to start! If I reach out, they could reject me!

Correction: they could reject your idea or your suggestion. You? You’re the vessel, not the action.

But what if they ignore me? What then?

You keep trying — both with that contact and others. But that’s another post.

There are any number of reasons why you might be ignored/rejected. Here are a few:

  • They don’t need any writers right now (and note the “right now” part — it’s the reason you should stay in touch)
  • They have writers on staff or work with a marketing firm already
  • They don’t have the money for a writer
  • They think they’re better writers than they are
  • They never saw your email (it’s why I don’t send attachments on first contact — it tends to end up in a spam folder)
  • They meant to write back but forgot
  • They don’t know you from anyone and are reluctant to take a chance

Nearly all of these reasons have the same thing in common — those reasons are not a reflection on you. Notice how not one of them suggested “Hey, let’s just reject that writer because he’s no good, I can feel it.”

Not about you, is it?

Only one is a reflection on your skills, and that one you can overcome. They don’t know you. They don’t want to gamble. They’re averse to trying new things, but that doesn’t mean that over time, they might decide that writer who stays in touch, who sends email newsletters, or who calls on occasion is worth a chance on a small project.

But again, that’s another post.

Right now, you need to focus on how to overcome the fear of rejection (that’s what it is). How do you do that?

By doing your homework. Start here:

Learn how to research a client. Luckily, we’ve got that covered for you here and here.

Write a killer letter of introduction. Yep, we’ve covered that here and here.

Decide how you’ll reach out. Email, Twitter, LinkedIn … I’d suggest a letter and a social media connection. Don’t send them the same letter, but do reach out in another way after you’ve sent it.

Send it. It does you no good to write it, then wimp out. Send it. Give your best what-the-hell moment: What the hell, they can say no.

Learn from rejection. You will get rejection. As sure as you’ll get a client, you’ll get plenty of rejection. I still get rejection. How you move forward is you learn from it. You go back over what you’ve sent and perfect it, if need be. You look at their reasons and see if there’s a way for you to amend what you’re doing (for example, you’re reaching out to local businesses that have no budgets for writers — time to reach higher up the food chain?). You never stop learning who is and isn’t your client.

Repeat. Everything you just spent half a day doing? Do it again tomorrow. Only tomorrow, you’ll already know who’s getting your letter, your letter will already be in draft form (I change mine for every client to match what they need, not make them fit into who I am), and you’ll already know how you’re going to reach out. It’s easier, isn’t it? That’s because you put the time in at the beginning. Never be afraid to spend time making the best first impression you can.

Share stories and ask questions of other writers. Nothing you do or experience is new. We’ve all been where you are right now, and we’ve all grown thanks to both lessons learned and writer friends. We’re here to help each other, so don’t be afraid to reach out to your writing community, be it on this blog or elsewhere.

Writers, what was the toughest part of actively marketing for you?
How did you overcome your fear of being rejected?

 

3 responses to “Writers Worth: Fear of Reaching Out”

  1. Paula Hendrickson Avatar
    Paula Hendrickson

    No one enjoys getting rejection letters, but I’d rather receive a rejection (with a reason stated, if you please) than total silence. If nothing else, it gives you an opportunity to thank the person who sent it and get your name in front of them one more time.

    1. lwidmer Avatar
      lwidmer

      Exactly, Paula. It takes two words –“No thanks” — to acknowledge someone’s effort.

      That said, I just avoided three different people who keep hounding me to guest post. If they’d read my posting guidelines, they’d have seen I don’t accept posts from companies or those loaded with links. Nor will I just let anyone post — I want to know who you are first.

      But for the writer who’s doing it right, it’s frustrating not to get an answer.

  2. Devon Ellington Avatar
    Devon Ellington

    The toughest part of marketing is consistency. It’s hard to keep at it while juggling deadlines. But that’s exactly when it’s so important, because then you don’t have the fallow periods, unless you choose a vacation or something. Overcome the fear of being rejected? By being rejected and the world didn’t end. It didn’t make me want to stop writing. Besides, EVERY submission/query/pitch is a 50-50 proposition. Either the receiving party wants it, or they don’t.