If you've been out in search of a job, you know how it feels to walk in and out of several interviews. In fact, if some people had a dollar for each interview they've done, they wouldn't need a job. But in all seriousness, there are many things that can make you feel confident in such situations. One of them is making sure you are looking dapper. After all, you only have one chance to make that first impression.

The sad part is you can never tell what a potential employer is thinking. A simple eye roll from one of the interviewers can send your confidence running for dear life. It sucks! Yet, we keep on going for more interviews, preparing, and learning more about how to handle all of them.

Have you ever thought about why you keep at it even when it is frustrating?

Well, it is because you can never tell when you will walk into 'THE' interview. The one that will usher you into the future that you have been visualizing all this time.

Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently.

Marie Forleo.

Sure?

EDIT

For you to succeed in something, you have to be consistent. The most successful people are consistent learners. They love being students. The freelance writing world is different from the corporate world. It is different in so many ways including the process that you use to land a job.

Why, this post?

Chances are you have been thinking about leveling up. You want to know how you can start getting high-paying clients and you want to do it right. Understanding the art of cold pitching in freelance writing is how you do it.

But, before we get into that. Let's start with the basics.

How Do You Get Freelance Writing Jobs?

Invest in the Right Skills- This means learning the skills that you will need as a freelance writer.

You need the right writing skills for you to compete favorably in this industry. When I was starting out, I did not have any kind of training beforehand and it was tough. 

Learning on the job meant making a lot of mistakes and getting little pay for the work I was doing. I can tell you that there are times I felt like quitting.

Luckily, I found an employer (I thank God for such people) who was willing to teach me the ropes. That built my confidence. The more I wrote, the more my skills improved.

To avoid making the mistakes I made, it is good to invest in online writing courses. The right knowledge from professional courses can start you off the right way.

Learn How to Cold Pitch as a Freelance Writer

Think about topics that you enjoy. Topics that you can research and write about with ease. In the freelance writing world, these 'topics' have a fancy name called niche. If you are hearing the word niche for the first time, do not worry we will cover that in depth in another post. I got you!

It is important to learn how you can get your content seen by clients who are willing to pay for quality work. A technique that most freelance writers use is Cold Pitching. This is how you get direct clients and employers to consider your application. The right cold pitch can land you your first paying job as a freelance writer.

Defining Cold Pitching

When you start searching for your first high-paying writing job, you will need to cold pitch. Applying for an online writing job is different from what you do when applying for a physical job. There are no physical interviews. You can only depend on selling your skills via email. Cold pitching applies whether you are pitching to a client directly on their website or through platforms like Upwork.

So, what is cold pitching?

It is the art of writing a professional online writing job application via email or any other type of messaging platform to a potential employer.

Channels You Can Use to Send Your Pitch

Now that you understand what a cold pitch is, there are various channels that you can use. As long as the pitch is being sent to a potential client, you can send it via:

• An Email
• A DM on Facebook
• Direct Message on Instagram
• A tweet
• A message on Twitter

Cold Pitching Basics For Freelance Writers

1. It Has to Be Short

 You will be making the application via email or message. So, you need to learn how to be concise. You might think that you are one of the best writers. A professional who has great command of the queen’s language, but this is not the time to brag. Start by giving a short introduction of who you are and then go straight to the point.

2. Read and Follow the Instructions

 A lot of people rarely follow instructions. If a teacher in school punished you for not following instructions, this is the time to go back to that moment. When you come across an online writing job opportunity, the first thing you need to do is look for any specific instructions. Most clients provide specific guidelines.

Some instructions may require you to send only two samples of your work that focus on a specific niche. If you fail to read this kind of instruction and end up sending ten samples on random niches, then you can count on missing out on that opportunity.

3. Be Professional

 It is important to always remember that showing entitlement is not how you get the job. You have to be professional when submitting that application. Do not demand to be hired. Make sure that you are not rude in case the employer turns you down. Carry yourself as a brand and be professional throughout.

4. Do Your Research 

To get that job, you will need to show the client that there is the value you are bringing to the table. If you cannot do your research, it is going to be impossible for you to make an impression. There are so many ways that you can use the information you get during research to write the perfect cold pitch.

How to Know That a Pitch is NOT Attractive

• The message is not specific instead a lot of things are vague
• The content is poorly written with several grammatical errors
• The pitch is not engaging
• The subject line is not compelling

If all the above factors are present in your pitch, chances are you are DEFINITELY NOT going to get that job.

Want Step-By-Step Freelance Writing Training?

Check out our full content wring program here.

Wrapping Up

Now, that you know the basics, how then do you write the perfect cold pitch?

Well, that is what we will cover next. Cold pitching should not intimidate you. You need to understand how it works and over time, you will find yourself getting high-paying jobs. Cold pitching is an art that you can learn and perfect.