When you respond to an ad via e-mail, your first impression starts with the subject line. It has to be more eye-catching than “Your Craigslist Ad.” If you start selling yourself from the very first point of contact, your chances of landing the gig improve immensely. Tailor your subject line to the ad: “Awesome Editor Available Immediately”; “Killer Copywriter for Your New Website”; or “I’ll Make Your Manuscript Flawless.”
Once you get past the subject line and into the body of the e-mail, this is not the time to be modest. Tell the potential client exactly why you’re the best person for the job. If you’re not sure yet, tell her exactly why you’re the best person for most jobs and then tell her that you’d love to learn about exactly what she’s looking for.
Your writing should demonstrate whatever skills you claim to have. If the advertiser wants someone with good grammar, yours should be impeccable. If he needs someone who can write snappy copy, your letter better snap like crazy. If he’s looking for a humor writer, it’s okay to be a little funnier or a little more casual than you might be when replying to an ad looking for someone to write an annual report for a huge corporation.
Have an awesome résumé. It doesn’t have to contain a lot in it to be awesome, but it needs to highlight your strengths and make you sound like someone the advertiser can’t live without. Send it even if she doesn’t request one, and tell her that it’s attached for her convenience. If the ad says “No attachments,” paste your résumé into your e-mail message after your signature. If the advertiser requests writing samples, handle it the same way according to his attachment preferences, or provide links to samples that are available online. Anonymized CL addresses have a limit on attachment sizes, so keep that in mind if you have a lot to send.
When it’s time to close your letter, be sure to include your contact information and a call to action for the potential client to get back to you. I like to say something like, “I am eager to talk with you further about how my excellent fill-in-the-blank skills can turn your whatever into something extraordinary. Please contact me at your convenience at 123-456-7890 or me@fake-email.com. I look forward to hearing from you.”
Finally, sign your letter professionally, using “Sincerely” or “Best” or something equivalent, along with your full name and a signature block that contains your contact information and a link to your website so the advertiser can check you out further if so inclined. Ultimately, you want to make it as easy as possible for the potential client to hire you and give you scads of money for your amazing work. Online ads can provide a wealth of high-paying opportunities for talented freelancers -- and snagging those positions is as easy as sending a well-written e-mail. With a little bit of practice, you’ll be an Internet-job-finding machine.
Kristen King is a freelance writer-editor and consultant from Northern Virginia, and the author of Inkthinker (http://www.inkthinker.blogspot.com), which was named one of the top 10 blogs for writers in 2006. Subscribe to Kristen's free e-newsletter at http://www.notes-in-the-margin.com.
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