Getting clients is one of the hardest things about freelancing. As a consultant, I understand this. But I also understand that copy-and-paste marketing doesn’t work. Especially when the marketer is using the same cut-and-paste template as everyone else.
Let’s use an email I received recently as an example.
Hi,
Would you be interested in building a new site or possibly rebuilding/repairing your existing site? We are a professional development company.
I would be happy to show you some of the websites we’ve built for businesses like yours.
I received this same email ten times today. Not just emails like it, the literal same one with different names on it. Now let’s break down what this email actually says.
You’re a Number
By sending out this generic cut-and-paste email, potential clients can easily see that the sender doesn’t care about them or their project. They didn’t even bother with a simple mail merge to include my name. Most likely the sender took a “How to Build Websites/ Program using AI” course, and this is the template from the copy-and-paste marketing module. Or the entire thing is a scam.
They Don’t Care
The other way to know the sender doesn’t care is that they are lumping everything together with no specifics. They don’t reference which specific website or issue that the website has. Instead, they want to build, rebuild, and repair the existing website. How do you fix something if you don’t know what it is?
I tested this theory once by asking the sender to tell me the hex color numbers used on my site and why they were relevant. She tried to guess the color numbers but never got them right. She also couldn’t tell me anything about why I use those colors.
They Lack Skills
The people who send these emails use templates or AI to create the same website over and over. They change the colors and maybe the fonts, but it’s why all the websites they make literally look the same. Sometimes, they don’t have the skill set to do more. In others, this is their lazy way of making money – like people who write an entire book in AI and then publish it without proofreading.
Who Created My Website?
I did. I started with a template and customized it. No AI. Is it perfect? Probably not. I’m not a website designer. I’m an author and consultant. And most importantly, I’m a person. This website represents who I am. It’s not meant to be generic or look like everyone else’s.
How Does This Apply to Writers?
People want to be treated like people. If you are networking as a freelancer, then make sure you are offering a solution to their problem. Not just generic “I can make this”. You have to be able to demonstrate that you are part of the solution – not just an annoyance looking for attention.
For more advice about the business of writing, check out this post.