Making a pitch to a potential client can be intimidating; whether it’s your first time out on your own, or you’re a seasoned freelancer. There are definitely a few things you should do- and a few things you should avoid doing- in your proposal/pitch. These 5 tips will help you maximize your response and/or hire rate.

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Making a pitch to a potential client can be intimidating; whether
it’s your first time out on your own, or you’re a seasoned
freelancer. There are definitely a few things you should do-
and a few things you should avoid doing- in your
proposal/pitch. These 5 tips will help you maximize your
response and/or hire rate.
There can be an incredibly fine line between what makes a
good, effective pitch and what makes a bad pitch. Regardless
of whether or not you are new to the freelance business, it
can be very difficult to decide what to include in your pitch,
and what to weed out.

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One the one hand, you want to wow the potential client with all of your
skills, your accomplishments, your education, etc… But really, what does
this accomplish? Showing off the feathers in your hat doesn’t tell a client
what you can really do for them specifically, or really even what you’re
good at. It comes across as either off-putting-ly self-impressed, or
insecure.
Neither is desirable. Although, you really don’t want to go too far in the
other direction either and leave the client completely in the dark about
what it is that you do. Or feeling that you lack the necessary skills and/or
communication skills for the job.
Thankfully there are some tried and true methods that really can help you
create an effective freelance pitch and gain more clients. Below is a list of
the five best tips for creating effective pitches that will land you a ton of
clients. Remember, when approaching a pitch, to consider what the client
is actually looking for.

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‘How?’ You may be asking; when there are literally hundreds and hundreds of rivaling
freelancers who specialize in the exact same thing that you do and that are also
seeking regular work. First of all, don’t worry about other people. You can’t change
it that hundreds of other people may be seeking the same position. You can
however, change how you present yourself.
While you shouldn’t brag outright, you should definitely take a good long look in the
mirror and figure out what your greatest strengths really are as a freelancer.
Mention your strengths, but not long-winded-ly. Imagine that you’re a writer. You
probably want to brag that you can provide them with the best content.
But that probably isn’t necessarily true. It’s just fluff. Rather than promising that you
possess the qualities you think a good writer should possess, focus on something
that you really do excel at. If you’re particularly great with turn-around time on
tasks (clear communication, always on time or early delivery, etc.) then focus on
that as your defining characteristic.
1. Differentiate Yourself from Your Competition

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Do not over-do-it on your pitch. In any manner. Don’t emphasize your age or the
number of years of experience that you have under your belt. Don’t include a
bunch of unnecessary information. As mentioned above, don’t brag.
If it isn’t directly related to the job that you are applying for, don’t mention it.
Basically, just try not to over-sell yourself. Over-selling yourself comes off as
one of two things- either self-important, or insecure. Both make you look like
an amateur.
Keep it short, relevant, and simple. If the client asks you detailed questions
about your experience, skills, etc. make sure to answer their questions in
your pitch/proposal. Otherwise, however, leave the client the link to your
portfolio page and let them choose whether or not to bother drudging
through the details of your career history.
2. Don’t Over-Do-It

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Branding can actually save you time on pitching to clients if done well.
Establishing a good brand brings clients to you, rather than you having to
seek them out. Make sure that clients will see you as you wish to be seen;
professional, reliable, and a specialist in your field. There are quick, easy
ways to do this.
Establish an impressive portfolio site that has a companion blog about
whatever it is that you do. Let people see your passion for what you do, in
addition to your portfolio. Guest blog and stay active within the online
communities that best match with your specializations.
Make sure that people know who you are, and what you can offer to them
that is unique or noteworthy. Your brand is the impression that you leave
upon others; client or otherwise. You want to make sure that it is the best
that it possibly can be.
3. Establishing Your Brand

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A lot of people recommend focusing on networking with people that work in
other areas or niches than you, and this actually is really good advice. People
that are outside of your niche are more likely to need your special skill set
than someone with a job that is very similar to yours. On the other hand
however, networking with colleagues can turn up job leads that weren’t the
colleague’s specialty, or that they couldn’t fit into their schedule.
The thing about networking is that you really can’t know whether or not a new
contact or acquaintance will turn out to be a great job lead. But as far as
increasing your odds of finding a paying gig go, it’s a solid investment to talk
to as many other professionals as possible.

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Chances are, you aren’t just applying for one gig. Different jobs
are going to have different specifications and requirements.
Attention to detail is key when you are making a pitch to a
client. You want to convey to them that you fully understand
what they need, how they want it done, and when they want
it.
Treat clients like they’re people, not an ATM. Give genuine
attention and interest to the client’s needs and concerns.
Express your own needs and concerns open and honestly as
well. Let them know that you care about the success of their
endeavors, and not just the pay out on one project.

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Just a last bit of advice - apply, apply, apply. Statistically, you are
much more likely to find gainful employment if you apply for
more jobs. If you only apply for 5 jobs, you only have 5
chances of being hired. If you apply for 20 jobs, you have 20
chances of being hired. So don’t be afraid to put yourself out
there, and to integrate these tips into your approach. You’ll
see fantastic results.

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