Although it may be uncommon, there may come a time when you need to meet with a prospect in person. While you are not required to do so, if you turn down the invitation it could very well kill your chance of making a deal. Is that what you want?
Some writers have no problem meeting with prospects and clients in person. Others try to avoid this at all costs.
Early in my career, this was not something I was interested in doing. I would have rather stayed in my office, working on projects and contacting prospects in other ways. However, things have changed quite a bit over the years.
While in person meetings are still “few and far between” it is something I have come to embrace. In my experience, a face-to-face meeting almost always leads to a signed contract. And that is what we are all looking for, right?
If you are not comfortable meeting with prospects in person, I have one bit of advice: give it a try. You may go into your first meeting with butterflies in your stomach and sweaty palms. That being said, you may walk out of your meeting with a lot of confidence and a new project to work on.
With each meeting that goes by, you will gain more confidence in your communication skills as well as your ability to sell yourself as the right writer for the project.
Like many writers, you may get sick at the thought of meeting with a prospect in person. Remember, things will get better as you gain more experience. There may come a point when you are the person initiating the face-to-face get together. Imagine that!
I second this wholeheartedly. In my book, I talk about something a wise businessperson told me many years ago that I never forgot: “1 in 10 people you talk to on the phone will hire you. 1 in 3 you meet will hire you.”
No, I don’t have any hard scientific date to back this up, but from my own experience, I can tell you (and affirm Chris’s assertion above: “In my experience, a face-to-face meeting almost always leads to a signed contract.”), that there’s absolutely a LOT of truth to it.
And why should it be surprising? Meeting someone face-to-face makes a connection to someone you can’t get any other way. And fundamentally, people do business with people they like and connect with.
Much has been written these days about the dwindling social skills, especially of younger people, used to communicating through virtual means to such a great extent, that those face-to-face-interaction muscles literally begin to atrophy.
If the idea of such meetings terrify you, then I’d assert they’re EXACTLY what you need to do. Just remember: that client is a human being just like you, with the same issues, hopes, fears, insecurities, etc. AND, assuming you have the writing chops to back it all up, you’ll be more likely to land business.
PB
Today, I’m meeting a new client for coffee at Starbucks. I don’t have a problem meeting new clients. A part of me wishes I had my own office space instead of having to rely on a coffee shop, but it is what it is. I wouldn’t mind finding a co-op that’s is great location and reasonably priced. It would be better than nothing.
Most of my work is long-distance but I meet local clients in person – it’s a great help in building up a rapport.