If you're a regular reader, you've probably noticed the little meter to the right has been hanging tough at 461 calls for a couple of months. So where has cold call writer been?
Well, not to bore you with the details, but basically swamped with work. Since I started my cold call campaign in April (when I literally had no work and was chewing my fingernails down to the quick), I've been working with six new clients and am in negotiations with two more. One of those looks like it will turn into a year-long contract, and another is talking about forming a long-term relationship.
Things have just started to slow down a bit (phew), so hopefully I'll be resuming this blog in the next week of so. But for today, I'm going to go hiking and see if I can enjoy what's left of the summer.
Showing posts with label success. Show all posts
Showing posts with label success. Show all posts
Friday, August 5, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
When you're calling your ass off -- and no one's buying
Okay, so after two months of patiently calling 25 people a day with absolutely not a penny to show for it, the worm has turned.
First, permit me to rant for a moment about how crazy and insecure those two months of silence made me. I had plenty of nibbles (people who loved the portfolio, loved the idea, needed a writer, etc.), no one actually coughed up the cash.
This was maddening, as you might imagine. Especially when I was having trouble paying the bills and putting time into cold calling that could have been spent querying, networking and conducting other business building activities.
To keep doing it (with absolutely no reward) was a leap of faith of sorts.
I remember a story (I think I heard it at church camp) that would have made a great essay. Except it was from Middle-Ages Europe before they had O Mag or websites.
A monk was writing about his trip to a cathedral that was under construction. He admired how all the laborers, from men who were hauling giant stones to the women sweeping up the debris, were all working with great excitement and esprit de corps.
They knew they were building something worthwhile. The clincher? They also knew the cathedral would take 100 years to build.
They wouldn't live to see it finished.
Not a perfect example, but I really think when you're starting a business, you have to believe THAT MUCH in what you're doing. You have to be willing to bust ass through long periods with zero gratification.
What keeps a cold caller going?
For me, it was simple: Peter Bowerman said it would work. Other writer pals who have tried it said the same.
I was sure I was going to be the exception to the ironclad Law of Averages. Then last week, the phones started to ring.
Since May 23, I have either completed, quoted or am waiting on the green light for five new projects -- all from cold call clients.
Nothing huge, nothing earth shattering, but it's been months since I had a new client at all. And I have meetings with a number of promising prospects lined up when I get back from Vegas.
It's a huge change from business as usual, so I'll be slowing down the actual cold calls. But I will keep up the blog.
You see, the cold call process doesn't end when you hang up. There's the meeting, the quote, the dancing around fees, and all sorts of post-call fun to explore.
So stay tuned. And if you're currently busting ass with nothing to show for it, cheer up. Odds are your glory, when it comes, won't be posthumous.
First, permit me to rant for a moment about how crazy and insecure those two months of silence made me. I had plenty of nibbles (people who loved the portfolio, loved the idea, needed a writer, etc.), no one actually coughed up the cash.
This was maddening, as you might imagine. Especially when I was having trouble paying the bills and putting time into cold calling that could have been spent querying, networking and conducting other business building activities.
To keep doing it (with absolutely no reward) was a leap of faith of sorts.
I remember a story (I think I heard it at church camp) that would have made a great essay. Except it was from Middle-Ages Europe before they had O Mag or websites.
A monk was writing about his trip to a cathedral that was under construction. He admired how all the laborers, from men who were hauling giant stones to the women sweeping up the debris, were all working with great excitement and esprit de corps.
They knew they were building something worthwhile. The clincher? They also knew the cathedral would take 100 years to build.
They wouldn't live to see it finished.
Not a perfect example, but I really think when you're starting a business, you have to believe THAT MUCH in what you're doing. You have to be willing to bust ass through long periods with zero gratification.
What keeps a cold caller going?
For me, it was simple: Peter Bowerman said it would work. Other writer pals who have tried it said the same.
I was sure I was going to be the exception to the ironclad Law of Averages. Then last week, the phones started to ring.
Since May 23, I have either completed, quoted or am waiting on the green light for five new projects -- all from cold call clients.
Nothing huge, nothing earth shattering, but it's been months since I had a new client at all. And I have meetings with a number of promising prospects lined up when I get back from Vegas.
It's a huge change from business as usual, so I'll be slowing down the actual cold calls. But I will keep up the blog.
You see, the cold call process doesn't end when you hang up. There's the meeting, the quote, the dancing around fees, and all sorts of post-call fun to explore.
So stay tuned. And if you're currently busting ass with nothing to show for it, cheer up. Odds are your glory, when it comes, won't be posthumous.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Success! In-person prospecting pays off for writer
Remember the story of the health writer who approached the hospital mar-com folks at a local street fair?
Today she reports:
Good news on this end. I met with the hospital marketing guy and his custom publisher. Basically, they need a writer for their new newsletter (which may lead to work in their consumer health pub). I gave him a quote (I thought he'd negotiate lower, so I upped the rate) and he accepted it. Should start working on it next week! Yay!
You can't see it, but I'm giving her my "mad props" hand signal.
This is a great example of how meeting prospects face-to-face can drastically increase your chances of getting hired.
Have you had success prospecting in person, especially in non-business venues? Tell us about it!
Today she reports:
Good news on this end. I met with the hospital marketing guy and his custom publisher. Basically, they need a writer for their new newsletter (which may lead to work in their consumer health pub). I gave him a quote (I thought he'd negotiate lower, so I upped the rate) and he accepted it. Should start working on it next week! Yay!
You can't see it, but I'm giving her my "mad props" hand signal.
This is a great example of how meeting prospects face-to-face can drastically increase your chances of getting hired.
Have you had success prospecting in person, especially in non-business venues? Tell us about it!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Success!
After 1.5 months at this cold calling thing, I'm about to write my first invoice for a client I met through cold calling.
I spent today hanging around his marketing firm helping out with a rush editing job. Since I work in relative isolation most of the time, it was really fun to see creative-types teleconferencing, instant messaging, giving feedback and working as a cohesive team.
Tomorrow I'm headed to Wyoming to meet another prospect (who is very kindly taking me out to lunch), then rushing home to call yet another prospect who was referred to me by someone I cold called.
Believe. Cold calling works.
I spent today hanging around his marketing firm helping out with a rush editing job. Since I work in relative isolation most of the time, it was really fun to see creative-types teleconferencing, instant messaging, giving feedback and working as a cohesive team.
Tomorrow I'm headed to Wyoming to meet another prospect (who is very kindly taking me out to lunch), then rushing home to call yet another prospect who was referred to me by someone I cold called.
Believe. Cold calling works.
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