I tell my students all the time they need to pitch their freelancing services to potential clients. Many people don’t like the idea of reaching out to strangers because they’re afraid they’ll bother them. Or they’re not comfortable with rejection. And I get it: people fear reaching out to strangers. But they’re overlooking one thing: businesses want freelancers in their corner!
Students often push back. They think Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer offer a nice shortcut. (Here’s why the opposite is true—job bidding sites are actually MORE work for you.)
The pitch-er feels like they’re bothering the pitch-ee. And they’re afraid of not getting the business, which they think will feel like rejection.
But pitching is is really the only way to take control of your career and steer your freelance business toward success. (Here’s the post again if you missed it.)
I will always recommend pitching as the foundation of your freelance career because it’s good for *your* business. But the other side of the coin is that your pitching is good for your clients, too!
Why Do Businesses Want Freelancers to Work With? Here’s an Example.
Business owners want (frankly, need) freelancers to pitch them. If you think about pitching this way, I think you’ll notice a difference in how you approach pitching.
Let’s think about this from the business owner’s perspective.
I own a business. And a while back I realized it was time to hire a virtual assistant. And probably a social media manager, too. I was ready and excited to expand my team!
But then I thought of something that really took the wind out of my sails.
It’s going to be a pain in the *ss to find these people!
Even at the very beginning I was dreading the series of steps in front of me:
- Search Google.
- Ask for referrals from colleagues.
- Find courses that train VAs and social media managers.
- Post in Facebook groups asking for help.
Basically, it will take so much time and the whole process will be haaaaaaaard.
My dream scenario was for an email to magically appear in my inbox. An email from someone offering ideas for how they could help my business. Someone—anyone!—who could help me avoid the exhausting process of searching for new talent.
If I had gotten such an email a pitch, it would have made my life so much easier. I would definitely have hired them on, at least for a trial period.
My life would be SO MUCH easier if they would find me.
Let me clarify: My life would be so much easier if they would pitch me.
Your Pitch Saves Business Owners Time (& Money!)
I’m definitely not alone in that I *welcome* well-crafted pitches. Many business owners share my perspective. As a matter of fact, I promise you that the vast majority of business owners want freelancers to pitch them.
Because when someone sends me a really good pitch—one that’s thought-out, offers some thoughtful ideas, and is customized to me—they’re truly doing me a favor.
Your pitch means we can skip the arduous task of finding the right person for the job. You miraculously show up in our inboxes as the answer to our problems.
Businesses want freelancers to add value and help them grow. A freelancer’s pitch saves us from having to search out the right service provider. And a pitch that comes at exactly the right time feels downright magical!
(But even if someone had pitched me at the wrong time, I would have saved their information and gotten back to them when I was ready!)
There is absolutely no need to fear pitching—since it’s never about you in the first place! It’s about offering assistance to people who might need your service.
And that leads me to the crux of the matter. You never need to be afraid to send a pitch! In fact, hesitating does a disservice to the people you want to serve. Your pitch is not about you or your discomfort—it’s about your offer to provide a service for someone who needs your help!
Pitching isn’t scary when you realize business owners want freelancers to pitch them. Don’t make them find you. Deliver value to their inbox.
I hope this encourages you. Not only is pitching the right thing for your business, it’s the right thing for the business you’re pitching.
So get out there and get pitching!
Your turn! Do you have any other concerns about pitching potential clients? What are they? Let me know in the comments below.
Last Updated on July 1, 2023.
