Cold Pitching Basics: 9 Tips for Writing a Pitch that Converts
Want to skyrocket your income from freelance work?
I know you said a BIG YES. But I guess you’re also asking how?
Here is your solution – cold pitching!
What’s that? It is where you apply directly for work from strangers, companies or clients who don’t know you and have not expressed that they’re hiring.
One good thing with cold pitching is that you choose the client you want to work with and the payment rate of your choice.
But, remember, it’s not just sending a pitch but one that compels your client to act – a pitch that convinces them that you’ll add value to their business. It should show that you’ll help them solve a problem.
A point to note, as you send a pitch to a client, bear in mind that this client doesn’t know you. You’ve never interacted or worked together. Therefore, you want to convince this client that you can help them grow their business.
It sounds interesting. I call it a game of wits.
The question is, how can you write a pitch that’s not easy to ignore?
Here are the secrets you MUST know.
1. Visit the site before writing your pitch
Once you’ve identified the company or the blog you want to send a pitch to, visit their website to see the services they offer. Read a few posts to understand what they do.
By so doing, you learn the topics they have covered. And those which they still need to cover for their business to thrive. This will enable you to send a unique idea that the client can hardly ignore.
Besides, you also understand the nature, standard, and tone of the content required on this site.
And now you have a hint of the site. So, what next?
2. Find out the name of the person you’re pitching
Do some research to get the name of the editor, head of content, head of marketing, or any other major decision-maker of the company or blog that you want to work with.
Remember, when you address them by name, you sound committed and caring about their business.
And for this reason, avoid salutations such as “Dear Sir/Madam”, “Dear Sir”, “Dear Madam”, and “Hi”. Instead, if the editor’s name is, for example, Randy Smith, then your salutation should be “Hi Randy.”
3. Choose a unique topic and make a story out of it
Are you wondering why your clients reject your pitch? Yes, one reason is, your pitch idea has been published on their site before. Therefore it’s not going to add value to their business.
Look at this feedback from a client…
Your client feels excited when you bring a new idea to their business. A unique approach means an increase in traffic, which in turn results in more sales.
However, be careful and choose a topic that’s relevant to the objectives of the company and its target audience.
4. Do some research on the topic you want to pitch
Before you begin writing your pitch, gather brief information on the topic you want to write on.
Use the information gathered to give a short description of the article you intend to write.
You can as well include the sub-headings or areas which your piece intends to cover. Wow! It makes you look professional and organized.
5. Write a compelling headline
Your headline has it all. It determines whether your pitch idea is going to be accepted or not.
Craft a magnetic headline – that which compels your client to read your pitch to the end.
Second, write a headline that solves a problem for the target audience. And also ensure that it is SEO optimized so that it can rank high on the search engine. This feature enables your content to reach numerous audients.
6. Stick to the submission guidelines
Every publication or blog has a set of unique guidelines for submissions.
And so, for your pitch to stand tall, ensure you read the submission guidelines attached to the blog or website that you’re pitching.
Remember, failure to follow guidelines can lead to automatic disqualification or rejection of your pitch. Besides, your pitch can go without being read.
7. Check your grammar
Grammar check doesn’t only apply to articles. It starts when writing a pitch or a proposal for a freelance gig.
Therefore, write well and use grammar tools like Grammarly to check for grammar mistakes in your pitch before you click the send button.
8. Proofread your pitch before clicking the send button
Proofread, proofread and proofread your pitch before sending it. Read it aloud to make sure it reads well.
By so doing, you’re able to identify errors in your pitch. Also, once you detect a mistake, stop reading and correct it immediately.
9. Never ever copy-paste a pitch
Copy-pasting a pitch is suicide in freelancing.
Refrain from copy-pasting a pitch and never think about it. If you feel you can’t craft a new pitch, then you better not send a pitch.
Don’t forget that each freelance gig is unique and requires its own unique pitch.
Even if you’re thinking of using similar wording to your previous or another person’s successful pitch, make sure you edit it thoroughly to make it unique.
Conclusion
You can now craft a pitch that converts, right?
When you apply the tips outlined in this article, then cold pitching is your portion as a freelance writer.
Your success lies in implementing what you have learned to increase your income through cold pitching.
These tips will help you get started. However, should you need a helping hand, feel free to get an experienced trainer who can help you through your writing career.
Have you started cold pitching yet? What other successful tips have you used? Leave a comment and let us know.