to promote my copywriting services, what would I start with? If I wrote a business letter what would a person like me (who has no portfolio and is just starting out) actually write on it? Should I start with a simple postcard and send those out to prospects first?

What to do. What to do.

Joni,

If you are still working on the brochure project with Brian, you could use that, or maybe Brian would be kind enough to give you a testimonial..so that you would have something tangible to show.

Just my opinion - but I think a sales letter is better for this than a postcard.

A fellow copywriter on the board, Yancey Foster, had a thread discussing something similar. He was mailing to Chamber of Commerce prospects, I believe. That was some time back and I can't remember the title of the thread, but there was some info there that might help you.

A lot of writers put their samples on their websites and then give prospects the link when they ask to see some samples.

Best wishes!

Hi Joni -

I'm relatively new myself, but here's my plan of attack as I move forward.

- I've been scanning ads that are running in the local paper and rewriting ones that need work. My thought is to approach these businesses with an offer to improve their responses (however, through reading other posts the small business market is not very responsive to what a copywriter can do for them).

- Review job offers that are placed on Craigslist. Surprisingly Craigslist has several copywriting jobs listed on it.

- Bid on jobs posted at Elance, Rent a Coder, and other freelance sights.

My main focus right now is to continue building my skills, however, I don't want to keep learning and use it as an excuse for not taking action. So, I'm doing 80% education and 20% marketing my services.

That's my 2-cents, but I'm sure you'll get some excellent responses from the pros!

Press on to Success,
Jeff

Hi radioboyolan,

Thanks for your prompt reply!

Yes I am still working on a project with Brian. The only thing about it is a fairly long one and I guess I was wondering if it's wise to go ahead and write a sales letter without having any actual samples yet, except for the spec pieces that I have available. Then again, maybe I should wait however long it takes to finish for Brian and then send a letter (Brian has been kind enough to offer a testimonial and sample of the project to put on my website).
What do you think? Should I wait? Or just go for it with what I have now which is just my own spec stuff?

This may be just me, but I've rarely had to send out a sample. Even in the beginning.

My practice is to make your website a GREAT example of your writing. They should leave your website wanting to hire you, not wanting to see a sample. After all... if you did your job, they DID just read a sample.

Hi JL,

Should I go for jobs at sites like Elance? Sounds scary to me. Does anyone consider a beginner like myself? And Craigslist? How much success do people generally have with these sites?

Joni,

I'd go for it..

and if you haven't seen Vin's website yet, make sure you read it.

It's one of the best I've seen (and he didn't pay me to say that)!

Good point, Vin,

But I also don't want to bombard new visiters with lot's of text on my website. My thinking was to give them easy access to my samples (via point and click from my website) instead of making them read and read and read so they can see what I can do as it relates to their business or organization.

What do you think?

I can only tell you what works for me. If you're selling them on sales letters, I firmly believe you hit them with a sales letter. My website is a sales letter.

Thanks Vin.