Letters of introduction are an excellent way to cast your nets to find freelance writing gigs. These types of letters work best for trade magazines and custom publications. Consumer magazines generally expect fully developed queries, and these types of publications are hard to break into when you are first starting out. By using a letter of introduction, you are going to reach out to editors and pitch the best story available: the story of YOU!

Keep a few things in mind when you are crafting these letters. Don’t be afraid to get creative when crafting these letters. You want to stand out from other writers. Be professional but avoid being too business-like. Show off your personality. Use the opportunity to grab their attention and strike up a conversation. Whatever you do, don’t be boring.

Make sure you address the right editor for your pitch. This can get very tricky especially when you are introducing yourself to a magazine publication. Look for what section you would most like to write for and then see which editor is in charge of that particular section. Make sure you address the person by name (no Dear Editor) and the person’s name is spelt correctly. Use the person’s full name if available.

If you are sending a letter of introduction in response to a posted job ad, use the post to your advantage when introducing yourself. Focus on the needs of the person you are writing to and then introduce yourself as one who can fulfill those needs. Provide details on the benefits the editor will receive when working with you.

Unless you have an established relationship with the editor or you know that the editor prefers to be contacted by phone, stick to email. Editors just don’t have the time to answer the phone for every freelance writer who wants to get a hold of them.  You don’t want to annoy them and risk your chance of getting that gig.

If you do have some story ideas that you would like to share, go ahead and include them in your letter of introduction. This shows that you are truly interested in the publication and its best interests. However, make sure that your story ideas haven’t already been covered by the publication. You want to show that you have done your homework and can provide them with the missing gaps of information that will be relevant to their readers.

Insert a call to action toward the end of the letter. Asking questions is a great way to get editors to respond to letters of introduction. Ask things like, “May I send you some clips?’ or “I would like to schedule a meeting with you to discuss this further. When would be the best time for me to get together with you?”  Make sure to follow up in a week or two if you do not get a response.

By doing your homework, crafting and sending a well put-together letter of introduction, and following up, you can greatly increase your chances of landing a well-paying freelance writing gig.  So, what are you waiting for? Go get started!

If you don’t current have a portfolio of writing samples, it is going to be extremely difficult to grab the attention of a prospective client. Think of it in terms of dating. If you don’t offer something that is attractive to them, they are not going to be interested in developing a long-term relationship with you.

So, where do you start?

First, you need to determine what kind of clients you are going to want to attract. This will determine what kinds of pieces you will need to develop. Build your portfolio around that specific area (ghostwriting, technical, copywriting, etc.). It is okay to choose more than one area. Just build a different portfolio for each aspect. Consider making your portfolio available offline as well as online.

If you have no writing samples at all, you are going to need to develop some as quickly as possible. Think about what kinds of clients that you would like to target. Then write a sample piece ahead of time specifically for them.  Choose topics that you have personal experience with.

Think about what you have to offer. What sets you apart from other writers? How can your target client benefit from your skills and experience? This will be what you use to convince potential clients to hire you.

What do you include in your portfolio?

Include a minimum of 3 clips that highlight your unique skills. Make sure that the clips that you include are free from grammatical and spelling errors. If you are unsure, enlist the help of other writers to review your work.  There are a number of writing communities that you can join both online and locally that can assist you with your efforts.

Include any copies of any diplomas, certificates, licenses, or letters of recommendation that you may have.

Also, include information concerning any professional writing organizations that you may be a part of. If you are not a member of any organization, consider joining your local Chamber of Commerce or the Freelancers Union website.

Update your portfolio on a regular basis to show clients that you are providing consistent high-quality work.

Make it super easy for clients to get a hold of you. Also, make it clear that you are looking for work in your About page so that clients know that you are available for hire.

Where do you find potential clients?

Freelance writers who are just starting out might want to consider checking out opportunities that are available to them locally. Typically, locally owned stores and professional and nonprofit organizations in your hometown have a small marketing budget and might be willing to let you write for them for free.

Check out their marketing materials. Do you see areas that could be improved upon? These are weaknesses you can use in your pitch that will help you get your foot in the door.

If you are brave enough, go and speak to them directly. Introduce yourself as a freelance writer who is looking for opportunities to build a specific area in your writing portfolio and let them know what you discovered about their marketing weaknesses.

Offer your services for free and let them know that it is a win-win for both parties.  You will want to make sure that that will be willing to recommend you in the future if they are happy with the work you provide them. Make sure you get the credit for your work as well.

If at all possible, include that the prospective client will not mention that you did the work for free when recommending you in the future.

If you are not brave enough for this approach, call them on the phone or send them a letter of introduction by email.

If the prospective client agrees to take you on, get the following terms agreed to in writing:

Define the project details and the length of the project.

The client will not mention to anyone that you did the work for free.

The client will give you a testimonial upon successful completion of the project.

The client agrees to allow you to claim full credit for the work. Note: Do not sign a nondisclosure agreement. This will prevent you from being able to use the project as a sample in your portfolio.

Creating your portfolio is a critical step in your freelance writing career. Spend time carefully crafting it. The higher attention to detail that your portfolio receives from you will increase your chances tremendously in landing the clients you want to work for. Do it right and you will get your first client in no time.

Have you recently launched your freelance career as a copy writer or writer for hire?

If so, congrats. You will make it just fine with a little elbow grease, networking, and hustle.

However, once you get a few clients coming in, how do you know if the clients you have nabbed are worth your time or are sour apples altogether?

These 5 signs will surely let you know that you have a bad copywriting client

1.   They call you all the time

When I first started out as a freelancer I did not provide my phone number in my marketing ads. I didn’t do so because I don’t like talking on the phone.

However, last year when business got slow, I knew I needed to change up my marketing tactics. I began adding my phone number to my advertisements and marketing collateral.

Before I knew it, I was getting calls left and right.

However, I did run into clients that called me all the time. Even after they had hired me and I was knee deep in their project.

This began to irk me because of two reasons.

A. They were not paying me for the additional time that they were demanding of me (they were actually always my lowest paying clients).

B. They were clearly not respecting my talent and abilities to solve their communications problem.

I eventually removed my personal cell phone number from my ads and collateral.

If your new client is calling you non-stop, then you may need to make this the last project you do for them. They clearly are never going to respect your skillset and time.

2.   They ask for countless revisions

This can be either a communication’s issue on your part, or the client once again not valuing your time.

Establish a policy that limits the number of complimentary revisions.

Make sure your policy is built into your service contract and that you share your policy with them in your first reply email to their inquiry.

My policy is complimentary revisions (within reason) up to 7 days after submission. After that time frame I charge another project rate.

Doing so up front, will eliminate their call for revisions from being a real drag on your time.

Try your best to grasp all of their needs with your initial communication with them regarding their project. Use a questionnaire or set up a Skype call with them right from the get-go.

This way you will be in accord with one another and be able to deliver what they envision for their project the first time around.

3.   They ask that you complete a “test’ project free of charge

This is a classic predicament that many new freelancers find themselves in all too often.

If a client asks that you write a blog post or newsletter to see what your skills are like, then they are never going to charge you what your worth and they are not going to value your time.

This is why you need to create a portfolio before you even launch your freelance writing career.

If you have never had any clients, take a few days and create ad campaigns, newsletters, and blog posts for either your own brand and/or target companies.

This will allow you to have something to present to potential clients.

Therefore, you will never have to fall prey to doing work for free.

Let your portfolio speak for itself and be your audition.

4.   They “let” you submit the completed project before paying in full

You should never hand over a completed project to a client if they have not paid you in full.

This just sets you up for run-arounds and possibly getting stiffed for your work.

A stand-up client will insert herself in the project and pay you as soon as you invoice her (considering that you have an air-tight contract that ensures your guarantee to complete their project).

5.   They play email tag with you

When you have encountered a client that consistently emails you without landing a deal with them, run.

They are more and likely not serious about their own communications needs or they do not have the money needed to pay you what you are worth.

They are trying to milk you for your time and expertise (which falls true for the phone calls example as well) and you only have so many hours in a day.

In conclusion…

Being a freelancer means being “in business” and managing your time. As you foray deeper into your freelance writing career, keep your eye out for these characteristics in clients.

If you find that you are encountering clients that act as above. Do yourself and them a big favor and part ways.

Your career as a writer for hire is meant to shine and blossom.

When you adopt this mentality, the money (good clients) will come in due time.

Quick Bio:

CJ Johnson is an emerging photographer and freelance writer that specializes in writing press releases for lifestyle brands and providing copy editing services to indie authors.

She has been freelancing since January 2011 and transitioned to full-time entrepreneur in March of 2013.

You can find her hanging out at her business blog for creative entrepreneurs athttp/www.terrifictype.com/

You can also follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cjjohnsonwrites/