I have a couple of prospects that I am ‘nurturing’. Here’s the situations:
1. Client is very well healed, in the Us, and is at the center of my target market. They have numerous copywriters and my contact indicated they’d like to add me to the mix to produce some specific content. The person hiring – my contact – is very experienced in the industry and with content marketing and SEO especially. She provided a very detailed plan that I would fit into, and asked if the protocol was acceptable to me, and I responded that it was and even that I liked the plan. I also asked a few basic questions, which have yet to be answered. It’s been less than two weeks since she expressed interest in my services for the 2nd qtr, and my first followup was yesterday. She said she will get back to me “as soon as she can”. What can I do to nurture this – ie what content can I provide her in followup emails, what suggestions and ideas, etc. so that I’m adding value and not pestering? And when should I followup next?
2. Client seems to have a good product but I’m not sure how extensive their market reach is. I contacted owner, who personally has produced blog content erratically. I think they have a decent product but lack the marketing sophistication, at least re content marketing. She replied about a month after with interest, admitting that they are not staffed for this and expressing interest, asking me how I work,…. I sent her a good email – I think – and would like to get on the phone with her. This will take some relationship building. My hunch is that this will work best if we can pick out something small – like blog posts – and agree to an approach, process, and compensation that is palatable for her. With that in place, I think we can build the relationship from there. Can you suggest a way – I’ve been waiting a week for her response to my first response – to getting her to take some action and move on this?
I’ve got a couple of conversations started on LinkedIn with marketing directors in my niche, but am a bit unsure at which point I should take the initiative to get those conversations to the next level. It’s most likely a confidence/impostor syndrome thing.
I’d mentioned to one in the aluminium industry that I came across his name while doing a search for marketing directors, and he asked why. Seems like a fairly approachable person from the limited contact so far.
My reply: “I’ve recently started a B2B copywriting business focusing on metals, ceramics and polymers, so I’ve been looking for marketing managers in those industries to contact and discover more about what their companies do and whether they use in-house or external writers to help create marketing collateral.”
Does this come across a bit hesitant or pushy? Or was the balance about right for a LinkedIn conversation? It was only late this afternoon my time so there might be a response tomorrow, or maybe not…
What’s your take on the approach in this case, and where should I take the conversation from here if the response is positive?
When you try to apply for a copywriter role on the job boards (e.g. Indeed) does the hiring decision maker look at all the applicants. I imagine they must hire an office girl to look at all the applications and resumes with a list of criteria and to select the ones that have at least a certain number of matching criteria.
This means nobody reads my cover letter, despite the effort I put into writing a good one.
I need to find other ways to attract or connect with clients, like contacting them through LinkedIn of if I could have their emails…
At what point should I consider upgrading my LinkedIn account? And which package do you recommend?
3 Comments
John Reiling
March 14, 2019I have a couple of prospects that I am ‘nurturing’. Here’s the situations:
1. Client is very well healed, in the Us, and is at the center of my target market. They have numerous copywriters and my contact indicated they’d like to add me to the mix to produce some specific content. The person hiring – my contact – is very experienced in the industry and with content marketing and SEO especially. She provided a very detailed plan that I would fit into, and asked if the protocol was acceptable to me, and I responded that it was and even that I liked the plan. I also asked a few basic questions, which have yet to be answered. It’s been less than two weeks since she expressed interest in my services for the 2nd qtr, and my first followup was yesterday. She said she will get back to me “as soon as she can”. What can I do to nurture this – ie what content can I provide her in followup emails, what suggestions and ideas, etc. so that I’m adding value and not pestering? And when should I followup next?
2. Client seems to have a good product but I’m not sure how extensive their market reach is. I contacted owner, who personally has produced blog content erratically. I think they have a decent product but lack the marketing sophistication, at least re content marketing. She replied about a month after with interest, admitting that they are not staffed for this and expressing interest, asking me how I work,…. I sent her a good email – I think – and would like to get on the phone with her. This will take some relationship building. My hunch is that this will work best if we can pick out something small – like blog posts – and agree to an approach, process, and compensation that is palatable for her. With that in place, I think we can build the relationship from there. Can you suggest a way – I’ve been waiting a week for her response to my first response – to getting her to take some action and move on this?
Tim McKnght
March 14, 2019Hi Ed,
I’ve got a couple of conversations started on LinkedIn with marketing directors in my niche, but am a bit unsure at which point I should take the initiative to get those conversations to the next level. It’s most likely a confidence/impostor syndrome thing.
I’d mentioned to one in the aluminium industry that I came across his name while doing a search for marketing directors, and he asked why. Seems like a fairly approachable person from the limited contact so far.
My reply: “I’ve recently started a B2B copywriting business focusing on metals, ceramics and polymers, so I’ve been looking for marketing managers in those industries to contact and discover more about what their companies do and whether they use in-house or external writers to help create marketing collateral.”
Does this come across a bit hesitant or pushy? Or was the balance about right for a LinkedIn conversation? It was only late this afternoon my time so there might be a response tomorrow, or maybe not…
What’s your take on the approach in this case, and where should I take the conversation from here if the response is positive?
Thanks,
Tim
Francis Ardi
March 14, 2019When you try to apply for a copywriter role on the job boards (e.g. Indeed) does the hiring decision maker look at all the applicants. I imagine they must hire an office girl to look at all the applications and resumes with a list of criteria and to select the ones that have at least a certain number of matching criteria.
This means nobody reads my cover letter, despite the effort I put into writing a good one.
I need to find other ways to attract or connect with clients, like contacting them through LinkedIn of if I could have their emails…
At what point should I consider upgrading my LinkedIn account? And which package do you recommend?