The pitching process for healthcare writers can be intimidating if you are new to the industry. You are new at this, you know your healthcare professional, but writing is a whole new world. My friend, Annie Donahue helps writers write. If you need help with writing (which you do if you are new), she’s your girl. If you are an established writer, you have come to the right place for the next steps in growing your freelance healthcare writing business. This article will start with mistakes I see people make when they do the pitching process and how to go from exploring a client to sending pitches, and what to aim for in your pitching game. It’s all a process, which writers LOVE.
The 7 Step Pitching Process for Healthcare Writers
1. Be Confident
I remember as a new writer, I would pitch clients and say that I was a new writer. They don’t care if you are new, they care if you can write. The right pitching process starts with a quick into of you and why you would be a good fit for their company.
Something like: “Good morning, My name is Janine, and I am a freelance writer, who happens to be an RN. I love your website because it’s right along the area of healthcare I am passionate about, Labor and Delivery. I have been a labor and delivery nurse for over 15 years, and my vast knowledge in the area can help leverage your content.” See how confident I sound? You want the client to think that they can’t go further without you. I won’t end it there, though.
2. Redo Your Current Pitch
Look at what you have sent previous potential clients. See if you sound like you are new at this. In healthcare, no one wants to hear that someone is a new nurse. The same goes for healthcare writers. When you look at your pitch, give samples of your current work. If you don’t have any current work, take a look at my post about building a portfolio when you have no experience, to gather samples for your potential client.
3. Catchy Subject
When you write a pitch for a company, know that you are among many fish in the sea. When you create an email with a pitch, make yourself stand out. Think of a subject line like: – Nurse + Writer → Pitches Inside – Janine Kelbach RN + Freelance Writer – Blog article writer and nurse Janine Kelbach
On your pitching process, think about what makes you unique to your potential client. Add in your pitch email what you love about their website because companies love when the writer has a genuine interest in their brand.
4. Keep Track
Give yourself a monthly goal for pitching. When I started as a writer, I would send 20-40 pitches every couple of weeks to gather clients. I know this sounds like a lot, but it will pay off quickly! Make a trackable document in Excel or Google Sheets, or a simple piece of paper to follow up with clients.
Following up will almost always give you a response if you remain consistent. Follow up with clients because your email may have been looked at and then pushed aside if the editor became busy. Follow up with potential clients every three weeks or so.
5. Create Goals
One of the toughest parts of owning your own business is to keep yourself regularly accountable for your actions. Start with the pitching process that I suggest to you. Set a goal to pitch once a day for the next week. That will only give you 7, but it’s a start. Follow up every three weeks and see if you have any responses at the end of the month.
6. Cold Email Vs. Job Ads
When you are doing this pitching process, are you emailing editors or applying to job ads? You can do both! Ask an editor how their content plans are going and if they are interested in hiring a contracted writer for “X of blog posts a month.” If you respond to a job ad, be sure you meet the qualifications and exceed those by telling them how amazing you are in your healthcare profession. Use that card!
7. Hustle
Don’t give up. It’s easy to become discouraged after many pitches in the pitching process. Remember, “the fortune is in the follow-up.” If you pitch seven times in a week, try to double it the next week. You will get a response if you keep at it and follow up with potential clients you didn’t hear back from.
Like what you’re reading? Take a listen to our podcast called The Savvy Scribe Podcast! Interested in taking your health writing business further? Join us in the Savvy Scribe Growth Lab! Would you like to join a group of like-minded health writers? We host the Savvy Scribe Collective and would LOVE for you to be a part of it! Join us for FREE