What do you do if your freelance writing pitches are constantly being rejected?
If you're a freelance writer, you know how frustrating it can be to send out dozens of pitches and get nothing but rejections or silence. You might start to doubt your skills, your niche, or your value. But don't give up just yet. There are some steps you can take to improve your chances of landing more gigs and building a loyal client base. Here are some tips to help you overcome pitch rejection and boost your freelance writing career.
The first thing you should do is review your pitch and see if there's anything you can improve. A good pitch should be clear, concise, and compelling. It should show that you understand the client's needs, goals, and audience. It should also demonstrate your expertise, credibility, and value. And it should include a catchy subject line, a personalized introduction, a relevant sample, and a call to action. If your pitch is missing any of these elements, or if it's too long, too vague, or too generic, you might want to revise it and make it more effective.
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Ubaid Rahman
Information Technology Recruiter @ VBeyond Corporation | Integrated BBA + MBA in International Business
If freelance writing pitches are consistently rejected, first reassess the target publication or client to ensure alignment with their needs. Revise pitches for relevance, clarity, and uniqueness. Seek feedback from editors or peers for improvement. Diversify target outlets and refine pitching strategies. Persistence, adaptability, and continuous learning are key to success.
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Alejandro Bermúdez García
Editor en Jefe Centro Universitario Hidalguense A.C
Si tus propuestas son rechazadas constantemente, puedo aconsejar es revisar el estilo del escrito, revisar nuevas tendencias, ver lo más actual en cuanto a necesidades de la audiencia y de las empresas, eso es importante. En el campo científico, revisar los temas de relevancia y adaptarse a los cambios sociales.
Another reason why your pitches might be getting rejected is that you're not targeting the right prospects. You need to do some research before you reach out to potential clients and make sure they're a good fit for your niche, style, and rates. You can use tools like LinkedIn, Google, or social media to find out more about their business, their industry, their audience, and their pain points. You can also look at their website, blog, or portfolio to see what kind of content they publish, what tone they use, and what gaps they have. This will help you tailor your pitch to their specific needs and interests, and show them that you're not just another spammer.
Sometimes, your pitches might not get rejected, but simply ignored. This could be because the client is busy, overwhelmed, or forgetful. In that case, you might want to follow up with them after a week or two and remind them of your offer. But be careful not to be too pushy, annoying, or desperate. A polite follow-up email should restate your value proposition, highlight your benefits, and ask for a response. You can also add some urgency, such as a limited availability or a special discount. But don't send more than two or three follow-ups, and always respect the client's decision.
If you're lucky enough to get some feedback from a client who rejected your pitch, don't take it personally or defensively. Instead, use it as an opportunity to learn and improve. Ask them what they liked and disliked about your pitch, what they were looking for, and what you could have done better. Thank them for their time and honesty, and keep their suggestions in mind for your next pitch. You might also want to ask them if they would be interested in hearing from you again in the future, or if they know anyone who might need your services.
One of the best ways to avoid pitch rejection is to not rely on cold pitching alone. While it can be a great way to find new clients and opportunities, it can also be time-consuming, stressful, and unpredictable. You should also explore other sources of freelance writing work, such as referrals, testimonials, networking, social media, guest posting, blogging, or platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Medium. By diversifying your sources, you can increase your exposure, credibility, and income, and reduce your dependence on pitching.
Finally, the most important thing you can do to overcome pitch rejection is to keep improving your skills as a freelance writer. No matter how good you are, there's always room for improvement. You should always strive to learn new things, update your knowledge, and hone your craft. You can do this by reading books, blogs, or magazines about writing, taking online courses or workshops, joining online communities or groups, or hiring a coach or mentor. By investing in your skills, you can boost your confidence, quality, and value, and attract more clients and projects.
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Shubham Chauhan
Student at BFIT group of institutions
Even if you face rejection, the one you should be doing is always trying and improving, enhancing your skills. Remember, the key to growth is improvement and coming up with a better version of yourself. As it said "there is always room for improvement," don't think this is your best work, you can do something more in it, something more creative. We don't have to be successful or crack everything, every time you give it a try. Sometimes you need to take a moment, see and learn where you are making mistakes. People with a limited mindset think that, they have to pass the exam but people with a growth mindset always look forward to the challenges which help them grow and improve, personally and professionally.
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Supriya Zende
HR l I make your work life easier.
3 concise ways to handle constant rejection of freelance pitches: 1. Specialise and Target: Narrow down your niche and tailor your pitches to specific industries or types of clients to demonstrate expertise and relevance. 2. Improve Presentation: Enhance the visual and written aspects of your pitches to make them more engaging and professional, increasing the likelihood of grabbing clients' attention. 3. Follow Up: Don't hesitate to follow up on rejected pitches with a polite email or phone call to inquire about the reasons for rejection and express your continued interest in working together. This can sometimes lead to valuable feedback or even a reconsideration of your pitch.
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