Get More Writing Jobs When More People Know You

Social networking is a boon. However, many writers get caught up in trivia — how many followers they have, how many "likes", and so on. Networking is never a numbers game. While the people who know you on social media may never share a coffee with you in any way except virtually, you nevertheless need to get to know them, and they need to get to know you.

When you're looking for writing jobs, it's vitally important that as many people as possible get to know you.

Be methodical, in collecting contacts and getting in touch with them
Finding contacts is an ongoing project. Create a spreadsheet; it’s essential that you make notes on who you contacted, when you contacted them, and the results, if any.

Once you’ve got a list, you’ll contact them. You’ll start by introducing yourself. If you’re contacting a publication, you can also offer an idea or two. Don’t send any queries/ proposals at this stage.

Introducing yourself as a writer is easy to do; it’s low pressure. Send out as many intros as you can, over time. Start by sending intros to five contacts.

Yes, you can use boilerplate text in your intros. But here’s a big tip: personalize your messages. That is, please don’t send JUST a boilerplate message to everyone you contact. When people to hire you, they must feel that you care about them and their business. So sending out 1001 messages, all the same, is just a waste of your time and bandwidth.

Therefore, while your intro messages can contain boilerplate text on who you are, what you do, and why you’re contacting them, you need to make some comments about the website, the publication, or the business for which you want to write. Your recipient needs to feel that you’re deeply interested, and you’d love to write for them.

Here’s what I’ve learned from editors and business people who hire writers: if they don’t feel your enthusiasm, and if you don’t come across as easy to work with, they’re not interested.

Introductory pitches are EASY. If you’re not over-booked, send out as many intros as you can.

If you’re brave, make phone pitches.

Telephone pitches work
You can also make contact via phone. However, if you’re a typical writer, you won’t do it at the start of your career. Believe it or not, one day you’ll pick up the phone without thinking about it. You’ll find it easy to talk to people about their needs, and what you can do for them. You’ll come to love cold calling, because... IT WORKS.

The more people who know you’re a writer, and know a little about you, the more GREAT writing jobs you will get.

Exercise 27. Find five contacts and introduce yourself.

How many writing jobs will you get from those five? Maybe none, the first four times you contact them. It’s very unlikely you’ll get a gig the first time you get in touch. Remember, it’s who KNOWS you. They have to know a little more about you than can be shared in one email message. Therefore, if you contact someone, decide that you’ll contact them again, and again. And again after that.