Many people who choose to work with words are on the quiet side. In some ways, a preclivity for peace and your own company actually makes you perfectly suited to roles like copywriting.
Unfortunately, though, writing doesn’t actually happen in a bubble. Well, okay, maybe the words on paper part does, but if you’re trying to make a living as a copywriter, you’ll get absolutely nowhere by locking yourself in a room. That’s because, as with any profession, your success here depends on who you know and, we’re sorry to say it, your ability to woo wonderful clients.
If that thought sends a chill down your spine, then you aren’t alone. But there are ways to network even when you’re a shy writer type with no willingness for fancy dinners and small talk. Keep on reading to find out what they are.
# 1 – Network From Afar
Technology and copywriters don’t always see eye to eye, but networking sites like LinkedIn might just be an example of technology working for you, rather than against you.
Forget champagne dinners and shoehorning yourself into other people’s conversations; signing up for a LinkedIn account is a bit like hosting a networking event from the comfort of your own home. Best of all, many companies will hire you based solely on these online interactions. Simply reach out to the right people, make yourself fully discoverable, and take your time thinking about the right thing to say with every single message you send.
# 2 – Make a Lasting Impression With Your Business Card
Even if you get into a great conversation with a potential client at an event, remember that they’re meeting a lot of people at the same time. Who are they going to remember when they finally sit down later, the shy freelance writer, or the marvellous marketing mogul? It doesn’t take a genius to work that one out, but there are ways that you can still make a lasting mark.
Prospective clients will often collect business cards for consideration when they get a moment to themselves. Choosing a hiqh-quality business card maker, and taking this opportunity to show how smart you can be with words, can give you a lasting edge over even the loudest networkers at the party.
# 3 – Highlight One-on-One Targets
If you know your voice is easily lost in a crowd, simply seek one-on-one audiences with relevant networking prospects. Of course, by this we don’t mean that you should trail them into the toilet to get them on their own. Still, waiting until they break away from a conversation or are at the bar alone for a moment can buy you an approach that you wouldn’t get by joining a conversational crowd. And that alone could be the thing to help you stand out overall.
Networking is never easy when you’d rather be at your computer creating something beautiful, but you might be better at this crucial skill than you think if you simply follow these top tips.
