How to Reach Out to Potential Clients Without Being Pushy

Q:

When first contacting a potential client, should I say something like, “Here is some new work I’ve done?” Or, if you don’t have new work to show, is it too blunt to say you want to work together? Is there etiquette to follow up if you don’t hear from them? I don’t want to be that person who bombards them unsolicited over and over.

A:

I always say we should talk to people as we want to be talked to. When you sense someone is “selling” to you, don’t you want to delete, hang up, or walk away? Clients know you want to work with them; that’s a given. The more you sound like yourself, the more you can mention the fun location or an educational equipment reference, giving them something to remember you by. The real stuff never gets old.