Hi, I'm building up the structure of my business -- I'm a former reporter/editor who's tired of starving and wants to make money. I'd like to do fundraising letters and have done a sample thank you for a local charity and have posted it on my website with some mag articles and clips from papers I used to work on. So. ..I think I have at least a beginning portfolio.
But...how do you approach someone and say, "Gee, I don't have any stats to prove that my fundraising letters get results, but give me the job anyway?" How do you get your first customer?
Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!

Im not gonna pretend to know cos i dont... But try talking to people, it sounds so simple, but it works, i thought about doing seo for people and when i was focusing on it, i didnt believe the amount of business people i met that wanted to get a website done but had no idea what seo was, i think that if i was to get into that business i could find work easy!

In other words, 'word of mouth'.

But please reply with some more info about your Fundraising Letter business structure, how your going to make money, who your target market is etc??

Hi Molly,

I'm new to Copywriting.com but not new the world of copywriting - I own a very successful copywriting business (Contrast Media) and I know how difficult it can be to start off with a small portfolio - what I found in the beginning was that clients appreciate honesty from their potential writers, and if you can show them samples of your writing and perhaps cut your rates a little, in time you can build a really good portfolio that will bring you a lot of business.

It's all about pacing yourself and doing it step by step. You can't expect massive clients right in the beginning so just start off small doing projects that will specifically enhance and broaden your portfolio - if you stick too it the rest will happen naturally.

Hope this helps:)