Difficult phone call...
Discussion
Gents and Gentesses,
I have to make a phone call today. One of THOSE phone calls. One you get half way through dialling the number and hang up, several times in a row, before finally taking a deep breath and making it all the way to the ringtone - thus there being NO GOING BACK!
Actually, it's not that bad, but I could do with some advice. I am calling an editor of a magazine today (genre not important to disclose) to convince him that he wants to give me some freelance work. This would be fine except I have nothing more than a general knowledge of the subject in question, and a pathetic amount of writing experience he wouldn't give a crap about.
I'm after experience rather than money and so therefore am offering nothing more than cheap labour and enthusiasm. (i.e. £100 per thousand words).
So in short, I have to 'sell myself' to someone - something I have never done before, and I am particularly shy about this sort of thing. I want to chicken out, but this is something I really want to do.
Any tips?
x
I have to make a phone call today. One of THOSE phone calls. One you get half way through dialling the number and hang up, several times in a row, before finally taking a deep breath and making it all the way to the ringtone - thus there being NO GOING BACK!
Actually, it's not that bad, but I could do with some advice. I am calling an editor of a magazine today (genre not important to disclose) to convince him that he wants to give me some freelance work. This would be fine except I have nothing more than a general knowledge of the subject in question, and a pathetic amount of writing experience he wouldn't give a crap about.
I'm after experience rather than money and so therefore am offering nothing more than cheap labour and enthusiasm. (i.e. £100 per thousand words).
So in short, I have to 'sell myself' to someone - something I have never done before, and I am particularly shy about this sort of thing. I want to chicken out, but this is something I really want to do.
Any tips?
x
Perhaps it would be better to sell in writing first, knock something up to show you have talent. If you think about other selling, a glossy brochure and a free sample works better than a cold call...
A friend of mines just got a job as a journalist after being made redundant as an IT project manager. No experience but they liked the article she had to write to acompany her application.
A friend of mines just got a job as a journalist after being made redundant as an IT project manager. No experience but they liked the article she had to write to acompany her application.
I think making the call and showing that you have taken interest in the work they already do and want to be a part of it will do you no harm!
If you can manage to massage the ego of the call recipient a little that may well pave the way for a 'face to face' meeting, or them being more accepting of a trial article etc from you.
You have nothing to lose!!!
Good luck! Let us know how it goes!
If you can manage to massage the ego of the call recipient a little that may well pave the way for a 'face to face' meeting, or them being more accepting of a trial article etc from you.
You have nothing to lose!!!
Good luck! Let us know how it goes!
Try and identify the questions you think you might be asked and draft a response on paper before you make the call.
Think about the tone you want to strike as much as the content.
Don't give yourself a script, but make sure that before you begin the call you know what you want to get out of it.
A friend of mine has a little trick for overcoming objections. He always starts a response with 'I'm glad you said that'..... it gives him time to think and also presents an argument within an agreement frame, making buy in from the other side much more likely.
Good luck, and let us know how you get on.
Think about the tone you want to strike as much as the content.
Don't give yourself a script, but make sure that before you begin the call you know what you want to get out of it.
A friend of mine has a little trick for overcoming objections. He always starts a response with 'I'm glad you said that'..... it gives him time to think and also presents an argument within an agreement frame, making buy in from the other side much more likely.
Good luck, and let us know how you get on.
titiany said:
titiany said:
Gents and Gentesses,
I am calling an editor of a magazine today (genre not important to disclose)
Razzle?
er... i think i'm too innocent to know what that is!?!
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=148430&f=141&h=0
I may be able to help as I'm the sort of person you'll be calling.
You could try bluffing it - introduce yourself as a freelance, tell the ed what stories you have, and ask is if he/she wants them.
Or be honest and you may be given a trial story.
Good luck - I'm too much of a coward to go freelance!
Oh, and sound confident
Incidentally if it's any comfort to you, most freelancers can't write for toffee. In fact lots of articles are drivel until they've been subbed twice.
You could try bluffing it - introduce yourself as a freelance, tell the ed what stories you have, and ask is if he/she wants them.
Or be honest and you may be given a trial story.
Good luck - I'm too much of a coward to go freelance!
Oh, and sound confident
Incidentally if it's any comfort to you, most freelancers can't write for toffee. In fact lots of articles are drivel until they've been subbed twice.
lotuslad said:
You could try bluffing it - introduce yourself as a freelance, tell the ed what stories you have, and ask is if he/she wants them.
Could do but the industry is very close knit and I think everyone knows everyone!
Thanks for your advice - you have reminded me that the guy is only a human being and not an ogre!
>> Edited by titiany on Wednesday 12th January 12:08
>> Edited by titiany on Wednesday 12th January 12:08
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