This morning during my bike ride in Orting I was thrilled to spot a doe and her two knee-high fawns entering the bike path just a hundred feet or so ahead of me.  I slowed to a stop and watched them amble up and across the bike path away from me for about twenty feet.  When they paused on the other side, I issued a baby fawn sound. They all turned sideways and looked back at me, figured out I wasn’t a fawn, and trotted into the brush.  It was quite the rush to spent about fifteen seconds with them, though.

When I got back, I drove to a Skechers Outlet Store in Tacoma to take advantage of their Buy One, Get One 50% off Sale. My favorite Skechers were looking really ratty and I’ve been thinking about replacing them for three months. Today I did it. The two pairs I got are very cool looking. One is very “out there” color wise; the other is more professional-looking and matches one of my new shirts (more or less). Actually, both pairs do, but the “out there” pair is bright pink in front and blue in back, so the blue part doesn’t show much since that part is hidden (for the most part) by my pants legs.

After I left the Outlet Store, I put on the more sedate of the two pairs of shoes and drove to two local family-owned print shops and one community center, introduced myself (I was wearing my blue logo’d polo shirt) and asked the people in charge if they ever get customers or visitors who are looking for a reputable writer. (In the case of the community center, I asked if they were amenable to posting a business flyer for me, which I showed them.)

All three, without hesitation, said yes!

So I gave all three establishments about five or six of my new brochures (the one filled with client testimonials). They looked them over briefly and nodded approvingly.  I added, “If you need more proof of my writing chops, or if your customers do, my website has scores more testimonials and a lot more information.” I also said, “And if you google ‘Tacoma copywriter’ my name will pop into the first spot.” They smiled broadly and said, “Thanks!”  Some of them asked a few more questions. One of their customers asked me about copyrighting (as opposed to copywriting) and I gave her the scoop on that. (She had written a course that someone else wanted to teach, so I let her know how to protect it easily.)  She asked me for a couple of my brochures, too, saying that she knows other people who might need a writer or editor down the road.

It all felt so natural, unselfconscious and organic.  It wasn’t a sales pitch. I just inquired and it went from there.

I liked it. I plan to do a lot more of it. I just filled my SUV with brochures and business cards so I always have plenty for quick stops when I pass a place that I’d like to write for.

And that’s how outreach is done!  Ask a question, be friendly, answers any questions that come up, and be on your way. Just takes a minute or so at each place unless the proprietor wants to quiz you more.  If so, stay and play!  It’s the personal touch that makes all the difference.

Funny aside: At the community center, the lady looked at the image on my brochure (the same one you see on my home page at wordwhisperer.net and then at me and said, “You look older on the brochure than you do in person.” I frowned and said, “I do?!”  She said, “Yes, you do!” I said, “Well, that stinks! So much for putting on makeup!”

See what a facade can do to a person? Make ’em look older ‘n’ dirt, I guess!