The Truth Behind Landing Clients | 108

I used to think all I needed to get clients was an incredible portfolio on Instagram. So, I built one in 2018 with cityscape shots that would have Canon and Sony sliding into my DMs to work with me.

But they didn’t in 2018. They didn’t in 2019. So, in 2020, I figured out how to get clients using a proactive approach.

We often think, “Just post on social media, create a website, and they'll come knocking.”

But here’s the harsh reality: building a solid brand presence takes a very, very long time. If you’re impatient like me, let’s start pitching.

Pitching - It's More Than You Think

We’ve all heard of pitching. We know we should be pitching brands and people we want to work with.

But how exactly do we pitch? How much and often?

A newbie might think sending a few outreach messages a month to potential clients is a good strategy.

Picture this: You send out 5 emails tailored to each brand. Of those, 2 or 3 won't even be opened, 1 or 2 might be skimmed over, and just 1 might be read fully – but still, no guarantee of a reply.

How many marketing emails do you open and read fully when they land in your inbox?

After a few months of trying, you might feel discouraged and ready to give up.

The golden nugget I learned from the best in the industry is this: volume matters.

Anyone who’s had any success pitching knows this truth.

It’s not talking about sending 5 emails a month, but 5 emails every single day. Yes, you read that right. 5 is just the minimum here. For context, when I’m in peak sales mode, I’ll send at least 15 new outreaches a day and follow up with every single person who hasn’t responded. Doing this every weekday means I’ll hit up at least 300 new companies every month.

I share these numbers to show you what it actually takes.

Underestimating the effort of outreach volume is a common beginner mistake.

Behind every successful creative, there are countless rejections.

But every rejection is a step closer to a "yes." And the truth, which many won't tell you, is that it takes relentless effort to achieve success. Those hours you spend each day reaching out? That’s the ticket to your success.

Quantity vs Quality

Yes, volume is important, but so is the quality of your approach.

Cold outreach must grab attention immediately. From an enticing subject line to a personalized hook and a clear call to action, every aspect matters. Many claim cold emails don’t work, but it’s likely they aren’t doing it right. It's akin to baking a cake without the recipe.

I work with students inside my program, Creative Biz Launch, to help them land more clients with a tried and tested pitching process.

I recently put together a list of 17 common mistakes that creatives make when cold emailing, and everyone in the program got access to this list so they could improve their response rates.

I get a lot of messages on social media from people telling me cold email doesn’t work for them. And I’m not surprised because they’re making most of these 17 mistakes.

If you end up in spam every time, how can you expect a reply?

If you need help with cold outreach, reply to this email, and I’ll get you set up.

If you want a taste of what cold outreach needs to include, start with these 4 steps:

1. Attention-Grabbing Subject Line: This ensures your email is opened.
2. Personalized Hook: Start with something that resonates with the brand.
3. Credibility Statement: Showcase your expertise and experience.
4. Clear Call to Action: Direct them toward the next step.

Here's my challenge for you: Start small, with a message a day, increasing daily until you’re sending at least 5 daily messages. Continue this pace for 30 days. If you’re not getting any replies, there’s something broken that needs fixing.

For those who feel stuck, I hope I've illuminated the reality of the creative business world.

For those already with clients from referrals, I’ve just outlined a strategy for predictable revenue.