The Writing Coach Podcast 77: Selling stories without being salesy

WCP77 Making sales without being salesy

Freelance writers shy away from talking about sales. “Got an assignment,” yes, but “sold a story,” much less so. “Salesperson” is associated with being “salesy,” which itself brings up a sleezy person trying to convince us we want something we don’t, or somebody who won’t give us a moment to process or consider.

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Freelance writers shy away from talking about sales. “Got an assignment,” yes, but “sold a story,” much less so. “Salesperson” is associated with being “salesy,” which itself brings up a sleezy person trying to convince us we want something we don’t, or somebody who won’t give us a moment to process or consider. We’ve all been on the receiving end of somebody being salesy, and we didn’t like it.

But you’ve also probably had a good sales experience, when somebody made a great suggestion, answered your questions thoughtfully, or asked you something to help clarify what you wanted. We can create that experience for our editors too, where we offer something of high value—an original story idea that’s perfect for their readers, written by somebody who’s thought it all out. And with ongoing clients, we’re not just selling individual story ideas, but we are selling ourselves and our skills.

Nobody wants to be salesy. But if you avoid any kind of sales, your freelance business model likely isn’t going to work. Let’s look at unpacking the sales experience from multiple experiences.

MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE

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Bonus episode: Freelance Writer Bootcamp alumni discuss what the program’s really like

Rachel Weingarten

WCP 74: Why you’re the one

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What should you include in a pitch to an editor?  

Check out my blueprint for writing queries that editors find irresistible. Click here to download a copy of the free eguide, “5 Proven Steps to Writing Queries that Sell.”