VERISGOLD Home Blog Writing a Letter of Introduction There are numerous ways to get work as a freelance writer, and one of them is by introducing your services through a letter. A letter of introduction is simply a one-page correspondence piece that highlights a writer’s achievements and background. The letter should be short and to the point, and convey that the writer is looking for work and believes he can assist the recipient of the letter. Purpose of a Letter of Introduction A letter of introduction can be used a couple of different ways. First, it serves as an icebreaker for contacting a client. A writer could first send a letter to let the potential client know that he’d like to speak further about freelance work. This letter would end on an open note, with a promise to call the client again at a later time. A second purpose for the letter of introduction is to obtain freelance writing work directly. This type of letter will highlight the writer’s work history and also make a bid for future work with the client. The writer may even choose to list certain areas where he feels he can help the client. This type of letter is more aggressive, and must be personalized in order to be effective. Example of a Letter of Introduction A letter should always have a personalized contact, which means that some initial research is needed to determine the best person to send it to. Never address a letter to a first name only or a title, as in “Dear Human Resources Manager.” Sometimes this means calling the company to find out, other times it can be found on their website. In the first few lines, the writer should briefly state why he is writing. For example, “I wanted to get in touch with you regarding blogging for your organization” or “I wanted to offer my freelance writing services to you in times of heavy workload or during the vacations of your staff.” The second paragraph should immediately talk about the writer’s experience. A writer should make this succinct and directly related to the work he is trying to obtain from the client. For example, “I have worked for ABC Company and XYZ Firm, which also produce truck engines” or “I have worked with organizations similar in size and scope to your firm.” Examples of Tasks Writers Can Complete for an Organization The next paragraph should list specific tasks that the writer has been successful with. These can be an paragraph form, or in the form of bullet points. Typical points could be: Wrote press release for ABC Company to initiate PR campaign Help XYZ Organization create a white paper outlining their new technical product Drafted direct mail copy for HGH Corporation Writers Should Ask for Work in the Final Part of a Letter of Introduction To wrap up the letter, a writer should highlight why hiring him would be a great idea. Perhaps the writer can get up and running quickly, thereby reducing training costs. Or maybe a writer can take over the workload during times when the company is understaffed. Each writer has a different benefit he can provide for a company to hire him. Finally, a writer should close out the letter with a promise to follow up with a phone call, or a request for the client to contact him about work. Writers should always end any correspondence with their website address, so potential clients can find out more about their background and experience. Search for: