2. Create a simple document to track your LOIs
I am not tech-savvy at all, and in the past I have sent out LOIs on a whim whenever I saw an organisation or opportunity that caught my eye. But now I'm freelancing full time, I have started sending out regular LOIs and find that it is crucial to keep track of who I've sent letters to and their response.
Below is a snapshot of the spreadsheet I use to track my LOIs – it’s simple but effective and at a glance I can see where I’m at.
Letter of introduction spreadsheet
And as you can see, there are a few that I need to follow up on from March and April! Ooops!
3. LOIs are part of a well rounded marketing campaign
Since I began freelancing full time I have made a conscious effort to diversify my income streams. I write feature articles for magazines and newspapers, but around 40% of my income comes from corporate work.
I don't just rely on LOIs to attract corporate clients. Some of my business comes through word-of-mouth, some comes through web traffic and searches, other clients come through agencies that I've signed up to. For me, that’s the smartest way of freelancing. That way you ride out any bumps that may be happening in a particular industy