Feeling like a sleazy salesperson? You are not alone

Anyone who’s been reading my stuff for a while can probably guess that my favorite client-hunting strategy is direct marketing. I love reaching out to businesses, knocking on their digital doors and asking if they need a freelance writer. (For a quick example of what I’m talking about, you can read this blog post about how I landed an $800 per month client using this method.)

Believe it or not though, direct marketing and I haven’t always been tight. There was a time when I was scared of doing it because it felt sleazy. Back then I felt like if I reached out to businesses and sell my services, I’d be like an insistent telemarketer or a door-to-door person trying to get homeowners to buy some vacuums or encyclopedias.

Over the years though, as I gained more experience writing for businesses and as I made more entrepreneur friends, I learned that the “sleazy mindset” is a total myth in the realm of hunting for freelance clients. Me thinking that I was “bothering” other companies was just a defense mechanism. It was one of those stories I told myself because I was scared to put myself out there.

Can you relate? If the answer is yes, then allow me to give you a simple piece of advice: STOP. Just… stop. You’re NOT a sleazy salesperson and you are not bothering clients by knocking on their doors to offer your services.

See, selling to businesses isn’t the same as selling to consumers. Consumers slam doors on salespeople and hang up on telemarketers because they really do feel like they’re being bothered. There they are, busy with work or watching TV and some guy calls or shows up trying to shove some product into their face.

It’s important to note that entrepreneurs do not think or behave the same way. When you reach out to them, they won’t see you as a pushy salesperson (unless you really are being pushy or obnoxious). Rather, they’ll likely see you as another business person just like them, trying to make a living… just like them. You’re a legit business offering something of value to another business. It’s as simple as that.

When you’re selling your freelance writing services, always remember to remove your consumer cap and think like an entrepreneur instead. You need to have a business mindset because you are, after all, dealing with other businesses.

And if you encounter closed doors, don’t make the mistake of thinking that it has something to do with you or your worth as a writer. Often, getting a “no” or not receiving a response doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t like you as a person (first rule of business: don’t take things personally). The more likely reason is that your business just isn’t a good fit for theirs.

Don’t wallow on those rejections. Just move on to the next one.