I look the freelance plunge five years ago when I decided to pitch magazine editors. For two years, I queried a massive number of editors only to find that that strategy wasn’t adding to my monthly income goals. So I opted to pitch businesses instead who need website, copy, blogs, social media, posts, newsletters, emails, press releases, descriptions for online directories, and more. In this way, I was able to double my income. This article will give four ways you can land writing gigs for business in this competitive online environment.

1. Pitch businesses that you have interviewed for your blog or podcast, or who you have worked with in other ways in the past. People are always on the lookout for the secrets to a business’s success. Recently, I interviewed a local business owner for my podcast, ìGiving Voice to Your Courageî about her success story. After our live podcast, I emailed her the link to our interview, and introduced myself a copywriter. I emailed the services I offered and, since we’ve already worked together, she knows I provide a valuable, trustworthy service.

Make a list of other businesses you’d like to write for and:

2. Pitch them. The key behind pitching a business is twofold. First, research the targeted businesses. In addition to their products and services, research their customer base. Opt-in to their mailing list to get a good feel of their needs and target audience. Use this information to pitch. Can you write a blog on how to help others to become more productive or profitable? Assess and then pitch. When pitching a business owner, you’ll want to introduce yourself and share a couple of ideas, then follow up in a week or two. Make note in your email what you liked about their product or service and be generous and authentic with your compliments.

3. Point out the things that are working with their online marketing, and then gently explain what they are doing wrong. Tell them how you can help fill in the gaps. Are they lacking an online presence? Are their Facebook posts not socially engaging enough? Are they lacking informative blog posts? What can you as a writer do to help close those gaps?

4. Adopt an out-of-the-box approach. Be courageous to try something new instead of sticking with the same old. Business owners need all kinds of support. You might even be asked to do tasks that don’t have anything to do with writing. A business owner once asked me to use an online translation program I was unfamiliar with. While the learning curve was high, I was able to get the task done, and the word spread, which brought in additional work.

When seeking this kind of work, the important thing to remember is not to give up. Even if you don’t get a positive response right away, it doesn’t mean a business owner is not interested. Remember, the fortune is in the follow-up. This need for specialized marketing services is not going away and businesses all over are catching on.

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Dorit Sasson is the author of the memoir Accidental Soldier: A Memoir of Service and Sacrifice in the Israel Defense Forces. Her mission is to help heart-centered business owners gain more visibility by sharing their stories and brand themselves as experts. Visit Dorit at Giving Voice to Your Story to learn more about Dorit’s copywriting services and how she can help market your business more effectively.

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