Eight Ways to Land Your First Copywriting Project

by The Independent Life

Published on this site: February 25th, 2004

When you decide to set out on any freelance career whether it be graphic design, consulting, or your own direct mail business, there a lot of things you do to prepare, but the first major milestone is landing that first client. After that, you confidence grows, and your portfolio grows, and you have some momentum behind you.

But landing that first client - that's something that a lot of people new to their own business find to be a real challenge. So here are eight ideas that will help you get your own freelance ball rolling, so to speak.

1. Watch the newspapers
   
   This is one of my favorite strategies. Companies that are expanding or introducing a new product or that have landed a big, important client often get written up in the newspaper.
   
   They also often find themselves stretched to the limit when it comes to their resources, making them a prime prospect for freelance services. Figure out who the marketing director is (often included in the article) and put together a letter congratulating them on their growth and offering to be of service if they find they need additional resources. Include a professional profile (like a resume but more benefit-oriented), and give them a follow up call a week later.
   
   
2. Do a targeted mailing
   
   Figure out who you want to work with (small businesses, high-tech companies, restaurants, alternative health care product providers) and gather together the mailing information on at least 100 of them (large lists are expensive‹useful‹ but difficult to afford when you are just getting established), and send them a letter about you services, and more importantly, how your services can help them succeed.
   
   
3. Join your chamber of commerce
   
   Sometimes the easiest place to find a new client is among your own neighbors, so get connected to the business community in your hometown. One of the quickest ways to do this is to join your chamber of commerce. Of course, just joining isn¹t enough. You need to actually participate. Attend meetings.
   
   Volunteer. Get to know people and what they do. Eventually you will be able to see how you can help them do it. And then you¹ll be ready to pitch targeted proposals to those of your new acquaintances that seem to be the best fit for your services. The real advantage of this strategy, is that you can really fine tune your proposal to their needs, making your offer very hard to refuse.
   
   
4. Take on a spec assignment
   
   Use a win/win approach. Don't cringe. I know there's nothing more frightening than doing work that you might not get paid for. But when you're just getting started, a willingness to do work on speculation can be a powerful tool. First, it means you've got a great offer for your potential client - they only pay for your work if they actually find it useful. Second, it's a surefire way to motivate yourself to perform - after all, you want to get paid.
   
   Third, even if things don't work out and you don't get paid, you've still got something you can add to your portfolio.
   
   
5. Offer a free bonus
   
   When you're prospecting for that first client, you want to add as much value to your services as possible. So consider what you can give away with your services. A free report that includes information that is not common knowledge to your clients and that they will find useful is one possibility.
   You could give a discount on a complimentary service. You could give a gift certificate to a popular coffee house. But a little added something will go a long way to getting you a little extra consideration.
   
   
6. Check with friends and family, previous employers, and your church or other favorite organization
   
   Don't forget your support group. I'm not talking about doing a hard sell to them. Instead get in touch with people and let them know what you're doing and then ask them what they think and if they have any ideas about where you might find initial clients. Chances are they'll be flattered you're asking their advice and they might know of somebody whose looking for just what you offer. Even if they don't, they still might offer you an idea or two you hadn't considered before.
   
   
7. Write an ebook or free report
   
   I already mentioned offering a free report as a bonus with purchase of your services. But also consider writing an ebook or report that you can send out to prospects to generate interest in your services. A good report or ebook is something people will hang on to, and when they need your services, having gotten something useful from you for free might very well bring them back to you.
   
   
8. Volunteer for a non-profit
   
   Find a non-profit company that you believe in and volunteer your services. It isn't paying work initially, but it will build your resume and portfolio. And it may get you some good testimonials to bolster your marketing materials. Better yet, they might send referrals your way and solve that whole first paying client problem for you.

Visit The Independent Life to learn more about starting your own freelance career. With recommended courses, articles, book reviews, and a handy website list, The Independent Life is a complete resource center for freelance professionals and for anyone considering a freelance career. (A free monthly ezine is coming soon!).