You came across a company you would love to work with, but there’s one problem: the only way to contact them seems to be through a form on their website or a formal job application with your resume. What’s a freelance commercial writer to do?
That’s an issue one writer ran into, causing frustration over not knowing if their pitches would ever get to the right person. In that situation, what should you do? Submit your resume? Use the contact form and hope for the best? Find some other workaround? Peter and I have some suggestions if you find yourself in a similar situation.
How Can You Approach Companies That Only Accept Work Inquiries or Resumes Through Their Websites?
The following question came in from the Well-Fed Writer community:
I’ve come across several companies that only take resumes, employment inquiries, etc. by email or by the job page on their web site. In a situation like this, you’re never sure what’s really happening with your stuff, whether you’ll hear back, if anyone’s even there, and if it’s worth it all. What’s your take?
Peter Bowerman on Limited Prospect Contact Options
I can’t recall the last company I dealt with that operated like that. If you run into that, try to figure out how to get around it. Go to the web site and/or call the company and look for/ask for the marketing or marketing communications department and then call them directly. I’m guessing they wouldn’t freak out to hear from a writer.
I’m also guessing that if a company is really in the market for writing services, they’d make it easier to get to those folks who need those services. So, if you’re getting shlepped off to HR or have to go through a formal process, chances are, those aren’t your best prospects.
As I mention in my book, sending your stuff through HR or some other “employment” department is the single best way to have it held up for the longest period of time. Bottom line, I wouldn’t send ANY marketing materials out unless I’ve confirmed with someone in that company that they’re in the market for writing services, and they’ve said they’d like to see something. That said, you’re better off just setting up a web site, and steering prospects to that, and dispensing with the whole assembling of marketing packages thing.
Jenn Mattern on Difficult-to-Reach Prospects
First, I have a strict policy on not pursuing prospects that require resumes from freelancers. It’s a sign that either:
- they don’t have experience working with freelance professionals, who are business owners and not employee-equivalents;
- they don’t respect the freelance professionals they work with and insist on behaving as if they’re an employer.
It’s up to you to decide what you’re willing, and not willing, to do in this situation. But that mostly applies to advertised freelance jobs.
When you’re looking to pitch a new prospect outside of those advertised leads, LinkedIn is your friend. Actually, this trick also works with advertised gigs, making it a great place to start.
Visit LinkedIn and look up the company. Browse the section that highlights their “people,” and look for someone who might be in a position to make buying decisions. A Content Director. Marketing head. Managing Editor.
When you find these people, reach out to them directly. If their profile leads you to an email address or phone number, great. But even messaging them on LinkedIn is a big step up from relying on a contact form that might never get to your key contact (or, worse, submitting a resume when you’re not applying for a traditional job).
Submit Your Question to the Well-Fed Writer Mailbag
Do you have a question related to freelance commercial writing (writing for businesses)? Submit your question using the form at the bottom of the main Mailbag page, and you could be featured in the Well-Fed Writer Mailbag series.