{"id":116483,"date":"2019-02-08T23:40:44","date_gmt":"2019-02-08T22:40:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sftarticles.wpenginepowered.com\/en\/?p=116483"},"modified":"2025-07-01T22:24:36","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T05:24:36","slug":"how-to-find-extra-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/how-to-find-extra-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Cold pitching 101: How to find actually prospective clients"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve dabbled in freelance writing \u2014 or freelance anything \u2014 you\u2019ve seen post after post touting the power of cold pitching. It\u2019s reportedly the best way to find high-quality clients and grow your business to new heights.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, a lot of the content out there is super promotional. And much of it involves successful bloggers selling their expertise to those with less experience or savvy in the space.<\/p>\n

So what\u2019s the story with cold pitching? The concept is as straightforward as it sounds \u2014 you\u2019re reaching out to strangers to sell a service.<\/p>\n

The thing we found more challenging was the research process. Where are people finding these lists of prospects, in the first place?<\/p>\n

Here, we\u2019ll look at some tips for compiling a list of your own prospects.<\/p>\n

How to find new work opportunities<\/h2>\n

\"networking\"<\/p>\n

What is cold pitching?<\/h3>\n

Cold pitching is the process of reaching out to a targeted list of strangers to convince them to give your company a shot. In most cases, you\u2019ll do this via email \u2014 though you could try using the good old-fashioned phone.<\/p>\n

Basically, you\u2019re sending a company\/person a personalized email after doing some research on your own. This means you\u2019re qualifying leads on your own.<\/p>\n

Pitches should be as concise as possible. Nobody likes to field a cold email, after all.<\/p>\n

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

8 best sources for remote work opportunities<\/p>\r\n Read Now \u25ba<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n

Why you should cold pitch<\/h3>\n

For one, being a freelancer means that you generally don\u2019t have the luxury of taking home a reliable, bi-weekly paycheck. Your earnings depend on how much you work and how much clients are willing to pay for your service.<\/p>\n

Among the biggest challenges for independent workers is locking down a steady stream of paying gigs that provide a predictable income.<\/p>\n

So there\u2019s this constant need to be prospecting, even when you\u2019ve got enough on your plate. You can apply for jobs through job boards, go to networking events, or ask existing clients for referrals.<\/p>\n

Cold pitching, however, offers some distinct benefits over the usual channels, and here\u2019s why:<\/p>\n

Easy-to-measure results<\/h4>\n

When you’re emailing cold leads, it’s easy to see which pitches get results. You have a record of sent messages that you can review to see how many conversions you’re getting compared to what was sent.<\/p>\n

It’s easy<\/h4>\n

Well, sort of. Cold pitching requires that you write customized, well-researched emails to strangers, so it’s not this mindless effort. But, once you’ve got your list of leads, you’ll have a quick way to reach out to prospective clients — even just a few each day.<\/p>\n

Freelancers can get busy, but keeping up the business development part of their job means they’ll be less likely to experience work droughts down the line.<\/p>\n

Contracts are on your terms<\/h4>\n

Because you\u2019re sending the email, you\u2019re in the position of power.<\/p>\n

While you are at the mercy of collecting enough yeses to pay your rent, those who sign on are agreeing to the terms you put out there.<\/p>\n

One of the key reasons that freelancers tend to like this method is, it\u2019s an effective alternative job board.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s nothing wrong with job boards, per se. But, the process of applying for multiple jobs and hoping the rates work out to more than $0.0008 per word can leave you feeling like your fate is in someone else\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n

These are the highest-paying online careers<\/p>\r\n Read Now \u25ba<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n

How to identify the right clients<\/h3>\n

\"scouting<\/p>\n

First of all, you should only approach clients that you can imagine yourself working with.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a writer with experience in writing about technology, your ideal clients might be software companies, cybersecurity firms, or web apps. You won\u2019t want to approach roofing companies or fashion brands, otherwise, it looks like you\u2019re sending mass emails with little thought as to where they land.<\/p>\n

Niche matters, too. Stay in your lane.<\/strong> A generalist might have the right skill set, but they risk falling into the “jack-of-all-trades” category. Instead, you narrow your area of expertise.<\/p>\n

As you start hunting for leads, you\u2019ll want to ask yourself a few questions as you comb through each lead:<\/p>\n