One of the most advantageous decisions I made early in my freelancing career was to personally experience a brand's services or products before offering my own services to them. This might sound familiar if you’ve used our tried and true Golden Nugget approach.

By doing so, I was able to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for their business, which in turn greatly enhanced my ability to tailor my pitch to their specific needs and desires.

Let me share a few examples to illustrate my point:

Gym:

Before I decided to pitch my services to a local gym studio, I thought it would be beneficial to participate in one of their workout classes. I wanted to fully grasp why their clientele remained loyal and kept returning, and what the overall experience was like from a member's viewpoint. Additionally, I sought to understand how a member might perceive the gym in terms of its facilities, coaching quality, and community vibe. Gaining this perspective was instrumental in helping me effectively communicate with the decision maker about their business's content needs and how I could meet them.

Snack Brand:

Similarly, before approaching a snack brand with my pitch, I made it a point to purchase and sample a few of their products. Having firsthand experience with a brand's product can dramatically influence the outcome of a meeting, as it demonstrates a genuine interest and understanding of their product line, which can often lead to more meaningful and productive discussions.

Restaurant

There was also a time when I cold pitched a restaurant. I meticulously crafted an email to them with links to my portfolio work, explaining that I had some creative ideas on how they could begin to incorporate more lifestyle photography and video content into their social media platforms. This particular restaurant was one that I had dined at on several occasions and had thoroughly enjoyed each visit. During my discovery call with their marketing manager, I was able to passionately communicate how much I loved not only their food but also the overall dining experience. However, I did express my concern that their social media channels did not accurately reflect the high quality of their in-house experience.

My point of this message is to encourage you to immerse yourself in a potential client's products or services can be a game-changing strategy in freelancing. It allows for a deeper connection with the brand and affords you the ability to provide services that are truly tailored to their needs.

It's not just about selling your services, but about demonstrating a genuine understanding and appreciation of their business. This approach has not only enhanced my pitches but also enriched my relationships with my clients, leading to more meaningful and productive collaborations.