Circulars & Leaflets - How to Get More Copywriting Clients

[Mark Andrews]

Circulars & Leaflets - How to Get More Copywriting Clients

A kid just walked past my window taking a short cut from the house next door doing the rounds dropping off the latest batch of circulars and free leaflets for various national companies.

(Admonished him to drink plenty of water in this hot weather to keep himself hydrated.)

Leafed through the latest offerings only a couple of seconds ago...

Oh excellent, a blind company. A national chain. Headline jumps out at me...

HURRY!
RED HOT
BLINDS
SALE
Ends Sunday 31 July

Alongside a bubble to the right... Selected MADE-TO-MEASURE BLINDS HALF PRICE

Instantly I know I can probably beat their current control. Another headline in a flash sprang to the surface of my mind.

Website address at the bottom of the A4 leaflet - I better find out whose in control of their marketing. Persuade them to take on another headline which I'll almost guarantee will beat this headline hands down for conversions.

Look around you, there are copywriting opportunities everywhere around you, (some handed to you on a plate.) And if you don't try you won't get anywhere in this business.

What is there to lose? For the sake of a few minutes can indeed put thousands of dollars or in this case, pounds directly into your bank account.

How do you try and drum up more direct response copywriting business?

What techniques do you use?

[Mark Andrews]

So I just rang them up on the free phone number provided. Obviously got a gatekeeper on this number.

Instantly thanked them for delivering the leaflet to my home. Told them it was appreciated.

And then asked them which department was responsible for their marketing sales material? Asked why, I very briefly explained that I was copywriter and that I felt that the main headline could be greatly improved upon for a better conversion rate.

"Would you please be so kind to give me the name and number of the person in your company responsible for the design of your sales material?"

Got the direct number instantly.

Disappeared into the garden. Immediately wrote out 50 new headlines for this company, took 30 minutes only.

Next step... call the number given which handles this side of things, I'll ask for an email address and simply give them free of charge (no catches) the 50 headlines I've just written out. They can do with them as they wish.

Essentially all I'm trying to do at this stage is to get my foot in the door. When next they need more sales copy produced, if they do happen to look at my conversion boosting headlines, chances are, they'll give me a call to write out and/or design the sales copy for the entire leaflet.

And if nothing else, if they do use one of my headlines on any future advertising circular... I can put my name to it which can only boost my own credibility.

Either way I win. It's a win-win situation for both parties.

And if they don't use my material, no problem. Just move on to the next prospect. Rinse and repeat. Sooner or later you will start to open doors. If not immediately... perhaps sometime down the line.

The companies contacted will certainly remember that you took the time and trouble to try and help them out. They're all people afterall. Just because a company is very large means diddly fat squat. They're still a business and anything you can do as a freelance copywriter to help increase their conversion results and ultimately their bottom line profits will be appreciated and could even lead to further word of mouth recommendations.

If at first you don't succeed - keep trying.

If you're going through hell keep going. - Winston Churchill

You're professional marketers damn it! Get yourself out there. Get noticed. Commit random acts of kindness and sooner or later the money will roll in.

Best,


Pete Walker

[arfasaira]

Here's something I do which works to good effect....

sign up to your local job agencies and subscribe to their job alerts by email -Monster.co.uk and reed.co.uk in the UK are great and you can filter your emails to only send you job alerts according to your region and you should specify 'marketing', 'advertising', 'sales' and 'writing' in your searches...

...next, when you get your job alerts emailed through and spot a job needing a copywriter, you simply get the details and then rather than apply through the agency, you call them directly. Usually in the job listings they give the person's name to talk to and contact details - if not, just ring and ask for their marketing or marcom department and ask for the person responsible for hiring copywriters.

...now the interesting bit. Rather than saying that you saw their vacancy advertised on so and so website, you simply tell them that your ringing local businesses to ask if they need the services of a good copywriter.

Really sell it to them if interested. Tell them benefits, benefits and even more benefits...that they will save a huge amount in salaries and paid sick leave and vacations if you hire freelance and how well your last campaign did and blah blah - you get the idea...

Believe you me this approach works. You should have a website with your portfolio online and offer to send it to them.

And when you do...you MUST follow up - at least 3-5 days later, no more. Why? Because the last thing you need is lots of candidates coming through the system and you getting pushed to the side...or forgotten even.

Most of the time, they will hire you over the next person because a)you got in there first rather than just sending in your CV and b)you sold the difference by speaking to them in person.

As long as you come across as friendly, helpful and genuinely interested in THEM, you stand a very good chance of being hired.....

Now go get some clients!

[Mark Andrews]

For a small chick you ain't half fiery at times lass.

You go girl!

[target1982]

This is craphot stuff for someone just starting. Thank you!